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

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Jun 2026

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Welcome to the “Second in Command” Podcast hosted by Cameron Herold, brought to you by the COO Alliance, where top-level COOs share their insights, tactics, and strategies that made them the Chief Behind the Chief. Cameron Herold founded the COO Alliance with one simple goal in mind: to provide COOs with the same professional development and growth opportunities CEOs have enjoyed for many years. COO Alliance is the world's leading network for the Second in Command. Cameron Herold is a top business consultant, best-selling author, and speaker. He’s the mastermind behind hundreds of companies’ exponential growth and he’s touched thousands of businesses indirectly through his work.

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July 2, 202647 min

Ep. 593 - Cowboy Space Corporation COO & CLO Joe Yaffe - The Leadership Secrets Powering a $2B Space Revolution

What would you risk to build something that’s never been done, like beaming energy from orbit or launching football-field-sized data centers into space?In this raw conversation, Cameron Herold sits down with Joe Yaffe, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Legal Officer of Cowboy Space Corporation. They dig into the grit, tension, and daily chaos of scaling a $2 billion startup that’s disrupting the commercial space sector. Joe shares his path from buttoned-down law firm partner to space industry executive, revealing the secret levers behind talent acquisition, relentless execution, and leadership in a market obsessed with moonshots.Skip this episode and you may miss the playbook for outpacing ten times bigger rivals. Listen now for a rare, inside-out look at operational leadership under real pressure. This is not the usual founder hype.This episode is brought to you by our Silver Sponsor, Next Level Growth.They help COOs and leadership teams build Elite Organizations through a proven, customizable framework built around the Five Obsessions of Elite Organizations.If you and your leadership team are ready to operate at the next level, take the Elite Organizations Assessment and receive a free 20-page customized report based on your answers, plus a complimentary one-hour coaching session with a Next Level Growth Partner and Business Guide to begin implementing tools that will help you build an even more elite business.Complete the assessment here to get started - nextlevelgrowth.com/cooassessmentTimestamped Highlights00:47 – Why Cowboy Space Corporation had to kill its first name04:51 – The phone call that forced a total company rebrand08:44 – Turning sci-fi into reality with orbital energy grids13:04 – Football-field-sized data centers…the inside story18:27 – How a lawyer actually becomes a high-performing COO20:59 – Why top-tier talent flocks to Cowboy despite fierce competition27:58 – The unspoken rules for hiring (and keeping) world-class engineers34:40 – The real cost of prioritizing in chaos as a second-in-command49:17 – The advice Joe Yaffe would give his 21-year-old selfAbout the GuestJoe Yaffe is the COO & CLO of Cowboy Space Corporation, a $2B commercial space startup building orbital energy grids and advanced data centers. Previously, Joe spent 31 years as an M&A and founders’ counsel at top law firms, advising Silicon Valley’s elite. Now he’s translating legal precision into operational strategy at one of the West Coast’s boldest tech companies.🔗 LinkedIn | WebsiteMentioned ResourcesRobinhoodElon MuskJeff BezosSpaceXBlue OriginRocket LabStoke SpaceSkadden ArpsFenwick & WestAnthropicOpenAIJoe Polish / Genius NetworkDon’t Make Me Think (book)Important LinksConnect with Cameron: Website | LinkedInExplore the COO Alliance - The World’s Leading Community for Seconds in CommandGet Cameron’s book: Second in Command: Unleash the Power of Your COO BookTake 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 DelphiThe 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.This episode is brought to you by our Silver Sponsor, Next Level Growth.They help COOs and leadership teams build Elite Organizations through a proven, customizable framework built around the Five Obsessions of Elite Organizations.If you and your leadership team are ready to operate at the next level, take the Elite Organizations Assessment and receive a free 20-page customized report based on your answers, plus a complimentary one-hour coaching session with a Next Level Growth Partner and Business Guide to begin implementing tools that will help you build an even more elite business.Complete the assessment here to get started - nextlevelgrowth.com/cooassessment

