ExecThread

Each month we highlight a #CEO who’s an ExecThread member. Today we spotlight Madhavi Vemireddy, MD, CEO of Cleo (a #family care platform supporting individuals through every lifestage) who shares some #career lessons. 1) Who are you? “I’m a physician #entrepreneur developing #digital #health solutions. I’m also a Mom and #caregiver for my eldest son who has developmental delays, which led my husband & I to co-found CareTribe, Inc., a #digitalhealth company focused on supporting family #caregivers. CareTribe was acquired by Cleo to expand support for families across all lifestages..” 2) How did you find your CEO role?
“I joined Cleo via an #acquisition as Chief Clinical Officer. After a few months the prior CEO resigned to care for for a terminally ill parent. At that time I became co-CEO; and later that year I became CEO after driving strong financial health & expanding our caregiving product.” 3) What’s the hardest part of being CEO?
“As CEO you feel the weight of the company on your shoulders. When I joined Cleo, caregiving was a new offering and I had the responsibility to prove product-market fit, drive YoY growth and demonstrate value to all stakeholders.” 4) What’s been the most fulfilling part of being CEO?
“Having the opportunity to be CEO of a company that aligns with my life’s purpose of making a meaningful impact to how caregivers are supported in our society & #healthcare system has been very fulfilling. When you work on something so personal it doesn’t feel like work; it feels like a #mission especially when you work with professionals focused on the same goal.” 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?
“Its one thing to map out the journey - the problem you’re solving and #strategy for solving that problem with solutions that can drive real value, but its not until you’re in the seat making the key decisions on which way to turn, how slow/fast to go, when to stop for gas to refuel, that you realize you’re on this journey and getting to the destination safely largely depends on your decisions.” 6) What person in your life has inspired you most & why?
“My husband inspired me when he built a company called NeoCare in 2013 which supported families with a baby in the NICU until their 1st birthday. NeoCare was ideated after we spent 3 mo’s in NICU & PICU in my son’s 1st 9 mo’s of life when he was diagnosed with congenital #heartdisease. Seeing my husband build a business from scratch that supported families going through similar challenges was inspiring and gave us the confidence to build CareTribe.” 7) What’s your advice to the next generation of business leaders in <5 words?
“Do what you love!” Please join us in thanking Madhavi for her #advice; and if you’d like to find a new #ceo #opportunity there are >550 active CEO searches currently posted on ExecThread; see: https://lnkd.in/gx5PQkBi #inspiring #admirable

Each month we highlight an ExecThread member who recently secured a #Board role. This month we spotlight Beth Haggerty, former COO of Nielsen and former CEO of Declare (acquired by Luminary, a gender-inclusive global professional network). 1) Who are you? “I’m an executive & #entrepreneur with expertise in #media, #digitalstrategy & social impact #advocacy. I believe in creating with purpose and doing it passionately.” 2) What are you passionate about?
“I’m passionate about empowering communities by fostering connections, inspiring #learning experiences and creating #growth cultures. From my work in digital #transformation to my advocacy pursuits I believe in the power of ideas, commitment & #collaboration to drive change.” 3) What Boards are you currently on and how did you find out about the opportunities?
“I found out about the Boards on which I currently serve (see below) via many years of relationship-building.”: Global Mental Health Task Force UN-affiliated community of practitioners, experts, leading organizations and professionals passionate about helping address the global #mentalhealth crises. Savvitas Influential & innovative think tank working to promote the lifelong development of women, and boost women's global economic power. TheSocialArchitects Strategic advisory firm working with global companies, upstarts & non-profits to elevate presence, gain competitive advantage and drive growth via #socialmedia & #digitalmarketing. LOTKA&Co. Global #talent partner that approaches cultural design & #executivesearch as a holistic process, helping drive growth & create people-centric cultures. 4) What advice would you give someone trying to secure their 1st Board Director role?
“Cultivating your expertise & define your unique value prop; and seak out & get involved with causes you care about. #Networking is essential; be intentional & focused about it. Understand the needs of the companies & non-profits you’re targeting; demonstrate how your interests, experience and uniqueness match their needs. And understand the expectations before accepting a Board offer, given your other time commitments. They vary widely, and may require high engagement levels. 5) What’s your favorite quote?
"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams."
- Eleanor Roosevelt 6) Career advice in three words?
Resilience, Creativity, Connection 7) Anything else you’d like to add?
“I believe in the transformative power of people working toward a shared vision. I’ve learned that common values, adaptability & #authenticity are key to success; and I’m always eager to collaborate with forward-thinking individuals & organizations committed to creating a better future.” Please congratulate Beth on her many #career accomplishments, and thank him for the sound #advice. If you’d like to find Board role #opportunities there are >150 active Board searches currently posted on ExecThread; see https://lnkd.in/gGN7k7w #genuine #authentic #admirable

