Ep. 482 - Scale It Simply Co-Founder, Polina Mireau

Second in Command: The Chief Behind the Chief

Second in Command with Cameron Herold

Entrepreneurship, Business, Management, Careers

4.5 • 1.6K Ratings

🗓️ 10 June 2025

⏱️ 65 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In today's episode of the Second in Command podcast, co-host Sivana Brewer is joined by Polina Mireau, co-founder of Scale It Simply.

In this fascinating conversation, Sivana and Polina discuss the often unseen emotional layers that come with leadership, especially from the perspective of younger professionals navigating roles traditionally dominated by older, more experienced individuals. They explore how genuine connection and authentic care within an organization can transform workplace culture and foster a sense of belonging that goes beyond titles and tenure.

They touch on the subtle challenges faced by women stepping into leadership roles, highlighting the unique pressures to prove themselves repeatedly despite their qualifications. The discussion reveals how shifting focus from self-doubt to relationship-building can empower leaders to break through preconceived notions and create meaningful impact—not just through their work, but through the human connections they nurture.

This episode is an insightful exploration of leadership that encourages embracing imperfection, leaning into growth, and fostering trust as the true foundation for success.

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:

Polina's upbringing in Canada, where she learned the importance of hard work, organization, and independence
Her formal transition to the COO role, and her experience in fractional and full-time capacities.
The negative impact of siloed communication on team efficiency and customer experience.
The differences between fractional and full-time COO roles, and the need for clear expectations and boundaries in fractional roles.
The challenges of being a young female leader, and the need to focus on relationships and genuine care for the team.
And much more...

Resources:

Connect with Polina: 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. You can even
0:39.4	book a free call with our team to ask questions. Now let's jump into this week's episode.
0:43.7	You don't even know, you know, am I going the right direction? Am I focusing on the right things?
0:49.2	Or maybe there was an unspoken expectation that you might miss because it was never, it was never
0:55.9	communicated. And so I like to dig deep into that. And then we look at, okay, we have a goal, we have
1:01.8	the clear results in the first 90 days. Now, what are the three biggest problems that Founder is
1:08.7	focusing on solving right now? What are the three biggest problems on your
1:12.5	plate? And I look at trying to understand that first to see where are they focused and where
1:18.0	are they oriented and how can I contribute to their three biggest challenges because that's
1:23.5	where you can bring the most immediate value.
1:36.2	Welcome to the Second in Command podcast, produced by the C.O. Alliance, and brought to you by its founder, Cameron Harold. In the Second in Command podcast, we talked to top COs who share
1:42.5	the insights, strategies, and tactics that made them the chief
1:46.0	behind the chief.
1:47.2	And now here's your co-host, former COO of a multi-eight-figure remote company and alumni
	...

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