Bigger Isn’t Always Better - A VC Reality Check with David Mandel

Leadership Levers

Is bigger always better?

In this episode of Leadership Levers, we sit down with David Mandel, Managing Partner at Emerging Ventures Capital, to explore how culture, capital, and leadership collide in high-growth environments.

David shares his journey from aspiring AI researcher in the 1980s to serial entrepreneur and now venture investor - offering a rare, full-circle view of leadership evolution.

Having built and exited four underwriting and finance businesses, he’s experienced firsthand how culture can make or break a company, no matter how strong the financials.

His biggest lesson? “We allowed profits to come first.” David recounts a moment when rapid growth overwhelmed his team and degraded performance - serving as a cautionary tale for today’s “scale at all costs” startup mindset. The stress of tripling business volume without the capacity to support it became a cultural breaking point.

Now, as a venture capitalist, he advises founders to be intentional - question growth goals, hire people who match your values, and focus on execution over ego. His cultural formula is simple—but often overlooked: “Hire the best people, let them do their job, and get out of their way!"

Whether you’re scaling a startup or leading inside a mature organization, this episode challenges conventional thinking - and reminds us that sustainable growth starts with culture and people, not capital.

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Chapters

1. Meet David Mandel (00:00:00)

2. Culture is Everything (00:03:20)

3. Growth Problems and Profit Pitfalls (00:05:24)

4. Success Through Empowered People (00:08:54)

5. Episode Closing and Resources (00:10:09)