Jay Clouse

Learn the strategies I used to:

• earn $2.8 million+ as a creator since 2017
• build a 138,000 subscriber YouTube channel
• achieve 2.25 million podcast downloads
• attract 58,000 followers on LinkedIn

If you're struggling to find traction as a creator—or if you're struggling monetize the attention you ARE receiving, I can help.

🧪 CLIENT WINS FROM THE LAB

"One month after joining the lab, I pulled in $21,000. So I know that sounds too good to be true. That's probably not what I'm going to do next month, because I did do something a little special. But I can say from my one month alone joining The Lab, it has been absolutely be worth it."
— Claire Bartholic, The Planted Runner

"I'm building out a little SaaS project, and Jay had some great additions for the design and also for how to how to sell it. So I implemented one of or both of those both of those additions. One of them brought me $3,000 in about a week, which was awesome."
— Jake Thomas, Creator Hooks

"So I have been in The Lan for about 45 days at this point, and while it did take me seven months to make the decision to join, I can honestly say that at this point of me being there, I have already made my money back."
— Gannon Meyer, ManyChat expert

________


👋 Hey, I’m Jay!

Eight years ago, I left the startup world to build something of my own. I didn’t believe I was creative, so I started writing a newsletter just to prove myself wrong.

Fast forward to today, and that newsletter has become Creator Science, a multi-million dollar business and one of the most trusted voices in the creator economy. 

Creator Science teaches creators a reliable path to growth through observation, experimentation, and iteration. My work spans a newsletter, podcast, membership, and YouTube channel, helping thousands of creators build sustainable businesses.

In 2023, I was named “Content Entrepreneur of the Year” by The Tilt, and the Creator Science podcast earned a 2022 Signal Award.

I’ve personally invested in 10+ startups—including Kit, RightMessage, Maven, Carry, Kick, Gumroad, and Beast Industries. Through the Creator Science Syndicate, I invite my audience to invest alongside me, supporting platforms that help creators succeed (and giving them a share in the upside).

Before Creator Science, I built and sold a community, Unreal Collective, to Pat Flynn and Smart Passive Income, where I designed their membership and community programs.

🚀 Growing your creator business? I can help.

creatorscience.com
creatorscience.com/podcast
creatorscience.com/youtube
creatorscience.com/lab

Founder

The more I've studied creators, the more I've come to one major realization:

Today's top creators aren't just artists. They're scientists.

The creators you look up to don't leave growth to chance. They are constantly forming new hypotheses, testing things, and changing direction based on the results. Not only that, but they share their results with their creator friends!

Creator Science is your new creator friend.

We do the work of compiling shared knowledge here as well as acquiring NEW knowledge. That may be through interviews, first-hand experience running this business, or off-the-record conversations.

Creator Science's content, courses, and membership community are built to help you shorten the learning curve to becoming a professional creator.

Learn more and join 17,000+ readers at creatorscience.com or click the link below 👇

Email is somehow still underrated.

Every Sunday, my emails are:

• Sent to ~49,000
• Opened by ~23,000 (43%)
• Unsubscribed by ~100 (0.20%)
• Read by people I respect and admire
• Sponsored by companies/people I believe in
• Resulting in hundreds or thousands in purchases

Insane.

Founder of Creator Science — Education for professional creators • Investor in Kit, Carry, Kick, Maven, Gumroad, Beast Industries

xMcKinsey🔸I build M&A and strategy teams🔸Strategy, M&A, Corporate Development Headhunter🔸INSEAD MBA🔸100+ M&A and strategy roles filled in Europe, Asia🔸 General Manager 🔸Career Coach🔸 Decent Salsa dancer

You’ve done well.
Top school. Strong brand names.
But now you’re stuck. And you know it.

✅ The problem:
You’ve been loyal for years. Maybe a decade.
Now you're job hunting for the first time in ages.
And you’re not getting interviews.
Or you get them, but no offers.
Or you're just overwhelmed and don’t know where to start.

✅ That’s where I come in.
McKinsey alum. INSEAD MBA.
22 years in Executive Search, Consulting, and M&A.
I’ve reviewed 10,000 CVs and coached 2,000+ executives.
Followed by 20,000 on LinkedIn for a reason.

I help you reposition, repackage, and relaunch.
New resume. Sharper LinkedIn. Mock interviews. Offer tactics.
You’ll land stronger roles. Faster.

