Visibility > Features: The Most Underrated Growth Strategy

"Why Movements Matter More Than Markets\n\nBook a Demo We live in an age where the word community is everywhere. Investors want it. Founders pitch it. Everyone claims to build it. But in reality? Most startups are still built around markets, not movements. They chase trends, ride hype cycles, and optimize for CAC and TAM before anyone even knows why they exist in the first place. And then they wonder why churn kills them, or why “user engagement” feels like pulling teeth. Here’s a truth I’ve come to believe — not as a theory, but from lived experience: Markets can give you customers. But only movements will give you momentum. When I started building The First-Time CEO, it wasn’t because I had the perfect product idea. I didn’t. I had questions. I was exhausted. Now, I have stories from other leaders who, like me, are navigating chaotic transitions with no map. I have a sense that we are all holding something quietly difficult. And the more I speak to new CEOs, the more I see it: We aren’t just building startups. We are unlearning toxic leadership models. We are healing. We are trying to lead teams while leading ourselves through grief, growth, and change. It isn’t a market opportunity. It is a calling. That’s when I understood: before the product, there must be a people. A tribe. A truth. A shared fire. The Olympia product — my AI company — came earlier. But The First-Time CEO was the movement that started making shifts. It is the heartbeat. A movement solves a feeling. When someone joins your newsletter, your Slack, your app — they’re not just looking for a tool. They’re often looking for relief. For validation. For a place where their values don’t feel weird or too much. For a world that mirrors the one they want to build. And if you can give them that, it doesn’t just create loyalty — it creates identity. We underestimate how powerful identity is in business. If someone sees your brand and thinks, \"This is me. This is where I belong.\" — your LTV just multiplied. So did your impact. Nicole is an award-winning journalist, a storyteller, and now a founder and a first-time CEO. But more than that, she’s a movement builder. She looked at the traditional fintech media landscape — all suits, all sameness — and realized: If we wait for the system to include us, we’ll be waiting forever. So she built her own. Her platform, Fintech Is Femme, doesn’t just cover women in fintech — it repositions them as the future of fintech. She’s doing what all great movement-builders do: Telling the stories that aren’t told Centering the voices that have been historically left out Creating a world her audience wants to be part of — and then handing them the mic What she’s building isn’t content. It’s cultural narrative change. And in the process, she’s helping redefine who gets to lead, who gets funded, and who gets heard. As founders — especially those from underrepresented backgrounds — we can’t afford to build the old way. We can't rely on markets that weren't designed for us or wait for traditional validation before we dare to speak. We have to build movements first. Tribes first. Truth first. That’s what The First-Time CEO is about. That’s what Fintech Is Femme is about. That’s what Nicole and I talked about in one of my favorite episodes of The First-Time CEO podcast so far — Building a Female Movement in Fintech. 🎙️ Watch/Listen to our conversation here: 👉 YOUTUBE | SPOTIFY | APPLE PODCASTS Don't forget to subscribe for more great episodes! 📲 If you’ve ever felt like you’re building something bigger than a product — something rooted in values, vision, and identity — this one’s for you. Because movements don’t just win. They change the game entirely. If you’d like to be my podcast guest, please fill in this form, and I’ll contact you if it's a good fit!"

The Most Underrated Growth Strategy Who cares? Who will listen? With so much content out there, these were my thoughts just a few months ago. But the real question was clear. I wanted to know how other first-time CEOs launch, run, and grow their companies—and what I can learn from them to share with other new and aspiring CEOs. Fueled by curiosity, a love for interviews, and a passion for talented ("always hungry, always foolish") entrepreneurs, I launched The First-Time CEO podcast and this newsletter. As I wrap up Season 1, I've had the privilege of interviewing ten amazing new CEOs making waves in tech, community building, recruitment, wealth management, media, wellness, and beyond. I've learned so much from them. But there's one main lesson all my podcast guests from Season 1 agree on: What is the real difference between a startup and a brand people trust? The CEO’s visibility. Not only in a performative, “thought leadership” way, but in showing up with clarity, conviction, and personality. In the Edelman Trust Barometer report, 63% of people said they trust a company more if they recognize and trust its CEO. According to Brunswick Group, employees are 4.5x more likely to work for a CEO who communicates openly on social media. Look at the most trusted early-stage companies today: Melanie Perkins (Canva), Ben Francis (Gymshark), Ben Chestnut (Mailchimp)—all built enormous trust because they were visible long before their companies became household names. When the CEO hides, the company flattens. When the CEO leads with real voice and real energy, people follow. And here’s the part we don’t talk about enough: You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to be present. Being visible doesn’t mean becoming a LinkedIn influencer or launching a personal brand overnight. It means consistently being willing to share: What you believe Why you’re building How you’re learning Where you’re going New here? Don’t miss what’s next, I’ve only started! (News below!) ✅ Because early-stage buyers don’t trust brands—they trust people. Especially in the first 1–3 years of a company’s life, people don't buy into your logo, mission statement, or marketing automation. They buy into you. Who you are. Why you built this. How you think. How you show up. (And if they don't know you, they probably won't care about your brand either.) ✅ Because visibility builds trust faster than product features ever can. Features, benefits, and metrics are important—but they're not what accelerates trust at the beginning. You being visible humanizes everything: your product, your brand, your mission. It gives people a reason to believe—and believers are the ones who become your earliest customers, evangelists, partners, investors. ✅ Because