Adapt CFO

What does it take to build a team that can actually grow with you?

In the latest episode of Growth Under Pressure, Eric sits down with Robert Checchia, CFO of Benzinga, to talk about leadership, scaling, cash flow, AI, and what it really takes to operate under pressure.

Robert has a simple set of rules for leading his teams:

It’s okay to make mistakes. It’s never okay to lie.

And his next rule might be even more important:

Bad news doesn’t get better with age.

But the leadership philosophy that really stood out to me?

“The only way for me to grow in my role is for my team to push me up.”

A great conversation about building trust, developing people, and creating a team that makes the entire organization stronger.

🎙️ Watch the full episode on YouTube, or listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts https://www.adaptcfo.com/growth-under-pressure-podcast

What happens when your business outgrows the way you lead it?

Simon Court shares the story of a founder whose business was flatlining, the team wasn’t strong enough for what was ahead, and the options were running out.

The turning point came when the founder recognized something difficult: he needed to become a better CEO.

Simon’s job was to help him unlock the leadership capabilities he already had and take the business to the next level.

Watch the full episode with Simon Court on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.

Bad hiring is expensive.

But waiting to fix it is even more expensive.

Simon Court explains why CEOs and founders need to recognize problems before they become expensive ones, especially when it comes to hiring and building the right team.

The cost isn’t just the wrong hire.

It’s the wasted time, churn, re-hiring, and getting someone new up to speed.

Sometimes the cheapest decision today becomes the most expensive one later.

Watch the full episode with Simon Court on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.
https://www.adaptcfo.com/growth-under-pressure-podcast

Being CEO is a lot more than running the business.

You’re responsible for the team, investors, customers, the future of the company, and how the world sees your business.

And according to Simon Court, neglecting even one of those areas can eventually come back to bite you.

That’s the part of the CEO role that doesn’t always get talked about.

Invest more in yourself than in your business.

Simon Court believes founders and leaders should always be focused on becoming stronger, because the growth of the leader ultimately impacts the growth of the business.

But what actually gets in the way of that growth?

Simon shares his perspective on what holds people back from improving themselves and becoming better leaders.

What do you do when the company you built stops working?

Simon Court shares the story of how Miniclip's founder, Rob Small, transformed the business when it was at risk of being left behind by the shift from web to mobile.

The turnaround came down to three things:
→ Rob had to become the CEO the business needed
→ The company needed the right leadership team
→ They needed a simple, focused strategy

The result?

Miniclip's growth took off—and just two and a half years later, Tencent offered $1.5 billion for the business.

A powerful lesson for founders: sometimes the business doesn't need more effort. It needs a different way of leading.

Watch the full conversation with Simon Court onYouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Growth Under Pressure turns one. 🎙️

We’re celebrating the 1st Anniversary of Growth Under Pressure with our 30th episode and a special conversation with Simon Court.

Over the past year, we’ve had the opportunity to sit down with 30 founders, CEOs, and leaders and hear the real stories behind building and growing a business.

Simon has spent more than 25 years working with founders and CEOs, including helping leaders at Miniclip navigate its transformation into a billion-dollar company.

In this episode, we explore:

→ What happens when a company outgrows its founder
→ The transition from founder to CEO
→ Why companies flatline
→ How CEOs prepare for what's next
→ What it takes to build a company that lasts

30 episodes. 30 leaders. One year of Growth Under Pressure.

Watch the 1st Anniversary episode with Simon Court here: https://www.adaptcfo.com/growth-under-pressure-podcast

You don't need thousands of people to create change. You need a clear message.

Jerry Hollister has spent years working with businesses, government programs, and policymakers. One of the biggest lessons he's learned is that influence isn't always about having the biggest audience.

A small, organized group with a clear and consistent message can have a much greater impact than a massive crowd without direction.

For CEOs and founders, there's a bigger lesson here:
Clarity + consistency + organization can create influence.

Whether you're leading a company, building an industry, or trying to change the way people think, you don't need everyone behind you.

You need the right people aligned around the right message.

🎙️ Watch the full conversation on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

https://www.adaptcfo.com/growth-under-pressure-podcast

Stop hiring people just because they look good on paper.

Jerry Hollister has spent decades leading teams and working with innovative companies. His first two filters aren't experience or credentials.

They're aptitude and attitude.

Because the smartest person in the room can still become your worst hire if they don't have the attitude to execute.

Experience helps. It isn't everything.

For CEOs and founders, the question isn't just "Who has the experience?"

It's "Who has the ability and attitude to figure it out?"

What do you prioritize when you hire?