Atif Rafiq: Digital Disruptor

Provocateur of the C-Suite, Atif Rafiq has been disrupting companies for more than 25 years in Silicon Valley, the Fortune 500, and through a variety of his own startups. Having begun his career in digital native companies including AOL, Yahoo, and Amazon, Atif was named the first chief digital officer in the history of the Fortune 500 when he took on that role for McDonald's in 2013. He has overseen thousands of employees as a global P&L transformation and innovation leader in multiple companies and industries.
Today, over a half million people follow Atif’s ideas about management and leadership on LinkedIn, where he is a Top Voice, and his newsletter, Re:Wire, has attracted over 100,000 subscribers. Atif’s 2023 book, Decision Sprint: The New Way to Innovate into the Unknown and Move from Strategy to Action, is a Wall Street Journal bestseller. 
In this podcast, Atif talks with Geoff Tuff of Deloitte and Des Dearlove of Thinkers50 about the accidental metamorphoses along his career path and his latest venture and software tool, Ritual. He also discusses how to bring digital transformation to a traditional bricks-and-mortar business, and his methodical approach to innovation, which involves giving teams space for exploration, multiple input meetings before output, and the leader as calibrator rather than controller.

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This podcast is part of an ongoing series of interviews with executives. The executives’ participation in this podcast are solely for educational purposes based on their knowledge of the subject and the views expressed by them are solely their own. This podcast should not be deemed or construed to be for the purpose of soliciting business for any of the companies mentioned, nor does Deloitte advocate or endorse the services or products provided by these companies.

The Provocateurs Episode 26: Atif Rafiq

On this episode of the Scale Up Valley Podcast, Mike Dias speaks with Ian Myers, CEO of Oceans.

Key Takeaways:

Finding Global Talent.
Empowering employees all over the world.
Lessons Learned building a global organization
Why should a new Scaleup start hiring abroad.

322 | Global Talent: A Competitive Edge for Your Business | Ian Myers, CEO of Oceans

On this episode of the Scale Up Valley Podcast, Mike Dias speaks with Matthew J Desch, CEO of Iridium.

Matt Desch, the CEO of Iridium, shares his journey of scaling the company from $15 million EBITDA to over $450 million EBITDA. He discusses the challenges and pivotal moments that shaped the growth of Iridium, including securing funding, building partnerships, and launching new products.

Sound Bites

"No one wins the Super Bowl or the World Cup or the Olympics without just a little bit of luck."
"The more I practice, the luckier I get."
"Find something you can do better than anyone else and specialize on that."
"Doing something very unique, very differentiated"
"Play a game you can win"
"Team needs to be evolving as the company scales"

Chapters

00:00
Introduction and Background of Iridium
05:12
Taking Over as CEO and the Challenges Faced
08:12
Company Growth and Expansion
11:55
Subscription Revenue and IoT
16:25
Key Moments of Truth in Scaling Iridium
26:12
Importance of Team and Company Culture
28:21
Differentiation and Innovation
31:02
Building a Strong Team and Culture
37:07
Transitioning to a Listed Company
43:21
Managing Stress and Work-Life Balance

323 | From Chapter 11 Bankruptcy To Multi - Billion $ Company |Matthew J  Desch, CEO Of Iridium

Andrew Winston is one of the most widely read writers and thinkers on sustainable business. His books on sustainability strategy include Green to Gold, The Big Pivot, and most recently, Net Positive: How Courageous Companies Thrive by Giving More Than They Take, which he co-authored with Paul Polman, former CEO of Unilever.
 
Andrew and Paul are ranked #3 in the Thinkers50 Ranking of top management thinkers and Net Positive featured on the Thinkers50 Best New Management Booklist in 2022.
 
In this Provocateurs podcast, Andrew joins Thinkers50 co-founder, Des Dearlove, and Kulleni Gebreyes, Deloitte US Consulting Life Sciences and Healthcare Industry Leader and US Chief Equity Officer. They address how leaders can stand up for their social and environmental values and overcome resistance from within and without their organisation.
 
How can a business become ‘net positive’ – one that thrives and profits by solving the world’s problems, not creating them? How do you align purpose and profit? Why are companies often expected to prove immediate ROI for sustainability initiatives and not others? Find out more about the prevalence of ‘green hushing,’ the positive impact of collective courage, and how younger millennials are driving change in corporate behaviour.

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This podcast is part of an ongoing series of interviews with executives. The executives’ participation in this podcast are solely for educational purposes based on their knowledge of the subject and the views expressed by them are solely their own. This podcast should not be deemed or construed to be for the purpose of soliciting business for any of the companies mentioned, nor does Deloitte advocate or endorse the services or products provided by these companies.

