Helping Ivy League-educated, overachievers find meaning and clarity in their career | Speaker, Clarity Coach, Entrepreneur

Huw coaches founders and their leadership teams to create clarity, attain alignment, and unleash their potential. He has worked with CEOs of VC and PE backed software and technology companies on both growth trajectories and supported them through turnaround or transition.

Huw is a 3-time founder, investor, and speaker turned executive coach. His corporate career centered around his work at Goldman Sachs, Rackspace, and Bridgewater Associates, the world’s largest hedge fund with $160bn under management. While at Bridgewater Associates he was a Senior Management Associate responsible for Portfolio Analytics. In 2016 he acquired and later sold Jungle Disk, a cybersecurity company previously owned by Rackspace. He co-founded CyberFortress, a VC-backed insurtech startup in 2018 (where he also became a Talentism client!). He also co-founded Porthcawl Holdings, a value-driven technology holding company, investing in startups and businesses in the SaaS and bitcoin space.

Huw holds an MBA from Harvard Business School where he was a Ford Scholar and Baker Scholar, and holds undergraduate and masters degrees in mathematics from Oxford University,

Huw is a proud Welshman who lives with his wife and young son in San Antonio, Texas. He is a board member of the local Entrepreneurs Organization responsible for the Accelerator program, helping budding entrepreneurs scale their businesses to 7-figures. He is also Vice President of Programming for the Harvard Business School Club of San Antonio. His compulsions include identifying gifts in adversity, creating inspiring visions, radical self-discipline, and running 100 mile races in the mountains.

Huw Edwards

10 years sober. No notes. 

PS Happy St David’s Day. 

#NoRegrets #BestDecisionEver

3x Founder, Harvard MBA, ex-Bridgewater Associates, Goldman Sachs | Executive Coach | Helping ambitious founders/CEOs unleash their potential and purpose

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There are two versions of people when they encounter discomfort.

The version that:

- Back out of a big decision
- Slow down
- Second-guesses everything
- Keep waiting to feel ready

And the version that:

- Show up anyway
- Have the uncomfortable conversation
- Trust their training, experience, and abilities.
- Act a little before they feel ready

Discomfort is not a threat. 

Don’t let your brain confuse expansion for danger.

Stay long enough to experience the transformation.

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Read newsletter 

Read the newsletter here: http://newsletter.h3.xyz/

You either view life as:

I have to:

1. Lead another meeting
2. Show up for the team
3. Call that client
4. Pick up the kids

OR

I get to:

1. Guide people who trust my leadership
2. Elevate my team
3. Build valuable relationships that scale the business 
4. Spend time with my favorite humans 

The first approach will drain you before you even get started. 

The second approach opens you up to a deeper level of presence and purpose in everything you do.

I had trained for it.

And still, I was scared.

I was thinking about this the other day, as I geared up for Leadville again last August.

For context, Leadville is one of those races where everything, and I mean everything, hurts.

A 100-mile race. After 25 miles, you're still a quarter of the way through, and the real pain hasn't even begun.

And honestly, as I prepared, the nerves hit me.

I remember at about 3 a.m. on the day of my 2024 race, I was standing in the dark and cold, feeling unsure all of a sudden.

I thought, "Do I really want to do this? Could I just... not start?"

It was tempting to avoid it, but I pushed through and completed the race in good time.

And last year, that rush of uneasiness came back, but I did not back down.

I reminded myself that I’ve earned it, and I trained for it.

The race didn't quite go as planned, but I walked away with lessons to prepare me for this year.

No regrets.

I realized feeling nervous isn't a sign of weakness.

It's part of the process of doing something big, bold, scary, yet so thrilling and exciting.

And when the nerves show up again as I prepare for this year, I won't fight them.

That's what I want. I need it to hurt earlier.

That's the whole goal in a way.

Because I care.

Not just about the win.

I care about the struggles, the curveballs, and the lessons that come with the experience.

It’s okay to feel nervous.

Being a best friend, a parent, a CEO, a partner, a gym rat, a business ally, launching a startup, leading a project, and still doing self-care and so on at the same time is so dope.

Except we can't really carry all these things at the same time.

Balance is an illusion.

Chasing it comes with a weight that makes one more miserable than fulfilled.

There's a better approach to doing all of these without losing yourself or burning bridges.

I talked about it in detail in my recent newsletter.

You can read it here 👇👇

You've probably told yourself one or more times that you just need to find balance. Balance between being a CEO, business partner, parent, and best fr

The illusion of balance

Somewhere along the line...

Something happened. 

The more self-focused success becomes, the less alive it feels.

And the more numb you get.

The more numb you get, the more stuck you feel.
Somewhere along the line...

Something happened. 

The more self-focused success becomes, the less alive it feels.

And the more numb you get.

The more numb you get, the more stuck you feel.

Because, somewhere along the line, it stopped being about the impact of the work and became more about you. 

So you’ve lost touch with why you fell in love with your craft in the first place.

Find your way back to your why.

Beyond you.

You’ll feel alive again.
Because, somewhere along the line, it stopped being about the impact of the work and became more about you. 

