20 – The Last Frontier is Ourselves: Leading from the Inside Out

Your host Alex Shevelenko welcomes A.J. Thomas, the CEO of The Troublemaker Lab and Founder and General Partner of Good Trouble Ventures. A visionary leader and former "Chaos Pilot" at Google X, A.J. specializes in helping extraordinary founders build enduring companies through coaching, strategy, and mindful innovation.In this conversation, A.J. explores the intersection of technology, creativity, and culture. She discusses her "Troublemaker" philosophy—scaling companies without losing one's soul—and breaks down her unique framework of balancing Self, Health, and Wealth for sustainable leadership. Drawing from her non-traditional background as a musician and a former undocumented immigrant, she shares how the "courage to be curious" can transform constraints into "portals" for innovation.If you’re focused on human-centered innovation, building mission-driven cultures, or navigating the complexities of scaling at the edges of technology and creativity, this episode offers a profound mindset shift for modern leaders.To learn more about A.J. and follow her insights, visit thetroublemakerlab.com and goodtrouble.vc.To learn more about RELAYTO, visit: relayto.com