Tech Leader Talk

My guest on today's episode of the Tech Leader Talk podcast is David Mitlyng. David is the CEO and Co-Founder of Xairos, which is developing a space-based timing architecture using Quantum Time Transfer (QTT). David will be discussing how Quantum Communications can fix GPS Vulnerabilities. In particular, he talks about leveraging entangled photon technology to bring quantum security to timing synchronization. David explains why this timing synchronization is critical to finance, network resilience, and national security. He shares his journey from aerospace engineering to entrepreneurship and discusses the challenges of building resilient systems. During our conversation, David also discusses changing space technologies, such as the shift towards building, launching, and iterating with cheaper satellites. David shares many valuable insights during our conversation that can help your organization. Today on the Tech Leader Talk podcast: - Solving GPS problems with quantum communications - Tips for innovating quickly - Using entangled photons for secure timing - Industries that require timing synchronization - How to stay aware of industry needs Resource: Xairos Newsletter: https://www.xairos.com/newsletters Connect with David Mitlyng: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidmitlyng/ Website: https://www.xairos.com/ Get a copy of Steve's one-sheet summary for Building a Robust Patent Strategy. Send an email to: steve@stevesponseller.com Thanks for listening! Be sure to get your free copy of Steve's book, Cracking the Patent Code, and discover his proven system for identifying and protecting your most valuable inventions. Get the book at https://stevesponseller.com/book.

My guest on today's episode of the Tech Leader Talk podcast is Mark Matossian who will be sharing his insights learned from many interesting experiences with technology companies. Mark grew up during the Apollo era of space exploration and that early experience sparked his lifelong passion for aerospace and technology. Mark is currently the Chief Operating Officer of Lonestar Data Holdings – a company that's developing space-based data storage systems. Mark has a long history of experience working in the technology industry, including working on building data center infrastructure when Google was just getting started. Mark shares lessons learned during his work at Google, including the importance of company culture and keeping up with changing technology landscapes. During our conversation, Mark also discusses Silicon Valley's cultural tolerance for failure and the benefits of that mindset. You're going to enjoy this conversation with Mark and I'm sure you will get some valuable insights from his experiences in the tech industry. Today on the Tech Leader Talk podcast: - Mark's experience of building the cloud before the cloud existed - Building a strong culture to support innovation and business growth - How Google's early days shaped modern data center strategies - Innovation thrives when people feel motivated and mission-driven - Advantages of space-based data storage Connect with Mark Matossian: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matossian/ Website: https://www.lonestarlunar.com/ Thanks for listening! Be sure to get your free copy of Steve's book, Cracking the Patent Code, and discover his proven system for identifying and protecting your most valuable inventions. Get the book at https://stevesponseller.com/book.

Today my guest is Vaclav Vincalek who will be sharing his insights on Artificial Intelligence, machine learning, and innovation. He will also be debunking some myths about Artificial Intelligence. Vaclav is a technology entrepreneur, a CTO, and a technology advisor for startups and fast-growing companies. He helps companies strategize, innovate, and grow. During our conversation, Vaclav shares his ideas regarding the current limitations of AI and large language models. He also critiques the frequent use of the term "AI" as an often misleading marketing label. Vaclav discusses why businesses should first focus on their strategy, customers, and differentiation. He encourages businesses to consider technology as an enabler of their business strategy, not the starting point. I'm sure you will get some valuable insights from today's discussion that can help drive your business strategy. Today on the Tech Leader Talk podcast: - Incorporating AI and technology into your tech company - Limitations of current AI and large language models - How can we ensure that AI systems are unbiased and truthful? - Vaclav's project to personalize the internet Resource: Vaclav's Recurrent Patterns Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/200b5448fbc5/recurrent-patterns-newsletter Connect with Vaclav Vincalek: Website: https://555vcto.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vincalek/ Thanks for listening! Be sure to get your free copy of Steve's book, Cracking the Patent Code, and discover his proven system for identifying and protecting your most valuable inventions. Get the book at https://stevesponseller.com/book.

