Advisory & Strategy

I help companies grow.

Former public company CEO. Helped grow a startup from $20M to $2B. Led a national nonprofit through a turnaround. Now I advise a small number of leaders on the decisions that drive growth and execution.

Start a Conversation How I Work
$20M → $2B
Revenue growth as operator
CEO & COO
Public company leadership
McKesson
Successful acquisition exit
WWP
Turnaround after national crisis
How I Work

This isn't a volume business.

I work closely with a small number of leaders at a time on strategy, growth, and execution. The kind of decisions that change outcomes.

No programs. No packaged frameworks. No hype. Just experience and straight answers.

If you want direct, hands-on partnership, we're probably a fit. If not, completely understood.

Leading Growth Ventures
About

Built companies.
Not theories.

I joined a $20M startup at ground level and worked through every level of leadership as it grew to $2B in revenue.

I became COO, then CEO of a public company. We eventually sold to McKesson, and I stayed on as COO through the transition.

I later served as Chief Development and Marketing Officer at Wounded Warrior Project, helping lead an organizational turnaround during a challenging period. Different environments. Same work. Clear thinking. Hard decisions. Steady execution.

I didn't learn growth from theory. I learned it in the field.

Now I advise companies and boards facing the same questions I spent decades working through.

Joined a $20M startup at ground level
Worked through every level of leadership
Helped grow the business to $2B in revenue
Became COO, then CEO of a public company
Led successful sale to McKesson
Served as COO post-acquisition
Served as CDMO for Wounded Warrior Project and led turnaround after national media crisis
Now advise companies and boards on growth, strategy, and execution
Advisory Work

Real problems.
Practical answers.

Most companies don't lack ideas. They lack clarity and discipline. Too many priorities. Too little clarity about what drives growth.

I help leaders narrow the field, decide what matters, and follow through. With judgment and experience, not just presentations.

Growth Prioritization

Figuring out where your real growth will come from. Then building a plan you can actually execute.

Execution & Operations

You have a strategy. It's not happening fast enough. I help identify what's slowing you down and fix it, whether that's priorities, people, or process.

Leadership & Team

The right people in the right seats doing the right work. I help leaders get honest about their team, their own strengths, and the gaps that need filling.

Board Advisory

I serve on boards where I can contribute meaningfully to growth and execution. Growth-stage companies and PE-backed businesses that need an operator's perspective.

M&A & Integration

I've been on both sides of the table. I help companies think through acquisitions, divestitures, and the hard work of integration that follows.

Turnaround & Crisis Leadership

When an organization is under pressure, publicly or privately, the work is different. I've led a turnaround under national media scrutiny. I help leaders stabilize, refocus, and rebuild trust.

Healthcare, Nonprofit & Distribution

Deep experience in healthcare services, mission-driven organizations, and distribution businesses. I understand the economics, regulations, and operational realities of these sectors.

Who I work with

CEOs and founders who are past the startup phase and facing real scaling decisions. Private equity operators who need experienced counsel. Family-owned businesses navigating growth or transition. Healthcare and distribution leaders dealing with complexity.

Speaking

Talks from the field.

I speak a handful of times each year when there's a strong fit. These aren't canned programs or packaged workshops. They're practical, experience-based talks drawn from building and leading companies.

Every talk is tailored to the audience. I spend time understanding who's in the room and what they're dealing with. Then I share what I've learned, plainly and directly.

Growth Discipline

Growth Multipliers

Why strengths fail alone and how complementary leadership drives scale

Senior teams rarely fail because they lack talent. They struggle when strengths are overused and left unbalanced. This talk introduces the Growth Multipliers framework and shows how pairing complementary behaviors unlocks performance without diluting intensity.

Ideal for executive teams and boards navigating scale

Pruning to Grow

Why stopping the wrong work is the hardest and most profitable decision

Growth is not additive. It is subtractive. The companies that scale are disciplined about what they stop doing. This talk focuses on focus, trade-offs, and the courage to remove complexity before it removes you.

Designed for CEOs and leadership teams under margin pressure

Execution Over Theory

Why good strategies collapse and what disciplined execution actually looks like

Strategy is easier to discuss than to execute. Execution requires alignment, accountability, and follow-through. This talk outlines the operating disciplines that separate high-performing organizations from those that simply plan well.

Board-ready and practical
Leadership Under Pressure

Failing Forwards

Turning setbacks into strategic advantage

Failure is inevitable. Regression is optional. Drawing from experience leading through public scrutiny and major transition, this session explores how leaders build resilience, protect culture, and emerge stronger after visible setbacks.

For organizations navigating disruption, crisis, or transformation

Leading Under Scrutiny

Rebuilding trust and performance when the spotlight is on

Every leader eventually faces a defining season. This talk focuses on credibility, transparency, and performance discipline during periods of public or stakeholder pressure.

For public company leaders, nonprofits, and mission-driven organizations

Scaling Leadership

Building teams that complement each other instead of competing strengths

As organizations grow, what made leaders successful at $20M often limits them at $500M or $2B. This session explores leadership evolution, succession readiness, and how to design senior teams that scale with the business.

Strong fit for boards and high-growth companies

Interested in booking a talk? Let's find the right fit for your audience.

Inquire About Speaking
Results

Selected Operating Outcomes

Public company executive leadership, operational turnaround, and strategic repositioning.

$2.1B Strategic Sale to McKesson
Delivered 34% premium to prior public market price As CEO (2010–2013).
More Than Doubled Net Income During COO & CEO Tenure
$38.9M → ~$84.9M (2005–2013). EPS increased from $0.60 to ~$1.70.
Restored Profitability in Underperforming Division.
Turned ($15.5M) operating loss into $18.3M profit. Rebuilt accountability and margin discipline.
Reversed Revenue Decline at Wounded Warrior Project
Stabilized 40% revenue contraction. Restored double-digit growth and reduced employee turnover 50%.
"If I were building a company or assembling a board, Gary would be one of my first calls."
Steve Halverson
Chairman, Gilbane
"Where Gary excelled was in strategy formulation and executing the strategic plan."
Eddie Adair
Board Member
Contact

Let's see if there's a fit.

I don't take on every engagement. But I always make time for a thoughtful conversation. Tell me what you're working on and what decisions you're facing. I'll let you know if I can help.

No pitch. No pressure. Just a straight answer.

Email

garycorless@leadinggrowthventures.com

Based In

Jacksonville, Florida

Response Time

Typically within 48 hours