40% Better - Engineering Leadership

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, shaped by a strong sense of responsibility and a belief that if you care, you step up. From student leadership to navigating complex workplace environments, she reflects on lessons learned the hard way, including balancing efficiency with empathy and learning how to lead with people, not over them. This conversation goes deep into what separates good leaders from ineffective ones. You will hear honest perspectives on intrinsic motivation, why co-creating environments leads to better outcomes, and how leadership is less about control and more about enabling others to succeed. Bill and Charley also unpack the idea that leadership is a system that can be learned, practiced, and improved over time. A major theme throughout the episode is the gap between what companies say and what they actually do. Charley challenges performative approaches to leadership, diversity, and workplace culture, explaining why checking boxes never replaces genuine care for people. She also shares real experiences navigating toxic environments and offers clear, practical advice on how to handle difficult managers, when to give feedback, and when it is time to walk away. The discussion also explores managing up, managing across, and understanding power structures inside organizations. Charley breaks down how to communicate effectively with leaders, advocate for yourself, and build influence without formal authority. Bill adds insights on leadership as a learnable system, including how breaking skills into small, repeatable actions can help anyone grow into a stronger leader. You will also hear powerful insights on resilience, personal responsibility, and the courage it takes to operate outside your comfort zone. Whether it is giving feedback, navigating difficult conversations, or building emotional composure, this episode offers practical ways to grow both professionally and personally. Topics covered: leadership development and mindset managing up and influencing without authority workplace culture and employee experience handling toxic managers and difficult situations intrinsic motivation and team performance leadership systems and skill building career growth and feedback strategies personal responsibility and resilience Featuring: Bill Lennan Host of 40 Percent Better Charley Wedeen-Zittle Sr. Value Engineer Box Connect with Charley Wedeen-Zittle on Linkedln - https://www.linkedin.com/in/wedeen/ If you are looking to become a better leader, navigate workplace challenges, or understand how to build real influence at work, this episode delivers clear, honest, and actionable insights. Subscribe for more conversations on leadership, growth, and real experiences from the tech world. I hope you enjoy this episode! Give it a like, share, and subscribe to not miss the content coming your way weekly. – Bill and the 40 % Better podcast team Connect with Bill on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wblennan/ Visit the 40 Percent Better website here: https://40pb.com/ Listen to 40 % Better on these podcast platforms: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6qkqdMPkR9BqYPM7UPa4P0 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/40%25-better---engineering-leadership/id1709546347 Amazon Podcasts: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/01ad162e-7a33-4df4-8c29-04c4af0405fc/40-better---engineering-leadership #40PercentBetter #BillLennan #Leadership #TeamPerformance #EmployeeEngagement #PsychologicalSafety #BusinessGrowth #Kaizen #EngineeringLeadership #Coaching The 40% Better podcast with Bill Lennan unlocks previously unheard-of performance levels in teams and leaders. Bill Lennan, founder of 40 Percent Better, interviews experts on employee engagement, psychological safety, engineering leadership, and actionable mental models. Learn how to foster high-performing teams, improve team productivity, and achieve sustainable success in business through a focus on human-centered systems. #technologyleadership #productmanagement #engineeringleadership #leadershipdevelopment #careergrowth #podcast

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 before the title does. He talks about automating his early work, earning recognition from leadership, and learning how to influence teams through action rather than authority. The conversation explores the difference between startup environments and large companies, why hands-on problem solving matters, and how early exposure to responsibility can shape stronger engineers and leaders. Juan also opens up about making bold career moves, including relocating to Silicon Valley to level up his skills and opportunities. A big part of this episode focuses on adaptability. Juan explains how multiple career pivots pushed him toward self-reflection, helping him sharpen his thinking, improve decision making, and stay relevant in a fast-changing tech landscape. From transitioning programming languages to embracing AI-driven development, his journey highlights what it really takes to evolve over time. You will also hear practical insights on software architecture, including how to think in trade-offs, design scalable systems, and build with long-term flexibility in mind. Juan shares why coding languages matter less than understanding systems, and how modern tools like AI are reshaping the way developers work. This episode is especially valuable for aspiring developers, engineers early in their careers, and anyone curious about leadership in tech. Juan offers grounded advice on getting started, building real projects, staying out of your comfort zone, and choosing a career path you genuinely enjoy. If you are looking to grow in tech, lead without a title, or understand how to stay adaptable in a changing industry, this conversation delivers clear, honest insights from someone who has lived it. Topics covered: software engineering careers startup vs corporate experience leadership without a title career pivots in tech software architecture and system design AI in software development adapting to change in technology building real-world coding skills Featuring: Bill Lennan Host of 40 Percent Better Juan Boyce Chief Technology Officer, Principal Software Engineer Boyce Tech Connect with Juan Boyce on linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/juanboyce/ Subscribe for more conversations on leadership, growth, and real stories from the tech world. I hope you enjoy this episode! Give it a like, share, and subscribe to not miss the content coming your way weekly. – Bill and the 40 % Better podcast team Connect with Bill on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wblennan/ Visit the 40 Percent Better website here: https://40pb.com/ Listen to 40 % Better on these podcast platforms: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6qkqdMPkR9BqYPM7UPa4P0 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/40%25-better---engineering-leadership/id1709546347 Amazon Podcasts: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/01ad162e-7a33-4df4-8c29-04c4af0405fc/40-better---engineering-leadership #40PercentBetter #BillLennan #Leadership #TeamPerformance #EmployeeEngagement #PsychologicalSafety #BusinessGrowth #Kaizen #EngineeringLeadership #Coaching The 40% Better podcast with Bill Lennan unlocks previously unheard-of performance levels in teams and leaders. Bill Lennan, founder of 40 Percent Better, interviews experts on employee engagement, psychological safety, engineering leadership, and actionable mental models. Learn how to foster high-performing teams, improve team productivity, and achieve sustainable success in business through a focus on human-centered systems. #technologyleadership #productmanagement #engineeringleadership #leadershipdevelopment #careergrowth #podcast

Welcome to the 40% Better podcast with your host, Bill Lennan!In this episode, we sit down with Rob Zuber to explore his candid journey into leadership—from the trial by fire of the startup world to managing complexity in scaling organizations. This conversation is a masterclass in how to build a high-performing culture by putting people first.Rob dives deep into the non-negotiables of modern leadership, emphasizing why psychological safety isn't just a buzzword, but the foundation for true innovation and honest feedback. We discuss the critical role of clarity in leadership, how to cultivate intrinsic motivation in your team, and the power of genuinely learning from mistakes instead of fearing them.If you are a founder, manager, or an aspiring leader interested in team building, achieving a flow state in your work, and maintaining organizational identity while scaling, this episode is essential listening.🔥 Key Takeaways You'll Get from Rob:Why embracing your limitations is the first step to becoming a better leader.The essential ingredients for creating psychological safety that drives innovation.How intrinsic motivation fuels performance more than external incentives.Balancing structure and flexibility as your organization grows.The secret to maintaining clarity and organizational identity during hyper-growth.🎤 Sound Bites from the Episode:"I realized that I wasn't a great team player.""It's very much up or out.""They found their tribe and that's awesome."

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 global leadership program to building L'Oreal's e-commerce platform at scale, Jimi's career has always centred on one question: how does the work you're doing connect to business impact? That same lens is exactly how he approaches AI today.In this episode, Jimi breaks down the three categories of AI value every tech leader needs to understand — productivity, product enhancement, and new revenue streams — and explains why productivity is the most talked-about and the most dangerous if you don't have the right system to capture the gains. He also shares how cross-functional "fusion teams" are collapsing the feedback loop between engineering and the business, why AI fluency is becoming the dividing line between those who thrive and those who get left behind, and what the inflection point for mass adoption actually looks like.Key takeaways:AI value falls into three categories: productivity gains, embedding AI into core products, and new product or revenue creation — each requires a different strategy and measurement approachProductivity savings from AI are real but easily lost if your organisation isn't structured to capture themCross-functional fusion teams that include sales, finance, product, and engineering dramatically accelerate the feedback loop and motivate developers by connecting their work to real outcomesAI fluency — knowing what's good, what's wrong, and how to direct the output — is what separates high performers from the restThe inflection point for mass AI adoption is closer than most think, probably within one to two years, as friction around prompting and context dropsLeaders should focus on re-imagining workflows and tasks, not just learning toolsAI amplifies your thinking — it doesn't replace your critical judgment, and that judgment is your core valueConnect with Jimi Li:https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimi-li/If this episode got you thinking differently about AI and leadership, hit subscribe and leave us a review — it helps more leaders find the show.I hope you enjoy this episode! Give it a like, share, and subscribe to not miss the content coming your way weekly. – Bill and the 40 % Better podcast teamConnect with Bill on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wblennan/ Visit the 40 Percent Better website here: https://40pb.com/Listen to 40 % Better on these podcast platforms:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6qkqdMPkR9BqYPM7UPa4P0Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/40%25-better---engineering-leadership/id1709546347 Amazon Podcasts: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/01ad162e-7a33-4df4-8c29-04c4af0405fc/40-better---engineering-leadership#40PercentBetter #BillLennan #Leadership #TeamPerformance #EmployeeEngagement #PsychologicalSafety #BusinessGrowth #Kaizen #EngineeringLeadership #Coaching The 40% Better podcast with Bill Lennan unlocks previously unheard-of performance levels in teams and leaders. Bill Lennan, founder of 40 Percent Better, interviews experts on employee engagement, psychological safety, engineering leadership, and actionable mental models. Learn how to foster high-performing teams, improve team productivity, and achieve sustainable success in business through a focus on human-centered systems. #technologyleadership #productmanagement #engineeringleadership #leadershipdevelopment #careergrowth #podcast

In this episode of the 40% Better Podcast, Jeremy Hass shares powerful insights from his leadership journey, shaped by his experiences in the military, startups, and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.Jeremy dives into the importance of resilience, risk-taking, and personal growth, explaining how embracing challenges can lead to long-term success in both life and business. He also discusses how Brazilian Jiu Jitsu transformed his mindset, teaching discipline, adaptability, and emotional resilience.The conversation explores how leaders can build strong teams, communicate effectively, and develop future leaders within their organizations. Jeremy also shares practical advice for navigating failure, pursuing meaningful work, and surrounding yourself with the right people.What you’ll learn in this episode:Why resilience is essential for leadership and business successHow Brazilian Jiu Jitsu shapes mindset and disciplineThe importance of risk-taking in personal and professional growthHow to build and mentor future leadersWhy effective communication is critical in leadership rolesHow to overcome failure and learn from setbacksThe value of emotional intelligence in leadershipWhy chasing passion leads to long-term fulfillmentKey insights:“I’d rather try and fail than not try at all.”“Surrounding yourself with the right people is key.”“Jiu Jitsu saved my life.”“My job is to build and enable the person below me.”“Chase what makes you happy.”This episode is perfect for leaders, founders, entrepreneurs, and anyone looking to grow personally and professionally through resilience, discipline, and purpose.Timestamps:00:00 The Foundations of Leadership02:52 Early Career Experiences and Responsibilities05:53 Embracing Challenges and Risk-Taking09:00 Resilience and Overcoming Failure12:07 The Role of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in Personal Growth15:08 Leadership Lessons from Martial Arts18:08 Current Work and Helping Startups21:13 Operational Challenges in Business23:52 Building Future Leaders26:57 Effective Communication in Leadership30:12 Personal Projects and Future Aspirations33:11 Final Thoughts and Words of WisdomSubscribe for more conversations on leadership, growth, and performance.#Leadership #Resilience #PersonalGrowth #Entrepreneurship #Startups #EmotionalIntelligence #RiskTaking #Mindset #BusinessGrowth #40PercentBetterI hope you enjoy this episode! Give it a like, share, and subscribe to not miss the content coming your way weekly. – Bill and the 40 % Better podcast teamConnect with Bill on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wblennan/ Visit the 40 Percent Better website here: https://40pb.com/Listen to 40 % Better on these podcast platforms:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6qkqdMPkR9BqYPM7UPa4P0Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/40%25-better---engineering-leadership/id1709546347 Amazon Podcasts: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/01ad162e-7a33-4df4-8c29-04c4af0405fc/40-better---engineering-leadership#40PercentBetter #BillLennan #Leadership #TeamPerformance #EmployeeEngagement #PsychologicalSafety #BusinessGrowth #Kaizen #EngineeringLeadership #Coaching The 40% Better podcast with Bill Lennan unlocks previously unheard-of performance levels in teams and leaders. Bill Lennan, founder of 40 Percent Better, interviews experts on employee engagement, psychological safety, engineering leadership, and actionable mental models. Learn how to foster high-performing teams, improve team productivity, and achieve sustainable success in business through a focus on human-centered systems. #technologyleadership #productmanagement #engineeringleadership #leadershipdevelopment #careergrowth #podcast