June 30, 20261 hr 11 min

Ep. 592 - Your Employees Can’t Read Your Mind: The Vision Gap

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 Highlights00:59 – The poll that instantly exposes entrepreneurial wiring03:14 – The $100M leap: inside systems that really scale09:04 – The Vivid Vision rewiring that most leaders get wrong17:12 – Why your vision should repel, not just attract22:01 – The underused firing muscle that speeds up growth25:57 – The “A Player” myth that’s costing you millions39:01 – Brutal truth: why you’re investing all your energy in the wrong people51:01 – Delegation, coaching, AI… why you won’t survive unless you develop these nowMentioned ResourcesCollege Pro PaintersBoyd Autobody & GlassEOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System)“Good to Great” by Jim Collins The Secret (movie)Simon Sinek (Start With Why)Important LinksConnect with Cameron: Website | LinkedInExplore the COO Alliance - The World’s Leading Community for Seconds in CommandGet Cameron’s book: Second in Command: Unleash the Power of Your COO BookTake 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 DelphiThe 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.

June 25, 202646 min

Ep. 591 - Twentyeight Health COO Mara Castro - How To Avoid These Deadly Traps in Operations Success

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 byGenius 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 Highlights00:22 – The unexpected journey from nonprofit roots to COO02:37 – Why a career break fueled a powerhouse comeback05:34 – The untold value of prior relationships for landing big roles09:14 – Networking for introverts: How authentic connections really win10:15 – The counterintuitive 90-day blueprint every new COO must follow13:06 – The art of KPI clarity and not getting sucked into the weeds17:50 – The hidden trap of too much complexity in health tech33:23 – Why guiding, not micromanaging, unlocks leadership at scale39:30 – The radical power of raising the white flag earlyAbout the GuestMara 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 | WebsiteMentioned ResourcesWarby ParkerEvolveDale Carnegie – "How to Win Friends and Influence People"Lean Six Sigma – DMAIC frameworkSlackNetflixAbout the Co-HostSivana 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 LinkedInImportant LinksConnect with Cameron: Website | LinkedInExplore the COO Alliance - The World’s Leading Community for Seconds in CommandGet Cameron’s book: Second in Command: Unleash the Power of Your COO BookTake 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 DelphiThe 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 byGenius 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/

June 23, 202657 min

Ep. 590 - Wellbiz Brands COO Ankin Laysha - How to Instantly Upgrade Your Multi-Brand Operations

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 Highlights00:58 – Why female leadership is finally taking over the executive suite03:01 – The unexpected advantage of running five brands at once06:23 – The overlooked tools behind flawless brand consistency09:53 – Brutal truth: franchisee complaints vs. customer reality13:59 – The hard lesson on platform thinking and brand magic17:00 – The moment in-the-field leadership unlocked real innovation20:36 – What working front desk taught her about operational blind spots30:10 – How surprise and delight moments quietly crush the competition40:08 – The fast-track strategy for building trust with frontline teams53:04 – AI’s real role in service businesses (and where human connection wins)About the GuestAnkin 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 | WebsiteMentioned ResourcesDrybarElements MassageAmazing Lash StudioRadiant WaxingFitness Together24 Hour FitnessMcKinsey & CompanyAbout the Co-HostLindsay 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 LinkedInImportant LinksConnect with Cameron: Website | LinkedInExplore the COO Alliance - The World’s Leading Community for Seconds in CommandGet Cameron’s book: Second in Command: Unleash the Power of Your COO BookTake 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 DelphiThe 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.

June 18, 202648 min

Ep. 589 - Joe Taylor Restoration President Aaron Getty - Are You Built to Be the Founder’s Most Trusted Leader?

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 Highlights00:00 – The vivid vision move that erased all guesswork overnight03:06 – Thriving with a founder who never stops—how to lead without being the brakes06:19 – The “loneliest seat” in the company and the hidden weights of the COO08:51 – How Aaron built an unstoppable leadership team from scratch12:47 – The slow, relentless sales approach that future-proofs your business15:01 – When leaders outgrow their teams: What happens next19:21 – The one training that finally unified frontline and executive growth30:06 – The vivid vision launch party and what it did for company velocity33:57 – Letting go: Why Aaron wants less decision-making power, not moreAbout the GuestAaron 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 | WebsiteMentioned ResourcesTraction by Gino WickmanScaling Up by Verne HarnishExtreme Ownership by Jocko WillinkGood to Great by Jim Collins10x Is Easier Than 2x by Dan SullivanAbout the Co-HostLindsay 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 LinkedInImportant LinksConnect with Cameron: Website | LinkedInExplore the COO Alliance - The World’s Leading Community for Seconds in CommandGet Cameron’s book: Second in Command: Unleash the Power of Your COO BookTake 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 DelphiThe 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/

