Second in Command: The Chief Behind the Chief with Cameron Herold

Are you really wired to scale, or just bracing for endless chaos?
Cameron Herold, the relentless "Business Growth Guru," rips open the playbook on what actually drives proven, sustainable hypergrowth in today's world. With stories from building global brands like 1-800-GOT-JUNK and years in the trenches with top COOs, Cameron refuses to let leaders settle for mediocrity. He dives brutally deep into the operational and psychological traps choking your ambitions, then hands you a clear, actionable path out.
Miss this episode, and you risk falling behind a tidal wave of companies finally nailing what you keep saying is “impossible.” Listen now if you’re done with excuses and ready for the real, unfiltered edge on systems, talent, and culture. Nobody else is mapping the way out of the chaos like this.

Timestamped Highlights
00:59 – The poll that instantly exposes entrepreneurial wiring
03:14 – The $100M leap: inside systems that really scale
09:04 – The Vivid Vision rewiring that most leaders get wrong
17:12 – Why your vision should repel, not just attract
22:01 – The underused firing muscle that speeds up growth
25:57 – The “A Player” myth that’s costing you millions
39:01 – Brutal truth: why you’re investing all your energy in the wrong people
51:01 – Delegation, coaching, AI… why you won’t survive unless you develop these now

Mentioned Resources
College Pro Painters
Boyd Autobody & Glass
EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System)
“Good to Great” by Jim Collins
The Secret (movie)
Simon Sinek (Start With Why)

Important Links
Connect with Cameron: Website | LinkedIn
Explore the COO Alliance - The World’s Leading Community for Seconds in Command
Get Cameron’s book: Second in Command: Unleash the Power of Your COO Book
Take his course: Invest In Your Leaders Online Course (Use promo code PODCAST10 before the end of the month for 10% off)
Chat or video call with AI Cameron via Delphi

The Second in Command Podcast is an original production hosted by Cameron Herold. Brought to you by COO Alliance. Production and editing by Podcast Your Brand.

How do you actually scale without losing yourself or your team in the chaos?
In this conversation, Sivana Brewer sits down with Mara Castro, COO at Twentyeight Health and former Warby Parker trailblazer, to dissect what it takes to build, lead, and sustain high-performing teams in brutally demanding, mission-driven environments. Expect raw takes on leadership, the dangerous myth of “just do more,” and what it really means to earn trust as a COO.
If you’ve ever wondered why some leaders quietly burn out while others keep their team charging ahead, you cannot afford to miss this episode. Hear exclusive, battle-tested insights you won’t find in any COO playbook. Don’t settle for “what everyone does” and listen now before these lessons become your competitors’ next unfair advantage.

Sponsored by
Genius Network - An exclusive community for highly successful entrepreneurs, connecting you with top-tier leaders, strategic insights, and powerful relationships to help you grow your business faster and smarter.
Learn more: https://www.geniusnetwork.com/

Timestamped Highlights
00:22 – The unexpected journey from nonprofit roots to COO
02:37 – Why a career break fueled a powerhouse comeback
05:34 – The untold value of prior relationships for landing big roles
09:14 – Networking for introverts: How authentic connections really win
10:15 – The counterintuitive 90-day blueprint every new COO must follow
13:06 – The art of KPI clarity and not getting sucked into the weeds
17:50 – The hidden trap of too much complexity in health tech
33:23 – Why guiding, not micromanaging, unlocks leadership at scale
39:30 – The radical power of raising the white flag early

About the Guest
Mara Castro is the COO at Twentyeight Health, where she leads product, engineering, clinical operations, and pharmacy for a fast-scaling women’s telehealth platform. Previously, the first employee at Warby Parker, she helped build and scale one of the most celebrated brands in DTC history, before driving expansion at Evolve in hospitality tech. Her results-driven, human-focused approach makes her a standout leader in growth and transformation.
🔗 LinkedIn | Website

Mentioned Resources
Warby Parker
Evolve
Dale Carnegie – "How to Win Friends and Influence People"
Lean Six Sigma – DMAIC framework
Slack
Netflix

About the Co-Host
Sivana Brewer is a Fractional COO for Remote Teams and former COO at Closers.io, where she helped scale the company to multiple eight figures and built over 500+ sales teams in just 2.5 years. She specializes in leadership development, remote operations, and systems that empower teams to grow sustainably.
🔗 Connect with Sivana on LinkedIn

Important Links
Connect with Cameron: Website | LinkedIn
Explore the COO Alliance - The World’s Leading Community for Seconds in Command
Get Cameron’s book: Second in Command: Unleash the Power of Your COO Book
Take his course: Invest In Your Leaders Online Course (Use promo code PODCAST10 before the end of the month for 10% off)
Chat or video call with AI Cameron via Delphi

The Second in Command Podcast is an original production hosted by Cameron Herold. Brought to you by COO Alliance. Production and editing by Podcast Your Brand.

