In this episode of the Startup CEO Show, host Mark MacLeod sits down with Tanya Papanikalov, founder of Rainbo, a leading functional mushroom brand. Tanya shares her fascinating journey from holistic nutritionist to successful entrepreneur, detailing how her personal healing experiences led her to create Rainbo. The conversation delves deep into the world of medicinal mushrooms, exploring their myriad health benefits and Tanya's mission to educate consumers about these powerful natural remedies. Listeners will gain valuable insights into the challenges of building a direct-to-consumer business, expanding into major retail channels like Whole Foods, and balancing entrepreneurship with spiritual practices. Tanya's unique background in mind-body medicine and Kundalini yoga adds a compelling dimension to the discussion, offering listeners a fresh perspective on integrating mindfulness and spirituality into business leadership. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur, health enthusiast, or simply curious about the intersection of business and wellness, this episode offers a wealth of knowledge and inspiration. Tune in to discover how Tanya's journey can inform your own path to success and well-being.

Tonya Papanikolov

00:01:04 Meet Rainbow's Mushroom Maven

00:03:57 Full Moon Guru Wisdom

00:12:14 Mushroom Magic in Every Product

00:16:11 Western Approach to Eastern Wisdom

00:18:21 Mushrooms 101: Beginner's Guide

00:30:50 Power Couple Behind Rainbow

00:39:20 Standing Out in Mushroom Market

00:48:18 Kundalini Culture in Company

00:58:39 Midlife Kundalini Awakening

Since 1999, I have sat at the right-hand side of the leaders of high growth technology companies as either a CFO, VC or deal maker. I served as CFO for software companies including Shopify (NYSE: SHOP) and Freshbooks. As a CFO I experienced outright failures, wildly profitable exits, and everything in between.

I was a General Partner in Real Ventures, Canada's largest and most active seed stage fund. My investments there include the fund's largest cash on cash and highest IRR returns to date. Most recently, I founded SurePath Capital Partners the leading investment bank for SMB SaaS companies where we did hundreds of millions in financing and exit transactions.

Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/themarkmacleod/

Contact Mark: https://markmacleod.me/

Subscribe to Mark MacLeod for The Startup CEO Show Podcast, actionable insights, coaching, and strategy for CEOS.

https://www.youtube.com/@MarkMacLeod-CEOCoach?sub_confirmation=1

In this insightful episode of the Startup CEO Show, host Mark MacLeod sits down with Nick Mehta, co-founder and CEO of Gainsight, to explore the journey of building a category-defining company. Mehta shares how Gainsight played a pivotal role in creating the customer success profession and job category, transforming how businesses approach customer retention in the SaaS world. The conversation delves into Gainsight's funding history, with Mehta offering valuable perspectives on navigating relationships with top-tier venture capital firms and aligning expectations. He provides a candid look at the challenges of scaling a startup while maintaining a strong company culture, discussing Gainsight's core values and how they've shaped the organization's growth. Mehta also opens up about personal growth and the evolving priorities of a long-term CEO, offering wisdom on balancing professional ambition with personal fulfillment. This episode is a must-listen for founders, aspiring entrepreneurs, and anyone interested in the human side of building a successful tech company.

Nick Mehta

00:53 Gainsight's Guru: Meet Nick Mehta

02:14 Taylor Swift: Nick's Unexpected Muse

05:01 The Many Faces of Nick

13:29 Nick's Literary Legacy: Five Books

17:48 Keeping Customer Focus at Scale

24:16 Glassdoor Glory: Gainsight's Triumph

28:44 Five Pillars: Gainsight's Core Values

38:22 Ganesh's Wisdom: Letting Go

46:28 Wrapping Up: Kudos to Nick

Since 1999, I have sat at the right-hand side of the leaders of high growth technology companies as either a CFO, VC or deal maker. I served as CFO for software companies including Shopify (NYSE: SHOP) and Freshbooks. As a CFO I experienced outright failures, wildly profitable exits, and everything in between.

I was a General Partner in Real Ventures, Canada's largest and most active seed stage fund. My investments there include the fund's largest cash on cash and highest IRR returns to date. Most recently, I founded SurePath Capital Partners the leading investment bank for SMB SaaS companies where we did hundreds of millions in financing and exit transactions.

Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/themarkmacleod/

Contact Mark: https://markmacleod.me/

Mark MacLeod sits down with fitness coach Greg Newlands to explore the critical importance of health and wellness for high-performing entrepreneurs. As a coach to successful business leaders, Greg shares his expertise on how CEOs can optimize their physical and mental performance through strategic fitness and nutrition practices. The conversation dives deep into the four key pillars Greg focuses on with clients: daily step count, weigh-ins, calorie tracking, and protein intake. Greg emphasizes the power of resistance training for maintaining muscle mass and a high metabolism as we age, allowing entrepreneurs to sustain energy and productivity. The episode also covers practical tips for creating boundaries and implementing strategic breaks throughout the workday to avoid burnout. Greg provides actionable advice on nutrition, recommending whole foods and explaining the roles of protein, carbs, and fats in achieving peak performance. Whether you're a startup founder looking to boost your energy or an executive aiming to optimize your health, this episode offers valuable insights to help you perform at your best. Tune in to learn how treating yourself like a "high-performance Formula One car" can transform your business and life.

00:53 Health: The CEO's Secret Weapon

05:23 Comeback Kings: Fitness Redemption Stories

09:37 Sleep: The Sacrificial Startup Lamb

16:59 Burnout: Recognizing the Warning Signs

20:59 KPIs for Your Body

33:05 Urgency vs. Boundaries: Finding Balance

38:16 Outsourcing Meals: Fueling Success Effortlessly

48:50 Sobering Up: Energy and Productivity Boost

56:13 Startup CEO Show: Until Next Time

Since 1999, I have sat at the right-hand side of the leaders of high growth technology companies as either a CFO, VC or deal maker. I served as CFO for software companies including Shopify (NYSE: SHOP) and Freshbooks. As a CFO I experienced outright failures, wildly profitable exits, and everything in between.

I was a General Partner in Real Ventures, Canada's largest and most active seed stage fund. My investments there include the fund's largest cash on cash and highest IRR returns to date. Most recently, I founded SurePath Capital Partners the leading investment bank for SMB SaaS companies where we did hundreds of millions in financing and exit transactions.

Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/themarkmacleod/

Contact Mark: https://markmacleod.me/