Today, we are privileged to delve into the world of startups, micromobility, and rapid groceries with our esteemed interviewee, Robert Gamble. An authority in growing and scaling complex operations on an international level, Gamble brings a wealth of experience in managing fleet, real estate, people strategy, infrastructure maintenance, and business performance. His astute understanding of the pivotal role asset retention and efficient time management play in driving business costs has made him a sought-after figure in startups and beyond. Here, Gamble shares insights into his professional life, his motivation for serving as an advisor, and his ability to navigate the challenges of scaling businesses. Expect a riveting discussion on trends disrupting his industry, and the transformative decisions that have defined his journey in executive leadership.

What are your areas of expertise?

"My skill set largely centers around growing and scaling complex operations internationally within the startup space. I’ve worked in last mile, micromobility, and rapid groceries with a focus on fleet management, real estate strategy, people strategy, infrastructure maintenance, and business performance management.

In situations where asset retention and efficient use of employees' time are the business' two largest cost drivers, I find myself especially in my niche.

What's your main motivation for being an advisor?

"I enjoy unlocking the potential of teams through forethought and strategic growth. Learning to scale without bloat and keeping my teams ahead of 6-18 month objectives is key to building businesses with strong foundations.

"Being an advisor, to me, creates an opportunity to lend this experience and mindset to help more businesses excel and reach their goals.

What types of situations are you capable of advising on?

"Understanding how and when to scale a business is key to managing cash position and ensuring longer term viability. Taking a 'nail it then scale it' approach to expansion is the basis for a strong business. As an operations leader, I know which KPIs matter to understanding business performance drivers that cut to the core of where resources for improvement should be dedicated.

"A clear people and organizational structure strategy is sometimes overlooked by fast moving start-ups. This leads to bloat, unclear ownership, and costly redundancies with second and third-order risks to the business. I have built and navigated organizations through this process, helping ensure consistency and efficiency even during periods of 10, or even 20x growth.

Do you see any disruptive trends on the horizon in your industry or position?

"I see light autonomous EVs in the micromobility space disrupting the bikeshare and scooter share players, with the potential to upset rideshare players like Uber and Lyft.

"There is a strong trend towards 'car free city centers' in Europe and some North American cities that creates a major emerging opportunity for autonomous, single passenger EVs more similar to a golf cart than a full-size sedan.

Tell me about the most impactful project or decision you’ve been involved in as an executive.

"At my last company, I made the decision to shrink our fleet from 43 cities down to 13. In the years prior to my joining, the team had access to cheap capital and little pressure to financially perform. I shifted the focus to profitability and efficiency in anticipation of reduced capital availability.

"By focusing only on markets with high margin potential and defensible permits, we were able to go from losing 27 million annually to reaching near break-even, opening up the possibility to be acquired by a larger competitor interested in acquiring market share in our countries of operation."

In conclusion, Robert Gamble brings a wealth of experience from successful engagements in growing and scaling operations in the startup space.

His expertise encompasses essential aspects such as fleet management, real estate strategy, people strategy, infrastructure maintenance, and business performance management which are critical gears in the machinery of any thriving business. Proven ability in tackling the major cost drivers—asset retention, and efficient use of employees’ time—further highlights the immense value he brings to the table.

With this skill set, Robert is beyond qualified to provide advisory services to propel businesses towards high-efficiency management and peak operational output. Eager to deploy his in-depth understanding and knowledge in empowering more businesses to thrive in their respective industries, Robert is available for advisory roles on AdvisoryCloud. Do not miss the opportunity to take advantage of his wide-ranging competencies for your business success. Tap into Robert Gamble's expertise; let him guide your business to new heights on AdvisoryCloud.