In this episode of The Tech Leader's Playbook, Avetis Antaplyan sits down with Vijay Rajendran, investor and venture builder at gAI Ventures, UC Berkeley instructor, and author of the bestselling book The Funding Framework. Vijay brings a deeply grounded perspective on how the next generation of AI companies will actually be built, not through hype or speed alone, but through domain expertise, thoughtful leadership, and disciplined execution.
The conversation explores why domain experts now have a growing advantage over pure technologists, how venture studios are evolving in an AI-first world, and what truly separates fundable AI startups from products that will be replaced by the next model release. Vijay shares insights from working with hundreds of founders, including why verticalized AI, workflow integration, and right-sized markets matter more than ever.
They also dive into leadership transitions founders must make, common early-stage execution mistakes, and why fundraising is far more about listening than pitching. Drawing from his own journey as a founder and investor, Vijay emphasizes customer empathy, coachability, and falling in love with the problem rather than the solution. This episode is a must-listen for founders, operators, and tech leaders building durable companies in the age of AI.
Takeaways
Chapters
00:00 The Future of AI Startups
02:00 What Predicts Founder Success
04:30 Domain Experts vs. Technologists
07:00 Where AI Is Creating Real Value
10:30 Using AI to Free Humans
13:00 What Makes an AI Idea Defensible
17:00 How Modern Venture Studios Operate
22:00 Choosing the Right Technical Partner
27:30 Founder Mindset Shifts
29:30 Common Early-Stage Mistakes
33:00 Rethinking Fundraising
41:00 Underrated AI Opportunities
45:00 One Message for Founders
Vijay Rajendran’s Social Media Links:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/vijayarajendran/
The Funding Framework: Secure Startup Funding With Confidence
Resources and Links:
In this episode of The Tech Leader's Playbook, Avetis Antaplyan sits down with Allison Shapira, a Harvard faculty member, global keynote speaker, former opera singer turned communication expert, and author of AI for the Authentic Leader. Together, they explore what it truly means to lead with authenticity, clarity, and energy in an era shaped by artificial intelligence and constant uncertainty.
Allison shares her journey from the world of opera to advising executives, founders, and government leaders under intense pressure. She breaks down why perfection is the enemy of progress, how clarity now matters more than certainty, and why leaders must shift from having all the answers to guiding through uncertainty with confidence.
The conversation dives deep into the role AI plays in leadership communication. Rather than replacing authenticity, Allison argues AI can actually strengthen it when used in alignment with personal values. She also issues a powerful warning about the rise of “superhuman persuasion” and why transparency and ethical boundaries are essential.
From creating psychological safety in high-stakes environments to navigating vulnerability at the executive level, this episode delivers a masterclass in modern leadership communication. It is an essential listen for tech leaders, founders, and executives navigating the future of work.
Takeaways
Chapters
00:00 The Future of Leadership, AI, and Authenticity
02:00 From Opera Singer to Leadership Communication Expert
04:30 Why Perfection Holds Leaders Back
06:50 The “Why You” Framework for Powerful Messaging
08:30 Communication Breakdowns in High-Pressure Environments
10:20 Clarity Over Certainty in Modern Leadership
14:10 Creating Psychological Safety at the Top
18:30 Career Epiphany and Walking Away from Prestige
24:00 Can AI Make Leaders More Authentic?
30:00 Should Leaders Send AI to Meetings?
35:00 Why AI Won’t Actually Give You More Free Time
38:40 The Rise of Superhuman Persuasion
44:00 The ACE Model: Authenticity, Clarity, Energy
48:00 Energy, Introverts, and Speaking With Intention
51:20 Books, Podcasts, and Where to Find Allison’s Work
52:40 Final Thoughts and Closing Remarks
Allison Shapira’s Social Media Links:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonshapira
https://www.youtube.com/@AllisonShapira
Resources and Links:
https://www.hireclout.com
https://www.podcast.hireclout.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/hirefasthireright
In this episode of The Tech Leader's Playbook, Avetis Antaplyan sits down with Tamara Laine, investigative journalist turned two-time tech founder and the CEO and co-founder of MPWR. Tamara brings a rare blend of storytelling, emotional intelligence, and problem-spotting instincts into the world of AI and financial innovation — and in this conversation, she unpacks how those experiences shape the products she builds today.
Tamara shares how her investigative background sharpened her ability to dig into root problems, challenge assumptions, and uncover overlooked patterns — skills she now uses to design user-centric, AI-powered solutions for financial inclusion. She opens up about the realities of being a gig worker, the challenges Gen Z faces in accessing credit, and how the traditional banking world is struggling to adapt to a rapidly changing workforce.
The episode dives deep into EQ-driven leadership, ethical AI, community as a modern moat, and the rise of low-code tools that are simultaneously empowering founders while making markets noisier than ever. Tamara’s insights on responsible innovation, founder resilience, and building tech that actually solves human problems make this a powerful, thought-provoking conversation for today’s leaders.
Takeaways
Chapters
00:00 Welcome & Introduction
01:20 From Investigative Journalism to Tech
03:00 Curiosity as a Founder Superpower
05:30 Market Fit, Behavior Change & Category Creation
07:40 Storytelling as the Foundation of Product Design
10:15 User Journeys, “Falling in Love with the Problem”
12:20 The Power of Blunt Feedback in Early-Stage Building
15:00 Parenting, Curiosity & Emotional Intelligence
17:45 Why EQ Matters More Than Ever in the Age of AI
20:20 Ethical AI, Bias, and Leadership Responsibility
24:00 Financial Access, Gig Workers & the Modern Workforce
27:10 How Gen Z Borrows Differently
30:00 The Lender Perspective & Market Validation
31:55 Fundraising Realities: Money vs. Strategic Money
34:20 Noise in the AI Era & The Challenge of Differentiation
36:00 Moats, LLMs & Building What Can’t Be Easily Copied
37:10 Community as a Strategic Advantage
38:40 Founder Fears: Funding Markets & Deep Tech
41:30 Biggest Founder Aha Moments
42:20 Book Recommendation: Outcomes Over Output
43:00 Connect with Tamara & Closing Thoughts
Tamara Laine’s Social Media Link:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamaralaine/
Resources and Links:
In this episode of The Tech Leader's Playbook, Avetis Antaplyan sits down with Melanie Nabar, Vice President at Volition Capital, to uncover what truly makes a company fundable—and what silently kills deals. With a background in growth-stage investing, Melanie brings sharp insight into founder dynamics, product-market fit, and the capital efficiency required to scale in today’s AI-driven market.
They dive deep into the evolving expectations of Series A investors, the dangers of inflated valuations, and why product obsession without go-to-market focus can quietly drain a startup’s future. Melanie breaks down how founders should assess investor psychology, decode fund structures, and strategically use secondary offerings to de-risk personal financials without sacrificing long-term upside.
This episode is packed with insights on revenue quality, building moats in the AI age, and how bootstrapped founders can shift their mindset to deploy capital more effectively. Whether you're preparing to raise capital or already navigating the growth phase, Melanie delivers actionable advice with clarity and candor.