Each month we highlight an ExecThread member who’s a #CEO. Today we spotlight Alexander Meyer, CEO of Happy Socks, which spread #happiness by turning an everyday essential (socks) into a colorful #design piece, who shares some useful #career tips with us. 1) Who are you? “I’m the CEO of Happy Socks, the original colorful sock #brand focused on spreading happiness.” 2) How did you find your current CEO role?
“I was approached by a #recruiter and the #opportunity was very intriguing - a unique #global brand, lots of room for #growth and a perfect fit for my 1st CEO role. After a thorough discovery process it confirmed a strong match in terms of what was needed from an #energy & #experience perspective. It became the “pair that matches.” 3) What’s been the hardest part of being CEO?
“To quote my chairman “the CEO role is a great role but not always a nice one”. Leading the charge on #transformation isn’t easy. Asking people to come on a journey with you where outcomes aren’t immediately clear can be tough and takes a lot of trust. Breaking silos while balancing rapid decision-making and a long-term #data-driven #strategy is complex.” 4) What’s the most fulfilling part of being CEO?
“Leading from a 360° operational perspective and applying everything I’ve learned over the years to drive impactful #change. I’m a #creative person and Happy Socks is a creative business so its a really good fit. My current favorite initiative is our corporate #gifting program which stemmed from the idea of spreading happiness to the world!” 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?
“You have to get ‘comfortable with the uncomfortable’ in order to navigate a company to a #sustainable growth path. It takes a lot of hard #work and many details to find the successful formula.” 6) What person in your life, living or deceased, has inspired you the most?
“Without wanting to sound trite, my parents were two very different people who showed me the balance of life. Beyond them, my former bosses were influential, each seeing potential in me and encouraging my growth. I learned from them that keeping a curious & open mind will give you the biggest #opportunities for #development. Storytellers also inspire me such as William Faulkner, who said that “The only thing worth writing about is the human heart in conflict with itself”, which is a reminder that #leadership is about understanding the human condition which is best learned through stories than via #business frameworks.” 7) What’s your advice to the next generation of business leaders in 10 words or less?
“Trust your gut, embrace discomfort, build a strong support #network.” Please join us in thanking Alexander Meyer for his #advice; and if you’d like to find a new #ceo #opportunity there are >600 active CEO searches currently posted on ExecThread; see: https://lnkd.in/gx5PQkBi #creativity #storytelling

Each month we highlight an ExecThread member who recently secured a #Board role. This month we spotlight Dan Beltramo, the former President & CEO of Onclusive, former EVP at Nielsen, and current Board member at two private companies. 1) Who are you? What’s your ‘Headline’?
“I run #data businesses, typically connected to #software-as-a-service (#SaaS).” 2) What are you passionate about?
“I'm passionate about growing and transforming companies to be prepared and healthy for the #future. I also love a vigorous day in the great #outdoors, and tasty meals prepared with #love.” 3) What Board(s) are you currently on, and how did you first find out about the opportunity(s)?
“I'm currently on the boards of Truthset (a #consumer data ratings business) and IRIS.TV (a #video data #connectivity business). Both businesses dramatically enhance the value of their clients' data. I joined the Truthset board after working with its founder for many years at a prior company, and I was originally an informal advisor to IRIS.TV.” 4) What advice would you give to someone trying to secure their 1st Board role?
“Advisory board roles (and even #nonprofit boards) can be a great way to break the ice and get you into the consideration set for traditional board roles. Also, don't be too picky about your first board role - getting the ball rolling is what matters. As new #opportunities arise (and they arise faster after the first one) you may upgrade the boards on which you serve over time.” 5) What’s your favorite quote?
"Everything in moderation - including moderation"
- Jacques Pepin (French #chef & #author) 6) Career advice in three words?
“Be open minded.” 7) Anything else you’d like to add?
“It is not about where you start, or where you end. It is about enjoying the process, and operating with #integrity along the way.” Please congratulate Dan on his many #career accomplishments, and thank him for the sound #advice. If you’d like to find Board role #opportunities there are >200 active board searches currently posted on ExecThread - see https://lnkd.in/gGN7k7w #inspirational #sageadvice #wisdom

