Episodes
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Make No Problem Difficult to Diagnose: Leading With Vision
Yu Dong went from IBM engineer to leader at Alibaba and now PingCAP, a global startup with teams across the US, Europe and Asia. Every time he inherited a lost team, the missing piece was the same: a vision. In this episode he shares the one-sentence vision that energized his observability team:...
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The Conductor Doesn’t Make a Sound: Leading Without Being the Boss
Lee Atchison never set out to be a leader. He went from reading paper stack dumps at Hewlett-Packard and posting on Usenet in 1984 to naming himself “chief architect” when a startup’s lead engineer walked out. Later, at Amazon, he learned that the right data can change anyone’s mind. Bill and Lee...
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Stay Risky: Psychological Safety and Learning From Failure
Leaders say failure is a learning opportunity. Their teams watch what they actually do when something breaks. Rachel Franco, founder of Fail Smarter, spent years in innovation enablement at Optum and researched the barriers leaders face in learning from failure. She explains what makes it truly...
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You’re Not Paid to Be Right, You’re Paid to Get to Right
Jason Hamilton was leading a team in Hong Kong by his second week out of grad school. In this episode he explains how that trial by fire taught him to lead with humility. He also shares why a good leader wants their people to outgrow them, and a mentor’s line that changed how he thinks about...
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“If You’re Not Serving a Customer, Serve Someone Who Is”
“If you’re not serving a customer, you’d better be serving somebody who is.” Bill talks with Marc Haine, a hospitality leader, culture builder and author of Lights, Camera, Action, who went from police training to owning three Montreal restaurants to turning around casinos and hotels. They dig…
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Treat It as an Experiment
"You won’t automate yourself out of a job. You’ll automate yourself into a better one." Bill talks with Jackie Teran, VP of Engineering at Forerunner, whose path ran from class president to a layoff, the Peace Corps, a coding bootcamp and a rise from IC to senior manager at Coinbase. They dig…
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“You Don’t Report to Me. You Work With Me”
“You don’t report to me. You work with me.” Bill sits down to talk with Nir Valtman, co-founder of Arnica, whose leadership began when the Israeli Air Force told him the only way to teach was to become a commander. They dig into leading by example, inviting people to challenge you even at town...
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Why Invisible Work Doesn’t Get Promoted
A failure that didn’t happen is worth zero, at least to most companies. Bill talks with Jeremy McEntire, a former Army officer candidate turned engineering leader and the author of The Cage and the Mirror. They dig into why companies reward what they can see instead of what’s good for them, why…
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A Team, Not a Family: Leadership Lessons from the Rugby Field
“Rather than asking for permission, say ‘I intend to.’” Bill talks with Emilie Schario, a product and engineering leader whose company was just acquired by Anaconda, about leading without a title, why a company is a team and not a family, and what customer obsession looks like when leaders race…
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There’s No Traffic on the Extra Mile:
If you step up and volunteer, you’ll get noticed. Bill talks with Barry Moline, a former pro hockey referee, two-time CEO of statewide utility associations, and author of Connect. They dig into how one raised hand at 16 led to NHL referee camp, how volunteering for a holiday party nobody wanted…
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The Sought-After Leader: Getting Noticed Without Asking
Being great isn’t enough. It’s just the baseline. Bill talks with Uma Subramanian, founder of Limitless Leaders, author of The Sought-After Leader, and a 20-year Microsoft veteran. They dig into the mistakes she made as a new manager, her SOAR framework for becoming the leader people seek out…
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You Don’t Have to Command the Room to Lead
You don’t have to command the room to lead. Bill Lennan talks with Todd Gower, co-founder of personal finance app Hiatus, who was leading a band at age 10 but later convinced himself he wasn’t leadership material. They dig into learning management fast when a key leader leaves, getting the right...