TakeawaysFounders often focus too much on historical data when investors are more interested in future growth and market potential.Series A investors prioritize product-market fit, retention, and scalable go-to-market motion—not just ARR.High valuations without the fundamentals to back them can kill deals and erode trust.Revenue quality (repeatability, margin, and retention) plays a bigger role in valuation than founders often realize.Many founders burn too much capital on product without clear customer validation or ROI.Bootstrapped companies often hesitate to spend even when it’s time to scale; this can stall growth.Churn and gross margin are key indicators for distinguishing real AI products from hype.Companies integrated into user workflows and habits are harder to replace and more defensible.Founders should evaluate VC fund structure, vintage, and portfolio psychology—not just the check size.Taking secondary in a raise can de-risk founders personally and improve long-term decision-making.Pattern recognition and experience on the board matter more than niche industry knowledge post-seed.The best outcomes don’t always require billion-dollar exits; responsible growth can still yield generational wealth.
Chapters00:00 – The biggest mistake founders make when fundraising01:15 – What makes a company fundable at Series A04:45 – Why overhyping numbers kills trust and credibility09:15 – Understanding revenue quality and valuation11:30 – How 2021 broke capital efficiency—and what’s changed since16:00 – Deal-killers and how unrealistic expectations derail good companies20:00 – Smart capital deployment: where investors want to see money go24:00 – Why founder secondaries are on the rise—and when they make sense27:45 – How bootstrapped founders can shift from hoarding to strategic investment33:10 – AI moats: what’s truly defensible and what’s hype39:20 – Questions founders must ask before taking VC money45:30 – How fund size and check size impact founder support50:40 – The difference between VC, growth equity, and PE—and why it matters
Melanie Nabar’s Social Media Link:https://www.linkedin.com/in/melaniejordannabar/
Melanie Nabar’s Website Link:https://www.volitioncapital.com/team/melanie-nabar/
Resources and Links:https://www.hireclout.comhttps://www.podcast.hireclout.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/hirefasthireright
In this episode of The Tech Leader's Playbook, Avetis Antaplyan welcomes back bestselling author and communication expert Chris Fenning, whose latest book Effective Meetings offers leaders a refreshingly simple framework to cut meeting time by 30% or more. Chris unpacks the hidden cost of poorly-run meetings—billions in wasted dollars, lost morale, and decision fatigue—and explains why the real issue is a lack of training, not bad intentions. Together, Avetis and Chris break down the deceptively powerful TPO method (Topic, Purpose, Output), showing leaders how to transform recurring time drains into high-impact, action-oriented conversations.
From the pitfalls of daily stand-ups to the myth of the “must-attend” calendar invite, Chris shares real-world stories, practical examples, and organizational case studies (like Shopify’s Chaos Monkey) that show how eliminating unnecessary meetings isn’t just possible—it’s urgent. Whether you’re a startup founder drowning in back-to-back Zooms or a Fortune 30 exec looking to sharpen your team’s focus, this episode is packed with actionable advice you can apply today.
Takeaways
TPO (Topic, Purpose, Output) is the foundational framework for running effective meetings.
A meeting invite with no context is like a court summons—rude and unproductive.
The #1 reason meetings fail? Lack of a clear purpose—not missing agendas.
“No agenda, no attendance" is a viable policy to filter out low-value invites.
Recurring meetings often lose relevance over time—reevaluate them regularly.
Many meetings should be emails—ask if the meeting requires real-time, multi-person input.
Decision-making meetings must include actual decision-makers or become planning sessions.
Multitasking in meetings is usually a sign people shouldn’t be there or are disengaged.
The “Inverse Time Rule”: if a topic only affects a few people, it should take minimal time.
Leaders should experiment: cut one-hour weeklies to bi-weeklies and watch productivity rise.
Post-meeting follow-ups are faster and clearer when the output is clearly defined.
Clarity is leadership—clear asks beat backstories and long-winded explanations.
Chapters
00:00 – Intro: The Meeting Problem
01:30 – Why Most Meetings Fail
03:15 – Topic, Purpose, Output (TPO) Framework
06:00 – Writing Better Meeting Invites
08:00 – The Power of Saying No to Bad Meetings
10:00 – Recurring Meetings: Fix or Kill Them
11:45 – When a Meeting Shouldn’t Be a Meeting
17:00 – How to Restructure Recurring Meetings
21:00 – Real Case Study: Cutting Meetings at Scale
25:00 – The Truth About Daily Stand-Ups
27:00 – TPO in Action: Before, During, and After
31:00 – AI’s Role in Meeting Efficiency
33:00 – Why Clarity is the Cornerstone of Leadership
35:00 – Helping Others Get to the Point Faster
42:00 – Goal, Problem, Solution: The Efficient Ask
45:00 – Why Experts Often Over-Explain
48:00 – What’s Changed Since Chris’s First Book
49:30 – Favorite Book Recommendation: The Culture Map
51:00 – Final Thoughts & Call to Action
Chris Fenning’s Social Media Link:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-fenning/
Chris Fenning’s Website Link:
Resources and Links:
In this episode of The Tech Leader's Playbook, Avetis Antaplyan sits down with Valerie Jackson — Harvard College and Georgetown Law alum, former securities lawyer turned C-suite people leader — to explore what it really takes to scale companies without breaking leaders or culture. Valerie traces her journey from advising public companies and serving at the U.S. Public Company Accounting Oversight Board to building one of the first law-firm diversity departments and leading people operations across VC-backed rockets, public SaaS, and PE-owned businesses. Together they unpack human-centered leadership, the mechanics of burnout (as recognized by the WHO), and why self-work is often the hardest part of scaling. Valerie shares practical tools — from 360s, “powerful partnerships,” and time audits to managing brain chemistry — and makes a compelling case that AI should elevate people, not erase them, because nothing can replace a leader’s “energetic signature.” The conversation closes with hard-won lessons on IPO vs. going private, PE vs. VC risk appetites, and Valerie’s mantra: “Know your ripple.”
Takeaways
Great leadership starts with self-awareness. Learn yourself to lead others.
Build “powerful partnerships”: pair visionary thinkers with linear operators.
Align culture: what we say (cognitive) with how we behave (emotional).
Use 360 feedback to surface blind spots with curiosity and humility.
Burnout = exhaustion + inefficacy + cynicism. Address all three to recover.
Run time audits to find your “golden ratio” of energizing vs draining work.
Support brain chemistry intentionally: dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin, endorphins.
Keep AI human-centric. Technology should amplify people, not replace them.
Design for tool obsolescence and misuse while protecting the humans.
IPOs bring capital and scrutiny; going private can restore flexibility.
PE and VC differ on time horizons, risk, and control expectations.
Leader’s billboard: “Know your ripple.” Be intentional about your impact.
