Sam Palazzolo, Growth Expert in Las Vegas, United States
Sam Palazzolo

Growth Expert in Las Vegas, United States

Member since June 15, 2022
Sam is a change expert with 20+ years of experience at Deloitte and AON Change Management consulting, working with leaders looking to scale their businesses from startups to +$1 billion. He leads change initiatives with a collaborative leadership style, proactive approach, and ability to translate complex concepts into tangible plans. Sam enjoys freelancing as an opportunity to provide leaders with tactical considerations to inspire, build trust, and achieve record growth.
Sam is now available for hire

Education

Select Certifications

Case studies

  • Implementation and Execution Example
    Implementation and Execution Example
  • Change Dashboard Example
    Change Dashboard Example
  • Change Management Tracker Example
    Change Management Tracker Example

Expertise

  • Business Consulting
  • Business Management
  • Marketing
  • Organizational Design
  • Sales
  • Strategic Planning & Execution
  • Strategy

Employment

  • Managing Director and Founder

    2012 - PRESENT
    Tip of the Spear Ventures
    • Formed private equity and venture capital with 50% venture and 50% consulting firm. Venture activities include startup venture funding, business funding consulting, and M&A. Consulting focuses on digital business transformation and change management.
    • Participated in numerous pitch events resulting in no less than two yearly investments acting as smart money.
    • Consulting engagement for P&L of $500 million and 400+ global teams resulted in 400% revenue growth. Heavy sales and marketing focus for Fortune 500 through SMB technology industry clientele.
    • Raised $25 million for a turnaround business venture. Conducted over 150 webinars and eLearning sessions during the pandemic, resulting in zero client loss. Acted as a board of directors member for a finance SME Veroplane.
    Focus areas: Early-stage Venture Capital, Consulting, Business Consulting, Strategic Planning & Execution, Digital Transformation, Omnichannel Marketing, Customer Experience, Digital Strategy, Business Strategy, Management Consulting, Innovation, Design, Compensation Plans, Sales Compensation, Change Management, Agile, Product Strategy, Documentation, Sales Funnel, Tech Sales, Growth Strategy, Business Development, Business Transformation, Luxury Goods, Cosmetics, Consumer Products, Corporate, People Management, Personal Care, Go-to-market Strategy, Product-market Fit, Business Partnerships, Partnerships, Startups, Brand Strategy, Strategic Partnerships, Pricing, Customer Lifetime Value, Technology, Value Proposition, Blockchain, Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT), Market Opportunity Analysis, Product Marketing, Product Branding, Branding, Market Sizing, Market Segmentation, Customer Segmentation, Marketing Leadership, Chief Marketing Officer (CMO), Marketing Strategy, Digital Marketing Strategy, Mobile User Acquisition, Mobile, B2C, Business to Consumer (B2C), Brand Positioning, Growth Hacking, Digital Branding, Growth Marketing, Brand Management, Program Management, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), System Integration, Enterprise Software, Business Planning, Board Presentations, Business Plan Consulting, Business Models, Organizational Change Management (OCM), IT Operations, Global Operations, Investment Banking, Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), Fundraising, Fintech, M&A Strategy, Cross-border M&A, Global Banking, Banking & Finance, Financial Services, Pricing Consulting, Telehealth, Market Research, Leadership, CEO, Trading Systems, Trading, Quantitative Risk Analysis, Quantitative Analysis, Quantitative Finance, Apps, Product Development, Financial Modeling, Operating Models, Target Operating Models, Go-to-market Plans, Product Launch, Mobile Apps, Lead Generation, Wireless Systems, Forecasting, Revenue & Expense Projections, United States, Business Cases, Analysis, Business Analysis, Large-scale Projects, Looker, Tableau, Marketplaces, Data Analysis, Health & Wellness, Wellness, Sales Strategy, eCommerce, Chief Operations Officer (COO), Business Operations, COO, Financial Management, Public Relations (PR), Public Speaking, Blockchain & Cryptocurrency, Decentralized Finance (DeFi), Web3.js, Growth Strategy Consultants, SaaS, SWOT Analysis, Budgeting, Fantasy Sports, Sports, Marketing Mix, Market Research & Analysis, Market Research Analyst, Stakeholder Mapping, Marketo, Total Addressable Market (TAM), Price Positioning, Competitor Analysis & Profiling, Software, Human Resources (HR), HR Tools, Sales & Channel Enablement, Client Relationship Management, Sales & Marketing, Market Entry, New Business Development, B2B Lead Generation, Deal Closure, Pricing Strategy, Pricing Models, Pricing Plans, Startup Funding, Fundraising Strategy, Fundraising Consultant, Pitch Decks, Venture Capital, Sales Forecasting, Sales Forecast Management, Sales Growth, Business Modeling, New Product Rollout, Investor Presentations, Pitch Deck Consultant, Storytelling, Debt Raises, Data Visualization, Pitch Presentations, Debt, Equity, Valuation, Equity Capital, Social Media, Cloud Computing, Enterprise SaaS, Software as a Service (SaaS), 3D Modeling
  • Adjunct Professor

