Podcast
Behind Numbers
Hosted by Alessandro Cozzi · EN
Welcome to Behind Numbers — the podcast where business and finance leaders reveal what’s not visible from the outside.
Hosted by Alessandro Cozzi, a finance and M&A executive with over 18 years of global experience, the show dives into the pivotal career moments, struggles, and leadership lessons that shape today’s top CFOs, CEOs, and corporate decision-makers.
Discover how they lead transformation, build teams, embrace AI, and drive the numbers that define success in today’s fast-changing world.
18episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
You Can't Build a $500M Company With a $30M Mindset
1w ago00:19:58Tap to summarizeWhat does it really take to scale a business from millions to hundreds of millions?According to executive coach Benoy Tamang, it starts with something most founders overlook: you have to grow before your company can grow.After building companies, leading businesses, and coaching CEOs for more than two decades, Benoy has helped founders overcome fear, become better leaders, and build organizations capable of extraordinary growth. His clients include venture-backed startups and fast-growing companies, including founders who have successfully exited for over $100 million.In this episode of Behind Numbers, we explore:• Why most leaders plateau while others keep growing• The mindset required to scale a business• The hidden fears that drive successful CEOs• How the best leaders make decisions with incomplete information• Why emotional intelligence matters more than ever• The biggest mistake leaders make when trying to grow their companies• The one lesson Benoy wishes he had learned much earlier in lifeWhether you're a founder, executive, entrepreneur, manager, or someone looking to become a better leader, this conversation offers practical insights that apply far beyond business.About Benoy TamangBenoy Tamang is President & CEO of BLUERIVER Direct and Managing Partner at TECH CEO COACH. He has spent decades building companies, scaling organizations, and coaching founders and executives through high-growth, fundraising, leadership challenges, and business transformation.📌 Subscribe to Behind Numbers for conversations with leaders shaping the future of business, finance, leadership, and technology.#Leadership #CEO #Entrepreneurship #BusinessGrowth #Mindset #ExecutiveCoaching #LeadershipDevelopment #Founders #Business #BehindNumbers
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I Walked Away From a Career Everyone Wanted
4w ago00:15:27Tap to summarizeMost people spend years trying to reach leadership roles in technology.Jewell did exactly that, building her career at global companies like Accenture and SAP and positioning herself for a future as a technology executive.Then she made a decision that surprised everyone: she walked away, returned to business school, and started over in finance.Today, Jewell is a Finance Leader at PepsiCo, bringing together expertise from both technology and finance to navigate a rapidly changing business world.In this episode of Behind Numbers, we discuss career pivots, AI, finance, leadership, and the uncomfortable decisions that can completely change the course of your life.#CareerGrowth #Leadership #Finance #FPandA #AI #PepsiCo #CareerPivot #BehindNumbers
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AI Is Moving Faster Than Your Company Can Decide
Jul 600:20:02Tap to summarizeWhat happens when AI can execute faster than organizations can make decisions?In this episode of Behind Numbers, I sit down with Neil Redding, Global Keynote Speaker on AI, Leadership, and the Future of Work, to discuss how artificial intelligence is reshaping leadership, decision-making, and the way companies operate.Neil shares why the biggest challenge facing businesses may not be AI adoption itself—but the speed at which leaders can adapt, decide, and execute.We also explore:✅ AI and leadership✅ The future of work✅ Humans as decision-makers, not just doers✅ Organizational change in the AI era✅ How executives can stay ahead of disruptionIf you're a founder, executive, investor, orbusiness leader, this conversation offers a practical look at what comes next.#AI #ArtificialIntelligence #Leadership #FutureOfWork #Innovation #BusinessStrategy #ExecutiveLeadership #DigitalTransformation #Technology #BehindNumbers #Podcast
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I Raised $30 Million for an Airline... Then 9/11 Happened
Jun 2200:16:57Tap to summarizeAt 27 years old, Bryan set out to do something most people would never attempt: start an airline.After raising $30 million in investor commitments, everything was about to change.In this episode of Behind Numbers, Bryan shares the story of his biggest business failure, the lessons that came from it, and how that experience led him to build companies in industries ranging from oil & gas to AI and housing.🎙️ We discuss:• Starting before you're ready• Building businesses in unfamiliar industries• Why most entrepreneurs quit too soon• The biggest risk people don't talk about• The role family plays in entrepreneurial success#Entrepreneurship #Startups #Business #Leadership #BehindNumbers #FounderStory #SuccessMindset
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5 Became Unicorns. 4 Went to Zero. Here's What He Learned.
Jun 1100:25:33Tap to summarizeFive unicorns. Four failures. Nearly 30 startup investments.Most investors never back a unicorn. Baba Page has backed five.In this episode of Behind Numbers, Baba breaks down how he evaluates founders, why he believes people matter more than ideas, and what separates the companies that scale from those that disappear.But this conversation goes far beyond investing.We also discuss the realities of entrepreneurship, the myth of multitasking, building systems that create leverage, and how Baba balances business, investing, and fatherhood as the father of eight children.In this episode:• How Baba evaluates founders before writing a check• The common traits shared by successful entrepreneurs• Why he believes multitasking is a fallacy• The difference between lifestyle businesses and venture-scale companies• Lessons learned from backing winners and losing money on failed startups• How to build systems that scale both at work and at home• What he wishes he had known 20 years earlierWhether you're an entrepreneur, investor, operator, or leader, this episode is packed with practical lessons on decision-making, focus, growth, and priorities.Guest: Bubba PageHost: Alessandro Cozzi#behindnumbers #Startups #VentureCapital #Entrepreneurship #AngelInvesting #Business
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98% of Venture Capital Money Goes to the Same People...
