Second in Command: The Chief Behind the Chief with Cameron Herold

Ep. 577 - International Council for Small Business (ICSB) COO Skye Blanks - How To Turn Any Vision Into a Successful Reality

What happens when you’re the glue holding a global mission together, but the glue starts to crack? In this electric conversation, Sivana Brewer digs into the trenches with Skye Blanks, COO of the International Council for Small Business, an entrepreneur, and a relentless global operator. They expose the raw truth behind cross-border team dynamics, the weight of relentless travel, and the personal toll of constant responsibility. This episode tears open the unfiltered reality of getting things done, teaching accountability, and building operational systems when the stakes and time zones are always changing. Listen now or risk missing the proven tactics and hard-won lessons that separate thriving leaders from burned-out managers. If you’re ready to weaponize transparency, claim your seat at the table, and cut through nonprofit noise, this conversation is for you. TIMESTAMPED HIGHLIGHTS 00:31 – The “born operator” mindset that shaped a global COO 02:36 – The hidden power of loyalty and facing down risks bigger than Deloitte 05:35 – How do you keep policymakers, professors, and entrepreneurs moving together? 10:34 – The stop-doing list: Skye’s ruthless system for switching hats daily 15:06 – The radical transparency tactic that keeps remote teams accountable 18:16 – What’s really at stake when culture fails, and no one steps up 23:58 – Skye’s blueprint for replicable, world-class events—anywhere 29:23 – Why firing people and failed partnerships still sting at the top 34:18 – The “humane entrepreneurship” concept that rewrites how leaders show up ABOUT THE GUEST Skye Blanks is the Chief Operating Officer of the International Council for Small Business (ICSB), where he works closely with executive leadership to scale operations and support small and medium-sized enterprises globally. He is also the founder of Premo Cannabis and serves in advisory and board-level roles, bringing a hands-on operator’s perspective shaped by building and leading organizations. His work centers on execution, governance, and being an effective second-in-command.🔗 LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/skyeblanks/] | Website [https://icsb.org/profile/skye-blanks/member-profile/] MENTIONED RESOURCES * Taylor & Francis [https://www.tandfonline.com/] * UN MSME Day [https://www.un.org/en/observances/micro-small-medium-businesses-day] * Journal of Small Business Management [https://www.tandfonline.com/journals/ujbm20] * Notion [http://notion.com] * Moneyball [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1210166/] (film) * Dr. Ki-Chan Kim [https://icsb.org/icsb-board/dr-ki-chan-kim/] – “Humane Entrepreneurship” ABOUT THE CO-HOST Sivana Brewer is a Fractional COO for Remote Teams and former COO at Closers.io, where she helped scale the company to multiple eight figures and built over 500+ sales teams in just 2.5 years. She specializes in leadership development, remote operations, and systems that empower teams to grow sustainably. 🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/in/sivanab/Connect with Sivana on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sivanab/] IMPORTANT LINKS * Connect with Cameron: Website [https://rebrand.ly/6873ad] | LinkedIn [https://rebrand.ly/2dcd84] * Explore the COO Alliance [https://rebrand.ly/2c1d81] - The World’s Leading Community for Seconds in Command * Get Cameron’s book: Second in Command: Unleash the Power of Your COO Book [https://rebrand.ly/719f95] * Take his course: Invest In Your Leaders Online Course [https://rebrand.ly/invest-in-your-leaders-PYB] (Use promo code PODCAST10 before the end of the month for 10% off) * Chat or video call with AI Cameron via Delphi [https://rebrand.ly/cameron-herold-7e9120] The Second in Command Podcast is an original production hosted by Cameron Herold. Brought to you by COO Alliance. Production and editing by Podcast Your Brand [http://rebrand.ly/pybch2026]. SPONSORED BY: Redirect Health - Affordable healthcare benefits designed to make traditional insurance optional, with 24/7 access to primary care and Rx support that helps businesses reduce costs while keeping employees covered. Learn more: https://www.redirecthealth.com/ [https://www.redirecthealth.com/]