your visibility scales loyalty—and loyalty multiplies growth. Early adopters don’t just buy your product; they stay because they believe in your story. When the CEO shows up consistently, with real energy, early adopters feel like they are part of the story too. This creates compounding trust: first with early customers → then with investors → then with top-tier hires → then with press and partnerships. ✅ Because you can’t fake real presence, and that’s your unfair advantage. In a world drowning in “perfect” marketing, real founder visibility cuts through the noise. It’s rare. It’s magnetic. It’s memorable. The founders who dare to lead visibly, even imperfectly, are the ones people remember—and trust. ✅ Because it’s free (but priceless). You don't need a $10K ad budget or a 5-person marketing team to be visible. You need: A clear voice A willingness to show up A commitment to keep showing up even when it feels awkward or vulnerable It costs nothing. But the ROI? Huge—and it multiplies over time. That’s why it’s the most underrated growth strategy. Founders are often so focused on product-market fit, user acquisition, or fundraising, they forget that the most scalable early asset they have... is themselves. Small actions. Big signals. 1. Share a personal story about why you started your company. Post it on LinkedIn, your newsletter, or even a simple email to your early users. 2. Record a short 60-second video explaining your "why." No fancy setup. Just your phone and your words. Post it — or send it to your early users/community privately if public feels too scary. 3. Comment thoughtfully on three posts from people in your industry. Not a fire emoji. A real, thoughtful comment. 4. Host a tiny “Founder’s Coffee Chat” online. Invite 3–5 customers, peers, or community members to a 30-min casual Zoom just to connect. 5. Show up where your audience hangs out — without selling anything. Spend 20 minutes in a Slack group, forum, LinkedIn group, or niche space just listening and joining conversations. Bonus (if you're ready to stretch): 6. Write a "building in public" post. Share one thing you're struggling with or one decision you're making right now. It doesn't make you look weak. It makes you look human — and that's magnetic. By early 2026, I will publish a book with five seasons and 50 interviews from The First-Time CEO podcast, along with my own reflections on being a first-timer, and lessons learned from modern emerging leaders making waves even through war, political shifts, and the uncertainty of the world we’re living in. In June 2025, when Season 2 kicks off, I'll launch book pre-orders on LeanPub (so you can witness my progress chapter by chapter) together with the waitlist for a closed member-only community and The First-Time CEO Founding Membership. Here’s a little sneak peek at what the Founding Membership will include (with one-time payment): Unlimited access to The First-Time CEO online community with exclusive resources, events, masterminds, and Q&As 1 year of access to the advanced Olympia ProPlus AI team (40% discount afterward) Digital copy of the book, plus your name and business featured in the Founding Members section VIP access to offline experiences and special events in Lisbon, Portugal Option to co-host/speak at future online and offline events Exclusive access to podcast guests and the option to be a podcast guest Founding Member badge in the community to show your VIP status The Founding Members circle is designed for first-time CEOs, new founders, and experienced entrepreneurs who are building, learning, and leading in new ways. If you're passionate about growth, authenticity, and redefining leadership for the next generation, you're in the right place. Did it spark your interest? Fill out this form and be the first to grab a spot as a founding member (if I approve). I’ll personally send you the link to join the waitlist. And then you’ll automatically become a founding member as soon as I launch the community. 🎧 Want to hear the deeper story behind the key Season 1 lesson? Tune into Episode 10 — From Billion-Dollar Boardrooms to Human Design with Jacques Anderson, Founder & CEO of Lean Into Your Design. In this soulful and illuminating finale of Season One, I sit down with Jacques Anderson — Harvard Law graduate, former co-founder of a $29M-backed startup, and now an intuitive guide helping founders align with their Human Design. We dive into: Making the leap from corporate stardom to soulful solopreneurship What Human Design really is—and why it matters for leadership Why most burnt-out founders are swimming upstream Releasing the pressure to perform and choosing inner alignment instead The biggest mistake Jacques made as a new CEO—and how it reshaped her brand and voice The underrated power of silence, community, and real connection...and so much more. Whether you're building a company, rediscovering your truth, or simply seeking more flow in your work, this conversation will meet you where you are. 🎙️ Watch/Listen to Episode 10 here: YOUTUBE | SPOTIFY | APPLE PODCASTS This episode officially wraps up Season 1, but I’ll be back after a short break with Season 2 and pre-orders launch for my upcoming book featuring 50 conversations with first-time CEOs like you, opening 50 unique Founding Member spots for The First-Time CEO community. Some incredible resources if you want to start owning your founder energy even more: 🧠 How to Create a Personal Brand to Lead Through Challenges: Discusses the importance of building a personal brand that reflects authenticity and resilience, especially during challenging times. 📈 Storytelling That Drives Bold Change: This article emphasizes how storytelling can be a powerful tool for leaders to address organizational challenges and drive transformative change. 🎧 How—and When—to Adapt Your Leadership Style: This podcast episode discusses the importance of adapting leadership styles to different situations and challenges, highlighting the role of storytelling in effective leadership. Bonus resources I loved this week: A very cool case of a viral marketing campaign that drives loyalty and more business by Ordinary. A fascinating story on how a creative father built a dad community— Brooklyn Stroll Club. Here’s a question for you for self-reflection: As a CEO, are you visible in the right places—or just busy behind the scenes? Where does your audience actually feel you? Hit reply or comment under this post. I read all of them! Until next Sunday, Victoria If you’d like to be my podcast guest, please fill in this form, and I’ll contact you if it's a good fit!