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

Are you facing the pressure to reinvent your business before it’s too late? Imagine your cash flow vanishing, your team at risk, and your market shifting overnight.In this candid, deeply human episode, Sivana Brewer talks to Ruth Velez, COO and co-founder of Vinali Group, who led her company from the brink of collapse during COVID through a string of audacious pivots to global growth. Ruth exposes the real emotional rollercoaster behind leading with your partner, building culture across borders, hiring and keeping amazing talent, and never losing faith, no matter how chaotic it gets.This episode isn’t just about operations, it’s about surviving, adapting, and growing stronger together. Listen now to avoid the pain of stalling out, wasting years on the wrong models, or letting fear keep you stuck. Don’t miss Ruth’s rare, actionable insights. You won’t get this level of honesty or inside story anywhere else.Timestamped Highlights[00:00] – The bold moment Ruth and her husband decided failure was NOT an option[02:50] – How COVID nearly destroyed their staffing business—and the exact pivot that saved them[03:59] – Recruiting from Colombia: training from scratch to building a cross-border powerhouse[05:45] – Nearshoring vs. offshoring: hidden advantages for cost, culture, trust[08:52] – Security, HR, and team-building—the true reasons to use a staffing partner[12:00] – Grit and transparency: the secret to client loyalty during chaos[17:48] – Marriage + business: the COO/CEO dynamic, picking which wild ideas to follow[24:06] – Being the “options queen”—conquering doubts and finding your strengths[33:42] – Building legacy: raising entrepreneurial kids in a family business[35:34] – Only work with clients who TRULY fit—how that changed everythingAbout the GuestRuth Velez is COO and co-founder of Vinali Group, an international nearshore staffing company headquartered in Orlando, FL with offices in Colombia and across Latin America. Ruth is known for operational excellence, culture-building, and helping US companies leverage nearshoring for both trust and talent.🔗 LinkedIn | WebsiteMentioned ResourcesPPP Loan (COVID relief program)EOS – Entrepreneurial Operating SystemISO 27001 (cybersecurity certification)Alex and Layla Hormozi (business couple)Traffic and Conversion Summit (business conference)

Are you drowning in busywork, feeling alone at the top, and itching to create a business that lets you actually live?In this episode, host Sivana Brewer talks with the dynamic Meghan Donnelly, COO of Brand Built, who reveals how neurodivergence and automation can become your most thrilling business superpowers.You’ll get the raw truth on turning chaos into opportunity, why clean data unlocks peace of mind, and the revolutionary systems that make a five-person team outperform companies with hundreds.If you want to break the chains of burnout, build a brand you love, and create the operational lifestyle most entrepreneurs only dream about… this real, radically honest episode is your shortcut. Listen now or risk falling even further behind. These are actionable insights you won’t hear anywhere else.Timestamped Highlights[00:00] – Why “stop working” might be the smartest advice for results[03:39] – The accidental secrets of scaling despite ADHD—and how neurodiversity can become a victory[07:52] – How being first and different as a woman in tech nearly broke Meghan Donnelly[13:47] – The surprising trap of big projects—and the revolutionary 30-day solution[20:13] – A radical approach to getting business partnerships that pay forever[27:21] – The automation freak’s shocking rule: automate, delegate, then eliminate[44:47] – How poor onboarding quietly destroys teams and revenues (and the proven fix)[52:03] – Loom + AI SOPs: The must-know trick for effortless documentation[58:29] – Why most business goals keep you stuck—and the “life-first” blueprintAbout the GuestMeghan Donnelly is the Chief Operating Officer of Brand Built, a fast-growing peer-to-peer coaching community for founders focused on LinkedIn branding and business automation. With 15+ years in digital operations, Meghan Donnelly has gone from coder to corporate leader to founder, transforming her ADHD diagnosis into entrepreneurial firepower. She’s known for building operational systems that are so lean and automated, five people can run what usually takes fifty. She’s also the creator of the Queen of Automation podcast and Digital Magic CRM SaaS.🔗 LinkedIn | Website | PodcastMentioned ResourcesDigital Magic CRMNat Berman (LinkedIn expert, founder)Darren Mass (Brand Built founder, exited entrepreneur)Go High Level (software platform)Loom

What if the only way to build a company and a life with true resilience was to let everything break? Are you burned out, questioning leadership, or stuck in a plateau while everyone expects you to “scale perfectly”?In this episode, host Sivana Brewer sits down with Matt Rhodes, COO of The Phoenix Method and co-founder of Polaris Capital Investments. Matt shares his raw story of rising from rock bottom, both in business and marriage, using a radical combination of systems, self-accountability, and explosive mindset shifts.Discover how Matt and his wife Jen rebuilt trust, transformed company culture, and mastered the uncomfortable art of letting go… all while weathering the chaos of COVID and scaling new ventures.Skip the endless analysis and unlock the real, actionable playbook for bouncing back stronger. Tune in now or risk staying stuck in mediocrity. This episode is an exclusive masterclass for COOs tired of perfection and ready for exceptional impact.Timestamped Highlights[00:00] – Why COOs must “let systems break” to escape perfection traps[01:16] – The harsh wake-up call that shattered business—and marriage[04:01] – How COVID exposed fragile culture—and forced total reinvention[07:07] – The critical hiring shift: moving from sales stars to customer-first teams[10:33] – Letting go, delegation, and the painful process that actually fueled growth[13:52] – Fresh eyes: Why bringing in outsiders is the hidden superpower in scaling[15:17] – The vital metrics Matt tracks weekly to prevent disaster before it hits[19:07] – How Matt and Jen divided CEO/COO roles to leverage their strengths[24:02] – Why top COOs never go it alone—the ROI (and resistance) of world-class coaching[32:12] – Breaking isolation: Why environment and peer groups are every COO’s money-making secret[36:43] – The one mindset shift that transformed results, inside and outAbout the GuestMatt Rhodes is the COO of The Phoenix Method and co-founder of Polaris Capital Investments, with over 25 years of leadership experience across corporate America, fitness franchises, and strategic investing. Known for his real-world resilience and trailblazing company culture turnarounds, Matt is a go-to coach for leaders intent on transforming challenges into growth opportunities. His current roles reflect his commitment to systems-led scaling, paired with the uncommon honesty few executives dare to share.🔗 LinkedIn | Website | Facebook | InstagramMentioned ResourcesRam DassSnap FitnessClosers.ioEOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System)

