Shows
The MentorEd ShowMinisode 24: The Real Role of a Startup CFOMany founders think a CFO is just a senior accountant. This is a critical mistake. A great CFO is a strategic partner who uses data to predict the future and hold the entire leadership team accountable. In this minisode, Ed breaks down the essential qualities of a world-class CFO, focusing on Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), the importance of KPIs, and why their most important job is to deliver hard truths with radical integrity.Show Notes:(01:10) Title Inflation: Is your CFO really just a Controller?(02:15) Beyond Accounting: The Power of Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A)(03:20) How a CFO uses KPIs...2025-07-2109 min
The MentorEd ShowMinisode 23: The Board's Playbook: How to Handle a Founder in CrisisYour startup needs a risky bridge round and your product is failing. In the ensuing panic, do you start looking for someone to blame? In this minisode, Ed reframes these crises around the three core functions of a Board of Directors. Learn why radical transparency is key to fundraising, why scapegoating is a CEO's biggest red flag, and what a board really does when they lose confidence in a founder—it's not what you think.Show Notes: (01:50) The Power of Transparency with Investors During a Bridge Round (04:30) The Dangers of Scapegoating in a Crisis (05:10) The 3 Real Jobs of a Board of...2025-07-1811 min
The MentorEd ShowMinisode 22: The Friends & Family Round: A Guide to Your First InvestmentIt’s often the first money into a startup, but the Friends & Family round is filled with emotional and ethical traps. Should you take your best friend's savings? How do you manage expectations? In this minisode, Ed provides a clear guide to navigating this crucial first step. Learn the one rule you must never break, how to honor the trust placed in you, and the critical difference between a co-founder who shares the risk and an early employee who is just along for the ride.Show Notes:(02:20) The Real Purpose of a Friends & Family Round(03:40) The #1 Rule: Only Take Money Th...2025-07-1414 min
The MentorEd ShowMinisode 21: A Founder's Guide to Building and Running an Effective BoardWho should be on your board, and who from your team should attend the meetings? These are critical questions that define your company's culture and transparency. In this minisode, Ed provides a clear framework for both, arguing that excluding your leadership team from board meetings is a sign of weakness. Learn how to compose your board, train your team for board interactions, and use your board as a powerful strategic asset.Show Notes: (01:30) Who Should Be ON Your Board of Directors? (03:20) The Pros of Inviting Your Leadership Team to Board Meetings (04:05) How Executives Should Present to the Board (Exception-Based Reporting) (06:25...2025-07-1113 min
The MentorEd ShowMinisode 20: The 60-Day Runway: A Founder's Guide to Crisis Decision-MakingYou have 60 days of cash left, your best customers are demanding a new product, and your mentors give conflicting advice. What do you do? In this minisode, Ed explains why the short runway is the only problem that matters and the immediate, drastic steps a founder must take to survive. Learn about the "gray zone" of decision-making and the proactive framework—the Weekly Business Review—that can prevent these crises from ever happening.Show Notes: (0:45) The Gray Zone: Deciding to Pivot or Iterate (1:45) The Problem with "Good" vs. "Bad" Decisions (2:40) Using Financial Analysis to Vet New Features (3:30) The 60-Day Runw...2025-07-0711 min
The MentorEd ShowMinisode 19: Common Mistakes of Scaling a Business Too FastThere is immense pressure when you're scaling a business. But focusing solely on market share is one of the most common startup mistakes, leading to cash flow problems and operational chaos. In this minisode, Ed Roberto discusses the flaws in the "growth at all costs" strategy.Learn how to manage your burn rate, prevent internal system breakdowns, and stay informed about your competition as you scale.Show Notes:(0:45) A Common Startup Mistake in Growth Strategy (1:45) Venture Capital Advice and Investor FOMO (2:30...2025-07-0507 min
The MentorEd ShowMinisode 18: A Founder's Worst Nightmare: Low Cash, High DilutionYour startup has less than three months of cash left. An investor is willing to write a check, but they want a massive chunk of your company. Do you take the deal or let your dream die? In this minisode, Ed walks through the brutal realities of this all-too-common founder crisis. Learn why you're already six months too late, what your board is really thinking, and the difficult questions you must ask about your own ego and ability to lead. Show Notes:(0:45) The Founder's Dilemma: 3 Months of Runway vs. 25% Dilution (1:40) Why You're Already 6 Months Too La...2025-06-3012 min