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How You Work Matters More Than the Work
“How you do the work is so much more important than the work.” Bill talks with Maria Colacurcio, CEO of a growth-stage company building AI-powered pay software, whose first management job meant suddenly being the boss of her roommate and friends. They dig into why clear is kind, how to give…
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Settlement vs. Resolution: Why Winning the Argument Isn’t Enough
“You can build a case and fix blame, or you can build a relationship and fix the problem.” Bill meets with Sam Imperati, a former trial lawyer and part-time judge who has been a full-time mediator since 1992. They dig into why people fight at work, why clearly defined expectations prevent so much...
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It’s Our Job to Create Our Own Happiness, with Basel Yandem
You don’t find happiness. You create it. Bill chats with Basel Yandem, a civil engineer and life and leadership coach who started leading at age 10 in the Scouts and was running engineering teams by 26. They dig into how taking initiative gets you promoted, why you should always bring a solution...
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Seen, Heard, and Understood, with Aaron Streeton
There are only three things people want: to be seen, heard, and understood. Bill listens to wisdom from Aaron Streeton, an operations consultant and executive coach who was running 13 schools in Japan at 27. They dig into the difference between management and leadership, why leadership starts…
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Whatever Is in the Way Becomes the Way, with Dave Saunders
“I never once raised my hand and said I want to be a manager. I just led.” Bill talks with Dave Saunders, who joined an internet company in 1989 and has been building ever since, through dial-up’s boom, Lucent Bell Labs, surgical robotics and now waste-to-diesel. They dig into understanding the…
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The Human in the Loop: Leading and Building With AI
“If you’re already good at what you do, AI is great. If you’re not, don’t expect it to do everything for you.” Bill talks with Kam Low, a self-taught technical founder who left school early, started and exited several startups while traveling the world, and only became a leader when a team of...
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From 45 Days to 20 Minutes: What Happens When You Empower the Front Line with Chad Harris
Rank and authority aren’t the same as respect, and you don’t need a title to lead. Bill talks with Chad Harris, a software engineering leader from Melbourne, Australia, whose first leadership lessons came from the Australian Air Force Cadets. They dig into leading as an individual contributor,...
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You Are Capable of More, with Chris Sund
Success is what you build; significance is who is better because of you. Bill talks with Chris Sund, a healthcare staffing leader and author of You Are Capable of More. Chris started leading in his early twenties at a restaurant where everyone was older than him. They dig into why recruiting is a...
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Success Is a Matter of Time, with Harshit Omar
You can wait for the waves to stop, or you can just jump in. Bill sits down with Harshit Omar, co-founder and CTO of cloud cloning platform Fluid Cloud. They talked about what the CTO role really demands, why failed startups are stepping stones, and Harshit's belief that success is a matter of...
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Why That Coworker Drives You Crazy (It’s Not Them): with Kenny Whitelaw-Jones
Ever notice that one coworker who drives you crazy? It might have less to do with them than you think. Bill talks with Kenny Whitelaw-Jones, co-founder of infrastructure finance firm Gridlines and now a shadow work therapist, about his upcoming book The Shadow at Work. They explore how the parts…
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Be Uncomfortable Figuring It Out, with Joseph Martin
What if the standard startup playbook is just a pattern someone else invented? Bill talks with Joseph Martin, a Marine Corps veteran and anti-money laundering expert who founded a regtech company for the gaming industry after finding an $8 billion casino company fighting financial crime on...
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Be Intentional With Your Words, with Ely Delaney
Every time you speak, you create an emotional response, so why not do it on purpose? Bill Lennan talks with communication coach and The Follow-Up Code author Ely Delaney, who learned leadership running crews for major-label rock shows. They dig into why intentional communication is the first step...
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Why Your Beliefs Drive Your Leadership, with Marilyn Rosa-Green
What if the thing holding you back as a leader isn’t a missing skill, but a belief you can’t see? Bill Lennan talks with leadership coach and licensed professional counselor Marilyn Rosa-Green about identity, burnout, and her Pressure Paradox approach, including the “internal audit” she uses to...
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The Art of Technology Leadership I Anand B Narasimhan
In this episode of the 40 Percent Better podcast, Bill Lennan sits down with Anand B Narasimhan, CTO at S-Docs, to explore technology leadership, communication, servant leadership, and the journey from hands-on engineering to executive leadership. Anand shares how he went from being an individual...
