ExecThread

Each month we highlight an ExecThread member who’s a #CEO Today we spotlight Richard Fogelman, CEO of NSI - National Security Inspectorate who shares some #career tips with us. 1) Who are you? “I’m the CEO of NSI (UKs leading #security certification body); former CEO of Grief Encounter (UKs largest bereavement #charity) and previously managed #operations at Hammerson, UKs largest #shopping centre. I also have a Guinness World Records pending as the world’s fastest letter counter. I’m a husband, father of 3 and #sports fanatic.” 2) How did you find your current role?
“I was searching for a new role and grew tired of lengthy applications and lack of recruiter responses so I took a different path. I uploaded my CV to LinkedIn and started using their Easy Apply feature that enabled me to quickly apply for a large # of roles and I successfully landed a #job due to this!” 3) What’s the hardest part of being CEO?
“You have to make critical decisions with incomplete information, balancing risks & rewards. Leading a team of varying strengths & weaknesses requires strong #communication, #empathy and the ability to #inspire. #Learning from failures and being #resilient is essential. The weight of of the company rests on you and this pressure can be intense and requires a unique set of skills to navigate effectively.” 4) What’s the most fulfilling part of being CEO?
“The ability to shape the #vision of the company; its very rewarding to see ideas come to life and make an impact. Leading a team, fostering a positive #culture and seeing employees grow is satisfying, and making decisions that drive #innovation provides a big sense of accomplishment.” 5) “Everyone wants to be in the driver’s seat but no one truly knows what it means to be in the driver’s seat until you’re in it.” What does this mean to you?
“It means many people aspire to be CEO because it seems attractive but the reality is more complex & challenging than it appears. It highlights the difference between perception & reality. When you're in the driver's seat you face the weight of responsibility, and #leadership challenges aren't fully understood until you see them firsthand. It’s important to understand the reality of a role before aspiring to it, and realize leadership comes with rewards & responsibilities.” 6) What person has inspired you most?
“Steve Jobs. He was a visionary in the pursuit of excellence. He was innovative, creative, resilient and inspired people to achieve more than they thought possible. His style, while demanding, brought out the best in his teams and drove Apple to become one of the most innovative companies.” 7) What’s your advice to the next generation in 5 words or less?
“Innovate, lead with #integrity, adapt.” Please join us in thanking Richard Fogelman for his great #advice; and if you’d like to find a new #ceo #opportunity there are 300 active CEO searches currently posted on ExecThread; see: https://lnkd.in/emCbDhSU #inspirational #aspirational #practical

Each month we highlight an ExecThread member who recently secured a #Board role. This month we spotlight Kevin Wassong - current CEO of mktg.ai and founder & Managing Partner of INTEG:Advisors. 1. Who are you? What’s your ‘Headline’? “I'm a compulsive #founder, #innovator and advocate for brands & marketers. I’m the former Founder & CEO of OneMobile (acquired by Nexstar Media Group, Inc.), digital@jwt (within J. Walter Thompson Worldwide), and my current venture is mktg.ai which merges #passion with #purpose - blending #AI, #creativity & #technology to make #marketing more efficient.” 2) What are you passionate about?
“First & foremost I’m most passionate about my family. I want to see them happy, healthy and thriving in a complex world. When it comes to professional fulfillment - building businesses and finding charitable endeavors where I can have an impact is very rewarding. I've started for-profit businesses that have had a big impact on the marketing and #advertising industries, and I look for the same opportunities when it comes to #nonprofit endeavors.” 3) What Board(s) are you currently on, and how did you first find out about the opportunity(s)?
“While I have been active on boards and advisory boards ranging from industry organizations (such as the IAB during the rise of #mobile) to innovative companies (like Hightail & Minyanville Media, Inc.), nothing has been more fulfilling than the past few years spent as a board member of Junior Achievement of New York, starting the #Media Advisory Board for Sandy Hook Promise, and most recently my addition to the Board of TD Foundation. These nonprofits are inspiring, help save lives and shape narratives & policies that impact people globally while giving back to the #community. They epitomize passion & purpose.” 4) What advice would you give to someone trying to secure their 1st Board role?
“People usually pursue board roles for two reasons; the first is to focus on board roles that are core to one’s career aspiration. The second are roles that provide personal fulfillment. Either way, the heart of #success in any #boardrole is passion. If you’re passionate about the #mission, #vision and #values of an organization, then you’ll find purpose and success in it.” 5) What’s your favorite quote?
"Never choose consensus over #inspiration."
- Dan Wieden & David Kennedy, co-founders of Wieden + Kennedy 6) Career advice in three words?
“Find ‘inspiration, passion and purpose’. The money will follow.” 7) Anything else you’d like to add?
“Careers are non-linear. They are strange journeys. As Yogi Berra once said, “When you come to a fork in the road… take it!" Please join us in congratulating Kevin Wassong on his many #career accomplishments, and thanking him for the great advice. If you’d like to find a Board role #opportunity there are >125 of them currently posted on ExecThread - see: https://lnkd.in/gGN7k7w #givingback #careerinsights #boardofdirectors #boardopportunities

