Leadership Launchpad

In this episode, attorneys John Gordon and Shawn Cheadle from Taft’s Aerospace and Defense practice group join the show to discuss the essential role of compliance for leaders in the aerospace and defense sectors. They break down the unique challenges that small and large companies face, such as building compliance frameworks from scratch, handling government contracts, navigating export regulatio...

In this episode of Leadership Launchpad, Dan Ceperley, co-founder and COO of LeoLabs, discusses the importance of focus and time management for startups. He explains how LeoLabs, a company that tracks objects in low Earth orbit, has rapidly built a global network of radar stations since its inception in 2016. Dan shares insights into the necessity of prioritization, especially in the fast-paced en...

In this episode of Leadership Launchpad, guest David Hirschfeld, a seasoned software development veteran, discusses the role of systems and protocols in building exceptional teams. Drawing from his extensive experience and his work at Techies, Hirschfeld sheds light on the importance of focusing on the root problems faced by customers rather than becoming consumed by product features. The conversa...

In this crossover episode of Leadership Launchpad, we are sharing an episode of the VHTB podcast with Brian Mejeur and Justus Killian to talk about the transition engineers face when moving into management roles. The discussion highlights the lack of resources and guidance for engineers aspiring to become managers, contrasting it with the abundance of material for business professionals. Key point...

In this episode of Leadership Launchpad, guest Paul Day, co-founder and VP of Engineering at Muon Space, discusses the transition from top-level individual contributors to people managers. He emphasizes the importance of trust, empowerment, and a concept he terms "organizational EQ" in managing technical teams. Paul shares insights into the challenges engineers face when moving into management rol...

In this episode of the Leadership Launchpad, guest Brian Manning, co-founder and CEO of Xona Space Systems, discusses the complexities and strategies of effective leadership, particularly in technical fields. Brian shares insights from his diverse experiences, transitioning from an individual contributor to a people leader, and highlights the importance of trust and delegation in leadership roles....

In this episode of Leadership Launchpad, the focus is on increasing team productivity by creating urgency. The episode discusses the Eisenhower decision matrix, which categorizes tasks by importance and urgency, and how it can help manage time more effectively. It addresses the challenge many face of spending too much time on urgent but not necessarily important tasks. It introduces the concept of...

In this episode of Leadership Launchpad, guest Omar Halabieh, Director of Technology for Amazon Payment Services, shares insights from his leadership journey with over 20 years of experience in the tech industry. The discussion revolves around the challenges faced by new people managers, covering topics like delegation, relationship management, and building trust. Omar reflects on his first role a...

In this episode of Leadership Launchpad, Matt discusses techniques to accelerate team development by bypassing the often lengthy process of forming, storming, norming, and performing stages. Introducing the concept of a personal user manual, the host explains how it can help teams quickly understand individual working preferences, thereby speeding up the transition to high performance. Drawing fro...

In this episode of the Leadership Launchpad, the guest, Jeremy Ostrowski, Director of Change Management at Border States, discusses the nuances of managing change within an organization. Jeremy shares insights on how change impacts various levels of a business and highlights the importance of tailored communication strategies. He introduces the ADKAR model of change management—Awareness, Desire, K...

In this episode of Leadership Launchpad, guest Rhet Turnbull, a senior solutions architect at Leidos with extensive experience in military operations, and program management, discusses strategies for enacting change within large organizations. Reflecting on his career from the Air Force Academy to leading within Space Systems Command, Turnbull emphasizes the importance of understanding one’s blind...

In this episode of Leadership Launchpad, Jesse Klekamp, a recruiting and people leader at K2 Space, shares her extensive experience in recruiting for specialized roles, particularly in the space industry. She discusses the importance of collaboration between hiring managers and recruiters, stressing that recruiting should be a cooperative process rather than a mere service transaction. Jesse empha...

In this episode of Leadership Launchpad, we explore one of the most common pitfalls for new managers: the pacesetting leadership style. Drawing from Daniel Goleman's six leadership styles, the discussion highlights the strengths and severe downsides of consistently using a pacesetting approach. The episode delves into why many technical managers and strong individual contributors fall into this tr...