Ep. 576- Tilt COO Taylor McLemore - How To Approach Leave Management and Organizational Performance

What would your workplace look like if every single leave of absence became a chance to build legendary loyalty and turbocharge retention? Sivana Brewer sits down with Taylor McLemore, COO at Tilt, for a conversation that slices through HR noise and exposes the uncomfortable truth: most companies fumble leave policies and lose their best people as a result. This episode unpacks the hidden costs (and wild upsides) of leave done right. From the real-world pain operators feel managing compliance chaos, to how AI is shaking the industry, and the “roles, responsibilities, expectations” framework that creates lasting clarity, this is actionable COO gold. Miss this, and you risk bleeding talent, tanking culture, and getting steamrolled by change. Listen now for raw lessons, war stories, and tested tactics you won’t hear anywhere else. TIMESTAMPED HIGHLIGHTS 00:40 – The brutal truth about why leave management is your hidden loyalty driver 02:07 – The jaw-dropping time and complexity HR teams actually face 08:20 – A career-changing moment: what empathetic leave really looks like 13:16 – The overlooked ROI of doing leave brilliantly 14:23 – Why Tilt planted the flag as the AI leader (and what that really means) 16:43 – The four principles that keep AI both fast and safe inside HR 22:40 – The surprisingly simple doc that ends CEO-COO confusion 29:15 – The unexpected power of letting people define “winning” in their own role ABOUT THE GUEST Taylor McLemore is the COO of Tilt, revolutionizing employee leave with empathy and technology. Taylor is the founder of the Human Potential Summit. Previously, he was an EIR at Stand Together. Taylor is a venture builder, scale operator, community connector, and investor. Taylor served on the Colorado Banking Board and the Board of Trustees for Colorado PERA. Previously, he launched and built the Techstars Workforce Development Accelerator as a Managing Director at Techstars. Taylor was the Co-Chair of the DAV National Veterans Entrepreneurship Council. He previously served as an advisor to SHRM Labs and sits on a number of startup boards. Previously, he was Managing Director of Able, a venture and product studio. While at Able, he was a co-founder and investment lead for Codeable, a coding school in Latin America. Taylor was the founder and a board director for Patriot Boot Camp, a nonprofit that supports military veteran and military spouse entrepreneurs. Patriot Boot Camp was acquired by DAV in 2021. 🔗 LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/taylormclemore] | Website [https://hellotilt.com/] MENTIONED RESOURCES * Techstars [https://www.techstars.com/] * Rippling [https://www.rippling.com/] * Paycor [https://www.paycor.com/] * Paylocity [https://www.paylocity.com/] * Workday [https://www.workday.com/] * Ray Dalio – Weighted Believability [https://www.principles.com/principles/633d5d13-8610-425f-ad62-cd62347d9165/] * SOC 2 Compliance [https://www.imperva.com/learn/data-security/soc-2-compliance/] * Short-Term Disability [https://www.adp.com/resources/articles-and-insights/articles/s/short-term-disability.aspx] (US HR context) ABOUT THE CO-HOST Sivana Brewer is a Fractional COO for Remote Teams and former COO at Closers.io, where she helped scale the company to multiple eight figures and built over 500+ sales teams in just 2.5 years. She specializes in leadership development, remote operations, and systems that empower teams to grow sustainably. 🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/in/sivanab/Connect with Sivana on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sivanab/] IMPORTANT LINKS * Connect with Cameron: Website [https://rebrand.ly/6873ad] | LinkedIn [https://rebrand.ly/2dcd84] * Explore the COO Alliance [https://rebrand.ly/2c1d81] - The World’s Leading Community for Seconds in Command * Get Cameron’s book: Second in Command: Unleash the Power of Your COO Book [https://rebrand.ly/719f95] * Take his course: Invest In Your Leaders Online Course [https://rebrand.ly/invest-in-your-leaders-PYB] (Use promo code PODCAST10 before the end of the month for 10% off) * Chat or video call with AI Cameron via Delphi [https://rebrand.ly/cameron-herold-7e9120] The Second in Command Podcast is an original production hosted by Cameron Herold. Brought to you by COO Alliance. Production and editing by Podcast Your Brand [http://rebrand.ly/pybch2026]. SPONSORED BY STS Capital – A global M&A advisory firm helping entrepreneurs achieve maximum value when selling their business, with a focus on strategic buyers and life-changing exits. Learn more:https://stscapital.com [https://stscapital.com/?utm_source=COO_Alliance&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=coo_alliance_traffic]

