

A Geek Leader Podcast - inspiring technical and creative leaders around the world
John Rouda: technical leader, author, speaker, educator
The ultimate podcast for aspiring leaders in the creative or technology fields. John Rouda discusses leadership topics, interviews some of the greatest minds today and teaches you practical leadership tips, techniques, tricks and hacks to improve motivation, negotiation, and other much needed skills for leaders today.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jan 10, 2025 • 36min
AGL 399: Dr. Angelique Adams
About Angelique
Angelique is an engineer and former corporate executive with 25 years of experience in the metals and mining sector. After managing multimillion-dollar innovation portfolios and leading teams of scientists and engineers worldwide, she discovered that her true passion lies in developing people rather than products.
In 2021, Angelique authored an Amazon best-selling career guide for women in STEM, which served as a springboard to transition into academia and entrepreneurship.
Today, Angelique runs her own leadership training and coaching company, is the Founding Director of the Leadership in Engineering and Entrepreneurship Program and serves as an Associate Professor of Practice at the Tickle College of Engineering at the University of Tennessee.
Angelique holds a Ph.D. in Energy and Mineral Engineering from Penn State and an MBA from MIT. She resides in Knoxville, TN, with her husband and two teenagers.
Today We Talked About
Background
STEM
Leadership
Showing up as a Leader
Why PhD.’s need coaching
Entrepreneurship
Experts need coaching too
Design experiments to test behaviors
Testing and Feedback mindset – weekly reviews
Listening
Communication and professional empathy
Communicate technical items with the rest of the business
Presentations for Leaders
Find the information your audience cares about
Prep for Q and A
Connect with Angelique
Website
LinkedIn
Book
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Jan 2, 2025 • 28min
AGL 398: Productive Failure Manu Kapur
About Manu
MANU KAPUR developed the theory of Productive Failure and applies it in classrooms and workplaces around the world to transform learning and growth. He is a Professor of Learning Sciences and Higher Education at ETH Zurich, Switzerland, and has spent the past two decades understanding the science of how people learn. His research has attracted substantial funding and media interest around the world, making him a sought-after keynote speaker, including two TEDx Talks. Manu has held prestigious visiting professorships and advisory roles globally, and his contributions extend across not only high-profile journals and conferences, but also impact educational policies and practices internationally.
Today We Talked About
Manu’s background
Failure
Future Learning Initiative
Science of Human Learning on multiple Levels
Apply the understandings and design for deep learning
Safely fail
Why wait for failure
Failure Zone… or Learning Zone?
How to learn from Failing
When Learning:
Activation
Awareness of what you know and don’t know (the gap)
Affect
Assemble
What is “Deep Learning?”
Why things didn’t work?
Contrast them with things that do work
Use Failure as a learning mechanism
Use Failure as a “Signal”
Use Failure as a feature of culture
Connect with Manu
Book
LinkedIn
Website
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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!

Dec 27, 2024 • 38min
AGL 397: The Art of Influence with Jennifer Gardner
About Jennifer
Jennifer B. Gardner is a Los Angeles-based trial lawyer, a persuasive communications educator, and a part-time administrative law judge for the County of Los Angeles.
Jennifer has operated her own litigation law firm for 32 years in Los Angeles where she has litigated complex business, real estate and criminal matters through trial.
She began her litigation career in the entertainment industry, has represented individuals in serious criminal cases, has advised and managed documentary filmmakers and visual artists, and today focuses on representing individuals and enterprises of all sizes in business and real estate disputes.
Jennifer has received Certifications from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania in Executive Leadership and in Executive Presence, Influence and Persuasion.
She is a graduate of the Gerry Spence Trial Lawyers College and the Graduate Program at The Gerry Spence Method. Jennifer has honed her communication skills through the study of Somatic Experiencing, the Sanford Meisner Acting Method, and interspecies communications with Rupert Sheldrake at the Esalen Institute.
When she is not lawyering or learning, Jennifer educates high performing leaders on how to grow their executive presence and persuasive skills through programs offered through her company, The Edge Education (www.theedge.education).
She also consults with lawyers on strategic messaging for their cases and helps them with their courtroom presence.
Today We Talked About
Jennifer’s background
Law
Getting to Yes
Negotiation
Best Alternative to Negotiated Outcome
Managing your risk
Know your goal
Influence?
Push buttons
Play to the right side of the brain
System 1 and System 2 thinking
You need the Data
Empathy and Listening
Communication Styles
Slow down before the communication starts – Reflect
Understand the story and the history
Be a storyteller
Univeral truths and emotions
Not just what we say, but how we say
Mirroring
Practice with Zoom and ChatGPT
The PowerLab – the Art of Influence
Connect with Jennifer
Website
LinkedIn
Leave me a tip $
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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!