In this episode of the 40% Better Podcast, Tamara Laine shares her unconventional leadership journey from teaching dance at a young age to working in documentaries, journalism, and eventually leading in the tech world.Tamara breaks down how taking risks, embracing failure, and building resilience shaped her career and leadership style. She explains why confidence is built through repetition, how communication is a learned skill, and why breaking big goals into micro tasks is essential for success.The conversation also explores leadership in startups, building effective systems, and how great leaders empower their teams while staying adaptable. Tamara shares practical insights on overcoming fear, developing strong communication skills, and creating a mindset that turns challenges into opportunities.What you’ll learn in this episode:How an unconventional career path can lead to strong leadershipWhy repetition and practice build confidence and communication skillsThe importance of breaking goals into small, actionable stepsHow to overcome fear and social anxiety through systemsWhy risk-taking is essential for personal and professional growthHow to build and lead high-performing teams in startupsThe role of systems and structure in execution and productivityWhy failure is a critical part of long-term successKey insights:“I’d rather try and fail than not try at all.”“You have to put the reps in.”“Failure is a step toward the destination.”“Surround yourself with the right people.”“Chase what makes you happy.”This episode is perfect for founders, leaders, and professionals looking to grow through resilience, improve communication, and build a mindset that embraces risk and opportunity.Subscribe for more conversations on leadership, growth, and performance.#Leadership #PersonalGrowth #Entrepreneurship #Startups #Mindset #Resilience #CommunicationSkills #CareerGrowth #BusinessGrowth #40PercentBetterI hope you enjoy this episode! Give it a like, share, and subscribe to not miss the content coming your way weekly. – Bill and the 40 % Better podcast teamConnect with Bill on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wblennan/ Visit the 40 Percent Better website here: https://40pb.com/Listen to 40 % Better on these podcast platforms:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6qkqdMPkR9BqYPM7UPa4P0Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/40%25-better---engineering-leadership/id1709546347 Amazon Podcasts: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/01ad162e-7a33-4df4-8c29-04c4af0405fc/40-better---engineering-leadership#40PercentBetter #BillLennan #Leadership #TeamPerformance #EmployeeEngagement #PsychologicalSafety #BusinessGrowth #Kaizen #EngineeringLeadership #Coaching The 40% Better podcast with Bill Lennan unlocks previously unheard-of performance levels in teams and leaders. Bill Lennan, founder of 40 Percent Better, interviews experts on employee engagement, psychological safety, engineering leadership, and actionable mental models. Learn how to foster high-performing teams, improve team productivity, and achieve sustainable success in business through a focus on human-centered systems. #technologyleadership #productmanagement #engineeringleadership #leadershipdevelopment #careergrowth #podcast

Serial entrepreneur Oscar Hedaya, founder of SPACE and The Space Safe, joins Bill Lennan on the 40% Better podcast for a wide-ranging conversation on what real leadership looks like across industries. Oscar's career has taken him from visual merchandising in New York to touch-screen gloves, electric mobility, and now the world's first smart safe with a built-in camera, touchscreen, tamper sensors, and app connectivity. Along the way, he's built and led teams of 25+ people across hardware, software, firmware, and design, and he shares the hard-won lessons that came from managing very different personalities under one roof. The conversation digs into the messy, human side of leadership: how to handle conflict without letting it fester, why getting quiet team members to speak up can completely transform a team's output, and how psychological safety and employee happiness aren't soft extras but core performance drivers. Oscar and Bill also unpack the challenge of getting cross-functional teams speaking the same language, the power of extreme ownership when things go wrong, and why small gestures like better coffee or Friday pizza often matter more than a pay rise. Key TakeawaysLeaders who come from under-resourced backgrounds often develop stronger creative problem-solving instincts early onManaging larger teams means spending significant time on interpersonal issues, not just the work itselfBringing clashing team members together socially is often the most effective way to defuse conflictGetting promoted doesn't mean doing more of the same job; the role fundamentally changesQuiet, high-performing team members need time and consistent encouragement before they'll speak up in group settings, but it's worth the investmentCross-functional teams (hardware, firmware, software, design) each speak a different language; a good leader bridges that gapWhen something goes wrong, blame-minimising and accountability-taking from the top changes the entire team cultureEmployee happiness is a business metric: appreciated employees go beyond their job description, stay longer, and produce better workSmall perks (better coffee, free lunch, a nearby hotel room for late nights) create disproportionate goodwill and loyaltyUpgrading team equipment is one of the highest-ROI investments a leader can makeConnect with Oscar Hedaya: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oscar-hedaya-b1a76b3/ Website: https://www.thespacesafe.com If you found this episode useful, hit subscribe and leave a review. It really helps the show reach more leaders who want to build better teams.I hope you enjoy this episode! Give it a like, share, and subscribe to not miss the content coming your way weekly. – Bill and the 40 % Better podcast teamConnect with Bill on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wblennan/ Visit the 40 Percent Better website here: https://40pb.com/Listen to 40 % Better on these podcast platforms:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6qkqdMPkR9BqYPM7UPa4P0Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/40%25-better---engineering-leadership/id1709546347 Amazon Podcasts: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/01ad162e-7a33-4df4-8c29-04c4af0405fc/40-better---engineering-leadership#40PercentBetter #BillLennan #Leadership #TeamPerformance #EmployeeEngagement #PsychologicalSafety #BusinessGrowth #Kaizen #EngineeringLeadership #Coaching The 40% Better podcast with Bill Lennan unlocks previously unheard-of performance levels in teams and leaders. Bill Lennan, founder of 40 Percent Better, interviews experts on employee engagement, psychological safety, engineering leadership, and actionable mental models. Learn how to foster high-performing teams, improve team productivity, and achieve sustainable success in business through a focus on human-centered systems. #technologyleadership #productmanagement #engineeringleadership #leadershipdevelopment #careergrowth #podcast

Most organizations measure engagement. But engagement only tells you who's busy, not who's going to stay. Andrea D. Carter, organizational scientist and creator of the Belonging First methodology, joins the 40% Better podcast to share why belonging is measurable performance infrastructure and what technical leaders need to build it on purpose. Andrea is CEO and Founder of Andrea Carter Consulting and creator of the Belonging First Methodology.Andrea developed the first scientifically validated framework for measuring workplace belonging, starting with a two-year study across 3,500+ employees in Canada's mining sector. The findings were clear: belonging gaps aren't primarily a diversity issue, they're a positional power issue. And when those gaps close, organizations see a 24% reduction in belonging gaps, a 28% increase in performance, an 18% increase in engagement, and a 16% reduction in turnover.In this conversation, Andrea walks through the five conditions that must be present for belonging to exist: comfort, connection, contribution, psychological safety, and well-being. She translates each into practical, behavioral actions leaders can take immediately, from how to open a meeting to how to rotate facilitation to how to name the impact of someone's work, not just the task they completed. Bill and Andrea also dig into why brilliant technical work dies in silos when connection is low, why resilience training alone sets people up to fail, and how belonging is fundamentally interdependent, not something one person figures out alone.Key TakeawaysBelonging is not a feeling. It is measurable performance infrastructure with direct impact on speed, quality, retention, and engagement.The five indicators of belonging are comfort, connection, contribution, psychological safety, and well-being. Each one has specific behaviors attached to it that leaders can implement immediately.Comfort is about cognitive load management. When roles, expectations, and decision processes are predictable, people's brains stop scanning for threats and free up capacity for complex problem-solving.Connection is your information transfer protocol. When trust is high and information flows without verification overhead, cross-functional collaboration accelerates and quality goes up.Contribution requires making impact visible, not just task completion. Acknowledge specifically how someone's work moved things forward and create visibility for your B and C contributors, not just your A players.Psychological safety is your early warning system. It only functions well when comfort is already present. Without it, people silence themselves before errors reach a point where they're catastrophic to fix.Well-being is infrastructure, not a perk. Resilience is not a solo sport. Organizations that treat it as an individual responsibility burn out their best people first.80% of managers never receive training on how to lead people. The performance gaps this creates are measurable and preventable.Belonging is interdependent. It requires both parties to actively give and receive the five conditions. When it's 100% on one person to figure out, that's a fitting-in environment, and it will eventually break people.Connect with Andrea D. Carter: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreadcarter/ Website: https://belongingfirst.com/ Company: Andrea Carter ConsultingIf this episode made you think differently about your team, subscribe to the 40% Better podcast for more conversations at the intersection of leadership and technology. Share it with a leader who's still measuring engagement and wondering why people keep leaving.I hope you enjoy this episode! Give it a like, share, and subscribe to not miss the content coming your way weekly. – Bill and the 40 % Better podcast teamConnect with Bill on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wblennan/ Visit the 40 Percent Better website here: https://40pb.com/Listen to 40 % Better on these podcast platforms:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6qkqdMPkR9BqYPM7UPa4P0Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/40%25-better---engineering-leadership/id1709546347 Amazon Podcasts: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/01ad162e-7a33-4df4-8c29-04c4af0405fc/40-better---engineering-leadership#40PercentBetter #BillLennan #Leadership #TeamPerformance #EmployeeEngagement #PsychologicalSafety #BusinessGrowth #Kaizen #EngineeringLeadership #Coaching The 40% Better podcast with Bill Lennan unlocks previously unheard-of performance levels in teams and leaders. Bill Lennan, founder of 40 Percent Better, interviews experts on employee engagement, psychological safety, engineering leadership, and actionable mental models. Learn how to foster high-performing teams, improve team productivity, and achieve sustainable success in business through a focus on human-centered systems. #technologyleadership #productmanagement #engineeringleadership #leadershipdevelopment #careergrowth #podcast