May 2600:22:50Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Behind Numbers, Senofer Mendoza — Founder & General Partner of Mendoza Ventures — shares an inside look into the world of venture capital, startup investing, and the challenges of building a fund outside the traditional system.From representation in venture capital to founder psychology, leadership, AI, and the future of innovation, this conversation explores what really happens behind the scenes of the startup ecosystem.Senofer also explains why she believes capital should be assigned to talent, why more women need to write checks, and how diverse perspectives can shape stronger businesses and better outcomes.A powerful conversation on investing, entrepreneurship, leadership, and the future of venture capital.#VentureCapital #Startups #Leadership #Business #BehindNumbers
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She Thought She Chose the Wrong Career… Then Everything Connected
May 1100:28:20Tap to summarizeWhy do some people build successful careers without having everything figured out… while others feel stuck even when they’re doing everything “right”?In this episode of Behind Numbers, Catherine shares how her path evolved from early storytelling to journalism, marketing, and eventually building her own business, without a perfectly planned roadmap.Along the way, she reveals one pattern she’s seen again and again when working with leaders: most professionals struggle to communicate clearly, and it often holds them back more than they realize.But this conversation goes far beyond communication.Topics include:– Navigating career uncertainty and wrong turns– The overlap between journalism, marketing, and leadership– What it really takes to build something on your own– Why many leaders feel pressure and responsibility differently than expected– The role of clarity and brevity in effective communicationIf you’re thinking about your next step, building something, or improving how you communicate your ideas, this episode offers a practical and honest perspective.Subscribe for more conversations with leaders shaping the future of work.#careergrowth #Leadership #Communication #Entrepreneurship #Clarity #BehindNumbers
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He Left Google… Then Realized Something Was Very Wrong
Apr 2700:25:36Tap to summarizeHe left Google at the peak of his career… but something still felt wrong.Even on a beach in Mexico, the stress didn’t go away.In this episode of Behind Numbers, Julian Pistone (ex-Google leader) shares the moment he realized success wasn’t enough—and what it really takes to redesign your life from the inside out.After nearly a decade at Google leading international teams, Julian walked away from everything to pursue a deeper question:👉 What if the system you're optimizing for isn't the one you actually want to live in?In this conversation, we explore:Why high achievers often feel stuck (even at the top)The hidden cost of success and identityHow to know if you're on the wrong pathThe question that can change your lifeIf you’ve ever felt like something is “off”… this will hit home.🔔 Subscribe for more conversations with leaders redefining success and the future of work.#JulianPistone #GoogleCareer #CareerChange #Burnout #Purpose #SelfGrowth #Leadership #Entrepreneurship #Mindset #Success #PersonalGrowth #LifeDesign #BehindNumbers
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I Wasted Years Worrying… (Ex-Microsoft Leader)
Apr 1400:31:32Tap to summarizeWhat if the key to a successful career isn’t working harder… but worrying less?In this episode of Behind Numbers, I sit down with Monica Pool Knox — former CHRO and Leader at global companies like Microsoft, Twitter/X, Sony, and PepsiCo — to unpack what really drives career success, leadership, and long-term impact.From building high-performing teams across global organizations to transitioning into venture capital, Monica shares the real, behind-the-scenes lessons that most professionals never hear.We dive into:What it really means to be “great” at your job How relationships shape your entire career trajectory The truth about company culture (and how to spot the right one) What separates good leaders from exceptional ones Why talent and people still matter more than AI and tools The mindset shift that can change your entire career And at the end, one powerful reflection:👉 “I would worry less and have fun more.”If you’re navigating your career, leading teams, or thinking about your next move — this conversation will change how you think.#Leadership #CareerGrowth #ExecutiveLeadership #BehindNumbers #CareerAdvice #Management #Hiring #CompanyCulture #VentureCapital #PersonalGrowth #Entrepreneurship #SuccessMindset #HR #FutureOfWork
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After Cancer, She Had a Thought Most People Can’t Understand
Mar 2900:29:49Tap to summarizeMost people ask “Why me?” when life breaks them.She didn’t.After being diagnosed with cancer, Asya had a reaction that most people would never expect… and honestly, most wouldn’t understand.In this conversation, we go beyond the surface to uncover: How a life-threatening diagnosis reshaped her mindsetWhy she prioritizes impact over personal gainHow she approaches decision-making across career and lifeThe role of gratitude, purpose, and perspective in adversityWhy small actions can create meaningful ripple effectsThis episode is not just about entrepreneurship or career growth, it’s about perspective, humanity, and how to live a more intentional life.If you’ve ever questioned your direction, your priorities, or the legacy you want to leave behind, this conversation will challenge how you think.#BehindNumbers #Business #Cancer #decisionmaking #impact
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