Ep. 575 - Trevanna Tracks COO Selina Meere - How to Energize Culture and Deliver Reliable Results

Ever wondered why one song can instantly give you chills… while another makes you feel nothing at all? In this episode, Selina Meere, COO of Trevanna Tracks, pulls back the curtain on the invisible system behind the music you feel in films, ads, and media. From navigating complex rights and scaling music operations for global brands to leading without a playbook, this conversation dives deep into what it really takes to operate at the intersection of creativity, technology, and leadership. They explore the realities of being a COO, managing elite teams, making high-stakes decisions, and building trust in environments where there are no clear answers. If you want to understand how world-class operators think, lead, and execute under pressure, don’t wait. The cost of staying reactive instead of strategic is too high. Hit play now for insights you won’t hear anywhere else. TIMESTAMPED HIGHLIGHTS [00:00] – The hidden force behind why certain songs instantly trigger emotion in movies and ads [02:14] – Why music licensing became exponentially more complex, and what most people don’t realize [04:21] – The “Excel breaking point” that led to building a completely new category in media [06:37] – From book publishing to COO, the unexpected career pivot that changed everything [11:00] – The moment she had to learn DevOps, Agile, and engineering… from scratch [13:40] – The leadership mistake most companies make during major internal transformations [17:11] – How top teams actually prioritize when every client thinks their request is urgent [19:01] – The hardest part of being a COO, and why there’s no such thing as a playbook [28:12] – The real way to build confidence when making big, high-risk decisions [31:54] – Why asking questions can quietly destroy trust, and how to fix it ABOUT THE GUEST Selina Meere is the COO of Trevanna Tracks, a pioneering music rights and workflow platform serving some of the largest media and entertainment companies in the world. With a background in publishing and PR, she has built a career partnering closely with founders to scale businesses, optimize operations, and drive growth across industries. Known for her adaptability and strategic thinking, Selina specializes in leading high-performance teams in complex, fast-evolving environments. 🔗 LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/selina-meere] | Website [https://trevannatracks.com/selina-meere] MENTIONED RESOURCES * Chief [https://chief.com/] (Women’s Executive Network) * Random House [https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/] * Warner [https://www.warnerbros.com/] (client reference) * Apple [http://apple.com] (client reference) * Leila Hormozi [https://www.youtube.com/@leilahormozi] * Alex Hormozi [https://www.youtube.com/c/alexhormozi] ABOUT THE CO-HOST Sivana Brewer is a Fractional COO for Remote Teams and former COO at Closers.io, where she helped scale the company to multiple eight figures and built over 500+ sales teams in just 2.5 years. She specializes in leadership development, remote operations, and systems that empower teams to grow sustainably. 🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/in/sivanab/Connect with Sivana on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sivanab/] IMPORTANT LINKS * Connect with Cameron: Website [https://rebrand.ly/6873ad] | LinkedIn [https://rebrand.ly/2dcd84] * Explore the COO Alliance [https://rebrand.ly/2c1d81] - The World’s Leading Community for Seconds in Command * Get Cameron’s book: Second in Command: Unleash the Power of Your COO Book [https://rebrand.ly/719f95] * Take his course: Invest In Your Leaders Online Course [https://rebrand.ly/invest-in-your-leaders-PYB] (Use promo code PODCAST10 before the end of the month for 10% off) * Chat or video call with AI Cameron via Delphi [https://rebrand.ly/cameron-herold-7e9120] The Second in Command Podcast is an original production hosted by Cameron Herold. Brought to you by COO Alliance. Production and editing by Podcast Your Brand [http://rebrand.ly/pybch2026]. SPONSORED BY Next Level Growth - A proven system designed to help entrepreneurs scale their businesses with clarity, accountability, and the right strategic support to reach their next stage of growth. Learn more: https://www.nextlevelgrowth.com/ [https://www.nextlevelgrowth.com/]

