Teddy Mitrosilis

Alto Studios

Building the future of corporate communications.

Co-Founder

The Mitrosilis Group

Founder

STRIVR

Lead Strivr’s Enterprise Consulting function with a focus of optimizing Strivr’s Professional Services business for growth and scale. 

Primary responsibilities of the function:

 - Identify opportunities to drive growth and scale across the Customer Organization
 - Conduct business and market needs analyses
 - Design solutions to improve business and organizational performance
 - Implement processes, systems, tools and standardization
 - Lead change management and upskilling across the Customer Organization

Head of Enterprise Consulting

Built, operationalized and led Strivr’s Enterprise Consulting function.

Primary Responsibilities:
 - Set vision and strategy for the Enterprise Consulting practice
 - Manage senior business and learning strategy consultants and Director-level personnel
 - Develop end-to-end immersive technology strategies that drive productivity, profitability, operational efficiency and sustainable growth for F500 clients
 - Partner with VP Sales on sales strategy, operations and enablement
 - Drive Professional Services sales strategy and revenue growth
 - Advise clients on how to meet their business objectives through organizational and workforce transformation
 - Build and nurture relationships with executive-level client stakeholders
 - Hire, train and develop key talent and high-performing teams

Notable Team Achievements:
 - Built Strivr’s go-to-market strategy for tech-enabled Professional Services
 - Developed the playbook for enterprise-wide immersive technology engagements
 - Drove $30M+ in enterprise SaaS and Services deals
 - Contributed to the launch of StrivrU, a new customer and partner onboarding program
 - Lead client engagements across Retail, Grocery, Distribution, Financial Services, Manufacturing industries, among others

Notable Client Achievements:
 - Walmart - 96% improvement in training efficiency
 - Fidelity - 10% increase in customer satisfaction in less than 6 months
 - Grocery Client - 6.5% increase in productivity in ~3 months

Director, Enterprise Consulting

Helped build, operationalize and scale Strivr’s Customer organization from infancy to 50+ employees.

Primary Responsibilities:
 - Help lead a pivot of Strivr’s core offerings, from a branded content business into an enterprise professional services business
 - Build, operationalize and lead Strivr’s Solutions Architecture function
 - Develop and take to market Strivr’s industry-leading immersive learning methodology
 - Drive operational excellence via scalable systems and processes across Professional Services, Pre-Sales, Customer Success, Operations and other functions
 - Deliver business transformation to clients through the strategic planning and execution of immersive technology solutions
 - Oversee scoping and management of project financials 
 - Implement performance management systems and programs
 - Hire, train and develop key talent

Notable Team Achievements:
 - Executed and managed $20M+ in Professional Services engagements
 - Grew customer base by 300% while sustaining nearly 90% customer retention
 - Established the Customer Org’s first project management processes and SOPs
 - Managed client engagements across Logistics, Automotive, Aviation, Retail, Utilities industries, among others

Notable Client Achievements:
 - Walmart - first company in the world to deploy immersive tech enterprise wide
 - Verizon - 97% of employees felt prepared when put in a dangerous situation

Director, Customer Solutions

Head of Production for Strivr, overseeing end-to-end content development and operations.

Strivr is a human performance training company that uses VR to help athletes and employees be better at what they do.

Production Manager

Fox (Film, TV and Sports)

Deputy Director, Social News

Manager, Social Content Development

Digital Content Producer

ESPN

Associate Editor, ESPN.com

Assistant Editor, ESPN Insider

Writer + Founder | Posts on writing, leadership and the process of improvement | Co-Founder @ Alto Studios

Co-Founder @ Alto Studios → building the future of corporate communications || Writing The Process for 21k+ leaders every week || A bit more about me:

• Dad and Husband
• Former Division I athlete (Go Heels)
• Ultra runner and endurance athlete
• I've trained in the wilderness with Navy SEALs
• I love seeking out new challenges and learning new things

A reminder we all need:

Most mistakes aren’t as big as you think.

In 1999, a study coined the term “Spotlight Effect.”

It’s a psychological concept in which people believe they’re being noticed far more than they are.

We’re the center of our worlds, so we assume we’re the center of others’ as well.

But that’s not true.

People mostly think about themselves.

This is a powerful realization when we make mistakes.

Zoom in → we think the world is ending.

Zoom out → the world is unchanged.

This isn’t to say mistakes don’t matter or don’t have consequences.

It’s just to say:

Take some pressure off. Learn and move forward.

The world will keep spinning.

This will help someone out there:

Your “best” is not the same everyday.

Researcher and author Brene Brown explains this concept in the context of marriage.

“Everyone says marriage should be 50/50. It’s never 50/50. What we do is we quantify where we are. So if Steve comes home and is at 20 in terms of energy, investment, kindness, patience … I’ll pull the 80.