✅ What clients say:

💬 “Alex is the best career advisor/headhunter I’ve had the pleasure to work with.”
– Peter CHAN, Chief Commercial Officer, IWG

💬 “All my top performers came through you.”
– CEO (ex-MBB) client

💬 “Alex is a true executive search expert. He delivered results that exceeded expectations.”
– Alexandre Bulcourt, former Co-Head, Bayer Business Consulting China

💬 “I’ve worked with at least seven different career coaches in the past, but I’ve never received guidance as sharp and transformative as yours. You’ve genuinely changed the way I see myself and how I position for future roles. I’m deeply grateful.”
– Investment Banker

✅ What I do:
1️⃣ Coach senior executives (many but not exclusively ex-Consultants) through career transitions
2️⃣ Help CEOs and CFOs hire Strategy, M&A and Corporate Development leaders

✅ Regions I know well:
Singapore 🇸🇬 Hong Kong 🇭🇰 UAE 🇦🇪 Germany 🇩🇪 

If you're ready for a real move or need to hire,
Send me a message. Let’s talk.

Alex BERGHOFEN ✔️

The new Financial Times MBA rankings are out. 
 
There’s a new Global No. 1️⃣:


It’s not INSEAD (we are at number 2, not bad!).

It’s MIT Sloan.

For the first time ever.
Congrats! 🥳

Why? 

Probably due to the tech boom.

But there’s little difference at the top. 
Is MIT really better than INSEAD and Wharton? 
Debatable.

But I find more interesting a change in the FT ranking that was introduced last year.

The tiers.

Now there are tiers 1️⃣to 4️⃣.

I find this much more useful when thinking about MBAs. 

But it’s strange (to say the least) that IESE, HEC, ESADE, Ceibs and US Berkely are in tier 1️⃣ when schools like Harvard, Kellogg and Chicago Booth are in tier 2️⃣?

As a headhunter and a career coach that does not reflect reality (no offense to anyone from these schools). 

As with all rankings, take the details with a grain of salt.

But it’s useful as a general direction. 

If a school stays in the top 5 for many years, it can’t be that bad. 

What’s your take on the new FT MBA ranking?

Save this + Repost for others if it's useful ♻️

PS: Nice to see that the FT acknowledges in their article that INSEAD is based in France AND Singapore, in the ranking itself it still says only France.

Funny as I’ve never studied in France but hold an INSEAD MBA. 😉

Alex BERGHOFEN ✅

xMcKinsey 🔸Global Strategy Headhunter 🔸Job Search Coach for CxO/ VP/ Director 🔸Career Coach 🔸LinkedIn Coach 🔸INSEAD MBA 🔸Speaker 🔸22,000 LinkedIn followers 🔸I coach executives leaving one firm after many years

2026 FT full time MBA ranking

Kung Hei Fat Choy! Gong Xi Fa Cai!


I wish you a prosperous and healthy year of the Horse.

So nice to be back in Asia for Lunar New Year.

CEO employment contract review of 15 billion co: 
McKinsey Alum was promoted to CEO of Stanley Black & Decker (Fortune 500 member, 15 billion revenue in 2025).

Christopher Nelson, former McKinsey EM.

Please read the employment letter yourself and chime in.

Quick Review:

✅ Base salary: USD 1.3 million.

✅ Bonus:
 2025 blended structure
 • 120% for first 9 months
 • 160% for last 3 months
From 2026 onward, expect around 160% target.
 No explicit maximum cap stated.

For comparison:
 • 3M CFO → 200% cap
 • Starbucks CEO → 450% cap

✅ One-time promotion LTI: USD 1.7 million
 50% PSUs, 25% RSUs, 25% options.
 Functions like a sign-on. Paid in equity.

✅ 2026 annual equity target: USD 10.3 million.

✅ Severance:
 2x (base + target bonus)
 Plus 24 months of benefits.

✅ Non-compete:
 24 months. Very broad.

✅ Mandatory skin-in-the-game rule:
 CEO must accumulate stock equal to 6x annual base salary (~USD 7.8 million).
For comparison:
 • 3M CFO → 3x
 • Starbucks CEO → 6x

✅ D&O and indemnification:
 Strong protection. Legal fees advanced quickly. Continued coverage post-employment.

✅ Arbitration:
 Mandatory arbitration with a three-arbitrator panel in North Carolina.


My Verdict:
Equity heavy compensation, long non-compete, mandatory arbitration.

✅ 24 months severance and 24 months non-compete.

If the company restricts him from competing for two years, it pays him for two years.

✅ Heavy equity weighting.
 USD 10.3 million equity vs USD 1.3 million base.
 Clear performance orientation.

✅ Mandatory arbitration in North Carolina is noteworthy.

What do you think?

Comment below.

PS: Source: SEC. This is a public document. CEO contracts of US listed companies are transparent by design.

PPS: Save this + Repost for others if it's useful ♻️

CEO employment contract Stanley Black & Decker

Review of Stanley Black & Decker’s CEO employment letter:

he's ex McKinsey ex Carrier:

taplio

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The Battle

Jay Clouse

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Followers

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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);}Jay Clouse's LinkedIn Performance

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