Between Two COO's with Michael Koenig – Details, episodes & analysis

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Between Two COO's with Michael Koenig

Michael Koenig

Business

Frequency: 1 episode/27d. Total Eps: 65

Between Two COOs is hosted by veteran COO Michael Koenig and brings together Chief Operating Officers, executives, and business leaders to share real insights on operations, leadership, scaling, AI, and execution. Featuring COOs from companies like LVMH, Vodafone, Automattic, Lime, JumpCloud, Grafana Labs, and Cotopaxi, plus top VCs like Brad Feld and Seth Levine. Whether you're a COO, VP of Ops, founder, or aspiring operator — this is the podcast for people who actually run companies. New episodes weekly. betweentwocoos.com | b2coos.com

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Apple Podcasts

🇨🇦 Canada - management
11/08/2026
#96
🇨🇦 Canada - management
10/08/2026
#59
🇬🇧 Great Britain - management
10/08/2026
#84
🇩🇪 Germany - management
06/08/2026
#69
🇫🇷 France - management
01/06/2026
#86
🇫🇷 France - management
31/05/2026
#71
🇫🇷 France - management
30/05/2026
#60
🇬🇧 Great Britain - management
20/05/2026
#87
🇫🇷 France - management
14/05/2026
#100
🇫🇷 France - management
13/05/2026
#76

Spotify

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https://linkedin.com/in/mkoenig514
40 shares
https://linkedin.com/in/michael-koenig514
18 shares
https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-koenig514
10 shares

https://twitter.com/mkoenig
6 shares
https://twitter.com/scottbelsky
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https://twitter.com/cdixon
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Score global : 68%

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HomeToGo COO Valentin Gruber Talks M&A, Strategic Planning, and Taking the Multi-Billion Dollar Company Public

Episode 44

Tuesday, July 16, 2024 • Duration 49:15

In this episode of Between Two COOs, host Michael Koenig sits down with Valentin Gruber, COO of HomeToGo, to explore the inner workings of the vacation rental aggregator and its strategy. HomeToGo went public via a SPAC in 2021, reaching a valuation of $1.2 billion after raising $150 million in VC funding. Valentin shares insights into the company’s growth, its approach to balancing marketplace and software solutions, and the strategic importance of acquisitions. The discussion delves into leadership principles, decision-making frameworks, and how HomeToGo navigates market complexities while competing with giants like Airbnb. Valentin also provides an entertaining look at innovative cost-saving measures the company employed, highlighting the unique culture at HomeToGo. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in strategic growth, leadership, and the evolving landscape of the vacation rental market.

00:00 Introduction to Between Two COOs

00:16 Valentin Gruber's Background and Home2Go Overview

01:01 Home2Go's Market Position and Public Listing

01:57 Home2Go's Business Model Evolution

05:16 Scale and Transactions at Home2Go

07:19 Subsidiaries and Acquisitions

15:36 Strategic Planning and Problem Solving

22:39 Leadership and Company Culture

24:20 Management Approach and Decision-Making Techniques

25:45 Balancing Learning and Expertise

28:59 The Importance of Pre-Reads in Decision Making

32:41 Leaders Staying Connected to Problems

33:54 Understanding SPACs and HomeToGo's Public Journey

38:20 Strategic Use of SPAC Funds

39:18 Evaluating and Executing M&A Deals

42:05 Memorable Moments and Financial Discipline

46:26 Conclusion and Farewell

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School of Rock COO Stacey Ryan on Navigating Crises, Change, Leadership, and Empowerment

Episode 43

Tuesday, April 23, 2024 • Duration 43:07

Navigating Leadership and Innovation at School of Rock with Stacey Ryan

In this episode of Between Two COOs, host Michael Koenig interviews Stacey Ryan, the COO of School of Rock - a global music school franchise. Stacey debunks a common misconception about the business's origin, noting it predated and inspired the 2003 film. She discusses the operational challenges of managing a global franchise, particularly through the COVID-19 pandemic, and highlights the innovative pivot to remote lessons and live-streamed shows. Stacey also delves into her role in founding Frontwoman.org, aimed at empowering women in leadership roles across various industries. The discussion covers her career trajectory, the importance of mentorship, operational strategies for scaling, and the significant impact of maintaining a supportive and innovative culture for both students and franchisees.

