The Tech Leader's Playbook

In this episode of The Tech Leader's Playbook, Avetis Antaplyan dives deep into the core leadership principle of extreme ownership. In this solo episode, Avetis, a seasoned entrepreneur and tech leader, delivers a powerful and unfiltered message on why every leader must take full responsibility for their culture, team performance, and company outcomes—regardless of external circumstances. He b...

In this episode of The Tech Leader's Playbook, Avetis Antaplyan sits down with Mark Donnigan, a seasoned virtual CMO and go-to-market strategist known for helping post-Series A tech companies scale with precision. With a background in video technology, streaming, and category design, Mark brings decades of practical insights to the table on what it takes to move beyond initial traction and bui...

In this episode of The Tech Leader's Playbook, Avetis Antaplyan sits down with Russ Hawkins, a seasoned three-time CEO renowned for reviving and scaling struggling startups into profitable, exit-ready companies. With a background rooted in sales and a practical MBA earned through hands-on transformation work alongside McKinsey and AT&T, Russ shares his battle-tested playbook for turning ch...

In this episode of The Tech Leader's Playbook, Avetis Antaplyan welcomes Pete Steege, B2B growth strategist, founder of B2B Clarity, and author of the bestselling book Radical Clarity. With decades of experience across startups and Fortune 100 companies, Pete has carved out a unique niche: helping technical founders grow into confident, purposeful CEOs—no more accidental CEOs. The conversation exp...

In this episode of The Tech Leader's Playbook, we sit down with Michel Langlois, former Cisco and Juniper executive and author of Beyond the Code. From growing up on a chicken farm in rural Quebec to leading 6,000+ global engineers during the rise of the internet, Michel shares a masterclass on scaling tech organizations with heart and strategy. Takeaways It's not where you were born that...

In this episode of The Tech Leader's Playbook, Avetis Antaplyan interviews Jon Staenberg, a three-time Stanford graduate and founder of Agate Hound Fund. They discuss John's unconventional journey through entrepreneurship and investing, starting from his early work experiences in Omaha to his ventures in Argentina's wine industry. The episode dives into the influence of Warren Buffett,...

In this episode of The Tech Leader's Playbook, Avetis Antaplyan interviews Philip Merrick, a seasoned technologist and CEO of pgEdge. They discuss Merrick's journey in the tech industry, the evolution of leadership styles, the importance of building great teams, and the vision behind pgEdge. The conversation also covers the evolution of cloud computing, data security, and fostering a cultu...

In this episode of The Tech Leader's Playbook, Adam Coffey, a seasoned private equity expert, shares his insights on the dynamics of private equity and its impact on entrepreneurs. He discusses the importance of understanding private equity, the role of company culture, and the significance of choosing the right business model. Adam also reflects on his experiences with successful and less suc...

In this episode of The Tech Leader's Playbook, Avetis Antaplyan interviews Josh Dorfman, a serial climate entrepreneur, about his journey into sustainability and the founding of Planted, a company focused on creating sustainable materials. They discuss the challenges of commercializing innovative solutions, the importance of scaling climate tech, and the role of media in raising awareness about cl...

In this episode of The Tech Leader's Playbook, Avetis Antaplyan interviews Alfred Miranda, a seasoned CTO with extensive experience across various industries including cannabis, fashion, and technology. They discuss the importance of diverse industry experience, the challenges of adapting leadership styles, and the pitfalls of traditional industries in adopting technology. Alfred shares valuable i...

In this episode of The Tech Leader's Playbook, Tammy Alvarez discusses the intrinsic link between business success and career fulfillment, emphasizing the need for individuals to align their personal ambitions with organizational goals. She highlights the broken nature of corporate systems that often overlook employee motivation and engagement, leading to a significant portion of the workforce...

In this episode of The Tech Leader's Playbook, Keren discusses the concepts of toxic ambition and workaholism, exploring how they manifest in leadership and personal life. She shares her journey to becoming a coach and author, emphasizing the importance of aligning personal choices with one's true self. The discussion dives into the 'gilded cage' of success, where achievements can...

