Serial Entrepreneur (2 exits) & Growth Advisor • Founded AllPaws (Sold to PetSmart) • Co-Founded Saturday App & Snap Interactive (100m users & $100m revenue)

𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝘁 𝗺𝘆 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗽 𝘁𝗼 𝟭𝟬𝟬𝗠 𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘀 & $𝟭𝟬𝟬𝗠 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘂𝗲 • 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗘𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘂𝗿 𝘄/ 𝟮 𝗲𝘅𝗶𝘁𝘀 • 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽, 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘀𝗲𝘁, 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴.

Serial tech entrepreneur, business operator, and strategic advisor with deep experience starting and growing consumer-digital businesses. 

As a growth and product-driven startup founder, I have a proven track record of building and growing innovative products used by millions. I have achieved successful exits while overseeing multiple C-Level executive roles for publicly traded, growth stage, and venture-backed startups. I have a bias for action and a passion for solving big problems. Proven ability to innovate and deliver rapid revenue and user growth. 

At the intersection of my passion for pets and online dating expertise, I co-founded AllPaws. This innovative, online dating-style pet adoption platform quickly gained millions of users and was acquired by the pet industry leader, PetSmart. 

Before that, as co-founder I helped build and lead publicly traded SNAP Interactive from inception to rank as the 36th fastest growing technology company in North America with 4,400% revenue growth over 5 years, $20 million+ in annual revenue, and over 100 million users of our online dating apps and social products. 

Today, I advise businesses and startups on optimizing their digital and product growth strategies. Additionally, I coach entrepreneurs and business leaders on building high-income personal brands, and advise top influencers, models, and creators on growing and monetizing their audiences.

I continue to work on new projects, explore new opportunities, and advise. 

Been featured in ABC News, Bloomberg, Good Morning America, TechCrunch, Fox 5 News,  Huffington Post, Mashable, Forbes, Fast Company, Business Insider, and many other top tier publications. 

SPECIALTIES: Growth, Optimization, Digital Strategy, Product Strategy, Personal Branding 

Start-ups | Digital Strategy | General Management | Product Strategy and Development |  Rapid Revenue Growth | Strategic Vision | User Growth & User Acquisition | Marketplaces | Business Strategy | Business Operator | Problem-Solving | Business Operations (CEO, COO, GM) | Product Management | Conversion Optimization | A/B Testing | Web and Mobile Analytics | Mobile Applications | Mobile Growth | iTunes App Store Optimization | e-Commerce | Social Media Marketing & Strategy | M&A Process | Pet Industry | Online Dating Apps

Darrell Lerner

The key to growing a startup in 3 steps.

Test → Learn → Iterate

Then double down on what’s working.

Tight feedback cycles let you gather data and make progress as quickly as possible.

(Quick clip from a podcast I did with Adam Metwally on growth + why virality is harder than people think.)

But here’s the part nobody really wants to admit:

You can’t really “engineer” virality.

Everyone thinks they know what will go viral…

until they post something they’re sure will rip, and it flops.

Then they post something random…

and it takes off...

That’s why “going viral” isn’t a strategy.

The right systems are.

You can’t force outcomes.

But you can run enough reps to find them.

That’s how you win in growth when there’s no formula.

The winners don’t predict virality. They build systems that find it.

What’s the most surprising post you’ve ever had take off?

--

If you found this post helpful:

♻️ Repost to share it with your audience

🔔 Follow me Darrell Lerner for more on entrepreneurship, startups, personal branding, and mindset.

2x Exited Founder & Growth Advisor • Built AllPaws (Acquired by PetSmart) • Co-Founded SNAP Interactive (100m users & $100m revenue)

💎 WellBeing Champion | ESG Leader | Business Connector | Linkedin Top 250 influencer |

Welcome, I'm Reena Strehle — a passionate advocate for workplace wellbeing, sustainable leadership, and purpose-driven business.

 My journey has been rooted in one guiding principle: when people and planet thrive, business does too.

