Leadership Launchpad

In this episode of Leadership Launchpad, Dr. Alaina Szlachta, founder and chief measurement architect of By Design Development Solutions, shares her perspective on the importance of evidence-based training requests. Drawing from her background in academic research and learning analytics, Dr. Szlachta explains why managers should bring data and tangible evidence—not just hunches or anecdotes—when a...

In this episode of Leadership Launchpad, Brandon Carson, Chief Learning Officer at Docebo, shares his insights on the role of managers in the employee performance experience. Drawing from his extensive leadership background at major companies like Starbucks and Walmart, Brandon explores how managers can effectively connect individual strengths and opportunities to drive team performance. He emphas...

In this episode, David James, Chief Learning Officer at 360Learning and host of the Learning and Development Podcast, shares insights on how training should directly relate to the work employees do. He emphasizes that effective training isn't just about delivering broad topics, but about addressing the real needs and skills required for specific roles. The discussion covers the importance of integ...

In this episode of Leadership Launchpad, Ryan Austin, founder and CEO of Cognota, shares his insights on what managers should understand about training and talent development. Drawing from his experience working with various learning teams, Ryan emphasizes the crucial role managers play in identifying capability gaps within their teams and making strategic investments to achieve business goals. Th...

In this episode of Leadership Launchpad, Kevin Yates joins the conversation to share insights on what managers should know about training and talent development. Drawing on his global experience as the "L&D Detective," Kevin highlights the importance of aligning development initiatives with business goals. He emphasizes that performance improvement is a collective effort, involving not just th...

In this episode, Debbie Richards, an international keynote speaker and AI strategist, shares insights from her experience working with enterprise organizations at the intersection of AI and learning. She emphasizes the importance of treating talent development as a strategic partner rather than just a source of training. Debbie discusses why simply implementing training isn't always the solution t...

In this episode, Senior Space Editor and author Eric Berger joins the show to discuss the evolving landscape of the space industry. Drawing on his extensive reporting experience, he explores major trends such as the rise of China as a space power and the shift toward commercial space companies like SpaceX. Eric Berger shares insights into workplace culture, leadership traits, and the intense sense...

This solo episode delves into the common misconception that training is a quick fix for workplace issues. Drawing insights from a recent industry conference, the discussion focuses on why training often fails to address real business problems and outlines four essential questions managers should ask before pursuing a training solution. Listeners will learn how to distinguish between individual per...

In this episode, Lucie Nurdin, a chemical engineer and former interim technical director at Terraform Industries, shares her journey transitioning from academia to the startup world and from individual contributor to manager. She discusses the technical challenges of developing economically viable synthetic fuels from CO2 and sunlight, and reflects on her experiences leading and growing a technica...

In this episode, leadership strategist and executive coach Andrea Wanerstrand shares insights from her experience inside global companies like Microsoft, Meta, and T-Mobile. Andrea discusses the cultural and leadership transformation at Microsoft, highlighting the shift from a know-it-all to a learn-it-all mindset and the importance of psychological safety, growth mindset, and resilience. The conv...

Why is it so hard to get things done in large companies? In this solo episode of the Leadership Launchpad, Matt explores the benefits and the struggles of bureaucracy and gives tips every leader can use to help fight it on their teams. If you want your teams to be productive in a world that doesn't stop changing, you have to watch this episode. Want more tips on being an effective manager? Sign-up...

In this episode, Yaron Alfi, co-founder and CEO of Magenta, discusses his experiences in software and manufacturing at companies like SpaceX and ABL Space Systems. He explains why legacy software can be a limiting factor in manufacturing, the importance of building tailored software solutions, and how Magenta is leveraging AI to streamline manufacturing workflows. Yaron also shares leadership less...

In this episode, Warren Ernst joins the show to discuss his extensive experience in learning and development across several innovative startups, including SpaceX, Karma Automotive, Heliogen, and Impulse Space. The conversation focuses on the significant impact that manager development has on company success, especially in fast-growing organizations. Warren shares insights on common skill gaps for...

