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Second in Command: The Chief Behind the Chief

Ep. 454 - America's Best Restaurants VP & COO, Doug Smith

Second in Command: The Chief Behind the Chief

Second in Command with Cameron Herold

Entrepreneurship, Business, Management, Careers

4.51.6K Ratings

🗓️ 4 March 2025

⏱️ 56 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

In today's episode of The Second in Command podcast, co-host Sivana Brewer is joined by Doug Smith, Vice President and COO of America's Best Restaurants.

This episode does a deep dive into Doug's personal and professional journey, as well as the triumphs and challenges he has weathered along the way. He shares candid stories from his career, revealing pivotal moments that shaped his leadership philosophy and mindset. From balancing high-pressure responsibilities to managing personal emotions, his reflections offer a glimpse into the complex realities of navigating a demanding role while staying true to core values.

You'll gain valuable insights into fostering a supportive and empowering work environment, and learn the importance of leading by example, promoting a culture of openness, and encouraging innovation from every level of the organization.

This episode offers actionable advice on creating space for creativity, learning from failure, and cultivating meaningful professional relationships. It's a must-listen for anyone looking to elevate their leadership style and build stronger, more connected teams.


If you've enjoyed this episode of the Second in Command podcast, be sure to leave a review and subscribe today!


Enjoy!



In This Episode You'll Learn:

  • Doug's background in radio, including on-air, sales, and marketing, and his initial reluctance to delegate tasks.
  • The importance of taking risks and having a visionary leader like Matt [Plapp, CEO], who is willing to invest significantly in their ideas.
  • Why Doug believes that leading from the front and creating a supportive environment for his team is crucial.
  • His personal experiences learning to delegate and trust his team, which has led to significant improvements in efficiency and job satisfaction.
  • And much more...



Resources:

Connect with Doug: Website | LinkedIn

Connect with Cameron: Website | LinkedIn

Get Cameron’s latest book "Second in Command: Unleash the Power of your COO"

Get Cameron’s online course – Invest In Your Leaders

Transcript

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0:00.0

Hey, it's Cameron Harold, the host of the Second Command podcast. Before we dive in, there's something you need to know.

0:05.5

If you're a C-O-O-V-P operations or you're in any role where you're the second-in-command to the CEO,

0:12.1

the C-O Alliance is the place for you. If you're the integrator to the visionary, you're going to want to join us.

0:18.4

The C-O Alliance is the world's leading community for the second command.

0:22.4

We've had over 500 members like you join from 17 countries to grow their skills,

0:27.6

connections, and confidence.

0:29.1

You'll get the tools, friendships, and a 10x guarantee to ensure that you get your

0:33.6

money's worth.

0:34.6

Go to COOalliance.com to learn more and see if you qualify.

0:39.0

You can even book a free call with our team to ask questions. Now let's jump into this week's

0:43.3

episode. If you want a company where you're set in structure, it's been around for 30 years and

0:48.9

you know exactly what's going to happen every day, we ain't it. And we are fortunate to be surrounded with

0:56.0

people who they're in their 60s and we've got people in in their 20s that are just ballers.

1:03.0

And they just roll with the punches and they do whatever it takes. They get beat over the head.

1:08.0

They face the obstacles and they're on board, and it's a, what do we

1:12.0

have to do to make it work?

1:18.1

Welcome to the Second and Command podcast, produced by the COO Alliance and brought to you

1:23.8

by its founder, Cameron Harold. In the Second in Command podcast, we talked to top COOs who share the insights, strategies,

1:31.7

and tactics that made them the chief behind the chief.

1:34.9

And now here's your co-host, former CEO of a multi-eight-figure remote company

1:39.8

and alumni member of the COO Alliance, Savannah Brewer.

1:46.8

On today's episode of Second and Command, we are joined by Doug Smith.

...

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