in late Summer of 2024, I posted something of a cry for help in the form of an Instagram story asking if anyone knew someone who could help me build Handstand.
I listed, quite vulnerably, all the things I felt I was terrible at: the cracks in our system, the friction points in our operations, the things that needed structure, accountability, and care.
I didn’t expect much. But the response was overwhelming.
Among the many replies was an email from Carter. It stood out immediately. He wrote, “My approach is pretty simple. It’s about listening deeply and following through.”
That might sound simple, but to me, those two qualities, listening and follow-through, are foundational. And far too rare.
So we started working together. Quietly at first. A few projects.
A few months.
Then more.
And before long, it became clear: Carter was adding immense value to the studio.
With calm precision and a solution-oriented mindset, he brought structure to our business development process, tightened operations, and quickly adopted our culture of over-communication.
This wasn’t his first time bringing order to chaos. Carter has spent the better part of a decade inside early-stage startups, helping founders scale from zero to one, leading special projects, building systems from scratch, and turning ambiguity into momentum.
Momentum is a word we talk about alot.
And always with clarity, care, and a strong bias toward action, another core value at Handstand and in life.
That same consistency shows up in the rest of his life too.
If you’re ever in Beachwood Canyon, rain or shine, chances are you might find Carter on one of his daily runs.
It is an everyday practice that, much like his work, is quiet, focused, and full of forward motion.
Today, I’m proud to officially announce Carter as our Head of Growth and a partner at Handstand.
In this role, he’ll lead new business, reinforce operational discipline, and help shape the future of how we build, by helping organizations articulate the truths that define theirs.
Let’s go.
