HI, I'M MARCOS
HI, I'M MARCOS
“Clarity of Vision Brings Clarity of Action”
Early in my career, I was working at an education tech startup, convinced I was doing everything right. I automated processes, hit my goals, and figured my results would speak for themselves.
But when I came up with what I thought was the next best thing, leadership wasn't impressed. "What do we do with that?" they asked. "We need more than someone crunching numbers quickly."
I was convinced they just didn't get it. Looking back, I realize my ego kept me from seeing what my boss actually needed. I was focused on being right instead of being effective.
As I moved into leadership positions at other fast-growth companies, I started seeing ego show up everywhere—but not always the way you'd expect.
I saw executives call meetings just to hear themselves talk for 45 minutes, never inviting input.
I saw talented people who couldn't accept they might be wrong—so instead of seriously considering the feedback, they undermined their colleagues behind closed doors. In one extreme case, one leader's unchecked ego cost us our largest client, forced us to lay off significant staff, and destroyed everyone's trust in management.
But I also noticed the opposite problem: brilliant people who refused to speak up, who wouldn't advocate for their ideas, who stayed quiet until overwork pushed them to burnout. One of my direct reports never spoke up for himself—and it nearly broke him.
That's when I realized ego isn't just the loud, obvious kind. It's also the quiet kind that keeps talented people small.
After years of leading finance teams at hypergrowth companies—including as CFO of Huntress, now a unicorn cybersecurity company—I discovered that organizations can hire for skills, align on mission, and build great culture. But they'll never reach their full potential until individuals learn to manage the most volatile force in any organization: ego.
Not eliminate it, but manage it: knowing when to speak up, when to step back, and how to read the room.
Today, I teach leaders and teams how to do exactly that.
Ready to Tame the Chaos?
Let’s build a solid foundation—without sacrificing speed or scale.