OneSharpSword

What does real leadership look like when you don’t have the title yet? In this episode of One Sharp Sword , I sit down with Ryan George, Chief Marketing Officer at Docupace, to talk about ambition, culture, setbacks, and leading people with intention. Ryan didn’t rise through marketing by positional authority. He led first through influence — before he ever had the title. We explore: How to lead b...

What do most leaders get wrong about culture, performance, and the future of work? In this episode of One Sharp Sword , Dr. Wayne Pernell sits down with the former first CHRO of LinkedIn and author of Workquake to unpack what actually drives high-performing teams in today’s rapidly changing world. We discuss: • Why culture is a leadership responsibility — not HR’s • How hypergrowth silently breaks...

In this episode of One Sharp Sword , Dr. Wayne Pernell sits down with mission-driven tech founder Dekel Skoop , a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree who has built companies serving underserved markets—from web accessibility to cybersecurity. Dekel shares hard-earned leadership lessons on scaling organizations, hiring for adaptability and common sense, and why people always come before process and product...

  AI has been around for decades—but only recently has it become accessible, scalable, and deeply personal. In this episode of One Sharp Sword , Dr. Wayne Pernell speaks with Nick Yaitsky, Chief AI Officer at Lulav Technology Partners, about what actually works when AI meets healthcare, leadership, and organizational culture. Nick breaks down hyper-personalization, data ethics, failing fast v...

In this episode of One Sharp Sword , Dr. Wayne Pernell sits down with Robert Beaven—human-centered culture architect and leadership coach—to explore why culture isn’t a side initiative, it is the strategy. Together, they unpack what it really takes to build trust and psychological safety in organizations, especially in a world shaped by rapid change, remote work, and increasing complexity. Robert...

What does it take to live above your perceived potential—and help others do the same?     In this episode of One Sharp Sword, Dr. Wayne Pernell sits down with Damon Dixon, a lifelong leader whose journey spans Division I athletics, a 33-year Naval career, biotech leadership, and now senior operations at BYU Athletics. Rather than a straight résumé walk-through, this conversation dives in...

In this wide-ranging and deeply pragmatic conversation, Dr. Wayne Pernell sits down with Mark Stouse—founder and CEO of Proof Causal AI—to explore what actually drives outcomes in business and life. Together, they unpack the critical difference between correlation and causation, why most patterns we notice don’t matter, and how leaders can reclaim agency in a world where 70–80% of factors are outs...

In this episode of One Sharp Sword, Dr. Wayne Pernell sits down with Aman Mahapatra, Chief Strategy Officer at Tribeca Softech, to explore the rapidly evolving intersection of AI, strategy, and large-scale organizational transformation. Aman brings a rare operator-investor perspective, sharing how Tribeca Softech partners with Fortune-level organizations—especially in financial services—to moderni...

Heather Mulligan joins Dr. Wayne Pernell for a rich, far-reaching conversation about leadership, public policy, global perspective, and shaping the economic future of New York State. As President and CEO of the Business Council of New York State, Heather has become one of the state’s most influential voices for business growth, workforce development, and smart economic policy. Drawing on a life th...

In this episode of One Sharp Sword, Dr. Wayne Pernell sits down with Tariq Malik, the “Reluctant CPA” whose career path spans engineering, chartered accountancy, international finance, and now fractional CFO leadership. Tariq shares his journey from Pakistan to England, Canada, the Middle East, and the U.S.—and the lessons learned while helping organizations navigate financial strategy, succession...

In this episode of One Sharp Sword, Dr. Wayne Purnell sits down with Michael Roth, serial entrepreneur and Chief Revenue Officer at InvestCloud, to explore leadership, culture transformation, personal values, and the power of consistency in creating success. Michael shares his unexpected journey from startup founder to CRO, lessons learned from major organizational transitions, and how empathy—and...

In this episode, Dr. Wayne Pernell sits down with Dr. Subhan Ali, Silicon Valley–based co-founder of Gekit, a next-generation data + AI infrastructure company. Subhan shares his unconventional journey from structural engineering into data science, product management, and ultimately entrepreneurship. The conversation explores:   • How data infrastructure underpins all modern AI   • W...