Ever wonder what it’s (really) like to be a tech startup founder? On the 10-year Anniversary of ExecThread, our founder Joe Meyer wrote a recent post (https://lnkd.in/gdRQEbwf) about the realities of being an entrepreneur. Check it out below. Speaking of ExecThread’s 10-year Anniversary, and to commemorate this big milestone, we’re offering 10 FREE days of ExecThread Full Access Plus Membership (https://lnkd.in/g7YrWdEn) during which you’ll get unlimited & unfettered access to all 7,000+ exec-level career opportunities on ExecThread, including all full-time, interim and Board role opportunities! And all ExecThread members who sign-up for our 10-day free trial will also be automatically entered into a sweepstakes for a chance to win a FREE year of Full Access Plus membership ($480 value)!

Each month we highlight an ExecThread member who’s a #CEO. Today we spotlight Erin Armendinger, CEO of Compass Experience Labs, who shares some #careertips with us. 1) Who are you? “In addition to being CEO of Compass Experience Labs I’m a continuous learner who finds #inspiration everywhere, from a #podcast to #shopping trips. I’m people-centric and #payitforward.” 2) How did you find your CEO role?
“My career has taken many turns (read “Range” by David Epstein). I've worked in academia, #realestate, #finance, #retail and #BPO. Compass was founded by friends who brought me on as an advisor and when the business expanded and they needed more #leadership and I jumped at the chance and 4 years later I can’t imagine doing anything else.” 3) What’s the hardest part of being CEO?
“You’re always receiving & processing new information and make decisions today that’ll likely change the future—something most people aren’t comfortable with. Its important to listen to data and your instinct when faced with tough calls. As Ben Horowitz says, “You can’t worry about making mistakes because you’ll make lots of them. You have to be thinking of your next move.” 4) What’s most fulfilling about being CEO?
“Creating a #culture. Its rewarding to build a company that supports employee goals. We always teach & learn from each other, are all on the same team and have little-to-no internal politics getting in our way. We’re committed to promoting internally—something you don’t often find with an hourly workforce. We teach our managers how to read & control a P&L; they’re mini-business owners and will retain this skill wherever they go.” 5) “Everyone wants to be in the driver’s seat but no one knows what it means to be in the driver’s seat until you’re in it.” What does this mean to you?
“When I learned to drive I remember the 1st time I merged onto the highway—white-knuckling the steering wheel, scared for my life even though I’d seen my parents do it many times. From the driver’s seat the cars seemed to be going faster than they ever appeared when I was a passenger. When your own hands are on the wheel you notice small details & risks in a way you can’t imagine when someone else is drivng.” 6) Who in your life living or deceased has inspired you most?
“My kids. They always remind me that people watch what you do, not what you say. They inspire me to do the right thing, be transparent, assume positive intent from others and treat people with #kindness, all of which help build rapport & stronger #relationships. I work hard to bring this approach to Compass, to our employees, and to our clients. #Trust is critical in a service business.” 7) What’s your advice to the next generation of leaders in 5’ish words or less?
“Never lose your base in #business or in life.” Please thank Erin for her great #advice. If you’d like to find a new #ceo #opportunity there are 300+ active CEO searches posted on ExecThread; see: https://lnkd.in/emCbDhSU #inspirational #aspirational