In two decades of coaching leaders across startups to multi-billion dollar corporations, Ian Watts discovered that companies lose talented people not because of compensation, but because they treat employees like replaceable widgets instead of human beings with aspirations beyond their job description. As founder of Employee Success Company, Ian developed the ACTS Method after reverse-engineering what allowed him to build teams with minimal turnover across 60 locations nationwide, recruiting over 400 loyal team members who knew exactly how much he cared about their personal success.Ian shares why the best leaders work themselves out of a job by making themselves unnecessary, why vulnerability combined with security creates magnetic leadership people want to follow, and how systematic support during critical life moments builds loyalty that salary alone can never buy. Discover why doing hard things literally grows your brain's capacity for more challenges, how treating people as individuals rather than production machines transforms retention, and why the secret to employee engagement isn't complicated—it's just caring about their personhood, not just their productivity.Key Topics:The ACTS Method: Aspirations, Calling, Transformation, and Support as the framework for employee retentionWhy companies that invest 3% of annual revenue into their people dramatically outperform competitorsHow creating deep reciprocity through systematic care during life moments (college, home purchases, loss) builds unshakeable loyaltyWhy vulnerability and security in leadership creates cultures where people don't want to leaveThe cost of treating people like widgets: $50,000+ per hire and 1-4x salary to replace employeesWhy most HR departments lack capacity to execute retention strategies even when they have the desireHow doing hard things (cold showers, polar plunges) trains your mid anterior cingulate cortex to embrace discomfortWhy knowing when to be tough versus tender separates good managers from transformational leadersThe power of helping employees achieve personal goals unrelated to their job performanceWhy modeling uncomfortable behavior yourself is the only way to credibly ask your team to growConnect with Ian WattsLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ianmwatts/Website: https://employeesuccesscompany.com/Book a complimentary strategy session to discuss employee engagement, performance, and retention challengesSubscribe for conversations with leaders who understand that your greatest competitive advantage isn't technology or strategy—it's how well you invest in the humans who make everything else possible.I hope you enjoy this episode! Give it a like, share, and subscribe to not miss the content coming your way weekly. – Bill and the 40 % Better podcast teamConnect with Bill on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wblennan/ Visit the 40 Percent Better website here: https://40pb.com/Listen to 40 % Better on these podcast platforms:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6qkqdMPkR9BqYPM7UPa4P0Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/40%25-better---engineering-leadership/id1709546347 Amazon Podcasts: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/01ad162e-7a33-4df4-8c29-04c4af0405fc/40-better---engineering-leadership#40PercentBetter #BillLennan #Leadership #TeamPerformance #EmployeeEngagement #PsychologicalSafety #BusinessGrowth #Kaizen #EngineeringLeadership #Coaching The 40% Better podcast with Bill Lennan unlocks previously unheard-of performance levels in teams and leaders. Bill Lennan, founder of 40 Percent Better, interviews experts on employee engagement, psychological safety, engineering leadership, and actionable mental models. Learn how to foster high-performing teams, improve team productivity, and achieve sustainable success in business through a focus on human-centered systems. #technologyleadership #productmanagement #engineeringleadership #leadershipdevelopment #careergrowth #podcast

In 2002, a 25-year-old Andrei Yurkevich started a software outstaffing business in Belarus with internet speeds under 100 kilobits per second for the entire country—slower than a dial-up modem. Twenty-two years later, he's President and CTO of Altoros with 350+ engineers across 25 countries, plus multiple spin-off companies including Protofire, a Web3-focused venture. Andrei shares why he spent two years answering seven questions that should have taken two hours, why distribution must always come before delivery, and how giving everyone equity ownership creates the type of organization where people leave, gain experience, and choose to return.Discover why Andrei's biggest hiring mistake was starting initiatives without a "single thread leader," why he motivates leaders with revenue shares but learned that scaling teams before having solid sales pipelines is fatal, and how following the Scaling Up methodology's "7 Strata" document became their most powerful alignment tool. Learn why Altoros operates as a venture studio with each business having separate leadership, cap tables, and P&Ls, why they explored but ultimately didn't fully implement DAO principles, and how their back-office shared services model enables spin-offs to focus purely on delivery and customer acquisition while finance, legal, marketing, and HR serve everyone.Key Topics:- Starting a software business in 2002 Belarus with dial-up internet speeds and no venture capital- The "7 Strata" strategy: why answering seven questions took two years instead of two hours- Distribution first, delivery second: why you can't scale teams without solid sales pipelines- Why single thread leaders are non-negotiable before starting any new initiative- Building a venture studio: separate P&Ls, cap tables, and equity ownership for every business unit- How giving everyone shareholder stakes (from 0.5% to 25%) creates retention and commitment- Why people leave, gain experience elsewhere, and choose to return years later- The pivot from serving startups at $50/hour to Fortune 500 clients at $150-200/hour- Exploring DAO principles in Web3: what worked, what didn't, and the governance challenges- Managing 300+ people across 25 countries with no physical offices post-COVID- Why Scaling Up by Vern Harnish became their foundational methodology across all businesses- Selling imaginary products first: never build before you verify someone will buy itConnect with Andrei Yurkevich:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreiyurkevich/Title: President and CTOCompanies: Altoros (https://www.altoroslabs.com/) | Protofire (Co-Founder, Web3/Blockchain)Subscribe for conversations with technology leaders who've built organizations from Soviet-era constraints to global venture studios, and understand that trust, autonomy, and shared ownership create the conditions where talent chooses to return.I hope you enjoy this episode! Give it a like, share, and subscribe to not miss the content coming your way weekly. – Bill and the 40 % Better podcast teamConnect with Bill on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wblennan/ Visit the 40 Percent Better website here: https://40pb.com/Listen to 40 % Better on these podcast platforms:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6qkqdMPkR9BqYPM7UPa4P0Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/40%25-better---engineering-leadership/id1709546347 Amazon Podcasts: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/01ad162e-7a33-4df4-8c29-04c4af0405fc/40-better---engineering-leadership#40PercentBetter #BillLennan #Leadership #TeamPerformance #EmployeeEngagement #PsychologicalSafety #BusinessGrowth #Kaizen #EngineeringLeadership #Coaching The 40% Better podcast with Bill Lennan unlocks previously unheard-of performance levels in teams and leaders. Bill Lennan, founder of 40 Percent Better, interviews experts on employee engagement, psychological safety, engineering leadership, and actionable mental models. Learn how to foster high-performing teams, improve team productivity, and achieve sustainable success in business through a focus on human-centered systems. #technologyleadership #productmanagement #engineeringleadership #leadershipdevelopment #careergrowth #podcastThis episode includes AI-generated content.

In 2002, a 25-year-old Andrei Yurkevich started a software outstaffing business in Belarus with internet speeds under 100 kilobits per second for the entire country—slower than a dial-up modem. Twenty-two years later, he's President and CTO of Altoros with 350+ engineers across 25 countries, plus multiple spin-off companies including Protofire, a Web3-focused venture. Andrei shares why he spent two years answering seven questions that should have taken two hours, why distribution must always come before delivery, and how giving everyone equity ownership creates the type of organization where people leave, gain experience, and choose to return.Discover why Andrei's biggest hiring mistake was starting initiatives without a "single thread leader," why he motivates leaders with revenue shares but learned that scaling teams before having solid sales pipelines is fatal, and how following the Scaling Up methodology's "7 Strata" document became their most powerful alignment tool. Learn why Altoros operates as a venture studio with each business having separate leadership, cap tables, and P&Ls, why they explored but ultimately didn't fully implement DAO principles, and how their back-office shared services model enables spin-offs to focus purely on delivery and customer acquisition while finance, legal, marketing, and HR serve everyone.**Key Topics:**- Starting a software business in 2002 Belarus with dial-up internet speeds and no venture capital- The "7 Strata" strategy: why answering seven questions took two years instead of two hours- Distribution first, delivery second: why you can't scale teams without solid sales pipelines- Why single thread leaders are non-negotiable before starting any new initiative- Building a venture studio: separate P&Ls, cap tables, and equity ownership for every business unit- How giving everyone shareholder stakes (from 0.5% to 25%) creates retention and commitment- Why people leave, gain experience elsewhere, and choose to return years later- The pivot from serving startups at $50/hour to Fortune 500 clients at $150-200/hour- Exploring DAO principles in Web3: what worked, what didn't, and the governance challenges- Managing 300+ people across 25 countries with no physical offices post-COVID- Why Scaling Up by Vern Harnish became their foundational methodology across all businesses- Selling imaginary products first: never build before you verify someone will buy itConnect with Andrei Yurkevich:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreiyurkevich/Title: President and CTOCompanies: Altoros (https://www.altoroslabs.com/) | Protofire (Co-Founder, Web3/Blockchain)Subscribe for conversations with technology leaders who've built organizations from Soviet-era constraints to global venture studios, and understand that trust, autonomy, and shared ownership create the conditions where talent chooses to return.I hope you enjoy this episode! Give it a like, share, and subscribe to not miss the content coming your way weekly. – Bill and the 40 % Better podcast teamConnect with Bill on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wblennan/ Visit the 40 Percent Better website here: https://40pb.com/Listen to 40 % Better on these podcast platforms:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6qkqdMPkR9BqYPM7UPa4P0Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/40%25-better---engineering-leadership/id1709546347 Amazon Podcasts: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/01ad162e-7a33-4df4-8c29-04c4af0405fc/40-better---engineering-leadership#40PercentBetter #BillLennan #Leadership #TeamPerformance #EmployeeEngagement #PsychologicalSafety #BusinessGrowth #Kaizen #EngineeringLeadership #Coaching The 40% Better podcast with Bill Lennan unlocks previously unheard-of performance levels in teams and leaders. Bill Lennan, founder of 40 Percent Better, interviews experts on employee engagement, psychological safety, engineering leadership, and actionable mental models. Learn how to foster high-performing teams, improve team productivity, and achieve sustainable success in business through a focus on human-centered systems. #technologyleadership #productmanagement #engineeringleadership #leadershipdevelopment #careergrowth #podcast

When Josh Carroll tells his engineers not to bring him their hard problems, he's actually doing the opposite—he's making sure they feel resourced enough to tackle anything. As an engineering leader with 20+ years of experience who's scaled teams at agencies, startups, and now Skylight, Josh has learned that leadership is problem-solving with people, not code. He shares why his old boss told him to "run to the inevitable"—why waiting to have hard conversations makes everything worse—and how discovering he has ADHD transformed his listening skills after painful 360 feedback revealed he was making conversations about himself when trying to show empathy.Josh reveals Skylight's "say the thing" principle for psychological safety, why they measure velocity by setting aggressive roadmaps they can't hit and aiming for 80-90%, and why hiring engineers just to write code leaves half their value on the table. From understanding stakeholder success metrics to avoiding pet agendas, Josh shares battle-tested frameworks for creating environments where brilliant engineers with low egos ship customer-delighting products at high velocity.Key Topics:Why "run to the inevitable" means having hard conversations immediately, not laterHow 360 feedback and discovering ADHD transformed Josh's leadership approachSkylight's "say the thing" principle for creating psychological safetyWhy hiring engineers just to write code wastes half their problem-solving valueThe three-sprint maximum rule: forcing teams to ship iteratively and learn fastMeasuring velocity without silly metrics: aggressive roadmaps at 80-90% completionHow past company dysfunction creates self-fulfilling prophecies at new companiesWhy Josh rarely shares his solutions anymore, even when he's seen the problem beforeBuilding high-trust, low-ego teams: avoiding pet agendas and command-and-control baggageConnect with Josh Carroll:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-carroll-83637912/Company: Skylight (MySkylight.com/careers - hiring 20+ engineering roles!)Skylight is actively hiring Ruby on Rails, TypeScript/React/React Native, and Android Kotlin engineers. Check out their careers page if you're looking for a high-trust, low-ego engineering culture that values autonomy, rigor, and care.Subscribe for more conversations with engineering leaders who understand that leadership is a series of humbling lessons, and growth means constantly discovering new mistakes to work on.I hope you enjoy this episode! Give it a like, share, and subscribe to not miss the content coming your way weekly. – Bill and the 40 % Better podcast teamConnect with Bill on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wblennan/ Visit the 40 Percent Better website here: https://40pb.com/Listen to 40 % Better on these podcast platforms:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6qkqdMPkR9BqYPM7UPa4P0Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/40%25-better---engineering-leadership/id1709546347 Amazon Podcasts: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/01ad162e-7a33-4df4-8c29-04c4af0405fc/40-better---engineering-leadership#40PercentBetter #BillLennan #Leadership #TeamPerformance #EmployeeEngagement #PsychologicalSafety #BusinessGrowth #Kaizen #EngineeringLeadership #Coaching The 40% Better podcast with Bill Lennan unlocks previously unheard-of performance levels in teams and leaders. Bill Lennan, founder of 40 Percent Better, interviews experts on employee engagement, psychological safety, engineering leadership, and actionable mental models. Learn how to foster high-performing teams, improve team productivity, and achieve sustainable success in business through a focus on human-centered systems. #technologyleadership #productmanagement #engineeringleadership #leadershipdevelopment #careergrowth #podcast

