Breaking Growth Ceilings: How Founders Can Build Boards That Truly Scale

https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Podcasts221/v4/b7/61/1b/b7611b31-c533-4cee-3265-e78a2ca8a309/mza_5732033533015930016.jpg/600x600bb.jpg

Ignite & Scale - The Cambria Private Capital Podcast with Mike Allen

Mike Allen

30 episodes

1 month ago

Our aim is to provide you, our listeners – whether you’re a budding founder, a keen investor, or simply an enthusiast of business innovation – with unique insights and perspectives that can only come from those who have truly walked the path of success. At Cambria Private Capital, we believe in more than just investment; we believe in nurturing potential, sparking growth, and building lasting relationships. Each episode is a step towards uncovering the strategies, challenges, and triumphs that define today’s business landscape. So, whether you're here to find your next investment opportunity or to gather inspiration for your entrepreneurial journey, you’re in the right place.

All content for Ignite & Scale - The Cambria Private Capital Podcast with Mike Allen is the property of Mike Allen and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.

Breaking Growth Ceilings: How Founders Can Build Boards That Truly Scale

Ignite & Scale - The Cambria Private Capital Podcast with Mike Allen

17 minutes

5 months ago

Breaking Growth Ceilings: How Founders Can Build Boards That Truly Scale

🔥 Episode Overview:

In this high-impact episode, Mike sits down with Ashley Tott—entrepreneur, investor, and one of Sweden’s most sought-after scale-up advisors. With a background in corporate finance, private equity, and board leadership, Ashley brings sharp insight into how founder-led businesses can break through the €10m turnover ceiling and achieve repeatable, structured growth.

From recruiting his first Chair at just 27 to helping dozens of businesses install world-class board frameworks, Ashley shares why governance done right isn’t boring—it’s a growth weapon.

🧠 In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

Why so many founder-led businesses stall at the 100M SEK (~£7.5m) revenue mark
The three core elements of a high-performance board
What Ashley learned from private equity (3i) and global brands (Specsavers, Andersen)
How to balance founder freedom with structure—and avoid burnout
Why founders should treat the board as an accelerator, not a blocker
How to spot (and fix) the biggest governance blind spots in your business
Practical advice for CEOs: how to choose the right Chair, and when to bring one in

🔑 Key Takeaways:

“You can’t fix everything. Focus on what matters—and work relentlessly on it.” – Ashley Tott

Scaling isn’t just about sales—it’s about structure.
Founders don’t need to be ‘controlled’ by boards—they need to be supported by them.
A great Chair is your growth co-pilot, not a corporate cop.

👤 About Ashley Tott:

Ashley is Co-Founder at Scalex Growth Partners, where he helps Swedish small businesses scale past 100M SEK through structured board development and founder enablement. A qualified chartered accountant and former private equity investor, Ashley brings 20+ years of cross-sector experience to his advisory and Chair roles. He’s known for his fun, entrepreneurial energy—and for making governance both accessible and impactful.

🔗 Learn more: www.scalexgp.se

🔗 Connect & Subscribe:

Follow Ignite & Scale for more conversations with founders, operators, and growth leaders who’ve built and backed great companies.
🎧 Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms
🌐 Learn more at: www.cambriaprivatecapital.com