Leveling Up with Eric Siu

Latest Episodes:

How Pete Lamson Took The Reins As CEO of JazzHR And Grew It To $15M In ARR Oct 14, 2020

Show notes

In this episode, we have Pete Lamson, the CEO of JazzHR, an SMB-focused recruiting software/applicant tracking system company designed to streamline the hiring process. Unlike most of their competitors who are focused on the mid- and enterprise market, JazzHR serves small businesses of anything between 50 and 500 employees, offering a solid product that they continue to improve as well as delivering industry-leading customer support. Pete discusses why customer retention is such a high priority for them and how, during the height of the COVID pandemic, they remained laser-focused on getting results for their customers and investors. As part of their customer experience strategy, they offer free onboarding services that allow their customers to get comfortable and confident with their software so that they can get the most out of it – just one of their many strategies for offering top-class customer support. Switching the topic to his role as CEO, Pete discusses his recruitment by JazzHR four years ago and how the founder Don Charlton managed to strike the perfect balance between supporting him while also giving him enough space to develop his own ideas, and he advises listeners on the most important considerations for any new CEO. For more on recruitment software, founder-CEO relationships, and customer experience, be sure to tune in!

TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES:

[00:21] Before we jump into today’s interview, please rate, review, and subscribe to the Leveling Up Podcast!
[00:49] Pete talks about his entrepreneurial career and his biggest influences along the way.
[02:19] Learn what kind of business JazzHR is and how Pete and his team make money.
[03:11] How their solution simplifies and improves the recruiting process for their customers.
[04:11] Hear some impressive metrics on their ARR, number of employees, and growth rate.
[05:04] What makes JazzHR different from other recruitment software companies.
[06:53] Some of the positive feedback they are getting and their focus on customer retention.
[07:45] Advice for driving good customer experience, including offering onboarding services.
[10:53] Pete talks about their approach to onboarding new customers and the time it takes.
[11:35] Being recruited as the CEO four years ago and how the board equipped him to succeed.
[13:58] Get a sense of how effectively the founder Don Charlton supports Pete as the CEO.
[17:10] The actions Pete and his team have had to take to keep afloat when the pandemic hit.
[20:03] Overcoming the downturn by continuing to prioritize results for customers and investors.
[21:03] The most important PMF-related questions to consider as a new CEO.
[23:10] Pete talks about Sisense as his most trusted tool, especially in the context of COVID.

Resources From The Interview:

Pete Lamson on LinkedIn
JazzHR
Carbonite
Indeed
ZipRecruiter
Taleo
Greenhouse
Don Charlton on LinkedIn
Kommute
Sisense
Must-read book: The Hard Thing About Hard Things

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How Tech Entrepreneurs Can Also Be Creative With Christiane Lemieux Of 'The Inside' Oct 12, 2020

Show notes

In almost all situations, the more personalized the piece, the more you will have to pay, and the waiting time for made-to-order is months, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Today’s guest is Christiane Lemieux, Founder and CEO of The Inside, an online furniture store that provides custom made, on-demand furniture that remains exclusive by utilizing technology. Christiane is a creative tech entrepreneur, and today we talk to her about what this means while exploring her journey launching Dwell Studio, The Inside, and what is in store for the world from her new company, Lemieux Et Cie. Christiane gets into the business models of her different companies, how she bridged technology with creativity at different stages of her career, and her strategy and vision for the launch of Lemieux Et Cie. She weighs in on the innovations the technology-powered, furniture on-demand model at The Inside brings to the world of made-to-order e-commerce. Christiane shares about how she is taking her products a tier higher with Lemiuex Et Cie, and why she plans to launch her new business in the IRL retail world. Christiane also details some of her experiences building a best in class, remote-first tech team as she transitioned from her position at Wayfair into a then-fledgling The Inside. For a great conversation about innovation that blends design and technology, make sure you tune in for this interview with Christiane Lemieux.

TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES:

[00:21] Before we jump into today’s interview, please rate, review, and subscribe to the Leveling Up Podcast!
[01:09] Christiane’s journey from starting Dwell Studio and how she became a creative tech entrepreneur.
[02:10] Selling Dwell Studio to Wayfair, working there, and the tech that went into starting The Inside.
[03:08] Made on demand furniture that remains exclusive by utilizing technology: How The Inside works.
[03:35] Not needing a warehouse and having no waste: Advantages of The Inside’s business model.
[04:19] Products at The Inside, and their pricing which starts from as low as $20.
[04:40] Why the custom order model at The Inside produces stickier customers.
[06:04] How COVID is affecting digitally-first companies and businesses selling homeware.
[07:35] The higher-end offerings by Christiane’s new company Lemieux Et Cie.
[09:17] Getting people back on the streets and why Lemieux Et Cie is not enabling e-commerce instantly.
[09:58] How The Inside landed its first customers using the usual D2C advertising playbook.
[10:44] Challenges growing The Inside; escalated marketing costs for second wave D2C companies.
[11:57] Retail competitors and the launch plan for Lemieux Et Cie once they enable e-commerce.
[13:55] The difference between a creative entrepreneur and a tech one and what blending them means.
[14:57] How Christiane leveled up at Wayfair and by hiring her own engineers for The Inside.
[15:55] Building a brilliant, remote tech team from scratch by using Toptal.
[17:11] A valuable tool Christiane uses and recommends for tweaking your stack rank.

Resources From The Interview:

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7 Years of Agency Operating Lessons (Part 3) Oct 08, 2020

Show notes

Today, we are going to talk about seven years of operating lessons from taking over my ad agency! This is a multi-part series that talks about the most powerful lessons learned throughout the journey. This is part 3 of the series! When I first started running the business I didn't listen to the team and employees were leaving left and right. When I finally dropped down to one employee, I decided it was time to make a change. These are the lessons that helped me turn my business around and if you put them into action they can help you too!

Mario Nawfal Reveals Little Known Growth Hacks That Will Make A Big Difference In Your Business Oct 07, 2020

Show notes

Most people create the product they have in mind and then try to build a brand around it, but not Mario Nawfal, the CEO of the Athena Group of Companies. What has led to Mario’s success is his business philosophy of first testing a range of products to see which ones do well, and then to begin building out a brand around a product that is already on the consumer radar and trending. For him, it is all about leveraging the momentum of a popular product or service and getting your timing right. Just take 2020 as an example. Those who have become millionaires by selling PPE and hand sanitizers would have been nowhere the year before. In this episode, Mario talks about his group of e-commerce and agency companies, sharing how the avant-garde growth hack strategies developed by the latter are used to boost the business of the former. And while service-based businesses such as agencies are not easily scalable, Mario shares how they are still getting great value out of these organizations and using them to benefit the group at large. Our guest talks about the lessons he learned from Froothie, one of his early companies, regarding the importance of creating a community, and shares about his collaboration with growth hack specialists Jared Codling and Kyrill Krystallis. Tuning in, listeners will also hear Mario’s views on starting a company from scratch versus acquiring an existing one, and much more!

TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES:

[00:21] Before we jump into today’s interview, please rate, review, and subscribe to the Leveling Up Podcast!
[00:47] Find out how Mario got started in e-commerce and eventually expanded into B2B.
[01:33] When Mario's entrepreneurial journey started and challenging himself in the agency space.
[02:12] Hear about the extent to which Mario is personally involved in the companies he owns.
[03:00] Mario shares some numbers on the growth of his group of companies.
[05:45] The importance of testing and building a brand around a product that is proving to work.
[06:43] Overcoming the problem of making money on inexpensive items with a low AOV or LTV.
[07:37] Learn about the innovative growth-hacking services offered by his agencies.
[08:55] How Mario’s agencies can serve his existing e-commerce businesses and vice versa.
[09:40] Advice for building a brand around a product in a highly competitive market.
[12:52] The lessons from Froothie about the power of a strong brand and community.
[14:28] Mario shares his perspective on what growth hacking is and the best strategies to use.
[17:38] The genius way that Jared Codling built his community and extensive database.
[19:02] Using Phantombuster as a beginner and where you can find videos for tips and tricks.
[20:38] Building new businesses from scratch versus buying existing e-commerce businesses.
[21:34] A resource for growth hacking tools and the most important one for your health.
[24:14] One of the biggest mistakes you can make as an entrepreneur: neglecting your health.

Resources From The Interview:

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Low Risk Investments to Create Wealth: What It Means to Be a 'Dhandho' Investor Oct 06, 2020

Show notes

In the 70's the Patels from India created a method for acquiring motels and in time earned a massive fortune that could take care of their entire family. In this clip we do a book summary of one of my new favorite books, The Dhando Investor, and discover how you can mitigate risk in your investments and create massive wealth!

