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

About Amy Amy Posey is a Silicon Valley-based leadership consultant focused on neuroscience and high performance. She is the founder and CEO of SUPER*MEGA*BOSS, a manager training company. Kevin Vallely juggles his life as a registered architect, leadership mentor, author, keynote speaker and father, while also becoming an internationally recognized explorer. Their new book is Wild Success: 7 Key Lessons Business Leaders Can Learn from Extreme Adventures (McGraw Hill, March 10, 2020). Learn more at www.morewildsuccess.com. Today We Talked About Amy's past Wild Success Book Adventures for Leadership? Cognitive Reappraisal make mistakes grit leadership try different things being open discomfort Connect With Amy Twitter LinkedIn Website Book Special Thanks to Private Internet Access I’ve been a customer of Private Internet Access for 3 years now and I love this service.  I was at a security conference a few years ago and I connected to the hotel wifi.  Immediately my endpoint protection software began to alert me of hacking attempts.  I launched my VPN from Private Internet Access and all of the attempts were stopped. My data and internet connection was secure.  Another great use of the VPN service is connect from different geo locations, which is very helpful when testing DNS and CDN caching. To get a your VPN account starting at $3.33 per month, please visit https://ageekleader.com/vpn I hope you enjoyed this show, please head over to Apple Podcast and subscribe and leave me a rating and review, even 1 sentence will help spread the word.  Thanks again!

About Nate: DO YOU HAVE A PASSION FOR DOING GREAT THINGS, BUT FIND YOURSELF GIVING UP WHEN IT GETS TOO HARD? DO YOU PULL BACK OR FEEL VULNERABLE WHEN YOU PUT YOURSELF OUT THERE? That was ME. I stood on the sidelines and watched others succeed with consistent work and effort. I realized, like so many others, what I was lacking was the confidence and consistency to reach my OWN goals and dreams. As a result, my goals were not being fully realized. I was getting in my own way. It’s time... Enough is Enough! I’ve decided to stop holding myself back and get comfortable with being uncomfortable. That means trying new things, meeting new people, exploring new ideas and just saying YES! to more things Follow me as I show you how to find your true potential, do the uncomfortable things that will help you to take the risks, find your passion, and finally do the things that you were meant to do. Join me on this amazing journey as I launch THE ALL-IN PODCAST, explore the power of personal relationships and show what happens when you chase your dreams and realize your true passions. My goal with the show is to make connections with people from all walks of life that will change the way you show up in your personal and professional life. My hope is that by sharing my journey, people don’t aspire to make a living, they aspire to make a difference* and find their calling so they can live their best life.   Today We Talked About: working from home networking linkedin fitness the all-in podcast fear COVID-19 Networking Connect with Nate: LinkedIn WebSite Instagram YouTube The All In Podcast Special Thanks to Private Internet Access I’ve been a customer of Private Internet Access for 3 years now and I love this service.  I was at a security conference a few years ago and I connected to the hotel wifi.  Immediately my endpoint protection software began to alert me of hacking attempts.  I launched my VPN from Private Internet Access and all of the attempts were stopped. My data and internet connection was secure.  Another great use of the VPN service is connect from different geo locations, which is very helpful when testing DNS and CDN caching. To get a your VPN account starting at $3.33 per month, please visit https://ageekleader.com/vpn

