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20 - Scaling Through Uncertainty: How Brandon Spear Built Adaptable Companies in Uncertain Times
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In this episode of 5 to 50: Financial Strategies for Growing Companies, Jeff Rudner sits down with Brandon Spear, CEO of TreviPay, whose three-decade career spans four continents and multiple successful exits. Brandon shares his journey from co-founding South Africa's first commercial internet service provider in the early 1990s to leading TreviPay through its recent private equity carve-out. He offers candid insights on navigating the 2008 financial crisis, turning around struggling businesses through customer-centric approaches, and preparing companies for strategic acquisitions. Brandon also discusses the future of B2B payments, the role of AI in creating competitive moats, and why building trust is the most undervalued leadership skill. Whether you're a founder preparing for an exit or scaling through uncertainty, this episode is packed with battle-tested wisdom from someone who's been there multiple times.
Episode Chapters:
00:00 Intro: Meet Brandon Spear, CEO & Serial Entrepreneur
02:00 Early Risks & The Birth of the Internet in South Africa
06:00 Turning Around Quadrant Through Customer Feedback
12:00 Navigating the 2008 Financial Crisis: Cutting Fat vs. Muscle
17:00 Preparing for Exit: Selling to Ariba in 2011
21:00 Joining TreviPay: 11 Years of Growth and Evolution
25:00 Choosing the Right Private Equity Partner
27:00 The Future of B2B Payments: AI, Digitization & Stable Coins
36:00 Building Leadership Teams: Timing Executive Hires Right
43:00 Rapid Fire: Career Lessons, Books & Leadership Skills
Episode Resources:
Book Mentioned:
The Innovator's Dilemma by Clayton M. Christensen - Available on Amazon: https://amazon.com/Innovators-Dilemma-Technologies-Management-Innovation/dp/1633691780
Previous guests include: Sabrina Valle and Jessica Quon, co-founders of the Jam Stand and Mighty Picnic, Tom Hunt, Founder and CEO of Fame, Kenny Dettman, Founder and CEO of TaxNow, Rick Zullo, founder and managing partner of Equal Ventures, Adam Schwartz, founder and CEO of Parable and former co-founder of TeePublic.
Check out our three most downloaded episodes:
Check out our three most downloaded episodes:
- Scaling Smarter: Adam Schwartz on Data, AI, and Entrepreneurial Growth
- The Exit Playbook: Johan Hoernell’s Secrets to Scaling and Selling
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