In this episode we discuss: The BizzOps Anti-Playbook. We are joined by Vessela Clewley, Strategy & Biz Ops Executive.

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We chat about the following with Vessela Clewley:

1. What does it really take to step into leadership for the first time — and why do so many people underestimate the shift?
2. How do you build confidence as a leader when you don’t yet feel “ready”?
3. What’s the difference between managing tasks and truly leading people?
4. How can organisations better support first-time managers before they burn out?
5. What unspoken pressures do women in leadership roles carry — and how can we address them more openly?

1. https://www.linkedin.com/in/vessclewley/
2. https://sbohub.substack.com/
3. https://sbohub.gumroad.com/l/TheSBOAntiPlaybook

Vessela is an accomplished fCOO with a Strategy & BizOps background. She brings the power of US-style Strategy & Business Operations to Europe.

She has an illustrious career spanning Hopin, WeWork, Uber and other start ups. She has won global awards by the likes of WeWork & McKinsey, relaunched products like UberExec, and negotiated 7-figure deals for Hopin on walks in Regents park.

She is known for bringing a strategic, analytical, systems-driven approach to building companies. Her approach brings clarity, breaks down silos, and unlocks revenue growth. She puts company over functions; analytics over ego; and outcomes over optics.

Vessela typically partners with Seed–Series B founders who value analytical decision-making and high-velocity execution.

To learn more about Beth and Brandon or to find out about sponsorship opportunities click here.

00:00 – Introduction & framing the conversation

~06:20 – The reality of becoming a first-time manager

~13:45 – Imposter syndrome & self-doubt

~20:30 – The responsibility shift

~28:10 – Feedback, difficult conversations & growth

~35:50 – Building confidence through action

~44:15 – The gendered expectations in leadership

~52:00 – Creating supportive environments for new leaders

~59:40 – Advice to aspiring leaders

In this episode we discuss: Collaborative AI for revenue teams. We are joined by Mylo Portas, CEO of Choras.

Love The Operations Room? Please support us by rating and reviewing it here.

We chat about the following with Donna McCurley:

1. What actually makes a podcast commercially sustainable — beyond downloads and vanity metrics?
2. How do you build creative systems that scale without killing originality?
3. What does it really take to grow an independent podcast network in today’s crowded market?
4. Where do most founders misunderstand the operational complexity of media businesses?
5. Is podcasting still early… or are we already in the consolidation phase?

1. https://www.linkedin.com/in/myloportas/

Mylo Portas is the co-founder of Chora, an award-winning London-based podcast studio and network. He works with global brands, media organisations and creators to build distinctive, story-driven podcasts that cut through. Passionate about the intersection of creativity and commercial strategy, Mylo focuses on building sustainable podcast brands — not just shows.

To learn more about Beth and Brandon or to find out about sponsorship opportunities click here.

In this episode we discuss: How to really use AI in your GTM team. We are joined by Donna McCurley, Creator of the AI Sales Operating System™ (AiSOS).

Love The Operations Room? Please support us by rating and reviewing it here.

We chat about the following with Donna McCurley:

1. Who should actually “own” AI inside your GTM function — and what happens if nobody does?
2. What does real AI governance look like in practice — beyond policies and buzzwords?
3. Are AI agents creating hidden shadow systems inside your organisation?
4. Why are most AI rollouts in sales failing to drive measurable revenue impact?
5. How do you move from AI experimentation to a true AI sales operating system?

1. https://www.linkedin.com/in/donnamccurley/

Donna McCurley is the creator of the **AI Sales Operating System™ (AiSOS)** and a go-to advisor for SaaS revenue teams who want to turn AI from “extra noise” into a real growth engine. She leads Global Sales Enablement teams and has helped 100s of sellers cut out busywork, triple their pipeline coverage, and adopt AI workflows that actually stick.

With a background that spans classroom teaching, Fortune 500 enablement leadership, and consulting with companies like McAfee and HPe, Donna has built a reputation for stripping away complexity and focusing on what truly drives revenue. Her work blends proven sales methodologies with practical AI deployment—think Microsoft Copilot, ChatGPT, Gong, and SalesLoft stitched together into one coherent system sellers can actually use.

At her core, Donna is obsessed with solving a simple but critical problem: too many sales teams are drowning in admin work, bloated tech stacks, and outdated playbooks. Through AiSOS, she’s building a future where sellers spend less time clicking around and more time closing deals.

To learn more about Beth and Brandon or to find out about sponsorship opportunities click here.