In an insightful episode of 'Between Two COOs,' host Michael Koenig converses with Aidan Mirzaee, the founder and CEO of Fellow, about the art and science of optimizing meetings. The discussion dives into the staggering statistics of daily meetings in the U.S., the inception of Fellow as a product to optimize structured management processes, and Shopify's drastic measure to save hundreds of thousands of hours by canceling recurring meetings. Reflecting on personal experiences, Aidan shares his journey from managing a scrappy startup to embracing structured management processes post-acquisition by SurveyMonkey, leading to the realization that optimizing meetings is crucial for managerial efficiency. The conversation also touches on implementing Fellow at scale within companies like Shopify, the importance of action items in meetings, and the balance between meeting frequency and productivity. Additionally, they explore the role of AI in enhancing meeting efficiency and safeguarding proprietary information while fostering innovation. Aidan shares insights from leading Fellow, emphasizing the need for adaptable management styles, fostering company culture, and the transformative potential of AI in business processes. A lively discussion ensues about the uniqueness of remote meetings and the value of asynchronous communication. This episode not only provides a deep dive into the world of meetings and management but also offers actionable insights for leaders aiming to optimize their team's time and effectiveness.