The Scoreboard Test: Measuring Effort vs Results
Electrifying Growth
Everyone is busy, yet results still fall short. Many leaders mistake motion for progress and only see the gap when numbers miss. In this episode, , Managing Partner at and host of Sit Down with Sugden, shares why effort-based goals mislead teams. Through years of working closely with operators and executives, he explains how leaders should measure what truly drives the P&L. He outlines how to reset goals so effort consistently translates into measurable business results. In this episode, you’ll learn: How to set goals that connect daily work to revenue growth Why every department...
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Re-release: Growing Without Losing Sight of Your People with Shane Kim, Baleon Capital
Electrifying Growth
Can you drive growth without losing sight of the human side of business? This replay episode brings back a standout conversation with Shane Kim, founder of Baleon Capital, who says yes. With over 20 years in growth equity, Shane has built his investment approach around empathy and connection, putting people first. From his early days as an analyst to founding Baleon, he’s focused on fintech and healthcare, navigating market cycles and building strong partnerships. Shane and host Chris Sugden revisit the realities of founding a private equity firm, from building resilient teams to handling...
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The CFO Guide to Smarter Board Prep
Electrifying Growth
How often does your board meeting force you to look back instead of ahead? In this episode, , Managing Partner at and host of Sit Down with Sugden, discusses why CEOs and CFOs lose entire weeks to board prep that does not help them plan the future. Drawing from decades on more than 50 boards, he explains how to shift reviews out of the boardroom, streamline materials, and make every meeting more useful for the business. In this episode, you’ll learn: How the 80/20 rule sharpens board materials and saves valuable prep time Why moving financial reviews outside the boardroom leads to better...
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Leading With Purpose When the Pressure's On with Tom Flick, Tom Flick Communications
Electrifying Growth
Leading a team through change demands the same instincts as an NFL quarterback: read the field, set direction, and earn the trust needed to move as one. On this episode of Electrifying Growth, Chris Sugden talks with , former NFL quarterback and President of . Tom shares how his experience on the field shaped his views on leadership, especially the importance of clarity when people feel uncertain. He explains why resistance to change is emotional, not logical, how urgency is created through shared purpose, and why influence becomes a leader’s most reliable tool in complex environments....
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The Sales Wake-Up Call
Electrifying Growth
Are you measuring the right metrics to supercharge your sales growth in 2026? In this episode, , Managing Partner at and host of Sit Down with Sugden, breaks down the critical metrics every sales leader needs to track to fuel durable growth, whether you're raising capital, planning for an exit, or gearing up for 2026. From raising quotas without losing top talent to understanding the magic of revenue per FTE, Sugden offers actionable insights that can supercharge your sales efficiency. Learn how to fine-tune your sales and marketing spend, optimize your CAC payback period, and rethink your...
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Growth Without Shortcuts with Barry Conlon, Overhaul
Electrifying Growth
What happens when your former company becomes your biggest competitor? On this episode of Electrifying Growth, sits down with , CEO of , for a conversation about building one of the most advanced logistics risk management platforms in the world. Barry shares his journey from founding FreightWatch to acquiring it a decade later, all while navigating the challenges of product-market fit, scaling a capital-efficient team, and earning the trust of the world’s most demanding enterprise customers. From bootstrapping and board-building to executing two significant acquisitions, Barry shares the...
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Healthy Urgency Can’t Be Rushed
Electrifying Growth
Healthy urgency can’t be rushed. , Managing Partner at , discusses what it really means to lead with healthy urgency - the balance between moving fast and staying focused. In this episode, he explores why constant pivots and chasing the “next big thing” often do more harm than good, how to separate meaningful feedback from noise, and why sustainable growth starts with discipline, not speed. Chris shares practical ways to build urgency that’s grounded in purpose, avoid the trap of shiny objects, and make confident decisions even when pressure mounts from customers, investors, or your...
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Build Before You Raise with Krish Chopra, NPHub
Electrifying Growth
What happens when an entrepreneur leaves corporate America to tackle a critical healthcare gap? On this episode of Electrifying Growth, Chris Sugden connects with , founder and CEO of , to discuss his 10-year journey from bootstrapping the company to securing a $20 million growth investment. Krish shares how his unique path from corporate America to healthcare entrepreneur led to NPHub’s success, solving one of the most pressing challenges in healthcare: clinical placements for nurse practitioners. He talks about how the company scaled by staying capital-efficient, focusing on customer...
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Investing in AI-Powered Automation with Kevin Herr, KnowledgeLake
Electrifying Growth
What shifts when a CFO becomes CEO of an enterprise SaaS company focused on automation and AI? On this episode of Electrifying Growth, Chris Sugden sits down with , CEO of , following Edison Partners’ recent $65 million investment. Kevin shares how his journey from founder to financial leader to chief executive is shaping the company’s strategy as it scales. With a focus on value creation, Kevin discusses how KnowledgeLake is delivering measurable ROI through AI-powered document processing and what it takes to build durable growth from the inside out. He also breaks down the leadership...
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Healthy Urgency Starts with the CEO
Electrifying Growth
Is your company scaling or just sprinting? , Managing Partner at , explains the concept of “healthy urgency” and why it's a defining trait in high-growth leadership. In this episode, he reflects on lessons from Edison’s recent CEO Summit and outlines how urgency can either drive disciplined execution or spiral into chaos when left unchecked. He shares the patterns he sees as companies move from startup pace to scale-up maturity, and the key distinctions between founder energy and operational excellence. If you’re a CEO wondering whether your team is following your lead or just chasing...
info_outlineThinking about bringing in a private equity partner?
Chris Sugden, Managing Partner at Edison Partners, zooms in on the critical decisions founders face when considering a private equity deal.
In this episode, he highlights the importance of building relationships with investors, understanding the difference between growth equity and traditional private equity, and knowing when it’s time to bring in outside capital.
If you’re contemplating whether to sell your business or continue scaling, Chris walks through how to engage with PE firms, the red flags to look out for, and how to prepare for post-deal success.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
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How PE firms evaluate founders during early conversations
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The power of building relationships with investors before hiring a banker
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Why some executives who got you here can’t take you further
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How to shift from founder mindset to commercial mindset
Jump into the conversation:
(00:00) Introduction
(01:38) What Edison looks for in founder CEOs
(03:31) The challenge of leveling up your team
(05:33) How to map your five-year goals
(07:44) Understanding the shift to a commercial mindset
(08:59) The importance of feedback before hiring a banker
(20:42) Growth vs profitability: which thesis to follow?