LeaderbookAI

What do you mean, "I'm a CEO... and now I'm coding?" Georg Ell, CEO of Phrase, hadn't written code since he was 15. Then his CFO demoed a custom-built app — and Georg felt "utterly inadequate." That evening he downloaded Claude. Six weeks later: 200,000 lines committed, 8 apps built, and a radically different understanding of what leadership means in the AI era. Chapters: 00:00 The Awakening: Realizing the Need for Change 03:40 Starting the Journey: Overcoming Inadequacy 09:45 Building the Muscle: Skills for the Future 13:49 The Emotional Roller Coaster of Leadership 17:18 Navigating Uncertainty: Conversations Behind Closed Doors 20:51 The Future of Organizational Design 25:33 Balancing Innovation and Chaos 29:25 Encouraging the Wow Moment: A Call to Action Subscribe to the LeaderbookAI Podcast for conversations with leaders shaping the future of work, leadership, and AI. 🎧 Listen to the podcast: https://leaderbook.ai/podcast We create high-performing powerhouses. Let’s talk: https://leaderbook.ai/contact

Spencer Penn evacuated his engineer from Ukraine the day before Russia invaded. What he did next — and why it worked — reveals more about leadership trust than most books on the subject. Penn is CEO and co-founder of LightSource, a procurement AI company that grew from two people in a garage to 64 employees. In this episode, he traces the company's origin to a $30 billion problem he watched firsthand at Tesla — car parts sourced via spreadsheets and email — and the moment he hired a Ukrainian developer off GitHub who would later need to get out of the country overnight. Penn and Felicia Shakiba debate whether Elon Musk could have been even more successful with a different leadership approach, what separates mature from immature leadership mindsets, and a reframe on strengths that most leaders get completely backwards: the capability that comes easiest to you is almost certainly your highest ROI — and most people are blind to it. Chapters: 00:00 The Genesis of LightSource 04:35 Finding the First Believers 14:45 Building Trust Through Adversity 19:15 The Gift of Opportunity 21:54 Balancing Leadership Decisions 24:15 The Importance of Values in Leadership 25:58 New vs. Experienced Leaders 29:15 The Complexity of Leadership Traits 31:55 The Impact of Leadership Style 36:30 Strengths vs. Weaknesses in Leadership Subscribe to the LeaderbookAI Podcast for conversations with leaders shaping the future of work, leadership, and AI. Subscribe to the LeaderbookAI Brief: https://leaderbookai.substack.com/ 🎧 Listen to the podcast: https://leaderbook.ai/podcast We create high-performing powerhouses. Let's talk: https://leaderbook.ai/contact Connect with Felicia on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/feliciashakiba

How do top venture capitalists find AI unicorns early? In our 100th episode 1-hour special, Marina Davidova, Managing Partner at Silicon Valley's DVC, shares how her team uses AI agents, community-driven diligence, and sharp founder pattern recognition to identify breakout startups before the market catches up. From repeat founders and engineering mindset to distribution, adaptability, and founder energy, this conversation reveals what VCs are really looking for — and how AI is changing the investment process. Chapters 00:00 How should venture firms automate with AI? 00:48 Why Marina believed in AI early 03:42 Moving to Silicon Valley and standing out as an investor 06:31 Four unicorns in four years 08:49 What Marina looks for in unicorn founders 12:49 Can entrepreneurial mindset be taught? 15:18 How DVC’s investor community drives the funnel 18:27 How AI agents screen startup deal flow 20:24 What happens in the community discussion process 25:05 Red flags, green flags, and difficult decisions 29:31 The founder who looked perfect on paper 31:17 Adaptability vs. consistency in startups 34:32 How fast DVC makes investment decisions 37:26 What founders actually spend early rounds on 41:42 The patterns Marina sees in breakout founders 45:46 Why some technical founders struggle to sell 48:00 The responsibility of choosing future AI leaders 52:13 Why founders need a trusted tribe Subscribe to the LeaderbookAI Podcast for conversations with leaders shaping the future of work, leadership, and AI. 🎧 Listen to the podcast: https://leaderbook.ai/podcast We create high-performing powerhouses. Let’s talk: https://leaderbook.ai/contact

What does it really take to lead a successful AI transformation inside an organization? Many companies focus on implementing AI tools. But according to Glenn Mathis, Former CEO of Integris, the real challenge isn’t technology — it’s trust, clarity, and culture.