About Mark Mark DeLuzio is founder and Chief Executive Officer of Lean Horizons Consulting, LLC (www.leanhorizons.com). He is a former corporate officer and Vice President of Danaher Business System (DBS) for Danaher Corporation (NYSE: DHR), where he was the principal architect of DBS, deploying it on a global basis. Mark was selected by Danaher to be on the first study mission to Japan, studying under the original developers of the Toyota Production System. DBS has been credited by Wall Street as a key element to Danaher’s success.  Danaher has been recognized as the leading implementer of Lean globally and has been rated as the 3rd most profitable US stock over the last 30 years. Mark is also credited with developing the first Lean Accounting process in the United States for Danaher’s Jake Brake Division.  He is recognized as a pioneer in this area and is known as one of the “Fab 5” at the Lean Accounting Summit. Mr. DeLuzio served as a member of Central Connecticut State University’s advisory board for its School of Business and in 2007 was inducted as a Life Member of the Shingo Prize Academy (Lean Hall of Fame) for his lifetime contribution to “Excellence in Manufacturing.” Effective April 1, 2008, Mr. DeLuzio was elected to the Board of Directors of Hillenbrand, Inc. (NYSE: HI), which is a diversified industrial manufacturer.  Before retiring from the Board in February 2019, he served on the Nomination and Governance Committee, the Compensation Committee as well as the Merger & Acquisition Committee. Mr. DeLuzio has consulted on a global basis, and is a frequent speaker at higher educational institutions such as MIT (Sloan School of Business), Northwestern (Kellogg School of Business), and Rensselear Institute of Technology. Having had two sons who fought in combat in the Middle East, Mark unfortunately became a Gold Star Father in 2010 when his son Steven (age 25) was killed in action fighting the Taliban in Afghanistan.  Steven was awarded the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal, Combat Infantry Badge, as well as other decorations for his selfless bravery.  Carrying on both of his sons’ contributions to our country, Mark was inspired to help Veterans (at no fee) wishing to start a business or needing career advice.  His organization is called B.R.A.V.E. (Business Reviews and Advisors to Veteran Entrepreneurs).  www.4thebrave.org Mr. DeLuzio holds two undergraduate degrees in business (Marketing and Accounting) from Central Connecticut State University, an MBA in Operations Management from the University of Hartford, a Certificate in Production and Inventory Management (CPIM) and is a Certified Management Accountant (CMA). Mark is the author of “Turn Waste into Wealth,” which offers practical advice for those considering a Lean transformation.  His next book called “Flatlined – Why Companies Fail at Lean and What to do About It” will be released in the spring of 2020.  Finally, he has begun writing his next book regarding the Danaher Business System, tentatively called “The History and Evolution of the Danaher Business System.” Today we Talked About Lean Agile Transformation Transform the invisible Respect for People Principal SQDC Technology needs to serve the business B.R.A.V.E. Connect With Mark Book Website B.R.A.V.E. Special Thanks to Splashtop for sponsoring today’s show. Splashtop is a premier remote desktop, and remote support solution. I’ve been using Splashtop personal for more than 7 years now and Splashtop Enterprise at my company for 3 years.  Their products are fantastic and their support is second to none.  I love and highly recommend their products and I’m super stoked that they are giving A Geek Leader listeners 10% off their first year (offer expires June 30, 2020) when you go to https://ageekleader.com/splashtop I hope you enjoyed this show, please head over to Apple Podcast and subscribe and leave...