Ep. 575 | Trevanna Tracks COO Selina Meere - How to Energize Culture and Deliver Reliable Results

Ever wondered why one song can instantly give you chills… while another makes you feel nothing at all? In this episode, Selina Meere, COO of Trevanna Tracks, pulls back the curtain on the invisible system behind the music you feel in films, ads, and media. From navigating complex rights and scaling music operations for global brands to leading without a playbook, this conversation dives deep into what it really takes to operate at the intersection of creativity, technology, and leadership. They explore the realities of being a COO, managing elite teams, making high-stakes decisions, and building trust in environments where there are no clear answers. If you want to understand how world-class operators think, lead, and execute under pressure, don’t wait. The cost of staying reactive instead of strategic is too high. Hit play now for insights you won’t hear anywhere else. TIMESTAMPED HIGHLIGHTS [00:00] – The hidden force behind why certain songs instantly trigger emotion in movies and ads [02:14] – Why music licensing became exponentially more complex, and what most people don’t realize [04:21] – The “Excel breaking point” that led to building a completely new category in media [06:37] – From book publishing to COO, the unexpected career pivot that changed everything [11:00] – The moment she had to learn DevOps, Agile, and engineering… from scratch [13:40] – The leadership mistake most companies make during major internal transformations [17:11] – How top teams actually prioritize when every client thinks their request is urgent [19:01] – The hardest part of being a COO, and why there’s no such thing as a playbook [28:12] – The real way to build confidence when making big, high-risk decisions [31:54] – Why asking questions can quietly destroy trust, and how to fix it ABOUT THE GUEST Selina Meere is the COO of Trevanna Tracks, a pioneering music rights and workflow platform serving some of the largest media and entertainment companies in the world. With a background in publishing and PR, she has built a career partnering closely with founders to scale businesses, optimize operations, and drive growth across industries. Known for her adaptability and strategic thinking, Selina specializes in leading high-performance teams in complex, fast-evolving environments. 🔗 LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/selina-meere] | Website [https://trevannatracks.com/selina-meere] MENTIONED RESOURCES * Chief [https://chief.com/] (Women’s Executive Network) * Random House [https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/] * Warner [https://www.warnerbros.com/] (client reference) * Apple [http://apple.com] (client reference) * Leila Hormozi [https://www.youtube.com/@leilahormozi] * Alex Hormozi [https://www.youtube.com/c/alexhormozi] ABOUT THE CO-HOST Sivana Brewer is a Fractional COO for Remote Teams and former COO at Closers.io, where she helped scale the company to multiple eight figures and built over 500+ sales teams in just 2.5 years. She specializes in leadership development, remote operations, and systems that empower teams to grow sustainably. 🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/in/sivanab/Connect with Sivana on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sivanab/] IMPORTANT LINKS * Connect with Cameron: Website [https://rebrand.ly/6873ad] | LinkedIn [https://rebrand.ly/2dcd84] * Explore the COO Alliance [https://rebrand.ly/2c1d81] - The World’s Leading Community for Seconds in Command * Get Cameron’s book: Second in Command: Unleash the Power of Your COO Book [https://rebrand.ly/719f95] * Take his course: Invest In Your Leaders Online Course [https://rebrand.ly/invest-in-your-leaders-PYB] (Use promo code PODCAST10 before the end of the month for 10% off) * Chat or video call with AI Cameron via Delphi [https://rebrand.ly/cameron-herold-7e9120] The Second in Command Podcast is an original production hosted by Cameron Herold. Brought to you by COO Alliance. Production and editing by Podcast Your Brand [http://rebrand.ly/pybch2026]. SPONSORED BY Next Level Growth - A proven system designed to help entrepreneurs scale their businesses with clarity, accountability, and the right strategic support to reach their next stage of growth. Learn more: https://www.nextlevelgrowth.com/ [https://www.nextlevelgrowth.com/]