What’s the biggest mistake revenue leaders make with AI? Companies everywhere are racing to automate sales—research, outreach, forecasting, and pipeline management. But according to JD Miller, many organizations are about to make a critical mistake: automating processes that were already broken. JD Miller, CRO Operating Partner in Residence at Rothschild & Co. / Five Arrows Capital, shares how private equity-backed companies should approach AI in sales, why trust and human connection still drive revenue, and how leaders can experiment with AI without increasing risk. His conclusion: AI should make sellers more human—not replace them. ⸻ Chapters 00:00 The Role of AI in Sales Transformation 08:26 Measuring AI’s Impact on Revenue 13:23 Real-World Applications of AI 21:18 Leadership’s Role in AI Adoption ⸻ Subscribe to the LeaderbookAI Podcast: https://leaderbook.ai/podcast We create high-performing power houses. Let’s talk: https://leaderbook.ai/contact

Can AI learn love—or at least empathy? Cory Lopes-Warfield, CEO of Lovings, shares his unconventional founder journey from homelessness and hospitality to building Lovings AI. We discuss Nova, an AI agent trained to respond from a “love” framework, and what empathetic AI really means in practice. Cory explains the real risks of AI, how agents are reshaping entrepreneurship, and why the future may belong to leaders who combine human judgment with intelligent machines. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Personal Background 00:46 The Journey from Homelessness to Entrepreneurship 07:29 Transitioning to Tech and Learning to Code 12:45 The Concept of Empathetic AI 17:49 The Development of Nova and Its Unique Features 26:21 Growth Strategies and Future Vision 28:44 The Philosophy of Love in AI Subscribe to the LeaderbookAI Podcast: https://leaderbook.ai/podcast We create high-performing power houses. Let’s talk: https://leaderbook.ai/contact

How do leaders turn a struggling organization into a winning culture? Tom Braun, President & COO of the LA Galaxy, shares the leadership decisions behind rebuilding one of MLS’s most iconic clubs. He explains how trust, authenticity, and small operational wins helped restore momentum with players, staff, and fans. This episode explores what sports leadership can teach CEOs about culture, alignment, and driving performance under pressure. Chapters 00:00 From Investment Banking to Sports Leadership 06:59 Authenticity in Leadership 10:47 Rebuilding Momentum and Fan Experience 18:16 Building Trust and Community Engagement 20:27 Investing in Youth Development 25:13 Creating a Memorable Fan Experience 28:14 LeaderbookAI_Outro.mp4 — Subscribe to the LeaderbookAI Podcast: https://leaderbook.ai/podcast We create high-performing power houses. Let’s talk: https://leaderbook.ai/contact

What does real alignment look like—when leadership, strategy, and execution finally match? In this bonus episode, Felicia Shakiba shares an important update: CPO PLAYBOOK is becoming LeaderbookAI. This isn’t just a podcast name change—it reflects the evolution of the entire business. Episode 95 explored the cost of misalignment inside organizations. Here, we practice what we preach. LeaderbookAI represents the expanded work behind the show today: AI-enabled transformation, value creation planning for private equity and investors, world-class executive coaching, M&A integration, compensation and organizational design, and leadership development directly tied to business outcomes. Felicia also thanks the listeners who’ve helped build this show into the top 6% of podcasts worldwide, as it approaches 100 episodes and prepares for Season 5. Same conversations. Same rigor. A name that finally matches the impact. Welcome to LeaderbookAI.

What if your growth problem isn’t your product, pricing, or team—but misalignment? We’re joined by Dr. Philippe Bouissou—Apple alum, bestselling author of Aligning the Dots, and the mind behind the A4 Precision Alignment™ methodology that’s fueling faster, more sustainable revenue growth for companies around the world. With a PhD in chaos theory and a resume that includes scaling Apple’s eCommerce from zero to $350M under Steve Jobs, Philippe has spent 30+ years advising CEOs, investing $44M in startups, and sitting on 23 boards. He’s the founder of Blue Dots Partners, where he and a team of elite CEOs decode growth through alignment. Chapters 00:00 The Pressure of Growth: Understanding Misalignment 03:01 The Core of Growth: Alignment with Target Market 06:01 Dimensions of Alignment: Addressing Customer Pain 09:01 Perception vs. Messaging: The Communication Gap 12:02 Frictionless Transactions: The Buying Process 14:59 Delivering Delight: The Customer Experience 17:50 Diagnosing Misalignment: The CEO's Challenge 20:55 The Importance of Internal Alignment 23:51 First Steps to Realignment: A Practical Approach 26:59 Understanding Market Truth: The Customer's Perspective 29:55 Final Thoughts: Simplifying Growth Strategiesbles frictionless transactions and sustainable growth at scale. — Subscribe to the LeaderbookAI Podcast (formerly CPO PLAYBOOK): https://leaderbook.ai/podcast. Want to create 10x the value of your business or investments? Let’s talk: https://leaderbook.ai/contact

