Network Company President - Greater Chicago

Teamshares•Chicago, IL

About The Position

What is Teamshares? Teamshares is one of America’s largest buyers of small businesses from retiring owners and is on a mission to make employee ownership the future of small business. We buy promising companies from retiring owners, gifting employees an immediate 10% ownership stake in the business, and supporting their ongoing growth through proprietary software, education, financial products and best-in-class leadership support. We're building a network of 10,000 employee-owned small businesses, creating $10 billion of stock wealth for wage workers and supporting generations of business owners into confident retirement. Together, we will reduce global wealth inequality while ensuring vital small businesses—and the communities they serve—continue to flourish. We are looking for an entrepreneurial business leader who wants to serve as the Small Business President/CEO of one of our network companies in the marketing and advertising industry in the Greater Chicago area. As a Teamshares network company president, you’ll be responsible for increasing profitability and successfully transitioning the business to employee ownership. You’ll run and work IN the business, including owning full P&L responsibility, business strategy, and operations. You will report to a Teamshares Industry Lead who supports a portfolio of 5–15 companies within the sector, serving as a strategic partner to help drive operational and financial performance. Additional information ( https://www.teamshares.com ). As President of a Teamshares network company, you will receive: Equity stake both in the network company and in Teamshares Competitive salary and benefits Ongoing business and leadership development training throughout your tenure Access to exceptional medical/dental/vision benefit plans Paid parental leave We know the confidence gap and imposter syndrome can get in the way of meeting spectacular candidates. As a Teamshares president, you’re not alone; you'll be part of a dynamic community of fellow small business leaders, with ongoing support from Teamshares Inc. — beginning with our Leadership Accelerator program. Please don’t hesitate to apply. Teamshares is passionate about creating an inclusive workplace that celebrates differences and promotes inclusion. We actively seek to build a workforce representative of various cultures, perspectives, and areas of expertise. Our employee-driven Core Values serve as the foundation for an inclusive workplace environment where we empower everyone to bring their full, authentic selves to work. We encourage all qualified applicants from any race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or other characteristics to apply. Check out more information here ( https://www.teamshares.com ). We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.

Requirements

A strong background in advertising or marketing agency executive leadership, with a demonstrated ability to grow revenue, lead client relationships, and guide cross functional teams while ensuring high quality campaign execution and client satisfaction.
Proven ability to prioritize growth initiatives, client opportunities, and operational needs, balancing new business development, client delivery, and team leadership to drive sustainable agency performance.
Clear Communication and Collaboration: Ability to communicate effectively, solve problems, and foster constructive collaboration with all employees.
Demonstrated Leadership Skills: Proven people leadership abilities through previous work experiences, with strong interpersonal and communication skills and a low-ego approach.
Entrepreneurial Mindset: Possess an entrepreneurial spirit with a desire to build and innovate.
Project Management and Problem-Solving: Proven project management and problem solving skills, coupled with a humble, hands-on, get-it-done attitude.
Business Acumen: Strong business acumen and analytical skills to oversee company financials and develop effective business strategies.
Growth Mindset: Embrace a growth mindset, with a willingness to explore new ideas, learn from mistakes, and innovate.
Agility and Flexibility: Demonstrate an open, agile mind, equally adept at thinking creatively and critically, with a flexible and generous spirit and a natural bias toward action.
Strategic Partnership: Ability to partner with stakeholders to establish a clear vision, define measurable KPIs, and develop strategies to achieve financial goals.

Responsibilities

Serve as president of a small business in the marketing & advertising industry
Determine/be responsible for all business strategy, operations, and P&L management
Lead an experienced team of existing employee owners
Driving Revenue Growth: Lead new client acquisition and business development efforts. Build relationships with prospective clients, convert opportunities into long term partnerships, and expand the agency’s client portfolio.
Strengthen Client Relationships: Serve as a senior client leader and trusted partner. Maintain and deepen relationships with key accounts while identifying opportunities to expand services.
Execute Operational Business Objectives: Develop and execute repeatable business processes to achieve key business results. Whether it's documenting existing effective methods or developing new structures, you will be responsible for establishing and tracking key operational metrics and financial outcomes.
Collaborating on Financial Decisions: Work closely with Teamshares staff and company-level financial partners to manage ongoing expenses, capital purchases, and growth initiatives.
Leading Growth Initiatives: Act as a growth leader, working with employee-owners to improve company operations and expand revenue opportunities.
Managing HR and Personnel Matters: Handle HR responsibilities, including staff disputes, employee performance evaluations, job reviews, raises, and bonuses.
Relationship management: invest in your local community, and build strong relationships with customers, vendors, and partners.
Transitioning to Employee Ownership: Collaborate with Teamshares and fellow shareholders during the transition to employee ownership, coaching and partnering to instill an owner’s mindset that drives better business outcomes and fosters a positive company culture.