About Jennifer In high tech or any role, Jennifer Byrne is an advocate and example of what it means to be an original thinker who can effectively and unapologetically communicate how aptitude, and action will differentiate you in work, family, community and certainly business.  Utilizing wisdom gained from twenty years in the tech industry, and a lifetime of unlikely adventures, Jennifer now teaches others through her role as an advisor to startups, personal mentorship to young leaders, and a forthcoming book, how to apply an innovator’s mindset in order to survive and thrive in today’s fast-paced, tech-infused world. With this mindset, determination and the corresponding technical skills to excel, Jennifer progressed quickly to Chief Technology Officer of Microsoft US. She worked with companies and organizations across all industries and market segments to re-frame their business opportunities in digital terms. With an innate ability to connect disparate parts, Jennifer was able to infuse innovation practices into Microsoft’s technical field teams which led to high-value and well-publicized digital transformation strategies with top global companies. Jennifer’s passion is using technology to create empowerment opportunities for everyone, not just corporate leaders and members of the tech sector. Through her relatable and sometimes provocative style, combined with her her back-story of building a career in tech from an unlikely start, her audiences learn to up-level their own thinking and re-frame the way they see their own potential. Under Jennifer’s leadership, her teams at Microsoft undertook innovation projects within economic regions which were designed to foster inclusive growth in a cross-sector and community-oriented manner.  She led the fifteen Microsoft Technology Centers across the US, which host thousands of customers and community events each year.  In previous roles at Microsoft, Jennifer was responsible for market expansion initiatives leveraging business model and technology innovation for governments and their citizens, healthcare companies and consumers, and education providers and students around the globe. She joined Microsoft as the Chief Security Officer for the Worldwide Public Sector Division in 2014. Prior to Microsoft, Jennifer was a leader in Cybersecurity, having held technical, sales and executive positions at companies such as Intel, McAfee and Symantec.  She began her career in technology as an Information Security Analyst and Engineer serving US Government clients.  Her first career, which remains her passion today, was in the non-profit world working with under-served populations. Today We Talked About: Jennifer's background Her time at Microsoft And what else? Be curious. Diversity Women in Tech Tech jobs Leadership Giving Back Connect with Jennifer Byrne LinkedIn Twitter Special Thanks to Splashtop for sponsoring today’s show. Splashtop is a premier remote desktop, and remote support solution. I’ve been using Splashtop personal for more than 7 years now and Splashtop Enterprise at my company for 3 years.  Their products are fantastic and their support is second to none.  I love and highly recommend their products and I’m super stoked that they are giving A Geek Leader listeners 10% off their first year (offer expires June 30, 2020) when you go to https://ageekleader.com/splashtop I hope you enjoyed this show, please head over to Apple Podcast and subscribe and leave me a rating and review, even 1 sentence will help spread the word.  Thanks again!

About Sarah Sarah Wirth is the President of EcSell Institute, the world’s first and only organization to measure and quantify leadership effectiveness. She and her coauthor, Bill Eckstrom, are considered the world’s foremost authorities in metric-based performance coaching and growth. Sarah and Bill’s book, The Coaching Effect, was written to help leaders understand how coaching is the key to increase sales, enhance performance, and sustain growth. Sarah is an expert on women in leadership and has nearly 20 years of experience in employee assessment, leadership development, sales executive coaching, and customer service. She takes an analytical approach to understanding the skills and talents of high-performing sales leaders and is constantly providing clients with new methods for leading and coaching. Sarah has presented to executives from across the globe with organizations such as Mercedes Benz, Estee Lauder, Ritz Carlton, Cheesecake Factory and many more. Her expertise in coaching and leadership, combined with her fact-based, common-sense approach to their application make her a sought after presenter at any event.   Today We Talked About:  Her background The Coaching Effect Coaching vs. Managing Coaching vs. Leading Good One-on-Ones (What makes them Quality?) How people are getting the work done...not just what is getting done. What are the best coaches doing? Coach has my back Builds deep relationships Builds Trust Great Coaches are consistent and accountable They Challenge Their people Conversations  with Top Performers Growth Rings discretionary effort Leadership Metrics three critical performance drivers Build Relationship Establish Orders Get into Complexity Complexity vs. Simple Be a learner Ask for feedback Growth Ring Quiz Connect with Sarah Book LinkedIn Twitter Website Special Thanks to Splashtop for sponsoring today’s show. Splashtop is a premier remote desktop, and remote support solution. I’ve been using Splashtop personal for more than 7 years now and Splashtop Enterprise at my company for 3 years.  Their products are fantastic and their support is second to none.  I love and highly recommend their products and I’m super stoked that they are giving A Geek Leader listeners 10% off their first year (offer expires June 30, 2020) when you go to https://ageekleader.com/splashtop I hope you enjoyed this show, please head over to Apple Podcast and subscribe and leave me a rating and review, even 1 sentence will help spread the word.  Thanks again!

