Leadership, exit strategy & building high-impact teams - Lessons from Stephan Burow
What does it really take to lead a private equity-backed business through growth, exit, and transformation while staying true to your leadership style? In this episode, Stephan Burow, CFO at Lintbells, shares his journey from Unilever to high-growth scaleups like Gousto, and now to leading finance, tech, and people at a purpose-driven pet wellness company. We dive into: 🧠 The mindset shift required to thrive as a PE-backed CFO ⏱ Why pace, 80/20 thinking, and intentional time management are make-or-break 🤝 How Stephan builds high-performance, people-first cultures 🧩 Secrets to handling exits and investor pressure 🐾 Why purpose matters Whether you’re an aspiring CFO, in the middle of a scaleup journey, or leading through a private equity transaction, this episode is packed with insights and best of all - refreshing honesty. 🎧 Listen now and tell us: What’s the hardest part of leading in a PE-backed environment? Chapters 00:00 – Intro & Background 02:00 – From Unilever to Scaleups 06:00 – Why Pace & Impact Matter 10:00 – Gusto, Growth & the 80/20 Rule 14:00 – Transitioning to CFO in PE 20:00 – Managing Investors & Exit Process 26:00 – AI, Finance & the Future 30:00 – Leadership, Mentorship & Culture 38:00 – Broadening the CFO Role 45:00 – Risks, Cybersecurity & What Keeps Him Up 48:30 – Legacy, Purpose & Final Advice
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