Chapters
00:00 Intro and why human-centered leadership matters
01:28 Meet Valerie Jackson: law to people leadership across stages
03:25 Early diversity work and career inflection points
05:10 Patterns across org models: partnership, VC, public, PE
06:59 Visionary vs linear strengths and “powerful partnerships”
08:51 Self-work as a prerequisite to leading others
12:20 Culture alignment: words, behaviors, and trust
17:29 Feedback that works: curiosity, humility, and 360s
25:00 Burnout explained: exhaustion, inefficacy, cynicism
32:31 Time audits and defining your “golden ratio”
34:23 Brain chemistry levers for sustainable performance
37:03 Delegate to elevate: designing roles around energy
40:04 Keeping people at the center of AI
43:11 The “energetic signature”: what AI cannot replace
52:49 IPO tradeoffs and why some companies go private
56:13 PE vs VC: incentives, timelines, and control
1:03:09 Tools and books leaders actually use
1:05:22 10X vs 2X: optimization vs transformation
1:08:52 Billboard for leaders: “Know your ripple”
1:11:19 Closing and take-home actions
Valerie Jackson’s Social Media Link:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/vadjackson/
Resources and Links:
In this episode of The Tech Leader's Playbook, Avetis Antaplyan sits down with Erik Huberman, founder and CEO of Hawke Media, to unpack why the old marketing playbook is broken—and what actually scales in 2025. Erik shares how AI has collapsed the product moat, making distribution, brand, and go-to-market the real advantages. He explains the “vibe” behind breakout brands (think Liquid Death) and why software companies must now win on trust, positioning, and partnerships rather than feature lists. We dig into Hawke Media’s early differentiation—“your outsourced CMO,” month-to-month flexibility, and a la carte services—and how credibility compounds through consistent standards, client communication, and third-party validation (PR as trust, not awareness). Erik also breaks down the myths of ROAS, how to measure what matters across sales cycles, and a pragmatic framework for investing in founders with an unfair advantage. Finally, he offers founder operating principles: build the company you want to run, avoid burnout and bad debt, and let culture be the brand customers experience. If you lead growth, run a services firm, or invest in SaaS, this is a tactical masterclass in cutting through noise and turning credibility into compounding results.
Takeaways
AI shrinks product moats; distribution and GTM become the edge.
90% should be scalable, repeatable marketing; 10% creative bets to stand out.
Brand “vibe” creates defensibility—even for software—by signaling trust and values.
Positioning that travels (“your outsourced CMO”) fuels word-of-mouth and referrals.
PR is a **trust*asset more than awareness—turn third-party moments into ads.
ROAS often lies; anchor to sales cycle, lifetime value, and full-funnel ROI.
Think in “half-lives”: run long enough to see conversions, then optimize and wait again.
Relationships and communication keep clients through dips; performance alone isn’t enough.
Niche vs. breadth: define ICP and messaging; teams can specialize without shrinking TAM.
Use the Rule of 40 to balance profit and growth when setting spend.
Investors should seek unfair advantages: embedded founders, ecosystem ties, real GTM.
Founder principle: build for yourself; avoid debt/burnout—your ambition sets the ceiling.
Chapters
00:00 Intro and guest setup Erik Huberman and the new moat in an AI world
04:20 Distribution, partnerships, and GTM as the unfair advantage
08:05 Brand “vibe” and positioning that actually travels
11:45 How Hawke Media stood out the outsourced CMO model
21:30 The awareness → nurture → trust framework
34:40 The ROAS trap and what to measure instead
44:05 Spend strategy, Rule of 40, and scaling channels
47:00 Sales-cycle “half-lives” and realistic ramp timelines
48:45 Make-it-work mindset for leaders and marketers
52:50 Investor lens embedded founders and unfair advantages
58:21 Final takeaways and close
Erik Huberman’s Social Media Links:
https://www.instagram.com/erikhuberman
https://www.linkedin.com/in/erikhuberman/
Erik Huberman’s Websites:
Resources and Links:
In this episode of The Tech Leader's Playbook, Avetis Antaplyan sits down with Sam Goodner, the serial entrepreneur and former CEO of Catapult Systems — Microsoft’s top-ranked consulting partner at the time of its acquisition. Sam shares his 30-year journey from starting a small IT consulting firm in 1993 with just $17,000 in the bank to scaling multiple companies to eight- and nine-figure exits, including turning a parking tech startup into a unicorn.
Through vivid stories and practical lessons, Sam reveals the disciplines behind operational scalability, decentralized leadership, and what it truly takes to build a company that can run — and grow — without its founder. He discusses his book Like Clockwork: Run Your Business with Swiss Army Precision, the frameworks he used to recession-proof his companies, and how he transformed chaos into predictable growth. From his military lessons in Switzerland to his role as an angel investor mentoring the next generation of entrepreneurs, Sam offers a masterclass in clarity, systems, and execution — proving that growth isn’t luck, it’s discipline.
Takeaways
Great businesses scale through clarity, disciplined execution, and time, not luck.
Founders often become the bottleneck — true leadership means empowering others to decide and own outcomes.
Operational scalability starts when the company can run and grow without the founder.
Create rules of empowerment: if a decision is right for the customer, company, ethical, aligned with values, and you’re accountable — act.
Codify best practices with playbooks, especially for sales and hiring.
Hire people better than you, then get out of their way.
Mentorship and coachability accelerate growth more than any funding round.
Recession-proofing begins before the downturn — diversify industries, services, and recurring revenue streams.
Every company needs to define what it’s best in the world at and its unfair advantage.
Founders should spend 95% of their time on the business, not in it.
Focus on discipline and systems, not just ideas — execution is where companies win.
Success evolves from climbing mountains to helping others climb theirs.
Chapters
00:00 Intro: Scaling Beyond Chaos
01:30 From Developer to Founder: The Birth of Catapult Systems
03:20 Bootstrapping to Profitability in the 90s
06:00 Why Raising Money Isn’t Always the Answer
07:30 Investing in Flash Parking: Spotting a Unicorn in an Unsexy Industry
12:00 The Power of Coachability and Mentorship
16:50 Breaking Founder Mode and Achieving Operational Scalability
21:00 Building Playbooks for Sales and Talent Acquisition
26:00 Decentralized Decision-Making and the Rules of Empowerment
37:00 The Swiss Army Precision: Inside Sam’s Book “Like Clockwork”
43:00 Recession-Proofing Your Business
51:00 Balancing Focus and Diversification
55:00 Defining Your Unfair Advantage
57:00 The Aha Moment: Realizing You’re the Bottleneck
59:00 The Third Chapter: Giving Back and Mentoring Entrepreneurs
01:01:00 Closing Thoughts: Build Systems, Empower People, Stay Disciplined
Sam Goodner’s Social Media Links:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/samgoodner/
Sam Goodner’s Websites:
In this episode of The Tech Leader's Playbook, Avetis Antaplyan is joined by Christian Ulstrup, founder of Powerline, to explore how AI is transforming business practices. Christian, with over a decade of experience in applied AI, discusses the evolution of AI technologies and their real-world impact on industries ranging from startups to the U.S. federal government. He shares insights on moving from experimentation to impactful applications of AI, stressing the importance of cultivating a culture of continuous experimentation. Together, Avetis and Christian dive into how leaders can leverage AI for exponential growth, from AI quick wins to deep organizational transformations. The conversation touches on practical applications, such as automating back-office processes, improving customer interactions, and identifying hidden opportunities through AI-driven insights. Christian also discusses his firm’s approach to using AI tools to generate value, drive profitability, and reduce costs while maintaining a human-centered focus. His unique perspective on the role of AI in shaping the future of work is both enlightening and inspiring, offering actionable advice for tech leaders eager to embrace the AI revolution.