So you’ve lost touch with why you fell in love with your craft in the first place.

Find your way back to your why.

Beyond you.

You’ll feel alive again.

3 resources to help you say no more.

1. TED Talk: The Art of Saying No by Kenny Nguyen
https://lnkd.in/gvjGfrjF

2. Book: The Power of Saying No by Dr. Vanessa Patrick
https://lnkd.in/gd3vMPPz

3. Podcast: How to Say No – We Can Do Hard Things with Glennon Doyle
https://lnkd.in/g7GGrYZs

Every yes is a step away from freedom.

Make it worth the while.

You can't explain it.

But you just knew.

To walk away from that deal.

To hire or not hire that person.

To start that project...

There's always that inner voice that tells us to do or not to do something.

Sometimes, we ignore it, and it backfires.

Other times, we're glad we listened to our intuition.

If only people trusted their instincts much more than external validation or waiting for proof.

Imagine how many mistakes would have been avoided.

Over the weekend, I explored the concept of pattern recognition that makes our intuition an ally for a happier life.

1,280 readers had a good read.

Miss the issue?

Find the link in the comments ↓

How you narrate a moment of discomfort changes how you experience it.

Don’t focus on the pain, focus on the potential.

Find an advantage to get you going.

There’s always one.

Leverage it.

The stress doesn’t disappear, but when it has a purpose, you’re in control.

Life wires us to explore...to find out.

To be more, do more, chase more, win more, learn more, and keep evolving.

But life is not what you're really exploring.

It's you.

Some people get stuck exploring what works.

It's not their fault.

They just:

- Lack patience and self-trust
- Don't trust their conviction to act
- Pay attention to what everyone else is saying
- Hold onto things that made them successful

Exploring you demands:

- Patience to say no to good opportunities, and yes to long-term value
- You sit tight and trust your conviction
- Pay deaf ears to what the hell people have to say
- A f*ck-fear mindset to reinvent yourself

Don't be afraid to explore yourself. 

There's so much more you're yet to find out about you.

P.S: My view...

Would you choose your life again?

The responsibilities, pressure, decisions, mistakes, and wins.

All of it.

Yes?

It’s great that you never let go of what it is you really want, even as you grow into greater success.

No?

You may have lost your power of autonomy.

And your success doesn't entirely feel like yours anymore.

In today’s issue, I explored the thin line between “I have to” and “I choose to”.

Quite a good read that uncovers how to sustain the love for your craft yesterday, today, tomorrow, and ever.

A life you don’t grow to hate.

Read the newsletter here 👇

There’s something elite performers tend to experience as they become more successful. At the beginning, everything is a choice. Then the path, risks, 

Open article: The power of autonomy   by Huw Edwards • 2 min read

Give people ownership.

Let people still see themselves in what they do before, during, and after they work with you.

Let them bring themselves to the performance.

Your structure should be flexible enough to let them keep the joy of being their authentic self.

There's a thin line between discipline and squashing the flame that makes people feel great.

The autonomy to choose is key to sustaining high performance.

Over the weekend, I shared practices to avoid losing yourself to external pressure as you achieve greater success.

Miss the issue?

Find the link in the comments ↓

Have a good read.

Care about what you care about per time, without feeling guilty.

What's the worst that can happen anyway?

You'll be surprised that there's nothing to worry about.

But to think you can handle every area of life at the same time already creates a problem.

Life is in seasons.

Something has to give sometimes.

You just need to be able to make these necessary tradeoffs without throwing away other things or burning bridges.

Over the weekend, I explored the illusion of balance and how to embrace the seasons of life for a more sustainable success.

You sure want to read this.

Find the link in the comments ↓

3 resources to keep you in love with your work regardless of life’s distractions:

1. TED Talk: My year of saying yes to everything by Shonda Rhime
https://lnkd.in/gA4buvjd

2. TED Talk: The Puzzle of Motivation by Daniel Pink
https://lnkd.in/gAdQiAP3

3. TED Talk: Your insecurities aren't what you think by Adam Grant
https://lnkd.in/gMmbi6_J

You already know.

The question is whether you trust what you feel.

Your intuition can play out as a quiet read you've earned through experience.

But most people have subconsciously silenced their instincts by over-relying on logic, validation, and proof before taking action.

And the more you can't trust your intuition, the more fragile your confidence becomes.

It's only a matter of time before you begin to feel like you've lost your spark.

I explored the grace of intuition as a big flex for greater success.

Read about it here 👇

You know that feeling when something looks good but doesn't feel good? Those shiny opportunities that your gut tells you not to engage. Or those you f

The grace of intuition

Being ambitious is great.

But be honest…

Do your current goals excite you?

Or are they just a logical move?

Most people burn out from chasing goals that slowly disconnect them from themselves.

Your goals can't just be ambitious.

Make them personal.

It's more thrilling.

I explored a different way to think about ambition in today's issue.

A good read for people who care about high performance.

Read it here 👇

You know how planning and working on a goal takes your focus, energy, and more. It's more like you're choosing how you spend your time. Most people qu

Open article: You set the goal, then it shapes you... by Huw Edwards • 2 min read

What are you becoming through the suffering?

