A Geek Leader Podcast - inspiring technical and creative leaders around the world

About Shashank Shashank Kapadia is a forward-thinking AI leader who goes beyond the “what” of AI to delve into the “why” and “how.” Over the past decade, he has delivered large-scale, high-impact ML solutions across Fortune 1 and Fortune 500 organizations—optimizing revenue, elevating userengagement, and redefining personalization for millions of global users. Drawing on his valedictorian background in Operations Research from Northeastern University, Shashank has a proven track record bridging research and practice to deploy next-generation NLP, Deep Learning, and Reinforcement Learning systems. Yet Shashank’s impact goes far beyond algorithmic breakthroughs. As a champion for ethical AI, he infuses fairness, transparency, and responsible innovation into every project, balancing business growth with social accountability. A published researcher and council memberat leading AI institutes, he regularly speaks at global conferences, demystifying advanced AI techniques and guiding teams towardsustainable solutions. Through his articles on Substack, Medium, and LinkedIn, Shashank actively debunks AI hype, illuminates true innovation, and charts the future of responsible AI adoption—empowering businesses and communities to harness AI’s transformative power without compromising on ethics. Shashank Kapadia’s comments and opinions are provided in their personal capacity and not as a representative of his present or past employers.  They do not reflect the views of these companies, including Walmart, Randstad and Monster) and are not endorsed by them. Today We Talk About Shashank’s background ML vs. AI What is the problem we’re trying to solve… tools and techniques Regulations Ethics Data growth Using LLMs internally Learning.  Connect with Shashank LinkedIn Medium Leave me a tip $Click here to Donate to the show I hope you enjoyed this show, please head over to Apple Podcasts and subscribe and leave me a rating and review, even one sentence will help spread the word.  Thanks again! #1 in Technical Leadership

About Lucy Lucy Adams is a trailblazing visionary in people management and leadership, with over 15 years of experience revolutionizing how organizations empower and inspire their teams. As the former HR Director at the BBC, Lucy led with exceptional strategic insight during a transformative era, steering the organization through a high-stakes site relocation, complex executive transitions, and ambitious cost-saving initiatives—all while fostering resilient, high-performing teams that thrived under pressure. Renowned for her innovative approach, Lucy has driven groundbreaking change by simplifying management processes, cultivating dynamic, performance-driven cultures, and delivering substantial organizational efficiencies. Her leadership extends across diverse sectors, where she has expertly guided teams through disruption, equipping them with tools to excel in fast-paced, evolving environments. As the bestselling author of *HR Disrupted: It’s Time for Something Different*, Lucy challenges conventional HR practices, advocating for bold, adaptive strategies that align with modern workforce dynamics, technological advancements, and organizational demands. Her insights have reshaped the global conversation around people management. Now, as the CEO of Disruptive HR, Lucy is redefining the art and science of leadership. With her unrivaled expertise and passion, she inspires leaders worldwide to embrace change, unlock potential, and build thriving workplaces in today’s rapidly evolving landscape. Today We Talked About Lucy’s background Distruptive HR Performance Reviews What are you working on? How can I help? How are you feeling? Leaders Policies Leadership Develoment Programs vs. Mentorships Scenario based Leadership Development Speakup Session Leadership Practices Coach your team Show Appreciation Lead with Trust Connect with Lucy LinkedIn Podcast Website Book Leave me a tip $ Click here to Donate to the show I hope you enjoyed this show, please head over to Apple Podcasts and subscribe and leave me a rating and review, even one sentence will help spread the word.  Thanks again! #1 in Technical Leadership

About Radhika Radhika Paliwal, a Real Estate Investor, Computer Engineer, Speaker, and Personal Finance Enthusiast, shares her journey from financial confusion to financial success. After realizing the limitations of a “good” degree and job, she took control, eliminating debt, crafting a lifestyle budget, investing in stocks, and acquiring real estate. Radhika’s guide is a comprehensive resource born out of the belief that anyone can build wealth with the right tools, offering a time-saving roadmap for independent financial success. Today We Talked About Radhika’s background Leadership Financial Success Advice for savings Automate it Keeping up with the Jones’ Self-reflection “Some of the most successful people are slowing down, not speeding up…” Burnout Daily Checkin 401K vs Roth IRA Match your Employer Most Millionaires have 7 streams of income. Real Estate Investing in Real Estate with low or no money down. Create a 5 year plan. Life isn’t something that happens to you… you can choose. The “right time to start” Connect with Radhika Website Twitter Linkedin Book Leave me a tip $ Click here to Donate to the show I hope you enjoyed this show, please head over to Apple Podcasts and subscribe and leave me a rating and review, even one sentence will help spread the word.  Thanks again! #1 in Technical Leadership