00:00 Welcome to Between Two COOs: Meet Stacey Ryan

00:28 The Real School of Rock: Beyond the Movie

00:52 Empowering Women Leaders: The Mission of Frontwoman.org

02:10 Navigating Challenges: Pandemic Response and Innovation at School of Rock

12:49 Operational Insights: Building a Global Music Education Empire

25:21 Empowering the Next Generation: Talent Assessment and Retention

31:25 Frontwoman.org: Championing Women's Leadership and Empowerment

40:40 Closing Thoughts and Resources

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Perfecting Remote Work Operations with Darren Murph, Fmr Gitlab VP Remote

Episode 34

Tuesday, October 17, 2023 • Duration 47:16

--------- EPISODE CHAPTERS WITH SHORT KEY POINTS ---------

(0:00:12) - Remote Company Operations and Knowledge Management

Daren explains the importance of low context communication, compounding interest, and over communicating for successful remote teams.

(0:08:59) - Embracing Remote Work as Operating Model

Daren Murph and I discuss operations of successful remote companies, process definition, documentation, culture, macroeconomic downturn, investing in operations, and using history as a guide.

(0:20:22) - Knowledge Management and Generative AI

We examine knowledge management, Generative AI data sets, and remote onboarding for successful companies.

(0:25:52) - Remote Onboarding's Impact on Engagement

Remote work success is achieved through discipline, connection, and a balanced work-life ratio.

(0:41:25) - Engaging Town Hall Strategies and Perspectives

Darren shares advice on effective remote work, from town halls to partnering with business leaders, to keep pushing forward.

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Prisma COO, Nitin Gupta, explains tech to my mom, operationalizing hackathons, the balance of commercializing open-source, planning, and a team psychologist

Episode 33

Tuesday, September 26, 2023 • Duration 45:03

Unlock the secrets of remote team management and product explanation in our stimulating conversation with Nitin Gupta, the COO of Prisma. Nitin unveils how explaining technical products to non-technical people can be a challenge, but he makes it understandable, going as far as breaking down Prisma into simple terms for our mothers. Also, learn about Prisma University, a unique internal initiative to educate non-tech team members about their product's nuances.

Beyond product explanation, we venture into the world of remote hackathons and the operational challenges within. Nitin highlights anticipating potential issues within a remote team and the significance of aligning all-hands meetings with the organization's structure. More so, we explore Prisma's unique take on transparency and collaboration as they open-source their processes.

Finally, we delve into the less conventional aspects of managing a remote company. Nitin shares insights on why they hired a trained psychologist for HR and how it helps prevent employee burnout. He also unveils an interesting balance between commercializing open-source projects and maintaining a vibrant community through the 123 framework. Additionally, we discuss operational execution, aligning teams to KPIs, and Nitin’s unique approach to quarterly planning. This episode is a must-listen for tech enthusiasts and remote team managers looking for practical tips and fascinating insights.

(0:00:13) - Explaining Prisma and Building Knowledge Sharing

Nitin Gupta explains Prisma to his mother, Prisma University educates internally, and technical team members share knowledge.

(0:11:13) - Remote Hackathon and Organizational Structure Management

Nitin Gupta discusses hackathon operationalization, remote team issues, all hands meetings, organization structure, and open sourcing processes.

ZenBusiness COO, Shanaz Hemmati, on building a $1.7B company that thrives in both up and down times, being a technical COO, growing HomeAway through M&A to IPO to more M&A with Expedia, and automating G&A with AI,

Episode 32

Monday, September 11, 2023 • Duration 43:10

Join us as we chat with Shanaz Hemmati, the COO of ZenBusiness, who gives us a fascinating insight into the workings of a public benefit corporation that generates more than $100M in ARR. Listen to her as she speaks about the various initiatives and programs that ZenBusiness undertakes to give back to the community and society. From a grant program to support their customers to her role evolution from CIO to COO, Shanaz’s experiences shed light on the strategies they use to navigate their responsibilities within a small team.

In this chat, we also explore the potential of generative AI to increase speed, accuracy, scalability, complexity, and accessibility of structured language, and how ZenBusiness leverages this to expand capacity. From discussing the importance of data protection to understanding the potential threats to businesses, Shanaz provides a comprehensive overview of the operations side of the company, including their customer support in the contact center.

Shanaz also talks about the company’s organizational structure, with CTO, HR, customer success, legal, program management, procurement, and corporate citizenship all reporting to her. Learn about the process of hiring great people, and how her passion and love for what she does is the key to success. She also shares her experiences with M&A, and how she and her team at HomeAway used the strategy of acquiring existing vacation rental services to make the company global. From tracking the macroeconomic environment to discussing the advantages of remote working, Shanaz provides a wealth of information for anyone interested in understanding the workings of a successful business.