When Sairan Aqrawi decided to become a swimming coach as a teenager in Iraq, she discovered something critical about leadership: passion alone isn't enough. You need skills, responsibility, and the willingness to take action. That early lesson would carry her through 30 years of engineering across the Middle East and United States, where she learned that failure isn't the end—it's where real growth begins.Sairan shares why she tells young engineers that no one will die from their mistakes, using this extreme framing to help them understand that taking risks is essential for growth. Discover why she believes the jobs you hate teach you the most, how aging actually made failure easier to handle, and why the most important question isn't whether you'll fail but what you'll learn when you do.Learn why Sairan refuses to respond immediately to harsh emails, understanding that pausing and replying professionally instead of reacting emotionally often means the problem resolves itself by noon. She reveals the critical difference between competence and confidence—you can't fake confidence, but when you're truly competent, your body language naturally communicates it without you having to perform.Sairan breaks down why having an impressive LinkedIn profile full of certifications means nothing if you can't communicate effectively in meetings, how she learned to be curious about her team members instead of assuming she knows everything, and why being a role model as a leader is exactly like parenting—your actions speak louder than your words.From working on multi-billion dollar transportation projects with Homeland Security and Boeing to mentoring the next generation of women in STEM, Sairan explains why innovation keeps you young, how taking scary risks in your 30s transforms you into a better version of yourself, and why the first time she spoke on stage about women's empowerment she literally forgot her name and started thinking about dinner.Discover why engineers who only know one discipline won't thrive in today's world, how Western engineering practices have evolved to require T-shaped knowledge, and why your degree is just a plus—not the pathway to success. Sairan reveals her three-step framework for becoming an effective leader, born from 35 years of experience across small companies, big corporations, county government, and international projects.Whether you're a young engineer afraid to take risks, a midlife professional looking to reignite your career, or a leader trying to build psychological safety on your team, this conversation offers hard-won wisdom from someone who's failed, learned, and succeeded across two continents and three decades.Connect with Sairan Aqrawi:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sairan-aqrawi-m-sc-993bb61a3/Website: https://www.sairanaqrawi.com/Download Sairan's free three-step checklist to becoming an effective leader—created from 35 years of engineering experience in the Middle East and United States.  https://pro.speakerhub.com/speaker-feedback/?qr=db5082b4-078d-41ee-b934-c4a961e8413cSubscribe for more conversations with leaders who understand that action breeds confidence, not the other way around. Share this with engineers who need permission to fail, learn, and grow into the leaders they're meant to become.I hope you enjoy this episode! Give it a like, share, and subscribe to not miss the content coming your way weekly. – Bill and the 40 % Better podcast teamConnect with Bill on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wblennan/ Visit the 40 Percent Better website here: https://40pb.com/Listen to 40 % Better on these podcast platforms:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6qkqdMPkR9BqYPM7UPa4P0Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/40%25-better---engineering-leadership/id1709546347 Amazon Podcasts: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/01ad162e-7a33-4df4-8c29-04c4af0405fc/40-better---engineering-leadership#40PercentBetter #BillLennan #Leadership #TeamPerformance #EmployeeEngagement #PsychologicalSafety #BusinessGrowth #Kaizen #EngineeringLeadership #Coaching The 40% Better podcast with Bill Lennan unlocks previously unheard-of performance levels in teams and leaders. Bill Lennan, founder of 40 Percent Better, interviews experts on employee engagement, psychological safety, engineering leadership, and actionable mental models. Learn how to foster high-performing teams, improve team productivity, and achieve sustainable success in business through a focus on human-centered systems. #technologyleadership #productmanagement #engineeringleadership #leadershipdevelopment #careergrowth #podcast

When Sebastien Jean was five years old, he organized all the neighborhood kids into a military parade after seeing his first air show. Kids much older than him willingly followed this little commander up and down the street for 20 minutes while parents watched from their porches. That early leadership moment would eventually lead him to become CTO of Fizon Electronics, a company that makes 20% of the planet's SSDs.Sebastien shares how his unconventional path through the Army Reserve Signal Corps taught him that to be a good leader, you first have to be a good follower. Discover why he believes the most important leadership skill is understanding that everybody has a boss, and if your ego is always involved, you'll never succeed in a larger organization.Learn why Sebastien deliberately adds extra words and pauses to his speech to avoid shutting down conversations, how he coaches his nine-year-old son that politeness requires longer explanations, and why saying "I don't know" creates psychological safety that unlocks better solutions from your team. He reveals the critical difference between over-specifying requirements and giving talented engineers ownership through clear objectives without prescribed implementation.Sebastien breaks down why the number 648.973256 and 650 convey the same thing in presentations but one creates unnecessary cognitive load, how forward framing gets people to care before you present technical details, and why you should round complex data to the nearest multiple of 50 unless you're building car motors.Discover how Sebastien helps risk-averse engineers get comfortable with uncertainty through strategic proof of concepts and staging devices, why he believes he's "at least as dumb as that other guy over there" to give himself permission to ask for help, and how creating safe spaces for incomplete answers leads to breakthrough innovations.From building enterprise SSDs to launching new product classes in 2026, Sebastien explains why the quiet people in meetings are his canary in the coal mine for team health, how he balances aggressive risk-taking with calculated experiments, and why great leaders focus on enabling their teams rather than micromanaging implementation details.Whether you're leading hardware teams, managing firmware development, or trying to build a culture where smart people feel comfortable being wrong, this conversation offers battle-tested frameworks from someone who's led technical teams for decades across continents.Connect with Sebastien Jean:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sjean233/Company: Fizon Electronics (Enterprise brand: Piscari)Subscribe for more conversations with technology leaders who understand that your job as a leader is to make your boss's life easier while simultaneously enabling your team to do their best work. Share this with leaders who need permission to say "I don't know" more often.I hope you enjoy this episode! Give it a like, share, and subscribe to not miss the content coming your way weekly. – Bill and the 40 % Better podcast teamConnect with Bill on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wblennan/ Visit the 40 Percent Better website here: https://40pb.com/Listen to 40 % Better on these podcast platforms:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6qkqdMPkR9BqYPM7UPa4P0Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/40%25-better---engineering-leadership/id1709546347 Amazon Podcasts: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/01ad162e-7a33-4df4-8c29-04c4af0405fc/40-better---engineering-leadership#40PercentBetter #BillLennan #Leadership #TeamPerformance #EmployeeEngagement #PsychologicalSafety #BusinessGrowth #Kaizen #EngineeringLeadership #Coaching The 40% Better podcast with Bill Lennan unlocks previously unheard-of performance levels in teams and leaders. Bill Lennan, founder of 40 Percent Better, interviews experts on employee engagement, psychological safety, engineering leadership, and actionable mental models. Learn how to foster high-performing teams, improve team productivity, and achieve sustainable success in business through a focus on human-centered systems. #technologyleadership #productmanagement #engineeringleadership #leadershipdevelopment #careergrowth #podcast

From College Meal Plans to Multi-Tenant Cloud Platforms: How a CTO Built an 80% Market Share by Stacking the Odds for His Teams with Taran LentWhat started as a hungry college student solving his own problem with slips of paper and a bicycle turned into a career building mission-critical payment platforms serving 80% of colleges nationwide. Taran Lent, CTO of Transact Seaboard (soon to be Illumia), shares how sports taught him that being coached means someone believes in your potential, and why he refuses assignments when he knows they're set up to fail.Discover why Taran believes the most well-intentioned thing leaders do, the hero mentality, is actually destructive. Learn how a 10-minute conversation where he refused to accept an assignment without proper resources turned a $65 million acquisition into a product growing 14% year over year. Taran explains why playing to win means having a full team focused on fewer things rather than spreading eight players across an eleven-player game.Taran breaks down his overarching leadership framework: a leader's only job is to stack the odds in favor of their teams so they have the best chance to win. He shares why conviction requires letting people throw rocks at ideas, why Sullenberger was still asking for better ideas 400 feet above the Hudson, and how going slow to go fast through unit testing, load testing, and security work lets you move fast for two decades instead of limping along forever.From building the first off-campus student debit card system to partnering with Apple to put student IDs on phones and watches, Taran reveals what makes closed campus environments different from traditional payments, why autonomous robots are delivering lunch to students, and how cashless campuses create safer communities with better operational insights.Learn why great leaders define problems instead of dictating solutions, why asking smart people for recommendations always produces ideas two or three times better than yours, and why sustainable high performance over long periods is the only definition of excellence worth pursuing.Whether you're leading product teams, fighting for resources, or trying to build conviction before execution, this conversation offers battle-tested frameworks from someone who's been building and scaling platforms for over two decades.Connect with Taran Lent:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/taranlent/Company: Transact Seaboard (rebranding to Illumia in 2026)Subscribe for more conversations with technology leaders who understand that short-term wins at the cost of long-term sustainability aren't worth celebrating. Share this with leaders who need permission to refuse assignments that aren't set up for success.I hope you enjoy this episode! Give it a like, share, and subscribe to not miss the content coming your way weekly. – Bill and the 40 % Better podcast teamConnect with Bill on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wblennan/ Visit the 40 Percent Better website here: https://40pb.com/Listen to 40 % Better on these podcast platforms:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6qkqdMPkR9BqYPM7UPa4P0Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/40%25-better---engineering-leadership/id1709546347 Amazon Podcasts: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/01ad162e-7a33-4df4-8c29-04c4af0405fc/40-better---engineering-leadership#40PercentBetter #BillLennan #Leadership #TeamPerformance #EmployeeEngagement #PsychologicalSafety #BusinessGrowth #Kaizen #EngineeringLeadership #Coaching The 40% Better podcast with Bill Lennan unlocks previously unheard-of performance levels in teams and leaders. Bill Lennan, founder of 40 Percent Better, interviews experts on employee engagement, psychological safety, engineering leadership, and actionable mental models. Learn how to foster high-performing teams, improve team productivity, and achieve sustainable success in business through a focus on human-centered systems. #technologyleadership #productmanagement #engineeringleadership #leadershipdevelopment #careergrowth #podcast

When Prashanth Tondapu started his company at 27, he had no formal leadership training. What he discovered through building an 85-person engineering team would completely transform his approach to leadership, starting with a personal crisis that became his greatest teacher.In this deeply personal conversation, Prashanth shares how his wife's cancer diagnosis three years ago shattered his illusion of control and led him to discover Advaita philosophy and the power of emotional regulation. Learn why he believes being a witness to your emotions rather than being consumed by them is the first critical skill every leader must develop.Discover the Atakme framework his leadership team uses to make better decisions by mentally projecting problems onto an imaginary company, allowing them to separate ego from problem-solving. Prashanth explains why he tells his team leads that for their reports, they ARE the company, not some abstract entity, and how this shift creates genuine advocacy rather than blind compliance.Prashanth discusses the journey from outcome-driven to process-first to people-first leadership, and why his company is using 2026 to focus on building people, not just the business. He shares practical insights on implementing rewards and recognition frameworks that identify future leaders, and why intent matters more than outcomes when someone makes a mistake.Learn why Prashanth compares humans to large language models, constantly updating our models based on new information, and why he believes we're far more predictable than we think. He reveals how reality is just the product of billions of years of evolution, but our feelings about reality are optional, and why this perspective eliminates so much unnecessary suffering.Whether you're struggling with the weight of leadership decisions, building your first management team, or trying to create genuine psychological safety, this conversation offers both philosophical wisdom and practical frameworks you can implement immediately.Connect with Prashanth Tondapu:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/prashanth-tondapu/Company: InnoStacksSubscribe to hear more conversations about the intersection of leadership, technology, and personal growth. Share this episode with leaders who understand that the inner work of leadership matters just as much as the external results.I hope you enjoy this episode! Give it a like, share, and subscribe to not miss the content coming your way weekly. – Bill and the 40 % Better podcast teamConnect with Bill on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wblennan/ Visit the 40 Percent Better website here: https://40pb.com/Listen to 40 % Better on these podcast platforms:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6qkqdMPkR9BqYPM7UPa4P0Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/40%25-better---engineering-leadership/id1709546347 Amazon Podcasts: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/01ad162e-7a33-4df4-8c29-04c4af0405fc/40-better---engineering-leadership#40PercentBetter #BillLennan #Leadership #TeamPerformance #EmployeeEngagement #PsychologicalSafety #BusinessGrowth #Kaizen #EngineeringLeadership #Coaching The 40% Better podcast with Bill Lennan unlocks previously unheard-of performance levels in teams and leaders. Bill Lennan, founder of 40 Percent Better, interviews experts on employee engagement, psychological safety, engineering leadership, and actionable mental models. Learn how to foster high-performing teams, improve team productivity, and achieve sustainable success in business through a focus on human-centered systems. #technologyleadership #productmanagement #engineeringleadership #leadershipdevelopment #careergrowth #podcast