Dec 20, 2024 • 35min
AGL 396: Ryan Crittenden
About Ryan
Ryan has held leadership and coaching roles across both profit and non-profit organizations. With 8 years of experience in leadership coaching, team building, and personal excellence, he has developed a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities that today’s executives and emerging leaders encounter.
Ryan’s coaching philosophy is rooted in strengths-based and authentic leadership. He leverages his expertise by adhering to ICF standards and utilizes strengths assessments and 360-degree surveys to partner with leaders in achieving personal growth, professional development, and team excellence.
Throughout his coaching career, Ryan has successfully guided over 100 individuals in recognizing and appreciating their strengths to achieve greater personal fulfillment and professional advancement. His clients consistently commend him for helping them understand how to maximize their strengths. Connect with Ryan at http://www.XLcoaching.net.
Today We Talked About
Ryan’s background
Military service
John Maxwell’s team
What is the purpose of a coach
Leadership
Strengths coach
CliftonStrengths Assessment
Working Genius
Grace
Find opportunities to invest
Feed-Forward, not Feedback
Listen
Talk Less and Smile More
Stages of Work
Communication
Connect with Ryan
LinkedIn
Website
Leave me a tip $
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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!

Dec 13, 2024 • 40min
AGL 395: Adrian Kelly
About Adrian
Adrian Kelly is a qualified solicitor, lecturer and lifelong learner. He researches and writes on performance, sustainable success and well-being. His aim is to shine a light on key elements of success stories which sometimes go under the radar and bring key learnings to a wider audience. In his Book the Success Complex, he explores core skills vital to overcoming challenge, using examples which range from historical figures such as Napoleon, Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King Jr to the movie stars of today. He examines how even the brightest and best can lose their way when it comes to the application of those skills. Finally, in a world of ever-increasing opportunity, he invites the reader to consider what the most important things to accomplish in life really are – they might not always be what you think.
Today We Talked About
Adrian’s background
book
success
Sports
Success if fleeting
Control
Screentime
Amazon Culture
perceived autonomy
Atomic Motivation
Purpose
Meaning vs. Purpose
Feeling of Fulfillment
Reflecting
Transcendence
Self-Actualization… or Self-Transcendence
Legacy
Hardest part of writing the book
Obstacles to Success
Self-Doubt
Small wins
Chart your progress
Perfectionist
Myth of IQ and EQ
Self-talk
Connect with Adrian
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!

Dec 6, 2024 • 44min
AGL 394: Trauma as a Catalyst with Carrie Rickert
About Carrie
Carrie Rickert is an author and the founder and CEO of Nomis Advisors, a management consultancy firm in Stevensville, MD. Carrie has worked with hundreds of companies to strategically develop programs to initiate change. Additionally, Carrie is a trauma survivor and an expert on navigating catalytic circumstances. Carrie’s book is Trauma is a Catalyst and can be found on Amazon and BarnesandNoble.com.
Today We Talked About
Carrie’s background
Organizational Development
Her Accident
Recovery
Mindset
Recognize when you need help…and ask for it
Compassion and Empathy
Tell me why this is important to you
People need to be heard
Be real around people
listen to people
ask “Why you’re doing this”
Question the rules
Book Cover – Rachel Rickert
Connect with Carrie
LinkedIn
Website
Book
Leave me a tip $
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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!

Nov 29, 2024 • 34min
AGL 393: Andrey Kudievskiy from Distillery
About Andrey
Andrey is the Founder and CEO of Distillery, a leading nearshore software development firm that embeds top-tier AI-enabled senior engineers and agile experts directly into clients’ projects. He has 15+ years of software development leadership experience. An entrepreneur and talented developer in his own right, he now focuses on delivering the teams and products that enable other businesses to succeed.
Today We Talked About
Background
Gaming
Empathy
Different doesn’t mean better or worse…
Letting Go
Pizza Rule…
Separate yourself from the company
Balance… don’t stop being a human
Culture of a business
Vision development
Connect with Andrey
LinkedIn
Website
Leave me a tip $
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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!