As a WellBeing Workplace advocate, I support organisations in aligning their operations with the values of equity, sustainability, and human-centric leadership, risk management & ratings in the built environment. Such as NABERS, Greenstar & Well.

 I work hands-on with teams, leaders, and communities to spark real conversations and drive meaningful change from the inside out.

I help people optimise their long-term health by addressing inflammation at its source — a key factor in brain cognition, heart function, and immune resilience. Through evidence-based testing and personalised guidance, I work with executives, entrepreneurs, and anyone looking to maintain peak performance as they age. My focus is on measurable insights and sustainable strategies that support how you think, feel, and perform every day.

Recognised as a LinkedIn Top 300 Global Excellence Leader, I also use my platform to spotlight changemakers, share actionable insights that inspire better business practices.

And above all, I’m a connector at heart. With an extensive and diverse global network, I love bringing like-minded leaders, founders, and thinkers together — because the best ideas (and opportunities) are born from collaboration.

Wishing you a successful and productive day!

Looking forward to speaking to you real soon.

📅 Schedule a Discovery Call: https://calendly.com/reena-chat
✉️ Contact Via Email: reena@reenastrehle.com
📞 Make a Phone Call: +61 412 994 459

Reena Strehle

Phil Collins turns 74 on January 30th

The man who proved you could be a virtuoso drummer, a chart-topping solo artist, and Genesis's beating heart all at once.

His message still rings true: you can't hurry love, you can't rush greatness, and some things are worth the wait. 

Collins built his legacy one honest song at a time, no shortcuts, no pretense, just raw emotion and undeniable talent.

Here's to a legend who reminded us that the best things in life unfold in their own time. Sometimes you just have to feel it coming in the air tonight, and trust the journey.

Happy Birthday, Phil. 🥁

#Inspiration #Legend #PhilCollins

💎 WellBeing Workplace Advocate | Business Connector | Linkedin Top 300 Global Excellence Leader 2025|

The Partnership Paradox

The meeting that changed everything happened in a car park.
Not a boardroom. Not a planned strategy session. Just two business owners who saw something the other missed.

Here's what I learned about real collaboration:
Most partnerships fail because people try to merge strengths. 

The wins? 

They come from combining gaps.

Safety company meets wellness company. One protects the outside, one heals the inside. Together, they solve the whole problem.

The pattern I keep seeing: 
Companies chase competitors in their space. 
The smart money? 
Find someone in a different lane heading the same direction.

Stop looking for partners who do what you do. 

Find the person who completes what you can't.

Your next growth move isn't another product. It's the conversation you haven't had yet.

What unexpected partnership transformed your business?

#Business #Partnershi[p #Growth

The Evidence vs. Story Gap

I spent three weeks building the perfect pitch. Data. Studies. Clinical trials. 
24 PowerPoint slides.

They said no in 4 minutes.

Next meeting? I told them about Annette. One client. Real numbers. Her actual words. Three slides.

They signed that afternoon.

Here's the truth about convincing anyone of anything:
Facts inform. Stories persuade. But most of us lead with evidence and wonder why nothing lands.

The data matters—but only AFTER someone cares. And they only care when they see themselves in the outcome.

I learned this the hard way: Before you share what works, show them who it worked for. Real names. Real results. Real reactions.

Your proof isn't in your research. It's in your results.

Science opens minds. Stories open wallets.

What's one time a personal story beat your perfect data?

#Data #Evidence #StoryGap

Three people visited your profile yesterday. 

None reached out.

Think about the last time you researched someone before hiring them.
You landed on their profile looking for one thing. Can they solve my specific problem?

If the answer wasn't obvious in five seconds, you kept looking.
Most profiles fail this test immediately.

Five different services are listed. Strategy, coaching, consulting, speaking, workshops. The visitor can't tell which one applies to their situation.

Everyone gets targeted. 
Startups, enterprises, nonprofits, executives, teams. Nobody feels like the right fit.