The MentorEd ShowMinisode 17: Your First Financial Hire: Accountant, Controller, or CFO?Are you thinking about your first financial hire? Do you need a bookkeeper, an accountant, or a strategic CFO? Hiring the wrong one at the wrong time can be a costly mistake. In this minisode, Ed provides a clear roadmap for how a startup's financial leadership should evolve. We break down the distinct roles and pinpoint the right stage for each. Learn why establishing key performance indicators (KPIs) is crucial from day one, and why every leader on your team—not just the finance expert—needs to be commercially minded.Show Notes:(0:45) The Accountant vs. CFO...2025-06-2614 min
The MentorEd ShowMinisode 16: The 'Perfect' Hire Who Cost Us a Fortune: A Lesson in Cultural FitHe had the perfect résumé from IBM and aced every interview. Six months later, he was out the door, and we were out nearly a year of progress and a massive amount of capital. The culprit? A fundamental clash of cultures.In this minisode, Ed shares a raw, first-hand account of a disastrous executive hire that became a pivotal learning moment. We explore why experience on paper can be dangerously misleading and how a big-company mindset can cripple a fast-moving startup.Join us as we break down the hard lessons learned and reveal a po...2025-06-2610 min
The MentorEd ShowMinisode 15: Can Corporate Leaders Thrive In Startups?What to Do When You’re Overlooked for a Leadership Role:– Why entitlement stalls startup careers– How to support new execs while staying valuable– Hiring senior leaders too early: the hidden risks– What great interview processes actually look likeGot a question for Ed? Drop it in the comments or visit sausleadership.com.Subscribe for more sharp, real-world founder advice.Brought to you by A8 Strategy2025-06-2311 min
The MentorEd ShowMinisode 14: When Does Global Expansion Become A Red Flag?The Unicorn Illusion: Realistic Metrics for Startup Growth in the GCC– Why $1B valuations rarely fit emerging markets– The 5M/20M rule for growth-stage success– What founders get wrong about “expanding globally”– The hard truth about regional fragmentation in MENAGot a question for Ed? Drop it in the comments or visit sausleadership.com.Subscribe for more sharp, real-world founder advice.Brought to you by A8 Strategy2025-06-2010 min
The MentorEd ShowMinisode 13: Who Pays When There's No Equity Pool ?Startup Equity, Option Pools & Dilution, Explained Clearly:– What early-stage investors look for in equity splits– The right way to structure an employee option pool– Why offer letters matter more than verbal promises– What to do if you're in a market with weak legal enforcementGot a question for Ed? Drop it in the comments or visit sausleadership.com.Subscribe for more sharp, real-world founder advice.Brought to you by A8 Strategy2025-06-1812 min
The MentorEd ShowMinisode 12: How Do Investors Decide A Startup's Value ?How Startup Valuation Really Works (Without the Hype):– What “pre-money” and “post-money” actually mean– Why local market size limits your valuation– Dilution explained with clear math– The link between traction, TAM, and investor confidenceGot a question for Ed? Drop it in the comments or visit sausleadership.com.Subscribe for more sharp, real-world founder advice.Brought to you by A8 Strategy2025-06-1709 min
The MentorEd ShowMinisode 11: Who Benefits When Valuation Isn't Defined?Why Equity in MENA Startups Isn’t What You Think– The surprising truth about common vs. preferred shares in the GCC– Why “equity” often has no real value without a liquidity event– What founders risk when giving away shares too early– How startup leaders and consultants should ask the right equity questionsGot a question for Ed? Drop it in the comments or visit sausleadership.com.Subscribe for more sharp, real-world founder advice.Brought to you by A8 Strategy2025-06-1309 min
The MentorEd ShowMinisode 10: What Should You Know Before Accepting Startup Equity?How Startup Equity Really Works (And Why Most Employees Misunderstand It)– Why “you’ll get shares” often means something very different– The harsh truth about liquidity in emerging markets– The difference between owning stock vs. owning the right to buy it– How to ask founders the right questions about your equityGot a question for Ed? Drop it in the comments or visit sausleadership.com.Subscribe for more sharp, real-world founder advice.Brought to you by A8 Strategy2025-06-1110 min
The MentorEd ShowMinisode 09: Are You Thinking Like A Startup Leader?How to Avoid Getting Fired in a Startup (Even If You're Doing ‘Okay’)– Why corporate habits sabotage startup careers– The unspoken signals you're misaligned– How to spot you're in the danger zone early– Resetting your mindset before it's too lateGot a question for Ed? Drop it in the comments or visit sausleadership.com.Subscribe for more sharp, real-world founder advice.Brought to you by A8 Strategy2025-06-0905 min