Takeaways
AI's role is not just about the technology itself but how and where it's applied in business processes.
Business leaders must foster a culture of continuous experimentation to maximize the potential of AI.
AI quick wins involve improving existing processes to work faster and more efficiently, sometimes 10 times faster.
A "10x" approach, rather than incremental changes, can drive larger, more impactful transformations.
Engaging with AI tools and experimenting with them helps uncover surprising efficiencies and new opportunities.
Effective AI adoption starts with clear executive alignment and a formal mandate for experimentation across the organization.
Some AI models like GPT and Claude are revolutionizing business processes that were previously time-consuming or costly.
AI tools should be integrated into everyday workflows, from sales to HR, to gain real-time insights and efficiencies.
Companies should prioritize AI experimentation, with an eye on both short-term wins and long-term cultural transformation.
AI can help businesses of all sizes democratize access to powerful data insights, leveling the playing field for smaller companies.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction
01:26 Christian Ulstrup’s Background
03:15 AI’s Role in Business Transformation
05:47 The AI Quick Win
07:55 Thinking Big for AI Impact
09:54 Three Phases of AI Adoption
12:18 Tools for AI Adoption
14:37 Identifying Power Users
16:58 Formalizing AI Use Across the Organization
19:15 Analyzing Data with AI Tools
23:30 AI for Small Businesses
27:48 AI and Profit Impact in PE-backed Firms
31:46 Second-Order Effects of AI
34:08 Risk Reduction and AI
39:56 Opportunity Spotting with AI
44:23 Change Management and AI
49:42 Biggest Aha Moment in Christian’s AI Journey
54:03 The Future of Work with AI
Christian Ulstrup’s Social Media Links:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/christianulstrup/
Resources and Links:
In this episode of The Tech Leader's Playbook, Avetis Antaplyan lays out a wartime CEO playbook for thriving in downturns, drawing on the same strategies his team used to scale HireClout and help clients grow through multiple recessions. He argues that recessions do not kill companies, timid leadership does, and makes the case for buying market share when others freeze. Avetis explains why momentum dies faster than cash burns, how to reinforce your core and double down on your edge, and where “talent arbitrage” appears when markets are scared. He also breaks down weaponized efficiency, using AI and automation to cut friction instead of people, and how leaders can keep teams aligned by leading with certainty, transparency, and small weekly wins. Along the way, Avetis shares candid stories from COVID, investing in AI startups and real estate, and the tough calls required of a wartime CEO. The result is a concise, practical blueprint for founders and operators who want to play to win rather than “not lose.”
Takeaways
Recessions concentrate opportunity in the hands of bold leaders
Momentum dies faster than cash burns, so “wait and see” erodes advantage
Cut distractions, not drivers; double down on your core edge
Downturns are prime time for talent arbitrage and loyalty building
You cannot cut your way to greatness; savings alone will not scale a company
Use AI and automation to remove friction so people can drive revenue
Turn downtime into build time by rebuilding systems to be 10x-ready
Keep outbound and thought leadership consistent while others go quiet
Lead with certainty; your team mirrors your energy and confidence
Create small weekly wins to sustain morale and momentum
Pair clarity with optimism; either one alone leads to noise or paralysis
The leaders who act decisively now will own the rebound later
Chapters
00:00 Why timid leaders lose in recessions
02:22 The big lie of “conserve and wait”
04:30 You cannot cut your way to greatness
06:45 Recessions as the cheapest time to buy market share
08:23 Talent arbitrage and loyalty during downturns
10:32 Reinforce your core and double down on your edge
12:50 Weaponized efficiency: cut friction, not talent
15:16 Turn downtime into build time and rebuild systems
17:22 Keep marketing; brand compounding when others go silent
19:25 Lead with certainty and reassure through transparency
21:40 Clarity plus optimism and the cost of overanalysis
23:40 No fluff, make it happen: own the rebound
Resources and Links:
In this episode of The Tech Leader's Playbook, Avetis Antaplyan sits down with Jossie Haines—executive coach, fractional engineering leader, and former engineering leader at Apple, Zynga, Tile, and Life360—to unpack how great leaders build inclusive, high-performing teams and adopt AI with intention. Jossie shares pivotal moments from leading Siri teams at Apple (including award-winning Apple TV work) and scaling engineering at Tile, where she helped double the org and architect a culture people still miss. She gets candid about imposter syndrome, why inclusion (not box-checking diversity) drives psychological safety and product quality, and how to communicate in CEO/CFO language: business outcomes, trade-offs, and crisp “yes—and” solutions. You’ll also hear her playbook for leaders using AI to reclaim strategic time, from code-base ramp-ups to custom GPTs that coach junior PMs and engineers. Plus: lessons from Zynga’s two-week company-wide pivot, the value of age diversity in teams, and why “slow productivity” beats 80-hour grinds. A masterclass in defining success on your own terms—and leading with clarity, courage, and measurable impact.
Takeaways
Inclusion and psychological safety are prerequisites for high performance.
Focus on mechanics (meetings, feedback, promotions) before chasing diversity metrics.
Communicate in outcomes and trade-offs; lead with business impact.
Use “yes, and” to surface constraints without being the “no” person.
Leaders should model effective AI use to raise adoption quality.
Treat AI as an 80–90% draft; humans add accuracy and context.
Deploy AI where it frees strategy time: research, ramp-ups, admin loops.
Build leverage by shipping tangible alternatives quickly.
Age diversity strengthens execution and pattern recognition.
Replace hustle myths with sustainable “slow productivity.”
Senior leaders must self-generate confidence signals; feedback gets rarer.
Define success on your terms and make clear, bold asks.
Chapters
00:00 Intro & Guest Setup
02:00 Apple & Tile: Wins, Burnout, and Imposter Syndrome
05:00 Designing Roles and Cultures People Miss
08:30 Why Senior Leaders Feel Isolated
10:40 Inclusion → Psychological Safety → Performance
13:10 Operationalizing Inclusion (Meetings, Feedback, Promotions)
16:50 Hiring Panels, Representation, and Real Accountability
18:55 Keeping Eyes on Outcomes, Not Optics
21:50 The Overlooked Advantage of Age Diversity
26:20 Boundaries, Peak Hours, and Sustainable Work
28:40 Leaders & AI: Modeling Quality and Guardrails
33:00 AI as Draft Partner: Seniors vs. Juniors
36:30 Practical AI Workflows (Ramp-Ups, Custom Assistants)
40:15 Speaking CFO/CEO: Outcomes, Trade-offs, “Yes, and”
46:50 Shipping Fast for Negotiation Leverage
51:10 Trust Yourself, Ask Boldly, Create Roles
54:30 Closing & Book Recommendations
Jossie Haines’s Social Media Links:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jossiemann/
Jossie Haines’s Websites:
Resources and Links:
In this episode of The Tech Leader's Playbook, Avetis Antaplyan sits down with Radhika Dutt—MIT-trained engineer, entrepreneur, and author of Radical Product Thinking, to rethink how high-growth companies set direction and measure progress.