The headline stays vague. "Helping leaders transform organisations" tells someone nothing about what actually changes.

The About section reads like a resume. 

Twenty years of experience, multiple certifications, impressive achievements. 

The visitor came with a problem and got a biography.

Profiles that convert visits into conversations do three things:
State one clear problem solved for one type of person. The headline answers "what do you do and who do you help" in plain language.

Focus the About section on their world, not your credentials. Their challenge, your solution, how to start.

Make the next step obvious. Calendar link in the headline. Another link in About. Featured post explaining how to work together.

Someone visits your profile is interested. 

They either see an obvious path forward or they leave confused.

Clarity converts. Complexity loses.


Jack AM Austin and I created the Profile Optimiser GPT that shows exactly what's broken in your profile. 

Comment "PROFILE", and we'll send it over. 

Follow him for more business tips.

#ProfileOptimisation #Clarity #Conversions

Your DMs sound like sales pitches.

Think about your inbox right now.

Dozens of messages from people asking for "just 15 minutes" or offering to "share insights" about your business.

Delete without reading.

Decision makers do the same thing to your messages.

Most outreach fails in the first sentence because it reads like every other pitch. The pattern is obvious, and the response is automatic deletion.

Messages that get replies sound fundamentally different.

Notice something specific about recent work. Not job title or company size, but actual output someone created or shared.

Ask one simple question that takes 30 seconds to answer. Something the person would actually enjoy talking about.

Make it about curiosity, not positioning for a pitch. 
No frameworks mentioned. 
No offerings listed. 
Just genuine interest in their work.

Example:
"Saw your post on restructuring sales comp. The quarterly reset approach is interesting. What made you move away from annual structures?"

The message notices specific work and asks about it.

The difference between 5% and 50% response rates isn't better copywriting.

It's whether the message sounds like a human who noticed their work and got curious.

Most outreach is an interview disguised as conversation or a pitch disguised as curiosity.

Real interest gets real replies.

Jack AM Austin and I created the Initial Message GPT that crafts opening messages getting 40%+ reply rates. 

Comment "MESSAGE" and we'll send it over. 

Follow him for more business tips.

#Outreach #Sales #BusinessTips

They replied to your DM. 

Now what?

Think about the last time someone responded to your outreach.

Actual interest. Real engagement. Then the conversation dies because the next message pushes too hard.

Most people get a reply and immediately pitch a call. The momentum stops.

Getting replies is half the equation. Converting replies into conversations is the other half.

When someone responds, continue the actual conversation first. Ask a follow-up question about what they shared. Show genuine interest in the answer.

Two or three real exchanges build rapport. The person starts to see you as someone curious about their work, not someone running a sales process.

Then suggest a conversation naturally. "I'd enjoy hearing more about this over coffee" or "happy to continue this conversation live if you're up for it."
Discovery calls trigger sales resistance. Coffee or conversation feels collaborative.

Most DM sequences fail because they move from reply to pitch in one message. 

The person who just showed interest suddenly feels sold to.

Build the relationship through the messages first. 

Three to five genuine exchanges. Then suggest talking live when it feels natural.

The goal isn't speed to calendar. 

The goal is turning interest into trust before asking for time.

Jack AM Austin and I created the DM-to-Call framework that converts replies into booked conversations. 

Comment "FRAMEWORK" and we'll send it over. 

Follow him for more business tips

#Conversion #Conversations #Outreach

The rainbow bee-eaters at Meelup Regional Park don't care about your quarterly targets.

They're too busy patrolling 11.5km of WA coastline that the Wadandi people named "Place of the Moon Rising" – waters Lonely Planet calls "the hue of a Bombay Sapphire bottle."

This 577-hectare reserve between Dunsborough and Eagle Bay shelters species found nowhere else on Earth. 

Carnaby's black cockatoos. 
Endemic orchids. 
Southern brown bandicoots in the undergrowth.

Sometimes the smartest strategy is remembering there's a world beyond the screen.

