Scaling Smart: Strategies for Startup Growth & Leadership with Candice Elsmore-Ep 17

Scaling a startup is no easy feat. From navigating operational challenges to making strategic financial decisions, founders and leaders often find themselves overwhelmed by the complexity of growth. That’s why I was excited to sit down with Candice Elsmore, a seasoned financial expert who has not only built and sold businesses but also advised scale-ups across multiple industries.

In this episode of the IJK Podcast, Candice shares her unique insights from a career that has spanned investment banking at Goldman Sachs, leading high-performing teams, and driving strategic growth for companies in fast-paced markets. She has lived and worked on three continents, giving her a truly global perspective on what it takes to scale successfully.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• How to scale a startup and why some businesses fail to make the leap.
• How to build a strong operational foundation that supports rapid growth without chaos.
• Hiring and leadership strategies Candice used to manage a team of 100 and drive business success.
• Lessons from scaling and selling an advisory business – what founders should know before taking that step.
• The role of strategic advisory in today’s startup ecosystem, especially in the UAE and the Middle East.

Whether you're an entrepreneur looking to scale or an operator navigating high-growth challenges, this episode is packed with actionable insights you won’t want to miss.

Speak soon,
IJK