Radhika explains why traditional goal systems (KPIs/OKRs) often incentivize “performance theater,” tracing their lineage from Drucker’s MBOs to Andy Grove to today’s playbooks—and why they’re mismatched to modern, creative work. She introduces OHLs (Objectives, Hypotheses, Learnings) and a “puzzle setting/puzzle solving” culture that pushes teams to interrogate bad numbers, not hide them. Along the way she names common “product diseases” (HERO syndrome, obsessive sales disorder, pivotitis, strategic swelling, Narcissus complex) and shows how a clear, testable vision prevents whiplash pivots. A standout case study: at Signal Ocean, reframing the challenge for tech-averse users helped double sales in 2024 and again in 2025 while reducing churn from 26% to 4%. Leaders also get a practical script for better reviews (“How well is it working? What did we learn? What will we try next?”) and a reminder to build experimentation muscles before a crisis. The result is a rigorous, human approach to strategy that replaces vanity metrics with compounding learning.
Takeaways
OKRs often reward optics over insight, encouraging “performance theater.”
Use a concrete vision that states the problem, audience, status quo, desired end state, and product’s role.
Shift from “hit the target” to puzzle setting so teams feel invited to solve the right problems.
Run on OHLs: Objectives, Hypotheses, Learnings to measure deeply and learn publicly.
Watch for “product diseases” like HERO syndrome, obsessive sales disorder, pivotitis, strategic swelling, and the Narcissus complex.
Pivot with gravitas by stating what was wrong, what you learned, and what you’ll try next.
Case study: at Signal Ocean, reframing for tech-averse users unlocked adoption, doubled sales year over year, and reduced churn.
OKRs trace back to MBOs, which fit repetitive work but struggle with today’s creative, uncertain problems.
Leaders should act like detectives, not judges to create psychological safety for honest learning.
Introduce OHLs inside your current cadence before replacing existing processes.
Spread market insight beyond the founder so teams can challenge assumptions and stay aligned.
Start with the segment that has the most urgent need, then expand intentionally.
Chapters
00:00 Intro & Why Targets Mislead
01:27 Radhika’s Path and Early Lessons
03:41 Hitting Numbers vs. Reality on the Ground
05:31 “Product Diseases” That Derail Strategy
07:51 Writing a Vision You Can Execute
09:49 The Wine Startup Example and Narcissus Complex
13:07 Pivotitis and How to Pivot with Gravitas
16:34 Translating Vision into Actionable Experiments
17:44 Why Goals Alone Don’t Work
20:03 A Short History of OKRs and Their Limits
24:43 From Targets to Puzzles: Reframing Stalled Sales
26:50 OHLs: Objectives, Hypotheses, Learnings
29:14 Running Better Reviews: Three Questions
35:31 Case Study: Signal Ocean’s Tech-Averse Users
39:55 Outcomes: Doubling Sales and Reducing Churn
41:58 Intel’s Lesson: Experimentation Beats Goal Mechanics
47:58 Detectives, Not Judges: Building a Learning Culture
50:06 How to Start Tomorrow with OHLs
59:37 Don’t Do Founder Mode; Spread Insight
01:03:18 Closing Notes & Resources
Radhika Dutt’s Social Media Links:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/radhika-dutt/
Radhika Dutt’s Websites:
https://www.radicalproduct.com/
Resources and Links:
In this episode of The Tech Leader's Playbook, Avetis Antaplyan sits down with Dr. Reece Akhtar, CEO and founder of Deeper Signals — a leading organizational psychologist and data scientist helping companies unlock human potential through AI-powered talent insights. Together, they explore how the future of leadership is being shaped by behavioral science, soft skills, and the rise of AI in the workplace.
Dr. Akhtar breaks down what defines high-caliber leaders today, emphasizing the evergreen traits of cognitive aptitude, emotional intelligence, curiosity, and execution. He shares powerful stories about helping a scaling company move from 200 to 1,000 employees while improving performance by 15–20% year-over-year by using data-driven assessments.
Listeners will gain a practical blueprint for building talent-centric organizations, minimizing bias in hiring, and turning assessments into tools for onboarding, coaching, and long-term leadership development. This episode is packed with actionable advice for executives and founders who want to future-proof their organizations, hire and grow the right leaders, and create high-performing, cohesive teams in an AI-driven world.
Takeaways
High-performing leaders share four traits: cognitive aptitude, emotional intelligence, curiosity, and the ability to execute.
AI will amplify the need for collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity—not replace them.
Psychometrics offer a data-driven way to reveal leadership potential beyond intuition.
Assessments shouldn’t just filter candidates; they should inform onboarding and ongoing coaching.
Structured interviews combined with assessments dramatically improve hiring accuracy.
Data can act as a guardrail against unconscious bias in leadership selection.
Building a talent-centric organization requires aligning culture, leadership development, and performance metrics.
Cognitive diversity within teams often outperforms a single "A-player" approach.
Over-indexing on charismatic leaders can be dangerous—look for competence, not charm.
The five-factor model (OCEAN) is the most scientifically valid framework for personality assessments.
Leaders should pause before reacting—self-awareness and emotional regulation are key.
"Just pause and listen" is Akhtar’s billboard advice for young leaders.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction: Why leadership needs data in the AI era
01:35 What defines high-potential leaders today
03:50 Evergreen traits: intelligence, EQ, curiosity, execution
06:25 How psychometrics and AI reveal hidden potential
09:05 Case study: Scaling from 200 to 1,000 employees with data-driven hiring
13:10 Turning assessment data into onboarding and coaching tools
17:00 The five-factor model (OCEAN) and its predictive power
19:00 Limitations of assessments and human adaptability
22:30 Combining interviews, references, and data for better hiring decisions
27:50 Why resumes and unstructured interviews fall short
29:50 Lessons from Dune: Avoiding the charismatic leader trap
32:40 Using data to identify and mitigate bias in hiring
36:15 Building a talent-centric organization and embedding values
44:30 The importance of team fit and cognitive diversity
47:15 Personal lessons: pausing before reacting as a leader
48:30 Recommended reading: Social Physics by Sandy Pentland
49:55 Closing advice: "Pause and listen" for young leaders
51:00 Episode wrap-up and where to connect with Dr. Akhtar
Dr. Reece Akhtar’s Social Media Links:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/reeceakhtar/
Dr. Reece Akhtar’s Website:
https://www.deepersignals.com/
Resources and Links:
In this episode of The Tech Leader's Playbook, Avetis Antaplyan sits down with Ari Galper, the world’s #1 authority on trust-based selling and creator of the One Call Sale methodology and Ari AI, an AI-powered sales coaching platform built on decades of proven frameworks. Together, they explore why traditional relationship-building and persuasion tactics often fail in today’s crowded marketplace—and what tech leaders can do instead.
