Tech Leader Talk

On this episode, I have a great conversation with Josh Millet. Josh the founder and CEO of Criteria, which is a pre-employment assessment company with a simple goal: to help organizations make better hires. Josh founded Criteria in 2006 with a vision to create a pre-employment testing service that would make the highest quality employee assessment tools accessible to companies of all sizes. He has raised a total of $64 million in funding since inception and acquired two companies in the last couple of years. Josh's experience combines leading-edge data science with rigorous validation to provide precise assessments. Since launching the company in 2006, Criteria has administered more than 25 million assessments. "Resumes can be problematic from a science-based lens." – Josh Millet Today on the Tech Leader Talk podcast: - Tips for finding top employees for a tech company - How can companies hire the "right people"? - Keeping employees from leaving your organization - Tips for growing a tech company - Using adaptive assessments for improved efficiency Connect with Josh Millet: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-millet-23ba192 Website: https://criteriacorp.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.

On this episode, I have a wonderful conversation with Sonci Perez. Sonci has founded multiple tech companies and is currently working to help companies change their interaction with customers through fast technology that delivers exceptional experiences. She is a Co-Founder of Quala.io, which is a frontline intelligence platform for B2B SaaS companies that helps them better serve and retain customers. Before Quala, she co-founded Promoboxx, a marketing technology startup that connected brands with independent retailers to increase awareness of where to buy goods locally. She also serves as a Mentor with Techstars Boston, which helps grow startups. Sonci enjoys providing customer success leaders and innovators in SaaS businesses with fresh perspectives on how to improve customer health, gain retention, and create expansion to upgrade their company. "Customer success teams are often responsible for generating 60-70% of a company's revenue." – Sonci Perez Today on the Tech Leader Talk podcast: - The importance of customer success technology - Scaling your business by finding the intersection of technology and humans - How to monitor customer relationship health - Developing business intelligence from customer success data Resources Mentioned: Books:One to Ten by Rags GuptaUntamed by Glennon Doyle Connect with Sonci Perez: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sonciary/ Website: https://Quala.io 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 performing an assessment of your systems for identifying and protecting the most valuable inventions created in your organization. I discuss a 5-step approach to assess your current systems and procedures. I also talk about how to develop a plan to improve those systems and procedures over the next 12 months. Listen to this episode so you understand how to perform an invention assessment in your business. "I recommend performing an invention assessment at least once a year." – Steve Sponseller Today on the Tech Leader Talk podcast: - How to evaluate your current systems for identifying inventions - Criteria for evaluating the value of an invention to your company - Identifying critical patent filing deadlines - Developing a 12-month plan to identify and protect your most valuable inventions Questions? If you want my help with an Invention Assessment or have any questions about identifying and protecting your critical inventions, contact me to schedule a Free Introductory Call. 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.

On this episode, Ginny Foster and I discuss robotics, industrial automation, and safety issues related to robots. Ginny is an Electrical Engineer who helps people scale manufacturing operations with robotics. She serves as Market Development Manager at Neff Power, an industrial automation distributor and robotics partner with locations across the United States. Ginny has a degree in Electrical Engineering from Saint Louis University and a degree in Spanish from Washington University in Saint Louis. She is a certified Project Management Professional, and is passionate about developing relationships and solving problems. "Robots do not replace people. Robots replace tasks." – Ginny Foster Today on the Tech Leader Talk podcast: - How companies can start implementing robotic systems - Will robots replace people - The four Ds of robotics (tasks that are best for robots) - The future of robotics and artificial intelligence Resources Mentioned: Book: Mindset by Carol Dweck YouTube Videos: https://www.youtube.com/c/Neffpowermissouri Connect with Ginny Foster: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ginny-foster-0047a09/ Website: https://www.neffpower.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.

On this episode, I have a wonderful conversation with Lisa Duerre. Lisa is a former Silicon Valley executive on a mission: She ignites leaders in the tech world to get fantastic results, build high-performing teams, and be present for the moments that matter without burning out. Lisa has worked in various roles, such as a CEO, Executive Coach, Speaker, Facilitator, Leadership Advisor, Podcast Host, and Author. She has helped over 25,000 employees get faster results at work, make a bigger impact, and be better business leaders. Lisa is passionate about showing leaders the way to lead with their head and their heart. "Burnout is a billion dollar problem in the United States." – Lisa Duerre Today on the Tech Leader Talk podcast: - Why great leaders align their head and heart - How to avoid burnout - Tips for rebooting to reduce stress and increase productivity - How to attract and retain employees Resources Mentioned: Book: Conversations Worth Having by Jackie Stavros and Cheri Torres Podcast: Ctrl Alt Del with Lisa Duerre Link: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ctrl-alt-delete-with-lisa-duerre-for-leaders-in-tech/id1532782441 Connect with Lisa Duerre: LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/lisaduerre Website: https://RLDGroupLLC.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.