What do you do when the world changes faster than your workforce can adapt? Carlee Wolfe, AVP, Leader Development and Organizational Effectiveness, Hyatt Hotels, shares how she’s helping over 125,000 employees stay ahead—by building leadership capabilities that thrive in uncertainty and unlock transformation. Carlee reveals how Hyatt diagnoses leadership gaps, drives behavior change at scale, and develops future-ready leaders through a culture of continuous learning, curiosity, and experimentation. From AI adoption to people-first transformation, this episode is packed with strategy, humanity, and actionable insight. Chapters 00:00 Navigating Leadership in Uncertain Times 02:00 The Impact of Sports on Leadership Development 02:58 Understanding Leadership Roles at Hyatt 03:54 Identifying Leadership Capability Challenges 08:01 AI's Role in Leadership and Organizational Change 12:02 Overcoming Barriers to AI Adoption 14:11 The Dangers of the 'All-Knowing' Leader 16:54 The Importance of Continuous Learning in AI Transformation 18:40 Learning Out Loud: A Leadership Approach 21:10 Curiosity as a Business Competency 24:45 Diagnosing Leadership Capability Gaps 28:28 Building Leadership Capabilities at Scale 32:49 Sustaining Leadership Development 37:04 First Steps for CEOs in Leadership Development — Subscribe to the LeaderbookAI Podcast (formerly CPO PLAYBOOK): https://leaderbook.ai/podcast Want to create 10x the value of your business or investments? Let’s talk: https://leaderbook.ai/contact

What does it mean to be an AI-native employee—and why will they win? Thibault Imbert, Chief Product and Growth Officer at The Brief, joins Felicia Shakiba to break down what it truly means to work, think, and create in an AI-first world. From conversational AI to real-time prototyping with voice and visual tools, Thibault explains how AI-native employees are redefining productivity, creativity, and leadership in the modern workplace. This episode explores how AI automation, machine learning, and generative AI are transforming day-to-day work—reshaping decision making, accelerating innovation, and enabling smarter business process automation. Leaders will learn what AI-native workflows look like in practice, why speed and experimentation now drive value creation, and how empathy and human judgment remain essential even as enterprise technology advances. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Setting the Stage 04:30 The Journey of AI Transformation 09:52 Mastering Conversational AI 15:52 Visual Creation and Concepting Ideas 23:10 Voice as a Creative Output 27:45 Prototyping and Building in Real Time 32:58 Innovative Tools for Research and Presentation This episode is a masterclass in purpose-driven leadership, capital discipline, and building companies that last. — Subscribe to the LeaderbookAI Podcast: https://leaderbook.ai/podcast We create high-performing power houses. Let’s talk: https://leaderbook.ai/contact

What does it take to build a biotech company without burning billions—or losing your conviction? Felicia Shakiba sits down with Dr. Shalabh Gupta, Founder & CEO of Unicycive Therapeutics, to unpack what real leadership discipline looks like in one of the most capital-intensive industries in the world. A physician turned Wall Street analyst, Dr. Gupta shares how he raised over $150M in public markets, took a biotech company public with a single employee, and scaled to FDA submission readiness with just 22 people—without relying on traditional Silicon Valley venture capital. This episode explores how leadership clarity, rigorous decision making, and focused C-suite strategy drive value creation under extreme constraints. Dr. Gupta explains why great CEOs start with the problem—not the product—and how disciplined execution, process rigor, and business process automation enable scale without excess. Leaders across industries will gain executive insights into credibility, trust, and navigating digital transformation in highly regulated environments. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Unisysive Therapeutics 04:27 Innovative Approach to Biotech 07:55 Understanding the Biotech Landscape 10:39 Transition from Medicine to Wall Street 14:08 Lessons from Genentech 19:46 Building a Company Alone 22:47 The Importance of Networking 27:00 Engaging with the FDA 30:57 Raising Capital in Biotech 41:58 Navigating Investor Relationships This episode is a masterclass in purpose-driven leadership, capital discipline, and building companies that last. — Subscribe to the LeaderbookAI Podcast (formerly CPO PLAYBOOK): https://leaderbook.ai/podcast Want to create 10x the value of your business or investments? Let’s talk: https://leaderbook.ai/contact