Each month we highlight an ExecThread member who recently secured a #Board role. This month we spotlight Scott Cherkin, Executive-in-Residence at Progress Partners, and former SVP/EVP of Audience Strategy at Warner Music Group and at Complex NTWRK. 1) What’s your ‘Headline’? “I'm a #digital #media #startup veteran with expertise in audience #strategy, #marketing and #businessdevelopment. My biggest success was at Complex NTWRK where we scaled #audience and #revenue, raised enough capital to win and have a great exit. More recently, I joined Warner Music Group to build an ad-supported O&O #media company and D2C relationships in support of #streaming & #ecommerce. I'm currently consulting in #digitalmedia & #adtech.” 2) What are you passionate about?
“I love the “build phase” of a business when the idea is good, the market is emerging and there’s an opportunity to capture share. I enjoy working with founders and CEOs who have a #vision, and I can help create the organizational and operational structures to realize it. Also, #family and #tennis :)” 3) What Board are you currently on, and how did you first find out about the opportunity?
“I'm currently on the board of Literally Media and have been for 4+ years. LM was part of Complex's publisher network where we managed the #programmatic and direct sales for website publishers and YouTube creators. I built a good relationship with the CEO and the Chairman and they appreciated my POV on #growth #opportunities and the #marketplace. Soon after I left Complex they asked me to join the board.” 4) What advice would you give someone trying to secure their 1st Board role?
“It comes down to relationships and adding value. I suggest paying-it-forward and being proactive with your #network. Start with a growth mindset, and be confident that sharing ideas does not dimish #opportunity. Ideas are nothing without #execution.” 5) What’s your favorite quote?
“Entrepreneurship is like jumping off a cliff and building the plane on the way down.” - Reid Hoffman, CoFounder of LinkedIn 6) Career advice in three words?
Be Curious, Execute. 7) Anything else you’d like to add?
“Building and maintaining a network is a career-long journey. If you develop subject matter expertise, a track record of #success and are proactive in engaging with your #community then new #opportunities (including #boardroles) will manifest.” Please join us in congratulating Scott Cherkin on his many #career accomplishments, and thanking him for the great advice. If you’d like to find a Board role #opportunity there are >150 of them currently posted on ExecThread - see: https://lnkd.in/gGN7k7w #careerinsights #boardofdirectors #boardopportunities

Each month we highlight an ExecThread member who’s a #CEO. This month we spotlight Alison Moore, CEO of Comic Relief US, a major #charity with a #vision of a just world free of poverty, who shares some #careertips with us. 1) What’s your headline? “I’m CEO of Comic Relief US, an organization that inspires acts of #socialchange. By harnessing #entertainment we create #opportunities to bring this to life via multiple campaigns (including the iconic #RedNoseDay) to engage audiences & raise funds to drive change at scale. Since 2015 we’ve raised $435MM and positively impacted 35MM families.” 2) How did you find the role?
“I got a call from Russell Reynolds Associates, and being a 25+ year #media executive I wasn’t sure I was a good fit. A call with our Founder (Richard Curtis) convinced me otherwise. Given the unique nature of Comic Relief’s work I felt I could leverage my years of #digitalmedia experience to make an impact.” 3) What’s the hardest part of being CEO?
“Weathering unexpected storms. I started in late 2019 and weathered the Covid storm and then led the org through the #socialjustice movement in 2020. Building our platform and taking care of our team during those difficult years was challenging but we emerged from it stronger.” 4) What’s the most fulfilling part of being CEO?
“Creating & executing a #vision to grow & transform a company is a lot of work but is what I love. Since 2019 we’ve been on a mission to evolve the depth & dimension of our work, from #fundraising to #grantmaking we’re leveraging creativity and an #entrepreneurial spirit across it all. It’s hard but exciting. It’s incredible to be shoulder-to-shoulder with my team; we’re a small group but make enormous impact and constantly innovate. I’m lucky to be their CEO.” 5) Everyone wants to be in the driver’s seat but no one truly knows what it means to be in the driver’s seat until you’re in it. What does this mean to you?
“It’s humbling recognition that you don't know what you don't know. When you’re CEO it’s a huge responsibility, but it’s balanced with being able to shape new & emerging opportunities. The key is keeping balanced while inspiring a team with vision, action, accountability & transparency, and in our case some laughter & levity.” 6) What person has inspired you the most, and why?
“My father unexpectedly passed away in Nov ‘18. He & I always talked business, despite not being in the same business. He taught me how important it is to be authentic & kind. He was not impressed by titles and was the same to the guy on the dock as he was to people in the boardroom. Important to remember.” 7) What’s your advice to the next generation of business leaders in 5 words or less?
“Keep Calm & Carry On.” Please join us in congratulating Alison Moore on her accomplishments and thank her for the great #advice. If you’d like to find a new #ceo #opportunity there are 300+ active CEO searches posted on ExecThread; see: https://lnkd.in/emCbDhSU #humility #inspirational

