The Leadership Exchange

In this episode of the Leadership Exchange podcast, Tracy Lee sits down with Tanya Faddoul, VP of Strategy for Cisco’s Digital Resilience business. The two reflect on Tanya’s nonlinear journey from media sales to leadership roles at Amazon, DocuSign, and now Cisco. Tanya shares how she brings the voice of the customer into product strategy and how she’s navigating the fast-changing world of cybersecurity, AI, and digital transformation. They unpack how AI is reshaping internal collaboration, the urgency companies are feeling around reinvention, and why shared goals and customer-aligned narratives are key to healthy product and go-to-market partnerships.Key points from this episode:- Tanya Faddoul shares her unconventional path into tech leadership, highlighting lessons from her transitions between Amazon, DocuSign, and Cisco.- She emphasizes the importance of aligning product strategy with real customer pain points, using voice-of-customer insights and sentiment analysis.- The conversation explores how AI is transforming both external products and internal collaboration, enabling faster iteration and smarter decision-making.- Tracy and Tanya discuss the need for strong cross-functional partnerships, clear shared goals, and compelling narratives to drive successful digital transformation.Follow Tracy Lee on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracyslee/Follow Tanya Faddoul on Linkeidn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tanya-faddoul-917b81a/This Dot Labs Twitter: https://x.com/ThisDotLabsThis Dot Media Twitter: https://x.com/ThisDotMediaThis Dot Labs Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisdotlabs/This Dot Labs Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thisdot/This Dot Labs Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/thisdotlabs.bsky.social

In this episode of the Leadership Exchange podcast, Tracy Lee sits down with Atlanta-based investor, coach, and creator Von Wright for an honest conversation about purpose, transformation, and building a better future for yourself both personally and professionally. Von shares his journey from corporate success to finding deeper meaning in the “second half of life”, how personal challenges sparked radical change, and why he now focuses on impact-driven work. Von also breaks down why it’s important to invest in a healthy human economy and what he looks for in purpose-driven founders.Key points from this episode:- Von Wright shares how personal challenges pushed him to leave a successful corporate career and pursue more meaningful, purpose-driven work in the second half of his life.- He explains Zane Venture Fund’s focus on improving human health as a way to build a stronger, more sustainable economy.- He talks about creating Lifters of Men, a group that helps men through life transitions and encourages service, accountability, and support.- He describes what he looks for in founders, including a deep sense of purpose, lived experience with the problem, humility, and resilience.Chapters00:00 Trusting Yourself Over Outside Advice01:12 Meet Von Wright and the Many Roles He Plays04:47 What the Second Half of Life Really Means08:01 Futurecasting and the Pull to Create13:58 How Venture Capital Became a Path to Purpose15:43 What a Healthy Human Economy Looks Like21:04 Red Flags and Green Lights in Founders27:06 Von’s Personal Breaking Point and Reinvention32:28 The Question to Ask When You're at a Crossroads34:44 Tuning Out the Noise to Find Your PurposeFollow Von Wright on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vonwright/Follow Tracy Lee on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracyslee/This Dot Labs Twitter: https://x.com/ThisDotLabsThis Dot Media Twitter: https://x.com/ThisDotMediaThis Dot Labs Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisdotlabs/This Dot Labs Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thisdot/This Dot Labs Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/thisdotlabs.bsky.socialSponsored by This Dot Labs: ai.thisdot.co

In this episode of Leadership Exchange, Rob Ocel sits down with John Aron, founder and CEO of Aronetics, to talk about authenticity in leadership, business, and government contracting. They explore what it takes to build trust and credibility as a small player in a space dominated by massive public and private institutions. John shares how staying grounded and transparent has helped him win trust in high-stakes environments, and how authenticity can scale from individuals to entire organizations. It’s a candid conversation about ambition, honesty, and why faking it just doesn’t cut it when the stakes are high.Key points from this episode:- John Aaron emphasizes the importance of being honest about your capabilities, especially in high-trust environments like government and defense. Trying to appear bigger than you are can backfire.- Despite competing with massive government contractors and enterprises, John shows how startups can hold their own by focusing on transparency, deep expertise, and consistent execution.- Authentic sales isn’t about manipulation. It's about clearly stating your value, understanding the other party’s needs, and seeking alignment, not just closing a deal.- As organizations grow, the authenticity of leadership sets the tone. Leaders who model transparency and integrity create space for their teams to do the same, building trust at every level.John Aaron Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jga/This Dot Labs Twitter: https://x.com/ThisDotLabsThis Dot Media Twitter: https://x.com/ThisDotMediaThis Dot Labs Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisdotlabs/This Dot Labs Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thisdot/This Dot Labs Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/thisdotlabs.bsky.socialSponsored by This Dot Labs: ai.thisdot.co