In this episode of The Tech Leader's Playbook, Dr. David Yang shares his entrepreneurial journey, discussing the challenges and successes he faced while building multiple companies. He emphasizes the importance of understanding customer pain points and the three essential elements—referred to as the 'three magic crystals'—that contribute to startup success. The discussion also touches on the signi...

In this compilation episode of the Tech Leaders Playbook, we bring you a powerhouse mix of insights from top minds exploring how AI is transforming marketing, personal branding, and precision healthcare. You'll hear expert insights on why emotional intelligence is the new edge in the age of automation, how personal connection and consistent content win over sterile AI-generated noise, and what...

In this episode of The Tech Leader's Playbook, Avetis Antaplyan and Ashley Rudolph explore the intricacies of career growth, the importance of hard work, and the transition from execution to strategic thinking in leadership roles. They discuss the significance of managing generational expectations in the workplace, the lessons learned from scaling General Assembly, and the critical nature of h...

In this episode of The Tech Leader's Playbook, Jenny Fielding shares her insights on entrepreneurship, venture capital, and the importance of resilience and grit in the startup world. She discusses her journey from being a founder to a venture capitalist, the lessons learned from her successes and failures, and the unique thesis of her fund, Everywhere Ventures. Fielding emphasizes the significanc...

In this episode of The Tech Leader's Playbook, Avetis Antaplyan speaks with Rohini Kasturi, CEO of HG Insights, about the transformative role of data intelligence in driving revenue growth and operational efficiency. They discuss the evolution of data usage in the context of AI, the importance of creating a growth playbook, and the need for precise intelligence in decision-making. Rohini shares in...

In this compilation episode of The Tech Leader's Playbook, top thought leaders share their insights on business growth, innovation, and marketing ROI. The discussion covers the power of mastermind groups in gaining industry-leading perspectives and the complexities of scaling B2B service businesses. Experts break down key strategies for success, including the importance of talent acquisition,...

In this episode of The Tech Leader's Playbook, Lior Weinstein shares his journey into the world of AI, discussing the evolution of technology, the significance of hardware advancements, and the emergence of new AI models. He emphasizes the limitations of current AI intelligence, clarifying misconceptions about its capabilities and the future of AI technology. The discussion also touches on the...

In this episode of The Tech Leader's Playbook, Avetis Antaplyan and Brent Kedzierski discuss the concept of human-centric work design, exploring its implications for workplace efficiency and employee engagement. Brent shares insights from his extensive experience in organizational psychology, emphasizing the importance of understanding worker dynamics, the role of technology, and the need for stru...

In this episode of The Tech Leader's Playbook, Avetis Antaplyan interviews Vladimer Botsvadze, a leading expert in digital transformation and AI. They discuss the evolution of digital marketing, the importance of personal branding, and how AI is reshaping marketing strategies. Vladimir emphasizes the need for emotional intelligence and authentic connections in a noisy digital marketplace, highligh...

In this episode of The Tech Leader's Playbook, David Hirschfeld shares his extensive experience in the tech industry, focusing on the transformative impact of AI on startups and business operations. He emphasizes the importance of understanding product-market fit, the distinction between needs and wants, and the lessons learned from both successful and failed ventures. Hirschfeld also discusse...

In this episode of The Tech Leader's Playbook, Avetis Antaplyan and Mike Robbins explore the significance of authenticity and psychological safety in leadership and team dynamics. They discuss how personal experiences shape leadership styles, the importance of aligning individual and team goals, and the necessity of fostering an environment where team members can bring their whole selves to wo...

In this compilation episode of the Tech Leaders Playbook, we dive into the essential lessons learned from being part of a mastermind group. They discuss the importance of leveraging the knowledge of others, building strong teams, and navigating the misinformation prevalent in entrepreneurship. The conversation emphasizes the significance of customer experience, effective sales strategies, and the...

In this episode of The Tech Leader's Playbook, Avetis Antaplyan interviews Brian Hamilton, a prominent entrepreneur and chairman of LiveSwitch. They discuss Hamilton's journey from starting small businesses as a child to founding Sageworks, a pioneering fintech company. The conversation dives into the importance of financial data for small businesses, the evolution of LiveSwitch, and the c...