In this episode, Dr. P sits down with Amber Shepherd — a leader whose journey from rural Florida to international consulting to regional economic development shows what’s possible when you listen to the “whispers” and commit to excellence.     Amber shares how she transformed workforce programs, worked with the Korean government on global expansion projects, and now leads major economic...

In this episode of One Sharp Sword , Dr. Wayne Pernell sits down with global finance and operations leader Alexander J. Freeman , whose journey spans continents, cultures, and some of the world’s most influential companies. Born in a country that no longer exists, Alex moved from Odessa → Italy → Texas → Moscow → New York → Austin — building a remarkable career with Citigroup, Visa, Dell, American...

In this episode, Dr. Wayne Pernell sits down with Bill Dunnion, CISO at Mitel, to explore the winding path that took him from engineering to operations to leading global cybersecurity efforts. Bill shares candid insights on leadership, decision-making, project success, and navigating pressure in a world where cyber threats never take a day off.     You’ll hear stories about early career...

Grateful, but Ambitious — Leadership Lessons with Kapil Agrawal In this powerful episode of One Sharp Sword , host Dr. Wayne Pernell sits down with Kapil Agrawal, a strategic leader whose career spans top companies like Uber, Capital One, and SnapLogic. From his small-town beginnings in India to Silicon Valley boardrooms, Kapil’s story is a masterclass in balancing gratitude with ambition — and le...

From Law to Leadership: Building a Culture of Growth with Mark Schwartz     In this episode of One Sharp Sword, host Dr. Wayne Pernell sits down with Mark Schwartz, CFO, attorney, and transformation leader, to explore how authentic leadership and curiosity create lasting organizational growth.     Mark’s career journey spans finance, corporate law, and large-scale manufacturing...

In this episode of One Sharp Sword, Dr. Wayne Pernell welcomes Elena Leonova, a global product executive and entrepreneur whose work in platform product management bridges technology and humanity. Elena reminds us that even in the most technical roles, “there’s a human side to everything we do — that matters.” Her approach brings people and purpose into spaces often dominated by systems and code....

In this episode of One Sharp Sword, Matt Schalsey and host, Dr. Wayne Pernell, dive into the mindset and mechanics of high-performance leadership , exploring how clarity fuels extraordinary outcomes. They discuss how leaders can elevate their presence, align actions with purpose, and stay grounded through rapid growth. Jump in to learn more about Building trust through authenticity Sustaining succ...

  On this episode of One Sharp Sword, podcast host, Dr Wayne Pernell, engages with his guest, Christine Barnhart, to explore the evolution of leadership in supply chain consulting, highlighting the need for adaptability, cross-functional collaboration, and strategic integration of AI in logistics.  Christine is brilliant as she shares lessons from her journey in balancing technology with...

Kristin Oelke is the CMO of Brightrose Ventures. She helps companies get back on track when things get messy. On our podcast today, we dive into what “messy” is and how to get out of it. We also talk about    ●    Curiosity    ●    Finding Purpose    ●    And how to be unafraid to try new things and Ask For Help! She notes that in organiz...

What does a data geek and chief data analytics officer have to teach us about leadership? You’d be surprised! Marcos Martins brings amazing insight about his path from Brazil to leading wonderful teams in the U.S. He says he has a passion for solving problems and that the data tells the story. He invites the question of whether we ever have all the information we need - “we never have everything,...

Natalie Ruiz didn’t wake up one day and decide to become the CEO of AnswerConnect, an answering service firm dedicated to staying human. Nope. She was looking for what she describes as an easy, non-burnout, job. She started with the company as a temp and 20 years later is running it. Her journey began by telling the truth to the then-CEO about what she saw as obstacles to excellent service deliver...

Leadership lessons come from a wide array of experiences. When a man well versed with service and protecting consumers found that his industry was shifting, he carved his own niche. Meet Sean Hicks, the CEO and co-owner of New Leaf Service Contracts. Service contracts can be interesting? They can. But that’s not what we talk about here. It’s the man who sees them through to the companies who prese...

In this powerful episode of One Sharp Sword, Dr. Wayne Pernell welcomes leadership veteran Rich Bledsoe, whose journey from vocational school tinkerer to senior vice president of a multinational corporation is anything but ordinary. Rich shares how growing up with limited means helped shape his drive for excellence, both professionally and personally. He talks about embracing opportunity, even whe...