“So that was really the light bulb moment of, I can't be the only other operator out there feeling this alone and isolated, trying to figure it out every single day.”

In this episode of Startups in Stilettos, hosts Carlyn Bushman and Ingrid Zapata-Read sit down with Megan Long, founder of Second First, to spotlight the often-overlooked role of the second-in-command. After spending a decade as a COO navigating high-stakes challenges including a tornado, a global pandemic, and leading an eight-figure business through crisis, Megan realized a critical gap: operators and integrators had no dedicated support system.

Now, she’s on a mission to change that.

Megan shares how she built a coaching and community platform specifically for COOs, operators, and right-hand leaders inside founder-led companies. From navigating the complexities of the visionary–operator relationship to building systems that actually scale, this conversation dives into the real dynamics behind successful businesses.

What We Talked About:

Building a Supportive Community for Operators [7:12]

Coaching and Mastermind Memberships [12:06]

Understanding the Role of Second in Command [17:53]

Navigating Entrepreneurial Challenges [24:13]

Actionable Insights for Operators [30:09]

Connect with Megan:

@meganlonglife on Instagram

Megan Long on LinkedIn

Second First

Connect with Carlyn: ⁠⁠

@carlynbushmanconsulting⁠⁠ on Instagram ⁠⁠

Carlyn Bushman⁠⁠ on ⁠LinkedIn⁠ ⁠

Carlyn Bushman Consulting⁠

Connect with Ingrid: ⁠⁠

⁠@itsingridsworld⁠ ⁠⁠on Instagram ⁠⁠

Ingrid Zapata-Read⁠⁠ on⁠ ⁠Linkedin⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Grow With Community⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Megan Long Coaches Operators to Lead Founder-Led Companies With Confidence