How to Encourage Constructive Dissent | Anastasia Leng, CEO of CreativeX (Series A)

How to Encourage Constructive Dissent | Anastasia Leng, CEO of CreativeX (Series A)

Author: Dave Bailey January 20, 2021 Duration: 44:33

How do you get your team to speak up to the CEO? Meet Anastasia Leng, CEO of CreativeX—a Series A SaaS company that helps B2C brands understand the performance of image and video content.

In this episode, Anastasia explains how she got term sheets for a company with no name, unpacks the founder-investor partnership, and explains why high-standards are a perk.

We also discuss 'Devil's Avocado' (a term borrowed from Sarah Wood), and other ways to encourage constructive dissent.

Key links:

CreativeX website: https://www.creativex.com/

Open job positions: https://creativex.freshteam.com/jobs

Anastasia Leng profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aleng/

Dave's essay on wise interventions: http://bit.ly/wise-interventions

Key timestamps:

[01:01] What's it like to be back in the office (alone)?

[05:50] How do you collect data on being 'on-brand'?

[08:20] Tell us about your Series A raise.

[12:09] How did you go from agency to SaaS?

[23:21] What's it like to lead a team of 35 employees?

[27:01] How did you define your company's values?

[31:21] What are the challenges of having a culture of constructive dissent?

[33:13] How do you encourage people to speak up?

Thanks to Alex Dunsdon and John Griffin for their great input.

Got feedback? Email us on podcast@foundercoach.co. And don't forget to hit follow/subscribe so you don't miss out on new episodes.


Behind the polished success stories and press releases, there's a messier, more human reality to building a company. The Founder Coach Podcast pulls back the curtain on that process. Hosted by Dave Bailey, a top CEO coach whose writing reaches millions of founders annually, these conversations get into the granular, often unspoken challenges that tech leaders face after the initial excitement fades. You’ll hear scale-up CEOs speak candidly, not about their victories, but about the difficult decisions, the personal doubts, and the operational grit involved in steering a growing business. Each episode feels like a private coaching session, focusing on pivotal moments like navigating the complexities that follow a Series A round-figuring out how to scale a team effectively, managing the relentless pressure of the board, and maintaining a clear vision amidst daily fires. This isn't about abstract theory; it's a series of raw, practical dialogues that reveal what the title of CEO actually demands day-to-day. For any entrepreneur or business leader who wants to learn from the real experiences of their peers, this podcast offers a rare and invaluable perspective. Dave facilitates a space where his guests can share the unvarnished truth, making each discussion a resource for anyone on the demanding path of leadership.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 22

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