Think & Grow

Director Growth & Partnerships APJ

At Think & Grow, we are your global growth partners 🚀 We empower founders, leaders and executives across the globe to develop their businesses.

How we help founders of fast-growth tech companies: 

Workshops: Identify and close the gaps in your business to gain clarity on your leadership, team and strategy.

Growth: Have the support and expertise to scale sustainably and successfully locally and overseas.

Hire: Attract the change-leaders and advisors you need to accelerate your business.

Advisory: Create a scalable culture to empower your people to push boundaries and propel growth.

Head of Sales APAC

River City Labs

Startup Mentor

Startupbootcamp

SCALERR

As the Global Head of Consulting, I hold a dual role in driving the development and execution of global growth strategies for startups and scaleups, while also leading the consulting practice and strategic partnerships on a global scale. With a comprehensive understanding of sales, partnerships, business development, and strategic planning, I provide expert guidance and innovative solutions to startups worldwide, empowering them to navigate the complexities of scaling and achieve sustainable growth.


Key focusses of my role:

•	Drive Revenue Growth and Market Expansion: Identify new business opportunities and strategic partnerships globally, enhancing client revenue and market reach.
•	Expand Strategic Partnerships: Build and leverage a network of C-suite executives, venture capital funds, ecosystem builders, and government entities to drive growth.
•	Execute Go-to-Market Strategies: Orchestrate global go-to-market strategies for clients, to achieve significant revenue growth, market share expansion, and customer acquisition.
•	Develop and Lead Sale Functions: Built end-to-end sales functions for clients, providing strategic sales advice.
•	Implement Scalable Sales Playbooks: Create tailored sales playbooks, optimize resource allocation, increasing efficiency, and accelerating time-to-market.
•	Advise on Capital Raising: Guide clients on capital raising strategies, offering pitch coaching, deal guidance, and investor outreach strategies

Global Head of Consulting

Scale Facilitation® 

Access New York™ facilitates global revenue stage, small to medium size companies to access the US market. Our core mission is to commercialize and scale the latest technology and innovations into the market.

This means we provide a comprehensive ecosystem to our portfolio companies, far beyond just sourcing capital in exchange for equity. Our experienced team, located in Australia and the United States, provide targeted guidance and management across all aspects of commercialization and scaling.

Role Overview:
Conceptualized and Launched 'Access New York': Established a leading investment program for
tech businesses expanding to the US, with investment sizes of $1M-$10M USD.
• Pioneered Tailored Investment Strategies: Developed customized approaches that maximized
global entrepreneurial opportunities, resulting in a diverse, high-performing portfolio.
• Identified High-Potential Tech Companies: Conducted market assessments, competitor analysis,
financial analysis, and due diligence to evaluate companies for US market success.
• Led High-Performing Investment Team: Directed a team in strategic investment decisions and
provided guidance to the investment committee.
• Expanded Strategic Relationships: Cultivated new and existing relationships, driving revenue
growth and business expansion with government partners, enterprises, venture capital firms, and
community organizations.
• Developed Partner Strategy: Implemented strategies to identify new partners, generate revenue,
and align with business goals.
• Mentored Portfolio Companies: Advised on global go-to-market strategies with a focus on US
expansion, enhancing market entry and growth.
• Streamlined Investment Lifecycle Management: Built scalable workflows supporting internal
teams, founders, and stakeholders throughout the investment lifecycle.

Investment Fund Lead Australia & New Zealand - Access New York

RunwayHQ

Runway is a regional not-for-profit startup ecosystem aimed at supporting entrepreneurs in their entire startup journey. From coming up with a business idea through to launching and scaling their business.