Discover why traditional technical skills aren't enough anymore. Bryan O'Neill, engineering leader with 35+ years of experience, shares how communication skills and growth mindset are becoming more valuable than pure coding ability in the age of AI-assisted development.In this conversation, Bryan breaks down practical strategies for helping engineering teams adapt to rapid technological change, from creating AI wins channels to sending engineers to practitioner-led conferences. Learn why the best engineers are making the shift from focusing on "bits and bytes" to understanding business value, and how AI tools are changing the role of software engineers from coders to orchestrators.Bryan shares real examples of how his team at Form Assembly uses AI to accelerate bug fixes and API upgrades by leveraging context engineering. He also discusses why empathy mapping stakeholders makes you a better communicator and leader, and how the skills that made great leaders in sports translate directly to engineering management.Key topics include navigating the spectrum from AI skepticism to overenthusiasm on your team, why document-driven development is making a comeback, and how to hire for the future when technical wizardry alone won't be enough.Whether you're leading an engineering team through AI adoption or building your own leadership skills, this episode offers actionable insights on communication, coaching, and creating a culture of continuous learning.Connect with Bryan O'Neill:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bmoneill/If you found this conversation valuable, subscribe to the 40% Better podcast for more insights on leadership in technology. Share this episode with engineering leaders who are navigating the transition to AI-assisted development.I hope you enjoy this episode! Give it a like, share, and subscribe to not miss the content coming your way weekly. – Bill and the 40 % Better podcast teamConnect with Bill on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wblennan/ Visit the 40 Percent Better website here: https://40pb.com/Listen to 40 % Better on these podcast platforms:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6qkqdMPkR9BqYPM7UPa4P0Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/40%25-better---engineering-leadership/id1709546347 Amazon Podcasts: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/01ad162e-7a33-4df4-8c29-04c4af0405fc/40-better---engineering-leadership#40PercentBetter #BillLennan #Leadership #TeamPerformance #EmployeeEngagement #PsychologicalSafety #BusinessGrowth #Kaizen #EngineeringLeadership #Coaching The 40% Better podcast with Bill Lennan unlocks previously unheard-of performance levels in teams and leaders. Bill Lennan, founder of 40 Percent Better, interviews experts on employee engagement, psychological safety, engineering leadership, and actionable mental models. Learn how to foster high-performing teams, improve team productivity, and achieve sustainable success in business through a focus on human-centered systems. #technologyleadership #productmanagement #engineeringleadership #leadershipdevelopment #careergrowth #podcast

In this episode of the 40% Better podcast, host Bill Lennan is joined by technology leader Durgesh Sukhtankar for a deep conversation on leadership, curiosity, and building high performing product teams.Durgesh shares his leadership origin story, from engineering roles at GE Healthcare to helping teams transition from project based delivery to true product ownership. Together, Bill and Durgesh unpack why leadership starts long before a management title, how curiosity drives better decision making, and why empowered teams consistently outperform deadline driven ones.The conversation explores practical leadership lessons including building product oriented teams, creating psychological safety through calculated risk taking, developing future leaders inside technical teams, and why talking to users matters more than perfect requirements.Durgesh also shares his approach to mentorship, acting as a “heat shield” for developing leaders, and helping engineers grow by understanding the business and customer pain points behind the code. If you are a technology leader, engineering manager, founder, or executive looking to build stronger teams, better products, and a more resilient leadership culture, this episode offers thoughtful insights you can apply immediately.I hope you enjoy this episode!Give it a like, share, and subscribe to not miss the content coming your way weekly. – Bill and the 40 % Better podcast teamConnect with Bill on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wblennan/Visit the 40 Percent Better website here: https://40pb.com/Listen to 40 % Better on these podcast platforms: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6qkqdMPkR9BqYPM7UPa4P0 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/40%25-better---engineering-leadership/id1709546347 Amazon Podcasts: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/01ad162e-7a33-4df4-8c29-04c4af0405fc/40-better---engineering-leadership #40PercentBetter #BillLennan #Leadership #TeamPerformance #EmployeeEngagement #PsychologicalSafety #BusinessGrowth #Kaizen #EngineeringLeadership #CoachingThe 40% Better podcast with Bill Lennan unlocks previously unheard-of performance levels in teams and leaders. Bill Lennan, founder of 40 Percent Better, interviews experts on employee engagement, psychological safety, engineering leadership, and actionable mental models. Learn how to foster high-performing teams, improve team productivity, and achieve sustainable success in business through a focus on human-centered systems. #technologyleadership #productmanagement #engineeringleadership #leadershipdevelopment #careergrowth #podcast

In this episode of the 40% Better Podcast, host Bill Lennan sits down with Jacob Crockett for a thoughtful conversation on leadership in the modern tech world—and beyond. Together, they explore what truly makes an effective leader, why titles don’t always equal influence, and how emotional intelligence plays a critical role in building strong teams and healthy company culture.Jacob shares lessons from his early leadership experiences, highlighting how discomfort, vulnerability, and genuine care for people often lead to the greatest growth. The discussion dives into systems thinking, the impact of poor leadership, and why happiness at work isn’t just a “nice to have,” but a key driver of productivity and long-term success.This episode is packed with practical insights for leaders, managers, and anyone looking to grow personally and professionally—by focusing on relationships, purpose, and leading with authenticity.Key themes include:Leadership in tech and fast-growing organizations Emotional intelligence and human-centered managementBuilding meaningful relationships at workSystems thinking as a leadership tool Why genuine care fuels performance and happinessSound bites from the episode:“Wisdom might be very generous.”“Be the leader.”“Happiness leads to productivity.” 🎙️ Whether you’re a seasoned leader or just starting your journey, this conversation will challenge the way you think about leadership, growth, and what it really means to be 40% better. I hope you enjoy this episode! Give it a like, share, and subscribe to not miss the content coming your way weekly. – Bill and the 40 % Better podcast teamConnect with Bill on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wblennan/Visit the 40 Percent Better website here: https://40pb.com/Listen to 40 % Better on these podcast platforms:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6qkqdMPkR9BqYPM7UPa4P0Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/40%25-better---engineering-leadership/id1709546347Amazon Podcasts: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/01ad162e-7a33-4df4-8c29-04c4af0405fc/40-better---engineering-leadership#40PercentBetter #BillLennan #Leadership #TeamPerformance #EmployeeEngagement #PsychologicalSafety #BusinessGrowth #Kaizen #EngineeringLeadership #Coaching The 40% Better podcast with Bill Lennan unlocks previously unheard-of performance levels in teams and leaders. Bill Lennan, founder of 40 Percent Better, interviews experts on employee engagement, psychological safety, engineering leadership, and actionable mental models. Learn how to foster high-performing teams, improve team productivity, and achieve sustainable success in business through a focus on human-centered systems.

In this episode of the 40% Better Podcast, host Bill Lennan sits down with Rob Johnson to explore what leadership really means in technology—and why leading people is fundamentally different from managing projects. Rob shares his unconventional journey from a shy, risk-averse engineer to a confident technology leader and entrepreneur.Drawing from experiences in engineering, product management, startups, and executive leadership, Rob explains why soft power, servant leadership, and self-awareness matter more than titles, authority, or being “the smartest person in the room.” This wide-ranging conversation covers risk tolerance, entrepreneurship, military-influenced leadership lessons, listening over talking, and the mindset shift required to succeed at higher levels of leadership.Rob also discusses why control is an illusion, why being wrong is essential to learning, and how leaders can remove roadblocks so teams can thrive. If you’re an engineer, product leader, founder, or aspiring executive navigating the transition into leadership, this episode is packed with practical insights, memorable stories, and counterintuitive advice to help you become 40% better.🎯 Key Takeaways Leadership often starts with ego—and matures through self-awareness You can manage projects, but you must lead people Soft power is more effective than authority Giving before you get builds trust and influence Listening is more powerful than talking Being wrong is essential for growth and learning Risk tolerance develops through experience, not theory Entrepreneurship reshapes how leaders see systems and change Titles matter less than removing obstacles for teams Great leaders make others excited—not anxious—to work with them 🎙️ Memorable Sound Bites “You can manage projects. You can’t manage people.” “There are no points for being right—only for doing right.” “Control is an illusion.” “I want to be wrong more before breakfast than most people are all day.”I hope you enjoy this episode! Give it a like, share, and subscribe to not miss the content coming your way weekly. – Bill and the 40 % Better podcast teamConnect with Bill on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wblennan/ Visit the 40 Percent Better website here: https://40pb.com/Listen to 40 % Better on these podcast platforms:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6qkqdMPkR9BqYPM7UPa4P0Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/40%25-better---engineering-leadership/id1709546347Amazon Podcasts: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/01ad162e-7a33-4df4-8c29-04c4af0405fc/40-better---engineering-leadership #40PercentBetter#BillLennan #Leadership #TeamPerformance #EmployeeEngagement #PsychologicalSafety #BusinessGrowth #Kaizen #EngineeringLeadership #Coaching The 40% Better podcast with Bill Lennan unlocks previously unheard-of performance levels in teams and leaders. Bill Lennan, founder of 40 Percent Better, interviews experts on employee engagement, psychological safety, engineering leadership, and actionable mental models. Learn how to foster high-performing teams, improve team productivity, and achieve sustainable success in business through a focus on human-centered systems.

In this episode of the 40% Better Podcast, Wolfgang Schram shares his extraordinary journey from Germany to the global concert touring industry, and ultimately to leading engineering teams in the corporate world. He discusses how his ADHD shaped his learning and leadership style, the lessons he learned from owning his work, and the ways he developed the ability to guide complex teams across high-stakes projects. Wolfgang explores the human side of leadership, emphasizing ownership, intrinsic motivation, and fostering an environment where people can thrive both professionally and personally.Takeaways: Leadership is about enabling others to succeed, not doing everything yourself.Ownership and trust are key to building high-performing teams.Understanding individuals’ strengths, weaknesses, and motivations is crucial.Emotional intelligence and social competence often determine project success.AI can amplify leadership and problem-solving but requires clear communication of outcomes.Passion and intrinsic motivation drive learning, growth, and long-term success.Sound bites:“Feelings are everything. They are the core decision makers in our actions every day.” “Ownership comes by encouraged creative thinking.”“If you put people in a place where they can shine, the work becomes joy.”I hope you enjoy this episode! Give it a like, share, and subscribe to not miss the content coming your way weekly. – Bill and the 40 % Better podcast teamConnect with Bill on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wblennan/Visit the 40 Percent Better website here: https://40pb.com/Listen to 40 % Better on these podcast platforms:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6qkqdMPkR9BqYPM7UPa4P0Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/40%25-better---engineering-leadership/id1709546347Amazon Podcasts: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/01ad162e-7a33-4df4-8c29-04c4af0405fc/40-better---engineering-leadership#40PercentBetter #BillLennan #Leadership #TeamPerformance #EmployeeEngagement #PsychologicalSafety #BusinessGrowth #Kaizen #EngineeringLeadership #Coaching The 40% Better podcast with Bill Lennan unlocks previously unheard-of performance levels in teams and leaders. Bill Lennan, founder of 40 Percent Better, interviews experts on employee engagement, psychological safety, engineering leadership, and actionable mental models. Learn how to foster high-performing teams, improve team productivity, and achieve sustainable success in business through a focus on human-centered systems.