Ari shares how to transition from solution-centric pitching to problem-centric diagnosing, helping prospects see the cost of inaction before presenting a solution. He offers powerful language patterns and mindset shifts that compress long sales cycles into a single conversation, without pressure or chasing leads. Listeners will hear real-world stories, including Ari’s personal turning point that inspired him to build a global movement around truth and trust in sales.
Whether you’re a founder, executive, or sales leader, this episode will help you rethink your approach to business growth—moving from transactional selling to creating deep trust that drives long-term success.
Takeaways
Trust-building, not persuasion, is the foundation of modern sales.
Stop selling pre-sale—diagnose problems first, like a doctor with a patient.
The cost of inaction (COI) is critical: help prospects see the risk of staying with the status quo.
Compressing the sales cycle into one call creates clarity and commitment without pressure.
Relationship-building pre-sale often backfires; it can put you in the “friend zone.”
Avoid using the phrase “follow-up”; ask for feedback instead to uncover the truth.
Silence is a powerful tool—let prospects talk first and reveal their core issues.
Clarity is the true value you provide, not your product demo or case studies.
Create cultural change in sales teams by teaching trust-based frameworks, not scripts.
Use trust-based language to keep prospects on your calendar and avoid chasing ghosts.
Personal transparency and authenticity—like Ari’s lessons from his son Toby—make you more effective.
Market to the problems you solve, not your solutions, to stand out in a noisy world.
Chapters
00:00 Intro & Why Trust-Based Selling Matters in Tech
01:30 The Shift: From Product-Centric to Problem-Centric
03:15 Cost of Inaction: The Real Sales Trigger
04:55 The One Call Sale Framework Explained
06:40 Trust vs. Relationship Building
08:20 Real Story: Why “Great Meetings” Don’t Equal Sales
10:40 Diagnosing Over Delivering: Coaching Case Study
13:15 Ari’s Sales Call Script (Doctor Analogy Breakdown)
15:00 The Birth of Ari AI and What Makes It Unique
18:00 How Leaders Role-Play and Write Better Emails with AI
20:00 Difference Between Fact-Finding and Trust Questions
21:40 Never Use “Follow Up” Again Use This Instead
24:30 Building Culture Without Falling into the Friend Zone
26:20 Sales Teams Need Interventions, Not Programs
28:00 Avoiding Bad Business: Qualifying for Urgency
30:00 Ari’s Aha Moment: The Muted Sales Call That Changed Everything
33:30 Why “Being Professional” Still Lost the Deal
35:15 Favorite Book: 80/20 Sales & Marketing
36:00 Why Ari Writes a New Book Every Quarter
37:20 Writing Problem-Centric Cold Emails That Cut Through Noise
39:00 Personal Wisdom from Ari’s Son, Toby
40:10 Final Advice: Trust is the New Currency
Ari Galper’s Social Media Links:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/arigalper/
https://www.youtube.com/@ari_galper
https://www.instagram.com/ari_galper
Ari Galper’s Website:
Resources and Links:
In this episode of The Tech Leader's Playbook, Avetis Antaplyan sits down with Susan Ruediger, Founder and Chief Mission Officer of the CMT Research Foundation (CMTRF), and Laura MacNeill, the organization’s CEO. Together, they explore how patient-led research is revolutionizing drug development and catalyzing billion-dollar outcomes. Susan shares the remarkable story of CMTRF’s $128,000 seed investment in DTX Pharma that led to a $1 billion Novartis acquisition — a masterclass in strategic risk-taking and venture philanthropy. Laura explains how CMTRF’s unique “go-out-of-business” mission drives urgency, focus, and impact, while also inspiring other nonprofits to adopt similar models. The conversation dives deep into storytelling’s role in galvanizing donors, the importance of milestones and reinvestment, and how rare disease foundations can unlock breakthroughs for broader neurodegenerative diseases like ALS, Parkinson’s, and Alzheimer’s. Whether you’re a biotech leader, investor, or nonprofit executive, this episode offers actionable lessons on focus, partnerships, and creating outsized impact with limited resources.
Takeaways
Patient-led research can de-risk and accelerate drug development.
$128K seed funding led to a $1B Novartis acquisition.
CMTRF uses a venture-philanthropy model with milestone-based funding.
Mission: fund treatments, find a cure, close the foundation.
Storytelling drives awareness, donations, and partnerships.
Early investments keep promising science alive.
Biotech partnerships share risk and leverage expertise.
Novartis validated CMT as a major market opportunity.
Rare disease focus offers faster FDA pathways.
Staying laser-focused means saying no to distractions.
Chapters
00:00 Intro & Guest Welcome
01:20 From Grassroots Donations to Billion-Dollar Deals
02:30 Understanding CMT and Its Impact
05:00 Finding the Right Delivery Vehicle for Drugs
07:40 The $128K Bet That Changed Everything
09:50 Other Success Stories & Market Signaling
13:00 The Venture-Philanthropy Model Explained
16:30 The Power of Milestones and Flexibility
18:45 Reinvestment and Sustainable Funding
21:30 Role of Storytelling and Strategy in Movement Building
26:10 Velocity Campaign & Raising $20M
27:25 Why Biotechs Care About Rare Diseases
31:50 CMT as a Gateway Indication for Neurodegenerative Disease
33:30 Staying Focused and Saying No
38:30 The Drug Development Lifecycle and Staying Mission-Aligned
42:10 How to Get Involved and Follow CMTRF’s Work
45:10 Personal & Business Advice for Leaders
48:30 Favorite Books and Final Thoughts
52:00 Closing Remarks and Call to Action
Susan Ruediger’s Social Media Links:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-ruediger/
Laura MacNeill’s Social Media Links:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-macneill-m-b-a-97633732/
CMT Research Foundation’s Website:
Resources and Links:
In this episode of The Tech Leader's Playbook, Avetis Antaplyan sits down with Andrew McVeigh, veteran technology leader and Chief Architect, whose career spans transformations at Hulu, Riot Games, and beyond. Andrew has navigated multi-billion-dollar shifts across industries from finance to gaming and healthcare, leaving behind architectures that still power companies today.
The conversation dives deep into some of the most pressing questions in modern tech leadership: What matters most—EQ, IQ, or AI? Should organizations rebuild systems from scratch or evolve incrementally? Andrew shares candid stories, including lessons from Riot Games, the pitfalls of full rewrites, and the importance of balancing optimism with realism.
Listeners will gain insight into how domain expertise and generalist skills complement one another, why EQ becomes more critical than IQ at senior levels, and how AI is reshaping engineering work without eliminating the need for human craft. Andrew also reflects on personal resilience, leadership missteps (like literally flipping a table), and the value of building systems and cultures that endure. This episode offers a rare inside look into decades of architectural wisdom and leadership lessons applicable to anyone guiding teams through complexity and change
Takeaways
EQ often outweighs IQ at senior leadership levels when managing large teams.
Losing emotional control may feel satisfying in the moment but erodes long-term trust and outcomes.
