Extraordinary Pursuits by BIP Ventures

The HR Data Revolution: Build High-Performing Teams with People Analytics

What does it really take to build scalable, high-performing teams—without relying on guesswork? In this episode of Extraordinary Pursuits, Noelle London, founder and CEO of Illoominus, explains how data-driven decision-making is transforming HR from a reactive function to a strategic advantage. From her entrepreneurial journey through Peace Corps, economic development, and Accenture Ventures, Noelle shares why she launched Illoominus and how the platform equips mid-market companies to use workforce data with the same precision as enterprise giants. 
You’ll learn why companies need to treat people data and analytics as a core KPI, how to avoid overcomplicating your HR tech stack, and how Illoominus is building a community-led platform to scale best practices across companies. Whether you're a founder, operator, or people leader, this conversation will help you understand how to move from static reports to real-time insights—and why that shift could be your key to growth. 
Timestamps: 
[03:23] Noelle’s entrepreneurial journey—from jewelry maker to tech founder 
[08:12] The HR challenges that led Noelle to launch Illoominus 
[16:02] How people analytics integrates into the HR tech stack 
[20:50] Why early-stage companies should treat people data as a core KPI 
[26:28] Avoiding overcomplication: building an efficient HR tech stack 
[31:36] The role of strategic people leadership in scaling culture 
[34:44] What’s next for Illoominus—community, AI, and workflow innovation 
[38:27] How to connect with Noelle and explore Illoominus 
Key Takeaways: 
“At those key moments when you’re growing quickly, think about having real-time data on what is working and not, so that you can make changes quickly and derisk losing high performers.” [19:15] 
“There are point solutions for absolutely everything in HR, and a lot of them aren’t necessary, so focus on the basics, get a good HRAS that pays your people on time and does the basics.” [28:25] 
“Having somebody who has a strategic direction on knowing how to use data to help make decisions is important.” [31:37] 
About Noelle London: 
Noelle London is the founder and CEO of Illoominus, a technology platform that works within HR systems to help organizations build and scale efficient, cost-effective, high-performing teams. With a mission to build high-performing, cost-effective teams, Noelle brings over a decade of experience in startups, civic innovation, non-profit, and corporate strategy. Noelle has led initiatives ranging from launching the Atlanta Mayor’s Office’s startup economic development strategy to opening the Crystal City office of global incubator 1776. Her work has consistently focused on connecting startups to capital, customers, and diverse talent. 
Website: https://www.illoominus.com/ 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/noellelondon/ 
 
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From Chaos to Clarity: Four Principles of Strong Leadership

What if the key to exceptional leadership isn’t in strategies or techniques but in self-awareness and inner alignment? True leadership isn’t just about managing others—it begins with understanding who we are before influencing others. It requires clarity, patience, and the courage to pause amidst the chaos. By developing a strong inner foundation, leaders can cultivate fearless compassion, make thoughtful decisions, and inspire those around them with authenticity. When leadership flows from the inside out, it transforms teams, organizations, and the leaders, creating a lasting impact driven by purpose and integrity. 
In this episode of the Extraordinary Pursuits podcast by BIP Ventures, we’re joined by Sally-Anne Airey, leadership coach, founder of Skillful Leaders, and author of the award-winning book Mindful Command. Sally-Anne shares four core concepts of leadership, actionable steps, and a powerful personal example. This episode is for anyone who manages day-to-day stresses and all the pressure that comes with being a leader.  
Timestamps:  
[02:37] Sally-Anne’s personal story on leadership and courage  
[07:06] The four concepts of leadership from Mindful Command  
[18:30] Fearless compassion: The recipe for leadership longevity   
[19:35] Where to start: Learning how to pause in three steps   
[22:44] How to manage day-to-day leadership in a fast-paced company  
[24:26] What happens when leaders don’t take a moment to pause and step back  
[26:29] Sally-Annie’s personal experience with leadership pressure in a growing company   
[31:47] Where to learn more about Sally-Annie or find her book   
Points of Wisdom:  
“Good leaders lead themselves first, and to do that, we need to create the space to be with ourselves and find a calm center.” [04:03]  
“Figuring out who you are and how you bring that into your leadership is a journey from the inside out, and it needs time, space, patience, and trust.” [04:31]  
“Clarity is the first principle of leadership; if the leader is not clear, how can you expect anyone to work with or much less follow them.” [13:40]  
Resources Mentioned:  
Mindful Command by Sally-Annie Airey    
About Sally-Anne Airey:  
Sally-Annie Airey is a leadership coach and the founder of Skillful Leaders, a leadership coaching and executive retreat consultancy. She guides leaders in teams to align personal and professional aspirations. Sally’s four-decade career includes 23 years in the Royal Navy, where she achieved the rank of commander and became the Navy’s serving mother. Following her Naval service, she transitioned into international business and leadership coaching. She developed the Mindful Command framework, which integrates principles of mindfulness and leadership. Her book, Mindful Command: The Way of the Evolving Leader, shares her extensive experience.     
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Mini-episode: Reimagining In-Home Healthcare with Technology