    2008 - PRESENT
    University of Nevada Las Vegas
    • Taught graduate school's leadership course from my 5th book, "Leading at the Tip of the Spear: The Leader," published in 2018.
    • Instructed at Ashford University, from 2008 to 2018, on courses in Finance, Accounting, Human Resources, Economics, Organization Development, Change Management, Marketing, Leadership, and Strategy.
    • Contributed to two university textbooks on leadership and management.
    Focus areas: Finance, Accounting, Human Resources (HR), Economics, Organizational Development, Change Management, Marketing, Leadership, Strategy, Business Strategy, Innovation, Compensation Plans, Sales Compensation, Growth Strategy, Business Development, Business Transformation, Luxury Goods, Consumer Products, Corporate, People Management, Personal Care, Go-to-market Strategy, Product-market Fit, Business Partnerships, Partnerships, Startups, Brand Strategy, Strategic Partnerships, Pricing, Customer Lifetime Value, Value Proposition, Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT), Market Opportunity Analysis, Product Marketing, Product Branding, Branding, Market Sizing, Market Segmentation, Customer Segmentation, Chief Marketing Officer (CMO), Marketing Leadership, Marketing Strategy, Digital Marketing Strategy, Mobile User Acquisition, Mobile, B2C, Business to Consumer (B2C), Brand Positioning, Growth Hacking, Digital Branding, Growth Marketing, Brand Management, Program Management, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), System Integration, Enterprise Software, Business Planning, Board Presentations, Business Plan Consulting, Business Models, Organizational Change Management (OCM), IT Operations, Global Operations, Investment Banking, Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), Fundraising, Fintech, M&A Strategy, Cross-border M&A, Global Banking, Banking & Finance, Financial Services, Pricing Consulting, Market Research, Trading Systems, Quantitative Risk Analysis, Quantitative Analysis, Quantitative Finance, Product Development, Financial Modeling, Operating Models, Target Operating Models, Go-to-market Plans, Product Launch, Lead Generation, Wireless Systems, Forecasting, Revenue & Expense Projections, United States, Business Cases, Analysis, Business Analysis, Large-scale Projects, Tableau, Marketplaces, Data Analysis, Health & Wellness, Wellness, Sales Strategy, eCommerce, Chief Operations Officer (COO), Business Operations, COO, Financial Management, Public Relations (PR), Public Speaking, Blockchain & Cryptocurrency, Decentralized Finance (DeFi), Web3.js, Growth Strategy Consultants, SaaS, SWOT Analysis, Budgeting, Fantasy Sports, Sports, Marketing Mix, Market Research & Analysis, Market Research Analyst, Stakeholder Mapping, Marketo, Total Addressable Market (TAM), Price Positioning, Competitor Analysis & Profiling, Software, HR Tools, Sales & Channel Enablement, Client Relationship Management, Sales & Marketing, Market Entry, New Business Development, B2B Lead Generation, Deal Closure, Pricing Strategy, Pricing Models, Pricing Plans, Startup Funding, Fundraising Strategy, Fundraising Consultant, Pitch Decks, Venture Capital, Sales Forecasting, Sales Forecast Management, Sales Growth, Business Modeling, New Product Rollout, Investor Presentations, Pitch Deck Consultant, Storytelling, Debt Raises, Data Visualization, Pitch Presentations, Debt, Equity, Valuation, Equity Capital, Social Media, Cloud Computing, Enterprise SaaS, Software as a Service (SaaS), 3D Modeling
  • Senior Consultant