#Nature #Travel #Australia

📸 Salty Wings

Looking forward to seeing you at our inaugural in person event! 

⬇️ See link to register in the comments ⬇️

#Leadership #Melbourne #IWD2026

View company: Women in Defence Association

Panelist Announcement | Defence International Women’s Day – Victoria

WiDA Victoria, in partnership with Women in International Security - Australia Inc., is proud to announce Major General Michelle Campbell AM, Head of Reserve and Cadet Division, as a panelist for our upcoming International Women’s Day event in Victoria.

About MAJGEN Michelle Campbell AM
Major General Campbell has three decades of military experience across a range of leadership, operations, training, protocol and project management appointments in Australia and overseas.

A veteran of three bushfire assistance task forces in 2003, 2009 and 2019/2020, and service with NATO forces in Afghanistan in 2014, where she was awarded the NATO Meritorious Service Medal for distinguished service exhibiting outstanding leadership and exceptional contribution. She was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in the King’s Birthday Honours in 2025 for exceptional service to the Australian Army as the Deputy Commander of the 2nd (Australian) Division and as Commander of the 4th Brigade (Victoria and Tasmania).

Major General Campbell’s civilian career spans three decades of project management and capability development in Australia and Europe. She has applied her expertise to improvements across Victoria’s infrastructure major and mega projects portfolio during Covid. She led the senior leader capability development program, the Australian Major Projects Leadership Academy, across Australian federal, state and territory jurisdictions, and most recently is an independent executive advisor to various government projects, and a small business owner.

Major General Campbell will be a valued contributor to our National Defence Strategy dialogue, sharing insights on leadership, capability and the future of Australia’s defence workforce.

🎟 Tickets are nearly sold out.
 Capacity is strictly limited—register now to avoid disappointment.
 👉 Registration link in the comments (filter by Most Recent).

Reena Strehle Cai Lin Tan Rachel Falzon Maria Rost Rublee Grace Corcoran Winnie Cheng #WomenInDefence #WiDA #WIISA #InternationalWomensDay #IWD2026
 #BalanceTheScales #DefenceIndustry #NationalSecurity

💎Massive congratulations to Katherine Bennell-Pegg on Australian of the Year💎


Australia's first astronaut just said what needed saying:
"We're leaving too much talent on the launch pad."

We back underdogs in sport. 

We cheer for mates who aren't the best.

But in #STEM? If you're not top of the class or don't fit the mould, you're quietly pushed aside.

Same kid. Different treatment.

Katherine's mission isn't just space – it's reaching every young person who doesn't see themselves in science yet.

The girl who loves physics but doesn't fit the stereotype. The kid from regional Australia who thinks STEM is for "other people."
Her challenge to us:
→ Bring the "have a go" spirit from the sports field to the science lab 
→ Back each other in hard subjects like we do on game day 
→ Trust that every curious mind matters – regardless of postcode, gender, or background

That flag on her shoulder? 

It carries the hopes of thousands.

In 2026, when humans orbit the moon, some #Australian kid will look up and finally see themselves up there.

Well deserved, Katherine. Now let's get to work.
#AustralianOfTheYear #STEM #Leadership #WIDA

No alternative text description for this image

Your Personal Operating System Needs an Update

Here's what McKinsey found: Leaders who continually upgrade their "personal operating model" are more productive, work more consciously, and drive change more effectively.

Translation? 

The way you led last year won't cut it this year.

Your calendar. 
Your priorities. 
Your energy management. 
Your decision-making process.

All of it needs a refresh.

Top performers aren't just managing their teams differently—they're managing themselves differently.

When was the last time you audited your own operating system?

#PersonalOperatingSystem #Growth #Update

taplio

The Battle

Darrell Lerner

Reena Strehle

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance ScoreDarrell Lerner's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreReena Strehle's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

taplio

The Battle

Darrell Lerner

Reena Strehle

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Darrell Lerner's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreReena Strehle's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

Performance ScoreDarrell Lerner's LinkedIn Performance