About Ben Benjamin Johnson is a serial technical co-founder with a track record of success and hands-on open-source programming experience. He has a wide range of being both a board-level advisor and founder but also an in-depth understanding of how things work. Through his 20+ years as a software developer and leader, he has gained extensive experience with remotely distributed development teams and business hacks. Benjamin is the CEO & Founder of Particle41, a dev firm founded by industry veterans that aims to help companies accelerate their initiatives through Software Development, DevOps, and Data Science. With a constant focus on results and ways to improve, Benjamin is having fun building highly scalable and highly secure applications. Today We Talked About Background The Name of Particle 3Vs – Visibility, Velocity, Vision Special Operations Teams for Tech OKRs and Smart Goals, KPIs, etc. Velocity Staff Augmentation vs. Solution Outcomes = Mission Aligned Teams Questions Preceed Clarity Dependability Culture Imposter Syndrom Adaptability Resourcefulness Connect with Ben LinkedIn Website Leave me a tip $ Click here to Donate to the show I hope you enjoyed this show, please head over to Apple Podcasts and subscribe and leave me a rating and review, even one sentence will help spread the word.  Thanks again! #1 in Technical Leadership

About Keith Dr. Keith D. Dorsey is a board member, researcher, and speaker focused on executives’ pathways to corporate board service. Founder of the Boardroom Journey, he empowers professionals to navigate their path to the boardroom. Author of The Boardroom Journey (Wiley), published in Harvard Business Review, MIT Sloan Management Review, Forbes, Fast Company, and Directors & Boards, he writes extensively on leadership, governance, and board effectiveness. His research explores the structural and strategic factors that shape board selection, diversity, and corporate leadership pipelines. As the Senior Advisor and former Managing Partner and Practice Leader of CEO & Board Services at a global executive search firm, Keith has worked with corporate boards and leadership teams to identify and develop top-tier governance talent. Keith has spent over two decades as a growth strategist at Fortune 500 and Fortune 1000 companies. His expertise extends beyond research and consulting—he is an active board member and sought-after speaker on boardroom strategy and composition, leadership resilience, and the evolving role of corporate governance in today’s business landscape. Keith holds a Doctorate in Organizational Change and Leadership from the University of Southern California and is a recognized voice on the intersection of leadership, governance, and diversity. He currently serves as an advisor to executives and organizations seeking to strengthen board effectiveness and navigate the complexities of governance in an ever-changing corporate environment. He splits his time between research, writing, board service, and advising senior leaders on securing board opportunities that align with their expertise and impact. Today We Talked About Keith’s background US Airforce Corporate America Boardroom Journey What to do differently? Diversity in Boards Be intential about being on a board Get Operational Experience Reverse Engineer your goal Have Courage Connect with Keith Book LinkedIn Website Leave me a tip $ Click here to Donate to the show I hope you enjoyed this show, please head over to Apple Podcasts and subscribe and leave me a rating and review, even one sentence will help spread the word.  Thanks again! #1 in Technical Leadership

About Katharine With over three decades of entrepreneurial success and the remarkable ability to overcome life-threatening health challenge, Katharine Loucaidou is a powerhouse of resilience and innovation. From founding successful businesses to revolutionizing the coaching industry with her groundbreaking AI platform, Katharine AI, she empowers entrepreneurs and leaders to reach unprecedented heights. Her book, AI Secrets for Unstoppable Business Success & Life Hacks, offers transformative strategies, blending her vast expertise with cutting-edge technology. She is also the host of the widely streamed Mindset Medicine Podcast, where her insights on mindset, performance, and business inspire a global audience. Katharine’s journey is a testament to the power of an unyielding spirit, making her sought-after speakers and coach who inspires relentless success. Today We Talked About Katharine’s background Using Tech and Analyitcs Video Marketing Podcast AI Prompts that help Katherine AI ReadAI Using AI for growth Improve your prompts Ask AI what it needs to know first Give it context Ask AI to “poke holes in my thinking” Switching beteween different AI tools for different purposes and styles Connect with Katharine LinkedIn Website Book Mindset Medicine Podcast Leave me a tip $ Click here to Donate to the show I hope you enjoyed this show, please head over to Apple Podcasts and subscribe and leave me a rating and review, even one sentence will help spread the word.  Thanks again! #1 in Technical Leadership

About Nate Nate Dinet is the founder and CEO of The Step Manager. With over 15 years dedicated to advocating for employees, Nate developed The Step Manager to provide accessible and affordable promotion and management coaching. His goal is to empower professionals to advance their careers and achieve work-life balance. This initiative reflects his commitment to fostering professional growth and operational excellence across various industries, including technology, sports/entertainment, and financial services. While Nate’s primary focus these days is advocating for individual contributors and middle managers everywhere, he also brings significant experience in tech startups and organizational transformations. Nate has led teams and products to market, improved organizational efficiency, and driven growth. A classic jack-of-all-trades, his background in consulting and product management helps clients drive their initiatives forward and, in his words, ‘get shit done.’ Today We Talked About Nate’s background Framework for managing teams The Step Manager Burnout Building Confidence Communication Leadership Agile/Scrum Output vs. Outcomes Reflection and Retrospectives Managing your WIP limits Building Great Teams Defining Career Ladders One-on-one agenda Connect with Nate Website LinkedIn Leave me a tip $ Click here to Donate to the show I hope you enjoyed this show, please head over to Apple Podcasts and subscribe and leave me a rating and review, even one sentence will help spread the word.  Thanks again! #1 in Technical Leadership

