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The Operations Room: A Podcast for COO’s: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Bethany Ayers & Brandon Mensinga
We are the COO coaches to help you successfully scale in this new world where efficiency is as important as growth. Remember when valuations were 3-10x ARR and money wasn’t free? We do. Each week we share our experiences and bring in scale up experts and operational leaders to help you navigate both the burning operational issues and the larger existential challenges. Beth Ayers is the former COO of Peak AI, NewVoiceMedia and Codilty and has helped raise over $200m from top funds - Softbank, Bessemer, TCV, MCC, Notion and Oxx. Brandon Mensinga is the former COO of Signal AI and Trint. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy
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- Mar 19, 202651 min
96. AI Native Ops, How Brex Rebuilt Operations
In this episode we discuss: AI Native Ops, How Brex Rebuilt Operations. We are joined by Camilla Matias, COO at Brex. Love The Operations Room? Please support us by rating and reviewing it here.We chat about the following: What actually breaks first when a company scales: people, process, or structure—and how do you know?How do you build operational rigour without killing speed and culture in a fast-growing business?What does “good onboarding” really look like beyond just paperwork and checklists?When tools or systems fail—how do you know if it’s the software or your implementation?What’s the difference between building processes for today vs. building systems that scale for the next 12–24 months?References https://www.linkedin.com/in/camilla-matias-06345a105/Biography Camilla Matias Morais is the Chief Operating Officer at Brex, where she leads global operations and drives the company’s execution and scale.She joined Brex in 2018 as Head of Finance and has since held multiple leadership roles, including VP of Finance and SVP of Global Operations, before becoming COO in 2024. During this time, she has played a key role in building the systems and structures that support Brex’s rapid growth.Before Brex, Camilla worked across finance, investment, and strategy roles at organisations including The Kraft Heinz Company and Victoria Capital Partners.She holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Instituto Tecnológico de Aeronáutica (ITA) and is known for bringing clarity, structure, and operational rigour to high-growth companies.To learn more about Beth and Brandon or to find out about sponsorship opportunities click here. Summary00:00 – Intro, host banter, and setup of the episode tone.02:30 – Introduction of Camilla + context around her role and operational scope.05:30 – Early discussion on scaling challenges and what starts to break as companies grow.07:20 – Deep dive into onboarding systems → moving from informal to structured 0–6 month processes.09:30 – Discussion on tools (HiBob → Rippling) and implementation challenges.12:30 – Balancing structure vs flexibility in operations.16:00 – Performance reviews, documentation, and accountability systems.20:00 – Operational maturity: what “good” looks like at different stages of company growth.24:00 – People vs process tension.29:00 – Reflections on mistakes, lessons learned, and what they’d do differently.34:00 – Closing thoughts, key takeaways, and wrap-upThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy
- Mar 12, 202657 min
95. Puzzle Setting, Not Goal Setting
In this episode we discuss: Puzzle setting, not goal setting. We are joined by Radhika Dutt, Author, Speaker, Consultant. Love The Operations Room? Please support us by rating and reviewing it here.We chat about the following with Radhika Dutt: What if traditional goal setting is actually limiting innovation rather than driving it?How might teams think differently if they framed challenges as “puzzles” instead of targets to hit?Are OKRs pushing organisations toward short-term optimisation instead of real problem-solving?How can leaders create space for curiosity and exploration in environments obsessed with metrics?What would change inside your company if teams focused on solving the right problem rather than just hitting the next KPI?References https://www.linkedin.com/in/radhika-dutt/https://www.radicalproduct.com/https://www.radicalproduct.com/toolkit/#OHLToolkitBiography Radhika Dutt is the author of Radical Product Thinking: The New Mindset for Innovating Smarter which has been translated into Chinese and Japanese. The methodology she introduced in her first book is now used in over 40 countries. She is an entrepreneur, speaker, and product leader who has participated in