In this episode of the Extraordinary Pursuits podcast, HealthyMed CEO Steve Pontius joins host Rachelle Kuramoto to explain how the company is transforming healthcare by meeting underserved patients where they are. 
Steve discusses HealtheMed's innovative technology offerings, which include remote monitoring devices, a health scoring system, and television-based streaming information customized for each patient. Through these efforts, the company is improving patient engagement and medication adherence.
This conversation highlights the importance of understanding diverse audience needs and the power of technology to positively impact communities. 
Timestamps: 
00:26 Meet Steve Pontius and HealthyMed 
01:57 Understanding HealthyMed's Technology 
05:49 Engagement and Outcomes in Home Healthcare 
Points of Wisdom: 
"You have a health score with us." 
About Steve Pontius: 
Steve Pontius is the CEO of HealtheMed, a groundbreaking organization delivering in-home health healthcare and support to underserved populations in Minnesota. He has decades of entrepreneurial, operational and marketing experience within complex businesses in the healthcare space, including Minute Clinic. Under Steve’s leadership, HealtheMed is bridging gaps by bringing innovative technology and care into the homes of the people who need it most. HealtheMed has improved access to vital care services, the health and longevity of typically underserved populations, and the outcomes for caregivers and the healthcare system.  
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Virtual Assistants 101: A Startup’s Guide to Scaling Smarter

Having an expert assistant is not a luxury reserved for large enterprises—it’s a strategic necessity for any business striving to scale with efficiency and accuracy. In a world where time is our most valuable (and often limited) resource, delegating administrative tasks and specialized operations to a skilled virtual assistant can be the key to unlocking higher productivity and growth.  
How do you know if that person is right for you? They don’t just take tasks off your plate. They become an extension of your team. Whether you’re in startup mode, have hit a rapid scale phase, or are an established company, integrating virtual assistants can streamline operations, reduce costs, and drive long-term success. 
In this episode of the Extraordinary Pursuits podcast by BIP Ventures, Brad Stevens from Outsource Access explains what virtual assistance is, how to know if your company could benefit from using a virtual assistant, and how to make the most of the strategic investment. Brad shares specific, actionable tools and information, along with his own impressive company case study, to help you maximize your team’s rarest and most valuable resource—time. 
Timestamps: 
[02:16] Brad's journey and how he created Outsource Access 
[05:31] Brad’s guiding principles for building a company during challenging times 
[10:14] Virtual assistance: What it is and what makes a great virtual assistant 
[13:56] The benefits of integrating virtual assistants into your strategy 
[17:45] A two-question assessment for every startup 
[19:26] How to find the right virtual assistant and equip them to succeed 
[24:02] Practical ways to manage time zone differences effectively 
[25:35] AI trends and how it’s impacting virtual assistance 
[28:55] Brad’s advice on how to start adding virtual assistants in 2025 
[31:25] Where to learn more about Brad and Outsource Access  
Points of Wisdom: 
“When you hire people directly, they’re not part of your company, so it’s important to build a connection and a relationship with them so they don’t disappear.” [16:40] 
“AI can do this, that, or the other, but if you don’t have someone managing, overseeing, and coordinating it, it doesn’t matter.” [27:14] 
Resources Mentioned: 
Jim Collins Bullets & Cannonballs  
Necessary Endings by Henry Cloud  
The Two-Question Assessment
About Brad Stevens: 
Brad Stevens is the founder and CEO of Outsource Access, a business processing, outsourcing, and virtual assistance company. A serial entrepreneur and recognized authority in scaling, automation, outsourcing, and high-performance virtual teams, Brad has grown Outsource Access to 500 employees in just four years, serving over 75 industries.  
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Hustle Culture is Failing Founders: Energy, Focus, and the Power of No