Can financial education turn athletes into powerful investors? Danny Cortenraede joins Felicia Shakiba to share how he’s helping athletes and early-stage founders build long-term wealth through financial education, mentorship, and hands-on investing. Drawing from his experience scaling multiple companies, Danny explains how athletes can move beyond endorsements and develop the leadership mindset required to make smarter investment decisions and shape their legacy off the field. This episode explores how leadership development, disciplined decision making, and clear C-suite strategy translate into sustainable value creation. From transitioning into equity ownership to understanding capital strategy and ecosystem building, the conversation highlights how business process automation, enterprise technology, and modern digital transformation support scalable investing and founder success. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Danny Cortenraede 01:16 Danny's Entrepreneurial Journey 04:28 Transitioning to Investment and Education 10:00 The Importance of Financial Literacy for Athletes 19:36 Building the Athlete Council and Educational Initiatives 26:51 Success Stories and Impact of Education 31:33 Changing Perspectives on Investment Among Athletes 34:14 Mindset for Lasting Legacy — Subscribe to the LeaderbookAI Podcast (formerly CPO PLAYBOOK): https://leaderbook.ai/podcast Want to create 10x the value of your business or investments? Let’s talk: https://leaderbook.ai/contact

How do you take a healthcare innovation from lab to market—without losing your shot at impact? Sasha Schrode, CEO of FEMSelect, joins Felicia Shakiba to share her founder journey—from licensing IP out of the University of Pennsylvania to raising venture capital, securing FDA approval, and successfully exiting her first healthcare company. Now leading FEMSelect, Sasha breaks down what it really takes to move innovation through regulation, reimbursement, and clinical validation without losing momentum—or purpose. This episode explores how leadership discipline, investor-level decision making, and clear C-suite strategy drive value creation in one of the most complex industries. Sasha explains why great CEOs fall in love with the problem—not the solution—and how business process automation, enterprise technology, and digital transformation support scalable execution in healthcare. Her personal cancer diagnosis adds a powerful lens on resilience, learning, and purpose-driven leadership. Chapters 00:00 The Journey from Diagnosis to Innovation 13:18 Understanding Market Viability and Clinical Need 22:43 The Iteration Process in Med Tech 24:20 Insights on Raising Capital and Exiting 27:24 Common Mistakes in Commercialization 32:00 First Steps for Aspiring Innovators — Subscribe to the LeaderbookAI Podcast (formerly CPO PLAYBOOK): https://leaderbook.ai/podcast Want to create 10x the value of your business or investments? Let’s talk: https://leaderbook.ai/contact

What happens when you bet on people instead of acquisitions? Pia Ostos, EVP and Chief Performance Officer at Inmar Intelligence, joins Felicia Shakiba to share how prioritizing leadership development—rather than acquisitions—became a powerful engine for growth. Pia explains how embedding clear leadership standards into performance reviews transformed leadership from a “soft” capability into a measurable driver of business outcomes. This episode explores how leadership accountability, disciplined decision making, and intentional C-suite strategy unlock sustainable value creation. Pia breaks down how leadership investment reshapes culture from the top down, and how business process automation, enterprise technology, and digital transformation enable scalable performance systems. Leaders will walk away with executive insights on turning leadership, culture, and performance into a durable competitive advantage. Chapters: 00:00 Transforming Leadership into a Growth Engine 06:31 Establishing Centers of Excellence 16:08 Innovating for Sustainable Growth 24:18 Building a Culture of Experimentation 26:02 Setting Core Leadership Standards 30:40 Measuring and Rewarding Leadership Behaviors 35:06 Leadership Development as a Growth Strategy 39:26 Advice for Building a High-Performing Culture — Subscribe to the LeaderbookAI Podcast (formerly CPO PLAYBOOK): https://leaderbook.ai/podcast Want to create 10x the value of your business or investments? Let’s talk: https://leaderbook.ai/contact

How do you share equity to truly motivate employees—especially in private equity environments? Adam Coffey, private equity CEO and seasoned operator, joins Felicia Shakiba to unpack how incentive equity—not just stock options or bonuses—can transform employees into real value creators. Drawing on decades of experience leading companies through acquisitions, integrations, and exits, Adam explains why equity alignment is one of the most powerful leadership tools in high-stakes environments. This episode explores how leadership clarity, disciplined decision making, and intentional C-suite strategy drive value creation through ownership mindset. Adam breaks down how to design incentive equity plans that actually motivate, where leaders often get it wrong, and how culture, transparency, and communication remain critical—alongside scalable business process automation and enterprise technology—to sustain engagement during digital transformation and private equity change. Chapters: 00:00 The Challenge of Alignment in Private Equity 11:24 Cultural Missteps and Leadership Alignment 18:52 Incentivizing Employees for Success 25:49 Navigating Challenges and Maintaining Alignment 31:28 The Role of Communication in Leadership — Subscribe to the LeaderbookAI Podcast (formerly CPO PLAYBOOK): https://leaderbook.ai/podcast Want to create 10x the value of your business or investments? Let’s talk: https://leaderbook.ai/contact