In this episode of the 40% Better Podcast, host Bill Lennan is joined by Brent Wodicka, Chief Technology Officer at Applied Information Sciences (AIS), for a focused conversation on what it truly means to build, engage, and sustain highly competent teams.Brent shares clear, experience-driven insights on why engagement isn’t about perks, pressure, or constant motivation—but about providing meaningful challenges, continuous learning, and real growth opportunities. He explains the implicit contract leaders make when they recruit strong talent: if you hire highly capable people, your responsibility is to stretch them, develop them, and ensure their work remains intellectually engaging. The discussion highlights how leaders can prevent stagnation, retain top performers, and create environments where teams stay curious, challenged, and invested in their work. Brent also emphasizes leadership accountability—making sure leaders are holding up their end of the bargain by creating space for learning, growth, and mastery. This episode is especially valuable for engineering leaders, technology executives, and managers who want to build teams that don’t just perform—but continuously grow and improve. I hope you enjoy this episode! Give it a like, share, and subscribe to not miss the content coming your way weekly. – Bill and the 40 % Better podcast team Connect with Bill on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wblennan/Visit the 40 Percent Better website here: https://40pb.com/Listen to 40 % Better on these podcast platforms: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6qkqdMPkR9BqYPM7UPa4P0Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/40%25-better---engineering-leadership/id1709546347Amazon Podcasts: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/01ad162e-7a33-4df4-8c29-04c4af0405fc/40-better---engineering-leadership#40PercentBetter #BillLennan #Leadership #TeamPerformance #EmployeeEngagement #PsychologicalSafety #BusinessGrowth #Kaizen #EngineeringLeadership #Coaching The 40% Better podcast with Bill Lennan unlocks previously unheard-of performance levels in teams and leaders. Bill Lennan, founder of 40 Percent Better, interviews experts on employee engagement, psychological safety, engineering leadership, and actionable mental models. Learn how to foster high-performing teams, improve team productivity, and achieve sustainable success in business through a focus on human-centered systems.

In this episode of the 40% Better Podcast, host Bill Lennan speaks with Jill Willard, Chief Technology Officer at IXOPAY, about her leadership journey and how she empowers software and payments teams to build trust, embrace failure, and drive innovation. Jill draws from over two decades of experience leading global software and payment platform teams, offering insights on situational leadership, accountability, effective communication, and building a thriving work culture that encourages psychological safety and experimentation in engineering environments. ixopay.comWhether you’re a tech leader, engineering manager, or aspiring CTO, this episode is packed with actionable takeaways to help you become a more effective and inspiring leader.🎯 Key TakeawaysJill’s leadership journey began with a desire for controlTransitioning from small to larger teams requires evolving leadership skillsBuilding trust is essential for high-performing software teamsFailure is a natural part of engineering and growthLeaders must give teams permission to take risks and learnAccountability should be shared between leaders and team membersSituational leadership supports individuals at their levelEffective communication drives healthy team dynamicsInnovation thrives in environments that are engaging and funSelf-awareness is a critical skill for leaders🎙️ Memorable Sound Bites“Failure is built in.”“You can’t scale that way.”“Confidence is contagious.”I hope you enjoy this episode! Give it a like, share, and subscribe to not miss the content coming your way weekly. – Bill and the 40 % Better podcast teamConnect with Bill on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wblennan/ Visit the 40 Percent Better website here: https://40pb.com/Listen to 40 % Better on these podcast platforms:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6qkqdMPkR9BqYPM7UPa4P0Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/40%25-better---engineering-leadership/id1709546347 Amazon Podcasts: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/01ad162e-7a33-4df4-8c29-04c4af0405fc/40-better---engineering-leadership#40PercentBetter #BillLennan #Leadership #TeamPerformance #EmployeeEngagement #PsychologicalSafety #BusinessGrowth #Kaizen #EngineeringLeadership #Coaching The 40% Better podcast with Bill Lennan unlocks previously unheard-of performance levels in teams and leaders. Bill Lennan, founder of 40 Percent Better, interviews experts on employee engagement, psychological safety, engineering leadership, and actionable mental models. Learn how to foster high-performing teams, improve team productivity, and achieve sustainable success in business through a focus on human-centered systems.

In this episode of 40% Better, host Bill Lennan sits down with Bill Binkiewicz to explore how asymmetric wins, leadership, and continuous learning shape high-performing software teams and modern engineering organizations. The conversation spans leadership lessons learned through coaching and sports, building trust and psychological safety in teams, and why curiosity and mental models matter more than ever. They also dive into the evolving role of AI in software development, discussing where it adds value, where it falls short, and why it should be treated as a productivity tool—not a replacement for critical thinking. From engineering management and team dynamics to automotive technology, internal customer needs, and delivering business value quickly, this episode offers practical insights for leaders, developers, and anyone interested in building better teams and better systems. 🔑 Topics CoveredAsymmetric wins and exponential growth opportunitiesLeadership lessons from sports, coaching, and software teamsBuilding trust, transparency, and psychological safetyContinuous learning and growth mindset in engineeringAI in software development: promise vs realityEngineering management and team collaborationInternal customer needs and business value alignmentMental models, curiosity, and critical thinkingIn-person collaboration and serendipitous conversationsAutomotive technology and the future of software💡 Key TakeawaysAsymmetric wins can unlock outsized results in leadership and teamsPsychological safety drives better collaboration and innovationContinuous learning is essential for modern engineering teamsAI enhances productivity but doesn’t replace human judgmentDelivering value quickly is critical to business successCuriosity and strong mental models improve problem-solvingTrust enables better contributions and team engagement

In this conversation, Darshan Bildikar shares his journey from being an introverted builder to a successful engineering manager. He discusses his early experiences in programming, his transition into management, and his time at Amazon, where he built and led teams. Darshan reflects on his move to a startup environment, the impact of AI on productivity, and the importance of balancing speed and quality in development. He emphasizes the need for human oversight in AI-driven processes and shares insights on adapting to different work cultures and the future of work.Connect with Darshan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darshanbildikar/I hope you enjoy this episode! Give it a like, share, and subscribe to not miss the content coming your way weekly. – Bill and the 40 % Better podcast teamConnect with Bill on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wblennan/ Visit the 40 Percent Better website here: https://40pb.com/Listen to 40 % Better on these podcast platforms:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6qkqdMPkR9BqYPM7UPa4P0Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/40%25-better---engineering-leadership/id1709546347 Amazon Podcasts: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/01ad162e-7a33-4df4-8c29-04c4af0405fc/40-better---engineering-leadership#40PercentBetter #BillLennan #Leadership #TeamPerformance #EmployeeEngagement #PsychologicalSafety #BusinessGrowth #Kaizen #EngineeringLeadership #Coaching The 40% Better podcast with Bill Lennan unlocks previously unheard-of performance levels in teams and leaders. Bill Lennan, founder of 40 Percent Better, interviews experts on employee engagement, psychological safety, engineering leadership, and actionable mental models. Learn how to foster high-performing teams, improve team productivity, and achieve sustainable success in business through a focus on human-centered systems.

In this powerful episode of the 40% Better podcast, host Bill Lennan talks with educator and professor Rodrigo Senra about his groundbreaking philosophy on teaching and education.Rodrigo argues that a teacher's job is not merely content delivery but a mission of inspiration. He emphasizes that true learning and success in computer science come from cultivating passion and a love for computing in students. He reveals that his personal role is akin to that of a Cupid, whose goal is to make students fall in love with the subject, leading to much better long-term learning outcomes.If you are a student, teacher, or leader, this conversation is a masterclass in the value of mentorship and how creating a deep, emotional connection to a subject is the most valuable tool for igniting intrinsic motivation and driving future generations to excel.Find Rodrigo on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rodsenra/✨ Key Takeaways & Inspirational Insights:Inspiration Over Content: Why fostering a passion for computing is more valuable than just delivering curriculum content.The Cupid Role: Rodrigo's perspective that his job as a teacher is to be a "Cupid" who makes students fall in love for computing.Mentorship: The crucial role of mentorship in enhancing a student's learning experience and overall success in education.Connection is Key: How creating a strong connection with students leads to better learning outcomes and helps them achieve higher success.Driving Excellence: Understanding how passion can become the fuel that drives students to excel in their studies.I hope you enjoy this episode! Give it a like, share, and subscribe to not miss the content coming your way weekly. – Bill and the 40 % Better podcast teamConnect with Bill on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wblennan/ Visit the 40 Percent Better website here: https://40pb.com/Listen to 40 % Better on these podcast platforms:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6qkqdMPkR9BqYPM7UPa4P0Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/40%25-better---engineering-leadership/id1709546347 Amazon Podcasts: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/01ad162e-7a33-4df4-8c29-04c4af0405fc/40-better---engineering-leadership#40PercentBetter #BillLennan #Leadership #TeamPerformance #EmployeeEngagement #PsychologicalSafety #BusinessGrowth #Kaizen #EngineeringLeadership #Coaching The 40% Better podcast with Bill Lennan unlocks previously unheard-of performance levels in teams and leaders. Bill Lennan, founder of 40 Percent Better, interviews experts on employee engagement, psychological safety, engineering leadership, and actionable mental models. Learn how to foster high-performing teams, improve team productivity, and achieve sustainable success in business through a focus on human-centered systems.

Join Bill Lennan on the 40% Better podcast as he welcomes Suresh Mani, a seasoned technology executive, to share his remarkable journey from technician to industry leadership. Suresh unpacks the non-negotiables of success in modern tech, emphasizing how curiosity, effective mentorship, and fostering deep team cohesion are paramount. He delves into critical topics like the transformative role of AI in boosting productivity, the necessity of measured risk management, and the foundational power of psychological safety for encouraging diverse ideas. This episode is a masterclass in balancing constant innovation with stability and driving personal growth through challenge.Key Chapters:01:42 Navigating Early Career Challenges11:13 Evolving Leadership Perspectives29:25 Adapting Leadership in the Age of AI42:59 Risk Management in LeadershipI hope you enjoy this episode! Give it a like, share, and subscribe to not miss the content coming your way weekly.– Bill and the 40 % Better podcast teamConnect with Bill on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wblennan/Visit the 40 Percent Better website here: https://40pb.com/Listen to 40 % Better on these podcast platforms:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6qkqdMPkR9BqYPM7UPa4P0Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/40%25-better---engineering-leadership/id1709546347Amazon Podcasts: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/01ad162e-7a33-4df4-8c29-04c4af0405fc/40-better---engineering-leadership#40PercentBetter #BillLennan #Leadership #TeamPerformance #EmployeeEngagement #PsychologicalSafety #BusinessGrowth #Kaizen #EngineeringLeadership #Coaching The 40% Better podcast with Bill Lennan unlocks previously unheard-of performance levels in teams and leaders. Bill Lennan, founder of 40 Percent Better, interviews experts on employee engagement, psychological safety, engineering leadership, and actionable mental models. Learn how to foster high-performing teams, improve team productivity, and achieve sustainable success in business through a focus on human-centered systems.

