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

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

By: Second in Command with Cameron Herold
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Welcome to the “Second in Command” Podcast hosted by Cameron Herold, brought to you by the COO Alliance, where top-level COOs share their insights, tactics, and strategies that made them the Chief Behind the Chief. Cameron Herold founded the COO Alliance with one simple goal in mind: to provide COOs with the same professional development and growth opportunities CEOs have enjoyed for many years. COO Alliance is the world's leading network for the Second in Command. Cameron Herold is a top business consultant, best-selling author, and speaker. He’s the mastermind behind hundreds of companies’ exponential growth and he’s touched thousands of businesses indirectly through his work.Copyright 2026 Second in Command with Cameron Herold Career Success Economics Leadership Management Management & Leadership
Episodes
  • Ep. 579 - Critical Control COO & Co-Founder Claudine Ripert - Warning: The Critical Mistake Leaders Make in Crisis

    Ep. 579 - Critical Control COO & Co-Founder Claudine Ripert - Warning: The Critical Mistake Leaders Make in Crisis
    May 14 2026
    Ever felt that urge to take total control, only to realize it throttled your team’s growth and your own sanity?Claudine Ripert, COO and co-founder of Critical Control, and COO Alliance member, joins this fierce, truth-telling conversation about leading a fast-scaling restoration business through chaos, disaster, and family dynamics.You’ll hear what it really takes to balance everyday emergencies with unplanned catastrophe, all while steering a company with your own son as CEO. Expect real talk on delegation, brutal lessons learned, what women face in construction, and the psychological traps that kill momentum.Miss this episode, and you risk driving your business into burnout, not breakthrough. Listen now for raw, exclusive wisdom you won’t find in glossy leadership books—only from those who have lived it and bled for it.Timestamped Highlights06:12 – The real chaos of disaster recovery nobody tells you10:05 – Why chasing growth can sabotage your core business overnight14:05 – The unexpected curse of working with family17:00 – The radical communication exercise that finally changed everything22:29 – Brutal truths about enabling and hiring for potential27:15 – The moment Claudine Ripert stopped being a control freak30:06 – The shift from “majoring in the minors” to critical thinking41:46 – Why the right broker referral beats insurance programs every timeAbout the GuestClaudine Ripert is the COO and cofounder of Critical Control Restoration, and COO Alliance member, leading regional disaster recovery operations in California with a national footprint during major catastrophes. Known for scaling her family business through intense market disruption and emotional upheaval, she blends operational rigor with human vulnerability that few in her industry will discuss.🔗 LinkedIn | WebsiteMentioned ResourcesWho by Geoff SmartCAFE (Canadian Association of Family Enterprise)Maslow’s Hierarchy of NeedsCollege Pro Painters1-800-GOT-JUNKGerber Auto Collision/Boyd Auto BodyImportant LinksConnect with Cameron: Website | LinkedInExplore the COO Alliance - The World’s Leading Community for Seconds in CommandGet Cameron’s book: Second in Command: Unleash the Power of Your COO BookTake his course: Invest In Your Leaders Online Course (Use promo code PODCAST10 before the end of the month for 10% off)Chat or video call with AI Cameron via DelphiThe 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.Sponsored byGenius Network - An exclusive community for highly successful entrepreneurs, connecting you with top-tier leaders, strategic insights, and powerful relationships to help you grow your business faster and smarter.Learn more: https://www.geniusnetwork.com/
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    38 mins
  • Ep. 578 - Savannah Bananas President Jared Orton – How Fun Became the Ultimate Competitive Advantage