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Software Architecture, Optimizing People, and Writing Books
The world of technology is ever-evolving, and with it comes the need for effective leadership. In this episode we delve into the unexpected journey of leadership within the tech industry, highlighting insights from a recent conversation on the 40% Better Podcast with Lee, a seasoned technology...
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Cybersecurity, Leadership, and the Power of People I Chase F.
In this episode of the 40% Better Podcast, Bill Lennan sits down with Chase F., Chairperson of the National Privacy Council, to discuss leadership, cybersecurity, privacy, career growth, failure, and the importance of building strong teams. Chase shares his unique journey from a 20-year career in...
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Technology leadership and building better teams I Zach Stein
In this episode of the 40% Better Podcast, Bill Lennan sits down with Zach Stein, Director of Information Technology at RuffleButts®, to explore his leadership journey, the transition from individual contributor to technology leader, and the lessons he has learned along the way. Zach shares how…
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The Power of Curiosity in Leadership I Dr. Debra Clary
In this episode of the 40% Better Podcast, Bill Lennan sits down with Dr. Debra Clary, Founder & Leadership Advisor at The Clary Group, to explore the powerful connection between curiosity, leadership, performance, and personal growth. Dr. Debra Clary shares why curiosity is not simply an innate...
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Building Trust and Psychological Safety in Engineering Teams I Brandon Rockhold
In this episode of the 40% Better podcast, Bill Lennan sits down with Brandon Rockhold, VP Engineering at Aquia, to explore the principles of effective leadership, psychological safety, trust, emotional intelligence, and building high-performing technology teams. Brandon shares his journey from...
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Leadership Without Authority I Kevin Dias
In this episode of the 40% Better Podcast, Bill Lennan sits down with Kevin Dias, Founder of Ambiki, to explore leadership, remote teams, customer-driven product development, and the unexpected paths that lead to leadership in technology. Kevin shares how his leadership journey began by starting…
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Self-Awareness, Emotional Regulation and the Future of Workplace Well-Being I Crystal Rowland
In this episode of the 40% Better podcast, Bill Lennan sits down with Crystal Rowland, Founder & Senior Consultant at Path to Serenity Consulting, for a powerful conversation about self-awareness, workplace well-being, emotional regulation, leadership, and finding purpose in your career. Crystal...
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Leadership, Psychological Safety & The Power of Failing Forward I LJ Morris
In this episode of the 40% Better Podcast, Bill Lennan sits down with LJ Morris, Chief Technology Officer at ProScore Technologies, to explore the leadership lessons that shaped his career and his approach to building high-performing teams. LJ shares the incredible story of organizing a trip to…
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Leadership Is Not About the Limelight I Jonathan Fullam
In this episode of the 40% Better Podcast, Bill Lennan sits down with Jonathan Fullam, VP of Customer Engineering at vCluster, for a thoughtful conversation about leadership, team culture, employee motivation, and the human side of managing technology teams. Jonathan Fullam shares his journey…
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From Engineer to Leader I Justin Ryburn
Leadership isn't about having all the answers. It's about continuous learning, building strong relationships, and helping others grow. In this episode of the 40% Better Podcast, Bill Lennan sits down with Justin Ryburn, Field CTO & Vice President, Global Solutions Engineering at Kentik, to…
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Leadership Is Coaching I Craig Hunt
Leadership is more than managing people. It's about coaching them to grow. In this episode of 40 % Better, Bill Lennan sits down with Craig Hunt, Chief Technology Officer at Sagecrest Solutions, to discuss what separates great leaders from average managers. Craig shares how early leadership...
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Leadership Lessons That Actually Work I Matt Delacour
What does it really take to become a great engineering leader? In this episode of the 40% Better Podcast, Bill Lennan sits down with Matt Delacour, Chief Technology Officer at CoinList, to explore the leadership lessons that shaped his journey from entrepreneur and data scientist to CTO. Matt...