Hustle culture can look like progress. It rarely is. More likely, it’s a path to burnout and diminishing returns. In this episode of Extraordinary Pursuits, host Rachelle Kuramoto sits down with productivity expert and bestselling author Graham Allcott to explore why managing your attention, not your time, is the key to real, repeatable progress. 
Graham is the founder of Think Productive and author of the best-selling business books, How to Be a Productivity Ninja and KIND: The Quiet Power of Kindness at Work. In this helpful conversation, he shares insights rooted in neuroscience, psychology, and real-world executive coaching. His approach is especially useful for entrepreneurs who feel stretched thin: building companies, leading teams, and navigating uncertainty. 
You’ll learn how to: 
Identify and protect your hours of “proactive attention”—your most valuable resource as a founder. 
Reframe productivity around energy cycles, recovery, and mental clarity (not late-night hustle). 
Understand the hidden causes of procrastination and how to gently dismantle them. 
Apply kindness—not only to your team, but to yourself—as a practical leadership strategy. 
Whether you're scaling a startup or reinventing your approach to leadership, this conversation is packed with tools that can help you do less, better. 
Timestamps: 
[02:33] Graham’s Career Journey: From Chaos to Structure 
[08:31] Leaders vs. Managers: Building a Framework for Focus 
[12:46] Attention is Your Most Valuable Resource 
[15:42] Early Hours and Energy Cycles 
[17:20] “Going Dark” and Protecting Time for Deep Work 
[22:05] Productivity is About Space, Not Speed 
[24:51] Procrastination and the Power of Being Present 
[27:31] Hustle Culture vs. Empathy: Reframing Success 
[29:44] Self-Kindness as a Leadership Strategy 
[34:25] Where to Find Graham’s Books and Work 
Points of Wisdom: 
"Your most precious resource is your attention, not your time." 
"Productivity is about making space for what matters." 
"You can’t be present and busy at the same time." 
“You only have about 12 hours of truly proactive attention per week. Use them wisely.” 
“Don’t grind through the lows. Rest, then reset.” 
About Graham Allcott: 
Graham Allcott is a social entrepreneur, former charity chief executive, and founder of Think Productive, a professional development company. He is a global speaker on kindness at work and productivity and the author of numerous books, including the global bestseller, "How to Be a Productivity Ninja" and the new book “KIND: The Quiet Power of Kindness at Work". Graham is a go-to speaker and productivity advisor for companies such as Amazon, British Airways, Disney, and eBay.  
Website: https://grahamallcott.com/ 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/grahamallcott/ 
Graham’s work: https://www.grahamallcott.com/links 
Resources Mentioned: 
How to be a Productivity Ninja by Graham Allcott 
KIND: The quiet power of kindness at work by Graham Allcott  
Graham Alcott Newsletter: Rev Up for the Week 
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Mini-episode: Winning the Ground Game – Field Sales for Startups

Rapid growth can feel like whiplash for founders—especially once they’ve nailed product-market fit and start scaling fast. But without a repeatable structure for the sales team, growth is often unsustainable. In this mini-episode of Extraordinary Pursuits, Bart Fanelli, founder and CEO of Skillibrium, breaks down the fundamentals of building a high-performing field force. 
Drawing on years of experience helping companies scale from startup to billion-dollar success stories, Bart explains why great sales strategy starts with consistent execution. He shares the importance of aligning leadership and frontline teams, using leading indicators (not just lagging revenue), and growing from the inside—not by throwing more money at marketing. 
Whether you’re just starting to scale or reevaluating your go-to-market approach, this conversation delivers tactical insight into the discipline behind smart sales growth. 
Timestamps: 
[00:00] Starting with Structure: What to Build First in a Scaling Company 
[03:01] Repeatable Cadence as a Catalyst for Growth 
[05:45] Market Dynamics, Messaging, and the Pendulum Trap 
Points of Wisdom: 
"Most companies don’t ever focus on the baseline. They just chase the revenue." [02:13] 
"You have to grow from the inside." [05:45] 
About Bart Fanelli: 
Bart Fanelli is the founder and CEO of Skillibrium, a company focused on transforming the way organizations drive scalable growth. With decades of experience in sales leadership and a deep understanding of organizational strategy, Bart created Skillibrium to tackle one of the most pressing challenges in sales: aligning talent and tactics to drive predictable and repeatable success. His extensive experience spans roles as an executive advisor, entrepreneur, and co-author of The Success Cadence: Unleash Your Organization’s Rapid Growth Culture.
Resources Mentioned: The Success Cadence by Bart Fanelli 
Website: https://skillibrium.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bartfanelli/
 
