In my latest episode of Inside the Lion’s Den, I had the pleasure of hosting Katie Trost, an elite executive coach who brings a fascinating approach to helping tech CEOs scale their companies. What struck me most about our conversation was Katie’s unique perspective on executive coaching – she’s laser-focused on supporting CEOs rather than companies, a distinction that fundamentally shapes her entire practice.

Katie works with post-Series B companies in the sweet spot of 100-1000 employees and $10-100 million in revenue. During our discussion, she shared her journey from starting as a young coach to becoming a trusted advisor for tech CEOs. What I found particularly interesting was her deliberate choice not to take equity in client companies, maintaining her ability to focus solely on the CEO’s success.

We dove deep into the critical challenges of scaling a business, exploring everything from building high-performing executive teams to creating effective board dynamics. Katie broke down her framework into three key categories: leadership development, business operating systems, and people/culture. Her insights on helping CEOs move beyond being the “middleman” to facilitate true executive team collaboration were especially valuable.

One of the most intriguing aspects of Katie’s work is her CEO network, where she hosts monthly dinners in London. These gatherings provide a unique space for tech leaders to connect without investors or other executives present – something I believe is incredibly valuable in today’s business landscape.

What I appreciate most about Katie’s approach is her practical, no-nonsense attitude toward helping CEOs navigate the complex journey from startup to scale-up. Whether you’re currently leading a company or aspiring to do so, this episode offers concrete insights into what it takes to build and lead a successful organization through its critical growth phases.

In this episode, we’ll cover:

• The unique dynamics of scaling tech companies from $10M to $100M+ in revenue
• The critical role of executive team evolution
• Board management strategies for venture-backed companies
• The three pillars of successful company scaling
• Why CEO coaching should focus exclusively on the chief executive’s success rather than the company’s interests
• Katy’s perspective on why she doesn’t take equity compensation

Links and resources mentioned during this episode:

• Visit Katy’s website, Katy Trost
• Connect with Katy on LinkedIn

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