Sponsored by
Genius Network - An exclusive community for highly successful entrepreneurs, connecting you with top-tier leaders, strategic insights, and powerful relationships to help you grow your business faster and smarter.
Learn more: https://www.geniusnetwork.com/

What does it truly take to lead five powerhouse brands… and keep every single customer and franchisee loyal?
In this candid conversation, Ankin Laysha, COO of Wellbiz Brands, reveals what most COOs miss about operational scale, brand integrity, and building elite franchise teams that actually deliver.
If you think brand consistency is just a checklist and that operations is paperwork, think again. From the brutal realities of breaking into the executive suite as a female leader to the battle of standardization versus brand magic, Ankin cuts through the noise on what works now.
Tune in or miss the proven moves that keep 700+ franchises competitive. If you want to avoid getting left behind and hear the realities other execs won’t share, this episode is your advanced playbook. Listen today and don’t settle for surface-level leadership.

Timestamped Highlights
00:58 – Why female leadership is finally taking over the executive suite
03:01 – The unexpected advantage of running five brands at once
06:23 – The overlooked tools behind flawless brand consistency
09:53 – Brutal truth: franchisee complaints vs. customer reality
13:59 – The hard lesson on platform thinking and brand magic
17:00 – The moment in-the-field leadership unlocked real innovation
20:36 – What working front desk taught her about operational blind spots
30:10 – How surprise and delight moments quietly crush the competition
40:08 – The fast-track strategy for building trust with frontline teams
53:04 – AI’s real role in service businesses (and where human connection wins)

About the Guest
Ankin Laysha is the Chief Operating Officer of Wellbiz Brands, overseeing 700+ franchise locations across Drybar, Elements Massage, Amazing Lash Studio, Radiant Waxing, and Fitness Together. With a track record in multi-unit retail, franchise scale, and innovation, Ankin is recognized for operational rigor, brand growth, and building high-performance executive teams.
🔗 LinkedIn | Website

Mentioned Resources
Drybar
Elements Massage
Amazing Lash Studio
Radiant Waxing
Fitness Together
24 Hour Fitness
McKinsey & Company

About the Co-Host
Lindsay Smith is an experience-driven growth strategist and former Chief Strategy Officer. This marks her first episode as official co-host of the podcast. She previously scaled a new region without a traditional sales team or bloated marketing budget by turning relationships, culture, and execution into revenue. She is the author of No One Needs Another Company Mug. Stop Branding. Start Experiencing and helps leadership teams use experience as a competitive growth lever.
🔗 Connect with Lindsay on LinkedIn

Important Links
Connect with Cameron: Website | LinkedIn
Explore the COO Alliance - The World’s Leading Community for Seconds in Command
Get Cameron’s book: Second in Command: Unleash the Power of Your COO Book
Take Cameron’s leadership course: Invest In Your Leaders Online Course (Use promo code PODCAST10 before the end of the month for 10% off)
Chat or video call with AI Cameron via Delphi

The Second in Command Podcast is an original production hosted by Cameron Herold and co-hosted by Lindsay Smith. Brought to you by COO Alliance. Production and editing by Podcast Your Brand.

Ever felt the raw pressure of holding a company’s fate and the founder’s trust in your hands?
Lindsay Smith drills into the no-filter reality of the “second in command” role, sitting down with Aaron Getty, President of Joe Taylor Restoration. This is not your average COO conversation.
Aaron Getty lifts the curtain on his wild ride from sales rep to running every part of a rapidly scaling restoration business. He exposes the brutally honest partnership between visionary founders and operators, the loneliness most COOs quietly endure, and why clear vision beats perfection every day. You’ll hear why most leadership “rules” are outdated, how to nurture real growth (not just bigger headcount), and what separates those who thrive from those who buckle under pressure.
Listen now, or risk missing the exact frameworks and mindsets that separate average executives from legends. This is an insider’s playbook you won’t hear anywhere else and the shifts revealed here will shape your next leadership move.

