Louis Gump joins us in the Sky Lounge to explore a question every founder and executive faces eventually: what happens after the acquisition? In this candid conversation, Louis shares how he helped build the mobile business at CNN.com, led digital transformation at The Weather Channel, and became the steady hand guiding post-acquisition innovation at startups and growth-stage companies alike.
We unpack the differences between entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs, what makes someone thrive inside a big company post-acquisition, and how timing and self-awareness shape every meaningful career move. Louis also discusses the importance of clarity in strategy, the value of not rushing change, and why keeping founders involved after a deal often leads to better outcomes.
Louis is also the author of The Inside Innovator, a practical guide to driving innovation from within established companies — ideal for leaders navigating post-acquisition roles or scaling without the founder title.
Whether you’re scaling, selling, or staying to build the next chapter — this episode will meet you at the crossroads.
ABOUT OUR GUEST:
Partner in the Executive Operations Practice of TechCXO
Author of ""The Inside Innovator: A Practical Guide to Intrapreneurship"" available at booksellers and here: https://louisgump.com/
Experienced executive with a demonstrated track record of success in the media industry on multiple platforms. Skilled in Digital Strategy, Innovation, Local Media, Multiplatform Content and Advertising, Connected TV, Mobile Media and Marketing, Management, and Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A). Strong business development professional with an MBA focused on General Management and Leadership.
CONTACT:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/louisgump/
Site: https://louisgump.com/
What is THE SKY LOUNGE?
Tales from the Sky Lounge takes you on a journey through business, consulting, and venture investing, hearing stories from the entrepreneurs, consultants, and investors shaping these industries.
ABOUT OUR HOST:
Todd Merrill is an experienced software executive who typically assists clients as a fractional or interim CTO and CiSO as a partner at TechCXO.
He has served in a series of companies as a C-Level executive focused on leveraging the Cloud to bring SaaS offerings to market. As an entrepreneur, turn-around expert, technology and product leader, and mentor, Todd has held full corporate P&L and product development responsibilities and directed diverse international teams of Engineering Managers, Mobile Architects, Developers, Dev Ops, QA, and Customer Success professionals.
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Production/Design: James Liebman
Music: Soundstripe/Cody Martin-Sunrise
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