Scaling Global Start Ups with Everett Cedarholm
Have you ever thought about living or working abroad? Considered joining an early stage start-up? Wondered if it makes sense to pursue graduate education in the age of AI?
If so, we have a great podcast conversation for you that covers all these topics and more!
In this season 3 episode 10 of Katy Hansell: The Impact Whisperer® podcast, High Growth Start-Up Builder & Operator, Everett Cedarholm shares the through line behind his career: a lifelong love of building things, from mechanical engineering and tinkering as a kid to consulting, startup operations, and assuming leadership roles at hyper-growth start-up Shipper in Indonesia. This podcast conversation follows how he moved from advising to doing, why he chose an emerging markets startup, what he learned about scaling teams, processes, and profitability, and why he is now seeking roles in Industrial tech companies leveraging AI.
We also discuss why MBA programs need to treat AI as a core skill rather than an elective, what it means to become a power user, and why the current moment is especially exciting for builders. Everett holds an MBA from INSEAD and a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Duke University. He has professional experience with Accenture, was an Alter Fellow, and held several leadership roles at Shipper, based in Jakarta.
Creator/ Host Katy Hansell aka The Impact Whisperer®, is a globally recognized (Top 10), award-winning expert impact coach, strategic advisor to founders, and Board Director, known for guiding 500+ clients across 3 continents to make the impact they care about.
Check out our podcast up on all the pod platforms and well into season 3, Katy Hansell: The Impact Whisperer® podcast!
We feature top global voices, established and emerging Gen-Z leaders who share how they advocate and activate for the people, causes, and communities that have captured their hearts!
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Everett Cedarholm
02:45 Everett’s Moment of Impact
05:45 From Consulting to Building: Finding Work That Feels Meaningful
08:12 How Mechanical Engineering Shaped Everett's Career
11:17 Why Everett Wanted to Work Abroad
13:10 What Is the Alter Global Fellowship?
15:30 Landing in Jakarta: What Happened on Day One?
18:10 Adjusting to Life in Jakarta & Indonesia's Startup Scene
20:06 Shipper: Building a Logistics Startup in Indonesia
25:07 What Is Third-Party Logistics?
27:17 Scaling Shipper: Creating Structure From Chaos
29:37 From Six Months to a Startup Career
35:27 Making a Fast-Growing Startup Profitable
36:36 Lessons From Working Abroad & Scaling a Startup
40:56 The Motorcycle Trip Across Indonesia
43:42 Is an MBA Worth It in the Age of AI?
45:36 Why Is AI Still an Elective in Business School?
48:44 How to Actually Learn & Build With AI
50:05 What Gives Everett Hope?
51:27 Closing Remarks