The CTO Show with Mehmet Gonullu #509 Leading Through Chaos: Rob Kalwarowsky’s Lessons for Founders and Tech leaders
In this episode of The CTO Show with Mehmet, I sit down with Rob Kalwarowsky — executive coach, TEDx speaker, and author of Capitalizing on Chaos. Rob shares his powerful personal journey from MIT-trained engineer to leadership coach, opening up about toxic leadership, mental health struggles, and how he transformed adversity into a framework for resilient leadership.
We explore what chaos really means for today’s founders and tech leaders, and how to turn uncertainty into an opportunity to scale, grow, and lead authentically.
🔑 Key Takeaways
• Chaos starts within — why leaders must master their own psychology first.
• How to avoid falling into the six destructive leadership types.
• Why saying “I’m human” can unlock resilience and clarity.
• The balance between empathy and accountability in startup leadership.
• Real-world examples of scaling companies through resilient leadership.
⸻
📚 What You’ll Learn
• How founders and tech leaders can thrive during uncertainty.
• The dangers of toxic leadership — and how to break free from it.
• The process of building authentic, resilient leadership.
• How to scale your business without losing clarity or balance.
• Why empathy, authenticity, and accountability drive growth.
👤 About Rob Kalwarowsky
Rob Kalwarowsky is a globally recognized executive coach, keynote speaker, and author, celebrated for transforming high-performing leaders by empowering their mindset, strength, and influence through research-backed leadership techniques .
• Speaking: Rob delivers deeply transformative keynotes that blend authenticity, humor, and practical insights. His presentations invite leaders to make immediate, lasting internal shifts through stories that resonate, regardless of audience size .
• Executive Coaching – the MIT Way: With a unique background as an MIT-trained engineer, Rob applies strategies grounded in psychological research—such as Internal Family Systems (IFS)—to drive quick, sustainable leadership growth. His clients include Fortune 500 executives, C-suite leaders, and Olympic gold medalists .
• Proven Track Record: Rob is renowned for delivering massive results that endure—he doesn’t just provide answers, he empowers leaders to discover long-term solutions themselves .
https://www.robkalwarowsky.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-kalwarowsky/
Episode Highlights
00:01 – Rob’s journey from MIT engineer to executive coach
04:00 – Facing toxic leadership & hitting rock bottom
07:30 – Defining chaos for founders and leaders today
10:30 – The framework to overcome uncertainty
13:00 – Case study: Scaling a $3M company to $15M in six months
16:00 – Why results vary — and how breakthroughs happen
17:00 – The six destructive leadership types
20:00 – Balancing empathy and accountability as a leader
23:00 – Authenticity vs. pretending: why founders must lead as themselves
26:00 – Rob’s book & leadership assessment