75. Marc Schneider on Empowering Entrepreneurs and Building Mission-Driven Companies
Release Date: 12/02/2024
83. Matching Board Members with Public Company Boards with Suzanne Brown
On Boards Podcast
In this episode of On Boards, hosts Joe Ayoub and Raza Shaik welcome Suzanne Brown, Director of New York Stock Exchange Board Services. She shares her unique career journey from law and the nonprofit world to board placement leadership at the New York Stock Exchange. Suzanne unpacks how NYSE Board Services was created to bridge the gap between talented board-ready individuals and the NYSE companies that need them. Suzanne also explains their unique “CEO-vetted” approach, the powerful influence of the NYSE brand, and the structural components that make their board placement program...
info_outline
82. Reimagining AI Board Intelligence with Raffaela Rein
On Boards Podcast
In this episode of On Boards, hosts Joe Ayoub and Raza Shaikh welcome Raffaela Rein, a seasoned entrepreneur and board member with expertise in frontier technology and innovation-driven leadership. Raffaela began her career as an analyst at BlackRock, and launched three companies for the world's largest incubator, Rocket Internet, across China, Australia, and Taiwan before becoming an entrepreneur. She serves on multiple corporate and private equity-backed boards, including Porsche, Mutares and International University IU. As the founder of WildWildVentures and CareerFoundry, she has...
info_outline
81. Building a High-Performing Board with Lynn Clarke
On Boards Podcast
In this episode of On Boards, hosts Joe Ayoub and Raza Shaikh welcome Lynn Clarke, an experienced leader in family board governance who has served on more than a dozen family and private equity-backed boards including as an independent chair and lead director. Lynn is also a strategic advisor and mentor and has served on boards spanning from beverage and food services to e-commerce and manufacturing. Lynn has mentored next generation board members and leaders throughout her career and was named the Private Company Director of the Year by National Association of Corporate Directors in...
info_outline
80. Mastering Robert’s Rules of Orders with Susan Leahy
On Boards Podcast
In this episode hosts Joe Ayoub and Raza Shaikh welcome Susan Leahy, the founder of Robert’s Rules Made Simple. Susan has trained and advised thousands of board members, board chairs and others on how to master Robert’s Rules of Order, to help lead and participate in productive meetings. Key Takeaways 1. History of Robert’s Rules of Order Robert’s Rules of Order is a decision making process developed in the 1800s by General Henry M. Robert, who was frustrated by disorganized meetings. Roberts created a guide, first published in 1876, which summarized and simplify...
info_outline
79. Enhancing Board Composition and Strategies for Board Leadership
On Boards Podcast
In this episode of On Boards, hosts Joe Ayoub and Raza Shaikh welcome Tom Rosedale, a partner at the law firm of Nutter McClennen & Fish. Tom serves as chair of the firm’s Corporate and Transactions Department and is a member its Executive Committee. Tom has 27+ years of experience as a corporate attorney and regularly advises public and private company boards of directors in tech, life sciences and more. He has also served on the board of directors of multiple companies including Caring Cross, Vector BioMed, and AMD Global Telemedicine. The discussion with Tom...
info_outline
78. AI in the Boardroom with Andrew Sutton
On Boards Podcast
In this episode of On Boards, hosts Joe Ayoub and Raza Shaikh welcome Andrew Sutton, an attorney with the law firm McLane Middleton and an expert on AI ethics and the use of AI in law. As a founding member of his firm’s AI practice group, Sutton brings his knowledge of AI to this discussion of the ethical, legal and governance aspects of AI. As AI continues to gain prominence, boards will have to consider how they can incorporate AI into companies and in the boardroom. Our discussion dives into the management of AI, implementation strategies and how to develop trust in the AI...
info_outline
77. The Win-Win Workplace: How Thriving Employees Drive Bottom-Line Success
On Boards Podcast
In this episode of On Boards, hosts Joe Ayoub and Raza Shaikh welcome Dr. Angela Jackson, founder of Future Forward Strategies, an award-winning social entrepreneur, a global C-Suite executive, and an experienced board member. She discusses the board's role in holding leadership accountable for “people strategies” and ensuring companies remain competitive in a rapidly evolving business environment. Her new book “The Win-Win Workplace: How Thriving Employees Drive Bottom-Line Success” will be published on March 11, 2025 and will be available from all major book retailers. Key Takeaways...