Can culture survive when 10 companies collide under one roof—and what does leadership have to do with it? Tim Ringel, CEO and founder of Meet the People, joins Felicia Shakiba to share how trust, creativity, and authentic leadership helped unite 10 companies into one cohesive organization. Drawing on real-world M&A experience, Tim explains why cultural integration—not financial modeling—is often the hardest and most decisive factor in post-merger success. This episode explores how leadership behaviors, disciplined decision making, and clear C-suite strategy turn culture into a competitive advantage during mergers and acquisitions. Tim breaks down how creative freedom, diversity, and psychological safety fuel innovation—even amid economic pressure—and how leaders can sustain authenticity through uncertainty. The conversation highlights how intentional leadership systems, supported by business process automation and digital transformation, enable long-term value creation after the deal closes. Chapters 00:00 Navigating Cultural Clashes in Business 11:47 The Journey of Scaling Agencies 16:36 Merging Cultures vs. Numbers 24:25 Fostering Creativity in a Digital Age 36:19 The Importance of Authenticity and Trust — Subscribe to the LeaderbookAI Podcast (formerly CPO PLAYBOOK): https://leaderbook.ai/podcast Want to create 10x the value of your business or investments? Let’s talk: https://leaderbook.ai/contact

How do you turn science fiction into science fact—and convince the world to fund it? Roman Axelrod, founder and CEO of Xpanceo, joins Felicia Shakiba to share the bold vision behind raising nearly $300M to build smart contact lenses designed to expand human capability. Operating at the frontier of deep tech, Roman opens up about what it really takes to move breakthrough ideas from prototype to reality—and why leadership clarity becomes non-negotiable when the stakes are this high. This episode explores how leadership conviction, disciplined decision making, and clear C-suite strategy drive value creation in frontier innovation. Roman explains why storytelling matters in raising capital for moonshot ideas, why prototypes outperform PowerPoints in deep tech, and how creativity and rigor must coexist. The conversation highlights how enterprise technology, digital transformation, and business process automation support scale—while trust, communication, and strong co-founder dynamics sustain momentum under pressure. Chapters 00:00 The Vision Behind Expanio 10:16 Challenges and Reactions to the Idea 14:14 Building a Deep Tech Company 17:22 Motivating a High-Stakes Team 21:47 The Importance of Prototypes 23:58 Recruiting Top Talent in Deep Tech 27:35 The Co-Founder Dynamic 31:14 Communication and Leadership in High-Stakes Environments 34:42 Cultivating Creativity and Vision 39:49 Looking Ahead: The Future of Expanio — Subscribe to the LeaderbookAI Podcast (formerly CPO PLAYBOOK): https://leaderbook.ai/podcast Want to create 10x the value of your business or investments? Let’s talk: https://leaderbook.ai/contact

Felicia Shakiba looks back at how far the podcast has come—and sets the stage for an even bolder season ahead. In this special episode, she teases the power-packed stories coming in Season 4, spotlights what leadership really means today, and unveils new tools designed to help leaders rise, adapt, and thrive.

What does it take to lead transformation when everything—including identity—must change? Yaky Yanay, CEO of Pluri, joins Felicia Shakiba for a powerful Season 3 finale conversation on leading transformation through trust, transparency, and bold vision. Yaky shares how he redefined Pluri’s identity—from a traditional pharma company to a cell-based technology innovator—while building a culture that puts people, purpose, and innovation at the center of change. This episode explores how leadership courage, disciplined decision making, and clear C-suite strategy enable successful transformation in high-stakes environments. Yaky explains why trust and transparency are not soft ideals but critical drivers of value creation—and how aligning culture, communication, and execution allows organizations to scale innovation. The conversation highlights how digital transformation, enterprise technology, and thoughtful business process automation support reinvention without losing the human core. Chapters 00:00 The Importance of Culture in Leadership 12:11 Navigating Organizational Transformation 17:53 Overcoming Resistance to Change 26:47 Building Trust Through Transparency 31:05 Expanding Vision Without Losing Focus 36:45 Advice for Leaders in Times of Change — Subscribe to the LeaderbookAI Podcast (formerly CPO PLAYBOOK): https://leaderbook.ai/podcast Want to create 10x the value of your business or investments? Let’s talk: https://leaderbook.ai/contact