Ep. 519 - FAN FAVORITE | Sarah Jones Simmer – 50 Million Users: The Ultimate Guide to Bumble’s Kind Leadership
Second in Command: The Chief Behind the Chief with Cameron Herold
Second in Command with Cameron Herold
4.9 • 224 Ratings
🗓️ 16 October 2025
⏱️ 49 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
In this Fan Favorite episode of the Second in Command Podcast, Cameron Herold sits down with Sarah Jones Simmer, former COO of Bumble, to explore how the company scaled from an empowering dating app into a billion-dollar global social platform redefining connection and kindness online.
Sarah shares her journey from investment management to leading one of the fastest-growing social networking brands in the world. She opens up about working alongside visionary founder Whitney Wolfe Herd, expanding into markets like India, building culture-first teams, and reimagining leadership through empathy and purpose.
From balancing motherhood and executive leadership to driving global expansion and shaping company culture, Sarah’s story offers an inspiring look at what it means to lead with both strength and softness.
About the Guest
Sarah Jones Simmer is a seasoned business leader and former Chief Operating Officer of Bumble, where she helped scale the brand to over 50 million users worldwide. With a background in investment and strategy consulting, Sarah has built her career around mission-driven leadership, global expansion, and empowering women in business.
Resources & Mentions
- Serena Williams x Bumble Super Bowl Campaign
- Adam Grant – Organizational Psychologist and Author
- Kolbe Profile (KOLBE A)
- TEDWomen Conference
Important Links
- Connect with Cameron: Website | LinkedIn
- Explore the COO Alliance - The World’s Leading Community for Seconds in Command
- Get Cameron’s book: Second in Command: Unleash the Power of Your COO Book
- Take his course: Invest In Your Leaders Online Course (Use promo code PODCAST10 before the end of the month for 10% off)
- Chat or video call with AI Cameron via Delphi
Note: This Fan Favorite episode is a recast of one of our most impactful interviews, still packed with insights for second-in-command leaders. Whether it’s your first listen or a revisit, there’s timeless value inside.
The Second in Command Podcast is an original production hosted by Cameron Herold. Brought to you by COO Alliance. Production and editing by Podcast Your Brand.
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Hey there, just a quick note before we dive in. |
| 0:02.6 | This is actually one of our older episodes, but we're bringing it back because it's one of the most downloaded ones we've ever released. |
| 0:08.5 | Clearly, it struck a chord with a lot of listeners, and I know there's so much value packed inside. |
| 0:13.5 | So whether you're hearing it for the first time or revisiting it, enjoy this fan favorite. |
| 0:18.2 | Early on in my journey introduced me to a handful of amazing men and women |
| 0:24.8 | who have played a role similar to mine as like a COO or a president or someone who's really |
| 0:29.6 | helping to bring a visionary founder's vision to life. And I feel like I get such wonderful |
| 0:35.0 | feedback and insights just from having mentor relationships like |
| 0:38.6 | that that helped me a bit understand the journey that I'm on and be more self-aware of moments |
| 0:44.7 | just like that that I was describing. |
| 0:51.4 | Welcome to the Second and Command podcast, produced by the C.O. Alliance and brought to you by its founder, Cameron Harold. |
| 1:00.0 | In the Second in Command podcast, we talk to top COOs who share the insights, strategies, and tactics that made them the chief behind the chief. |
| 1:09.2 | And now, here's your host, Cameron Herald. |
| 1:15.5 | Sarah Joan Simmer is the chief operating officer of Bumble, |
| 1:19.1 | the female first social networking app that brings kindness and respect |
| 1:23.0 | back into the dating and social introductions. |
| 1:25.4 | In her role, she oversees core business strategy, |
| 1:28.3 | growth, and marketing initiatives and facilitates the expansion of Bumble's rapidly growing |
| 1:33.0 | team headquartered in Austin, Texas with offices around the world. Sarah has spent her career |
| 1:37.6 | investing in, studying, and operating businesses. Sarah has done public speaking on topics ranging |
| 1:42.4 | from girls and women's rights in the future of ethical business as a master's in public policy from Northwestern University. |
| 1:49.1 | And she used to run marathons and has completed an Iron Man. |
... |
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