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Scaling from Startup to $15B – The Compaq Case Study with Karen Walker

In this episode of the Extraordinary Pursuits podcast from BIP Ventures, strategic advisor and executive coach Karen Walker talks with host Rachelle Kuramoto about navigating hypergrowth. An early executive at Compaq, Karen had a direct role in one of the biggest success stories in American business. She played a direct role in scaling the company from startup to $15B in revenue in a matter of years – navigating the infrastructure, talent, and other operational details that come with the opportunity. 
In this discussion, Karen taps into experience from Compaq and years of consulting to offer counsel on product market fit, cross-team alignment, and maintaining a strong culture as a company is enduring growth and change. She emphasizes the need for curiosity, effective communication, and decision-making in the midst of ambiguity.  
This is an episode for startup leaders, founders, and growth-stage operators looking to build a resilient and high-performing organization. 
Timestamps
[05:32] Understanding Hypergrowth and Product Market Fit
[09:52] The Importance of Alignment and High-Performance Teams
[12:52] Navigating Growth vs. Scale
[16:00] Building a Healthy Company Culture
[19:32] Key Considerations for Startup Leaders
[22:49] Common Issues in Leadership and Communication
[24:56] Decision-Making in Ambiguous Situations
[30:02] Summary of Key Insights and Closing Remarks 
Points of Wisdom
"Your most precious resource is your time."
"You have to figure out how to carve out time."
"The culture is the action to reward and tolerate."
"Over-communicate to keep alignment."
"You have to be comfortable with ambiguity."
"Curiosity is a skill to hire for." 
About Karen Walker 
Karen Walker is an executive coach, consultant, and board advisor who helps CEOs and senior leaders navigate hyper-growth with clarity and confidence. A former executive at Compaq, where she helped scale the company from startup to $15 billion in revenue, Karen now advises global enterprises like AWS, Pfizer, JPMorganChase, and Aetna, as well as high-growth Inc. 5000 startups. She is the author of No Dumbing Down: A Guide for CEOs on Organization Growth and a contributor to Harvard Business Review, Forbes, and Fast Company. Karen serves on the board of Mosaic and draws on her engineering background from Texas A&M, along with executive education from Columbia and Stanford. 
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Startup CFO Strategy: In-House vs. Outsourced

On this mini-episode of the BIP Ventures Extraordinary Pursuits podcast, BIP Ventures SVP of Portfolio Performance Mike Vandiver speaks with John Frazier, CEO of Indonero. The two discuss the critical role of financial management in startups and growth-oriented companies, focusing on what roles should be filled in-house and which are best managed by an outside expert. 
John emphasizes why it’s especially important for early-stage companies to choose the right outsourced CFO and accounting services. He identifies indicators that signal when to bring in a financial expert to help the company grow. This is a short conversation useful for startups striving to put the right resources and expertise in place to help them stay on track for growth. 
Timestamps: 
01:02 The Importance of Choosing Financial Partners 
02:29 Indicators for Hiring Financial Experts 
04:24 Client Experiences with Outsourced Accounting 
05:49 Balancing Outsourced and In-House Financial Roles 
About John Frazier:‍ 
John Frazier is the CEO of InDinero, an accounting and financial services solution provider. InDinero specializes in relationship-driven tailored support that helps growth-oriented companies navigate the complexities of financial management. John has more than 25 years of experience in the service space and a unique background that blends electrical and electronic engineering with cloud services, which has helped him deliver guidance to modern financial solutions. 
🎧 Listen to and watch this episode and other episodes of the Extraordinary Pursuits podcast. 

