Power Moves: Guru’s lifecycle engagement director departs with culture lessons in tow

Power Moves is a column where we chart the comings and goings of talent across the region. Got a new hire, gig or promotion? Email us: philly@technical.ly.

Anderson was leading the team responsible for scaling the SaaS company’s customer base and keeping them engaged, he told Technical.ly this week. In 2020, he also co-created the solidarity guild, designed to create a more inclusive and equitable employee experience for Guru employees.

Anderson said he was drawn to Guru nearly five years ago because of the problem that it solves — having trusted internal company knowledge right in your workflow. The problem resonated with him, and believing in the product and market sold him on the company. The team and investment in culture and DEI work was also a draw.

So, what did he learn during that time? While at the Center City and San Francisco co-headquartered company, Anderson gathered a few important takeaways: chiefly, that a strong culture positively impacts so many facets of the business.

“The culture at Guru was top notch, and it took continued, deliberate investment and focus to make it feel authentic and integrated into decision making, processes, rituals, and day to day work,” Anderson said.

He added that digital customer success, including things like customer education, lifecycle marketing, and community, can help with retention and expansion. Plus, when managers consistently show trust and support, employees can do their best work.

In a LinkedIn post, he expressed gratitude for his “Community Learning & Love” team, and for all that he’s learned in the more than four years at the company. Next steps for Anderson include some “time to rest and recharge” before he explores some executive leadership opportunities.

“I’m excited to move onto an executive leadership role, where I can help an early stage company scale up through building out retention and expansion teams and programs,” Anderson said.

Shapiro named Philly biz leaders to his transition team

As January nears, Governor-elect Josh Shapiro has been building his executive team, and recently named some prominent Philadelphia business leaders to his transition boards. His Transition Leadership Board will be chaired by William Sasso, chairman emeritus of Philly-based law firm Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, where Shapiro spent 11 years of his career, the Philadelphia Business Journal reported.

Other Philly-area members appointed to the transition board include Gregory E. Deavens, president and CEO of Independence Health Group; Ryan Boyer, business manager of the Philadelphia Building and Construction Trades Council; and Jannie K. Lau, a lawyer and retired tech exec. They’re joined by Charisse Lillie, CEO of CRL Consulting and the former assistant US attorney on the US District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, and Michelle Singer, SVP for political engagement at Comcast.

Shapiro has also appointed a handful of Philly folks to his Transition Personnel Committee, which will recruit, review and recommend top talent to the governor-elect and his senior team. Local appointees are:

• Madeline Bell, president and CEO of Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
• Robert Fox, managing partner at environmental and energy law firm Manko Gold Katcher & Fox
• Joseph Hill, senior principal at Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies
• Susan Jacobson, president at Jacobson Strategic Communications
• Jerry Johnson, president and CEO of Axum Advisors
• Lauren Lambrugo, COO of Public Health Management Corp.
• Joseph Neubauer, former CEO of Aramark
• James D. Schultz, partner at Holland & Knight’s Philadelphia office
• Judith M. von Seldeneck, founder and chair of Diversified Search Group

Intention.ly acquired C-Suite Social Media

Fractional CMO service Intention.ly has made an acquisition: C-Suite Social Media, an all-in-one digital marketing and social media agency supporting the financial services sector.

The move brings in C-Suite CEO Tina Powell to Intention.ly’s leadership team, allowing the combined firm to drive accelerated growth for its businesses across the financial services and financial technology industries, per a company announcement. Powell will become Intention.ly’s chief growth officer and a partner at the firm.

“The synergy between our firms is electric,” said cofounder Kelly Waltrich, formerly of eMoney Advisor and Orion, in a statement. “I couldn’t be more excited to join forces with Tina and C-Suite Social Media. Combining our teams furthers our ability to turn marketing into a key revenue driver for the firms we serve. It also opens new avenues for tremendous innovation and creativity, including influencer marketing opportunities, podcast and video production services, social media engagement and more.”

Forbes 30 Under 30 + Time’s Best Inventions

Philly’s tech and business scene were represented in two major best-of lists recently.

Forbes released its annual 30 under 30 list Tuesday, with some representation from local folks. In the Social Impact category, find 29-year-old Jamie Norwood, cofounder of reproductive healthtech startup Stix. The company’s raised more than $7 million, and launched a donation bank for morning-after pills in the wake of the overturning of Roe v. Wade.

Carbon Reform cofounders Jo Norris and Nick Martin, both 28, were also honored in the Social Impact category for their technology to remove carbon from the air. The 2022 RealLLIST Startups honoree for Delaware recently relocated from Wilmington to Philadelphia and today announced the close of a $3 million seed round.

And Sixers player Joel Embiid, 28, made the list in the sports category, along with his MVP status in back-to-back seasons. Next season he will begin a four-year, $196 million contract extension with the Sixers, a deal the negotiated himself: “Whatever I want, I’m going to get it,” he said.

Elsewhere in national media kudos, medical device company Neuralert was named to Time magazine’s list of the best inventions of 2022. The stroke detection device was among 200 life-changing innovations highlighted by the publication this month.

Did we miss anyone local on either list? Let us know: philly@technical.ly.