OVERVIEW
•	Cultivated Key Relationships: Built strong working relationships with stakeholders, mentors, coaches, and partners within the Runway and Australian startup ecosystems.
•	Identified Partnership Opportunities: Strategically targeted prospective organizations and government departments to establish valuable partnerships.
•	Led Corporate Opportunity Discovery: Unearthed corporate opportunities and managed the tender process for relevant government-focused applications. Successfully winning a $300k government tender.
•	Drove Business Development: Identified and pursued new business development opportunities, leading initiatives that expanded market reach and increased revenue.
•	Managed Sales Pipeline: Oversaw the sales pipeline process, converting opportunities to ensure a robust and continuous revenue stream.
•	Acted as Brand Ambassador: Represented Runway at local and national levels, enhancing brand presence and engagement within the ecosystem.
•	Directed Marketing Strategy: Managed and executed marketing strategies in alignment with overall business goals, driving brand visibility and growth.
•	Senior Leadership: Managed team performance and behaviours to optimize their contributions towards achieving business objectives.
•	Advised and Mentored Startups: Acted as a strategic advisor and mentor, focusing on sales, business development, and go-to-market strategies for startups and businesses within the Runway ecosystem.

Head Of Sales & Partnerships

Trigger Group

Trigger Group are a go-to-market sales acquisition start up specialising in B2B SaaS. We're a start up representing scaleups in the technology SMB space! We represent some of the biggest global hospitality and logistics businesses: DoorDash, Wish.com, Lightspeed, and Hubster/Otter.

OVERVIEW
•	Managed International Sales Operations: Led and executed inbound and outbound sales strategies for SMB and enterprise SaaS clients in hospitality and logistics, including DoorDash, Wish.com, and Lightspeed Commerce.
•	Built Organizational Structure: Played a key role in scaling the business from 20 to 150+ employees, developing internal structures and processes for effective growth.
•	Scaled and Deployed Sales Teams: Aligned sales teams with business priorities and objectives, ensuring optimal deployment and performance.
•	Advised on Go-to-Market Strategies: Collaborated closely with clients to develop and implement successful go-to-market strategies for new markets.
•	Implemented Sales Planning and Performance Management: Directed planning, target setting, performance management, and execution of key sales activities.
•	Provided Senior Leadership: Led and coached a global workforce of 150+ staff, directly managing 4 Regional Sales Managers, a Learning & Development Manager, and 3 Sales Operations Executives.
•	Fostered High-Performance Culture: Cultivated a positive and high-performing workplace environment.
•	Managed Financials and KPIs: Oversaw P&L, KPIs, sales budgets, and forecasting, collaborating with internal stakeholders to drive profitable growth.
•	Nurtured Executive Relationships: Built and maintained executive-level relationships with clients, navigating pre-sales processes and conducting needs analysis.
•	Led Market Development and Negotiations: Identified new market opportunities and spearheaded commercial negotiations with prospective clients.

Imperium Tourism Holdings

Imperium Group are a private equity group that own a number of youth focused tourism brands. The umbrella company is Travel Freedom Group, which has over 50 retail locations in ANZ operating under the brands PeterPans, Backpackers World Travel, StudentUni Travel, Travel Freedom, and The Travel Project

The role included:

•	Design and implement effective customer-centric Sales, Product, and Business Development Strategies across five separate retail (55 retail locations), Contact Centre, and online businesses 
•	Plan, implement, and control the marketing strategy for key AU & NZ markets, in-line with sales, marketing, business plan objectives and targets for increased revenue and market-share position
•	Actively provide leadership, mentorship, and guidance to Regional Sales Managers, eCommerce Manager, Contact Centre Manager, and Training & Development Manager on direct sales strategy, people management, marketing activity, and performance management
•	Create and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders
•	Recruit, coach, and develop high performing sales and customer service teams across the organization
•	Enhance team performance through incentives, rewards, and recognition
•	Use data to forecast sales and manage budgeting process and expenditure 
•	Report weekly on business performance to the Group General Manager, Managing Director, and Board, in line with company guidelines and expectations 
•	Lead and develop people and people strategy working in partnership with HR to ensure continuous improvement, talent development, and staff engagement initiatives are in place and actioned 
•	Monitor competitors’ products and sales strategy
•	Business Development - Manage key partner relationships, contract negotiations, sales, and logistics with current and prospective partners to collaborate on healthy growth initiatives to deliver strong commercials

