I recently went one on one with Givinga co-founder and CEO Joe Phoenix.

Adam: Thanks again for taking the time to share your advice. First things first, though, I am sure readers would love to learn more about you. How did you get here? What experiences, failures, setbacks or challenges have been most instrumental to your growth? 

Joe: Great to be with you Adam. Like most entrepreneurs, my path here was circuitous. 25 years  in financial services gave me a great foundation. The idea, to unlock the full potential of charitable giving, gave me the “North Star” that I wanted to build around. And I surrounded myself with terrific people to stand it up. We put it in the market, listened, and have been refining ever since. The coolest thing about building something from the ether is that every day brings a new set of challenges- some that push you forward and others that make you step back and assess. Listening to the market and asking for honest feedback have been critical to Givinga’s success.

Adam: How did you come up with your business idea? What advice do you have for others on how to come up with great ideas? 

Joe: I had the beginning of the idea and initially it looked very different from our philanthropic technology, Philantech®, that we have in the market today. I knew that I wanted to redefine what it meant to be a philanthropist, and ultimately create a product that gives everyone the opportunity to make a meaningful impact.  What I learned in the last 5 years is that while an idea starts with one person, a great idea evolves as it is embraced, and affected by the market. So, it’s critical to get your initial idea out there and then be open to its inevitable evolution. 

Adam: How did you know your business idea was worth pursuing? What advice do you have on how to best test a business idea? 

Joe: When people that I didn’t know started buying it. The best test of any new idea is getting it into the market and having strangers take a spin.

Adam: What are the key steps you have taken to grow your business? What advice do you have for others on how to take their businesses to the next level? 

Joe: Learn to talk to investors. My main role as CEO is to make sure the company doesn’t run out of cash. That means I’ve had to get really good at talking to investors and explaining what we do. Great investors test your hypotheses, poke holes in your logic and always give you alternative perspectives to think about. It’s a non-stop exercise but it pays huge dividends- and I actually enjoy it. The best candid, constructive feedback we’ve received has come from people looking to invest in the company. 

Adam: What are your best sales and marketing tips? 

Joe: Listen to the market. It may not tell you what you want to hear but it’s the most honest assessment you’ll receive. 

Adam: In your experience, what are the defining qualities of an effective leader? How can leaders and aspiring leaders take their leadership skills to the next level? 

Joe: I think many people believe that leadership is all about taking action, inspiring your team leading by example. My opinion is that while those characteristics are fundamental to leadership the most important trait for any effective leader is their ability to “proactively listen” which I define as  listening and asking probing questions around what you hear. The minute you realize that great ideas are all around you but they require an effort to uncover, then you’re getting to the core of great leadership. Great leaders ask great questions, listen to the answers, assess against their preconceptions, and then take action.

Adam: What is your best advice on building, leading and managing teams?

Joe: I have 5 rules that I follow:

1. Know your strengths. Hire the best to fill your weaknesses. Get out of the way.

2. Don’t be afraid to be the dumbest person in the room.

3. Try to hire your next boss.

4. If your team looks like you, it’s a problem. If it acts like you, it’s fatal.

5. Encourage friction, independence and diversity of opinion but make sure they orbit around, and support, a clear and uncompromising core set of values.

Adam: What are your three best tips applicable to entrepreneurs, executives and civic leaders? 

Joe: 

1. Entrepreneurs: Multiply your cost and time assessments by 2.5x.

2. Executives: Be brutally honest. Listen to market feedback and learn to separate the constructive from the naysayer. Don’t take ANY feedback personally. Live in reality.

3. Civic leaders: Move quickly.

Adam: What is the single best piece of advice you have ever received?

Joe: If what you are doing is worth doing, do it until it is done.

Adam: Is there anything else you would like to share?

Joe: It’s really amazing what a team can accomplish when employees believe in and relate to the mission at hand. Everyone at Givinga believes in the power and impact of what we’re creating, and it shows in the way they collaborate and the work they deliver.

As companies, especially startups, evolve and expand, the brand identity and company culture are purely reflective of the people who work there and the community that is being served. And the initial team is absolutely critical in establishing the foundation of the company. We’re just getting rolling, but I’d put our 30 people up against any company in the industry. Thanks for having me!


Adam Mendler is the CEO of The Veloz Group, where he co-founded and oversees ventures across a wide variety of industries. Adam is also the creator and host of the business and leadership podcast Thirty Minute Mentors, where he goes one on one with America's most successful people - Fortune 500 CEOs, founders of household name companies, Hall of Fame and Olympic gold medal winning athletes, political and military leaders - for intimate half-hour conversations each week. Adam has written extensively on leadership, management, entrepreneurship, marketing and sales, having authored over 70 articles published in major media outlets including Forbes, Inc. and HuffPost, and has conducted more than 500 one on one interviews with America’s top leaders through his collective media projects. A top leadership speaker, Adam draws upon his insights building and leading businesses and interviewing hundreds of America's top leaders as a top keynote speaker to businesses, universities and non-profit organizations.

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