Two things happen when you set a goal.

You nail it or miss it.

If you win it, you savor the excitement.

And if you miss, you're not self-sabotaging.

You know you still got paid with more discipline, courage, self-trust, and a lot more from the experience.

The journey and what you've become so far will fuel you to try again.

So no matter how hard it is, you'll find your way back up.

If you feel empty when you hit a goal or linger in the weight of missing it, your goal was probably very ambitious.

But it lacked a personal meaning to draw happiness or strength for what’s to come. 

Over the weekend, 1,283 readers learned 4 great steps to filter ambitious goals for a happier experience.

Miss the issue?

Find the link in the comments ↓

CyberFortress

Director of Strategic Sales

Enflux

In my most recent job role, I define and implement sales processes, strategies, and market targets in close coordination with senior leadership. I maximize sales volume and velocity via sales development teams. I create and leverage customer personas and ideal customer profiles to boost close rates. I effectively raise company awareness and enhance sales through comprehensive CRM, sales process, marketing, and social media. Furthermore, I navigate a highly complex sales cycle with multiple stakeholders. I manage the entire sales cycle, from prospecting to invoicing.
Some of my prominent achievements in this role are:
•	Grew pipeline in million-dollar within three years by strategic targeting based on ideal customer profiles and disciplined sales processes.
•	Developed a market presence by expanding from one customer to 70 new logos.
•	Achieved a close rate of over 33% from demo to signed agreement.
•	On target to exceed profitability in Q3 of 2022.
•	Improved ARR
o	First-year by 279% with a long sales cycle.
o	2020 by 152% despite the pandemic's challenging sales environment.
o	2021 and 2022, more than 150%

Head Of Sales

✪  Managed and grew a $4M territory concentrating on orthopedic bracing and soft goods in hospitals, distribution, physicians, and government accounts.

✪  Maximized market impact by focusing on Key Opinion Leaders, Key Accounts and C-suite executives.

✪  Specialized in billing analysis and revenue generation support for clients.

✪  Provided education and expertise for patients, physicians, and hospitals in the areas of training, compliance, coding, protocol management, billing, and collections.

Territory Manager, Aircast / Procare Division

Pediatric Orthopedic and Scoliosis Center of South Texas (PediOrthoSA)

✪  Managed front-office operations and provided impeccable customer service; hired and managed 10 employees.

✪  Established and implemented Billing and Collection system for new orthopedic practice.

✪  Managed revenue stream from claims entry to collection with a low denial rate and fast turnaround.

Business Manager

✪  Managed a sales territory with over $4.5M n revenue with a focus on Major Laboratory, State Health Departments and Hospital Accounts.

✪  Increased sales over 8% and GP over 10% in a saturated territory through price increases, contract renewals, instrument sales and focus on high GP products.

✪  Mentored new ABM’s in field sales for BD Microbiology.

✪  Team leader for Government Contracts. 

✪  Established relationships throughout the distribution system resulting in increased sales at all levels from hospitals, urgent care centers and physician offices

Account Manager

Thermo BioStar

✪  Increased territory sales over 35% in competitive rapid diagnostic market through repeat sales and new sales.

✪  Managed large territory with focus on physician offices, urgent care centers and hospitals.

✪  Mentored and trained reps across the region.

✪  Launched cold-call campaign that resulted in a 35% increase in seasonal sales of diagnostics in physician offices.

Sales Executive

Throughout my careers in both medical devices and education, I have been an influential sales and strategic relationship leader.  I set the bar high and exceed goals, building strong key customer relationships by utilizing my sales management expertise.  I am successful selling in traditional and virtual environments, and enjoy closing large-scale enterprise deals with multiple stakeholders, which includes government sales.  

As a proven strategist, I have the insight to identify product and sales channel opportunities while appreciating my reputation as a trusted advisor and mentor.  I quickly inspire confidence in new clients and easily engage with and influence C-Suite decision-makers and end-users.
  
In today’s unprecedented and rapidly changing economic environment, despite the pandemic, I have proven myself as a decisive senior sales professional with the creativity to identify innovative solutions, maximize value for key stakeholders, and build sustainable relationships while staying true to business objectives.

Here are some highlights:
✪  Increased ARR nearly 300% in my first year with Enflux, with a long sales cycle and little established market presence. 2020’s increase was over 150% despite the pandemic’s challenging sales environment. Currently on track for a 200% increase this year. 

✪  Achieved close rate of over 33%, from demo to signed agreement, a substantive improvement from the previous year.

✪  Grew territories from $2.2M to $4M for DJO through new business, contract renewal, and product optimization; delivered the largest single sale in DJO history to the DOD. 

✪  Awarded DJO’s Circle of Excellence 2015 | President’s Club 2015, 2014, 2012 | Top Trainee 2012

✪  Helped launch PediOrthoSA, a thriving private practice, building charges from $0 to over $ 1.4M in the first four years; consistently maintained a 93% to 99% collection rate.

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Huw Edwards

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The Battle

Huw Edwards

Kati Warman, MBA

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);}Huw Edwards's LinkedIn Performance

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