In this episode, we sit down with Gil Lara, Chief Creative Officer and co-founder at Sprout Social, to discuss his nearly 15-year journey with the leading social media management platform. From his early days in street art and event design to building a creative culture at Sprout, Gil shares the evolution of his career and the pivotal moments that shaped him as a designer and leader. With insights on the changing landscape of design, embracing AI, and navigating the tension between creativity and business, this conversation is packed with valuable takeaways for anyone passionate about design and innovation.

Key Topics Covered:

0:00 - 5:00 – Introducing Gil Lara: Gil’s creative background, his move to Chicago to join Sprout Social’s founding team, and his early experiences with graffiti and event design.

5:00 - 10:00 – Finding Design Inspiration in Unusual Places: Gil shares how everyday objects, like shower controls, can spark creative ideas and the importance of observing the world around you.

10:00 - 15:00 – From Street Art to the Corporate World: How Gil transitioned from graffiti and print design to shaping digital experiences and software at Sprout Social.

15:00 - 20:00 – Building a Creative Culture at Sprout: The early days at Sprout, working on the social inbox, and how design has influenced the company’s evolution.

20:00 - 25:00 – Customer Feedback as a Design Tool: Why listening to customers and integrating their feedback is crucial, and how it can lead to innovative features.

25:00 - 30:00 – Balancing Innovation with Business Needs: Navigating the demands of building a social media management platform while staying true to the creative vision.

30:00 - 35:00 – The Role of AI in Social Media Management: How AI is transforming Sprout Social’s platform and the potential it has to revolutionize customer engagement.

35:00 - 40:00 – The Future of Design Leadership: Gil’s thoughts on passing the torch, embracing change, and preparing for his next chapter after stepping down from his role.

40:00 - 45:00 – Advice for Young Designers: Gil reflects on his career, shares lessons learned, and offers advice on how to advocate for design’s impact within an organization.

45:00 - 50:00 – The Power of Video and Storytelling: The importance of video in conveying a brand’s message and creating memorable experiences for customers and employees alike.

50:00 - 55:00 – Looking Ahead: Gil’s thoughts on the future of Sprout Social, his personal plans, and the exciting opportunities in the ever-evolving world of design and technology.

Key Takeaways:

• The Value of Design Thinking: Gil emphasizes the need for designers to go beyond aesthetics and partner early in the development process to create meaningful user experiences.
• Feedback as Fuel for Innovation: Leveraging customer insights and using them as a tool for continuous improvement.
• Navigating Healthy Tension: The importance of balancing different perspectives and embracing the creative friction that drives better outcomes.
• AI as a Game-Changer: How artificial intelligence is poised to transform the way businesses manage social media and engage with audiences.
• Evolving as a Leader: Gil reflects on his decision to step down, the significance of building a resilient team, and the excitement of pursuing new ventures.

Notable Quotes:

1. "If you're not defining what design is at your organization, someone else will define it for you."
2. "Healthy tension is a part of building something great."
3. "Ther

In this episode, we sit down with Philippe Mesritz, a Fractional Chief Customer Officer and former General Manager at Community Brands, known for transforming SaaS organizations and driving customer retention. Philippe shares his journey from web design and system administration to leading customer experience teams and improving Net Promoter Scores (NPS) by 40 points.

From building customer-centric teams to navigating the evolving role of AI in CX, Philippe’s insights are packed with actionable takeaways. He also shares his philosophy on transparency, vision, and adaptability in leadership, as well as the importance of balancing work and life while maintaining high performance.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

🚀 Leadership & Team Building – How Philippe fosters transparency, clarity, and vision to create high-performing teams.
📈 Customer Success & Retention – Lessons from improving NPS and building long-term customer relationships.
🤖 AI in Customer Experience – How AI is transforming CX, and why a human touch still matters.
🔄 Adapting to Change – The role of resilience and continuous learning in career growth.
💡 Future of CX & SaaS – How technology, customer insights, and evolving business models are shaping the future.

Key Topics Covered:

[00:00] Introduction & Philippe’s Background – From early tech roles to leading customer success.
[05:00] Customer Experience in Unexpected Places – Lessons from SaaS to manufacturing.
[10:00] Firing a Customer: The Right Way to Say No – Why sometimes the best CX decision is letting a customer go.
[15:00] Building High-Performing Teams – The power of transparency, clarity, and vision in leadership.
[20:00] Remote Work & Global Teams – Strategies for effective communication and engagement.
[25:00] AI & The Future of Customer Experience – Why AI matters, but human relationships will always be key.
[30:00] Career Growth & Leadership – Philippe’s advice on navigating a dynamic career path.

Whether you're a CX leader, SaaS founder, or someone passionate about customer success, this episode is packed with insights on leadership, AI, and the future of customer experience.

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✅ Like this episode if you enjoyed Philippe’s insights!
💬 Comment below with your thoughts on AI, leadership, and customer success.

In this episode of Inside the Workflow, we sit down with Ashley Smith, GP and Founder of Vermillion Cliffs Ventures. With a track record of driving growth at Twilio, GitLab, and GitHub, Ashley has now turned her focus to investing in early-stage technical founders. We explore her journey from startup operator to venture capitalist, her leadership approach, and what she looks for in founders building the next generation of developer-focused companies.

From her early career answering support calls at Twilio to leading go-to-market strategies for some of the biggest developer tools, Ashley shares invaluable lessons on building strong teams, navigating competition, and the evolving role of AI in software development.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Building High-Performing Teams – The key traits Ashley looks for in founders and early hires.
• Founder-Led Growth – Why technical founders must embrace go-to-market strategies.
• AI & Developer Tools – The latest trends in AI infrastructure and how startups can leverage automation.
• Scaling Startups – Lessons from Twilio, GitHub, and GitLab on rapid product adoption.
• The Future of Investing – Ashley’s approach to early-stage investing and what excites her in tech.

Key Topics Covered:

[00:00] Introduction & Ashley’s Background – From Twilio support to leading growth at top startups.
[05:00] The Transition to Venture – Why Ashley founded Vermillion Cliffs Ventures.
[10:00] Startup Team Building – What makes a great founding team and early hires.
[15:00] AI’s Impact on Software Development – The shift from hype to real-world applications.
[20:00] Founder-Led Sales – Why early-stage technical founders need to embrace GTM strategies.
[25:00] The Future of Venture – How Ashley sees investing evolving in the next decade.
[30:00] Leadership & Work-LifeBalance – Lessons from navigating startup intensity and VC life.

Whether you're a startup founder, investor, or AI enthusiast, this episode is packed with insights on building, scaling, and investing in the future of software and AI.

🎙️ Follow & Subscribe for More Episodes:
✅ Like this episode if you enjoyed Ashley’s insights!
💬 Comment below with your thoughts on venture capital, AI, and startup growth.