Steve Pockross
About Steve Pockross
Steve Pockross serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Verblio, where he has led the company through significant transformations since 2024. With over 20 years of experience in startups, nonprofits, and Fortune 500 companies, he has successfully navigated challenges in the content marketplace and achieved notable growth for Verblio.
Work at Verblio
Steve Pockross has held multiple leadership roles at Verblio, currently serving as Chief Executive Officer: Verblio as a Platform since 2024. He previously led the company through various phases, including as Chief Executive Officer: Weathering the GenAI Storm from 2022 to 2024, and Chief Executive Officer: High Growth Scaling from 2019 to 2022. During his tenure, he successfully navigated challenges posed by the rise of GenAI, emphasizing sustainability and strategic adaptation. Pockross also orchestrated Verblio's acquisition by Stage Fund, which positioned the company for growth and product expansion through acquisitions.
Education and Expertise
Steve Pockross earned a Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) in Marketing & Finance from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management between 2000 and 2002. He also holds a Bachelor of Arts in History from Wesleyan University, where he studied from 1990 to 1994. Pockross has over 20 years of experience across startups, nonprofits, and Fortune 500 companies, demonstrating expertise in business development, marketing, and strategic leadership.
Background
Pockross's career includes significant roles in various organizations. He served as Senior Vice President of Sales & Marketing at CallAssistant from 2014 to 2015 and held the position of VP of Solar Digital Marketing at Tendril from 2015 to 2016. His experience also includes roles at Western Union as Director of Global Product Development and at LiveOps, where he was part of the early management team. He has worked in diverse sectors, including international development and finance, which has contributed to his comprehensive understanding of market dynamics.
Achievements
Under Steve Pockross's leadership, Verblio achieved 600% growth over five years without external investment, earning recognition on the Inc 5000 list for three consecutive years. He led a strategic rebranding initiative that transformed Verblio from a commodity content provider to a differentiated multimedia content marketplace. Pockross emphasized the importance of balancing urgency with thoughtful decision-making and building people strategies to support company goals.
Personal Interests
Outside of his professional commitments, Steve Pockross enjoys hosting jazz concerts and spending time with his two sons. He is an enthusiast of telemark skiing and ultimate frisbee. Pockross also hosts Verblio's Yes and Marketing podcast and has appeared in unique video advertisements, showcasing his creative side.