Can You Run a Business Without a COO?

Victor Onyekere, also known as “The Strategist”, is a Startup Operator and a Productivity Coach. He has about 10 years of work experience across various industries.

We talked about:

• What a startup operator does

• Keys to building a successful business

• How stellar operations helped TruQ get onto Techstars

• The importance of work experience as a founder/entrepreneur

• Why operators make the best founders

Key takeaways:

1. Startup operators manage diverse roles, ensuring smooth business operations.

2. You need a strong and strategic vision in order to build a successful business.

3. Understanding and addressing customer needs drives growth.

4. Prior work experience provides valuable insights and practical skills for business owners.

5. Operators make the best founders due to their hands-on experience and versatile skill set.

Find Victor

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoronyekere/ 

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/victoronyekere/ 

• Twitter: https://x.com/victoronyekere 

Find Iwalola

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iwalolasobowale/

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iwalolaa/ 

• Twitter: twitter.com/IwalolaSobowale

Find The Spotlight Podcast

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-spotlight-podcast

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_spotlightpod/ 

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/_spotlightpod 

• Substack: https://substack.com/@thespotlightpod 

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@_spotlightpod 

• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@_spotlightpod 

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/The-Spotlight-Podcast/61561211506809/

In this episode we cover:

0:00 Intro

1:37 Icebreaker

6:27 Victor's background

12:58 Success stories

17:26 Challenges

23:26 The founder-operator vs other founders

30:05 Building a successful business

40:10 Companies that changed their strategy

47:19 How important are COOs?

59:01 How to determine if you're successful

1:02:25 Where to find Victor and what he's working on

1:07:44 Victor's thoughts on the future of the business and tech ecosystem (in Nigeria)

1:12:27 Outro

We referenced:

Talemia/Seeding

TruQ

Techstars 

Moniepoint

Flutterwave

Chowdeck 

Paystack 

Opay

Palmpay 

Previous Episodes

Here are some previous episodes for you to enjoy:

1. Making Energy Affordable for Businesses with Earthbond

2. Managing Nigeria’s Tech Talents: The Unique Dynamics

Until next time, stay curious!

P.S If you’re interested in appearing on The Spotlight Podcast, please complete this form to indicate your interest.