Podcast Episode (Proposal Preview)

Fan Favorite episode

with Melisa TokmakFormer General Manager of Document AI at Scale AI · Founder of Netic

What does it take to go from Chief of Staff to running your own business unit before turning 30?

Fan FavoriteEP. 610October 6, 202644 min
Episode 610 artwork: Fan Favorite with Melisa Tokmak of Scale AI
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44 min
Episode notes

In this Fan Favorite episode, Cameron Herold sits down with Melisa Tokmak, former General Manager of Document AI at Scale AI and now founder of Netic, to revisit one of the show’s most insightful conversations on building teams and leading fast.

Melisa’s path is rare: a tiny village in Turkey, Stanford, Facebook, then right hand to Scale’s CEO. She breaks down what a chief of staff really does, how she wins over senior candidates when she is younger than most, and why doing everything yourself is the hardest habit to break.

Whether you are building a team or chasing a bigger role, this conversation is a masterclass in taking the elevator.

Jump around

Attracting Top Talent
Leadership Development
Transitioning to Scale AI
Defining Chief of Staff
Overcoming Growth Challenges
Focusing on Priorities
Hiring and Culture
Identifying Candidates
First Principles Approach
Career Advice and Closing
Meet the guest

Melisa Tokmak is the founder of Netic. At the time of this recording, she was General Manager of Document AI at Scale AI, where she led a team of engineers, machine learning scientists, and product, operations, sales, and marketing talent building fine-tuned models for logistics, financial services, healthcare, and government. She joined Scale two years out of college as Chief of Staff to CEO Alexandr Wang, then founded the company’s government unit, whose customers included the U.S. Army, the Defense Innovation Unit, and the U.S. Air Force.

Chief of Staff

Joined Scale two years out of college as Chief of Staff to CEO Alexandr Wang.

Government unit

Founded Scale’s government unit, whose customers included the U.S. Army, the Defense Innovation Unit, and the U.S. Air Force.

Document AI

Led a team of engineers, machine learning scientists, and product, operations, sales, and marketing talent.

Netic

Now the founder of Netic.

Cameron Herold, host of the Second in Command podcast
Your host

Known as “The CEO Whisperer,” Cameron grew 1-800-GOT-JUNK? from $2M to $106M in six years and is the bestselling author of The Second in Command, Vivid Vision and Meetings Suck. In 2016 he founded COO Alliance, the world’s leading community for Second in Command leaders.

The world’s best Second in Command leaders are already inside. Join operational leaders who’ve been where you are, and have the frameworks to get you there faster.

Membership is reviewed and selective. $2M+ company revenue required.
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