Head Of Sales Australia & New Zealand

STA Travel

•	Oversee the operations and sales of every retail site within the Region
•	Provide leadership, guidance, and coaching to sales management team
•	Develop Regional and retail site business strategies to protect revenue and hold sales teams accountable to deliver expected results. 
•	Lead and influence sales team to conceptualize, plan, drive, and manage all Regional sales initiatives to achieve the targeted sales growth
•	Recruit, coach, and develop high performing sales and customer service teams across the Region
•	Build a strong sales and staff culture that creates winning mentality along with staff loyalty
•	Collaborate with, and influence the Product and Marketing teams to help support regional initiatives especially surrounding local market activities
•	Building and maintaining strong relationships with key stakeholders 
•	Deliver weekly reports on Region results to Senior Leadership as well as deliver presentations at key product events

Regional Sales Manager - Victoria & South Australia

•	Provide leadership, guidance, and coaching to 6 sales consultants 
•	Managing all aspects of retail stores business environment and operations
•	Maintaining customer service quality and standards of the team 
•	Implementing and adhering to daily, weekly, and monthly activities
•	Develop and implement local marketing strategies 
•	Driving financial results and KPI’s and holding team accountable

Retail Store Manager

•	Mastered service and sales processes to maximise productivity and profitability 
•	Developed loyal clientele base due to in-depth knowledge and ability to match customers’ needs
•	Be an integral part of the team to help achieve store objectives
•	Customer service and sales to consistently achieve expected company KPI’s
•	Recognised top 10% performing sales consultant in United Kingdom

Senior Sales Consultant

Travel Consultant

Experienced Senior Sales Leader, Growth Strategist, Mentor, and Advisor

Extensive background in tech startups/Scaleups, B2B SaaS, travel, ecomm, and retail, spanning UK, APAC, and US markets.

I help some of the world's most innovative tech companies scale, both locally, and globally.

With a extensive career in sales, business development, and consulting, I have a proven track record of delivering remarkable go-to-market success and capital raising outcomes for startups and scaleups across various domains and regions. I leverage my deep expertise in global markets, sales, partnerships, and people-focused strategies to empower and inspire my clients and teams to achieve their full potential.

Paul Mitchinson

May Samali, MPP, CPCC, PCC

Human Leadership Lab

Human Leadership Lab (HLL) is a global leadership development company. HLL is on a mission to cultivate human leadership in organisations, teams and individuals. Its customised programs and learning experiences draw on the latest research and practice from numerous fields ranging from neuroscience to entrepreneurship. HLL engages with clients through a suite of services include speaking, training, facilitation and coaching.

Founder and Chief Experiment Officer

Inspirato

Inspirato (NASDAQ: ISPO) is a luxury travel company providing travelers with access to a managed and controlled portfolio of hand-selected vacation options to ensure world-class service and certainty.

Non Executive Board Member

Institute of Coaching (IOC) at McLean Hospital, a Harvard Medical School Teaching Hospital

The Institute of Coaching (IOC) at Harvard Medical School is dedicated to ensuring scientific integrity in the field of coaching. It brings together leaders in coaching to accelerate research progress and disseminate best practices.

Fellow

77 Partners

77 Partners is a premier venture capital firm supporting frontier tech ventures in Australia with early funding, deep mentorship, and global connections. My work entails leadership development, go-to-market advisory, sharing high-growth Silicon Valley experience, and deal sourcing in the Australian tech market.

Venture Partner

RMIT University

Adjunct Senior Industry Fellow, FORWARD

FORWARD is the Centre for Future Skills and Workforce Transformation, part of RMIT University's College of Vocational Education. The Centre is focused on building an innovative learning ecosystem at scale, creating new collaborative applied research and inventing next-generation skills solutions. As a Senior Industry Fellow, I am part of an expansive workforce ecosystem supporting FORWARD's mission to invent next-generation skills solutions. I am a currently a member of the “Not Your Parents’ Workplace” work stream, focused on redefining I leadership and inclusion in the modern workplace.