In this episode of Leadership Launchpad, our guest is Laura Crabtree, co-founder and CEO of Epsilon 3. Laura shares her journey from being a critical member of SpaceX's Dragon program to starting her own company. She discusses the transition from individual contributor to people manager, emphasizing the importance of communication, setting boundaries, and maintaining productivity. Laura also highl...

In this episode of Leadership Launchpad, guest Dan CaJacob discusses the significance of effective communication between team leaders across different fields, especially in technical domains. Drawing from over 20 years in the space industry, including work on FalconSat 3 and with Space Quest, Dan shares insights on the dual roles of technical contribution and management. He reflects on his journey...

Does your organization struggle with aligning and engaging employees amidst complex challenges? Join us for this discussion with Casey Thomas, VP of Global Learning, Development, and Performance at Seagate Technologies, to explore how effective leadership can cut through the noise. Discover the power of Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) to align individual contributions with corporate goals and fo...

For the final episode of 2024, we have a special topic and a special guest. After talking to hundreds of leaders at dozens of companies, today I give you the biggest leadership lesson I learned this year. Listen in to learn how you can be more focused and effective in your own work and as a manager. Want more tips on effective training? Sign-up for our weekly newsletter: https://www.bettereveryday...

Welcome to the Leadership Launchpad! In this episode, I sit down with Bill Tierney, the Vice President of Customer Experience and Digital Experience at Southwest Airlines. We dive into the evolution of leadership skills, the power of communication, and bridging the gap between headquarters and frontline employees. Bill shares his journey at Southwest, revealing the intricacies of using data to dri...

As I've been coaching clients, one recurring challenge stands out—creating a robust feedback culture. Traditional feedback techniques like SBI (Situation, Behavior, Impact) and COIN (Context, Observation, Impact, Next Steps) are useful but often miss one crucial aspect—mindset. In this episode, I discuss why many feedback strategies fail and explore the importance of approaching feedback with the...

In today’s episode, I’m thrilled to chat with Dr. Alaina Szlachta, an expert in educational research and data-driven decision-making. Dr. Szlachta shares her transformative approach to education, emphasizing the power of good data in shaping effective corporate learning strategies. We dive into how leaders can make better decisions by leveraging robust data and the pitfalls of relying on outdated...

Are you a new manager struggling with time management? In this episode of Leadership Launchpad, I’ll share key techniques to balance your role as a manager and an individual contributor. When I was a new manager at SpaceX, I faced the same challenges you are facing now. The secret? Learning to differentiate manager time from maker time. Paul Graham’s concept of “Manager Days” vs. “Maker Days” save...

On today’s episode we're diving into a topic that's pivotal for all, especially technical managers—unleashing the creative potential within your teams with the incredible Nir Hindi, Founder of The Artian. Nir expertly shatters the myth that creativity is only for artists, sharing insights on how blending artistic thinking with tech can drive groundbreaking innovation. From Steve Jobs' inspiration...

As a new manager, have you ever felt like you're floundering or unsure of yourself? Believe me, you're not alone. In today's episode of the Leadership Launchpad, I'm going to share the ultimate strategy to develop true confidence as a leader. Drawing from my experiences as an Air Force instructor pilot and training leader at SpaceX, I'll discuss how to shake off the imposter syndrome and empower y...

On this episode of the Leadership Launchpad, I sit down with Ryan McCrea, head of learning and leadership development at Ameren. Ryan brings his extensive experience in talent development to tackle some of the most pressing issues faced by technical managers today. Are you struggling with delegation, transitioning to leadership, or managing emotional conversations? This episode is for you. We delv...

Do you know your Myers Briggs profile? What about DISC? In this episode of the Leadership Launchpad, I uncover the controversy behind personality tests in leadership and reveal how you might be using them wrong. I discuss why the bull and bear cases for personality tests both miss the mark. Discover how to use these tests effectively for team building and fostering trust. Tune in to improve your l...