June 16, 202646 min

Ep. 588 - FAN FAVORITE | Former SaaS Academy (now Precision) COO Matt Verlaque

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 Highlights00:45 – The firefighting mindset that built decisive business instincts05:56 – The overlooked power of “small unit” teams to unlock real growth09:44 – Are you a COO trapped in a CEO’s title? The unexpected identity test13:43 – Brutal truths about customer obsession and why most leaders fail here16:18 – The lesson no founder learns soon enough when selling their company18:22 – The surprising reason joining SaaS Academy changed his life21:31 – The founder’s hidden block: How self-worth destroys pricing27:31 – The counterintuitive leadership split that 10x’d their decision speed41:07 – How his “full-person” one-on-ones rip open performance breakthroughs About the GuestMatt 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 ResourcesGreat CEO Within by Matt MocharyJoe Polish / Genius Network1-800-GOT-JUNKDan MartellShopify (Tobias Lütke, Harley Finkelstein)CrossFitUP Launch Important LinksConnect with Cameron: Website | LinkedInExplore the COO Alliance - The World’s Leading Community for Seconds in CommandGet Cameron’s book: Second in Command: Unleash the Power of Your COO BookTake 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.

June 11, 202638 min

Ep. 587 - Soma Breath Co-Founder & COO Gary Torrens - How to Effortlessly Scale Your Breathwork Business

What happens when you try to build a global movement teaching people how to breathe in an industry exploding with competition? Gary Torrens, co-founder and Second in Command at Soma Breath, sits down with Cameron Herold to reveal what most operators never say out loud. This conversation punches into operational realities: remote chaos, hiring struggles, visionary partner dynamics, and the brutal truth about what actually works when building a scalable certification business.Breathwork is everywhere, but Soma Breath’s story is different. You’ll hear how they went from wild psilocybin-fueled vision quests in Thailand to leading thousands of facilitators and facing the tough tradeoffs of pricing, growth, and culture. If you want to understand the Second in Command power dynamic and see the inside of a company growing faster than most can handle, this episode is your shortcut.Listen now or risk missing the real-world roadmap and the costly mistakes that separate scalable movements from also-rans. Only here: Gary’s unfiltered answers and their playbook for the next stage.This episode is brought to you by our Silver Sponsor, Next Level Growth.They help COOs and leadership teams build Elite Organizations through a proven, customizable framework built around the Five Obsessions of Elite Organizations.If you and your leadership team are ready to operate at the next level, take the Elite Organizations Assessment and receive a free 20-page customized report based on your answers, plus a complimentary one-hour coaching session with a Next Level Growth Partner and Business Guide to begin implementing tools that will help you build an even more elite business.Complete the assessment here to get started - nextlevelgrowth.com/cooassessmentTimestamped Highlights06:53 – The unexpected business model nobody saw coming10:14 – Ancient breathing meets modern science: the strategy that sparked a movement13:10 – Why they priced the membership low—and the hidden risks17:16 – Remote chaos: problems they never saw coming with a global team22:10 – The controversial move to focus on city-based expansion24:19 – The real marketing mess they had to fix after explosive growth27:08 – The truth behind their biggest revenue engine34:07 – Gary’s brutal leadership lesson that changed everythingAbout the GuestGary Torrens is co-founder and COO of Soma Breath. He helped turn a visionary idea blending ancient breathwork, modern science, and music into a global certification platform with 4,000+ facilitators. With a background in physics, finance, and digital marketing, Gary is known for building systems that scale impact, not just revenue.🔗 LinkedIn | WebsiteMentioned ResourcesMindvalleyZumbaCrossFitEOSCalmLovableJason CampbellChip Wilson (Lululemon)Sam SkellyVishen Lakhiani (Mindvalley founder)Ayahuasca, DMT, 5-MeO-DMT, Ketamine (psychedelics referenced)The Renegade PharmacistImportant LinksConnect with Cameron: Website | LinkedInExplore the COO Alliance - The World’s Leading Community for Seconds in CommandGet Cameron’s book: Second in Command: Unleash the Power of Your COO BookTake 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 DelphiThe 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.This episode is brought to you by our Silver Sponsor, Next Level Growth.They help COOs and leadership teams build Elite Organizations through a proven, customizable framework built around the Five Obsessions of Elite Organizations.If you and your leadership team are ready to operate at the next level, take the Elite Organizations Assessment and receive a free 20-page customized report based on your answers, plus a complimentary one-hour coaching session with a Next Level Growth Partner and Business Guide to begin implementing tools that will help you build an even more elite business.Complete the assessment here to get started - nextlevelgrowth.com/cooassessment