About Kathy Kathy Oneto is an executive and life-work coach, speaker, and facilitator who helps ambitious individuals and organizations explore how to live and work differently for greater success, satisfaction, and sustainability. With a portfolio career, she is also a strategy executive who bridges her two worlds applying strategic approaches to life and work decisions and practices. Kathy is the founder of Sustainable Ambition® and host of the Sustainable Ambition podcast. As a strategist, Kathy has had a twenty-five-year career working across business, branding, innovation, and talent. In her work today, she partners with ambitious organizations and leaders to illuminate and make progress on what matters, helping them do better for their business, customers, and people. You can learn more here. She holds an MBA from UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business and a B.S. in commerce from the University of Virginia’s McIntire School. She is certified in the Co-Active Coaching Model and by the International Coaching Federation. Her writing has appeared in Fast Company, Brandingmag, and MediaPost, and she’s been a guest lecturer at the business schools at Berkeley, the University of San Francisco, Duke University, and the University of Colorado. As a former triathlete and marathon runner, Kathy embodies the principles she teaches. She lives in San Francisco with her husband and the fog, where she builds her resilience outdoors. Her approach to life mirrors her work: finding joy in the journey while pursuing sustainable fulfillment across life and work. Today We Talked About Kathy’s background Work-life Balance Myth Sustainability Ambition Life-Work Sustainability When is the “Right” Time Season of your life Burnout Breaks Pomodora Vacation and Downtime Restoration Soul Days Setting Expectations and Norms for communication and availability Defining Success on your terms “You” Curve of Ambition   Connect With Kathy LinkedIn Website Book Podcast Leave me a tip $ Click here to Donate to the show I hope you enjoyed this show, please head over to Apple Podcasts and subscribe and leave me a rating and review, even one sentence will help spread the word.  Thanks again! #1 in Technical Leadership

About Melissa Melissa Dinwiddie is on a mission to help leaders and teams turn the “impossible” into reality by uncovering their creative potential. A Juilliard-trained dancer, professional artist for 15 years, jazz singer-songwriter, and performing improviser, Melissa brings a wealth of creative experiences to her work with companies like Google, Meta, and Salesforce. As the author of The Creative Sandbox Way™, she’s passionate about showing people how to embrace play, imperfection, and experimentation as tools for innovation. Known for her engaging, interactive keynotes and workshops, Melissa empowers individuals and teams to unlock creativity, strengthen collaboration, and thrive in the face of uncertainty. When not leading transformations, she’s making art or attempting ukulele-and-bass duets with herself. Today We Talked About Her background Creativity Create the Impossible Framework Play Hard – Turn every experience into a growth opportunity. Make Crap – Welcome imperfection as the path to discovery. Learn Fast – Embrace play as the fuel for creativity. Visual Note taking How can work bring in play? IMPACT Innovation Checklist Connection Communication Creativity FUN – Find the Flow Unlock the Meaning Name the Change (Now What?)   Connect with Melissa LinkedIn Website Book IMPACT Innovation Checklist Leave me a tip $ Click here to Donate to the show I hope you enjoyed this show, please head over to Apple Podcasts and subscribe and leave me a rating and review, even one sentence will help spread the word.  Thanks again! #1 in Technical Leadership

About Steve Steve has been at the forefront of global talent strategy and company culture for the past 30 years. Most famous for scaling Linkedin from 400 to 4000 in 3.5 years, Steve also led the development of LI’s legendary company culture and was at the helm of the Talent function for its period of the highest growth and through their IPO. Having worked in 5 different industries and 3 different countries while also leading dozens of acquisition integrations all over the world, Steve has built unparalleled expertise for the Talent arena. Steve’s focus today is to help leaders and organizations build winning talent solutions to compete in an increasingly complex digital economy.   Today We Talked About Steve’s background Future of work Tenure is declining rapidly 4 year is the medium tenure globally… USA is about 2.2 years. Developing a culture of growth Employees of the future Employees are loyal to learning People leave at the end of projects Make employees better for tomorrow Brain Chemicals Use AI to increase the Top line, not cutting the bottom line Work From Home Freedom Connect with Steve LinkedIn Website Book Leave me a tip $ Click here to Donate to the show I hope you enjoyed this show, please head over to Apple Podcasts and subscribe and leave me a rating and review, even one sentence will help spread the word.  Thanks again! #1 in Technical Leadership