Each month we highlight an ExecThread member who’s a #CEO. Today we spotlight Patrick Venetucci, CEO of IZEA, a leader in #InfluencerMarketing, and former President of dentsu and Leo Burnett, who shares some insightful #career tips with us. 1. Who are you? What’s your headline? “I'm a transformational #growth CEO who orchestrates courageous leaps. Some companies are not stretching themselves enough, which leads to becoming a "lifestyle" business. Other companies are jumping at #opportunities, but stretching their resources too far thereby putting their people in peril. I lead teams to make courageous leaps with an emphasis on strategic clarity, organizational alignment, #tech #innovation and most importantly inspiring people to reach higher.” 2. How did you find/secure your current CEO role? “Like most roles, it was serendipity. I was on the board of IZEA and there was a unique situation which created an unexpected #management vacuum. I quickly volunteered to step into the CEO role and am grateful to have this #opportunity to contribute to the growing Creator Economy.” 3. What’s been the hardest part of being a CEO? “Business rarely goes up and to the right in a smooth straight line. There are lots of unexpected zigs and zags along the way where CEO's are faced with making decisions with unpleasant consequences. It's hard, but necessary to make these kinds of decisions.” 4. What’s been the most fulfilling part of being a CEO? “I enjoy creating. I've asked my #leadership teams to imagine us sitting around a pottery wheel with our hands on the wet clay actively moulding it into a beautiful thing. I find it professionally fulfilling to be able to touch and shape all dimensions of a #business: the story, #customers, #people, #product, and #profits.”   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? “Being a CEO carries a tremendous amount of #accountability. Don't seek to be in the chair unless you are willing to be accountable. It's important to be accountable to multiple #stakeholders during good and bad outcomes.” 6. What person in your life, living or deceased, has inspired you the most (and why)? “I continue to be inspired by my Father who passed away earlier this year. There are different types of Dad's out there. Sports dads. Beer dads. Hip dads. Tech dads. My Dad was a kind dad. The world would be a better place if we had more #kindness today.” 7. What’s your advice to the next generation of business leaders, in 5 words or less? “Pick your partners with purpose!” Please join us in thanking Patrick Venetucci for his great #advice; and if you’d like to find a new #ceo #opportunity there are >550 active CEO searches currently posted on ExecThread - see: https://lnkd.in/gx5PQkBi #clarity #courage #purpose

Each month we highlight an ExecThread member who recently secured a #Board role. This month we spotlight Ali Cudby, Founder & CEO of Alignmint Growth Strategies, and author of top-selling #Sales & #Marketing book, “Keep Your Customers”. 1) Who are you, what’s your headline? “I help companies improve post-sale #customer experiences. Throughout my career I’ve seen companies under-lever opportunities to make customers feel valued, which shortchanges #retention & #growth. It’s an expensive mistake. Beyond work, I’m usually #outdoors with my 3 dogs.” 2) What are you passionate about?
“I’m passionate about a life well-lived. To me that includes both work & play, although historically I’ve tended to skew much more toward work. With time and maturity I’m learning that #fun, and truly unplugging, makes me better at #work (and better at life).” 3) What Board are you currently on, and how did you first find out about the #opportunity?
“I recently joined the board of University Pathways International (UPI), a #startup that makes higher #education more accessible & affordable for #international students by enabling them to earn transfer credit toward degree programs in Canada, the U.S., and UK. I connected with UPI because the CEO was my student when I taught #Entrepreneurship at Purdue University. After he graduated we stayed in touch, I advised him informally, and I believed in the mission - so joining the board became a natural next step.” 4) What advice would you give someone trying to secure their 1st Board role?
“Getting a board seat has two key components: 1) focus on others and 2) focus on yourself. Initial board seats are a relationship game. Be willing to invest energy & time in authentically helping people, with no expectations or strings attached. Then, clarify your unique #value in helping a company #grow to the next level & beyond.” 5) What’s your favorite quote?
"People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."
- Maya Angelou 6) Career advice in 3 words
“#Believe in yourself” 7) Anything else to add?
“It’s easy to get distracted by the “shoulds” in your career. We spend a lot of hours working, and those hours are going to feel a lot longer if your decisions are based on external voices and expectations. Carve your own path. Don’t “should” all over yourself.” Please congratulate Ali Cudby on her many #career accomplishments, and thank her for the sound #advice. If you’d like to find Board role #opportunities there are >140 of them currently posted on ExecThread; see https://lnkd.in/gGN7k7w #helpful #mindful #thoughtful