info_outline
76. Unlocking the value of Risk Governance and the DCRO Qualified Risk Director Program
On Boards Podcast
In this episode of On Boards, hosts Joe Ayoub and Raza Shaikh welcome Lucie Claire Vincent, a global leader in consumer products and an independent board director, to discuss the vital role of risk governance in board effectiveness. Lucie Claire shares insights from her distinguished career at Fortune 100 companies, her experience as an independent director, and her work with the Directors and Chief Risk Officers Institute (DCRO). Lucie Claire also delves into the importance of earning the Qualified Risk Director (QRD) designation and the impact it has on boardroom discussions and...
info_outline
75. Marc Schneider on Empowering Entrepreneurs and Building Mission-Driven Companies
On Boards Podcast
Episode Summary In this episode of On Boards, Joe and Raza welcome Marc Schneider, an accomplished e-commerce and fintech executive with decades of experience building and scaling mission-driven companies. Marc shares his entrepreneurial journey, including his tenure as co-founder and CEO of Zebit, a transformative e-commerce and fintech platform, and his current role as an Operating Venture Partner at Ulu Ventures. The discussion dives into governance challenges in venture-backed startups, the evolution of boards from early-stage to IPO, and how founders can effectively leverage board...
info_outline
74. Navigating Board Stages of Startup Boards: Insights from Chris Cuddy, Board Chair of ezCater
On Boards Podcast
In this episode of On Boards, Chris Cuddy, a seasoned executive and board leader with over 25 years of experience growing technology-enabled companies in both the private and public sectors shares invaluable insights into the evolution of a company’s board as it progresses through different growth stages. He discusses how the board’s role shifts over time from hands-on support to formal governance. His unique perspective is informed by his extensive career, including key roles in companies like Cheapflights, Engage, and ezCater, as well as his background in consulting,...
info_outlineEpisode Summary
In this episode of On Boards, Joe and Raza welcome Marc Schneider, an accomplished e-commerce and fintech executive with decades of experience building and scaling mission-driven companies.
Marc shares his entrepreneurial journey, including his tenure as co-founder and CEO of Zebit, a transformative e-commerce and fintech platform, and his current role as an Operating Venture Partner at Ulu Ventures.
The discussion dives into governance challenges in venture-backed startups, the evolution of boards from early-stage to IPO, and how founders can effectively leverage board expertise. Marc also discusses Ulu Ventures' commitment to supporting diverse entrepreneurs and shares insights into his innovative role as an “active” board observer and mentor to founders.
Key Topics Discussed
1. Marc Schneider’s Career Journey
- Background and Passion for Mission-Driven Companies: Marc’s journey began with his personal experience of financial hardship, which inspired his work at Zebit to provide credit-impaired consumers with fair access to products without interest or penalties.
- Key Roles: From managing customer service operations at ProFlowers to leading Zulily and founding Zebit, Marc’s career has been defined by innovation and scaling impactful businesses.
2. Zebit’s Business Model and Mission
- Zebit’s Unique Value Proposition: Providing underserved consumers with fair, interest-free payment options for e-commerce purchases.
- Challenges: Operating efficiently without typical revenue streams like interest or penalties, while predicting customer payment behavior with data-driven models.
- IPO Journey: Zebit went public on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX) to access liquidity, even though the process posed significant challenges, including valuation issues and market unfamiliarity with its business model.
3. Board Governance in Startups
- Evolution of Boards: Marc discusses the progression of boards through funding stages, from limited investor involvement in early rounds to more structured and diverse boards in public companies.
- Lessons for Founders:
- Understand the dual role of investors as board members and stakeholders.
- Take an active role in shaping board dynamics and agendas.
- Prioritize chemistry and diverse perspectives in board composition.
4. Ulu Ventures and Supporting Diverse Entrepreneurs
- Ulu Ventures’ Mission: Backing women, minority, and diverse entrepreneurial teams using decision analytics to assess investments.
- “Active” Board Observer: Marc’s role involves mentoring founders, facilitating board discussions, and bridging gaps between management and governance.
5. Lessons Learned and Giving Back
- Persistence and Adaptability: Marc’s reflections on navigating challenges, from startup struggles to delisting Zebit, emphasize resilience.
- Mentorship and Legacy: By supporting young entrepreneurs, Marc hopes to inspire a cycle of giving back within the startup ecosystem.