“A partnership works when you can carry their 20 or they can carry your 20. And when you both just have 20, you have a plan where you don’t hurt each other.”

The same concept applies to ourselves.

• We won’t feel 100% everyday
• We won’t always have a full tank to give
• Sometimes, we’ll need to lean on others

We’re human beings, not robots.

Two lessons I take from this:

1. Give yourself grace — everyday won’t be perfect
2. Give what you have, everyday

It’s okay to have only 50% today.

It’s NOT okay to not give that 50% — to yourself, to your team, to others.

Give all you have, everyday, whatever that amount is.

That is doing your “best.”

The No. 1 job of all leaders:

To develop other leaders.

Then those leaders develop other leaders. Eventually, the ripple effect impacts the entire organization.

“Leverage” is discussed a lot in business. It’s usually in reference to capital or time.

But leadership is the ultimate leverage.

When strong leaders fill every level and corner of a company, nearly anything is possible.

→ So, a question to consider:

What am I doing this week to develop other leaders?

Everyone can be a leader to someone.

A skill that will accelerate your career:

Simple, clear, concise communication.

Unfortunately, this isn’t widely taught. Here’s a quick tip to help you with each:

1. Simple

Use words that are easy to understand. 

If you’re unsure how to simplify a word, type the word into ChatGPT and say, “Give me a simpler word for [complex word].” Boom – you’re now a better communicator.

People think complex language makes them sound smart. In reality, communicating complex ideas in simple words is what’s smart.

2. Clear

Be specific. 

Not this: “I don’t really like this slide in the presentation.” 
But this: “The graphic doesn’t illustrate the main point.”

3- Concise

Lead with the main point and limit the supporting details. 

People can ask for more information, but they can’t get their time back from an unnecessarily long message. The BLUF method is a great technique for this.

–

Every company onboarding program should have a session on simple, clear and concise communication. 

It’s one of the most valuable skills you can build.

Hope this simple overview helps.

Some of the best career advice I received:

It doesn’t take a title or position to lead.

Leadership can come from anyone, anywhere, anytime.

• Who’s willing to step up?
• Who’s willing to take ownership?
• Who’s willing to care for others?
• Who’s willing to raise the standard?
• Who’s willing to sacrifice for the team?

None of those things require a title, nor does a title make you good at them.

So, don’t wait for permission. Lead from where you are.

You’ll grow, and the team will be better for it.

A powerful life lesson:

Growth isn’t a straight line.

Psychologist Carol Dweck popularized the concept of a “growth mindset.”

“In the growth mindset, failure can be a painful experience,” Dweck writes. “But it doesn’t define you. It’s a problem to be faced, dealt with and learned from.”

The lesson is simple and profound.

We want our progress to be a direct line — always up and to the right.
But it never works like that.

Growth requires tension. There’s no growth without:

• Facing challenges
• Embracing the discomfort
• Continuing to learn and persist

Remember this when you’re struggling.

Growth doesn't come with an "easy" button.

A powerful reminder I often need:

It’s easy to say things like “focus on the process.”

It’s hard to be patient every day, especially when progress feels slow.

But that’s the definition of “the process.”

This applies to everything…

• Building a business
• Working on a project
• Managing people
• Developing yourself
• Pivoting your career
• Improving your health
• Raising children

Respect today’s work. Take one good step. Patiently persist.

The most growth comes when it feels like none is happening at all.

The most powerful skill in business:

Clear and concise communication.

Unfortunately, it’s rarely taught.

Here’s a breakdown of the BLUF Method, the best framework I’ve found to help you develop this skill:

The BLUF Method

Great managers are such a blessing.

They’re the glue that holds a company together. 

Managing is a wonderful job.

You have the opportunity to directly impact someone’s career and life. That’s an honor and a responsibility.

It’s also a difficult job.

You’re a corporate firefighter much of the time. People are complex, and the burden of navigating that falls on you.

So, if you have a great manager, let them know. It'll mean the world.

And if you are a great manager, thank you! Your impact is greater than you know.

A life lesson I’ve learned:

Everything is a process.

• Business
• Family
• Faith
• Fitness
• Wealth
• Personal growth

Everything.

Some processes are shorter than others, but there’s still a process.

And you can’t rush it, cheat it or skip it. You will have to go through it.

So, in the end, you may as well learn to love it.

The process IS the prize.

“Bosses” get unfairly criticized on LinkedIn.

But you know what?

There are lots of great bosses out there!

Being “the boss” doesn’t mean you have to:

• Micromanage
• Control people
• Act like a dictator
• Make every decision
• Always get your way
• Push people to burnout

That’s how the role is portrayed here (usually in comparison to “leaders”).

