Tech Leader Talk

Do you need help delivering compelling technical presentations? Today I'm talking with Don Colliver, who is a facilitator and communication consultant with over 20 years of experience. He has worked as a consultant for tech companies like Google, Cisco, Adobe, and IBM. Don is also a former theatrical clown for a circus and has performed with the Blue Man Group. He is the author of the book Wink: Transforming Public Speaking with Clown Presence. Don talks about how his experience as a clown helps him when training tech companies how to give good presentations. He also discusses how to present technical information without putting your audience to sleep. Don also shares the 3 questions you must ask about your audience before planning any presentation. I'm sure you will enjoy Don's tips and insights for building audience awareness, increasing rapport, and clearly communicating technical information. "Sometimes all you need is to hear positive feedback for a few presentations." – Don Colliver Today on the Tech Leader Talk podcast: - Important factors when presenting technical information - Why engagement is so important - 3 questions to ask about your audience when planning a presentation (Who – What – Why) - How to improve your tech team's presentations - A change in mindset regarding public speaking Resource: Free Audience Engagement Exercise – https://www.doncolliver.com/techengage Book: Crucial Conversations – https://www.amazon.com/Crucial-Conversations-Tools-Talking-Stakes/dp/1260474186 Connect with Don Colliver: Website: https://www.winktechtalks.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/doncolliver/ 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 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 Disfunctions 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.

Do you want to learn how AI can optimize your website and improve conversions? On this episode, I have a wonderful conversation with Arthur Root. Arthur is the founder and CEO 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 - https://www.amazon.com/Code-Breaker-Jennifer-Doudna-Editing/dp/1982115866 Connect with Arthur Root: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arthur-root/ 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.

Are you looking for tips and insights to grow your tech startup and obtain funding? Well, that's what we're discussing today. Today I'm talking with Don Weidner, who is the founder of Formidable Ventures, which is an investment business built on exponential technologies and aggressive growth. Don talks about the different types of companies he invests in, and what factors he considers when evaluating a tech company for possible investment. During our discussion, Don shares information about what he looks for in a leadership team and what makes a pitch stand out. Don also shares his thoughts on what he expects to see in the investment area during the coming year. I'm sure you will get some valuable tips and insights that can help you grow and fund your tech company. "When investing, I always look for cutting edge technology and exponential technology. My personal favorites are autonomous vehicles, solar power, robotics, and space." – Don Weidner (Founder of Formidable Ventures) Today on the Tech Leader Talk podcast: - Factors considered when evaluating a space tech company for investment - What types of space technology are most likely to be successful - How to predict the future infrastructure needed to support a new company - What Don looks for in a company's leadership team - What entrepreneurs should consider before launching a new company today Book: Sevenevys by Neal Stephenson: https://www.amazon.com/Seveneves-Neal-Stephenson/dp/0062334514 Connect with Don Weidner: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donweidner Website: https://formidable.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.

On this episode, I have a fun discussion with Scott Christianson. Scott is an Associate Teaching Professor of management at the Trulaske College of Business at the University of Missouri. Scott's interests are focused on the impact of emerging technology on society and human well-being. Prior to joining the college, he was a business owner with decades of experience in videoconferencing technology, project management, and information technology. "This is a great time to learn on your own." – Scott Christianson Today on the Tech Leader Talk podcast: - How to start using open source hardware in your business - A student's project that used open source hardware to prototype a "calving collar" for cows - What Scott enjoys most about working in the academic world - New platforms for flexible learning (remote, in-person, and hybrid) Resources Mentioned: Arist (training platform): https://arist.co/ Scott's Newsletter: https://frtech.substack.com/welcome Instructables: https://www.instructables.com/ Arduino: https://www.arduino.cc/ Raspberrypi: https://www.raspberrypi.org/ Adafruit: https://www.adafruit.com/ SparkFun: https://www.sparkfun.com/ Connect with Scott: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jscottchristianson/ Website: https://www.christiansonjs.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.

Would you like to learn tips to grow your business from a CEO and Co-Founder of multiple startups? Today I am talking with Nigel Eccles, who is the former CEO and Co-Founder of FanDuel, and today is the CEO and Co-Founder of Vault. His latest company, Vault, is a new creator platform that uses the power of Web 3 to unlock the next generation of fan experiences. Nigel tells us more about the unique features of Vault during today's discussion. Nigel talks about his experience with launching and growing several companies. He also discusses how he comes up with ideas for new companies and deciding which ideas to pursue. Nigel has a passion for building online communities. He talks about how tech companies can successfully leverage online communities. You're going to enjoy this conversation with Nigel and get some valuable insights on how you can grow your own company. "Step one is to have a great product. If you don't have a great product, it doesn't matter how great your marketing is – nobody will use it. Step two is to find repeatable acquisition channels." – Nigel Eccles (CEO and Co-founder of Vault Laboratories) Today on the Tech Leader Talk podcast: - How to build a business for passionate fans - Nigel's most effective growth strategies - Building online communities that strengthen your company - Vault's unique niche in the music industry - Successfully pivoting a startup into a new industry Connect with Nigel Eccles: Website: https://vault.fan/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/nigeleccles LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nigeleccles/ 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.

Are you protecting your company's critical inventions that create a competitive advantage, attract investors, and increase valuation? This interview is part of the Space Tech Innovation event where Space Tech Leaders share the latest trends and key insights to grow any tech company. The event is Free – you can register at https://SpaceTechInnovation.com to see all the videos, edited transcripts, and an executive summary of each interview. Today's interview is going to be different. I've turned the tables and I am the person being interviewed. Shelli Brunswick (a previous guest on the podcast) has generously agreed to interview me today. Shelli is the Chief Operating Officer of Space Foundation and a fantastic interviewer for her own podcast. Today, I will be talking with Shelli about my insights from interviewing eight space tech leaders as part of the Space Tech Innovation event. I've been working with tech companies for more than 25 years, but I still discovered new things from my discussions with the space tech leaders. I will also be sharing my own knowledge and experience about how tech companies (space tech and non-space tech) can protect their most valuable inventions to create patent portfolios that provide a competitive advantage, attract investors, and increase company valuation. I think you will enjoy this conversation with me and get some valuable tips and insights that can help you in your own business activities. "Two of the biggest mistakes I see space tech companies make regarding their inventions are 1) not having a system to identify all inventions created by their team, and 2) not understanding patent filing deadlines." – Steve Sponseller (President and Patent Strategist at Innovation Strategies, Inc.) Today on the Tech Leader Talk podcast: - Why space tech companies must protect their inventions - Insights from talking with eight space tech experts for the Space Tech Innovation event - Biggest mistakes about protecting inventions - The motivation behind Steve's book, Cracking the Patent Code - Why collaboration among space tech companies is critical Resources: Space Tech White Paper: https://stevesponseller.com/spacetech/ Steve's book, Cracking the Patent Code: https://stevesponseller.com/book Connect with Steve Sponseller: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevesponseller/ Website: https://stevesponseller.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.

Does your space tech startup need help navigating today's funding landscape? This interview is part of the Space Tech Innovation event where Space Tech Leaders share the latest trends and key insights to grow any tech company. The event is Free – you can register at https://SpaceTechInnovation.com to see all the videos, edited transcripts, and an executive summary of each interview. Today I am talking with Maureen Haverty, who is the Investment Vice President of Seraphim Space. Seraphim Space invests in space tech startups from seed investments through their full life cycle. Maureen joined Seraphim Space after a successful career in the space industry as COO at Apollo Fusion and Senior Director of Corporate Development at Astra. During our interview, Maureen discusses what she looks for when analyzing a space tech company for investment – and how that differs from analyzing non-space tech companies. Maureen also talks about what Seraphim Space likes to see in the company's leadership team. And, she provides suggestions on what a space tech startup should be looking for in an investor. Maureen also shares her thoughts on what she expects with space tech funding trends in the coming year. I know you will enjoy this conversation with Maureen and get some insights on how to get funding for your own company. "We focus quite a bit on tech. The most important thing is the team… Why are you the team that can do something difficult that others failed to do?" – Maureen Haverty (Investment Vice President of Seraphim Space) Today on the Tech Leader Talk podcast: - Strategy for raising funds in the current space tech environment - Important factors when evaluating a space tech company for investment - What Seraphim Space looks for in a leadership team - What should space tech companies look for in an investor? - Expectations for space tech investments in the coming year Connect with Maureen Haverty: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maureen-haverty-52569b79/ Website: https://seraphim.vc 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.

Are you using design reviews and testing to build a strong tech team? This interview is part of the Space Tech Innovation event where Space Tech Leaders share the latest trends and key insights to grow any tech company. The event is Free – you can register at https://SpaceTechInnovation.com to see all the videos, edited transcripts, and an executive summary of each interview. Today I am talking with Shawn Buckley. Shawn is a Senior Director of Engineering at Sierra Space where he and his team are developing and implementing the next generation of power and infrastructure for the evolving space economy. Shawn is passionate about space systems, especially inflatable space habitats. He loves attending design reviews. He considers it a privilege to participate in design reviews to see people's work and see their excitement. During design reviews, Shawn enjoys seeing all of the hard work done by hundreds of team members. Shawn talks about mentors he's had in his life and the way that he mentors young team members in his current work. I'm sure you will enjoy this discussion with Shawn and get some valuable insights about working with your design team members. "For our inflatable structures, we have orbital debris protection that's stronger than steel. This protects against high speed objects." – Shawn Buckley (Senior Director of Engineering at Sierra Space) Today on the Tech Leader Talk podcast: - Designing and burst testing inflatable space habitats - Improving collaboration between remote teams - Protecting against high-speed space debris - Mentoring younger team members - Managing supply chain issues Resources: Burst test video: https://youtu.be/TcJuz6JA0BU Courage is Calling by Ryan Holiday - https://www.amazon.com/Courage-Calling-Fortune-Favors-Brave/dp/0593191676 Connect with Shawn Buckley: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lashawn-buckley-5b246328/ Website: https://www.sierraspace.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.

Can your company benefit from rapid iteration techniques and simulation to quickly develop successful products? This interview is part of the Space Tech Innovation event where Space Tech Leaders share the latest trends and key insights to grow any tech company. The event is Free – you can register at https://SpaceTechInnovation.com to see all the videos, edited transcripts, and an executive summary of each interview. Today I'm talking with Joe Pawelski, who is the Chief Technical Officer and Co-Founder of CisLunar Industries. Joe and the team at CisLunar Industries are building and operating space foundries to enable the next industrial revolution. In particular, he works with in-space metal processing and space debris recycling. Joe has a passion for figuring out things people say are impossible. Some of the projects he and the CisLunar team are working on include things that might seem impossible, like turning space debris into propellants and other useful materials. And, doing this in orbit, not on Earth. During our discussion, Joe talks about how to test and simulate these projects on earth during the design process. He also discusses rapid iteration techniques that can be used when developing these types of systems. Joe shares lots of valuable information and I know you will find valuable insights you can apply in your own tech business. "We believe that abundant resources in space are a good way to sustain humanity. We think of ourselves as a sustainable company that's looking out for the earth." – Joe Pawelski (CTO of CisLunar Industries) Today on the Tech Leader Talk podcast: - Creating metal propellants from space debris - How to recycle space debris while in orbit - Rapid iteration techniques to build better products - What is ISRU (In-Situ Resource Utilization) - Designing and building space foundries Connect with Joe Pawelski: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joseph-pawelski/ Website: https://www.cislunarindustries.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.