COO Archives

How a Serial Entrepreneur Unexpectedly Became the COO of Elite Leadership Group YPO

Sean Magennis is a lifelong entrepreneur. In the early 1990s, he started a business consulting firm and an executive search business that has served clients across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. But, as I quickly discovered in our conversation for the Second...

How Scribe Extends its Company Culture Beyond Full-Time Staff

Brittany Walters has always been obsessed with solving problems. “That’s been a common thread throughout the trajectory of my career history,” she says. Her work in international education eventually took her as far as Fiji. Now, she’s Director...

From Four Employees to 3,000: Shopify’s Rapid Growth Has Meant Constant Change for Its COO

Harley Finkelstein knew he wanted to be an entrepreneur when he was in college, trying to figure out how to make his t-shirt business stand out from the crowd. While there, one of his mentors suggested he go to law school to learn how to be a better entrepreneur. So...

1-800-GOT-JUNK? COO Reveals Company Playbook For Developing Rock-Solid Teams

Imagine commuting across the country on a weekly basis and actually missing it when you donâ€™t have to make those trips. Thatâ€™s how Erik Church feels sometimes. As the President and COO of 1-800-GOT-JUNK?, he splits his time between the companyâ€™s Toronto and...

Why Vulnerability Is An Important Part Of Leadership

Vulnerability has an important place in good business practices. It creates an environment where everyone is safe to learn and grow from their mistakes. It also saves time and creates a better work culture for all. While it might seem counterintuitive, vulnerability...