Each month we highlight an ExecThread member who’s a #CEO. Today we spotlight Geoff Watson, CEO of NCFDD, the leading provider of professional development in #highereducation, who shares some insightful #career tips with us. 1) Who are you? What’s your headline? “I’m a #mission-based leader, who builds-and-grows education & #learning #tech companies that can change people’s lives.” 2) How did you find/secure your current CEO role?
“Someone referred me to a recruiter, who was leading the search. Interestingly, I was actually introduced very late in the process, and the stars aligned.” 3) What’s been the hardest part of being a CEO?
“The hardest, yet most rewarding, part of being a CEO is changing mindsets on the #team and, bit-by-bit, shifting the #culture.” 4) What’s been the most fulfilling part of being a CEO?
“I’ve spent nearly my entire career working for founder CEOs, which can be amazing, but also a bit frustrating at times. I’m now in a unique situation whereby I need to bring together all my #skills as a #leader, and define the #strategy and direction - and regardless of the outcome I have no one to defer to but myself.” 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 speaks to the loneliness of being a CEO. You need to be OK with the idea that no one has automatic #empathy for what you’re going through, not the people who work with you nor the Board you report to. My approach to this challenge is to build #relationships, and give people a window into how you feel and think.” 6) What person in your life, living or deceased, has inspired you the most (and why)?
“I’ll stick with my #college essay answer: John Lennon. While an imperfect human, he changed #music forever, was constantly creating and evolving, and he wasn’t afraid to stand-up for the things in which he believed.” 7) What’s your advice to the next generation of #business leaders, in 5 words or less?
“Figure out who you are.” Please join us in thanking Geoff Watson for his great #advice; and if you’d like to find a new #ceo #opportunity there are >500 active CEO searches currently posted on ExecThread; see: https://lnkd.in/gx5PQkBi #EdTech #HigherEd #ThoughtLeadership

Each month we highlight an ExecThread member who recently secured a #Board role. This month we spotlight Sandra Lopez, former Intel Corporation and Microsoft executive; and Board member at multiple companies. 1. What’s your ‘Headline’? “I’m a builder at heart, passionate about partnering with companies to foster #growth in a way that is scalable and with #integrity. As I help companies expand I find great fulfillment in supporting the personal & professional development of the people within them.” 2) What are you passionate about?
“I’m deeply committed to lifelong #learning, embracing the role of a perpetual student in both my professional & personal life. I’m driven by a #passion for absorbing #knowledge from exceptional leaders, diving into thought-provoking books, #music and #art; and tackling complex challenges that push the boundaries of my understanding. This lifelong commitment to #learning extends beyond the external; I’m equally devoted to introspection & self-discovery. Understanding myself better allows me to strive for a life of true fulfillment and bliss, aligning my actions with values and continuously evolving on a personal level.” 3) What Boards are you currently on, and how did you first find out about the opportunities?
“I currently serve on the boards of PureRed (a #privateequity-backed company focused on digital #marketing), and Junior Achievement USA (a #nonprofit organization focused on helping young people discover what is possible). Both #opportunities were presented to me via my professional #network. The boards were specifically looking for an executive with proven experience in #digital transformation and the ability to build & transform organizations, and I was honored to be selected for these roles.” 4) What advice would you give to someone trying to secure their 1st Board role?
“Identify your unique value proposition — how can you best serve the company? Once you have clarity on that, craft a strong board bio and share it with your network and let them know that you’re open to and interested in exploring board opportunities.” 5) What’s your favorite quote?
"Here's to the crazy ones. The misfits, rebels, troublemakers, and round pegs in the square holes, the ones who see things differently. They're not fond of rules, and have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them."
- Inspired by Jack Kerouac “On The Road” (and made famous by Apple) 6) Career advice in three words? ”Ask For Help” 7) Anything else you’d like to add?
“Your thoughts become your beliefs, so choose to think positively, even in the face of adversity. Like athletes who visualize the winning shot when they're down, focus on #success.” Please congratulate Sandra on her many #career accomplishments and thank her for the #advice. If you’d like to find Board role #opportunities there are >160 of them currently posted on ExecThread; see https://lnkd.in/gGN7k7w #inspiration #motivation #introspection

