Thryv CEO Joe Walsh

Joe Walsh's entrepreneurial journey began as a young entrepreneur competing with the telephone company Yellow Pages. He successfully built and sold his own company and eventually joined Yellowbook in New York, a community directory publisher. Expanding across the United States and partnering with a European firm, they took Yellowbook public on the London Stock Exchange, marking 25 years of growth and success.

After his tenure at Yellowbook, Walsh transitioned to advisory roles with hedge funds and private equity firms, where he played a pivotal role in the transformation of Cambium Learning Group. His knack for building value in the business world was evident as Cambium Learning Group embraced digital solutions, resulting in a significant increase in stock value.

Thryv's transformation story began when Walsh was approached by the telephone company's Yellow Pages business for assistance with their strategy. Recognizing an opportunity as enterprises moved to the cloud, he proposed guiding small businesses toward cloud-based solutions. Thryv started with a transition from a public to a private company, underwent restructuring, and redefined its mission, focusing on aiding small businesses with an easy-to-use app. The company went public on NASDAQ three years ago, with SaaS software becoming its dominant focus.

One key takeaway from Walsh's storied career is the evolution of software development. He highlights how the proliferation of building blocks, embedded tools, and simplified processes has made software development more accessible. This trend empowers developers to create efficient solutions tailored to specific industries.

Thryv competes with giants like Salesforce and HubSpot but differentiates itself by targeting genuine small businesses, typically with two to fifty employees. Thryv's simplicity and consumer-grade tools enable easy adoption and use without extensive training or certification.

Walsh's optimism extends beyond Thryv's success. In a recent interview with CEO.com, he emphasizes controlling what can be controlled rather than fixating on global conflicts and uncertainties. He believes the opportunity to build a successful business today is as good as ever, reflecting his "glass-half-full" perspective.

Today, Thryv is rapidly expanding its software business, leveraging AI to enhance its offerings. AI plays a significant role in content creation, quality assurance, and Thryv's all-in-one software platform. This platform simplifies various business processes, including scheduling, customer interactions, marketing campaigns, website and landing page creation, and content generation. AI-driven solutions make these processes faster, more efficient, and cost-effective.

Walsh emphasizes the advantages of the monthly recurring revenue (MRR) model and subscription-based revenue when combined with high customer engagement and low churn rates. The MRR model provides predictability, allowing businesses to start each month with a stable revenue base for better planning and growth. This predictability benefits small businesses and consumers, helping them budget effectively.

Walsh's leadership philosophy revolves around transparency and aligning core values and beliefs. Openly sharing the company's vision and mission with employees fosters a sense of belonging and attracts individuals who resonate with the company's principles.

The conversation also touches on remote work triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic. Thryv adopted a work-from-anywhere model, subletting office space and embracing remote work early on. This transition increased productivity and employee satisfaction, offering flexibility in choosing work locations.

Maintaining company culture in a remote work environment is a challenge many organizations face. Walsh suggests regular webcasts, open communication, and adherence to core values help create a sense of connection and alignment with the company's mission.

Transformative successes have marked Joe Walsh's remarkable career. From his early days competing with Yellow Pages to guiding Thryv's evolution into a dynamic force in small business solutions, Walsh's visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to simplicity and innovation are valuable lessons for aspiring entrepreneurs.