Episode 06 - The Engineer Who Took Over the Agency | Cory McAboy

Cory McAboy didn't start at the top. He joined Rapptr Labs as its first employee, an engineer with a computer science degree and a brief detour through an MBA and product management. Over time he worked his way up through engineering and leadership roles until, in July 2024, he stepped into the CEO seat. In this episode of the Second Order Podcast, host Nate Dinet sits down with Cory to dig into what that ascension actually looked like, the mindset it required, and how running a product development agency in the AI era is forcing founders and executives alike to think several moves ahead.The conversation covers the shift from heads-down builder to client-facing strategist, the parallel discipline of marathon running and leading a company through uncertainty, and the very real challenge of scope creep in agency work. Cory shares how Rapptr Labs navigated the pullback in VC funding, adapted its model as AI reshapes the cost of building software, and where the real value of an experienced agency now lies — not in writing code, but in the strategic expertise that AI simply cannot replicate.Key takeaways:Engineering mindset to CEO: Cory explains how the focused, problem-solving approach of a developer translates into how he structures his time and leads his teamGetting comfortable with discomfort: whether it's marathon training or delivering hard news to a client, doing it repeatedly is what builds real resilienceHow AI is reshaping agency work: the cost of building is dropping fast, but expertise in user activation, engagement, and monetisation remains the true competitive moatScope creep is the biggest risk: agencies must hold the line on scope to protect cash flow — and the clients who respect that boundary tend to stick aroundNiching down as a growth lever: new agency owners can gain an immediate advantage by focusing on a single vertical rather than competing as generalistsFrameworks for running a business: Cory recommends EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) as a practical structure for goal-setting, accountability, and team alignmentConnect with Cory McAboy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cmcaboy/Visit Rapptr Labs: https://www.rapptrlabs.comI hope you enjoy this episode! Give it a like, share, and subscribe to not miss the content coming your way weekly.– Nate and the Second Order podcast teamConnect with Nate Dinet on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/nathanieldinetVisit The Step Manager website here: https://www.thestepmanager.com#secondorder #natedinet #thestepmanager #operationspodcast #deliveryoperations #founderbottleneck #scalingoperations #techstartups #saasoperations #businessoperations #operationalexcellence #startupscaling #revenueoperations #businessleadership #podcastforentrepreneursSecond Order is a podcast for technology founders, COOs, and operations leaders who want to understand what actually happens between closing a deal and delivering on it. Hosted by Nate Dinet of The Step Manager, each episode features honest conversations with CEOs, heads of business operations, and senior executives at SaaS companies, AI-native startups, and tech services firms - people who have built delivery systems under pressure and lived to tell the story.The podcast sits at the intersection of operational execution and company growth, covering the challenges most business podcasts skip over: delivery chaos at scale, the founder bottleneck, bespoke traps that erode margins, and the ongoing question of when to invest in technology versus people. If you're scaling a technology business and the gap between selling and delivering is where things get messy, Second Order is where you'll find the frameworks, stories, and hard-won insight to close that gap.Series Keywords (to be added to the channel):Second Order podcast, Nate Dinet, The Step Manager, delivery operations, operational scaling, SaaS operations, founder bottleneck, technology startup podcast, business operations leadership, revenue operations, scaling delivery, operational execution, AI startup operations, boutique consulting operations, operational architecture, post-sale delivery, Sprint Zero, technology services operations, COO podcast, operations podcast for founders