In this episode of Prospecting Pros, John and Chris sit down with R.J. Jollychandra, a semi-retired CEO who has led six venture and private equity-backed companies ranging from early-stage startups to organizations with over 2,000 employees.
R.J. shares what it takes to succeed in the CEO role, explaining why an entrepreneurial mindset, resilience, and a love for solving problems are important. He explains some of the most common mistakes he sees leaders make, like underhiring when trying to scale, growing too fast in venture-backed companies, or private equity pulling out cash too early
R.J. also talks about why companies often stall at 2 to 5 million in revenue or around 40 employees, and why building a strong executive team is critical for breaking through. He shares his “do no work” CEO philosophy, the value of coaching, and why you should ignore the highlight reels you see on LinkedIn.