The MentorEd ShowMinisode 08: Scaling With The Right TeamHow to Keep the Wrong People from Sinking Your Startup:– Entitlement, misalignment, and internal politics– When loyalty becomes a liability– Why culture must start on day one– Building a team that scales with the businessGot a question for Ed? Drop it in the comments or visit sausleadership.com. Subscribe for more sharp, real-world founder advice.Brought to you by A8 Strategy2025-06-0413 min
The MentorEd ShowMinisode 07: Who's Really Driving Success?How to Fix a Mis-Hire on Your Leadership Team: – Spotting the signs early – The cost of keeping the wrong person – When to coach vs. when to cut – How to protect team culture through tough changesGot a question for Ed?Drop it in the comments or visit sausleadership.com.Subscribe for more sharp, real-world founder advice. Brought to you by A8 Strategy2025-06-0210 min
The MentorEd ShowMinisode 06: When Should Founders Step Aside?When should founders should step aside:– Emotional investors vs. long-term partners– What to do when growth flatlines– Why down rounds hurt early teams– Knowing when to replace yourself as CEOGot a question for Ed? Drop it in the comments or visit sausleadership.com. Subscribe for more sharp, real-world founder advice.Brought to you By A8 Strategy2025-05-3010 min
The MentorEd ShowMinisode 05: Founders, Know Your FundersMinisode 5: Founders, Know Your FundersWhat to look for in investors:– Matching funder personality to your stage– Why syndicate diversity matters– Red flags in desperate fundraising– How VCs are shifting from passive to active operatorsGot a question for Ed? Drop it in the comments or visit sausleadership.com.Subscribe for more sharp, real-world founder advice.Brought to you by A8 Strategy2025-05-2810 min
The MentorEd ShowMinisode 04: Can Founders Be Fired?What to watch for in acquisitions:– Key terms to negotiate– Protecting your team and product– Spotting red flags in due diligence– When founders buy back their companiesGot a question for Ed? Drop it in the comments or visit sausleadership.com.Subscribe for more sharp, real-world founder advice.Brought to you By A8 Strategy2025-05-2608 min
The MentorEd ShowMinisode 03: Co-CEO PitfallsWelcome to the third minisode of MentorEd, a sharp, real-world mentorship series for founders, entrepreneurs, and emerging startup leaders. Co-hosted by Ed Roberto and Adel Hameed, this series delivers fast doses of clarity for when you're building a company and facing tough leadership moments.In this episode, Ed, an experienced founder and executive, mentors Adel through one of the most emotionally complex M&A challenges: what happens when a founder is asked to step aside, and wants to stay.Together, they explore:- What to do when you’re the founder asked to...2025-05-2308 min
The MentorEd ShowMinisode 02: Post Acquisition StrategyWhat happens after the deal is signed, when growth gets real, and the chaos begins?Welcome to MentorEd, a podcast for leaders navigating growth, and all the complexity that comes with it. Co-hosted by Ed Roberto and Adel Hameed, this series brings you honest, unfiltered conversations for those building fast and thinking deep.In this minisode, Ed, an experienced founder and executive with multiple exits to the New York Stock Exchange, mentors Adel through the gritty realities of post-acquisition integration, where strategic vision collides with operational truth.Together, they unpack:- How to evaluate leadership quality in a company...2025-05-2109 min
The MentorEd ShowMinisode 01: Strategic Readiness for M&AWelcome to the first minisode of MentorEd: a sharp, real-world mentorship series for founders, entrepreneurs, and emerging startup leaders. Co-hosted by Ed Roberto and Adel Hameed, this series delivers fast doses of clarity for when you're building a company and doubting everything at once.In this episode, Ed, an experienced founder, investor, and executive, mentors Adel through one of the most complex and high-stakes topics in startup growth: how to know if your company is ready for M&A.Together, they explore:- Why strategic clarity, not just capital, is essential before acquiring- How companies like Amazon entered MENA...2025-05-1411 min
The MentorEd ShowPreface: MentorEdMentorEd Preface: Why This Podcast, and Why Now?Welcome to MentorEd, a new podcast from the Coffee and Career Chats universe. If CCC dives deep into bold career pivots and startup leadership, MentorEd slows it down, with fast, focused minisodes for founders and leaders navigating doubt, strategy, and scale.In this kickoff preface, host Adel Hameed introduces the heart behind MentorEd, joined by co-host and mentor Ed Roberto, a founder, investor, and executive with decades of hard-won startup wisdom.What to expect:Real-time mentorship, unscriptedTwo perspectives: Middle East & U.S.Fast clarity for...2025-05-1402 min