June 9, 202650 min

Ep. 586 - FAN FAVORITE | Former WIO Bank COO Jamal Al Awadhi – How Elite COOs Deliver Massive Value Even Faster

What if everything you know about starting and scaling a bank is wrong?In this Fan Favorite episode, Cameron Herold uncovers the real story behind WIO Bank with former COO Jamal Al Awadhi, a leader fueling the UAE’s platform banking revolution. From Abu Dhabi’s government-driven vision to the ferocious war for top talent, Jamal lays out how to break tradition, lead through chaos, and unlock transformative team culture.If you skip this episode, you’ll miss out on first-hand insights into word-of-mouth-driven growth, the secret sauce for hiring resilient operators, and the unfiltered truth about working with sovereign wealth funds. Listen now to tap hard-won lessons you won’t find anywhere else. Your next strategic leap could depend on it.Timestamped Highlights01:13 – The immigrant mindset shaping global leadership grit06:04 – The real reason WIO Bank launched in the UAE—exposed09:09 – Unpacking painful problems traditional banking ignored14:00 – Did regulations crush or catalyze digital banking?15:42 – Competing with legacy players: a blunt take on building trust18:04 – Why word-of-mouth blew up WIO’s customer growth overnight26:57 – The resilience litmus test: how to hire for hypergrowth chaos37:02 – Inside the CEO-COO dynamic that keeps a rocketship on track43:36 – Game-changing leadership lessons that rewired Jamal’s styleAbout the GuestJamal Al Awadhi was the Chief Operating Officer of WIO Bank, Abu Dhabi’s breakout digital platform bank. With over a decade in marketing, strategy, and operations across industries, Jamal blends international perspective with deep regional expertise to drive game-changing innovation and hypergrowth at one of the UAE’s fastest-scaling financial disruptors. Currently, he is the CEO of Al Hilal Bank.🔗 WebsiteMentioned ResourcesWIO BankADQ Investment BankInterNationsDynamite CircleHenley Business School1-800-GOT-JUNKImportant LinksConnect with Cameron: Website | LinkedInExplore the COO Alliance - The World’s Leading Community for Seconds in CommandGet Cameron’s book: Second in Command: Unleash the Power of Your COO BookTake 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 DelphiNote: 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.

June 4, 202642 min

Ep. 585 - Cedars-Sinai Medical Network Vice President & COO Alen Voskanian - How COOs Can Beat Burnout Before It Breaks Them