Join host Bill Lennan on the 40% Better podcast as he sits down with veteran executive Amit Mital for a candid look at his 25-year career.In a world that prizes learning from others, Mital shares why his own personal experience and the "school of hard knocks" were his most valuable teachers. This episode challenges the traditional view of professional development and focuses on the power of doing and failing.You will learn:Why personal experience often trumps theoretical knowledge in real-world challenges.The essential mindset shift that turns mistakes into valuable lessons for personal growth.The critical importance of reflecting on past decisions to avoid repeating errors (and get 40% better in your own role).How embracing difficulty and overcoming obstacles shapes a deeper, more resilient understanding of leadership.If you believe true growth comes from getting your hands dirty and learning directly from your challenges, this episode is a must-listen for executives, leaders, and anyone committed to an ongoing journey of learning.I hope you enjoy this episode! Give it a like, share, and subscribe to not miss the content coming your way weekly. – Bill and the 40 % Better podcast teamConnect with Bill on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wblennan/ Visit the 40 Percent Better website here: https://40pb.com/Listen to 40 % Better on these podcast platforms:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6qkqdMPkR9BqYPM7UPa4P0Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/40%25-better---engineering-leadership/id1709546347 Amazon Podcasts: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/01ad162e-7a33-4df4-8c29-04c4af0405fc/40-better---engineering-leadership#40PercentBetter #BillLennan #Leadership #TeamPerformance #EmployeeEngagement #PsychologicalSafety #BusinessGrowth #Kaizen #EngineeringLeadership #Coaching The 40% Better podcast with Bill Lennan unlocks previously unheard-of performance levels in teams and leaders. Bill Lennan, founder of 40 Percent Better, interviews experts on employee engagement, psychological safety, engineering leadership, and actionable mental models. Learn how to foster high-performing teams, improve team productivity, and achieve sustainable success in business through a focus on human-centered systems.

In this powerful episode of 40% better, host Bill Lennan sits down with sales leader Mike Bourgeois to dive deep into the essential mindset that separates top sales professionals from the rest: customer-centric selling.Mike argues that the key to sales success isn't aggressive closing tactics, but a relentless focus on serving the customer and building a genuine, long-term relationship. If you've ever wondered how to close more deals, stop making the sales process about your quota and start making it about the customer's needs!🔑 Episode TakeawaysIt's Never About You: Mike's core philosophy is that the salesperson's job is to serve, not to sell themselves.The Power of Perspective: Why understanding the customer's long-term needs is more important than the immediate transaction.Empathy in Action: How listening and empathy are the most critical tools for every sales engineer and professional.The Blueprint for Repeat Business: Focusing on value creation leads directly to enduring customer relationships and continued sales success.Connect with Mike on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/semikeb/I hope you enjoy this episode! Give it a like, share, and subscribe to not miss the content coming your way weekly. – Bill and the 40 % Better podcast teamConnect with Bill on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wblennan/ Visit the 40 Percent Better website here: https://40pb.com/Listen to 40 % Better on these podcast platforms:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6qkqdMPkR9BqYPM7UPa4P0Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/40%25-better---engineering-leadership/id1709546347 Amazon Podcasts: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/01ad162e-7a33-4df4-8c29-04c4af0405fc/40-better---engineering-leadership#40PercentBetter #BillLennan #Leadership #TeamPerformance #EmployeeEngagement #PsychologicalSafety #BusinessGrowth #Kaizen #EngineeringLeadership #Coaching The 40% Better podcast with Bill Lennan unlocks previously unheard-of performance levels in teams and leaders. Bill Lennan, founder of 40 Percent Better, interviews experts on employee engagement, psychological safety, engineering leadership, and actionable mental models. Learn how to foster high-performing teams, improve team productivity, and achieve sustainable success in business through a focus on human-centered systems.

Welcome to the 40% Better podcast with your host, Bill Lennan!Join us for an inspiring conversation on leadership and personal growth as Chris Carter shares his remarkable journey of self-discovery and resilience. In this powerful episode, Chris recounts a pivotal childhood moment—an incident with his cousin that shaped his perspective on life lessons and the true meaning of taking control. Chris emphasizes the critical importance of actively making your own life, rather than simply reacting to circumstances. Discover how he learned the fundamental principle of leadership through early experiences like hitting his first home run and how facing adversity instilled deep resilience.This episode is packed with essential life lessons for anyone looking to step up, own their choices, and commit to continuous personal growth.In this episode, you will learn:How early life lessons can spark a journey into leadership.The profound impact of taking control and recognizing, "You gotta make your own life."How moments of conflict and success (like hitting a home run) build resilience.The essential link between self-discovery and true leadership potential.Key Takeaways:My life started as a leader.Things are gonna happen to you.You gotta make your own life.Connect with Chris on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-carter-885159/I hope you enjoy this episode! Give it a like, share, and subscribe to not miss the content coming your way weekly.– Bill and the 40 % Better podcast teamConnect with Bill on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wblennan/Visit the 40 Percent Better website here: https://40pb.com/Listen to 40 % Better on these podcast platforms: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6qkqdMPkR9BqYPM7UPa4P0Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/40%25-better---engineering-leadership/id1709546347Amazon Podcasts: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/01ad162e-7a33-4df4-8c29-04c4af0405fc/40-better---engineering-leadership#40PercentBetter #BillLennan #Leadership #TeamPerformance #EmployeeEngagement #PsychologicalSafety #BusinessGrowth #Kaizen #EngineeringLeadership #Coaching The 40% Better podcast with Bill Lennan unlocks previously unheard-of performance levels in teams and leaders. Bill Lennan, founder of 40 Percent Better, interviews experts on employee engagement, psychological safety, engineering leadership, and actionable mental models. Learn how to foster high-performing teams, improve team productivity, and achieve sustainable success in business through a focus on human-centered systems.

In this episode of 40% Better, Rob Truxler shares his journey from engineer to leader and how his love for technology shaped his approach to management. He opens up about learning from mistakes, building resilient teams, and fostering a culture of growth and curiosity. The conversation explores how AI is transforming engineering roles, why critical thinking matters more than ever, and how balance and risk-taking drive career success.#Leadership #Technology #Engineering #CareerGrowth #LearningCulture #AI #TeamManagement #Resilience #CriticalThinking #TechLeadership #40PercentBetterI hope you enjoy this episode! Give it a like, share, and subscribe to not miss the content coming your way weekly. – Bill and the 40 % Better Podcast TeamConnect with Bill on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wblennan/Visit the 40 Percent Better website here: https://40pb.com/Listen to 40 % Better on these podcast platforms:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6qkqdMPkR9BqYPM7UPa4P0Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/40-better-engineering-leadership/id1709546347mazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/01ad162e-7a33-4df4-8c29-04c4af0405fc/40-better---engineering-leadership

In this episode, Kevin Hubschmann explores the real essence of improv - it’s not about being funny, but about active listening, teamwork, and positive communication. He shares how focusing too much on jokes can hurt collaboration, and why the best comedy comes naturally when performers create a supportive environment.#Improv #Comedy #ActiveListening #Teamwork #Communication #PodcastI hope you enjoy this episode! Give it a like, share, and subscribe to not miss the content coming your way weekly. – Bill and the 40 % Better Podcast Team Connect with Bill on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wblennan/Visit the 40 Percent Better website here: https://40pb.com/Listen to 40 % Better on these podcast platforms:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6qkqdMPkR9BqYPM7UPa4P0Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/40-better-engineering-leadership/id1709546347 Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/01ad162e-7a33-4df4-8c29-04c4af0405fc/40-better---engineering-leadership

In this episode, Darshan Bildikar shares his journey from being an introverted builder to a successful engineering manager. He discusses his early experiences in programming, his transition into management, and his time at Amazon, where he built and led teams. Darshan reflects on her move to a startup environment, the impact of AI on productivity, and the importance of balancing speed and quality in development. He emphasizes the need for human oversight in AI-driven processes and shares insights on adapting to different work cultures and the future of work.I hope you enjoy this episode! Give it a like, share, and subscribe to not miss the content coming your way weekly. – Bill and the 40 % Better Podcast TeamConnect with Bill on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wblennan/Visit the 40 Percent Better website here: https://40pb.com/Listen to 40 % Better on these podcast platforms:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6qkqdMPkR9BqYPM7UPa4P0Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/40-better-engineering-leadership/id1709546347Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/01ad162e-7a33-4df4-8c29-04c4af0405fc/40-better---engineering-leadership

In this episode, Amee Meghani shares her journey in leadership, discussing her early experiences and the evolution of her role within her organization. She emphasizes the importance of promoting from within, fostering a culture of feedback, and the principles of servant leadership. The discussion also covers the challenges of onboarding new employees, maintaining innovation in a growing organization, and the significance of open communication across all levels. Amee highlights the need for a supportive environment that encourages self-starters and empowers employees to take initiative, ultimately leading to a happier and more productive workplace.I hope you enjoy this episode!Give it a like, share, and subscribe to not miss the content coming your way weekly. – Bill and the 40 % Better Podcast TeamConnect with Bill on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wblennan/Visit the 40 Percent Better website here: https://40pb.com/Listen to 40 % Better on these podcast platforms:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6qkqdMPkR9BqYPM7UPa4P0Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/40-better-engineering-leadership/id1709546347Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/01ad162e-7a33-4df4-8c29-04c4af0405fc/40-better---engineering-leadership

This episode with Bill Lennan and Sunil Jagani explores the evolution of technology, particularly in connectivity and satellite advancements, and their impact on consumer behavior and business practices. Bill and Sunil discuss the challenges faced by startups, the role of software engineering, and the intersection of AI and marketing. They also delve into the future of work, the need for sustainable business mechanisms, and the changing definitions of success in a rapidly evolving society.I hope you enjoy this episode!Give it a like, share, and subscribe to not miss the content coming your way weekly. – Bill and the 40 % Better Podcast TeamConnect with Bill on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wblennan/Visit the 40 Percent Better website here: https://40pb.com/Listen to 40 % Better on these podcast platforms:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6qkqdMPkR9BqYPM7UPa4P0Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/40-better-engineering-leadership/id1709546347Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/01ad162e-7a33-4df4-8c29-04c4af0405fc/40-better---engineering-leadership

In this episode, Bill Lennan and Sebastian Jean share insights on leadership, technology, and effective communication. They reflect on their early experiences with leadership, particularly in military settings, and how these experiences shaped their understanding of collaboration and motivation. The discussion also delves into the importance of clear communication in presentations, the dynamics of team collaboration, and the necessity of creating a safe space for innovation. Sebastian emphasizes the balance between technical expertise and leadership skills, advocating for a culture of trust and open communication within teams.I hope you enjoy this episode!Give it a like, share, and subscribe to not miss the content coming your way weekly. – Bill and the 40 % Better Podcast TeamConnect with Bill on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wblennan/Visit the 40 Percent Better website here: https://40pb.com/Listen to 40 % Better on these podcast platforms:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6qkqdMPkR9BqYPM7UPa4P0Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/40-better-engineering-leadership/id1709546347Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/01ad162e-7a33-4df4-8c29-04c4af0405fc/40-better---engineering-leadership

In this episode, Bill Lennan hosts Alberto Silveira who shares his journey from organizing soccer leagues as a child in Brazil to becoming a leader in technology. He reflects on the influence of Ayrton Senna, the evolution of technology, and the importance of balancing human aspects with technological advancements. Alberto emphasizes the need for critical thinking and ethical considerations in leadership, especially in the context of AI and preparing the next generation for future challenges.I hope you enjoy this episode!Give it a like, share, and subscribe to not miss the content coming your way weekly. – Bill and the 40 % Better Podcast TeamConnect with Bill on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wblennan/Visit the 40 Percent Better website here: https://40pb.com/Listen to 40 % Better on these podcast platforms: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6qkqdMPkR9BqYPM7UPa4P0Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/40-better-engineering-leadership/id1709546347Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/01ad162e-7a33-4df4-8c29-04c4af0405fc/40-better---engineering-leadership