The Provocateurs Episode 27: Andrew Winston

Chris Walker, the chairman of Refined Labs and CEO of Assetto, discusses his background in B2B companies and his new venture, Pesetto. He emphasizes the need for a new strategy in B2B marketing that focuses on profitability and efficiency. Chris also shares his vision for building an ecosystem of complementary B2B go-to-market technology and managed services. He talks about his transition from CEO to chairman and offers advice for others facing a similar stage in their careers.

Key Takeaways

"We need to figure out a new strategy for marketing that doesn't involve high volume lead generation."
"There is a shift happening in the market where companies need to build a profitable, efficient growth and go-to-market engine."
"The goal is to build a portfolio of complimentary specialized companies that handle different things from go-to-market operations, go-to-market strategy, analytics, advertising, content creation, website design, AI automated outbound."
"We discuss the importance of having marketing, sales, customer success, and product aligned on the same page."
"Content is one of the most effective channels to produce pipeline and generate conversations that might turn into opportunities, proposals, and deals."
"A hybrid talent model inside a B2B company is the appropriate way to run most functions."

Chapters

00:00
Introduction and Background
01:02
Chris's Career in B2B Companies
02:01
The Need for a New Strategy in B2B Marketing
04:38
Building a Data Structure for Informed Decision-Making
06:11
Creating an Ecosystem of Complementary B2B Go-to-Market Solutions
07:24
Transitioning from CEO to Chairman: Finding the Right Path
10:02
Understanding Your Leadership Strengths and Preferences

234 | Why Are Go-To-Market Strategies Evolving Faster Than Ever | Chris Walker, CEO of Refine Labs

On this Episode of the Scale Up Valley Podcast, Mike Dias speaks with Steven Freidkin, CEO of Ntiva


Summary

Steven Freidkin, CEO of Ntiva, shares his journey of scaling the company from 100 to 800 employees and $18 million to $170 million in revenue. The company's purpose is to grow each other, and they focus on automation, organic sales and marketing, and strategic acquisitions. Fragin discusses the challenges he faced at different revenue plateaus and the decision to seek private equity investment. He emphasizes the importance of finding the right partner who aligns with the company's purpose and values. Ntiva has experienced significant growth and success through their strategic investments and partnerships. Steven Freidkin shares his experience of partnering with private equity firms to scale his business and create meaningful jobs and opportunities. He emphasizes the importance of finding the right partner and aligning goals and expectations. He also discusses the importance of self-awareness as a CEO and the need to work oneself out of a job to support the growth of other leaders in the organization. He shares his mistakes and lessons learned, including the importance of using debt intelligently and making cultural fit a priority in acquisitions. He encourages founders and CEOs to know their intentions, communicate openly with investors, and focus on creating a positive impact in the world.

Takeaways

Scaling a company requires strategic investments in automation, sales and marketing, and acquisitions.
Finding the right partner in private equity is crucial for growth and success.
Revenue plateaus can be overcome by making major adjustments and focusing on the company's purpose.
Having a clear purpose and values helps drive the company's growth and energizes the team.
Ntiva's journey from $18 million to $170 million in revenue showcases the power of strategic investments and partnerships. Finding the right partner is crucial when partnering with private equity firms to scale a business.
Self-awareness is important for CEOs to work themselves out of their job and support the growth of other leaders in the organization.
Using debt intelligently and considering cultural fit in acquisitions can prevent costly mistakes.
Clear communication and alignment of goals with investors is essential for long-term success.
Focus on creating a positive impact and leaving a legacy in the world.

Titles

Finding the Right Partner in Private Equity
Scaling a Company: From 100 to 800 Employees Aligning Goals and Communicating with Investors
Creating a Positive Impact and Leaving a Legacy

Sound Bites

"I was getting paid to do the thing that I actually love to do."
"We exist to grow each other, technology is simply the accelerator of that growth."
"If something doesn't change, you need to sell this business."
"There was a tremendous amount of alignment."
"I'm always trying to work myself out of my job."
"We exist to grow each other."


Chapters

00:00
Introduction and Background
06:26
Forming Antiva and Early Growth
10:24
Strategic Investments: Automation, Sales and Marketing, Acquisitions
12:19
Seeking Private Equity Investment
16:41
Choosing the Right Partner in Private Equity
19:27
Growth with Private Equity and Second Capital Sponsor
23:05
Partnering with Private Equity
26:30
Working Yourself Out of a Job
29:38
Lessons Learned: Debt and Cultural Fit
34:58
Aligning Goals and Communicating with Investors
46:57
Creating a Positive Impact and Leaving a Legacy

325 | From Organic To PE Growth How To Avoid Critical Mistakes With Steven Freidkin, CEO Of Ntiva

Paul Polman is a business leader, campaigner, and co-author (with Andrew Winston) of Net Positive: How Courageous Companies Thrive By Giving More Than They Take, a Financial Times Business Book of the Year. Together with Andrew, Paul is ranked #3 on the Thinkers50 Ranking. 

