Some leadership lessons don’t come from wins—they come from the moments that test who you are when things don’t go as planned.
Travis Hess has spent more than 15 years leading global commerce organizations, advising boards, scaling businesses, and navigating high-stakes transitions. Today, as CEO of Commerce, he carries responsibility for a global platform and thousands of customers. But in this conversation, Travis doesn’t focus on playbooks or success stories.
Instead, he speaks candidly about adversity, vulnerability, and the reality that “bad stuff happens”—even at the highest levels. We explore why being yourself as a leader requires real vulnerability, how pushing through difficult moments shapes long-term success, and why resilience matters more than polish when the pressure is on.
Dave sat down with Travis to unpack what’s hard about leadership that rarely gets said out loud—how identity, adversity, and perseverance intersect when the stakes are real. This episode is a reminder that leadership isn’t forged in comfort, but in the moments we don’t get to avoid.
Throughout the conversation, Travis and Dave explore what it really takes to lead through adversity, and why vulnerability is often the difference between short-term survival and lasting success.
About the guest
Travis Hess is the CEO of Commerce, where he leads global operations and growth for the commerce platform. He joined the company in 2024 after senior leadership roles at Accenture, where he led direct-to-consumer commerce and global partnerships. Travis has also served as CEO of BVA and EVP at The Stable, advising and scaling some of the world’s leading ecommerce brands. He has been recognized as one of Signifyd’s 30 Most Influential in Ecommerce and serves on multiple partner advisory boards. Travis lives in Austin with his two children.
About the Host
Dave Osh is the founder of Varlinx and a transformation catalyst dedicated to evolving leadership potential and creating a ripple effect of unity in our divided world. His conversations surface practical, human strategies leaders can use tomorrow. Dave is the author of The CEO Potential: Transcend Self, Team and Organization for Lasting Success in the New Age of AI, and is known for his TED talk, Overcoming Bias to Unite Our Divided World.
