The Leadership Exchange

In this episode of The Leadership Exchange, Tracy Lee chats with her longtime friend and coach, Noa Ronen, co-founder of The Coaching Connection. They explore how organizations can approach change fatigue, balance growth with emotional well-being, and create space for meaningful connection. Noa shares practical advice on fostering collaboration, empowering teams to solve problems, and building stronger relationships in remote work settings. Chapters 0:00 - Introduction: Is Training Still Relevant Today? 0:25 - Welcome to the Leadership Exchange Podcast 0:50 - Meet Noah: Co-Founder of the Coaching Connection 1:45 - The Story Behind the Coaching Connection 2:30 - From the Israeli Army to Coaching Leaders 4:20 - Leading Change: Lessons from Talent Development 5:50 - Change Fatigue: Challenges in Today’s Organizations 7:40 - Balancing Growth and Human Development 9:15 - Why Traditional Training Fails to Drive Behavior Change 10:40 - The Power of Repetition and Short Learning Cycles 12:10 - Collaborative Learning and the Role of Facilitators 14:30 - Building Relationships Through Repetitive Learning 16:20 - Coaching Technical Leaders: From Expert to People Leader 18:45 - Empowering Teams: Letting Go of Being the Problem Solver 21:20 - Coaching and Accountability: Keys to Behavior Change 22:50 - Remote Work: Maintaining Connection in Distributed Teams 24:45 - Rituals for Building Connection in Remote Work 26:30 - The Impact of Missing Social Cues in Remote Leadership 27:40 - Helping Younger Generations Build Relationship Skills 28:45 - Final Thoughts and Thank You Follow Noa Ronen on Social Media Twitter: https://x.com/NoaRcoach Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/noarcoach/ Website: https://www.coachingconnection-on.com/ Sponsored by This Dot: thisdot.co

In this episode of the Leadership Exchange Podcast, host Tracy Lee speaks with Sam Raghavachari, Head of Technology at Cabot, about the evolving role of technology in the commercial real estate (CRE) industry. They discuss the challenges of modernizing legacy systems, leveraging AI for administrative tasks and data optimization, and the critical importance of data quality and governance. Sam shares insights on integrating technology with business goals, the untapped potential for startups in CRE, and strategies for aligning innovation with ROI. Key Points - Modernizing CRE Technology: Sam shares challenges in updating legacy systems and scaling technology for global operations. - AI in Commercial Real Estate: AI's potential to streamline tasks like leasing, investment analysis, and administrative work is explored. - Data as a Foundation: Clean, well-managed data is critical for successful AI implementation and operational efficiency in CRE. - Startup Opportunities in CRE: The industry offers numerous areas for innovation, from document management to building optimization. Chapters 0:00 - Introduction: The Importance of Data 0:43 - Welcome to The Leadership Exchange 1:08 - Sam’s Role and Background 2:24 - The Challenges of Legacy Systems 3:29 - AI in Commercial Real Estate 6:48 - Real-World Examples of Automation 7:50 - Quick Wins with AI in Real Estate 9:02 - Top Technology Upgrades in Real Estate 13:26 - Fixing Outdated Processes 15:10 - Startup Ideas and Innovation 19:54 - Building Optimization and Small Players 22:41 - Caution Around AI Hype 23:40 - Final Thoughts on AI Strategy 24:41 - Closing and Where to Find Sam Follow Sam on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samraghavachari/ Sponsored by This Dot: thisdot.co