In this episode, guest Tom Kelly, co-founder of Evona, a recruitment firm specializing in the space industry, discusses the current talent landscape and the impact of AI on recruitment. The conversation explores the most in-demand roles within the space sector, highlighting ongoing shortages in both engineering (especially electrical engineering) and sales positions. Tom shares insights into how A...

In this repeat episode with Chris Kaufield, we explore the intricacies of high cadence engineering and leadership. Chris, VP of SaaS Growth at Stoke Space, shares how distributed ownership in engineering leads to collaborative success. We delve into Stoke’s mission to achieve rapid, reusable rocket flights, drawing parallels between hardware and software development. Chris highlights optimizing pr...

In this solo episode, Matt explores why engineers often struggle when they transition into people management roles, despite having unique strengths that could make them exceptional leaders. The discussion is structured around three core “superpowers” that engineers possess: technical credibility, data-driven decision-making, and systems thinking. The episode examines how these strengths can inadve...

In this episode, Julia Allen, former Chief Technology Officer at Saab, shares her leadership experiences across the military, government, and tech industries. She discusses her time as a company commander in the Maryland National Guard, emphasizing the importance of building trust within diverse teams and adapting leadership styles to different environments. Julia also highlights how establishing...

In this episode, Elena Agaragimova, co-founder and CEO of Shiftwell, joins to discuss the role of AI in modern management and leadership. Drawing on her experience in talent development and performance, Elena explains how AI tools can help both individual employees and managers. She highlights how AI can support employees in taking ownership of their performance and well-being, while also freeing...

In this episode of Leadership Launchpad, Ian Maron, VP of People and Talent at Apex, joins the show to discuss the value of coaching in leadership, particularly in technical and engineering environments. Ian shares insights from his career journey—from teaching with Teach for America to leading HR and people teams at several companies, including startups in the aerospace industry. The conversation...

In this solo episode, Matt explores why talented engineers and technical experts often avoid management roles and what that means for organizational success. Drawing on recent conversations with HR professionals and experiences in various companies, the episode breaks down the root causes of this leadership gap—highlighting overly complicated management systems, excessive bureaucracy, and misalign...

In this episode, guest Emma Strong, Senior Learning Development Program Manager at Veritex Legal Solutions, shares her approach to designing a leadership development program for new managers and leaders. Emma explains how the program was tailored with different tracks for team leads, managers, and supervisors, taking into account whether participants were promoted internally or hired externally. T...

In this episode, Garry Ridge, former CEO of WD-40, shares insights from his journey transforming WD-40 into a globally recognized brand by prioritizing company culture over just product focus. He discusses the importance of building a culture where employees feel they belong, know they matter, and are empowered to make decisions without fear. Garry outlines key steps leaders can take to foster eng...

In this episode, Matt Mueller, a SpaceX veteran and co-founder of Glīd, shares his experiences and lessons learned from leading technical teams in high-stakes environments. He talks about his early days managing a team of experienced technicians at Honeywell and transitioning to leading engineers at SpaceX. Matt discusses the challenges of balancing technical expertise with managerial responsibili...

In this episode of Leadership Launchpad, host Matt Gjertsen dives deep into one of the biggest issues facing organizations today: poor employee engagement and its staggering $1.9 trillion cost to the US economy each year. Drawing on years of experience—from serving as an Air Force instructor pilot to leading training and development at SpaceX, and now running his own consultancy—Matt unpacks the l...

In this episode, host Matt Gjertsen and guest Justus Kilian dive deep into what truly makes leaders stand out—well beyond what any MBA program can teach. Justus, a partner at Space Capital and an expert in evaluating startup founders, shares the six core leadership skills he looks for when betting on new companies. Together, they break down essential leadership traits like unreasonable persistence...