Ep. 575 - Trevanna Tracks COO Selina Meere - How to Energize Culture and Deliver Reliable Results

Ever wondered why one song can instantly give you chills… while another makes you feel nothing at all? In this episode, Selina Meere, COO of Trevanna Tracks, pulls back the curtain on the invisible system behind the music you feel in films, ads, and media. From navigating complex rights and scaling music operations for global brands to leading without a playbook, this conversation dives deep into what it really takes to operate at the intersection of creativity, technology, and leadership. They explore the realities of being a COO, managing elite teams, making high-stakes decisions, and building trust in environments where there are no clear answers. If you want to understand how world-class operators think, lead, and execute under pressure, don’t wait. The cost of staying reactive instead of strategic is too high. Hit play now for insights you won’t hear anywhere else. TIMESTAMPED HIGHLIGHTS [00:00] – The hidden force behind why certain songs instantly trigger emotion in movies and ads [02:14] – Why music licensing became exponentially more complex, and what most people don’t realize [04:21] – The “Excel breaking point” that led to building a completely new category in media [06:37] – From book publishing to COO, the unexpected career pivot that changed everything [11:00] – The moment she had to learn DevOps, Agile, and engineering… from scratch [13:40] – The leadership mistake most companies make during major internal transformations [17:11] – How top teams actually prioritize when every client thinks their request is urgent [19:01] – The hardest part of being a COO, and why there’s no such thing as a playbook [28:12] – The real way to build confidence when making big, high-risk decisions [31:54] – Why asking questions can quietly destroy trust, and how to fix it ABOUT THE GUEST Selina Meere is the COO of Trevanna Tracks, a pioneering music rights and workflow platform serving some of the largest media and entertainment companies in the world. With a background in publishing and PR, she has built a career partnering closely with founders to scale businesses, optimize operations, and drive growth across industries. Known for her adaptability and strategic thinking, Selina specializes in leading high-performance teams in complex, fast-evolving environments. 🔗 LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/selina-meere] | Website [https://trevannatracks.com/selina-meere] MENTIONED RESOURCES * Chief [https://chief.com/] (Women’s Executive Network) * Random House [https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/] * Warner [https://www.warnerbros.com/] (client reference) * Apple [http://apple.com] (client reference) * Leila Hormozi [https://www.youtube.com/@leilahormozi] * Alex Hormozi [https://www.youtube.com/c/alexhormozi] ABOUT THE CO-HOST Sivana Brewer is a Fractional COO for Remote Teams and former COO at Closers.io, where she helped scale the company to multiple eight figures and built over 500+ sales teams in just 2.5 years. She specializes in leadership development, remote operations, and systems that empower teams to grow sustainably. 🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/in/sivanab/Connect with Sivana on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sivanab/] IMPORTANT LINKS * Connect with Cameron: Website [https://rebrand.ly/6873ad] | LinkedIn [https://rebrand.ly/2dcd84] * Explore the COO Alliance [https://rebrand.ly/2c1d81] - The World’s Leading Community for Seconds in Command * Get Cameron’s book: Second in Command: Unleash the Power of Your COO Book [https://rebrand.ly/719f95] * Take his course: Invest In Your Leaders Online Course [https://rebrand.ly/invest-in-your-leaders-PYB] (Use promo code PODCAST10 before the end of the month for 10% off) * Chat or video call with AI Cameron via Delphi [https://rebrand.ly/cameron-herold-7e9120] The Second in Command Podcast is an original production hosted by Cameron Herold. Brought to you by COO Alliance. Production and editing by Podcast Your Brand [http://rebrand.ly/pybch2026]. SPONSORED BY Next Level Growth - A proven system designed to help entrepreneurs scale their businesses with clarity, accountability, and the right strategic support to reach their next stage of growth. Learn more: https://www.nextlevelgrowth.com/ [https://www.nextlevelgrowth.com/]