Your Company Is Lying

I’m thrilled to share some fascinating insights from my latest Capitalist Culture® podcast episode with Phoenix Normand, Founder of OrgTruth and a veteran operator who has spent nearly 30 years inside companies including Square, Levi Strauss, Replit, Boom Supersonic, and Credit Suisse.

Phoenix has served as the right hand to groundbreaking founders including Jack Dorsey, Blake Scholl, and Amjad Masad, giving him a rare perspective on what really happens inside organizations as they scale.

Here are the highlights you will not want to miss:

From Executive Assistant to the C-Suite

• Phoenix shares what he learned working alongside some of the world’s most successful founders and why the Executive Assistant role can provide extraordinary access and influence.

• He takes us inside Square’s rapid pre-IPO growth and shares his perspective on the early development of Cash App.

Why CEOs Stop Hearing the Truth

• As companies scale, information gets softened, delayed, and distorted before reaching the CEO.

• Bad news often travels slowly, leaving leaders to make major decisions without the complete picture.

• Phoenix believes the best CEOs prioritize data over opinions and surround themselves with people willing to tell them what they need to hear.

The Idea Behind OrgTruth

• Phoenix created OrgTruth to help CEOs see their organizations as they actually are, not simply as they are being reported.

• By gathering signals across an organization and identifying contradictions, OrgTruth helps surface problems and risks that traditional reporting structures can miss.

Building Better CEOs

• Phoenix is launching The Vanguard Apex, an intentionally small cohort of 10 Series A and B founders designed to create candid conversations around the realities of leadership.

• His goal isn't simply to help CEOs become more successful. It's to help them become more complete leaders and people.

Success Beyond Business

• Phoenix began competing in track and field at age 50 and became a highly competitive masters sprinter.

• His definition of success goes beyond money or titles: being able to look in the mirror and feel good about the person looking back.

Final Thoughts

Truth is a competitive advantage. As companies grow, CEOs need better information, trusted people willing to challenge them, and systems that expose problems before they become crises.

And ultimately, building a great company means little if you lose yourself in the process.

Want to See Your Organization as It Actually Is?

OrgTruth helps CEOs identify the signals, contradictions, and issues that may never reach them through traditional reporting structures. Visit the OrgTruth website to learn more.

Looking for Your Next A-Player Executive?

KIP Search® helps companies identify, attract, and hire exceptional leaders who create lasting impact. Visit the KIP Search website and connect with us on LinkedIn to learn how we can help with your executive search needs.

P.S. Be sure to subscribe to Capitalist Culture® for more conversations with founders, investors, and leaders shaping the future of business, leadership, and culture.

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