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Productiv COO, Munish Gandhi on Harnessing AI for Streamlining Contract Renewals and Procurement, Optimizing SaaS Costs, Governance and Risk Management, SVB's Collapse, and more

Episode 31

Tuesday, August 1, 2023 • Duration 40:03

Join me and our guest, Munish Gandhi, co-founder and COO of Productiv, as we unravel the intricacies of SaaS governance and optimization. We talk about how the rapid growth of SaaS applications, fueled by a wealth of funding, has led to a lax approach to purchasing and implementing applications. Munish expertly guides us through the function of Productiv, explaining how it provides valuable insights and recommendations for SaaS portfolio governance, rationalizing SaaS spending, and refining SaaS procurement. We also delve into the issue of SaaS underutilization, considering how incentives from SaaS companies, the excitement of software purchases, and the mismatch between what people need and what is purchased can lead to high costs and underutilization.

Listen in as we explore the application of generative AI in streamlining contract renewals and procurement with Munish. Our conversation uncovers how AI can automate the procurement process and enhance workflow, shedding light on how Productiv's product can help educate everyone involved in the software buying process. We then discuss Munish's journey to his COO role and how his previous experience at LinkedIn influenced his approach to building a software company. We also consider the challenges of selling a product that doesn't contribute to top-line revenue and discuss the objective of creating a platform that helps people be more Productiv in their roles.

Munish also shares his experience with crisis management and decision-making, emphasizing the importance of communication and risk management during turbulent times. He offers a glimpse into his method of gathering data from other founders and investors to make informed decisions. This conversation provides valuable insights into how to approach decision-making when faced with an imperfect amount of information. This episode is packed with wisdom and strategies for managing SaaS applications, making it a must-listen for anyone navigating the modern software landscape.

--------- EPISODE CHAPTERS WITH SHORT KEY POINTS ---------

(0:00:13) - SaaS Governance and Optimization Importance

Former Workrise COO and current CEO of Gigs, Allen Narcisse on transforming the labor market, building Uber Eats, Lyft, and Gigs, and the impact of AI and automation on jobs

Episode 30

Tuesday, July 18, 2023 • Duration 44:14

Join us as we sit down with Allen Narcisse, former COO at Workrise and co-founder and CEO of Gigs, for an enlightening conversation about his journey in the gig economy. Allen takes us through his career trajectory, starting from his initial venture, eBuyLine, to his stints building Uber and Lyft, and finally, to his current venture, Gigs. Listen in as Allen shares valuable insights on building marketplaces, the importance of a great first impression, and the inspiration behind Gigs.

In the second part of our discussion, we explore the intricacies of operating a gig economy platform. Allen shares the three-step process Gigs uses to source jobs and engage job seekers and the crucial role of having a team with previous founders, Lyft, and Uber DNA. He also shares his perspective on prioritization and ensuring the team has the resources and talent to accomplish winning moves.

In the final part of our conversation, we discuss the future of the labor market in the face of automation and AI. Allen shares his thoughts on the need for job seekers to be equipped with the right information and tools to navigate the changing job market. Tune in to hear more about Gigs’ business model, the cost per application model, and how it ensures employers only pay for qualified applicants. Finally, we touch on the implications of automation on the labor force and the need for better communication between employers and workers.

Links:
Gigs - https://getgigs.co/

Allen Narcisse - https://www.linkedin.com/in/allen-narcisse/

Michael Koenig -https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-koenig514/

Episode URL - https://betweentwocoos.com/gigs-ceo-allen-narcisse

Embracing the Future of Food: The Rise of Sustainable Indoor Urban Farming with Square Roots CEO Tobias Peggs

Episode 29

Tuesday, June 27, 2023 • Duration 38:13

Can we really grow sustainable, delicious, and healthy food right in the heart of a bustling city? In this eye-opening episode, I had the pleasure of chatting with Tobias Peggs, co-founder and CEO of Square Roots, an innovative indoor urban farm tech company that's revolutionizing how we grow and distribute food in urban areas.

Together, we explored the intricate operations of creating a successful indoor urban farm, from engineering and construction to farming and distribution processes. Tobias shared fascinating insights on how Square Roots uses cutting-edge technology to minimize its environmental impact, reduce its carbon footprint, and produce food sustainably despite the challenges posed by climate change.

We also touched upon the importance of staying true to a company's mission and values, as well as how Square Roots navigated the COVID-19 pandemic and adapted their business to continue providing fresh, nutritious, and mouth-watering produce to their community. Don't miss this thought-provoking conversation on the future of urban agriculture and how it can help us tackle some of the most pressing global issues of our time.

