Most founders wait too long to think about partnerships.

They wait until sales hit a ceiling.
Until delivery starts to buckle.
Until the team is stretched too thin.

But what if partnerships weren’t a backup plan?

What if they were the foundation of scale?

In today’s episode, I’m joined by Stefan Ross, a go-to-market operator who’s built revenue and partnership functions from seed to pre-IPO.

Together we unpack:

• The right way to scale your delivery model without building an inflated team
• Why most partner programs feel “fluffy”
• The shift founders need to make to go from doing it all to scaling through others

👇 If you’re a founder or leader looking to scale more sustainably, connect with us below.

About Stefan Ross

Stefan is a seasoned GTM leader with deep experience in building and leading high-growth software companies like Celonis and Pigment. He’s led revenue functions from early-stage to pre-IPO, with a particular focus on developing scalable partner ecosystems.

His expertise lies in transforming partnerships from misunderstood side projects into key drivers of repeatable revenue and long-term scale.

Connect with Stefan Ross on LinkedIn here.

More from James:

Connect with James Johnson on LinkedIn or at peer-effect.com.

More from James:

Connect with James on LinkedIn or at peer-effect.com