Broaden / Todd Gibby
Greetings, ladies and gentlemen (the term is to be loosely applied),
Welcome to those new to Serendipity. As always, the premises of these essays can be found in the provenance email. (In short, it is a newsletter that is neither newsworthy nor in letter format. It is also an outstanding candidate for Inc Magazine’s 500 most likely frivolous endeavors.)
For the last six months, I have been consciously broadening my business network in the UK. I have learned about many enigmatic characters and extraordinary companies and, most importantly, I have reacclimated to starting all conversations with a complaint about the weather. Due to living in Tucson with near-perfect weather at all times, this has necessitated the creation of an inventory of weather lies and creative excuses as to why my camera rarely works!
Whilst I am trying to expand business opportunities in the motherland, most people I talk to are actually looking to do the exact opposite. At first, I was surprised by how many people, not just companies, sought a US presence, but after reading this article in the WSJ that a friend recently shared, their urgency started to make sense. (For those too lazy to read or too cheap to subscribe, all you need to know is that wages in London are on par with those in Cleveland.)
This will come as no surprise to my American friends on this list, who are probably muttering something about bald eagles, trickle-down economics, and freedom right now. Still, I don’t think I have ever contextualized labor differences like this before. Is the wage disparity actually a unique near-shore sourcing opportunity?
If I get enough email requests, I will arrange a video debate between influential and overpromoted American consultants and their reserved and underappreciated British counterparts to discuss the matter. It goes without saying that I will use a balanced and fair Canadian to moderate and translate the event.
Moving on.
This month, I would like to introduce you to a fascinating transatlantic mogul, Todd Gibby.
Todd Gibby
Todd is the founder of Lock8, a private equity group specializing in B2B SaaS companies, and is a proponent, advocate, and incessant supporter of first-time CEOs. Todd’s blog “Made not Found” is a must-read for all B2B and Private Equity executives. As a multi-exit CEO, Todd explains in detail the dos and don'ts of a successful growth and exit. It costs way less than an MBA and is immeasurably more helpful.
Todd is an exceptional leader in every sense - patient, thoughtful, fair, and sharp. I have been the recipient of Todd and his business partner, Tim’s wisdom and guidance on several occasions. If you need more proof of their mixture of kindness and quality, just read the raving reviews of the CEOs of their portfolio companies.
Unfortunately, a few years ago, Todd left the hustle and bustle of Washington, D.C., for the more serene backdrop of the Swiss side of Lake Geneva but he can occasionally be found in NYC at Lock8’s HQ. If you are a senior executive looking for the big step up or a SaaS founder looking to get on the radar of a would-be acquirer, I highly recommend some diligence on Todd here.
Lastly, thank you for reading this and indulging in my quest to connect like-minded people together. Your refrain from politely unsubscribing is not lost on me.