ExecThread is thrilled to announce that we made this year’s annual Inc. Magazine list as one of the 5000 fastest-growing private companies in America! ExecThread ranked #524 on the list, with the top 500 companies averaging a median 3-year revenue growth rate of +1637%. This is the 1st time in our company’s history that ExecThread has earned a place on the #Inc5000 list, and we hope to be back on the list next year, and for years to come. This achievement reflects the #commitment and #dedication of our employees, and their #passion in helping executives discover life-changing #jobs. We’re humbled by this recognition, and #grateful to everyone who has contributed to our #success over the years! See press release here: https://lnkd.in/erU8m4FN #onward #upward #appreciative

Each month we highlight an ExecThread member who’s a #CEO Today we spotlight Keith Dawkins, President of the Harlem Globetrotters, who shares some #career tips with us. 1) Who are you? “Husband, Dad, Mentor, Wanna-Be Chef, #Exercise Enthusiast, TV & #Sports Lover and on the side I’m President of the Globetrotters & Herschend Family Entertainment” 2) How did you find your current CEO role? “An awesome recruiter reached out in Oct ‘21; I started in Jan ‘22.” 3) What’s been the hardest part of being a CEO? “The Globetrotters had been operating a certain way for decades. Past #leadership had a singular vision of the Harlem Globetrotters as ONLY a tour. The challenge and #opportunity has been setting a new brand vision and getting buy-in throughout the organization. Some immediately got on-board, some took time and some never got on-board. Setting #strategy is part of the job; I find it challenging & thrilling.” 4) What’s been the most fulfilling part of being CEO? “We started the work of transforming the Globetrotters from a “tour only” business to a multifaceted global #entertainment brand and soon after the “wins” started coming. We produced the Emmy nominated series “Harlem Globetrotters: Play it Forward” with Hearst Media Production Group, signed a global licensing deal with IMG, brought Spalding in as a new global ball partner, launched a CSR initiative with partners like Microsoft, Comic Relief US & the U.S. Department of State, announced a residency at American Dream and we’ll broadcast a game with Gray Media, the first time the Globetrotters will be on live TV in >40 years.” 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’s one thing to say to you want it but it’s important to have self-awareness and an understanding of what you want out of life. There are different ways to be “in the driver’s seat” and my career has always had to compliment the things that are most important to me which is my #family. I’ve been fortunate to work in companies that helped me to achieve #careergrowth while allowing room for me to be a very present husband, father & friend.” 6) What person in your life has inspired you the most & why? “My grandmother EllaRae Saunders, who’s not with us anymore. A black woman born in 1918 in the segregated, Jim Crow south. How did she navigate from being a granddaughter of slaves to becoming a restaurant owner in Ridgewood, NJ, a philanthropist (she started two scholarship organizations) and a pillar of the #community? Her spirit & sheer will were incomparable.” 7) What’s your advice to the next generation of business leaders, in 5 words or less? - “It’s will more than skill” Please join us and thank Keith Dawkins for his great #advice. 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 #inspiring #basketball