Each month we highlight an ExecThread member who recently secured a #Board role. This month we spotlight Mike Lackman, former CEO of Trade Coffee, and a Board member at Health-E Commerce. 1) Who are you? What’s your ‘Headline’? I’m an experienced #consumer CEO with a demonstrated track record of rapid value creation & profitable #growth in #entrepreneurial / #VC and #enterprise / #PE environments. I’m also a Board Director and Advisor to rapid-growth companies.   2) What are you passionate about? I’m passionate about building durable #solutions to large, complicated problems, and building teams and #cultures that create consequential #value and behave admirably.   3) What Board(s) are you currently on, and how did you first find out about the opportunity(s)? I’m a Board Director for Health-E Commerce, parent company of FSAStore.com, Inc. and HSAStore.com - a PE-backed #B2B2C #business that partners with benefit administrators to make it easier for people to make the most of their tax-advantaged #healthcare dollars. I’m also a Board Advisor to Tajir, a Y Combinator company looking to build better food #distribution #solutions in Pakistan.   4) What advice would you give to someone trying to secure their 1st Board role? I would advise them to identify the common space between the specialty where your advice can be uniquely valuable and the companies in unique need of that expertise. In my case it was complicated #D2C #customeracquisition & order fulfillment models. I would also suggest #volunteering your time to verify that offering #advice in those areas creates meaningful value for others. I did a large amount of #probono advisory work before I was ready to take-on a full-time board role.   5) What’s your favorite quote? “You were given two ears and one mouth for a reason…” - Epictetus (Greek philosopher)   6) Career advice in three words? Listen. Specialize. Deliver.   7) Anything else you’d like to add? Remember that being a Board Director isn’t an operating role. The role of a Board member is to ask questions, offer input, and make key fiduciary decisions. It’s NOT to create #strategy or prescribe action. The best outcome of your presence on a board is the best #performance of the team that has been assembled, not the realization of your #ideas. Please join us in congratulating Mike Lackman on his many #career accomplishments, and thanking him for the great advice. If you’d like to find a Board role #opportunity there are >150 of them currently posted on ExecThread - see: https://lnkd.in/gGN7k7w #boardofdirectors #boardgovernance #boardopportunities

Each month we highlight an ExecThread member who’s a CEO. This month we spotlight W. Ross Honey, , CEO of TouchTunes (the largest #digital jukebox company), who shares some insightful #career tips with us. 1) Who are you? What’s your headline? “I am the CEO of TouchTunes, the largest provider of digital jukeboxes and electronic dartboards in bars & restaurants (and a TA Associates portfolio company). My headline is “Passionate about building great teams and products that improve people’s lives”.” 2) How did you find/secure your current CEO role?
“I was approached by Heidrick & Struggles for the COO role of TouchTunes after their acquisition by Searchlight Capital Partners. I joined in January 2016 as President & COO, and became CEO a year later.” 3) What’s been the hardest part of being a CEO?
“Overcoming employee’s natural inclination to tell you what they think you want to hear, instead of what they really believe. It is hard to make good decisions when you don’t have accurate #data.” 4) What’s been the most fulfilling part of being a CEO?
“Working with a team to see something through from the kernel of an idea to successful #execution - that then winds-up positively impacting our customers & #business.” 5) “Everyone wants to be in the driver’s seat, but no one truly knows what it means to be in the driver’s seat (until you’re in it).” What does this quote (from an unnamed VC) mean to you?
“It means that when you are in the driver’s seat, you generally have limited direct control of the “wheel,” and it’s bad if you have to yank hard on it yourself. Ideally, you have the right people in place who are empowered to steer while you are #coaching / guiding them.” 6) What person in your life, living or deceased, has inspired you the most (and why)?
“In my professional life, it is Reed Hastings. I was exposed to him when we launched Netflix Instant Watch on Xbox back in 2008. His #vision, transparency, and approach to #culture have been my reference points ever since.” 7) What’s your advice to the next generation of business leaders, in 5 words or less?
“#Execution is everything. Hire well.” Let’s congratulate W. Ross Honey on his many accomplishments and thank him for the great #careeradvice. If you’d like to find a new #ceo #opportunity there are 230+ active CEO searches currently posted on ExecThread; see: https://lnkd.in/emCbDhSU #wisdom #inspiration #aspiration

