How a Principal and Chief of Staff From T-Mobile Started Venture Forge
Two former T-Mobile leaders, Marcus East and Adam Maddock, teamed up to launch Venture Forge — a nonprofit built to support and fund early-stage founders, especially those from underserved backgrounds. This blog breaks down how their corporate experience shaped their mission.
Key Takeaways
The Chief of Staff role is critical: At T-Mobile, Adam served as Marcus’s right-hand, helping bridge strategy with daily operations and driving alignment across large teams.
Military experience shaped leadership: Adam’s time as a U.S. Marine taught him the value of delegation, purpose-driven work, and trust — all of which he carried into the business world.
Their nonprofit model is different: Unlike accelerators or VCs, Venture Forge doesn’t ask founders for equity. They focus on making them “investment ready” through training and resources.
Notable Quotes
“The Chief of Staff is a force multiplier... helping the whole team increase output.”
“You build the strongest bonds by winning together.”
“We believe wealth creation should be democratized for all founders.”
Real-World Applications
Establish a Feedback Culture
Example: Marcus hosted regular town halls and open Q&As so employees could ask anything—no recordings, just real talk.Use Metrics to Drive Progress
Example: They introduced rigorous OKRs at T-Mobile to align the digital team with the company’s strategic goals.Build with the Underserved in Mind
Example: Venture Forge supports veterans, women, and minority founders with micro-grants and mentorship—not just capital.
Marcus and Adam proved that a strong working relationship can lead to something bigger. From navigating corporate leadership to founding a nonprofit, they’re now focused on helping others bring their ideas to life—especially those who haven’t always had the chance.
Time Stamps:
02:05 Role and Impact of Chief of Staff at T-Mobile
06:15 Adam's Military Background and Leadership Style
09:20 Transition to Corporate America
23:50 Founding Venture Forge
27:25 Democratizing Wealth Creation
40:07 Importance of Early Hires
45:06 Overcoming Funding Barriers
50:16 Role of Advisors
Links Mentioned:
The Venture Forge website: https://www.ventureforge.org/
Email contact for Adam Maddock: adam@ventureforge.org
Email contact for Marcus East: marcus@ventureforge.org
About The Author
Emily Sander is an ICF-certified leadership coach with more than 15 years of experience in the business world and the author of Hacking Executive Leadership. She’s been featured in several print publications, online articles, and podcasts, including CEO Today Magazine, Leading to Fulfillment, and Leadership Powered by Common Sense.
Emily has a passion for helping business leaders reach their full potential. Go here to read her story from seasoned executive to knowledgeable coach. If you want to send Emily a quick message, then visit her contact page here.