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Lead Without a Title I Natalie Renee Parker
Leadership is not about a title. It is about seeing a problem, taking initiative, and helping people succeed. In this episode of the 40% Better Podcast, Bill Lennan sits down with Natalie Renee Parker, Founder | Organizational Development | Talent Management | Employee Engagement at Natalie…
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Scaling Teams With Great Leadership I Ben Van Every
What does it actually take to get real business value from AI? Jimi Li, CTO at ALM Media, has spent the last three years running AI initiatives inside a company that just went through a successful private equity exit — and he's got the framework to prove what works. From his early days in GE's...
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Stop Managing, Start Leading I Jonathan Domsky
40 Percent Better Podcast with Bill Lennan featuring Jonathan Domsky, Founder and Coach at Untangled Coaching. In this episode, Jonathan shares his journey from accidental entrepreneur to leadership coach and explains how personal growth, self-awareness, and better leadership practices can...
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Becoming a Corporate Gargoyle I Dominic Vogel
40 Percent Better Podcast with Bill Lennan featuring Dominic Vogel, President of Vogel Cyber Leadership & Coaching. In this episode, Dominic shares his journey from cybersecurity leadership to entrepreneurship, the lessons he learned from burnout, and how self-awareness transformed his approach…
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The Future of Construction AI I Victor Augusteo,
In this episode of 40 Percent Better, Bill Lennan sits down with Victor Augusteo, CTO @ Boon, for a wide-ranging conversation on leadership, decision-making, artificial intelligence, construction technology, and the mental models that shape success. Victor shares lessons from his personal...
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Building Trust Through Leadership I Dave Bair
In this episode of 40 Percent Better, Bill Lennan sits down with Dave Bair, Operations Executive: Certified Change Management Professional; Collaborative Design & NLP Practitioner, to explore the leadership principles that help teams thrive in complex and fast-changing environments. Dave shares…
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Leadership, AI, and Cybersecurity I Craig Taylor
In this episode of 40 Percent Better, Bill Lennan sits down with Craig Taylor, CEO and Co-Founder of CyberHoot, to talk about leadership, cybersecurity, communication, and the power of positive reinforcement in workplace training. Craig shares his journey from early leadership experiences and...
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Leadership Through the Power Leadership Through the Power of Story I Gavin McMahonof Story I Gavin McMahon
In this episode of 40 Percent Better, Bill Lennan sits down with Gavin McMahon, CEO of fassforward and author of Story Business, for a fascinating conversation about leadership, storytelling, team alignment, and the power of creating shared context. Drawing from his experience working with...
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Friction Free Leadership That Works I Jimmy Burroughes
In this episode of 40 Percent Better, Bill Lennan sits down with Jimmy Burroughes, Founder of Aidencoach.io, to explore what real leadership looks like beyond job titles and hierarchy. The conversation dives deep into practical leadership lessons drawn from military cadets, software teams, and...
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Why Human Leadership Still Wins in the Age of AI I Joshua Gould
Welcome to 40 Percent Better with Bill Lennan featuring Joshua Gould, Group CEO @ thebigword In this episode, Bill Lennan and Joshua Gould dive into leadership, AI, business growth, technology transformation, and what it really takes to build resilient teams in a rapidly changing world. Joshua...
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Leadership, Power, and Real Growth at Work I Charley Wedeen-Zittle
In this episode of 40 Percent Better, Bill Lennan sits down with Charley Wedeen-Zittle, Sr. Value Engineer at Box, for a raw and thoughtful conversation about leadership, power dynamics, and what actually makes people thrive at work. Charley shares how her leadership journey began early in life,...
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Leadership Without a Title in Tech I Juan Boyce
Step inside a real-world tech leadership journey in this episode of 40 Percent Better with Bill Lennan and guest Juan Boyce, Chief Technology Officer, Principal Software Engineer at Boyce Tech. Juan shares how he got started in software engineering at startups, where leadership often shows up...
About this show
Every week, we invite 1 expert on employee engagement and deep-dive into unlocking previously unheard of performance levels in teams and leaders.
40 Percent Better https://40pb.com
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Bill
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