Ep. 490 - Lauren Antonoff - Cultivating a Thriving Culture for Sustainable Business Growth

Second in Command: The Chief Behind the Chief with Cameron Herold

In today's episode of the Second in Command podcast, co-host Sivana Brewer is joined by Lauren Antonoff, COO of Life360, a leading family safety and social networking business.

In this insightful conversation, Sivana and Lauren discuss the art of effective team management, focusing less on rigid reporting and more on meaningful outcomes. They explore how focusing on key results rather than micromanaging daily activities can drive better performance and foster a culture of trust. The discussion touches on how teams can prioritize what truly matters, making sure efforts align with the overall progress of the business.

You'll hear about the evolving role of technology in the workplace, particularly how new tools can empower rather than replace team members. There’s an emphasis on navigating change with openness and creativity, encouraging teams to see innovation as a way to amplify their strengths and take ownership of their work. Cultural values play a crucial role here, shaping how teams adapt to new challenges while staying true to their core mission.

This episode invites you to rethink leadership dynamics and encourages a mindset that combines strategic focus, technological adaptability, and authentic human connection.

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Enjoy!

In This Episode You'll Learn:

• Lauren's career journey, starting at Microsoft through an acquisition, where she was 'diagnosed' as a product manager. (2:30)

• The challenges of integrating the Tile app into Life360 and the decision to pull resources from a standalone product launch. (6:27)

• Lauren's experience of hiring a CMO and CTO to help manage the marketing functions and ensure accountability. (18:37)

• Why focusing on a few key areas and making disciplined choices to drive success is key to Life360's future growth. (25:38)

• Her approach to supporting leadership, including regular meetings and in-person gatherings to develop shared views and tackle problems together. (35:22)

• And much more...

Guest Bio:

Lauren Antonoff is the Chief Operating Officer of Life360, a leading family safety and social networking app. She brings decades of experience as a product and technology leader, known for driving growth through a focus on customer value, organizational alignment, and execution. Prior to joining Life360 in 2023, Lauren held senior executive roles at GoDaddy, where she led product and services development to empower small businesses. She also spent over 18 years at Microsoft, overseeing major initiatives such as SharePoint and Office 2007, and founded the Step Up Program to advance women in leadership. A former board member of Momentive, Lauren holds a BA in Rhetoric and Political Science from UC Berkeley and began her tech career through the acquisition of ResNova Software.

Resources:

Connect with Lauren: Website | LinkedIn

Connect with Cameron: Website | LinkedIn

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