What does it really take to evolve from COO to CEO? Or from startup founder to strategic enterprise leader?

In this episode of Startup Scaleup People, we sit down with Simon Stibbs, an executive coach who has advised 1,000+ CEOs and coached over 30 leaders into top roles across Australia and beyond.

From working with first-time founders to enterprise CEOs managing thousands, Simon reveals the real inner work required to shift mindsets, lead boards, navigate politics, and position yourself for the next big leap.Hosted by Mario Rivas and Tiffany Chown.

📢 About Startup Scaleup PeopleReal stories from startup, scaleup & enterprise leaders. From boardrooms to founder garages — we bring you insights on growth, leadership, funding, exits, and everything in between.New episodes every Sunday at 4PM UK time.

🧭 Chapters

00:00 Welcome & Intro

01:50 Why Simon coaches COOs into CEOs

06:00 Top barriers that block CEO transitions

09:20 Coaching women to reframe their strategic value

13:10 What young CEOs need to focus on

16:30 Managing boards and internal politics

24:30 Leading teams across 14 countries

30:00 Building the right network for CEO transitions

💬 Key Highlights▸

Why COO-to-CEO is one of the hardest transitions

▸ The key blind spots even high-performing leaders face

▸ How language, perception & framing shape career growth

▸ What separates a strategist from a "troubleshooter"

▸ Why board relationships can make or break your influence

▸ Lessons from working with CEOs managing 15,000+ people ▸ The importance of developing a board portfolio early

👥 Who Should ListenAspiring CEOs • COOs & C-suite leaders • First-time founders • Board advisors • Leadership coaches • Investors & executive recruiters

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🧠 Keywords

startup, scaleup, entrepreneurship, business podcast, leadership, business growth, founder mindset, startup stories, scaleup journey, entrepreneur advice, business strategy, innovation, venture capital, startup founders, startup funding, executive leadership, enterprise leadership, enterprise strategy, business transformation, board of directors, fractional leadership, NEDs, startup scaleup people, coaching, board politics, COO to CEO, career growth, high-performance leadership

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