    2019 - 2022
    Deloitte
    • Contributed to several consulting engagements that focus on sales, marketing, operations, and finance with a background spanning multi-industries as well as manufacturing, wholesale, distribution, and retail.
    • Operated in fast-paced business dynamic to architect consulting engagement, achieve client buy-in, and execute activities resulting in revenue improvements of 150%, expense decreases of 25%, and overall gross profit of 8–10x.
    • Architected customer satisfaction initiatives that led to 50% improvement, 10+ NPS (approaching 80), over 20% customer retention, and more than 200% customer advocacy.
    Focus areas: Consulting, Digital Transformation, Omnichannel Marketing, Customer Experience, Digital Strategy, Business Strategy, Management Consulting, Innovation, Design, Compensation Plans, Sales Compensation, Change Management, Agile, Product Strategy, Documentation, Sales Funnel, Tech Sales, Growth Strategy, Business Development, Business Transformation, Luxury Goods, Consumer Products, Corporate, People Management, Personal Care, Go-to-market Strategy, Product-market Fit, Business Partnerships, Partnerships, Startups, Brand Strategy, Strategic Partnerships, Pricing, Customer Lifetime Value, Technology, Value Proposition, Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT), Market Opportunity Analysis, Product Marketing, Product Branding, Branding, Market Sizing, Market Segmentation, Customer Segmentation, Marketing Leadership, Chief Marketing Officer (CMO), Marketing Strategy, Digital Marketing Strategy, Mobile User Acquisition, Mobile, B2C, Business to Consumer (B2C), Brand Positioning, Growth Hacking, Digital Branding, Growth Marketing, Brand Management, Program Management, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), System Integration, Enterprise Software, Business Planning, Board Presentations, Business Plan Consulting, Business Models, Organizational Change Management (OCM), IT Operations, Global Operations, Investment Banking, Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), Fintech, M&A Strategy, Cross-border M&A, Global Banking, Banking & Finance, Financial Services, Pricing Consulting, Telehealth, Market Research, Leadership, Trading, Quantitative Risk Analysis, Quantitative Analysis, Quantitative Finance, Apps, Product Development, Financial Modeling, Operating Models, Target Operating Models, Go-to-market Plans, Product Launch, Mobile Apps, Lead Generation, Wireless Systems, Forecasting, Revenue & Expense Projections, United States, Business Cases, Analysis, Business Analysis, Large-scale Projects, Looker, Tableau, Marketplaces, Data Analysis, Health & Wellness, Wellness, Sales Strategy, eCommerce, Chief Operations Officer (COO), Business Operations, COO, Financial Management, Public Relations (PR), Public Speaking, Decentralized Finance (DeFi), Web3.js, Growth Strategy Consultants, SaaS, SWOT Analysis, Budgeting, Fantasy Sports, Sports, Marketing Mix, Market Research & Analysis, Market Research Analyst, Stakeholder Mapping, Marketo, Total Addressable Market (TAM), Price Positioning, Competitor Analysis & Profiling, Software, Human Resources (HR), HR Tools, Sales & Channel Enablement, Client Relationship Management, Sales & Marketing, Market Entry, New Business Development, B2B Lead Generation, Deal Closure, Pricing Strategy, Pricing Models, Pricing Plans, Startup Funding, Fundraising Strategy, Fundraising Consultant, Pitch Decks, Venture Capital, Sales Forecasting, Sales Forecast Management, Sales Growth, Business Modeling, New Product Rollout, Investor Presentations, Pitch Deck Consultant, Storytelling, Debt Raises, Data Visualization, Pitch Presentations, Debt, Equity, Valuation, Equity Capital, Social Media, Cloud Computing, Enterprise SaaS, Software as a Service (SaaS), 3D Modeling
  • Chief Operations Officer | Chief Revenue Officer