How To Transition From Startup Founder To $18B Public Company Leader With Zoominfo CEO Henry Schuck Oct 05, 2020

Show notes

Today we talk to Henry Schuck, Co-Founder and CEO of ZoomInfo (formerly DiscoverOrg) about best practices for steering the ship of a startup and scaling it until it goes public. ZoomInfo provides subscription-based sales and marketing intelligence to its clients in the form of accurate B2B content and company information to accelerate the growth of their marketing teams! Henry starts by summing up his education and career, sharing the story of co-founding DiscoverOrg, wearing multiple hats while scaling it to the point of going public, and then acquiring ZoomInfo. From there, we get into some of Henry’s habits that took him from startup CEO to public company CEO. He talks about mastering the skills needed to see DiscoverOrg through its first five years, how to let go of staff who served their purpose but are now holding the company back, and how bringing on investors changed the internal dynamics of the firm for the better. Henry also gets into his ‘pebble in the shoe’ method for aligning his teams with his vision, what goes into ZoomInfo's growth engine, and the people and resources he consults to stay sharp and constantly get better. For all this and more on the topic of continuous improvement and directing a publicly owned company from Henry, be sure to tune in.

TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES:

[00:21] Before we jump into today’s interview, please rate, review, and subscribe to the Leveling Up Podcast!
[01:00] Henry’s education and how he co-founded DiscoverOrg and acquired ZoomInfo.
[03:11] Wearing multiple hats, imposter syndrome, and the first five years of DiscoverOrg.
[05:00] Why Henry decided to bring on investors and what he learned about hiring after.
[07:25] How Henry dealt with being accountable to people other than his co-founder after going public.
[08:21] Dealing with letting go of employees who aren’t good enough to help you scale.
[12:35] How Henry handled scaling so well; constantly mastering the skills involved.
[14:00] Get great at something, train somebody else to do it, and then move on.
[15:36] How Henry steers the ship by pointing out what’s wrong with existing systems.
[16:52] Winning by constantly iterating versus ‘that’s how it’s always been done’ thinking.
[19:02] ZoomInfo’s growth engine and how it works using a specialization sales funnel.
[20:41] Figuring out how to get, and take action on, metrics for one’s business.
[22:50] People Henry consults with to get advice on how to be a better CEO.
[23:52] Why the reMarkable tablet is a tool that’s made a recent impact on Henry.
[24:28] Henry reads analyst reports to get better and stay informed.
[25:27] Two must-read book recommendations from Henry.
[27:17] The most compelling thing Henry recently read: Every analyst report on ZoomInfo!
[28:03] How to find Henry online, get in touch with him, and learn more about him.

Resources From The Interview:

Henry Schuck on Twitter
Henry Schuck on LinkedIn
Henry Schuck Email
ZoomInfo
DiscoverOrg
University of Nevada
Ohio State University
The Carlyle Group
The E-Myth
YPO
EO
Oura Ring
Evernote
reMarkable
Smartsheet
Morgan Stanley
Ben Horowitz
Must read book: Ogilvy on Advertising, The Hard Thing About Hard Things

Leave Some Feedback:

What should I talk about next? Who should I interview? Please let me know on Twitter or in the comments below.
Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please leave a short review here
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How Intellimize Increases Conversion Rates By An Average of 46% 😯 Sep 30, 2020

Show notes

From an airplane designer to a marketing expert, today we are joined by Guy Yalif, the co-founder and CEO of Intellimize, a company that automatically optimizes websites to drive revenue and customer acquisition using machine learning. After making the unusual leap from a career in aerospace engineering, Guy accumulated considerable marketing experience by working in the startup space as well as for big brands like Twitter, Yahoo, and Microsoft. In this episode, he talks about the value that Intellimize offers its customers, including the unique ability to personalize the web experience for each user while also providing useful insight that can be leveraged to refine their messaging. Their sophisticated software gathers and interprets data to make suitable suggestions to site visitors, thereby boosting conversion rates and making a big difference in the sales department. In general, their customers are seeing a remarkable 46% improvement on the metrics they care about since Intellimize is all about focusing on those aspects that are most pertinent to their customers. For them, success is about ensuring that their customers are happy and successful, which is the exact reason why they are seeing such rapid growth themselves. To hear more from seasoned marketer Guy Yalif, be sure to tune in for this episode of Leveling Up!

TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES:

[00:41] Before we jump into today’s interview, please rate, review, and subscribe to the Leveling Up Podcast!
[00:55] Guy talks about his unusual transition from aerospace engineer to marketing expert.
[01:57] Hear how Intellimize will personalize the web experience for each unique visitor.
[03:15] The value of a customized home page and how they interpret personalization.
[04:11] Using the tool to make money through personalization and get useful insights.
[05:02] Find out how Intellimize helped Stella & Dot achieve a 52% increase in conversion.
[06:48] How Intellimize knows the right messaging and experience for any given customer.
[07:56] The data Intellimize gathers to identify and suggest suitable products for site visitors.
[09:39] Leveraging machine learning to figure out what works without any manual input.
[10:53] How Intellimize makes money and the size of the companies and websites they cater to.
[11:59] Why it is not necessarily wise to sell your software on a price-per-test basis.
[12:32] Building a system to work with little traffic and to be faster than traditional testing.
[13:38] How customers are seeing a 46% improvement on the metrics they care about.
[15:14] Why Intellimize will get more out of data than a marketing team.
[16:54] How Intellimize works with customers’ marketing teams to code the suggested ideas.
[19:07] The biggest growth challenge Intellimize have had — finding the right team members.
[20:19] The overarching objective of ensuring that customers are happy and successful.
[21:14] Guy shares how using an Oura Ring has allowed him to leverage the power of sleep.
[23:40] The two people Guy most likes to learn from – Tod Sacerdoti and Doug Knopper.

Resources From The Interview:

Leave Some Feedback:

What should I talk about next? Who should I interview? Please let me know on Twitter or in the comments below.
Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please leave a short review here
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How To Prepare Your Business (And Lifestyle) For What's Coming With Investor George Gammon Sep 28, 2020

Show notes

Whether you’re trying to build wealth or simply have a better idea of market fundamentals, understanding macroeconomics will give you a significant upper hand. Nobody understands this better than George Gammon, the entrepreneur, investor, and real estate expert who helps his audience increase their wealth and freedom by teaching macroeconomics through his YouTube channel. On today’s show, George shares his thoughts on the state of the market, his approach to investing, and how he built a YouTube channel that went from 200 to 40 000 views a day just four months after its launch. George begins by explaining why the economy is in more danger now than in 2008, detailing that it is a complex system which, if meddled with, will produce unpredicted results and how the current Fed stimulus exemplifies this. We talk about how George approaches his portfolio and how this fits into his goals to live a life with as much freedom as possible. Here he discusses how to separate your investments into buckets, the need to set up a plan B, and how his decision to shack up in St. Bart’s during the pandemic factors into all this. We also focus on George’s recent career, and he shares the ins and outs of how he started his YouTube channel, his content repurposing strategies, and how the value he is bringing by teaching macroeconomics at a time like this contributed to the surge in his following. For all this and a bunch of actionable pointers from George about how to educate yourself about the economy and become a better investor, be sure to tune in.

TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES:

[00:21] Before we jump into today’s interview, please rate, review, and subscribe to the Leveling Up Podcast!
[02:47] George’s road to learning about investing, interest in macros, and starting his YouTube channel.
[03:56] Problems with the financial system; meddling with a complex system we don’t understand.
[07:42] Understanding the Fed stimulus and how it’s making things worse now than in 2008.
[15:03] ‘Price makers’, and why thriving online businesses are more protected right now.
[17:08] George’s strategy for building an audience and product online and monetizing it.
[23:07] The sudden growth rates George’s channel experienced and what produced this.
[25:26] Asymmetric downside and why investors should understand macroeconomics.
[30:11] George’s advice on how to diversify your portfolio in the current climate.
[35:08] How to buy gold, or stocks that deal in it if you can’t get it physically.
[36:39] Insurance versus speculation: The difference between gold and bitcoin.
[37:35] Initial resources to consult for learning about macroeconomics.
[40:42] What freedom means to George; having a plan B and how to form one.
[47:07] Does understanding macroeconomics help you understand incentives?
[47:30] Getting a clearer understanding of economics by reading Thomas Sowell.
[49:09] ‘Stagflate,’ lie, and tax: Jason Burack and George’s view of what’s in store.
[51:31] George’s remote process for his whiteboard videos and tools that help him.
[52:53] Book recommendations from George for investing, probabilities thinking, and economics.
[56:07] Why George recommends listening to The End Game podcast with Mike Green.
[57:47] The best way to find George online.