As CEO of Unilever (2009-2019), Paul demonstrated that business can profit through purpose, delivering shareholder returns of 290% while the company consistently ranked 1st in the world for sustainability. Today he works across a range of organisations to deliver the UN Sustainable Development Goals, which he helped develop. 

In New York for the 2024 Climate Week, Paul sat down with Thinkers50 co-founder, Des Dearlove, and Steve Goldbach, head of Deloitte’s Sustainability Practice in the US, to discuss how business can be a force for good, what it means to be ‘net positive,’ and how to develop the next generation of leaders. 

He identified a fundamental moral vacuum in our current approach to global challenges and emphasised that addressing this void requires more than systemic reforms – it demands a profound transformation in how we think and lead. A new leadership mindset is called for, he argues; one that focuses on restorative, reparative, and regenerative practices and places cooperation above competition.

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This podcast is part of an ongoing series of interviews with executives. The executives’ participation in this podcast are solely for educational purposes based on their knowledge of the subject and the views expressed by them are solely their own. This podcast should not be deemed or construed to be for the purpose of soliciting business for any of the companies mentioned, nor does Deloitte advocate or endorse the services or products provided by these companies.

The Provocateurs Episode 28: Paul Polman

Transforming Barbie

Executive vice president and chief brand officer of Mattel, Lisa McKnight is credited with leading the transformation of the Barbie brand. Under her leadership, Barbie became the number one global toy property in 2020 and 2021, and she redefined Barbie’s global social mission with the launch of the Dream Gap Project in 2018, a multi-year initiative which has positively impacted over 25 million girls.

In this conversation with Steve Goldbach, leader of Deloitte’s sustainability practice in the US, and Des Dearlove, co-founder of Thinkers50, Lisa explains what drew her to the world of toys, why the Barbie brand had fallen out of touch with its market, and how she and her team tackled the challenge of making Barbie relevant again.

Find out more about the importance of brands being consumer-centric and staying connected to culture, how Mattel overcame corporate reservations in the making of the Barbie movie, and why you need to get comfortable with being uncomfortable when making decisions.

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This podcast is part of an ongoing series of interviews with executives. The executives’ participation in these articles are solely for educational purposes based on their knowledge of the subject and the views expressed by them are solely their own. This podcast should not be deemed or construed to be for the purpose of soliciting business for any of the companies mentioned, nor does Deloitte advocate or endorse the services or products provided by these companies.

The Provocateurs Episode 29: Lisa McKnight

Julie Barbier-Leblan, CEO of Merit, shares her journey as an entrepreneur and the growth of her company. She started her entrepreneurship journey in the Middle East as a finance lawyer and later founded Merit, a global engagement technology company. Merit helps enterprise clients engage internally with their employees and externally with customers using a suite of SaaS solutions and rewards. Julie discusses the challenges and opportunities of scaling a business in the MENA region and the importance of building a strong network and partnerships. She also shares her decision to raise VC funding and the benefits of having local and regional investors.

Key Takeaways:

Julie Barbier-Leblan started her entrepreneurship journey in the Middle East as a finance lawyer and later founded Merit, a global engagement technology company.
Merit helps enterprise clients engage internally with their employees and externally with customers using a suite of SaaS solutions and rewards.
Building a strong network and partnerships is crucial for scaling a business in the MENA region.
Julie decided to raise VC funding to support the growth and scalability of Merit, and she believes in having local and regional investors to educate the ecosystem.
The Saudi 2030 vision and the shift towards a digital economy in the region present exciting opportunities for tech entrepreneurs. Transitioning from a founder to a leader requires adjusting and adapting to new roles and responsibilities.
Choosing the right co-founder is crucial for scaling a company, but it's important to be cautious and ensure alignment of values and complementary skills.
As a female founder, Julie faced resistance and bias, but she learned to stand up for herself and set boundaries.
Self-awareness, embracing the journey, and not listening to those who tell you to slow down are key to success as an entrepreneur.

326 | Building a Startup in MENA: A Female Founder's Path to VC. Success with Julie Barbier

Podcast for High-Impact Leaders & Scaling Companies.
The mission of the ScaleUp Valley podcast is to share with the business community the hard learned lessons from world class leaders on their journey navigating wartime and scaling up.

234 | Why Are Go-To-Market Strategies Evolving Faster Than Ever | Chris Walker, CEO of Refine Labs

Scaleup Valley Podcast

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