On this episode of the Tech Leader Talk podcast, I'm declaring 2026 as The Year of Patent Strategies. I've been helping tech companies build robust patent strategies for almost 30 years. My top priority for 2026 is to help more tech companies create or strengthen their patent strategies. An important benefit of building a strong patent strategy is peace of mind. This peace of mind comes from knowing that you have identified every invention developed by your team and took steps to protect the most valuable inventions. You have peace of mind knowing that you have secured your competitive advantage, increased the company's valuation, and positioned the company as an industry leader. To help companies get started, I have created a one-page summary of my 7-Step system for building a robust patent strategy. I would be happy to send you a copy of this document. Just email me or send me a message via LinkedIn (see links below). Contact me via email: Steve@SteveSponseller.com OR see my contact information on my website, which is: https://SteveSponseller.com Link to my LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevesponseller Link to Nov. 20, 2025 episode describing Step 1: https://www.podpage.com/tech-leader-talk-1/a-critical-1st-step-when-building-your-patent-strategy-steve-sponseller/ You can also contact me to schedule a complimentary call to answer your questions about building your own Patent Strategy. I hope this was helpful. Wishing you a happy Year of Patent Strategies!

You have probably heard about IQ and EQ. But have you heard about Experiential Intelligence? That's what I'm discussing today with my guest, Soren Kaplan – who wrote the book on Experiential Intelligence – literally! His book is titled: Experiential Intelligence – Harness the Power of Experience for Personal and Business Breakthroughs. Soren has been named one of the world's top management experts. He has advised and led professional development programs for thousands of executives around the world, including Disney, NBCUniversal, Medtronic, Philips, and Cisco. Soren's mission is to inspire, educate, and empower individuals and organizations to harness the power of innovation and experiential intelligence for positive impact and growth. During our discussion, Soren explains how Experiential Intelligence can complement IQ and EQ. Soren also talks about how to build a Culture of Innovation in your organization. I'm sure you will get value from this discussion and pick up some insights about Experiential Intelligence you can start using right away. "If you amplify what you're already good at, you're really leveraging your core competencies and the strengths of your culture." – Soren Kaplan Today on the Tech Leader Talk podcast: - How to leverage disruptive technology today - What is Experiential Intelligence - Disruptive innovation vs. incremental innovation - Innovation culture audits - How Experiential Intelligence complements IQ and EQ Book: Experiential Intelligence by Soren Kaplan - https://www.amazon.com/Experiential-Intelligence-Experience-Personal-Breakthroughs/dp/1637742029 Connect with Soren Kaplan: Website: https://sorenkaplan.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sorenkaplan/ Thanks for listening! Be sure to get your free copy of Steve's latest book, Cracking the Patent Code, and discover his proven system for identifying and protecting your most valuable inventions. Get the book at https://stevesponseller.com/book.

Do you want to learn how to avoid innovation failure? Today I'm talking with Tony Ulwick, who has spent his career clarifying the complex world of innovation. Tony believes that innovation isn't just about creating new ideas – the heart of innovation is uncovering and addressing unmet customer needs. Tony shares that true innovation isn't just about fresh ideas. If you want a winning product, Tony explains that you must start by uncovering what people actually want, not just what you think is cool. That shift changes everything. During our conversation, Tony shares insights about creating a culture of alignment around customer needs. He discusses how to avoid "innovation failure" by looking at problems experienced by other technology companies. I think you will enjoy this episode and get some new ideas for leveraging innovation in your business. Today on the Tech Leader Talk podcast: - Common reasons companies fail at innovation - Creating a culture of alignment around customer needs - Tony's Outcome-Driven Innovation process - Revisiting unmet needs regularly - Integrating AI into the innovation process Resource: Tony's Innovation Newsletter: https://strategyn.com/newsletter/ Connect with Tony Ulwick: Website: https://strategyn.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonyulwick/ Thanks for listening! Be sure to get your free copy of Steve's book, Cracking the Patent Code, and discover his proven system for identifying and protecting your most valuable inventions. Get the book at https://stevesponseller.com/book.

Have you ever thought about how to protect your company name, logo, or slogan – and when you should do that? On this episode, my guest is J.J. Lee, and he will answer those questions. J.J. Lee is an experienced Trademark Attorney and the Founder of Trademark Lawyer Law Firm in Ann Arbor, Michigan. J.J. and his team have successfully registered over 7000 trademarks for their clients. During our conversation, J.J. shares insights regarding his experience helping companies protect their brands using trademarks. He discusses when to consider filing a trademark application and how to avoid costly mistakes that can impact your business and brand. J.J. shares practical advice for startups as well as established companies. He explains why it's important for technology companies to secure their trademarks early in the growth of the business. I encourage you to listen to this episode so you get a better understanding of how to protect your company's valuable brand. Today on the Tech Leader Talk podcast: - Why you should protect your core brand first - The right time to file a trademark application - Avoiding trademark scams - Preliminary searches for trademark availability - Common trademark mistakes Resource: TM Telegram Newsletter: https://tmtelegram.kit.com/ Connect with J.J. Lee: Website: https://www.trademarklawyerfirm.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jjleelaw/ Thanks for listening! Be sure to get your free copy of Steve's book, Cracking the Patent Code, and discover his proven system for identifying and protecting your most valuable inventions. Get the book at https://stevesponseller.com/book.

This is a Fun episode – we're talking about playing poker. But not the kind of poker you're familiar with. Today, I'm talking with Stephen Shapiro. Stephen is a leading keynote speaker, author, and advisor on innovation. He has two decades of practical innovation experience, including working at Accenture, where he created and led a 20,000 person innovation practice. Stephen and I are talking about poker today. But this poker game is different – it can improve your company and your individual team members. Stephen will be discussing Personality Poker, which is a Fun, Experiential game played with special decks of cards. Personality Poker was created by Stephen and has been played by more than 250,000 participants worldwide. During our discussion Stephen shares examples of how Personality Poker can Drive Innovation and Collaboration in the Workplace. Our discussion will provide some valuable insights on how the Personality Poker tool might help your organization. Today on the Tech Leader Talk podcast: - Why opposites don't always attract - Valuing team members who are different from us - How organizations assess and understand their own "personality" - Self-Awareness = Better Collaboration - Creating a "full deck" of personalities for stronger problem-solving Connect with Stephen Shapiro: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shapiroinnovates/ Website: https://personalitypoker.com Thanks for listening! Be sure to get your free copy of Steve's book, Cracking the Patent Code, and discover his proven system for identifying and protecting your most valuable inventions. Get the book at https://stevesponseller.com/book.

Are you looking for ways to accelerate and innovate your tech startup? Then you're in the right place because that's what I'm discussing today with Zack Weisfeld, who is the Chairman of Ignite DeepTech. Ignite DeepTech accelerates deep-tech innovation by giving founders the knowledge and resources they need to turn groundbreaking ideas into extraordinary companies. Zack has more than 25 years of experience as an executive and a serial entrepreneur. Zack shares his experience in helping startups with funding, mentoring, and C-level executive support. His experience includes founding and leading tech startups, corporate entrepreneurship, and mentoring tech founders. During our conversation, Zack discusses challenges faced by tech founders and the importance of mental resilience in the tech industry. Zack explains the Intel Ignite program and its unique approach to supporting tech startups and providing mentoring. He also shares the goals of Intel Ignite and the criteria used to select startups for each cohort. Today on the Tech Leader Talk podcast: - Mental resilience in the tech industry - The importance of mentorship in building businesses - Challenges faced by tech founders - Intel Ignite's startup selection criteria Book Recommendation: Give and Take by Adam Grant - https://www.amazon.com/Give-Take-Helping-Others-Success/dp/0143124986 Connect with Tzahi (Zack) Weisfeld: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tweisfeld/ Website: https://ignitedeeptech.com/ Thanks for listening! Be sure to get your free copy of Steve's latest book, Cracking the Patent Code, and discover his proven system for identifying and protecting your most valuable inventions. Get the book at https://stevesponseller.com/book.

In this solo episode, I talk about the importance of training your team to identify every invention created in your organization. Invention identification is critical because you can't evaluate and protect an invention if you don't first identify it. Identifying every invention is more complicated than simply asking, "What have you invented lately?" Listen to this episode so you understand how to implement this critical 1st step in building your robust patent strategy. Today on the Tech Leader Talk podcast: - Why many people fail to identify inventions - Discovering hidden inventions with Invention Mining - The importance (and value) of incremental inventions - A simple approach for capturing invention details - Be proactive and make inventing fun Questions? If you have any questions about identifying your critical inventions, contact me to schedule a complimentary call so a million dollar invention doesn't fall through the cracks. Contact me via email: Steve@SteveSponseller.com Or visit my website: https://www.SteveSponseller.com Thanks for listening! Be sure to get your free copy of my latest book, Cracking the Patent Code, and discover my proven system for identifying and protecting your most valuable inventions. Get the book at https://stevesponseller.com/book.