In this episode of the Leadership Exchange Podcast, Tracy Lee welcomes back Jeremy Edberg, co-founder of DBOS, former Chief Architect at Reddit, and veteran startup investor. Together, they look into the realities of building and scaling startups, from the myth of "overnight success" to practical strategies for maintaining motivation through the slog of slow growth. Jeremy shares valuable insights on how to communicate a long-term vision, celebrate small wins, nurture developer communities, and stay focused while navigating market trends. Key Points: - The myth of overnight success: Startups like Cloudflare may seem like instant hits, but real success takes years of consistent effort.   - Keeping teams motivated: Learn how to communicate a long-term vision and celebrate small wins to boost morale during slow growth periods.   - Building developer tools: Insights on creating a standout developer experience and why simplicity is key to adoption.   - Riding market trends: Hear how startups can strategically lean into emerging trends like AI without losing focus.   - Staying resilient as a founder: Practical advice on managing expectations, tracking growth without stress, and navigating the ups and downs of startup life. Follow Jeremy on Social Media Twitter: https://x.com/jedberg Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jedberg/ Github: https://github.com/jedberg thisdot.co

In this episode of The Leadership Exchange, host Rob Ocel is joined by Pat Clarke, Director of Engineering at Lumen Learning, to discuss his framework for balancing coaching, directing, and "choreographing" as leadership modes, explaining how situational awareness helps leaders adapt their approach to meet team and project needs. Follow Pat Clarke on Social Media Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pat-clarke-dev/ Twitter: https://x.com/LeftShotDev Website: https://patclarke.dev/ Sponsored by This Dot: thisdot.co

In this episode of the Leadership Exchange, Tracy Lee, co-founder and CEO of This Dot Labs, talks with Celest Hall, founder of Shining Opus, about navigating the AI innovation wave and preparing for a tech-driven future. They discuss how businesses can stay competitive through upskilling, operational readiness, and making bold strategic bets. Celest shares insights on balancing technological progress with social responsibility and the critical role of leadership in driving sustainable growth. Chapter [00:00] Welcome [02:17] Understanding Innovation Waves [03:46] The AI Innovation Wave [05:09] AI Becoming Ubiquitous [07:16] Preparing for AI’s Impact on Jobs & Skills [10:43] Economic Shifts & Social Responsibility [13:39] How AI Differs from Previous Tech Waves [16:26] Upskilling & Lifelong Learning [19:03] Strategic Leadership for the Future [23:47] Planning for the Next Innovation Wave [25:21] The Role of Humanity & Legislation [29:50] Closing Thoughts Follow Celest on Social Media Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/celestineturnerhall/ Shining Opus: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shining-opus-llc/ Sponsored by This Dot: thisdot.co

On this episode of the Leadership Exchange, Tracy Lee chats with Ben Nadel, Principal Engineer and co-founder of InVision. They explore Ben’s journey building InVision, lessons on scaling, staying connected to customers, and the challenges of closing a company after 14 years. They also discuss team structures, microservices vs. monoliths, and reevaluating "best practices" in software development. Ben’s passion for building and learning shines as he shares insights on creating meaningful products and embracing change in tech. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 01:25 - Ben’s Career Journey 06:11 - Leadership & Resilience Lessons 12:41 - Tech Evolution & Frameworks 17:22 - Reexamining Best Practices 23:27 - Microservices vs. Monoliths 26:39 - People Problems vs. Tech Problems 30:33 - Staying Connected to Customers 31:37 - Where to Find Ben Online 32:00 - Closing & Thank You Follow Ben Nadel on Social Media Twitter: https://x.com/BenNadel Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bennadel/ Sponsored by This Dot: thisdot.co

Join Tracy Lee as she talks with Bradley Dick, co-founder and CEO of ZeroDivide.ai, about his journey from CIO to tech entrepreneur. In this episode, Bradley shares why he left a stable healthcare CIO role to launch a startup focused on AI-powered tools for individuals with developmental disabilities. Discover the challenges he faced, the lessons he learned about leadership, and how Zero Divide AI is tackling one of the biggest future challenges in healthcare. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 01:07 - Career Leap: From CIO to Tech Entrepreneur 05:21 - Challenges of Entrepreneurship 10:33 - Building Zero Divide AI 15:24 - The Future of Healthcare Tech 23:26 - Staying Ahead in Tech & AI 27:08 - Startup Lessons for Health Tech Founders 30:53 - Closing Thoughts Connect with Bradley Dick on Social Media Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradleydick/ ZeroDivide.ai: https://zerodivide.ai/ Sponsored by This Dot: thisdot.co