Each month we highlight an ExecThread member who recently secured a #Board role. This month we spotlight Chris Tsakalakis. 1) Who are you? What’s your ‘Headline’? “I am a Board Director & Advisor to #technology companies, and ex-CEO of 3 consumer internet marketplaces (StubHub, Vivino, Kiva). I help companies #scale and grow.” 2) What are you passionate about? “Professionally, I’m passionate about creating great #tech companies by focusing on operating discipline and delivering an awesome #customerexperience. Personally, I’m passionate about #electricvehicles, #sustainability, #fitness and #nutrition.” 3) What Board are you currently on, and how did you first find out about the opportunity? “I sit on the board of directors for Findhelp, a #venturecapital backed #PublicBenefit corporation that provides a directory of over 500k #socialcare programs in the U.S. I discovered the role via an existing relationship with a #privateequity investor in the company.”     4) What advice would you give to someone trying to secure their 1st Board role? “Like every other job opportunity, leverage your #experience and #network. Be clear about what you can offer to a board, and then approach the CEO and/or investors of the companies where you have the most interest.” 5) What’s your favorite quote? “Make no little plans. They have no magic to stir men's blood.” - Daniel Burnham, American architect & urban designer (1846 – 1912) 6) Career advice in three words? “Learn. Document. Network.” 7) Anything else you’d like to add? “Scratch that itch. If you have something you’re curious about, #learn as much as you can about it and leverage your existing connections to find people who are experts in it. When I left StubHub, I was very interested in #HealthTech and kept asking my contacts if they could introduce me to experts in the field. Those introductions led to my meeting >500 new people in the course of 3 years, and one of those contacts led me to my current board role.” Please join us in congratulating Chris Tsakalakis on his many #career accomplishments and thanking him for the great #advice. If you’d like to find a Board role #opportunity there are ~100 of them currently posted on ExecThread; see: https://lnkd.in/gGN7k7w #networking #boardgovernance #careeradvancement

Each month we highlight an ExecThread member who’s a CEO. This month we spotlight Dan Lagani, CEO of Silver Solutions (a leading provider of senior safe living & home solutions), who shares some helpful #career tips. 1) Who are you? What’s your headline? "Dan Lagani - Father, Grandfather, Senior Advocate, and #Entreprenuer.” 2) How did you find/secure your current CEO role? “While running Reader's Digest Association as part of the post-bankruptcy #leadership team, we partnered with Humana on a co-branded Medicare Advantage program. From that moment I knew my next chapter was going to be about building a company to make the process of growing older easier and less stressful. Once I met my current partner and Co-founder Laura Olivares, who was already in the space, everything came together.” 3) What been the hardest part of being a CEO? “Balancing long-term #vision and #fundraising with the day-to-day operational demands of an early-stage business.” 4) What’s been the most fulfilling part of being a CEO? “Seeing the impact that our services have on making the lives of older adults and their families better everyday.” 5) “Everyone wants to be in the driver’s seat, but no one truly knows what it means to be in the driver’s seat (until you’re in it)”. What does this quote mean to you? “It reminds me of the Mike Tyson quote, “Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth”. Being in the driver’s seat is about having a plan or destination and still being able to avoid the potholes, and handling the unexpected detours that are inevitable no matter how large or small a business is.” 6) What person in your life, living or deceased, has inspired you the most (and why)? “My grandfather, was an immigrant who bought a business in Westchester County, NY in the depths of the Great Depression. He grew and ran that business for 40+ years, and his #wisdom & #resilience set an example for our entire extended #family to this day.” 7) What’s your #advice to the next generation of business leaders, in 5 words of less? “Lead with #passion, #empathy and #vision.” Let’s congratulate Dan Lagani on his many career accomplishments and thank him for the great advice. If you’d like to find a new #ceo #opportunity there are 240+ of them currently posted on ExecThread; see: https://lnkd.in/emCbDhSU #wisdom #inspiration