The Operations Room: A Podcast for COO’s 94. The BizOps Anti-Playbook
In this episode we discuss: The BizzOps Anti-Playbook. We are joined by Vessela Clewley, Strategy & Biz Ops Executive.
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We chat about the following with Vessela Clewley:
- What does it really take to step into leadership for the first time — and why do so many people underestimate the shift?
- How do you build confidence as a leader when you don’t yet feel “ready”?
- What’s the difference between managing tasks and truly leading people?
- How can organisations better support first-time managers before they burn out?
- What unspoken pressures do women in leadership roles carry — and how can we address them more openly?
References
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/vessclewley/
- https://sbohub.substack.com/
- https://sbohub.gumroad.com/l/TheSBOAntiPlaybook
Biography
Vessela is an accomplished fCOO with a Strategy & BizOps background. She brings the power of US-style Strategy & Business Operations to Europe.
She has an illustrious career spanning Hopin, WeWork, Uber and other start ups. She has won global awards by the likes of WeWork & McKinsey, relaunched products like UberExec, and negotiated 7-figure deals for Hopin on walks in Regents park.
She is known for bringing a strategic, analytical, systems-driven approach to building companies. Her approach brings clarity, breaks down silos, and unlocks revenue growth. She puts company over functions; analytics over ego; and outcomes over optics.
Vessela typically partners with Seed–Series B founders who value analytical decision-making and high-velocity execution.
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Summary
00:00 – Introduction & framing the conversation
~06:20 – The reality of becoming a first-time manager
~13:45 – Imposter syndrome & self-doubt
~20:30 – The responsibility shift
~28:10 – Feedback, difficult conversations & growth
~35:50 – Building confidence through action
~44:15 – The gendered expectations in leadership
~52:00 – Creating supportive environments for new leaders
~59:40 – Advice to aspiring leaders
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