    Ep. 578 - Savannah Bananas President Jared Orton – How Fun Became the Ultimate Competitive Advantage
    May 12 2026
    What happens when you set out to break every rule in one of America’s most traditional sports, and people flock to watch?In this Fan Favorite episode, Jared Orton, President of the Savannah Bananas, unpacks how a no-name baseball team triggered a movement by making fun non-negotiable and burning down industry norms. Discover how relentless experiments, cultural friction, player resistance, and pandemic chaos forced Jared Orton and his team to make brutal business choices, all while scaling from selling a few tickets to filling stadiums across America.Miss this episode, and you risk clinging to safe growth strategies while your competitors reinvent, electrify their culture, and claim your customers. Listen now. Get the raw, strategic truth behind explosive growth and team alignment that most leaders never hear about.Timestamped Highlights00:00 – Why telling fans “You can’t buy a ticket” made them desperate to get in03:34 – The culture playbook that turned baseball on its head07:59 – The brutal truth: fun was their only real competitive edge12:03 – The $15 all-you-can-eat gamble that shocked their market15:39 – How they engineer relentless fun without losing operational discipline20:44 – Why letting the wrong players walk is a proven culture win25:00 – The pandemic forced a do-or-die vision shift overnight34:00 – Their biggest tactical mistake and how it nearly cost everythingAbout the GuestJared Orton is the President of the Savannah Bananas, an electrifying baseball brand known for redefining the fan experience and selling out stadiums nationwide. With a proven track record in entertainment-driven growth, Jared Orton has transformed the Savannah Bananas from a struggling local team into a national phenomenon.🔗 LinkedIn | WebsiteMentioned ResourcesVision Driven Leader by Michael HyattMastermind Talks (MMT)Jim Collins – Good to Great, the “Hedgehog Concept”Stephen Covey – 7 Habits of Highly Effective PeopleBanana Ball rulesWalt Disney WorldPixar (Toy Story creative strategy)Important LinksConnect with Cameron: Website | LinkedInExplore the COO Alliance - The World’s Leading Community for Seconds in CommandGet Cameron’s book: Second in Command: Unleash the Power of Your COO BookTake his course: Invest In Your Leaders Online Course (Use promo code PODCAST10 before the end of the month for 10% off)Chat or video call with AI Cameron via DelphiNote: This Fan Favorite episode is a recast of one of our most impactful interviews, still packed with insights for second-in-command leaders. Whether it’s your first listen or a revisit, there’s timeless value inside.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.
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    51 mins
  • Ep. 577 - International Council for Small Business (ICSB) COO Skye Blanks - How To Turn Any Vision Into a Successful Reality

    Ep. 577 - International Council for Small Business (ICSB) COO Skye Blanks - How To Turn Any Vision Into a Successful Reality
    May 7 2026
    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 Highlights00:31 – The “born operator” mindset that shaped a global COO02:36 – The hidden power of loyalty and facing down risks bigger than Deloitte05:35 – How do you keep policymakers, professors, and entrepreneurs moving together?10:34 – The stop-doing list: Skye’s ruthless system for switching hats daily15:06 – The radical transparency tactic that keeps remote teams accountable18:16 – What’s really at stake when culture fails, and no one steps up23:58 – Skye’s blueprint for replicable, world-class events—anywhere29:23 – Why firing people and failed partnerships still sting at the top34:18 – The “humane entrepreneurship” concept that rewrites how leaders show upAbout the GuestSkye 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 | WebsiteMentioned ResourcesTaylor & FrancisUN MSME DayJournal of Small Business ManagementNotionMoneyball (film)Dr. Ki-Chan Kim – “Humane Entrepreneurship”About the Co-HostSivana 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.🔗 Connect with Sivana on LinkedInImportant LinksConnect with Cameron: Website | LinkedInExplore the COO Alliance - The World’s Leading Community for Seconds in CommandGet Cameron’s book: Second in Command: Unleash the Power of Your COO BookTake his course: Invest In Your Leaders Online Course (Use promo code PODCAST10 before the end of the month for 10% off)Chat or video call with AI Cameron via DelphiThe 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.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: http://www.redirectcoo.com/
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    44 mins
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Everytime I listen to his content, I'm inspired to think bigger and become more effective.

Cameron Herold is a Beast

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