Generalists and specialists both play vital roles—large-scale architecture requires a mix of both.
Domain expertise is valuable but shouldn’t be an absolute barrier to hiring strong engineers.
Successful engineers learn to work at the level of intention rather than just tasks.
Psychological safety fuels better performance and innovation in teams.
AI augments, not replaces—engineers must learn to collaborate with it effectively.
Craft and fundamentals (e.g., programming) remain essential even as AI automates repetitive work.
The Pareto principle (80/20) applies broadly—focus on high-leverage outcomes, not perfection.
Full rewrites often fail; incremental evolution with a defined “North Star” strategy is safer.
Optimism in leadership can shift cultures and reframe challenges as opportunities.
Balancing results with humanity ensures people want to work with you again.
Chapters
00:00 Intro: EQ, IQ, or AI?
01:15 Guest Introduction: Andrew McVeigh’s career at Hulu, Riot Games, and more
02:30 Industry Crossovers: From finance to gaming to healthcare
04:10 Specialists vs. Generalists in large-scale systems
05:20 The rising importance of EQ in leadership
07:10 Riot Games culture and the “must be a gamer” debate
11:20 What makes great engineers stand out
13:40 Leadership, personal resilience, and the humanity factor
17:50 How AI reshapes engineering work
22:30 Applying the Pareto principle in tech leadership
24:50 The rewrite dilemma: Start over or evolve?
31:20 Preserving value while modernizing legacy systems
36:10 Final thoughts: EQ, IQ, or AI? Andrew’s choice
37:30 Book recommendations and sources of inspiration
38:40 Closing advice: Attitude, optimism, and ownership
39:45 Outro and how to connect with Andrew
Andrew McVeigh’s Social Media Links:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewmcveigh/
Andrew McVeigh’s Website:
Resources and Links:
In this episode of The Tech Leader's Playbook, Avetis Antaplyan sits down with Chris Hallberg, entrepreneur, business coach, and former military and police leader, known for creating the Business Sergeant Leadership Philosophy. Chris brings decades of experience transforming teams, sharpening execution, and implementing EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) to help companies achieve breakthrough performance.
From his formative years in the Army National Guard and law enforcement to his career as a sought-after business coach, Chris shares powerful insights into leadership, accountability, and the non-negotiables that separate thriving organizations from stagnant ones. He discusses why the best companies are unafraid to make tough personnel decisions, the importance of “re-enlisting” your team every 90 days, and how to kill problems decisively rather than admiring them in endless meetings.
Listeners will hear candid stories from Chris’ journey, his philosophy on curating the right people in the right seats, and practical lessons from his book The Business Sergeant’s Field Manual: Military-Grade Business Execution Without the Yelling and Push-Ups. If you’re a leader looking to build elite teams, create accountability without politics, and drive results with clarity, this conversation is packed with strategies to elevate your leadership game.
Takeaways
Military and police leadership taught Chris the value of learning from both the best and worst leaders—and applying those lessons to business.
Elite teams are built by curating the right people, not trying to “fix” the wrong ones.
Commitment is key: employees should symbolically “re-enlist” every 90 days to stay aligned with company goals.
Healthy conflict is essential; if team members can’t speak the truth, accountability and results will collapse.
Hiring should focus on slow-to-hire, quick-to-fire practices, supported by assessments that ensure cultural and role fit.
Chris’ “three winners, three losers” framework highlights how keeping the wrong people hurts individuals, teams, and future opportunities.
Middle managers (sergeants) are critical bridges between leadership and frontline teams; they must be empowered to hire and fire.
Moving goalposts erode accountability—leaders must set clear deal breakers and stick to them.
Compensation should reflect high expectations: hire in the 75th percentile, expect 90th percentile performance.
Always be recruiting—maintain a pipeline of talent by networking, even with competitors’ top performers.
New hires provide fresh perspectives; leaders should actively solicit feedback in their first weeks.
Chapters
00:00 Intro & Guest Welcome
01:15 Lessons from Military & Police Leadership
03:00 Commitment and Sacrifice in Team Building
05:15 Applying Military Principles to Business Growth
07:25 The 90-Day Re-Enlistment Concept
09:30 Accountability and Volunteer Mindsets
13:55 Curating the Right People vs. Fixing the Wrong Ones
18:05 Decisiveness and Killing Problems Quickly
21:20 The Fire Triangle and Root-Cause Problem Solving
23:30 Healthy Conflict, Commitment, and Accountability
28:20 Hiring Practices: Slow to Hire, Quick to Fire
30:35 The Three Winners and Three Losers Framework
35:15 Empowering Middle Managers (Sergeants)
38:40 Lessons from The Business Sergeant’s Field Manual
42:00 Getting to the Next Level with the Right Team
44:15 Favorite Books and Closing Reflections
46:00 Outro & Key Takeaways
Chris Hallberg’s Social Media Links:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-hallberg-01516315/
https://www.facebook.com/chrishallberg09/
Resources and Links:
In this episode of The Tech Leader's Playbook, Avetis Antaplyan sits down with Michelle Niemeyer, a former high-powered attorney turned burnout expert, certified health coach, and creator of The Art of Bending Time. With 33 years in law and a personal journey of reinvention, Michelle shares her path from the pressures of litigation and entrepreneurship to becoming a sought-after advisor on sustainable leadership and resilience.
The conversation dives into the pitfalls of chasing “work-life balance,” why multitasking drains focus, and how leaders can prevent burnout by fueling themselves physically, mentally, and emotionally. Michelle explains how her health challenges and professional burnout led her to develop frameworks that help leaders align their goals with what truly lights them up. From her innovative SWORD analysis for goal setting, to practical strategies for reclaiming focus and accepting help, Michelle offers actionable insights that challenge traditional productivity thinking.
Leaders will come away with fresh perspectives on integrating personal and professional life, the hidden costs of micromanagement, and why bending time isn’t about managing minutes, but about living with purpose, clarity, and energy.
Takeaways
Burnout often stems from chasing “work-life balance,” which can separate people from their whole selves.
Leaders thrive when they integrate passions and strengths from different areas of life into their work.
True productivity requires physical and mental health: quality sleep, nutrition, and consistent movement.
The lymphatic system depends on physical activity — sitting too long allows toxins to build up.
“Bending time” means focusing on what fuels you rather than squeezing more hours out of the day.
Multitasking is a myth — it decreases focus, increases mistakes, and prolongs tasks.
Removing notifications and delegating tasks clears mental space for deep, high-value work.
Leaders must avoid micromanagement and trust their teams to develop and excel.
The SWORD analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, risks, and desire) emphasizes whether goals are truly worth pursuing.
Accepting help is not a weakness; it builds connection and accelerates progress.
Personal and professional networks can be blended intentionally to open new opportunities.
Micro-moments of joy — a walk, a cup of coffee, or celebrating small wins — can prevent burnout more than long vacations.