Are you secretly running on empty, wondering if burnout is targeting you next?In this episode, Alen Voskanian, COO of Cedars-Sinai Medical Network and author, pulls back the curtain on the raw realities beneath operations leadership. From the constant grind of clinical environments to the personal toll of endless firefighting, Voskanian exposes why burnout hits high performers hardest and how ignoring your creative side can quietly sabotage your impact. This isn’t just about wellness platitudes. It’s a real-world look at chasing fulfillment, designing systems that beat chaos, and the unexpected arts that make leaders resilient.If you’re a COO (or run with one), you can’t afford to miss these insights. The game has changed. Listen now or risk staying stuck in cycles that will bury both your team and your spirit. This is the side of leadership nobody else is showing you.Sponsored byGenius 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 Highlights00:25 – The real reason burnout is rampant among COOs and physicians04:12 – The under-the-radar roles that secretly prepared him for operations07:29 – Three unconventional ways to master leadership fast12:18 – Why stand-up comedy became his secret tool for resilience15:57 – The hidden danger in neglecting your creative life as a leader19:53 – Brutal realities of burnout nobody is willing to admit29:55 – How lean principles are quietly transforming healthcare operations39:09 – What people on their deathbeds taught him about fulfillment and regretAbout the GuestAlen Voskanian, MD, MBA, is the Vice President and COO of Cedars-Sinai Medical Network. A board-certified physician in Family Medicine and Hospice & Palliative Medicine, he’s also an author and sought-after keynote speaker. Alen is known for transforming healthcare to improve access and quality. He holds degrees from UC Berkeley, UC Irvine, and an MBA from Indiana University. He’s a former innovation advisor for CMS, a Cunniff-Dixon/Hastings Center Physician Award winner, and a Health Innovators Fellow with the Aspen Global Leadership Network.🔗 LinkedIn | WebsiteMentioned Resources“Reclaiming the Joy of Medicine” by Alen VoskanianIndiana University School of Medicine – Physician MBA trackRyan Holiday, “The Daily Dad”Lean, Six Sigma, and performance improvement frameworksLinkedIn (as a platform for learning and connection)Coursera (for free courses)Clean Six Sigma concepts from Toyota productionAbout the Co-HostSivana 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 LinkedInImportant LinksConnect with Cameron: Website | LinkedInExplore the COO Alliance - The World’s Leading Community for Seconds in CommandGet Cameron’s book: Second in Command: Unleash the Power of Your COO BookTake 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 DelphiThe 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 byGenius 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/

June 2, 20261 hr 1 min

Ep. 584 - FAN FAVORITE | Former KENNEDY24 Presidential Campaign Director Amaryllis Kennedy – How to Build an Unstoppable Political Campaign Machine

What do you risk when you run a mission-driven campaign that breaks every rule in politics? Amaryllis Kennedy isn’t just directing the KENNEDY24 presidential campaign. She’s rewriting the playbook on grassroots leadership, digital disruption, and brutal operational honesty.In this Fan Favorite unfiltered episode, Cameron Herold dives deep with Amaryllis on the real strategies behind building a nimble, values-first organization in the most polarized landscape imaginable. She reveals the raw tension of building trust, keeping chaos at bay, and rescuing authenticity from a world addicted to power and performance. Hard-won lessons from Silicon Valley and the CIA collide with everyday realities of parenting, digital activism, and fighting the system from the inside.If you miss this conversation, you miss the forbidden playbook on what leadership really looks like when the stakes are generational. Listen now for a front-row seat on strategy you won’t get anywhere else and discover why the real power lies in what you’re willing to disrupt.Timestamped Highlights00:44 – The counterintuitive campaign strategy that energizes a disillusioned public05:17 – Why young people are secretly shaping America’s future08:05 – How breaking political storytelling rules actually breaks through13:04 – The brutal inside story behind government overreach19:47 – A behind-the-scenes look into a campaign where careers are truly on the line24:00 – The ballot access chaos that forces real innovation30:31 – Why authenticity beats perfection in a runaway grassroots movement35:32 – Democratizing campaign fundraising with bold gamified tactics47:44 – The sacred job of protecting your leader so they can really listen59:35 – The surprising benefit of Sabbath-style strategy in hypergrowthAbout the GuestAmaryllis Fox Kennedy is a former CIA intelligence officer, author, and advocate focused on diplomacy, conflict resolution, and public policy. She is the bestselling author of Life Undercover: Coming of Age in the CIA and host of Netflix’s The Business of Drugs. She also served as a senior advisor and campaign surrogate during Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s 2024 presidential campaign. She currently serves as Deputy Director of National Intelligence for Policy and Capabilities.🔗 WebsiteMentioned ResourcesKENNEDY24 campaignNetflix – The Business of DrugsApple – TV series based on Amaryllis's memoirBobby Kennedy Jr.Conde NastHearstGenius NetworkBurning ManTwitter (as previous tech experience)Georgetown UniversityOxford UniversityBrown University (used as a reference for war statistics)Important LinksConnect with Cameron: Website | LinkedInExplore the COO Alliance - The World’s Leading Community for Seconds in CommandGet Cameron’s book: Second in Command: Unleash the Power of Your COO BookTake 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 DelphiNote: 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.