Retaining talent is a superpower for successful companies and creating environments that support employees is often the foundation of retention. Our guest today is Cameron Yarbrough, Co-Founder and CEO of Torch, a platform that helps companies build professional growth through the power of trusted relationships. We are big believers in coaching and mentorship and Torch has really caught our eye with how they are able to measure ROI on these traditionally difficult-to-measure relationships. We also talk to Cameron about Torch’s recent $40 million Series C financing round right before the market downturn.
About Cameron Yarbrough:
Cameron is Co-Founder and CEO at Torch Leadership Labs, a leadership development company built on principles of psychology and management best practices. Prior to Torch, Cameron worked at the Stanford Graduate Business School as a facilitator to MBA students in Interpersonal Dynamics. He has a Masters in Counselling Psychology and a clinical background. He also was a CEO and founder of an e-commerce in the first dot-com wave in 1997.
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In this episode we discuss:
02:47 How Cameron’s career led him to Stanford Graduate Business School and ultimately Torch
05:28 Cameron’s journey of self-discovery after selling his first business
09:18 The final push that led Cameron to start Torch
13:09 Why companies should still invest in supporting employee's professional growth
15:55 How Founders can leverage their missions to find and retain great employees
17:11 How companies can better embody their missions
19:26 The most important leadership skills for founders to master
25:06 How Torch shows ROI on coaching and mentorship to leaders
27:01 How Torch devised their unique method of coaching and mentoring
29:11 Cameron’s advice to first-time founders
31:40 How founders should think about stress and how Cameron manages his own stressful times
34:33 Dealing with impostor syndrome
36:18 The importance of humility and authenticity in founders
37:36 Coaching high-calibre entrepreneurs
40:01 Cameron’s experience with M&A and the lessons he learned
42:14 Plans for their recent $40M Series C led by 137 Ventures, in addition to follow on capital from Initialized Capital, Norwest Venture Partners, and Obvious Ventures
Fast Favorites:
🎙- Favorite Podcast: Wow In The World
📰- Favorite Newsletter/Blog: Josh Bersin
📲- Favorite Tech Gadget: Calm App
📈- Favorite New Trend: Remote Work
📚- Favorite Book: The Invention of Nature
🤔 - Favorite Life Lesson: Be humble and be vulnerable
Retaining Talent in an Uncertain Market with Cameron Yarbrough CEO of Torch