Silicon Slopes Talks with Ryan Westwood & Amy Cook of Fullcast

When you ask Ryan Westwood what really drives him, it’s not the big wire transfers or the business headlines. Instead, it’s the phone calls from team members whose lives have been changed. 

For Ryan, business is about creating something from nothing with people you care about, and then making sure they win just as big as you do. That philosophy of generosity and abundance, he says, is the “secret sauce” to building a super-team.

Amy Osmond Cook knows exactly what he means. She’s been part of Ryan’s circle for more than a decade, bringing her own powerhouse mix of leadership, strategy, and grit. From the moment she told Ryan back in 2012 that she’d be following him as a business mentor (whether he accepted the role or not), she’s been applying lessons from leaders past and present—Jack Welch, Cheryl Snapp Conner, and her own family—to become the kind of leader who learns constantly, values relationships deeply, and can disarm a room full of egos with quiet confidence.

In this candid conversation with Clint Betts, CEO and Co-Founder of Silicon Slopes, Ryan and Amy share what it takes to build successful companies. From betting big on your own team to embracing the grind that most people glamorize but few can endure, Ryan and Amy share some of their most valued lessons on leadership, generosity, Utah’s thriving tech scene, the game-changing role of AI, and why both believe that working on something bigger than yourself—with the right people—is the most exhilarating thing in business.

Here are some interview highlights. 

Clint: Ryan, you’ve said before that working on something bigger than yourself with the right people is the most exhilarating thing in life. Can you share what you mean by that and how it connects to Fullcast’s journey?

Ryan: It’s in my nature to be engaged in something. I’ve found that the best cure for depression or personal struggles is having something greater than yourself that you’re working on with a team you care about. When you have a mission that almost seems impossible, and the right people, it’s unmatched.

With Fullcast, what was unique is that our biggest check didn’t come from a VC. It came from us. Amy and I personally invested millions into the round. We’re betting on ourselves in a big way, and that changes the dynamic. Everyone’s got skin in the game. I believe in being generous with equity when everyone has big stakes, the energy and commitment shift completely.

Clint: Amy, as part of a team, you’ve helped build and scale multiple companies. Why is it important to scale these companies in Utah? 

Amy: I grew up in Utah. I lived in Provo, and I had family in Bountiful. And, I have watched the tech community in Utah County grow from almost nothing, literally farmland at Thanksgiving Point to a thriving hub. It’s been incredible to see Ashton’s vision turn into Silicon Slopes.

For instance, when we invited a technical leader from Meta to be part of our GTM Live event he didn’t even know Silicon Slopes existed. He expected to speak with 10 people in the room, but we have 150 registrations so far! We know that Utah has hard-working, multilingual talent and an unmatched sense of community. It’s a recipe for success.

Clint: Ryan, how is AI shaping Fullcast’s product direction?

Ryan: We started a separate AI dev track a year ago. And we are seeing signs everywhere that predict AI will disrupt everything we do. From commission calculations to territory planning. If we don’t adapt, we’ll be obsolete in 18 months.

So, we’re building tools that automate Territory Analytics and soon, Commission Analytics. The challenge is we’re living in two worlds where we are supporting our existing SaaS product while building for the AI-driven future. It’s tough on gross margins, but we’re skating to where the puck is going.

Audience Question: How do I get in front of VCs and actually secure meetings?

Ryan: Flip the script. Don’t chase them. Instead, make them want you. When I ran Utah Valley Entrepreneur Forum, I put all the top VCs on the board. They saw me execute, lead, and deliver. When I was ready to start my next business, I got seven term sheets without pitching.

Audience Question: What do you think about the four-day workweek for startups?

Amy: Startups are too hard for a four-day workweek. If you don’t love it enough to go 24/7, you probably shouldn’t do it.

Ryan: Agreed. Speed is your greatest currency in a venture-backed business. If you undermine speed, you undermine your biggest advantage. Being a founder isn’t a job, it’s a lifestyle. If you can’t commit to that, it’s not for you.

Audience Question: What shaped your people-first leadership styles?

Amy: I believe everyone deserves the same amount of respect, and I try to treat everyone like the CEO of their own company. But when people tell me I can’t do something, it lights a fire.

My grandma told me I’d never finish my master’s. My father-in-law said I’d never finish my doctorate. My uncle said I wouldn’t succeed in business. Those doubts in my abilities really fuels me.

And if I’m being completely honest, one of the main reasons that I decided to go back and get my doctorate degree was because I was sick of people not responding to my emails. That is the absolute truth. 

Ryan: I really think getting fired up when people doubt us is a great motivator. Amy and I both came from families, that loved us and took care of us and really help us in significant ways. And this is part of what’s great about Utah.  I hit the ovarian lottery in my life.  My mother is amazing, and my grandparents were amazing. I grew up on a farm and I grew up around people cared. So, I feel like it is my responsibility to my community, church, everyone around me to to give back, because I’m fortunate to be from here. 

Audience Question: Amy, what challenges have you faced as a woman in business, and how have you overcome them?

Amy: Being underestimated can be your biggest strength. Just overdeliver and exceed expectations. I also try to assume people want me to succeed; it changes how you interpret their actions and keeps you from being overly sensitive.

One personal challenge is that I care too much about what others think. I’ve had to learn to separate feedback from truth so I can make the best decisions for the business.

Ryan: Amy’s an incredible leader because she disarms tense situations and solves problems without ego. I learned a great lesson, around eight years ago. Men think that women should do things a certain way, and I realized that day how wrong I was. Amy’s way of doing things is incredibly effective, and many times more effective than my way of doing things. She gets what she wants. 

She doesn’t have to do it by being intense. She gets it by knowing everyone, caring about everyone, and knowing how to navigate the conversation. Ever since then, I have never given Amy advice on how to lead a group or get something done. Now I just get out of her way while she gets things done.

Click here for the complete interview.