Senior Industry Fellow, FORWARD

Matched

Advisor

NextGen Venture Partners

NextGen Venture Partners is a network-driven venture capital firm that brings together part-time venture capitalists who invest in and support a portfolio of exceptional early-stage entrepreneurs. I am engaged in sourcing and investing in seed stage companies across a variety of industries.

Hone

Hone is a people skills training platform for the enterprise. As a Series B company backed by 3L Capital, F-Prime Capital, Cowboy Ventures and Slack Fund, Hone works with companies including Casper, Dow Jones, GoFundMe, and Rosetta Stone. I lead and facilitate a variety of live Hone training programs across the world including Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB), Manager Training, and Wellbeing.

Facilitator and Executive Coach

High Resolves

High Resolves is a recognized leader in the design and delivery of learning experiences in citizenship education. Led, built and managed a portfolio of technology ventures in the education space. Member of Global Executive Team and Sustainable Funding Board Committee.

Chief Executive Officer, Ventures

Led team that built and launched Composer - a global digital platform for citizenship education, backed by the Omidyar Network and the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative. Member of Global Executive Team.

Chief Operating Officer, Ventures

Urban Innovation Fund

The Urban Innovation Fund is a venture capital firm that provides seed capital and regulatory expertise to entrepreneurs shaping the future of cities. First employee and part of the founding investment team.

Senior Associate

May Samali is the Founder and CEO of Human Leadership Lab, a global leadership development company. As a speaker, facilitator, coach, researcher, investor and board director, May wears multiple hats to unlock leadership potential in organisations, teams and individuals.

Based between Australia and the US, May is a dynamic professional who has navigated career pivots across diverse industries and geographies. 

COMPANY BUILDING, OPERATING & INVESTING 

Most recently, May served as CEO of Ventures at the High Resolves Group, where she led global cross-functional teams and technology ventures in the education sector. Before that, she was the first employee at Urban Innovation Fund, a Silicon Valley-based venture capital firm, and a Director at Tumml, an urban ventures accelerator in the US. May has also worked as a strategy consultant at an advisory firm and as a lawyer and judge’s associate in Sydney. Her early experiences as a people manager and startup investor sparked her fascination for developing leadership mindsets and skills in teams and individuals. 

LEADERSHIP & COACH TRAINING FROM TOP INSTITUTIONS 

May is a Certified Professional Co-Active Coach and holds a Professional Certified Coach credential from the International Coaching Federation. She was recognised as one of the Top 15 Coaches in Sydney by Influence Digest in 2024. May’s work is grounded in frameworks from the Co-Active Training Institute, Conscious Leadership Group, Leadership Circle and Positive Intelligence. May has a Master in Public Policy from Harvard University where she studied as a Gleitsman Leadership Fellow and Australian John Monash Scholar. She received first class degrees in Law and Economics from the University of Sydney.

EXPERTISE IN LEADERSHIP, ENTREPRENEURSHIP & FUTURE OF WORK

May serves on the Board of Directors of Inspirato (NASDA: ISPO), a One Planet Group company. She is a Fellow at the Institute of Coaching at Harvard Medical School and an Adjunct Senior Industry Fellow at RMIT University's Centre for Future Skills and Workforce Transformation. She is also a Venture Partner at 77 Partners and NextGen Venture Partners. Additionally, May sits on John Monash Foundation’s Leadership Academy Advisory Board and Investible’s Climate Tech Fund Advisory Panel. May’s insights have been featured in reputable publications including TechCrunch, Forbes, the Australian and Stanford Social Innovation Review.

May Samali

Studying at Harvard University as a John Monash Scholar was one of the most formative experiences of my life. 