Ever feel like you’re stuck fixing fires instead of building teams that actually thrive? Imagine stepping into a legacy brand, mobilizing hundreds of operators, and transforming your culture from confused to unbeatable, all while modernizing for the future.In this episode, Cameron Herold gets real with Jackie Secor, COO of Taco John’s. She’s a 25-year franchise and operations veteran who reveals how trust, creativity, and emotional intelligence drive relentless brand loyalty and profit. They dive deep into promoting insiders, learning from the front line, fighting standardization chaos, and using AI to cut real problems, not just hype.If you’re tired of leadership fluff and want the actual proven moves great COOs use to build legendary teams, this episode is your advantage. Press play right now if you want to stop the pain of high turnover, poor culture, or outdated systems and get the inside story you’ll never hear anywhere else.Timestamped Highlights[00:00] – Why problem-dropping is forbidden in Jackie’s office[03:01] – The unexpected challenges facing any new COO in a legacy brand[04:06] – Why the right network beats experience every time[07:42] – Jaw-dropping fix: How she clawed back operational standardization[09:21] – The hidden dangers of outsourced audits (and how Jackie reversed them)[13:30] – How stretch assignments reveal real leaders, not just performers[15:04] – Emotional intelligence: The operator’s secret weapon[17:42] – How Jackie coaches Gen Z talent when they want the corner office—now[20:03] – The shocking empathy learned on the franchisee side[25:41] – Standardizing the most controversial taco technique: meat on bottom or side?![29:13] – Multi-generation success—how Taco John’s beats the odds other brands can’t[32:03] – Are robots and AI the real next move, or total overkill?[36:03] – Why “get back to basics” wins versus flashy ideas every time[37:46] – The one job in the restaurant nobody envies (and why it matters for culture)[43:31] – Redefining quality and value, even as giants like Chipotle pivot fast[44:04] – Why every franchisor MUST run their own locations for credibility[45:56] – The advice Jackie wishes she got at 21 (and warns every young COO today)About the GuestJackie Secor is the Chief Operating Officer at Taco John’s, a fast-growing, family-owned restaurant brand with a passionate multi-generation franchise base. With over 25 years’ experience across both franchisee and franchisor sides, including at Auntie Anne’s, she’s renowned for building high-performance teams, driving operational turnarounds, and modernizing legacy operations through creativity and emotional intelligence.🔗LinkedIn | WebsiteMentioned ResourcesAuntie Anne’sGO To FoodsInternational Franchise Association (IFA)

Ever wondered why so many remote teams fall apart while others scale to $100M and beyond… without burning out? This episode is a raw, practical look at exactly what it takes to build and lead a remote-first organization that actually works, not just in theory, but in the trenches.Cameron Herold sits down with Ryan Montgomery, COO of ClickFunnels, to expose the real playbook behind thriving distributed teams, rapid-fire decision making, relentless innovation, and building systems that keep a visionary CEO’s wildest ideas on track. You’ll hear the battle-tested culture moves, hiring decisions, and frameworks that eliminated chaos as ClickFunnels vaulted from scrappy startup to industry king.Don’t let unpredictable growth, relentless tech changes, or a “too many ideas” CEO destroy your progress! Listen now for exclusive, battle-proven insights you won’t get on any other COO podcast. Miss this conversation and risk getting left behind chasing hacks instead of building something legendary.Timestamped Highlights[00:00] – How a rejected idea turned into a $100M phenomenon[02:35] – The radical decision that forever changed ClickFunnels’ growth[04:28] – Why most teams struggle with remote culture—and the proven fix[09:55] – The secret to keeping a visionary CEO happy without burning out your team[13:39] – What to throw away from your last company if you want to survive hypergrowth[18:44] – How ClickFunnels keeps employee turnover shockingly low[25:31] – The Go Meeting: an addiction for solving obstacles at lightning speed[32:06] – When and why “killing sacred cows” saved the company[41:03] – What Ryan wishes he’d known before leading thousands through explosive changeAbout the GuestRyan Montgomery is the Former Chief Operating Officer at ClickFunnels, where he’s been instrumental in scaling the company from a small startup to a global, remote-first powerhouse serving nearly 100,000 customers. A seasoned software engineer and relentless problem solver, Ryan is celebrated for building high-performance teams, architecting resilient systems, and distilling visionary energy into repeatable growth engines.🔗 WebsiteResources & MentionsRemote (book, Jason Fried & David Heinemeier Hansson)Rework (book, Jason Fried & David Heinemeier Hansson)Play Bigger (book)Silos, Politics and Turf Wars (book, Patrick Lencioni)The Advantage (book, Patrick Lencioni)