Volume 1 | Episode 4
Building Trust and Vulnerability in Business
Max reflects on the relationships that shaped his journey, lessons from his family's entrepreneurial roots, and the power of vulnerability in leadership. He also shares insights from his book Do Better Work on building strong teams through meaningful connection.
Building Trust and Vulnerability in Business
Episode Description
On the fourth episode of the Thrive Through Connection Podcast, we welcome Max Yoder, the Founder of Lessonly and author of Do Better Work. Lessonly was an Indianapolis-based company that grew to over 300 employees and $30 million in annual recurring revenue before being acquired by Seismic in 2021.
Max reflects on the key relationships that shaped his career, the inspiration drawn from his family's entrepreneurial history, and his personal struggles and growth as a founder. He elaborates on the importance of building meaningful relationships, vulnerability in leadership, and the lessons learned from his experiences. Max also touches on his book 'Do Better Work,' which examines the behaviors that foster effective teamwork.
What You'll Learn
What You Can Expect to Learn from Max
- How the mission and vision for Lessonly came to life
- How mentors helped shape decision-making and strategy in the early days
- The advantages of having a strong network
- What it means to lead with vulnerability
- The importance of aligning with investors and partners
Volume 1 | Episode 3
Navigating Investor Relationships
Brett Brohl of Bread & Butter Ventures shares insights on fostering strong relationships between founders and investors, focusing on alignment, communication, and effective fundraising strategies. Practical advice is given on pitching, maintaining updates, and handling feedback.
Volume 1 | Episode 5
Using Benchmarks as a Diagnostic
Known for the SaaS Benchmark Survey and his role at Tremont, Kyle shares how benchmarks have evolved—shifting from hypergrowth to efficiency and back. He unpacks the market’s AI-driven changes and how founders can use benchmarks as powerful calibration tools.