Mark MacLeod sits down with fitness coach Greg Newlands to explore the critical importance of health and wellness for high-performing entrepreneurs. As a coach to successful business leaders, Greg shares his expertise on how CEOs can optimize their physical and mental performance through strategic fitness and nutrition practices. The conversation dives deep into the four key pillars Greg focuses on with clients: daily step count, weigh-ins, calorie tracking, and protein intake. Greg emphasizes the power of resistance training for maintaining muscle mass and a high metabolism as we age, allowing entrepreneurs to sustain energy and productivity. The episode also covers practical tips for creating boundaries and implementing strategic breaks throughout the workday to avoid burnout. Greg provides actionable advice on nutrition, recommending whole foods and explaining the roles of protein, carbs, and fats in achieving peak performance. Whether you're a startup founder looking to boost your energy or an executive aiming to optimize your health, this episode offers valuable insights to help you perform at your best. Tune in to learn how treating yourself like a "high-performance Formula One car" can transform your business and life.

00:53 Health: The CEO's Secret Weapon

05:23 Comeback Kings: Fitness Redemption Stories

09:37 Sleep: The Sacrificial Startup Lamb

16:59 Burnout: Recognizing the Warning Signs

20:59 KPIs for Your Body

33:05 Urgency vs. Boundaries: Finding Balance

38:16 Outsourcing Meals: Fueling Success Effortlessly

48:50 Sobering Up: Energy and Productivity Boost

56:13 Startup CEO Show: Until Next Time

Since 1999, I have sat at the right-hand side of the leaders of high growth technology companies as either a CFO, VC or deal maker. I served as CFO for software companies including Shopify (NYSE: SHOP) and Freshbooks. As a CFO I experienced outright failures, wildly profitable exits, and everything in between.

I was a General Partner in Real Ventures, Canada's largest and most active seed stage fund. My investments there include the fund's largest cash on cash and highest IRR returns to date. Most recently, I founded SurePath Capital Partners the leading investment bank for SMB SaaS companies where we did hundreds of millions in financing and exit transactions.

Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/themarkmacleod/

Contact Mark: https://markmacleod.me/

Mark MacLeod's Startup CEO Show brings us an enlightening conversation with Alina Vandenberghe, the dynamic co-founder and co-CEO of Chili Piper. This episode offers a deep dive into the unique challenges and opportunities of co-leading a company with your spouse, as Alina candidly discusses her partnership with her husband and co-CEO. The discussion sheds light on their fluid approach to dividing responsibilities and how they've managed to create a flat organizational structure despite having 150 employees across 38 countries.

Alina shares invaluable insights on hiring for values, detailing how they assess candidates not just for skills but for alignment with company culture. The conversation takes an interesting turn as Alina reflects on her background growing up in communist Romania and how it shaped her entrepreneurial journey, instilling in her a unique perspective on resource management and customer motivations. This episode is packed with practical advice on building a strong company culture, leveraging personal branding for business growth, and adapting to the rapidly changing tech landscape.

Don't miss this opportunity to learn from one of tech's most innovative and authentic leaders.

Timestamps:

01:06 Meet Alina: Chili Piper's Spicy CEO

03:26 Chili Piper: Spicing Up Sales Software

06:11 Raw and Real: Alina's Authentic Approach

10:16 Social Media: The Pipeline Powerhouse

12:20 Speaking Up: Time Well Invested

16:42 Dividing and Conquering CEO Duties

19:42 Remote Work: Born from Wanderlust

29:48 Bootstrapping to Millions: Chili Piper's Journey

35:48 AI: Blessing or Terminator Scenario?

43:00 Corporate Wisdom in Startup Land

48:07 Inspiring Women: Alina's Ripple Effect

Since 1999, I have sat at the right-hand side of the leaders of high growth technology companies as either a CFO, VC or deal maker. I served as CFO for software companies including Shopify (NYSE: SHOP) and Freshbooks. As a CFO I experienced outright failures, wildly profitable exits, and everything in between.

I was a General Partner in Real Ventures, Canada's largest and most active seed stage fund. My investments there include the fund's largest cash on cash and highest IRR returns to date. Most recently, I founded SurePath Capital Partners the leading investment bank for SMB SaaS companies where we did hundreds of millions in financing and exit transactions.

Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/themarkmacleod/

Contact Mark: https://markmacleod.me/

In this episode of the Startup CEO Show, Mark MacLeod sits down with Mark Bordo, co-founder and CEO of Vetster, to explore the world of pet telemedicine and marketplace businesses. Bordo shares the origin story of Vetster, born from a personal need and launched just before the COVID-19 pandemic. He discusses how the company quickly scaled across North America, balancing supply and demand in the veterinary marketplace.

Bordo offers valuable insights into building and growing a successful marketplace business, emphasizing the importance of data-driven decision-making and continuous optimization. He also touches on the challenges of regulatory environments in different states and provinces, and how Vetster navigates these complexities. The conversation delves into Bordo's 25-year journey as an entrepreneur, highlighting lessons learned and strategies for personal growth that have enabled him to stay ahead of his rapidly expanding businesses.

From the intricacies of customer acquisition to the evolution of marketing strategies in the age of AI, this episode is packed with practical advice for aspiring and seasoned entrepreneurs alike. Tune in to gain valuable knowledge on building and scaling a marketplace business in today's dynamic digital landscape.

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Since 1999, I have sat at the right-hand side of the leaders of high growth technology companies as either a CFO, VC or deal maker. I served as CFO for software companies including Shopify (NYSE: SHOP) and Freshbooks. As a CFO I experienced outright failures, wildly profitable exits, and everything in between.

I was a General Partner in Real Ventures, Canada's largest and most active seed stage fund. My investments there include the fund's largest cash on cash and highest IRR returns to date. Most recently, I founded SurePath Capital Partners the leading investment bank for SMB SaaS companies where we did hundreds of millions in financing and exit transactions.

Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/themarkmacleod/

Contact Mark: https://markmacleod.me/