About Darren Darren is a Managing Partner of The Trium Group, where he serves as an executive coach to the CEOs of many of the world's most influential companies. He is the author of the book Master Your Code: The Art, Wisdom, and Science of Leading an Extraordinary Life. The book has received significant praise from the CEOs of companies like The Home Depot, Lululemon, Dropbox, StubHub, Roche, and from experts in the field of leadership and personal development like Greg McKeown, author of the NYT best seller Essentialism. The feedback has been tremendous, with some calling Master Your Code "the most important thing I've read in years" and "one of the great personal development books of our generation." Today we talked about: Darren's background Why he wrote the book Key points of the book Definition of a Program A Code vs A Program Responsibility Identity Language creates reality Connect with Darren Twitter LinkedIn Book Website Special Thanks to Today’s Sponsor, Berkaweb If you’re looking for a web hosting provider but aren’t sure how to choose one, check out Berkaweb.com. Berkaweb is a free online resource maintained by Mark Berka, where you’ll find tests and comparisons of hosting providers in different categories, such as hosts with the cheapest annual plans, providers with cheapest renewals, hosts with the longest money-back guarantees, and much more. In contrast to most other hosting reviewers, Mark formulates his recommendations by actually purchasing a hosting plan from each company and putting up a test website, so you’ll be getting an objective look at the true service quality of a provider, not just a rehash of the company’s own marketing claims. 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!

About John John Ferris is the founder and CEO of inVision Edge, a management consultancy focused on enabling innovation, clarifying strategy, and growing businesses. With a background in large organizations that includes leadership experience in sales and marketing, human resources, and organizational development, John is able to help organizations and business owners experiencing growing pains move past the obstacles holding them back and achieve great things. John’s latest product, The Playbook Edge System, is a do-it-yourself strategic planning framework designed to help businesses spend one day creating a plan and the rest of the year achieving their goals. Today we Talked COVID-19 Strategy Defining Roles Focus Innovation Define the Real Problem Get a larger group with different perspectives Rapid testing Minimal Viable Product (MVP) Leadership Listening Communication The Why? Accountability Crucial Conversations Feedback Loop getting it done even if its not perfect One-on-ones 5 Dysfunctions of a Team - book Conflict Be Authentic Always Be Learning   Connect with John Website LinkedIn Twitter Special Thanks to Splashtop for sponsoring today’s show. Splashtop is a premier remote desktop, and remote support solution. I’ve been using Splashtop personal for more than 7 years now and Splashtop Enterprise at my company for 3 years.  Their products are fantastic and their support is second to none.  I love and highly recommend their products and I’m super stoked that they are giving A Geek Leader listeners 10% off their first year (offer expires June 30, 2020) when you go to https://ageekleader.com/splashtop I hope you enjoyed this show, please head over to Apple Podcast and subscribe and leave me a rating and review, even 1 sentence will help spread the word.  Thanks again!

About Dr. Liz Bywater Dr. Liz Bywater is a one-of-a-kind leadership expert who works at the intersection of business and psychology. She integrates deep expertise in human behavior and organizational dynamics with her pragmatic mindset and engaging personal style to help her clients thrive in an increasingly complex world. C-suite leaders and boards consistently enlist Liz’s help to: drive profitable growth build remarkable customer relationships supercharge innovation increase strategic agility eliminate fire-fighting and develop highly productive collaborations amid the nonstop demands of today’s 24/7 world. Results include rapid and dramatic improvements in revenues, profitability, productivity, work culture, leadership, and more. Dr. Bywater works with top executives and management teams across an array of companies, including Johnson & Johnson, Bristol-Myers Squibb, AmerisourceBergen, Biotronik, EMDSerono, Nike, Boeing, Thomson Reuters and more. She provides her clients with expert advice and actionable tools for success, based on more than 25 years of experience. She sits on the Editorial Advisory Board for Life Science Leader and frequently provides leadership insights for Fast Company, FierceCEO, the NY Times, the Wall Street Journal, and other top media outlets. Dr. Bywater has also been a featured guest on CBS’s Philadelphia Agenda and Marilyn Russell’s Remarkable Women. A longstanding member of the American Psychological Society and the Society for the Advancement of Consulting, Dr. Bywater has been recognized as one of the best consultants in the world. In 2018, she was inducted into the Million Dollar Consultant® Hall of Fame. Today We Talked About: create agreement with those around you taking a strategic pause prioritizing lists of activities delegation me / not me list reflection Now/Later/Never eliminate distractions control what you can control Narrow your priorities Connect with Liz twitter linkedin book website 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! Special Thanks to Today’s Sponsor, Berkaweb If you’re looking for a web hosting provider but aren’t sure how to choose one, check out Berkaweb.com. Berkaweb is a free online resource maintained by Mark Berka, where you’ll find tests and comparisons of hosting providers in different categories, such as hosts with the cheapest annual plans, providers with cheapest renewals, hosts with the longest money-back guarantees, and much more. In contrast to most other hosting reviewers, Mark formulates his recommendations by actually purchasing a hosting plan from each company and putting up a test website, so you’ll be getting an objective look at the true service quality of a provider, not just a rehash of the company’s own marketing claims.