five acquisitions, two of which were companies that she founded. She is currently Advisor on Product Thinking to the Monetary Authority of Singapore (Singapore’s central bank and financial regulator), and does consulting and training for organizations ranging from high-tech startups to multinationals on building radical products that create a fundamental change. Radhika has built products in a wide range of industries including broadcast, media and entertainment, telecom, advertising technology, government, consumer apps, robotics, and even wine. She graduated from MIT with an SB and M.Eng in Electrical Engineering, and speaks nine languages. Radhika is now working on her second book – it’s about why goals and targets backfire and what actually works. To learn more about Beth and Brandon or to find out about sponsorship opportunities click here. Summary14:25 — Introducing the concept of “puzzle setting”24:06 — What puzzle setting actually means26:46 — Why puzzles embrace uncertainty27:49 — The Rubik’s Cube analogy33:22 — The “Three O’s” of puzzle setting35:17 — Turning growth goals into puzzles38:08 — Breaking big puzzles into smaller ones42:46 — The shift from proving to learning47:25 — Building critical thinking into teams54:44 — Real business impact of puzzle thinkingThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy
- Mar 5, 202653 min
94. The BizOps Anti-Playbook
In this episode we discuss: The BizzOps Anti-Playbook. We are joined by Vessela Clewley, Strategy & Biz Ops Executive.Love The Operations Room? Please support us by rating and reviewing it here.We chat about the following with Vessela Clewley:What does it really take to step into leadership for the first time — and why do so many people underestimate the shift?How do you build confidence as a leader when you don’t yet feel “ready”?What’s the difference between managing tasks and truly leading people?How can organisations better support first-time managers before they burn out?What unspoken pressures do women in leadership roles carry — and how can we address them more openly?References https://www.linkedin.com/in/vessclewley/https://sbohub.substack.com/https://sbohub.gumroad.com/l/TheSBOAntiPlaybookBiography Vessela is an accomplished fCOO with a Strategy & BizOps background. She brings the power of US-style Strategy & Business Operations to Europe.She has an illustrious career spanning Hopin, WeWork, Uber and other start ups. She has won global awards by the likes of WeWork & McKinsey, relaunched products like UberExec, and negotiated 7-figure deals for Hopin on walks in Regents park.She is known for bringing a strategic, analytical, systems-driven approach to building companies. Her approach brings clarity, breaks down silos, and unlocks revenue growth. She puts company over functions; analytics over ego; and outcomes over optics.Vessela typically partners with Seed–Series B founders who value analytical decision-making and high-velocity execution.To learn more about Beth and Brandon or to find out about sponsorship opportunities click here. Summary00:00 – Introduction & framing the conversation~06:20 – The reality of becoming a first-time manager~13:45 – Imposter syndrome & self-doubt~20:30 – The responsibility shift~28:10 – Feedback, difficult conversations & growth~35:50 – Building confidence through action~44:15 – The gendered expectations in leadership~52:00 – Creating supportive environments for new leaders~59:40 – Advice to aspiring leadersThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy
- Feb 26, 202652 min
93. Collaborative AI for Revenue Teams
In this episode we discuss: Collaborative AI for revenue teams. We are joined by Mylo Portas, CEO of Choras.Love The Operations Room? Please support us by rating and reviewing it here.We chat about the following with Donna McCurley:What actually makes a podcast commercially sustainable — beyond downloads and vanity metrics?How do you build creative systems that scale without killing originality?What does it really take to grow an independent podcast network in today’s crowded market?Where do most founders misunderstand the operational complexity of media businesses?Is podcasting still early… or are we already in the consolidation phase?References https://www.linkedin.com/in/myloportas/Biography Mylo Portas is the co-founder of Chora, an award-winning London-based podcast studio and network. He works with global brands, media organisations and creators to build distinctive, story-driven podcasts that cut through. Passionate about the intersection of creativity and commercial strategy, Mylo focuses on building sustainable podcast brands — not just shows.To learn more about Beth and Brandon or to find out about sponsorship opportunities click here. Summary21:10 – Creative excellence vs commercial pressure27:45 – Scaling systems without losing soul33:20 – What brands get wrong about podcasts38:10 – The operational backbone of a studio43:55 – The future of podcasting48:30 – Advice for founders building in mediaThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy
- Feb 19, 202647 min
92. How to Really Use AI in Your GTM Team
In this episode we discuss: How to really use AI in your GTM team. We are joined by Donna McCurley, Creator of the AI Sales Operating System™ (AiSOS).Love The Operations Room? Please support us by rating and reviewing it here.We chat about the following with Donna McCurley:Who should actually “own” AI inside your GTM function — and what happens if nobody does?What does real AI governance look like in practice — beyond policies and buzzwords?Are AI agents creating hidden shadow systems inside your organisation?Why are most AI rollouts in sales failing to drive measurable revenue impact?How do you move from AI experimentation to a true AI sales operating system?References https://www.linkedin.com/in/donnamccurley/Biography Donna McCurley is the creator of the **AI Sales Operating System™ (AiSOS)** and a go-to advisor for SaaS revenue teams who want to turn AI from “extra noise” into a real growth engine. She leads Global Sales Enablement teams and has helped 100s of sellers cut out busywork, triple their pipeline coverage, and adopt AI workflows that actually stick.With a background that spans classroom teaching, Fortune 500 enablement leadership, and consulting with companies like McAfee and HPe, Donna has built a reputation for stripping away complexity and focusing on what truly drives revenue. Her work blends proven sales methodologies with practical AI deployment—think Microsoft Copilot, ChatGPT, Gong, and SalesLoft stitched together into one coherent system sellers can actually use.At her core, Donna is obsessed with solving a simple but critical problem: too many sales teams are drowning in admin work, bloated tech stacks, and outdated playbooks. Through AiSOS, she’s building a future where sellers spend less time clicking around and more time closing deals.To learn more about Beth and Brandon or to find out about sponsorship opportunities click here. Summary07:05 – Turning Copilot into a Revenue Engine07:15 – AI Governance in Practice07:18 – Avoiding “Shadow AI” Systems09:27 – Change Management & Behaviour Shift13:19 – The Biggest Mistakes in AI Rollout14:16 – Enablement Over Experimentation22:00 – The Role of RevOps as AI Overseer38:00 – Moving from AI Tools to an AI Operating SystemThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy
- Feb 12, 202658 min
91. AI in The Future of Work
In this episode we discuss: AI in the future of work. We are joined by Agata Nowicka, Managing Partner of the AI Visionaries Accelerator.Love The Operations Room? Please support us by rating and reviewing it here.We chat about the following with Agata Nowicka: Are high-growth founders underestimating the role of distribution from day one?At Series B and beyond, is your monetisation model actually aligned with value delivery?Could your onboarding and sales process be quietly eroding the value you promise?Will AI fluency soon become a non-negotiable capability in your workforce?Are you building an AI-first company — or just layering AI onto old plumbing?References https://www.linkedin.com/in/agata-nowicka/https://femalefoundry.substack.com/https://www.aivisionaries.co/https://www.femaleinnovationindex.com/Biography Agata Nowicka is the Managing Partner at AI Visionaries—an AI accelerator launched with Google to scale Europe’s most innovative AI and deeptech startups. With 12 years of experience as an angel, VC investor and founder of two tech businesses in the U.S., Hong Kong, and the UK (one exit), she is also the author of the Female Innovation Index—the largest analysis of female-led innovation and funding in Europe. Agata holds an MBA from Wharton and INSEAD and is an advisor to startups and accelerators including Techstars, the University of Cambridge Founders Accelerator, and Village Capital.To learn more about Beth and Brandon or to find out about sponsorship opportunities click here. Summary39:04 – Introduction & Founder Focus Shift42:04 – Monetisation Beyond Revenue45:04 – Sales & Onboarding as Value Proof48:04 – AI Fluency as a Workforce Standard51:04 – Moving to an AI-First Model54:05 – Business Complexity & “Plumbing”48:20 – Resilience in High-Growth Environments49:49 – Leadership in an AI Era57:05 – The Future Belongs to Visionary FoundersThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy
- Feb 5, 20261h 6m
90. What is The CEO's Job?
In this episode we discuss: What is the CEO’s job? We are joined by Keith Wallington, Chairperson and Investor in B2B SaaS businessesLove The Operations Room? Please support us by rating and reviewing it here.We chat about the following with Keith Wallington:What actually changes in an operating model as a company scales – and what shouldn’t change, even under pressure?How do you design an organisation that moves fast without creating chaos or decision fatigue?When does adding structure genuinely unlock performance, and when does it quietly slow teams down?How can operators tell the difference between a scaling problem and a leadership problem?What questions should COOs be asking before a Series B or major growth phase to avoid painful rework later?References https://www.linkedin.com/in/keithwallington/Biography Focussed on Series A and Growth stage B2B SaaS businesses that deliver vital, core services to their customers.Keith has led strategy and execution in technology businesses since the 1990’s, driving growth in Europe, the USA and Africa: His experience in driving online business models spans Retail Banking, Telecommunications, Online Live Broadcasting and Software as a Service (SaaS): He has led strategy and execution initiatives at businesses including Microsoft, Standard Bank, Omnicom/TBWA, MTN Group and Mimecast.From 2008 – 2014 Keith spent 6 years driving growth at Mimecast, best in class and global leader in SaaS based email security, archiving and continuity: Here he assumed a number of C Level roles, including COO, spanning most of the business from Marketing to Customer Experience to Technical Operations as he championed scalable, efficient growth during this phase of hyper growth (from $6m to over $110m Annual Recurring Revenue) and global expansion from the UK base.After preparing Mimecast for IPO Keith refocused his attention to support businesses on their growth journey. Keith invests in and assumes board roles with post Series A businesses. He engages directly and also collaborates with Venture Capital and Private Equity teams to co-invest and add depth to portfolio company boards.To learn more about Beth and Brandon or to find out about sponsorship opportunities click here. Summary05:30 – Why operating models break during growth12:45 – The tension between speed and structure19:30 – Horizontal vs vertical operating models26:00 – Decision-making at scale30:00 – What scaling exposes about leadership teams38:30 – Preparing for Series B (before it’s too late)47:00 – Operating principles that actually stick55:30 – Signals your operating model needs a resetThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy
- Jan 29, 20261h 1m
89. The Economics of VC Funds
In this episode we discuss: The economics of VC funds. We are joined by Edward Barrow, Co-Founder & CEO @ Cloud Capital.Love The Operations Room? Please support us by rating and reviewing it here.We chat about the following with Edward Barrow:Why do so many fast-growing companies only realise cloud spend is a problem once it’s already out of control?What actually breaks when finance and engineering don’t share a common language around cloud costs?Is “visibility” into cloud spend enough, or does it create a false sense of control?How should operators think about financial risk when infrastructure spend is variable by design?What does good cloud cost governance look like without slowing teams down?References https://www.linkedin.com/in/ebarrow/https://www.cloudcapital.co/Biography Ed has spent his career helping high-growth tech companies align strategy with execution — first in marketing tech, and now in cloud finance.After co-founding Idio, an AI-driven platform used by global B2B brands, he led the business through rapid growth, M&A, and a successful exit to Episerver (now Optimizely). Post-acquisition, he helped shape global product and M&A strategy across multiple acquisitions and 400% growth.Today, Ed is the co-founder and CEO of Cloud Capital, where he helps finance and engineering leaders forecast and optimize cloud spend — without taking on financial risk. The platform gives finance teams clarity and control while enabling engineering to move fast without waste. Ed and his team are building the cloud finance layer for the next generation of tech companies — turning cloud spend into a strategic advantage, not a liability.To learn more about Beth and Brandon or to find out about sponsorship opportunities click here. Summary00:00–04:10 – Setting the scene: operator fatigue, reality after the “honeymoon phase,” and why this conversation matters now06:05 – Ed Barrow’s background: from AI startup founder to cloud finance problem-solver09:30 – The real problem with cloud spend: why “usage-based pricing” breaks traditional finance models13:45 – Finance vs engineering: how misaligned incentives create hidden waste18:20 – Why visibility alone doesn’t change behaviour (and what actually does)22:50 – The risk operators don’t see: cloud spend as an uncapped financial liability27:40 – Forecasting cloud costs without slowing teams down32:10 – What good cloud governance looks like in high-growth companies36:30 – Turning cloud spend into a strategic advantage, not just a cost-control exerciseThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy
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About The Operations Room: A Podcast for COO’s
We are the COO coaches to help you successfully scale in this new world where efficiency is as important as growth. Remember when valuations were 3-10x ARR and money wasn’t free? We do. Each week we share our experiences and bring in scale up experts and operational leaders to help you navigate both the burning operational issues and the larger existential challenges. Beth Ayers is the former COO of Peak AI, NewVoiceMedia and Codilty and has helped raise over $200m from top funds - Softbank, Bessemer, TCV, MCC, Notion and Oxx. Brandon Mensinga is the former COO of Signal AI and Trint. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy
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