A founder answers

How did Ethan Yong's role change as Umami Papi grew?

Year 5 is the first year Ethan feels like an actual CEO. The first few years he was very much in the weeds — in production, packing orders — even though the team had grown because a company can't be a one-man show. This year something switched and he realised the power of delegation and coaching.

The full answer

EY
Ethan Yong · Umami Papi
EP 20 · Founder and CEO, Umami Papi
Show notes ↗

Year 5 is the first year Ethan feels like an actual CEO. The first few years he was very much in the weeds — in production, packing orders — even though the team had grown because a company can't be a one-man show. This year something switched and he realised the power of delegation and coaching.

More from this episode

He'd built systems and processes from day one, but only in the past couple of years has he delegated them to junior staff. He now runs weekly check-ins with junior team members who report directly to him and have their own junior staff, empowering them to become better leaders. Referencing The Diary of a CEO, he agrees a CEO's job is predominantly recruiting — because "it's the people that grow the business."