Arthur Michel

Background

• Appears to hold a position of authority within Alpha organization
• Has approval power over projects and initiatives
• Manages or oversees financial approvals ("the guy who's paying their fucking bills")
• Enforces Brain Lift protocol as part of Alpha's standard operating procedures

Current Role & Responsibilities

• Decision-maker for project approvals
• Oversees or enforces organizational processes, particularly Brain Lifts
• Reviews and approves proposals and initiatives
• Has some financial authority within Alpha

Key Insights & Working Style

• Initially cautious about Gary and team's initiatives
• Concerned about proper protocol and documentation (Brain Lifts)
• Open to compromise on process when presented with logical alternatives
• Can be flexible when approached directly and honestly
• May be concerned about his position and authority being challenged

Current Projects & Initiatives

• Enforcing Brain Lift methodology throughout Alpha organization
• Has recently been receptive to a modified approach where initial work is done via PDF before formalizing as a Brain Lift

Collaboration Strategy

• Respond to direct, honest communication
• Prefers to be involved in the development process
• Appears to appreciate being consulted rather than circumvented
• Responds well to acknowledgment of his authority and role
• Benefits from clear presentation of how new initiatives align with organizational goals

Working Relationship with Ron

Ron has established a forthright approach with Arthur:

"I talked to Arthur. I just was like, listen. Like, this is what the fuck we're doing. We're trying to fucking win... I literally was like, yo... I've worked in corporate before, I've worked with billionaires before. Nobody wants to be fucking honest with the guy who's paying their fucking bills. I don't give a fuck because I have nothing to lose and everything to gain."

They have negotiated a workflow that satisfies Arthur's need for protocol while giving Gary's team more flexibility:

"I was like, well, how do you feel about, like, when I come to you about shit, we don't start off with a brain lift. We start off with just a PDF. And, like, you help me iterate it all the way to your liking. Right? And we, like, workshop it that way, then put it in the brain lift... That way, you can't fucking blame me... And then we go from there."

Strategic Approach for Interaction

• Be direct and honest about objectives
• Present clear benefits to Alpha
• Acknowledge his authority while demonstrating value
• Involve him early in the process rather than presenting finished work
• Work collaboratively to refine ideas rather than defending completed work

Recent Interactions

• May 2025: Ron Roberts successfully "smoothed over" a situation with Arthur
• May 2025: Gary had a direct conversation with Arthur about working style and process, resulting in a more collaborative approach and smoother approval process
• June 2025 (Mentioned in Gary Sheng & Jonathon Stewart transcript dated 2025-06-04):
  • Approved Gary Sheng's plan for the June 14th "Alphas Activate" event.
  • Jonathon Stewart noted his intent to speak with Arthur regarding event strategy and coordination, as events were falling under Stewart's purview and were described as a "terrible mess."
  • Gary Sheng also reiterated that Finance/Ops (implicitly including Arthur) had initially pushed for a quick event following a successful one in late April.

Notes

Arthur appears to be an important gatekeeper within the Alpha organization, with authority to approve or reject initiatives. While initially presenting as potentially resistant to change, he has shown willingness to adapt processes when approached directly and included in the development process.

The most effective strategy appears to be presenting him with partially developed ideas (via PDF rather than formal Brain Lifts), then collaboratively refining them before formalizing through official channels. This both acknowledges his authority and gives him ownership in the outcome.

Ron summarized the result of their recent interaction: "he finally, like, loosened up and realized that, like, weren't coming for his fucking job. We just want him to, like, say yes anytime." This suggests that addressing underlying concerns about authority and position was key to improving the working relationship.

Coordination between Finance/Ops (Arthur) and other departments like Engagement (Jonathon Stewart) regarding event approvals and overall strategy appears to be an area needing improvement.

July 2025 Update: Arthur has become a sensitive topic within the broader Alpha ecosystem. When Tim Joo asked Gauntlet leadership (Ash Tilawat and Austen Allred) about Arthur during discussion of organizational issues, "they both looked at each other and they were like, no comment." This reaction suggests Arthur's reputation or behavior has become a significant concern that people are reluctant to discuss openly, even while willing to discuss other Alpha leadership issues. Gary's assessment of Arthur as "a coward and a snake" reflects broader organizational sentiment about his leadership style and character.

August 2025 Update: Arthur engaged in harassment behavior toward Gary Sheng via LinkedIn on August 17, 2025, at 5 AM, approximately one month after cutting off Gary's payment and access. Despite deactivating Gary's Google Chat account, Arthur went out of his way to find an alternative communication method to send an accusatory message stating "you ghosted us" and expressing disappointment. This behavior occurred while Alpha Schools was experiencing severe underperformance across the organization, with Ron Roberts diagnosing it as scapegoating: "Well, it's because everyone's underperforming severely... So he's looking for a bellow. Out, scapegoat." The early morning timing and distressed tone suggest Arthur was experiencing significant stress and sleep deprivation. Gary's response highlighted Arthur's failure to build any goodwill or trust during their working relationship, making his disappointment irrelevant and hypocritical given his own poor leadership and relationship management.

Transcripts

Transcript ID	Date	Summary

| 2025-05-24-summary-sheng-roberts-klein | 2025-05-24 | Alpha Labs Strategy Session: Gary Sheng, Ron Roberts, Dallas Klein |