Leadership Strategies for Scaling Startups by Dr. Jena Booher

Psych in Business

In this episode of the Psych in Business podcast, Dr. Ernest Wayde hosts a conversation with Dr. Jena Booher, a business psychologist and social scientist who specializes in the tech sector. Jena is widely recognized as a strategic advisor to startups nationwide, working in industries like commercial real estate, retail marketing, and digital health and wellness. She is the founder of JEM Advisors Group. Interestingly, Jena's career began as a sales trader at JP Morgan.

Jena shares her unique journey from the finance sector to her current role in business psychology, detailing her experiences and the valuable lessons she learned along the way. The discussion covers the integration of psychology, business, and technology, focusing on how these elements can be used to improve leadership and workplace environments. The episode also delves into Jena’s work with mergers and acquisitions, cultural integration, and the challenges of scaling startups.

Key Takeaways:

• Transition from Finance to Psychology: Jena’s journey from JP Morgan to business psychology highlights the importance of pursuing passion and the invaluable lessons learned from competitive environments.
• Cultural Integration in Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A): Successful M&A requires prioritizing cultural integration to meet revenue and cost synergy targets, with a focus on creating a unified company identity.

• The Role of Psychology in Business: Understanding human behavior, emotions, and stories is crucial for managing complex business situations and creating lasting transformation within organizations.

• Challenges of Scaling Startups: Transitioning from startup to scale-up involves significant changes, including redefining leadership roles and maintaining agility and flexibility.

• Co-Founder Relationships: Effective communication and addressing "elephants in the room" are essential for maintaining healthy co-founder relationships and ensuring organizational success.

To learn more about Dr. Jena Booher and connect with her, visit her website: Jena Booher.