Chapters
00:00 The myth of work-life balance
00:39 Introducing Michelle Niemeyer: From law to burnout coach
02:21 Early career in law and frustrations with the system
04:34 Burnout and the dangers of “work-life balance”
07:57 Bringing your whole self into work and life
09:31 Health coaching, lifestyle changes, and the lymphatic system
11:34 Discovering autoimmune disease and the shift to health coaching
15:44 Creating The Art of Bending Time framework
19:34 Micromanagement, delegation, and team empowerment
22:10 Why notifications and constant availability hurt focus
27:02 Rituals for winding down and mental clarity
29:54 Clarity, joy, and finding sparks in daily life
31:19 SWORD analysis explained and the role of desire
35:11 Letting go of outdated or inherited goals
38:44 Blending personal and professional networks
43:05 The importance of asking for and accepting help
49:48 Leadership, teamwork, and accountability
50:56 Michelle’s favorite book and final reflections
52:15 The power of daily sparks and micro-moments of joy
56:28 Closing thoughts and community resources
Michelle Niemeyer’s Social Media Links:
https://www.instagram.com/michelle_niemeyer_wellness/
Michelle Niemeyer’s Website:
https://www.michelleniemeyer.com/
Resources and Links:
In this episode of The Tech Leader's Playbook, Avetis Antaplyan sits down with Mark Monchek, founder and Chief Opportunity Officer of Opportunity Lab. A seasoned author, speaker, and advisor, Mark has guided leaders from top global organizations through times of radical disruption. Drawing from his books Culture of Opportunity and the forthcoming Opportunity Intelligence, Mark shares how to unlock growth through collaboration, mindset shifts, and purpose-driven leadership.
The conversation explores how leaders can thrive in chaos by embracing abundance over scarcity, building resilient networks, and identifying leverage points in times of upheaval. Mark recounts powerful stories—from rebuilding Asheville’s River Arts District after Hurricane Helene to transforming the Literacy Assistance Center’s resources through network mapping—that illustrate his belief in turning disruption into opportunity. The discussion also dives into cultivating generosity, forging unconventional partnerships (even with competitors), and the philosophy behind his upcoming “UnConference” for mid-market CEOs. This episode offers a compelling mix of history, personal resilience, and actionable strategies for leaders who want to create lasting impact in their organizations and communities.
Takeaways
Radical disruptions impact all sectors simultaneously today, making adaptability more critical than ever.
Leveraging networks can unlock hidden resources—often far more than organizations realize.
Scarcity mindset limits growth; abundance mindset fosters collaboration and innovation.
Crisis moments often accelerate trust, generosity, and community-building.
Major innovations often emerge during economic downturns or crises.
Partnerships—even with competitors—can expand capacity without adding overhead.
Resilient leadership starts with finding a “place to stand” before taking action.
Leaders should cultivate anti-fragility: emerging stronger after adversity.
Most significant personal and professional growth comes from responding to challenges, not avoiding them.
The UnConference model emphasizes peer-to-peer learning and authentic relationship-building.
Storytelling and shared vision drive cooperation and collective success.
Aligning business goals with a higher purpose strengthens resilience and motivation.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Mark Monchek’s background in business, art, and psychology
03:35 Defining radical disruption and why today’s challenges are different
05:24 Rebuilding Asheville’s River Arts District after Hurricane Helene
09:18 Finding leverage points in crisis and innovation during downturns
13:31 Case study: Unlocking hidden resources at the Literacy Assistance Center
19:53 Generosity, abundance mindset, and building collaborative networks
24:12 The UnConference model for authentic leadership connections
34:19 Partnerships, resilience, and balancing priorities
40:09 Lessons in resilience from family history and adversity
46:29 Why the UnConference exists and the outcomes it aims to create
53:31 Closing advice: Lead with purpose and embrace collaboration
Mark Monchek’s Social Media Links:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/markmonchek/
Mark Monchek’s Website:
Resources and Links:
In this episode of The Tech Leader's Playbook, Avetis Antaplyan sits down with Joel Benge, a strategist, author, and the mind behind "Message Therapy." With a rich and unconventional background that spans theater, video game testing, cybersecurity, and federal communications, Joel helps technical founders transform complex jargon into messaging that actually connects.
Joel unpacks the biggest reason messaging falls flat: it’s too cerebral and not nearly human enough. Drawing from Aristotle, Maslow, and his own experience in government and tech startups, Joel introduces frameworks like his “Message Therapy” card deck, a tool that blends psychology, storytelling, and gamification to uncover the true heart of a brand.
This episode is packed with actionable insights for founders, product marketers, and anyone tasked with explaining something complicated in a way that actually sticks.
If you’ve ever felt like your messaging doesn’t land or sounds like everyone else, this conversation will help you find your voice, and your big idea.
Takeaways
Joel Benge coined the term “Message Therapy” to help founders move from brainy jargon to emotionally resonant messaging.
People don’t want more data — they want their problems taken away.
Message Therapy uses Aristotle’s head, heart, and gut model to build trust, likability, and clarity.
Joel’s background in theater and government communications gives him a unique edge in helping technical teams communicate effectively.
Gamification (via his card deck) helps teams uncover buried insights through fast-paced, structured prompts.
Most messaging fails because it skips emotion and leans too heavily on logic or technical credibility.
One simple fix: print your website and highlight content using color codes for logic, emotion, and credibility to visually audit your message mix.
Outsourcing marketing too early often leads to generic, disjointed messaging without a narrative backbone.
Founders should fall in love with the problem they’re solving, not just the product they’re building.
Creating a shared "mantra" can unify internal teams and external messaging across ICPs and channels.
Emotional storytelling is just as important (if not more) in B2B and technical industries.
True differentiation comes from listening deeply, reframing language, and uncovering the beliefs and values that drive your company.
Chapters
00:00 Intro: Meet Joel Benge & Message Therapy
01:45 From Theater Kid to Homeland Security Comms
04:30 Jargon vs. Real Communication in Tech
05:50 The Birth of Message Therapy
07:00 Why Most Marketing Sounds the Same
08:30 Head, Heart, Gut: The Aristotle Framework
10:15 How Gamification Helps Teams Get Aligned
12:30 Why Jargon Kills Sales and Clarity
14:00 The "Blank Stare" Effect in Messaging
17:00 Role Clarity: Be the Peacock or the Expert
18:00 Website Fix: Use Highlighters to Audit Copy
19:45 The Curse of Knowledge Trap
21:00 Why Outsourcing Messaging Can Backfire
23:00 The Hidden Power of White Papers
25:00 Building a Database of Messaging DNA
26:45 Messaging for Multi-Sided Marketplaces
28:30 Creating Mantras That Actually Stick
29:45 Aha Moments That Unlock the Real Message
31:00 Who “Be a Nerd That Talks Good” Is For
32:30 Why Joel Created a Card Deck
34:00 Personal Advice for Technical Leaders
36:00 Sell the Result, Not the Feature
38:00 Reclaiming Authority in the Age of AI
39:30 Closing Thoughts & Where to Find Joel
Joel Benge’s Social Media Links:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/joelmbenge
https://www.instagram.com/joelmbenge
https://www.tiktok.com/@joelmbenge
Joel Benge’s Website:
https://messagespecs.com/link/
Resources and Links: