This New Way

In episode 40, Simon Stanlake highlights the importance of fulfillment and trust within a team. Simon Stanlake is the SVP of Engineering at Procurify – the leading spend management and procurement software platform. Prior to Procurify, he was the VP of Technology at Hootsuite and the CTO at TradeBytes Data Corp. In today’s episode, we covered the difference between a charismatic leader and a great leader and which one Simon aspires to be. Lastly, we also explored why he holds back on sharing what needs to be done in order to maximize his team's learnings and why it’s okay to break things in order to ship features. Tune in to hear all about Simon Stanlake’s leadership journey and the lessons learned along the way!

In episode 39, Job Van der Voort helps us better understand the world of remote work. Job is the co-founder and CEO at Remote.com and the host of the Remote Work Podcast – a podcast we recommend if you’re new to managing distributed teams! On today’s episode, we talk to Job about the difference between being a micromanager and a manager who values detail. We also explore the benefits that come with working remotely, and what happens to the marketplace of talent when location is no longer required. Last but not least, Job shared his perspective on the best practices that leaders should follow when hiring people in different countries. Tune in to hear all about Job’s remote work playbook and the powerful insights he has to offer! . . . Like this episode? Be sure to leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review and share the podcast with your colleagues.

In episode 38, Katie Wilde tells us what hiring and onboarding look like for an all-remote team. Katie Wilde is the Vice President of Engineering at Buffer. As an Engineering Leader, Katie is guided by two missions: crafting productive teams and delivering a world-class software product. In today’s episode, we talk to Katie about her early days at Buffer and her experience working in a holacracy environment (a system where there are no assigned roles). We also explore the concepts of defined management and deliberate feedback – and the impact both things can have on our teams. Lastly, we talk about what hiring and onboarding look like in a remote company and the unique approach that Buffer takes with potential candidates! Tune in to hear all about GUEST’s leadership journey and the lessons learned along the way!

In episode 37, Jonathan Ronzio explains why outdoor adventures and entrepreneurship are not so different after all. Jonathan Ronzio is the Co-Founder and Chief Marketing Officer at Trainual, a platform that helps businesses get systematized through digital playbooks. Jonathan is an award-winning storyteller and documentary filmmaker and has spoken on stages around the world about adventure, creativity, and the importance of getting comfortable with uncertainty. In today’s episode, we talk to Jonathan about how his outdoor adventures have influenced his leadership style – as well as the decisions he makes when it comes to storytelling and marketing. We touch on topics like trust, communication, and determination – and why these things don’t just help you to survive outdoor adventures, but leadership and entrepreneurship too! Tune in to hear Jonathan’s point of view on why fear is a healthy thing and how embracing what scares us, helps us grow.

In episode 36, Amber Hurdle tells us why personality assessments and self-awareness make us better leaders. Amber Hurdle is a leadership and personal branding consultant who is also the mind behind the Velvet Machete – a globally recognized, eight-week leadership program that helps leaders define & position their value. Amber has years of experience in the hospitality and construction industry, working with companies such as Fedex and Marriott International. She is also the author of The Bombshell Business Woman – a book about management, networking, and goal setting. In today’s episode, Amber unravels the meaning and strategy behind her signature Velvet Machette approach to coaching. She also shares how personality assessments can help leaders discover our strengths and weaknesses – so we can understand what areas to focus on. Tune in to learn why Amber prefers to bubble wrap people’s weaknesses.

In episode #35, Cameron Herold shares what is really important to leaders. Cameron is the best selling author of the books Double Double and Meetings Suck, as well as the founder of COO Alliance. Prior to COO Alliance, Cameron was the Chief Operating Officer of 1-800-GOT-JUNK? where he led operations and helped the company soar from two million in revenue growth to 150 million in just seven years. In today’s episode, we talk about the upside-down leadership pyramid, which places CEO’s at the bottom, not the top… and why an “old-school” leader wouldn’t survive in today’s business world. We also look closely at written communication... for example, how the messages we deliver and the messages that are received can become two different things. Tune in to hear how Cameron shares his approach to coaching and how so much of it is centered on teaching the soft skills of leadership.

In episode 34, Nick Stein sheds light on the people who make up our teams, and the intricacies that come along with leadership. Nick Stein is the Chief Marketing Officer at Top Hat, a SaaS scale-up that helps professors and students learn more through interactive content. Nick is a results-driven marketing leader and has led teams at Vision Critical, as the SVP of Marketing and also spent some time as the Senior Director of Marketing at Salesforce. In this episode, Nick talks about the importance of being honest as a leader and why letting people know where they stand is a healthy choice for you, them, and your entire team. We also explore why hiring should be approached through a relationship lens, rather than a transactional one... and why those who believe in your company’s values and mission are more likely to be great team members. Tune in to this episode to explore the characteristics of high performing teams and if your team is on the right track to becoming one.

In episode #33, Amy Sandler lets us know what it takes to be challenging and caring. Amy Sandler, the Chief Content Officer at Radical Candor – an organization co-founded by Kim Scott and Jason Rosoff to help leaders learn the art of feedback. Prior to Radical Candor, Amy filled senior roles in marketing at the Young President’s Organization, Vistage, and the University of California in LA. In today’s episode, Amy explains how walking on fire (yes, real fire) six times took her out of her comfort zone and also... what it taught her about leadership. Amy and Aydin talk about how empathy, aggression, and insincerity play out at work and what we need to keep in mind when we provide critical feedback and also praise to our teams. Listen to this episode to better understand the importance of knowing and respecting the people we work with.

In episode 32, Farhan Thawar shares his biggest goal as a leader. Farhan is the Vice President of Engineering at Shopify. Prior to Helpful and Shopify, he was the VP of Engineering at Xtreme Labs, which was then (also) acquired by Pivotal – where Farhan took on the role of Chief Technology Officer of Mobile in 2013. Apart from an extensive career in Engineering, Farhan is an angel investor, writer, and speaker. In fact, he was named one of Toronto’s 25 Most Powerful People in 2010. In today’s episode, Farhan talks about why, as leaders, we should get involved with our team’s work and continue to practice tactical skills (such as coding) to build trust, empathy, and strong relationships. Tune in to hear about Farhan’s rich career in the world of engineering and his insights about management, hiring practises and the value of speed at work.

In episode 31, John Weigelt explains why the largest goal of management should be to get the best out of people... and reminds us that gentle nudges and words of feedback have more power than we think in helping our teammates do their best work. We also explore strategies that John uses to convince large institutions to adopt new ways of operating and doing business, which is no easy job! John Weigelt is the National Technology Officer at Microsoft Canada. Working closely with the government, education officials, and health care communities, John plays a key role in implementing Microsoft’s strategic policies and technology efforts across the country. Prior to this role, John worked for the Department of National Defense and was the Senior Director of Architecture, Standards, and Engineering at the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat. John is also a TedX speaker. (If you haven’t yet, we recommend watching his talk on Enabling Canada’s Economy Digitally.)