The transition from working at a large global enterprise to a startup can represent a steep learning curve, even for the most seasoned executives.
Liz Kistruck, CFO at Motorway, a UK-based startup that sells used cars to dealers, knows this challenge well. Before joining Motorway as its first finance chief in July 2023, Kistruck was the CFO at fashion marketplace Lyst and spent over a decade at online travel agency Expedia Group, including as Hotel.com’s CFO.
Despite her experience leading teams and guiding large companies through growth and transformation, leaving behind the security and stability of corporate life to pursue the uncertain path of a startup was challenging. “Everyone is so relieved that you are there but no one actually knows what they want from you. That is quite a disorientating position to be in at first,” she says.