But the truth is, those are just BAD bosses – not ALL bosses.

Being “the boss” just means you sit in the seat where the buck ultimately stops.

It doesn’t have to be inherently negative.

So if you’re “the boss,” then be the boss.

Just choose to be a good one.

I heard this the other day:

“Everybody wants wisdom, but nobody wants to make a mistake.”

Learning, growth and wisdom carry a cost. The cost is a willingness to humbly stumble.

John Wooden, the great basketball coach, had a quote I love:

“Winners make the most mistakes.”

We like to think of success and failure as opposites. But they’re more like complements.

If you enter the arena every day, you’ll endure some pain, bruises and mistakes. 

They’re byproducts.

What else are byproducts of putting yourself out there every day?

Winning and wisdom.

Be willing to make some mistakes.

We all do, and most aren’t as big as you think.

My friend was a Navy SEAL for 12 years.

Here are his 3 keys to a powerful mindset:

---

P.S. These principles apply to everything -- work, personal life, health, wellness, family, faith, finances.

Learn them and share them with a friend. They can change lives.

The Navy SEALs 3 Pillars of Mindset

The sign of a great leader:

They serve others before themselves.

The best leaders I’ve had in my career did this intentionally and intuitively. 

They weren’t “servants,” but they embodied the idea of servant leadership.

Sometimes they didn’t do what I asked, but they did what I needed (even if I didn’t realize it). That’s also servant leadership.

Leadership isn’t easy, but it is simple.

Care for others more than you care for yourself.

One of the most valuable skills in business:

Sharing technical information in a simple way.

A technical person who can communicate simply and clearly is unstoppable.

But most technical people struggle with this. 

Not because they’re not capable, they just haven’t been taught.

Here are 5 useful tactics I’ve found to help you develop this skill:

5 Tactics to Share Technical Information

The No. 1 killer of good writing:

Complexity.

Unfortunately, it’s everywhere (especially in business).

Here are 11 simple tips to help you write simply, clearly and concisely:

The No. 1 Killer of Good Writing

Your best “new” hire is already at your company.

What they need is to be developed.

Unfortunately, a lot of great talent doesn’t get the development they need or desire. So they leave and go someplace else.

You don’t want that.

Here are 5 useful ways to develop your talent (so they stay and thrive):

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What else would y'all add?

5 Ways to Develop Talent (So They Stay and Thrive)

25 quick tips to make you a better writer:

1. Make it simple
2. Make it clear
3. Make it concise
4. “Simple” doesn’t mean “diluted”
5. Your audience isn’t as “sophisticated” as you think

6. Stick to one primary idea per post
7. Tell me upfront “what’s in it for me”
8. The main takeaway should be obvious
9. Write for the ear, not for the eye
10. Be conversational, but not sloppy

11. Give me context but not every detail
12. If you can tell a story, do it
13. If you can humanize a post, do it
14. The most useful content is actionable
15. What’s obvious to you is enlightening to others

16. Your writing doesn’t need to be perfect – just share it
17. Clever writing is extremely hard to pull off
18. Respect your readers’ time 
19. There’s a good post in every conversation you have today
20. Use data if possible, but don’t drown the reader in it

21. Formatting and organization are underrated
22. Make your writing skimmable (most people are)
23. Every 100 words reads like 500 on mobile
24. Write for one person and help them with each post
25. Less is almost always more

I’ll stop here.

These were off-the-cuff lessons I’ve personally learned over years of writing. Hope they’re helpful!

What resonates the most?

Great employees are a gift.

They’re the backbone of every company.

If you have great employees, cherish them.

• Invest in their growth
• Provide resources to build their skills
• Tell them how much you appreciate them

This is our vision for Alto Studios.

We want Alto to be a place where people create value for themselves, not just the company.

Years down the road, we want them to say they were more successful in their careers and lives because they spent time at Alto.

It’s a high bar, and we have work to do. But that’s our commitment.

Leaders tend to get too much credit.

Ultimately, it’s the TEAM that makes the difference.

This weekend was special.

My nephew is obsessed with baseball. 

He’ll be 4 in July and it’s all he talks about (kind of like his uncle at that age!). 

This weekend I got to show him around UNC and share a place that made a big impact on my life.

He got a tour of the stadium, went out on the field, got to hit in the batting cages, then sat in the front row behind home plate Friday night for the game. He asked 1 million curious questions.

Giving him this experience meant so much, and sharing it with his family and our own girls made it even better.

This weekend reinforced a timeless lesson:

Blessings are meant to be shared. 

It’s nice to receive a blessing. 

But it’s infinitely better to turn around and bless someone you love.

Taplio

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