In this episode, Bill Lennan and Zach Wills explore the organic journey into leadership, emphasizing the importance of learning from role models and the necessity of a business value orientation in decision-making. They discuss the significance of quantitative thinking in engineering, creating a positive team culture, and the practice of radical candor in feedback. The dialogue also touches on evolving management styles, understanding team dynamics, and the impact of AI on leadership and processes. The speakers advocate for extreme ownership and accountability, highlighting the importance of mindset and personal growth in professional development.I hope you enjoy this episode! Give it a like, share, and subscribe to not miss the content coming your way weekly. – Bill and the 40 % Better Podcast TeamConnect with Bill on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wblennan/Visit the 40 Percent Better website here: https://40pb.com/Listen to 40 % Better on these podcast platforms:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6qkqdMPkR9BqYPM7UPa4P0Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/40-better-engineering-leadership/id1709546347Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/01ad162e-7a33-4df4-8c29-04c4af0405fc/40-better---engineering-leadership

This episode of 40% Better with Bill Lennan explores the journey of Tim Sublette, a software engineer, who transitioned into leadership roles.Both share insights on the challenges they faced, the importance of storytelling, and the evolution of communication skills.Tim reflects on his unconventional path, the significance of building a competency framework, and the lessons learned from both successes and failures in his career.The discussion emphasizes the value of expectation management and the necessity of continuous personal growth in leadership. I hope you enjoy this episode!Give it a like, share, and subscribe to not miss the content coming your way weekly. – Bill and the 40 % Better Podcast TeamConnect with Bill on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wblennan/Visit the 40 Percent Better website here: https://40pb.com/Listen to 40 % Better on these podcast platforms:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6qkqdMPkR9BqYPM7UPa4P0Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/40-better-engineering-leadership/id1709546347Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/01ad162e-7a33-4df4-8c29-04c4af0405fc/40-better---engineering-leadership

This episode explores the importance of being true to oneself in a competitive environment, particularly regarding extroversion and individual contributions to team success. Bill Lennan and Ricardo Torres highlight the challenges faced by introverts and the societal pressures to conform to extroverted norms, while also acknowledging the value of unique contributions from individuals who may not fit the typical mold.I hope you enjoy this episode! Give it a like, share, and subscribe to not miss the content coming your way weekly. – Bill and the 40 % Better Podcast TeamConnect with Bill on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wblennan/Visit the 40 Percent Better website here: https://40pb.com/Listen to 40 % Better on these podcast platforms:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6qkqdMPkR9BqYPM7UPa4P0Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/40-better-engineering-leadership/id1709546347Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/01ad162e-7a33-4df4-8c29-04c4af0405fc/40-better---engineering-leadership

This conversation explores the journey of leadership, focusing on the challenges and philosophies that shape effective leaders in the tech industry. Bill Lennan and Ken Pickering discuss their personal experiences with micromanagement, the importance of psychological safety, and the value of diverse skills in startups. They emphasize the need for effective feedback and intrinsic motivation, while also addressing the cultural shifts in modern workplaces.I hope you enjoy this episode! Give it a like, share, and subscribe to not miss the content coming your way weekly. – Bill and the 40 % Better Podcast TeamConnect with Bill on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wblennan/Visit the 40 Percent Better website here: https://40pb.com/Listen to 40 % Better on these podcast platforms:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6qkqdMPkR9BqYPM7UPa4P0Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/40-better-engineering-leadership/id1709546347Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/01ad162e-7a33-4df4-8c29-04c4af0405fc/40-better---engineering-leadership

This conversation explores the evolution of battery technology, the importance of leadership stories, and the critical role of communication in effective leadership. Bill Lennan and Nick Woodward discuss their personal journeys in leadership, emphasizing the need for continuous coaching and self-development. They highlight the significance of promoting internal growth and retention within organizations, as well as the impact of intrinsic motivation on team dynamics. The discussion also touches on the necessity of diplomacy in communication and the challenges of navigating technical and non-technical conversations. In this conversation, the speakers explore various themes related to career transitions, the importance of open communication in the workplace, personal growth through challenges, and the role of systems in both professional and personal life. They share insights on how to navigate changes in career paths, the significance of fostering a supportive environment for team members, and the balance between systematic approaches and conceptual understanding in problem-solving.I hope you enjoy this episode! Give it a like, share, and subscribe to not miss the content coming your way weekly. – Bill and the 40 % Better Podcast TeamConnect with Bill on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wblennan/Visit the 40 Percent Better website here: https://40pb.com/Listen to 40 % Better on these podcast platforms:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6qkqdMPkR9BqYPM7UPa4P0Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/40-better-engineering-leadership/id1709546347Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/01ad162e-7a33-4df4-8c29-04c4af0405fc/40-better---engineering-leadership

This conversation explores the journey of leadership through personal experiences, emphasizing the importance of emotional resilience, trust-building, and systems thinking. Bill Lennan and Sherwin Socaransky reflect on their career paths, the challenges faced in team management, and the significance of creating a culture of ownership. They discuss the dual career track in tech, the power dynamics within organizations, and the value of gratitude in shaping one's professional journey.I hope you enjoy this episode! Give it a like, share, and subscribe to not miss the content coming your way weekly. – Bill and the 40 % Better Podcast Team Connect with Bill on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wblennan/ Visit the 40 Percent Better website here: https://40pb.com/ Listen to 40 % Better on these podcast platforms:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6qkqdMPkR9BqYPM7UPa4P0Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/40-better-engineering-leadership/id1709546347Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/01ad162e-7a33-4df4-8c29-04c4af0405fc/40-better---engineering-leadership

In this conversation, Bill Lennan and Sunil Jagani delve into various themes surrounding modern living, work dynamics, and technological advancements. They explore the concept of tiny home communities as a solution for affordable living and the hybrid work model that allows for flexibility. The discussion transitions into the digital nomad lifestyle, emphasizing the importance of work-life balance and the evolving nature of software engineering practices. The speakers also touch on the significance of understanding team dynamics, risk tolerance, and intrinsic motivations when building effective teams. Furthermore, they discuss the impact of AI on recruitment and the future of work, as well as innovations in food delivery and community living.I hope you enjoy this episode! Give it a like, share, and subscribe to not miss the content coming your way weekly. – Bill and the 40 % Better Podcast Team Connect with Bill on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wblennan/Visit the 40 Percent Better website here: https://40pb.com/ Listen to 40 % Better on these podcast platforms:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6qkqdMPkR9BqYPM7UPa4P0Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/40-better-engineering-leadership/id1709546347Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/01ad162e-7a33-4df4-8c29-04c4af0405fc/40-better---engineering-leadership

In this conversation, the Bill and Sanjay discuss their experiences with technology, leadership in software teams, and the dynamics of remote work. They explore the importance of fostering a cohesive team environment, the value of serendipity in collaboration, and the role of risk-taking in personal growth. Additionally, they emphasize the significance of intrinsic motivation, psychological safety for shy team members, and effective communication in enhancing team dynamics. I hope you enjoy this episode! Give it a like, share, and subscribe to not miss the content coming your way weekly. – Bill and the 40 % Better Podcast TeamConnect with Bill on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wblennan/Visit the 40 Percent Better website here: https://40pb.com/ Listen to 40 % Better on these podcast platforms:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6qkqdMPkR9BqYPM7UPa4P0Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/40-better-engineering-leadership/id1709546347 Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/01ad162e-7a33-4df4-8c29-04c4af0405fc/40-better---engineering-leadership

In this conversation, the Bill and Steven delve into the nuances of effective communication, particularly in the context of pitching ideas and building relationships in both the technology and film industries. They explore the importance of understanding one's audience, the art of storytelling, and the necessity of networking. The discussion highlights how to empower others by making them the heroes of their own narratives, ultimately leading to successful collaborations and outcomes. I hope you enjoy this episode! Give it a like, share, and subscribe to not miss the content coming your way weekly. – Bill and the 40 % Better Podcast TeamConnect with Bill on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wblennan/Visit the 40 Percent Better website here: https://40pb.com/ Listen to 40 %Better on these podcast platforms:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6qkqdMPkR9BqYPM7UPa4P0Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/40-better-engineering-leadership/id1709546347 Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/01ad162e-7a33-4df4-8c29-04c4af0405fc/40-better---engineering-leadership

In this conversation, John and Bill explore the journey into leadership, drawing parallels between skateboarding and team dynamics in technology.They discuss the challenges of managing teams, the impact of AI on coding, and the importance of stability in team structures. The conversation also touches on agile methodologies, recruitment practices, and the fast-paced nature of game development, emphasizing the need for adaptability and effective communication within teams. In this conversation, they delve into various aspects of career growth within the tech industry, discussing the informal promotion structures, evolving job titles, and the balance between flexibility and structure in promotions.They explore the challenges of maintaining team efficiency, managing dependencies in software development, and the shift from cloud solutions to on-premises setups. The importance of in-person collaboration and reflections on startup culture are also highlighted, emphasizing the need for action and adaptability in a fast-paced environment.I hope you enjoy this episode! Give it a like, share, and subscribe to not miss the content coming your way weekly. – Bill and the 40 % Better Podcast TeamConnect with Bill on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wblennan/Visit the 40 Percent Better website here: https://40pb.com/Listen to 40 % Better on these podcast platforms: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6qkqdMPkR9BqYPM7UPa4P0 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/40-better-engineering-leadership/id1709546347 Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/01ad162e-7a33-4df4-8c29-04c4af0405fc/40-better---engineering-leadership

In this episode, Mike shares his journey to software development and leadership, supporting his people, setting expectations, and why you should do the work before the promotion.We hope you enjoy this episode!Give it a like, share, and subscribe to not miss the content coming your way weekly. – Bill and the 40 % Better Podcast TeamConnect with Mike: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mauteri/Connect with Bill on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wblennan/Visit the 40 Percent Better website here: https://40pb.com/ Listen to 40% Better on these podcast platforms:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6qkqdMPkR9BqYPM7UPa4P0Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/40-better-engineering-leadership/id1709546347 Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/01ad162e-7a33-4df4-8c29-04c4af0405fc/40-better---engineering-leadership

In this conversation, Donald shares the unexpected journey into leadership at Microsoft, discussing the unique environment of Microsoft Research, the transition from a bottom-up approach to a more focused research strategy, and the importance of leadership over management. We emphasize the role of communication in driving change, the interplay of luck and preparation in achieving success, and the necessity of making bets in a challenging environment. Donald also reflects on the essence of leadership in the tech industry and the importance of creating value through leadership. In this conversation, we delve into the importance of making calculated bets in both personal and professional contexts. We discuss how innovation and risk-taking are essential in the technology sector, emphasizing that a risk-averse mindset can be detrimental. We also discuss Donald's career journey, highlighting the significance of seizing opportunities and the role of leadership principles learned at Microsoft, and how to foster a culture of experimentation and clarity in leadership. We hope you enjoy this episode!Give it a like, share, and subscribe to not miss the content coming your way weekly. – Bill and the 40 % Better Podcast TeamConnect with Donald: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donald-kossmann-8915b1/Connect with Bill on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wblennan/Visit the 40 Percent Better website here: https://40pb.com/ Listen to 40% Better on these podcast platforms:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6qkqdMPkR9BqYPM7UPa4P0Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/40-better-engineering-leadership/id1709546347 Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/01ad162e-7a33-4df4-8c29-04c4af0405fc/40-better---engineering-leadership

In this conversation with Zack Halloran, we explore various aspects of leadership, focusing on the importance of communication, understanding business context, and fostering psychological safety within teams.We discuss personal experiences in leadership roles, the challenges of remote work, and the significance of aligning individual goals with team objectives.We also talk about the need for effective communication and the development of people skills as essential components of successful leadership.I hope you enjoy this episode!Give it a like, share, and subscribe to not miss the content coming your way weekly. – Bill and the 40 % Better Podcast TeamConnect with Bill on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wblennan/Visit the 40 Percent Better website here: https://40pb.com/ Listen to 40 % Better on these podcast platforms:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6qkqdMPkR9BqYPM7UPa4P0Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/40-better-engineering-leadership/id1709546347Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/01ad162e-7a33-4df4-8c29-04c4af0405fc/40-better---engineering-leadership