What It Means to Put People First | Ben Stephenson, CEO of Impala (Series B)

What It Means to Put People First | Ben Stephenson, CEO of Impala (Series B)

Author: Dave Bailey February 3, 2021 Duration: 33:58

What does it mean to put 'People First' in a fast-growing company? Meet Ben Stephenson, CEO of Impala—a company building a suite of travel APIs that make building travel tech a lot easier.

In this episode, Ben Stephenson explains how he went from Seed to Series B in six months, how the pandemic affected their travel-focused business, and why hiring a head of people made a huge difference in building a remote-first culture. We also discuss the importance of inviting your leaders to the conversation. 

Key links:

Impala website: https://impala.travel/

Ben Stephenson profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-stephenson-13032b33/

Key timestamps:

[01:47] What happened in TechStars?

[07:07] How did you approach your Series A?

[08:52] How did you raise Series A in less than a month?

[10:37] How did you raise a Series B 6 months later?

[14:47] What happens when you get a global pandemic in travel?

[16:48] How do you shape culture in a remote environment?

[23:51] Why do you use external search firms

[25:51] What has been one of your most significant learnings as a CEO?

[30:58] What can we expect from Impala in the next few months?

Thanks to Jens, Jean and Julian (all the Js) 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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