Timestamped Highlights
00:00 – The vivid vision move that erased all guesswork overnight
03:06 – Thriving with a founder who never stops—how to lead without being the brakes
06:19 – The “loneliest seat” in the company and the hidden weights of the COO
08:51 – How Aaron built an unstoppable leadership team from scratch
12:47 – The slow, relentless sales approach that future-proofs your business
15:01 – When leaders outgrow their teams: What happens next
19:21 – The one training that finally unified frontline and executive growth
30:06 – The vivid vision launch party and what it did for company velocity
33:57 – Letting go: Why Aaron wants less decision-making power, not more

About the Guest
Aaron Getty is President of Joe Taylor Restoration, a powerhouse in Florida’s emergency mitigation industry. With over a decade earned in the trenches, he’s scaled the company from a seven-person shop to a 100+ member, seven-location force—setting a new standard for operational leadership in the high-stakes restoration sector.
🔗 LinkedIn | Website

Mentioned Resources
Traction by Gino Wickman
Scaling Up by Verne Harnish
Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink
Good to Great by Jim Collins
10x Is Easier Than 2x by Dan Sullivan

About the Co-Host
Lindsay Smith is an experience-driven growth strategist and former Chief Strategy Officer. This marks her first episode as official co-host of the podcast. She previously scaled a new region without a traditional sales team or bloated marketing budget by turning relationships, culture, and execution into revenue. She is the author of No One Needs Another Company Mug. Stop Branding. Start Experiencing and helps leadership teams use experience as a competitive growth lever.
🔗 Connect with Lindsay on LinkedIn

Important Links
Connect with Cameron: Website | LinkedIn
Explore the COO Alliance - The World’s Leading Community for Seconds in Command
Get Cameron’s book: Second in Command: Unleash the Power of Your COO Book
Take Cameron’s leadership course: Invest In Your Leaders Online Course (Use promo code PODCAST10 before the end of the month for 10% off)
Chat or video call with AI Cameron via Delphi

The Second in Command Podcast is an original production hosted by Cameron Herold and co-hosted by Lindsay Smith. Brought to you by COO Alliance. Production and editing by Podcast Your Brand.

Sponsored by:

Redirect Health - Affordable healthcare benefits designed to make traditional insurance optional, with 24/7 access to primary care and Rx support that helps businesses reduce costs while keeping employees covered.
Learn more: http://www.redirectcoo.com/

What if your next big business breakthrough started with owning your own blind spots?
This Fan Favorite episode throws you in the trenches with Cameron Herold and SaaS Academy's former COO and current CEO Matt Verlachi, as they go far beyond surface-level business banter. From surviving firefighting chaos to building, selling, and now scaling SaaS Academy, Matt Verlachi exposes the real skills that make or break Second in Commands.
They unpack why customer obsession cures more growth headaches than any software, how to weaponize one-on-ones for radical team development, and what most COOs get dead wrong about CEO dynamics.
Miss this? You risk coasting on old habits while others engineer unfair advantages. Listen now for hard-won tactics you won’t find in any business course from the world’s largest SaaS coaching engine.


Timestamped Highlights
00:45 – The firefighting mindset that built decisive business instincts
05:56 – The overlooked power of “small unit” teams to unlock real growth
09:44 – Are you a COO trapped in a CEO’s title? The unexpected identity test
13:43 – Brutal truths about customer obsession and why most leaders fail here
16:18 – The lesson no founder learns soon enough when selling their company
18:22 – The surprising reason joining SaaS Academy changed his life
21:31 – The founder’s hidden block: How self-worth destroys pricing
27:31 – The counterintuitive leadership split that 10x’d their decision speed
41:07 – How his “full-person” one-on-ones rip open performance breakthroughs



About the Guest
Matt Verlaque was the former COO of SaaS Academy (now Precision), steering operational strategy for the largest coaching platform serving B2B SaaS entrepreneurs. With first-hand experience ranging from firefighting to founding and selling a SaaS startup, he delivers operating wisdom forged under real pressure. He is currently serving as the CEO at Precision, where they help growth-minded founders understand how their business actually works so they can scale with clarity, not chaos.
🔗 LinkedIn | Website

Mentioned Resources
Great CEO Within by Matt Mochary
Joe Polish / Genius Network
1-800-GOT-JUNK
Dan Martell
Shopify (Tobias Lütke, Harley Finkelstein)
CrossFit
UP Launch



Important Links
Connect with Cameron: Website | LinkedIn
Explore the COO Alliance - The World’s Leading Community for Seconds in Command
Get Cameron’s book: Second in Command: Unleash the Power of Your COO Book
Take his course: Invest In Your Leaders Online Course (Use promo code PODCAST10 before the end of the month for 10% off)
Chat or video call with AI Cameron via Delphi



Note: This Fan Favorite episode is a recast of one of our most impactful interviews, still packed with insights for second-in-command leaders. Whether it’s your first listen or a revisit, there’s timeless value inside.


The Second in Command Podcast is an original production hosted by Cameron Herold. Brought to you by COO Alliance. Production and editing by Podcast Your Brand.