In this episode of The Leadership Exchange, Tracy Lee talks with DEI expert Nina Bryson Fleming, founder of Inclusive Ideas, about how Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs can affect positive transformations in workplaces. Drawing from her 15 years of experience, Nina shares actionable strategies for building inclusive cultures, improving employee morale, fostering innovation, and enhancing customer engagement. She emphasizes the importance of intentional leadership, cultural intelligence, and equitable hiring practices, offering practical insights for creating resilient and diverse organizations that drive business success. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 02:00 - Nina’s Journey in DEI 05:00 - Success Stories in DEI 08:30 - The Role of Leadership in DEI 11:30 - Psychological Safety as a Foundation 14:00 - Building Inclusive Teams 18:00 - The Tangible Impact of DEI 22:00 - Breaking Barriers in Hiring and Development 28:00 - Overcoming Resistance to DEI Efforts 34:00 - Practical Steps for Deepening DEI Efforts 39:00 - Closing Thoughts and Where to Find Nina Follow Nina Bryson on Social Media Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nina-bryson-fleming/

In this episode of The Leadership Exchange, Tracy Lee chats with healthcare and AI expert Eric Doherty about how AI is transforming industries like healthcare, finance, and manufacturing. Eric shares his insights on generative AI, digital twinning in drug development, and the ethical considerations of AI adoption, drawing parallels to Google’s rise in the tech world. They discuss regulatory challenges in the US and EU, the importance of responsible data usage, and strategies for leaders to foster excitement and overcome resistance to AI.  Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 02:00 - Eric’s Journey in Healthcare and AI 05:00 - AI’s Transformative Potential 08:00 - AI in Healthcare: Opportunities and Challenges 11:20 - Regulatory Considerations for AI 13:50 - Data Privacy and Security in the AI Era 18:20 - Cross-Departmental Collaboration in Cybersecurity 21:00 - The Role of Leadership in AI Adoption 25:40 - Balancing Innovation and Risk 29:30 - Closing Thoughts and Contact Information Follow Eric on Social Media Twitter: https://x.com/EDohertyGlobal Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericdohertygloballeader/

Dondi Black, Chief Product Officer of Issuer Solutions at TSYS, to explore the transformative journey of innovation, cultural shifts, and emerging technologies in the payments industry. Dondi shares her insights from three decades in the field, discussing how her organization leverages synergies, empowers teams, and implements measurable strategies to drive innovation and transformation. The conversation dives into the practical applications of generative AI, privacy-enhancing technologies, and a North Star approach to cultural transformation. Tracy and Dondi also touch on the importance of self-advocacy, honest feedback, and creating inclusive environments to foster innovation at every level. Chapters 00:00:04 Welcome & Introductions   00:00:34 Reflections on Transformation & Innovation   00:01:28 Synergies & Organizational Transformation   00:02:19 Measuring Success in Cultural Transformation   00:05:07 Empowering Individuals & Leadership Growth   00:08:07 Emerging Innovations: Generative AI in Fraud & Risk   00:10:15 Security Investments & AI's Industry Impact   00:12:28 The Future of Privacy-Enhancing Technologies   00:15:30 Sustaining Momentum in Transformation   00:18:28 The Industry’s Pragmatic Shift   00:20:39 Inclusive Innovation & Cultural Change   00:23:12 Advocating for Yourself & Your Ideas   00:25:27 Leaders as Coaches: The Power of Feedback   00:28:56 Sponsor Spotlight: This Dot   00:29:53 Where to Connect with Dondi   00:30:39 Closing Remarks   Follow Dondi Black on Social Media Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dondi-black/