Welcome to the personal website of
executive and investor

Nick Gausling

Strategic Planning

Creates forward-thinking plans to compete within a changing business landscape, capitalize on trends, and drive long-term corporate development and growth.

Finance

Utilizes financial analysis, economics, analytics, market research, and business intelligence to solve problems and identify opportunities.

Management

Structures and leads cross-functional teams to optimize processes, drive revenue growth, reduce expenses, and generate bottom-line profits.

About Nick Gausling

Nicholas Gausling is an operational & financial executive, investor, author, and speaker currently residing in Texas.

Nick brings to the table extensive, hands-on experience in organizational leadership, structuring teams, strategic planning, financial analysis, corporate development, and general management. Nick is an expert at growing market share, improving operational processes, and implementing strategic development plans to increase revenue, reduce expense, and generate profits.

In addition, Nick is adept at communicating ideas and presenting results to senior management (up to C-suite, Board of Directors, and owner level), working within and leading cross-functional teams, and building cohesive relationships with both internal and external partners.

In addition to his professional pursuits, Nick also serves as an Advisory Board member for the Libertarian Christian Institute.

Nick accepts a limited number of speaking opportunities. If you would like Nick to speak at your event, please send a private message via LinkedIn with details.

Key Professional Experience

Mattress Firm (2018 - present)

Divisional Director, Field Optimization (2020 - present)
Divisional Director, Strategy & Analytics (2018- 2020)

Serve as a core member of the North Divisional Leadership Team. Analyze, develop, and implement cross-functional strategic initiatives for all retail locations in the Northern United States, a $1B+ book of business with approximately 900 stores. Direct responsibility for field-facing financial & KPI analysis, setting field budgets, finance vendor relations, special projects, and serving as a divisional liaison to the corporate office.

Extensive field time touring with Regional VPs of Sales and District Managers to understand their needs, advise on best practices and process improvements, train on financial disciplines and controls, and furnish analysis for the Divisional EVP.
Sourced vendors, analyzed proposals, and procured relationship with a financial services vendor to solve competitive gap in New Jersey & Vermont with no secondary/tertiary financing.
Led field budget control effort to drive down divisional salesperson expense by -50 basis points year over year.
Helped lead the division through navigating numerous challenges including bankruptcy change management, multiple organizational restructures, and COVID-19 crisis response.

Emerald Risk Solutions (2014 – 2018)

Managing Partner

Co-founded and led a boutique financial services firm. Sourced deals, conducted due diligence, trained personnel, interfaced with regulators, and provided services for businesses and individuals.

Managed establishment of strategic relationships with multiple Fortune 100 companies.
Guided the firm through its transformation from a financial planning and management consulting provider into a boutique private equity / venture capital investor and incubator.
Led the firm to acquire equity positions in portfolio companies spanning tech, CPG manufacturing and distribution, and professional services, including operations both domestic and international.

Real Water (2013 – 2015)

Chief of Staff (2013 - 2015)
Manager, External Affairs (2013)

Exercised cross-functional executive coordination and special project management across all departments of a nationally-distributed CPG functional beverage company, including: sales and distribution, marketing and PR, finance, HR, manufacturing and logistics, and QA/QC. Direct responsibility for investor relations, Board of Directors affairs, contract negotiation, compliance and regulatory affairs, and interfacing with outside legal counsel. Directly reported to the CEO.

As a key member of the executive team, helped lead the company from negative EBITDA into positive EBITDA. Worked with the VP of Sales to negotiate a private label contract with a major natural products retail chain, boosting annual revenue by more than 10%.
Implemented a new HR management system which reduced payroll man hours by 10%, lowered premiums on worker’s comp insurance, and significantly cut the company’s liability exposure.
Sat on the management task force which successfully prepared the company’s primary manufacturing facility to receive certification from the National Sanitation Foundation.
Managed and negotiated across numerous contract cycles, including with: one of the largest beverage companies in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), multiple domestic beverage distributors, and celebrities in diverse fields including music and professional sports.