On this episode, I have a great conversation with Chris Hood. Chris is a Strategist, a thought leader, and an author with 35 years of experience in business development and digital transformation. He currently works at Google as the Head of Business Innovation & Strategy. Chris also teaches at Colorado Technical University and Southern New Hampshire University. His background includes a wide range of industries with significant work in media and entertainment at companies including Fox, Disney, Universal, and Electronic Arts. Chris is also the host of "That Digital Show" Podcast. "Innovative ideas can come from anyone in your organization." – Chris Hood Today on the Tech Leader Talk podcast: - How do you keep innovation alive in a large organization like Google - The three key components of innovation (technology, data, and people) - Tips for building a culture of innovation in your company - The relationship between digital transformation and innovation Connect with Chris Hood: Website: https://chrishood.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 identifying all inventions created throughout your organization. Identifying every invention created by your team is more complicated than simply asking, "What have you invented lately?" Invention identification is critical because you can't protect an invention if you don't first identify it. Listen to this episode so you understand how to identify every invention created by your team. "Solutions to difficult problems are a great place to look for inventions." – Steve Sponseller Today on the Tech Leader Talk podcast: - Why many people fail to identify inventions - The importance (and value) of incremental inventions - Discovering hidden inventions with Invention Mining - 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 Free Introductory Call so an important 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.

On this episode, I have a wonderful conversation with Andrew Butt. Andrew has launched and grown several technology companies. He has also served on the Board of Directors for multiple companies. Andrew it the co-founder and CEO of Enable, which is a cloud-based B2B (Business to Business) software tool for rebate management. Enable's software tool is used by distributors, wholesalers, and manufacturers across over 50 industries. "Cloud-based opportunities are bigger than ever." – Andrew Butt Today on the Tech Leader Talk podcast: - Key lessons learned from launching several tech companies - Tips for growing a venture-backed company - Critical trends that are impacting technology companies - Why Focus is so important for tech company leaders Resources Mentioned: Book: The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni Book: The Advantage by Patrick Lencioni Connect with Andrew Butt: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/awbutt/ Website: https://www.enable.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 patent filing deadlines that are important to tech companies and inventors. There are three important activities that automatically trigger a 12-month deadline in the United States for filing a patent application to protect your invention. In most situations, if you miss this deadline, you forfeit the ability to protect the invention. This often means your competitors can freely use that invention in their products because you can't protect it with a patent. Unfortunately, many business leaders are unaware of this deadline and inadvertently lose patent rights to their inventions. Too often, I've had to tell company leaders, "It's too late to protect your invention." Listen to this episode so you understand the deadlines and make an informed business decision before forfeiting your patent rights. Today on the Tech Leader Talk podcast: The three activities that trigger a 12-month patent filing deadline: - Public disclosure of the invention - Sale of a product that contains the invention - An offer to sell a product that contains the invention Solution: - Identify all of the three triggering activities. - If the invention is valuable to your business, file a patent application BEFORE the 12 month deadline. Questions? If you have any questions about these deadlines, contact me to schedule a Free Introductory Call so you don't forfeit any critical patent rights. 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.

On this episode, I have a wonderful conversation with Arthur Root. Arthur is the founder of Nostra AI, an Artificial Intelligence marketing company that is utilized by a wide range of companies, from publicly traded companies to small businesses. Nostra has developed an easy-to-use content optimization system that uses AI to efficiently optimize web pages. Arthur is knowledgeable about AI, marketing, raising VC financing, and entrepreneurship. "AI can do what's impossible for humans." – Arthur Root Today on the Tech Leader Talk podcast: - The current best practices for web site design - How AI is impacting web site design today - What does your website need before you consider using AI - Managing your website based on consumer sentiment Resources Mentioned: Book: Code Breakers by Walter Isaacson Connect with Arthur Root: Email: arthurroot@nostra.ai Website: https://www.nostra.ai/ 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.