I recently had the opportunity to share more about the interview process itself with The Australian Financial Review. 

What stood out to me about the scholarship application process was the way the Harvard's Center for Public Leadership showed genuine curiosity for my family, my values and what drives me. 

Thanks for the feature! 🙏🏽

Founder & CEO at Human Leadership Lab | Speaker, Facilitator, Coach, Researcher, Investor, Board Director | I help organisations, teams and individuals unleash their leadership potential

Open article: How to ace the interview for an international MBA by afr.com

How to ace the interview for an international MBA

If you want a fairer workplace, start by fixing the moments people barely notice.

That was one of the clearest takeaways from my conversation last week with Siri Chilazi, co-author of “Make Work Fair”.

For those who missed Part 1, Siri and her co-author Iris Bohnet have spent years studying how organisations can turn fairness into a competitive advantage. Their research shows that leaders don’t need more programs. They need better design inside the everyday processes they already run.

Here are the next 3 insights from our discussion (Part 2👇🏽).

1️⃣ Fairness is built through everyday processes, not one-off programs

Siri’s research shows that the biggest fairness gains come from the small decisions inside routine processes: hiring, one on ones, meetings, performance reviews and feedback loops.

These are the moments where bias creeps in silently. They are also the easiest places to redesign.

Simple shifts like agreeing on criteria before seeing candidates, asking consistent interview questions, defining what “good” looks like before evaluating performance or structuring meetings so everyone has equal access to contribute all create fairness with no extra budget or headcount.

Leaders often wait for big initiatives. The evidence says the opposite. Fairness shows up fastest when you redesign the everyday mechanics of work.

2️⃣ Flexibility is part of fairness, not a perk

The return to office conversation came up quickly. Many leaders feel torn between fairness, culture and productivity.

Siri reminded us that fairness does not mean treating everyone the same. It means designing work that is fit for purpose. Different roles require different arrangements. Different people perform best in different environments.

The data is clear. When organisations impose blanket rules, attrition rises - especially among senior talent and women. When flexibility is treated as a design question, performance improves and leaders keep the people they most need to retain.

The leadership question becomes: what is the fairest and most effective way for this specific role to operate?

3️⃣ You can create meaningful change without waiting for senior buy-in

Many leaders listed “executive sponsorship” as their biggest barrier. Siri offered a story that proved otherwise.

A BBC journalist quietly started tracking the gender balance of the guests on his nightly program. No mandate. No title. No budget. Just a spreadsheet and a goal. Within months his team reached parity. Within years the method spread across 750 BBC teams and then globally.

The lesson is powerful. You can make your corner of the system more fair long before you get a green light from above. Start with one process you already run. Measure it. Adjust it. Repeat. Visible results create their own momentum.

That wraps Part 2 and the first of 22 events on Siri’s Aussie tour. What a start.

💬 Which one of these three insights are you taking back to your team this week?

No alternative text description for this image

Want to end the year on a bang? I’m opening three "pick my brain" power hours through Matched.

I rarely offer one-off coaching. Most of my work is deep, longer term partnerships with leaders. But sometimes you just need one focused hour to reset, get clarity or break through something that has been holding you back.

These sessions are perfect if you want support with:
🧳 Career growth or a pivot
🎯 Leading your team with confidence
🙅🏽‍♀️ A difficult conversation you’re avoiding
💪🏽 Building motivation, focus or momentum

I keep these spots limited because I pour a lot into them. Three places only.

If you want to finish the year strong, grab one here:
👉 https://lnkd.in/g8rDYc26

* * * 

👋🏽 I’m May, Founder & CEO at Human Leadership Lab.

 I partner with the world’s most promising organisations, teams, and individuals to unlock leadership potential, purpose, and peak performance.

taplio

The Battle

Paul Mitchinson

May Samali

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance ScoreMay Samali's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

taplio

The Battle

Paul Mitchinson

May Samali

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);}May Samali's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

Performance ScoreMay Samali's LinkedIn Performance