    2011 - 2013
    Connect
    • Recruited to help lead a new SaaS and edtech startup. Raised $8 million in funding through successful board of directors venture pitches. Led onsite and virtual team of 50+ activities from launch through successful PE exit.
    • Architected sales strategy, managed sales cycle, collaborated with sales and SDR teams on sales presentations and proposals, and contributed to planning execution resulting in accelerated sales from $0 to $1.5 million.
    • Leveraged the Lean Startup methodology in service offering development, operational technology implementation, and continuous improvement initiatives. Architected and executed strategic pivots accordingly.
    • Communicated digital product scope and objectives, provided information about the Connect business, organizational and cultural situation, and overcame challenges associated with the board of directors, internal staff, and platform membership.
    • Assisted in post-merger integration efforts with existing private equity portfolio holding company prior to exit.
    Focus areas: Lean Startups, Startup Funding, Startup Growth Strategy Development, Sales, Marketing, Operations, Customer Experience, Business Strategy, Management Consulting, Innovation, Design, Compensation Plans, Sales Compensation, Change Management, Agile, Product Strategy, Sales Funnel, Tech Sales, Growth Strategy, Business Development, Corporate, People Management, Go-to-market Strategy, Product-market Fit, Business Partnerships, Partnerships, Startups, Brand Strategy, Strategic Partnerships, Pricing, Customer Lifetime Value, Technology, Value Proposition, Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT), Market Opportunity Analysis, Product Marketing, Product Branding, Branding, Market Sizing, Market Segmentation, Customer Segmentation, Marketing Leadership, Chief Marketing Officer (CMO), Marketing Strategy, Digital Marketing Strategy, Mobile User Acquisition, Mobile, B2C, Business to Consumer (B2C), Brand Positioning, Growth Hacking, Digital Branding, Growth Marketing, Brand Management, Program Management, Enterprise Software, Business Planning, Board Presentations, Business Plan Consulting, Business Models, Organizational Change Management (OCM), IT Operations, Global Operations, Investment Banking, Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), Fundraising, Fintech, M&A Strategy, Cross-border M&A, Global Banking, Banking & Finance, Financial Services, Pricing Consulting, Market Research, Leadership, Quantitative Risk Analysis, Quantitative Analysis, Quantitative Finance, Apps, Product Development, Financial Modeling, Operating Models, Target Operating Models, Go-to-market Plans, Product Launch, Lead Generation, Wireless Systems, Forecasting, Revenue & Expense Projections, United States, Business Cases, Analysis, Business Analysis, Large-scale Projects, Marketplaces, Data Analysis, Health & Wellness, Wellness, Sales Strategy, eCommerce, Chief Operations Officer (COO), Business Operations, COO, Financial Management, Public Relations (PR), Public Speaking, Decentralized Finance (DeFi), Web3.js, Growth Strategy Consultants, SaaS, SWOT Analysis, Budgeting, Fantasy Sports, Sports, Marketing Mix, Market Research & Analysis, Market Research Analyst, Total Addressable Market (TAM), Price Positioning, Competitor Analysis & Profiling, Software, Human Resources (HR), HR Tools, Sales & Channel Enablement, Client Relationship Management, Sales & Marketing, Market Entry, New Business Development, B2B Lead Generation, Deal Closure, Pricing Strategy, Pricing Models, Pricing Plans, Fundraising Strategy, Fundraising Consultant, Pitch Decks, Venture Capital, Sales Forecasting, Sales Forecast Management, Sales Growth, Business Modeling, New Product Rollout, Investor Presentations, Pitch Deck Consultant, Storytelling, Debt Raises, Data Visualization, Pitch Presentations, Debt, Equity, Valuation, Equity Capital, Social Media, Cloud Computing, Enterprise SaaS, Software as a Service (SaaS), 3D Modeling
  • CEO | President | Founding Partner

    2005 - 2011
    Pathos Leadership Group LLC
    • Founded a sales and marketing consultancy. Conducted B2B, B2C, and B2G business development and delivery efforts for a 21-person firm with scientific research and results-oriented programs developed at Toyota and Harvard to client organizations.
    • Consulted client organizations throughout the world, with industries from Fortune 500 to SMB technology (software and hardware), healthcare, finance (banking, investments, and insurance), government (federal and state), and technology (INC 500).
    • Formulated sales and marketing strategy, business development, and delivery of consulting engagements. Acted as a general manager and platform director in a retail automotive setting, overseeing a 300+ salesperson organization.
    Focus areas: Sales, Marketing, Change Management, Change Leadership, Organizational Change Management (OCM), Digital, Forecasting, Revenue & Expense Projections, United States, Business Cases, Analysis, Business Analysis, Large-scale Projects, Marketplaces, Data Analysis, Wellness, Sales Strategy, Chief Operations Officer (COO), Business Operations, COO, Financial Management, Public Relations (PR), Public Speaking, Decentralized Finance (DeFi), Growth Strategy Consultants, SWOT Analysis, Budgeting, Sports, Marketing Mix, Market Research, Market Research & Analysis, Market Research Analyst, Price Positioning, Competitor Analysis & Profiling, Human Resources (HR), HR Tools, Sales & Channel Enablement, Client Relationship Management, Sales & Marketing, Market Entry, New Business Development, B2B Lead Generation, Deal Closure, Pricing Strategy, Pricing Models, Pricing Plans, Startup Funding, Fundraising Strategy, Fundraising Consultant, Pitch Decks, Venture Capital, Sales Forecasting, Sales Forecast Management, Sales Growth, Business Modeling, New Product Rollout, Investor Presentations, Pitch Deck Consultant, Storytelling, Debt Raises, Data Visualization, Pitch Presentations, Debt, Equity, Valuation, Equity Capital, Social Media, Cloud Computing, Enterprise SaaS, Software as a Service (SaaS), 3D Modeling
  • Regional Sales Manager | Retail Development Manager | District Sales Manager

