Episode 19 – Part 1/2
With Mark Leslie, Managing General Partner at Leslie Ventures
By Ashu Garg
03.18.2020
Mark Leslie is the founder & CEO of Veritas Technology, a company he grew from an idea to a Fortune 100 powerhouse worth over $1B in revenue. My interview with Mark was so full of wisdom that we decided there was enough material for at least two episodes. In this first episode, I get into the weeds with Mark on topics ranging from how to manage your board, to pricing and sales, to annual planning. It’s a can’t-miss for all CEOs or CEO-hopefuls!
Mark Leslie is the founder & CEO of Veritas Technologies, a company he grew from an idea to a Fortune 100 powerhouse worth over $1B in revenue. My interview with Mark was so full of wisdom that we decided there was enough material for at least two episodes. In this first episode, I get into the weeds with Mark on topics ranging from how to manage your board, to pricing and sales, to annual planning.
Mark has been on 50 public and private boards in his career. When it comes to managing the board as a CEO, he has a few thoughts:
One of my most memorable moments with Mark was the time he stopped a board meeting to give a mini-lecture on pricing to the CEO. Pricing is not deterministic in the way that engineering is, so it takes discipline and creativity. I pushed him to repeat this lesson to the best of his ability on the podcast.
Here are the basics:
Mark’s advice for crafting a forward-looking plan for small companies:
Of course, if you promise lower than your potential, the board may be hesitant to fund your sales force expenditures. When strapped for resources, here’s how to go from zero to a productive sales force.
Published on 03.18.2020
Written by Ashu Garg