Casey Woo, CEO & Founder of Operators Guild and GP & Founder of FOG Ventures, joins us on Startup Success to discuss how scaling a startup has changed and why founders need “horizontal generalists,” or scalers, on their early teams.

After helping scale several high-profile startups, Casey built Operators Guild, a global community for the operators who thrive in early-stage chaos, and later FOG Ventures, its venture capital arm. He’s seen firsthand why this new breed of operator is essential in today’s AI-driven world.Casey breaks down how these operators fuel hypergrowth and why early-stage founders should prioritize hiring them. He explains this mindset isn’t learned—it’s in your DNA. Curious, impatient, and energized by ambiguity, scalers are wired differently.

We discuss:

• How AI is reshaping how startups hire and scale, and why adaptable, strategic thinkers matter more than ever.
• The new operational model that is essential to high-growth startups.
• How to spot a scaler on a resume and what signals to look for in the interview process.
• How the office of the CFO and COO has changed and what that means for today's startups.

This episode blends insight and practicality—a must-listen for founders building teams in an increasingly complex landscape.

----Stay connected with our host, Kate Adams, here on LinkedIn! 

Learn more about Fog Ventures at: https://www.fog.ventures/
Learn more about Operators Guild at: https://www.operators-guild.com/