In This Episode

(0:00:16) - Indoor Urban Farming for Sustainable Food

Tobias and I discuss engineering, construction, farming, tech operations, packing, and distribution of urban food production.

(0:10:55) - Revolutionizing Urban Farming With Square Roots

Tobias discusses Square Roots' sustainable farming process, commercialization, and chefs' satisfaction.

(0:25:29) - Reducing Carbon Footprint for Local Farming

Tobias and his team use technology to produce food sustainably, reducing their environmental impact through design, energy, and distribution.

(0:31:02) - Mission, Values, and Adapting to Change

Tobias and I discuss mission and values, adapting to unexpected circumstances, and physical operations to stay focused.

Cotopaxi COO & cofounder, Stephan Jacob on getting to $100M in revenue, brand building, supply chain, B Corps and ESG, and taking llamas on college campuses

Episode 28

Tuesday, May 2, 2023 • Duration 55:40

Stephan Jacob, Co-founder and COO of Cotopaxi, joins Michael to talk about building an impact-driven business, how sustainability drives Cotopaxi’s product development, managing a CEO transition, the proliferation of certified B Corps, donating revenue to fight poverty in developing countries, brand building and taking on North Face and Patagonia, and taking llamas on college campuses.

With a humanitarian-drive and strong business acumen, Stephan’s career in the COO seat began at Cotopaxi, following the sale of his company, Kembrel in 2013. During this time, Stephan reconnected with an old University of Pennsylvania Wharton and Lauder Institute classmate, Davis Smith, with the commitment to build a brand for those who shared their values: a deep-rooted interest in giving back and a passion for the outdoors. From there, came Cotopaxi, an outdoors brand, which has never wavered from its ESG principles and humanitarian focus. Under Stephan’s stewardship, Cotopaxi has become a role model for how businesses can achieve the seemingly at-odds goals of making the world a better place while achieving growth. As a B-Corp using environmentally friendly sourced materials and ethically-sourced labor, Cotopaxi’s values and colorful apparel have struck a chord with its customers, generating $100m in revenue, aiding 1.5 million people in poverty, and assisting 90k refugees throughout South America in 2021 alone.

Where to find Stephan:

Mentioned on the episode:

Davis Smith, Cotopaxi’s Co-founder & CEO
Brad Hiranaga, Cotopaxi’s Chief Brand Officer, General Mills’ former Chief Marketing Officer
Damien Huang, Cotopaxi’s President and incoming CEO, Eddie Bauer’s former CEO
Grace Zuncic, Cotopaxi’s Chief Impact Officer, Chobani’s former Chief People Officer

Lime COO, Woody Hartman, on micromobility, helping Lyft grow from $100K to $3B in revenue, launching 24 markets in 24 hours, creating joy, how to coach, and summiting Everest

Episode 27

Monday, April 10, 2023 • Duration 56:39

Woody Hartman, COO of Lime and former VP of Global Operations at Lyft, sits down with Michael to talk about the challenges in scaling a micro-mobility company, how Lime’s gained a competitive advantage over other players in the market, and why he chose to climb Mount Everest following his time at Lyft!

A biz ops wizard, Woody’s career started as a Business Analyst at McKinsey in 2006, focused on M&A and private equity due diligence. With a passion for creating joyful customer experiences, Woody jumped to the gaming and entertainment website IGN, leading corporate strategy before attending Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business, where he was amongst the top students, earning him distinction as a Siebel Scholar.

Following a short stint at Disney as a Global Development Associate for Imagineering, Woody joined Lyft in February 2013 as employee 34. Initially tasked with leading Lyft’s launch in Los Angeles, just the company’s second market, Woody mastered these rollouts, becoming the company’s VP of Global Operations in September 2017.

Before departing in September 2019, he helped grow the company from $100k to $3 billion in annual revenue. He led hallmark company growth events such as 24 launches in 24 hours and launching in New York with only two weeks’ notice.

After six years with the company, Woody embarked on a new challenge: summitting Mount Everest! Returning to the business world as the President & Head of Product at TeamSnap in March 2020, Woody led the sports app company to double its revenue and its first profitable quarter. Approached with the opportunity to lead a micro-mobility company through its next phase, Woody recently joined Lime in January 2022. With rumors of a Lime IPO following its first profitable year, Woody’s vast expertise and experience have him well-prepared for the work the company has cut out for him.

Where to find Woody:

Between Two COO's with Michael Koenig – Details, episodes & analysis

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Between Two COO's with Michael Koenig – Details, episodes & analysis

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