For startups ready to shift into overdrive, a visionary CEO with ambitious goals is essential but insufficient. Unbridled creativity must pair with razor-sharp execution for startup success. Leadership expert and Startup COO Club founder, Christie Kerner, explains why every high-growth company, from a small team of just 2 to those with over 200 employees, needs a CEO and COO duo leading the charge.
Christie notes that in startups, the term applies broadly. Startups are defined less by size and more by a drive for rapid scaling and disruption. Whether an early stage bootstrapped team or a breakout growth company with hundreds of employees, if hyper-growth is the goal, a startup mindset is required.
This means balancing aggression with restraint, and creativity with pragmatism. The CEO role caters to the former, the COO role the latter. With both forces carefully counterbalancing, startup success becomes possible. But lacking either element can lead to catastrophe.
Counterbalance CEO’s Big-Picture Thinking
In startups, it’s critical to balance pressing the gas while avoiding catastrophe, says Christie. The CEO mindset fixates on possibilities, blue sky dreams, and ambitious goals. Meanwhile, the COO mindset focuses on pragmatic realities like budgets, timelines, and avoiding cliffs.
When a CEO must constantly toggle between these modes, their creativity suffers from constant interruption. But with a COO in place, the leadership duo becomes an unstoppable pair. The CEO can dream big without restraint, trusting their partner to ground those ideas into executable plans.
Christie recalls a conversation with Carvana CEO Ernie Garcia at a private CEO retreat. When Carvana sold their 20th vehicle online, Ernie’s longtime COO turned to him and confidently stated, “I think this is really going to work.” While Ernie had always brimmed with hope and ambition, affirmation from his pragmatic co-pilot was a turning point. It signaled that his grand vision could become reality.
Let CEOs Focus on Growth
Startups live and die by funding. A CEO’s top priority should be fueling growth by boosting sales and securing capital. But expansions bring complex operational demands—specialized skills a CEO rarely possesses.
Who wants their top visionary bogged down choosing payroll systems or negotiating insurance plans? Enter the COO, with the operational expertise to smoothly run the engine of growth. In addition to owning the delivery side of the house (product operations, customer success, billing, support, etc), they capably handle critical backend duties like bookkeeping, compliance, and vendor relations so the CEO can focus on expansion.
Their specialized skills also bring speed and cost savings. CEOs waste time and money attempting specialized COO duties on their own. With an experienced operator’s laser focus, costs drop and progress accelerates.
Boost Team Morale and Cohesion
Beyond optimizing operations, stellar COOs boost company culture behind the scenes. Their boots-on-the-ground engagement builds authentic relationships across functions.
“A COO’s pulse on daily affairs grants them unique insights. They identify rising stars, brewing concerns, and nascent conflicts. The COO funnels this intel to the CEO to recognize excellence or resolve issues before they require crisis management,” says Christie
This level of care and team connection supercharges morale. Employees feel truly seen, valued, and motivated. The COO’s “people leadership” complements the CEO’s role as an inspiring visionary.
For any high-growth company, a COO should be considered mandatory, not just “nice to have,” concludes Christie. Their specialized skills optimally divide the labor of strategy and execution between visionary CEO and operationally-minded COO.
This partnership allows both to maximize their unique value. The CEO can dream big and fundraise aggressively, unburdened by daily operations. The COO smooths operations behind the scenes so employees feel supported.
Together, this duo unlocks startup success: an ambitious vision made real by flawless execution. Don’t attempt either in isolation. For startups looking to scale, hiring a COO provides the missing puzzle piece.
To learn more about Christie Kerner and her approach, visit her website or check out her LinkedIn profile.