The Startup Hypergrowth Playbook: Lessons from PlayOn! Sports

Hypergrowth is the stuff of dreams and legends for many startups. For those who achieve it, it’s also one of their greatest challenges. Scaling at an accelerated pace can unlock massive opportunities – provided it’s executed with a disciplined strategy. The key to navigating hypergrowth toward opportunity (not chaos) lies in balancing agility and sustainability and making data-driven decisions in the face of overwhelming decisions.
Companies that master hypergrowth don’t just expand rapidly; they evolve strategically. Those that figure out when to push forward aggressively and when to refine processes are best positioned to turn momentum into lasting market dominance.
In this episode of the Extraordinary Pursuits podcast by BIP Ventures, PlayOn! Sports CEO David Rudolph shares his journey leading a company through hypergrowth. He breaks down how PlayOn! transitioned from chasing growth to harnessing it to transform the company from a startup to a sector leader. This episode is an honest look at the challenges, turning points, excitement, and learnings from a startup leader who lived the ‘dream.’
Timestamps:
[02:16] David’s career background and journey into entrepreneurship
[04:43] The problem that inspired David to create PlayOn!
[06:54] The genesis of PlayOn! and where they are now
[11:48] How, where, and when PlayOn! hit hypergrowth
[23:02] Balancing data and action in scaling a company
[29:04] How PlayOn! went from chasing growth to harnessing it strategically
[31:29] David’s advice to startups pursuing high growth
[36:38] Lessons David wishes he knew when he started as an entrepreneur
[39:56] Where to learn more about PlayOn! and its family of brands
Points of Wisdom:
“Have a theory, and be prepared as you can, but ultimately, you’ve to put your product into the market and see how the market responds.” [22:30]
“There’s part of hypergrowth that is luck, and you’ve to be as prepared as possible so when that moment shows up in your company, you can capitalize on it.” [31:54]
“If you try to stick with the plan you imagined at the start, you’re going to miss the opportunity.” [32:33]
About David Rudolph:
David Rudolph is the CEO of PlayOn! Sports, a cutting-edge technology company that has revolutionized how people connect, engage, and experience digital content. Under David’s leadership, PlayOn! has become the central source for high school fun engagement. It encompasses everything from the ticketing process to streaming events. Their innovation has revolutionized how we experience high school sports. David’s entrepreneurial vision and leadership have positioned him as a dynamic force in the industry, driving innovation and growth at an unprecedented scale.
NFHS Network: https://nfhsnetwork.playonsports.com/overview
GoFan: https://gofan.playonsports.com/overview
VidSwap: https://www.playonsports.com/analytics
VNN: https://www.playonsports.com/products/vnn 
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Mini-Episode: The Power of Regional Investor Networks

In this mini-episode of the Extraordinary Pursuits podcast, Venture Atlanta CEO Allyson Eman zeroes in on why networking and preparation are critical elements of a healthy startup ecosystem.
She explains how and why Venture Atlanta has connected early-stage innovation companies with investors since 2007. Pulling from the near 20-year history of the event, she offers useful insights for founders and investors to prepare to succeed at Venture Atlanta specifically and venture capital in general. Listen in for her useful guidance. 
Key Points 
Differentiation and solid connections matter more than having $1M in revenue.  
Do your research so you can be smart about who you reach out to and why.  
Looking at a company online isn’t enough – talk to them, look at their growth, and review their financials. 
Most startups are unlikely to experience hockey stick growth – and investors know better when they see that projected in a pitch deck. 
If you connect with someone, look them up afterward, make sure they are the right person, and follow up with them. 
About Allyson Eman 
Allyson Eman is a seasoned professional with over 30 years of experience in marketing, communications, sales leadership, and business development. Since 2007, she has served as Executive Director, and later CEO, of Venture Atlanta, the largest venture capital conference on the East Coast. Under her leadership, the conference has grown significantly, attracting over 1,500 attendees and helping emerging technology companies raise over $7.5 billion. Before Venture Atlanta, Allyson was key in expanding SouthStar Funding from a small team to a nationally respected mortgage lender and managed marketing for SouthTrust Bank's Georgia branches. She holds a BS from the University of Florida. LinkedIn  
About Venture Atlanta
The Venture Atlanta Conference has evolved from a two-day, high-caliber event into a full-blown community dedicated to bringing innovative companies, disruptive technologies, and top-tier investors together. The 2025 Venture Atlanta event is happening on October 15th and 16th. Sponsorships are open, and startups can apply to pitch starting in May. 
Learn more, sponsor, and prepare to apply
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