About Larry Larry Hubatka is a General Manager for the Marketing and Creative Agency, Tiny Horse. He has provided more than 20 years of creative and strategic leadership for many of the largest companies, nonprofits, and ministries in America. His interests include 90s rock, the Seattle Seahawks, art, family roadtrips, and Jesus. Larry, his wife Kelly, and their 4 girls live in Charlotte, NC. Today we Talked About: Culture work culture Home Culture How COVID-19 has changed some things Leaders effect on culture? Its not all about what you do, but the way you do it. Telling a story Connect with Larry LinkedIn Twitter Book Instagram https://www.youlittlejerk.com Special Thanks to Splashtop for sponsoring today’s show. Splashtop is a premier remote desktop, and remote support solution. I’ve been using Splashtop personal for more than 7 years now and Splashtop Enterprise at my company for 3 years.  Their products are fantastic and their support is second to none.  I love and highly recommend their products and I’m super stoked that they are giving A Geek Leader listeners 10% off their first year (offer expires June 30, 2020) when you go to https://ageekleader.com/splashtop I hope you enjoyed this show, please head over to Apple Podcast and subscribe and leave me a rating and review, even 1 sentence will help spread the word.  Thanks again!

About Chuck Chuck Swoboda is Innovator-in-residence at Marquette University, President of Cape Point Advisors, and the retired Chairman and CEO of Cree, Inc. He serves on several company boards and is author of The Innovator’s Spirit and host of the Innovators on Tap podcast. At Cree, Chuck he helped lead the company from $6 million in revenue to over $1.6 billion as they started the LED Lighting Revolution that led to the obsolescence of traditional light bulbs. Chuck is a co-inventor on 25 patents covering LED and Lighting related technology. In 2010, Chuck was named Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year for the Carolinas.  During his time as CEO, Cree was recognized as MIT Technology Review’s 50 Smartest Companies for 2014 and as one of Fast Company’s World’s 50 Most Innovative Companies in 2015. Chuck holds an electrical engineering degree from Marquette University (1989), where he served on the Board of Trustees for 12 years.  He and his wife live in Cary, North Carolina. When he’s not writing or working, you will likely find him fishing on Bald Head Island. Today We Talked About: Innovation The future doesn't just happen saving benefits vs saving money accountability empathy learning changes Connect with Chuck Book Podcast Website Twitter LinkedIn Special Thanks to Today's Sponsor, Berkaweb If you're looking for a web hosting provider but aren't sure how to choose one, check out Berkaweb.com. Berkaweb is a free online resource maintained by Mark Berka, where you'll find tests and comparisons of hosting providers in different categories, such as hosts with the cheapest annual plans, providers with cheapest renewals, hosts with the longest money-back guarantees, and much more. In contrast to most other hosting reviewers, Mark formulates his recommendations by actually purchasing a hosting plan from each company and putting up a test website, so you'll be getting an objective look at the true service quality of a provider, not just a rehash of the company's own marketing claims. I hope you enjoyed this show, please head over to Apple Podcast and subscribe and leave me a rating and review, even 1 sentence will help spread the word.  Thanks again!