Welcome to Episode 134 of the Built on Purpose Podcast, brought to you by Y Scouts.
Scaling a company fast can feel chaotic—but it doesn’t have to.
In this episode of the Built On Purpose Podcast, host Max Hansen talks with Christopher Kautz, COO of Zogics, about how he helped triple revenue during the pandemic while keeping culture strong and operations smooth.
Christopher shares how Zogics went fully remote, attracting top talent worldwide and using Slack to create genuine connection across time zones. He explains the systems, AI tools, and hiring strategies that allowed the team to grow without adding unnecessary headcount, plus the mindset shift leaders need when facing uncertainty.
From building trust with the CEO to navigating a tough inventory crunch, Christopher’s story is packed with lessons on scaling smart, investing in people, and leading with action.
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💡 Timestamps:
00:00 Navigating Chaos: The Role of a COO
02:13 The Shift to Remote Work: A Personal Journey
07:46 Cultural Fit: Finding the Right Team
12:30 Scaling Success: Embracing Remote Hiring
19:42 Challenges of a New Role: First Steps as COO
21:56 Explosive Growth: The Impact of Product Lines
23:30 Building Relationships: The CEO-COO Dynamic
26:19 Evolving Perspectives: From Daily Fire Drills to Strategic Vision
29:57 Investing in People: The Key to Organizational Growth
34:40 Navigating Challenges: Lessons from a Tough Year
37:02 Embracing Doubt: The Importance of Perseverance
41:52 Curiosity and Problem Solving: Keys to Success
44:09 Authenticity in Leadership: Staying True to Oneself
46:54 Final Thoughts: The Power of Action
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💡 What You’ll Learn:
- Remote work can strengthen company culture when trust and intentional communication are prioritized.
- Hiring globally opens access to ambitious, highly skilled talent that often outperforms local-only searches.
- Scaling successfully requires clear roles, strong systems, and the discipline to reduce unnecessary meetings.
- AI and automation amplify productivity—but only after solid processes are in place.
- Treating employees as long-term investments, not costs, drives loyalty and sustainable growth.
- Taking action, even when the next step isn’t obvious, is often better than waiting for the “perfect” plan.
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🔥 Memorable Quotes:
- ✨ “Even if you don’t know the perfect answer, keep moving forward. Action beats hesitation every time.” – Christopher Kautz
- ✨ “Culture is stronger when you trust great people and get out of their way.” – Christopher Kautz
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🔗 Resources:
🔗 Connect with Christopher Kautz
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ckautz/
- Company (Zogics): https://zogics.com/
YScouts Company Links:
- Website: https://yscouts.com/
- About Us: https://yscouts.com/about-us/
- Process Demo: https://yscouts.com/resources/
- Meet the Team: https://yscouts.com/meet-the-team/
- Free Book “Hiring on Purpose”: https://yscouts.com/hiring-on-purpose/
- Built on Purpose Podcast: https://yscouts.com/podcast/
- Blog: https://yscouts.com/blog/
- Contact: https://yscouts.com/contact/
Max Hansen (Y Scouts Founder):
- Profile: https://yscouts.com/max-hansen/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maxhansen
- Forbes HR Council: https://councils.forbes.com/profile/Max-Hansen-CEO-Y-Scouts/9d4bcbb0-c76f-41b5-aafd-ba0e0e30fdf0
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mhansen44/
YScouts Social Media & Channels:
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/y-scouts
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/yscouts/
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/Yscouts/
- X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/YScouts
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🎧 Listen the full episode on YouTube:
Link here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZas_N505DY
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Y Scouts is a leadership search firm that finds purpose-aligned and performance-proven leaders to help organizations achieve their missions faster. Ready to supercharge your leadership search and get the right person in your organization? Contact Y Scouts.