Resources From The Interview:

Stan Druckenmiller

Chris MacIntosh
Lyn Alden
Jim Grant
Rick Rule
Sprott
The Canadian Mint
HSBC
Macro Voices
Real Vision
Nomad Capitalist
Hugh Hendry
Charlie Munger
Jason Burack on Twitter
Wall St. for Main St.
Peloton
Zoom
Skype
WeTransfer
Ed Thorp
The Grant Williams Podcast: The End Game
The End Game with Mike Green
Peter Thiel
Must read book: Beat the Dealer, Market Wizards

Leave Some Feedback:

What should I talk about next? Who should I interview? Please let me know on Twitter or in the comments below.
Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please leave a short review here
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How To Truly Build Your Wealth, Save On Taxes & Go Where You’re Treated Best By Andrew Henderson of Nomad Capitalist Sep 23, 2020

Show notes

As the social climate continues to become increasingly tense in the US, with the pandemic, politics, and proposed tax hikes, it’s becoming more important for entrepreneurs to have a plan B. Today’s guest is Andrew Henderson, Founder of Nomad Capitalist, a boutique advisory firm that provides entrepreneurs with holistic plans to legally reduce taxes, get second passports and create wealth offshore. He joins us to provide insights both into his company and the issue of geopolitical diversification generally. We discover the services that Nomad Capitalist offers, and how Andrew, having lived and invested in numerous countries, adds his particular expertise. We hear how Andrew splits up his time throughout the year and why he encourages people to consider lesser-known countries as options. The conversation naturally goes to the pandemic, how it’s affected Nomad Capitalist’s business, and why the government’s reaction has been such an eye-opener. While many people continue to have a strong allegiance to the United States brand-name, Andrew believes that the COVID crisis has revealed some truths that we can no longer ignore, making a second passport that much more crucial. To hear more about the importance of not being tied to one place and having an escape hatch, be sure to tune in today.

TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES:

[00:41] Before we jump into today’s interview, please rate, review, and subscribe to the Leveling Up Podcast!
[00:20] Get to know Andrew, his background, and what his company, Nomad Capitalist does.
[00:59] Nomad Capitalist’s founding story and why Andrew thinks it has been so successful.
[02:48] The company’s content-heavy strategy which has helped with their growth.
[04:23] How the business runs and makes money as an advisory firm.
[06:08] Getting started with Nomad Capitalist – How entrepreneurs would get the ball rolling.
[07:37] Andrew’s thoughts for US founders who feel uneasy about the social climate.
[10:10] Some up and coming countries Andrew recommends founders check out.
[12:05] Andrew’s trifecta idea and splitting your time up between three places per year.
[14:14] Some of the places where Andrew has properties and where he’s looking to buy.
[15:00] Hear Andrew’s takeaways about COVID and the lasting impacts of the pandemic.
[16:25] The importance of not being stuck in one place.
[17:40] Enquiry growth at Nomad Capitalist over the years and revenue increase.
[19:49] Geopolitical diversification and why you should consider a second passport.
[21:42] Why Andrew renounced his US citizenship and the backlash he’s faced.
[26:21] The over-attachment people have to the brand name of America.
[27:36] Andrew’s take on crypto, the future of the dollar, and ways to hedge against the dollar.
[29:16] Looking back, what Andrew wishes he had done differently.
[30:08] Some of the books and other media that have been inspiring Andrew.
[33:13] Additional services Nomad Capitalist offers and how much entrepreneurs should set aside.
[38:02] How to find Andrew online.

Resources From The Interview:

Nomad Capitalist

Robert Kiyosaki on Twitter
Salome Zourabichvili
Donald J. Trump
The Heritage Foundation
Louis Vuitton
The Imagineering Story
Must read book: The Ride of a Lifetime, EntreLeadership

Andrew's Links:

Leave Some Feedback:

What should I talk about next? Who should I interview? Please let me know on Twitter or in the comments below.
Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please leave a short review here
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Roland Frasier Reveals His Proven Formula to Win At Investing (Exclusive Sneak Peek: Virtual Event) Sep 22, 2020

Show notes

This is a special bonus episode where we take a sneak peek into our virtual event and share a portion of one of the talks from the event. In this episode, we're sharing the mic with investing legend, Roland Frasier, who goes into detail about how to buy an existing business with no money down.

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