    1999 - 2005
    Toyota Motor Sales USA
    • Recognized as a "High Potential" employee, assisted in implementing Continuous Improvement (TQM/TFM) philosophies in Toyota Retail Sales network.
    • Improved results in Sales Volume, Sales Gross Profit, Marketing Effectiveness, and Franchise Dealer satisfaction, retention, and advocacy. Collaborated with Corporate Leadership through retail leadership and personnel.
    • Assisted in positioning Toyota as the premier automotive organization in the industry.
    Focus areas: Accounting, Sales, Field Sales, Fieldwork, Field Service Management, Marketing, Advertising, Operations, IT, Forecasting, Revenue & Expense Projections, United States, Analysis, Business Analysis, Large-scale Projects, Marketplaces, Data Analysis, Sales Strategy, COO, Financial Management, Public Relations (PR), Public Speaking, Growth Strategy Consultants, SWOT Analysis, Budgeting, Sports, Marketing Mix, Market Research, Market Research & Analysis, Market Research Analyst, Price Positioning, Competitor Analysis & Profiling, Human Resources (HR), Client Relationship Management, Sales & Marketing, Market Entry, New Business Development, B2B Lead Generation, Deal Closure, Pricing Strategy, Pricing Models, Pricing Plans, Sales Forecasting, Sales Forecast Management, Sales Growth, Business Modeling, New Product Rollout, Pitch Deck Consultant, Pitch Presentations
  • Senior Change Consultant

    1995 - 1998
    Aon
    • Assigned to Fortune 500 retail clients to increase profitability, productivity, and customer satisfaction. Provided strategic direction for creating and implementing large-scale change management engagement across client organizations.
    • Improved results in sales volume, sales gross profit, marketing effectiveness, and organization satisfaction, retention, and advocacy.
    • Collaborated with corporate leadership through client field leadership and personnel. Assisted in positioning the primary client as the premier organization in their industry.
    Focus areas: Change Management, Change Leadership, Organizational Change Management (OCM), Change of Control, Revenue & Expense Projections, United States, Business Cases, Analysis, Business Analysis, Large-scale Projects, Marketplaces, Data Analysis, Health & Wellness, Wellness, Sales Strategy, Business Operations, COO, Financial Management, Decentralized Finance (DeFi), Growth Strategy Consultants, SaaS, SWOT Analysis, Budgeting, Sports, Marketing Mix, Market Research, Market Research & Analysis, Market Research Analyst, Price Positioning, Competitor Analysis & Profiling, Sales & Channel Enablement, Sales & Marketing, Market Entry, Pricing Strategy, Pricing Models, Pricing Plans, Startup Funding, Fundraising Strategy, Fundraising Consultant, Pitch Decks, Venture Capital, Sales Forecasting, Sales Forecast Management, Sales Growth, Business Modeling, New Product Rollout, Data Visualization, Equity, Valuation, Equity Capital, Social Media, Cloud Computing, Enterprise SaaS, Software as a Service (SaaS), 3D Modeling

Education

  • Master of Business Administration Degree in Accounting and Operations Management
    1990 - 1992
    Vanderbilt University - Nashville, TN, USA
  • Bachelor's Degree in Business Economics and Public Policy
    1986 - 1989
    Indiana University - Bloomington, IN, USA

Certifications

  • Digital Marketing Strategies: Data, Automation, AI and Analytics Certification
    DECEMBER 2021 - PRESENT
    Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University
  • Business Funding Strategies Certification
    JANUARY 2021 - PRESENT
    University of London
  • Sales Negotiations Certification
    JULY 2014 - PRESENT
    University of Michigan
  • Executive Coaching Certification
    MAY 2006 - PRESENT
    University of Texas at Austin

To view more profiles

Join Toptal
Share it with others