Nov 22, 2024 • 25min
AGL 392: Eileen Forrestal
About Eileen
Eileen Forrestal, having spent 20+ years as an Anesthesiologist ‘putting people to sleep’ with powerful drugs, embarked on a mission to ‘wake people up’ to the power of words.
Author of The Courage To Shine, her invitation is to encourage you to Find Your Voice and Discover The Healing Power of Your Words and to have the courageous conversations that will make a real difference, breaking free from fears that are holding you back from full self-expression and fulfilment in life.
Through her transformational Get Up and Go diaries and journals, and Shine Your Light Coaching and Consulting, Eileen is committed to inspiring, encouraging, motivating, and empowering you to live your best one-and-only life, right now.
Eileen, a certified coach, accomplished trainer and natural leader, is committed to lifelong learning and sees curiosity, personal development and contribution as access to wellbeing and success in all areas of life.
Her passions are for fostering connection, promoting collaboration and making meaningful contribution through self-expression, and delights in seeing others Shine in the Art of Living,
She counts summiting Kilimanjaro, trekking to Everest Base Camp, rafting the Zambezi, cycling the Mekong Delta, jumping from an airplane, riding an ostrich and hypnotizing a chicken as some of her more memorable life events.
The co-creator of the Genius Journal with Roger Hamilton, Eileen is a Flow Consultant with Wealth Dynamics, trained to help you get into your ‘entrepreneurial’ flow with fun, freedom and ease. As Co-founder of “Get Up and Go Publications Ltd, and her “Shine Your Light Coaching and Consulting,” Eileen ignites the spark within, inspiring, encouraging, motivating, and empowering individuals to live their best lives, helping them
She is passionate about encouraging young adults and teens, helping them prepare to navigate the uncertain waters of post school life with courage and confidence.
No stranger to ‘Intensive Care’ Eileen understands the importance of trust, support and encouragement as we face life’s difficulties. Eileen cares passionately that individuals discover their inner shine and express it freely in the world, lighting the way for others.
If you want a true and trusted coach in your corner and guide on your side, look no further than Dr Eileen Forrestal at Shine Your Light Coaching and Consulting.
Today We Talked About
Eileen’s background
Are you doing your best Everywhere in life?
Self-Expression
Fear
What’s the worst that can happen?
Mountain Climbing and Adventures
One More Step
Embrace the Edge
Connect with Eileen
www.eileenforrestal.com
www.getupandgodiary.com
LinkedIn
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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!

Nov 15, 2024 • 27min
AGL 391: David Minarsch
About David
David holds a Ph.D. in Applied Game Theory from the University of Cambridge, is the creator of the first multi-agent system framework with native support for distributed ledger technologies (https://aea.dev), and is a co-founder and the CEO at Valory.
He has conducted research on the Economics of Networks, strategy of conflict, political competition, and multi-agent systems.
He has created the first framework for the development and production deployment of agents in a decentralized multi-agent multi-stakeholder environment.
David has a proven track record of taking projects from concept stage to production as demonstrated at Yoyo Wallet, Azembly, Panopy and Fetch.ai.
Today We Talked About
David’s background
Game Theory?
Crypto
Transparency
Smart Contracts
Agents
Crypto and AI synergies
OLAs
Co-Own AI
Connect with David
LinkedIn
Website
OLAs
X
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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!

Nov 8, 2024 • 37min
AGL 390: Alex Heublein
About Alex
Alex Heublein is the President of the U.S. division of Netsurit, where he leads efforts to help small and medium-sized businesses navigate the complexities of digital transformation. With over three decades of experience in IT and business strategy, Alex is passionate about demystifying technology for SMBs and providing actionable insights to drive efficiency and innovation.
At Netsurit, Alex works closely with business leaders to develop tailored strategies that not only enhance operational efficiency but also build resilience and adaptability in an ever-evolving digital landscape.
He is also a sought-after speaker and thought leader, frequently contributing to discussions on digital transformation, cybersecurity, and the strategic use of technology in business. His mission is to empower organizations to unlock their full potential and achieve sustained competitive advantage.
Today We Talked About
Background
Generative AI
MBA and PhD.
Personal Productivity with Gen AI
Department AI
Enterprise AI
Making Decisions out of structured and unstructured data
Art of the Possible
Choose the Right Use Cases
Connect with Alex
LinkedIn
Website
Alexh@netsurit.com
Leave me a tip $
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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!