In this episode of Leadership Exchange, Tracy Lee speaks with Karyn Mullins, a Fractional CTO, about how engineers can increase their impact by becoming more business-savvy. They unpack what it really means to “stay close to the money,” how understanding a company’s business model unlocks stronger engineering decisions, and why engineers should be involved early in strategic planning.Karyn shares practical advice for both engineers and business leaders: from how to identify a business-oriented engineer, to how cross-functional collaboration and exposure to customer needs can elevate careers and company outcomes. They also touch on AI, tech trends in healthcare, and why curiosity might be one of the most underrated engineering traits.Key takeaways from this episode:- Engineers who ask “why” instead of just “how” tend to be more aligned with business goals and create more impactful solutions.- Building relationships across departments like marketing and operations helps engineers gain context and improve decision-making.- Involving engineers early in strategic conversations leads to better outcomes, especially as AI shifts execution expectations.- Exposure to customer needs, through calls or direct feedback, helps engineers prioritize and design more valuable features.Follow Karyn Mullins on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karynmullins/Sponsored by This Dot: ai.thisdot.coChapters 00:00 – Why most AI projects fail and the need for early engineering involvement02:20 – “Stay close to the money”: what business-savvy engineering looks like06:00 – Why this mindset matters more now than ever09:18 – How to identify engineers who think like business partners13:47 – Practical ways engineers can become more business-aware14:17 – What leaders can do to support business alignment in engineering19:58 – The engineer’s role in customer experience and value delivery22:01 – Strategic engineers drive better business outcomes25:35 – A healthcare case study of early engineering impact28:13 – Three actions engineers can take this quarter30:23 – Rewarding curiosity and building inclusive cross-functional teams31:20 – Final thoughts: it’s a great time to be an engineer

How should business leaders approach AI?In this episode of Leadership Exchange, Rob Ocel sits down with Dr. Priya Sarathy to unpack what it really takes for organizations to adopt AI successfully. Priya shares insights from her executive workshop and upcoming book The AI Leadership Compass, emphasizing the critical role of leadership in making AI initiatives impactful and sustainable.They discuss why AI isn’t just a tech project, the importance of cross-functional stakeholder involvement, how to build AI fluency without hype, and why empathy matters more than ever. Whether you’re a tech-savvy leader or just starting to explore AI’s potential, this conversation is a practical guide to thinking strategically and humanely about transformation in the age of AI.Keypoints from this episode:- AI success starts with leadership engagement — Leaders must go beyond delegating AI initiatives to technical teams and develop personal fluency with the tools to guide strategy and measure impact effectively.- Business goals should drive AI adoption — AI shouldn’t be adopted for its own sake. Start with a clear business need, then explore how AI can enhance or support that objective.- Cross-functional collaboration is essential — Successful AI integration requires involvement from a wide range of stakeholders, including procurement, UX, and customers, not just data or engineering teams.- Empathy and communication reduce fear — Leaders must proactively address team concerns about AI replacing jobs by reframing the conversation around growth, new opportunities, and human strengths AI cannot replicate.Follow Priya Sarathi on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/priyasarathy/Sponsored by This Dot Labs: thisdotlabs.com

Tracy Lee talks with Felicia Schwartz about how to scale AI the right way. They cover what actually works beyond the hype, how to pick the right use cases, and why getting buy-in from your team matters more than fancy models. Felicia shares her six-step framework for real AI adoption and lessons from companies that got it right and wrong.Keypoints from this episode:- Scaling AI starts with business value, not technology hype. Felicia emphasizes the need to align AI initiatives with real business goals and measurable outcomes.- Leaders must demystify AI for their teams. Success starts with education and cross-functional collaboration, especially at the leadership and middle management levels.- Start small with high-impact use cases. A clear framework helps prioritize initiatives based on feasibility and value, avoiding the trap of “just checking the AI box.”-Feedback loops and transparency drive adoption. Sharing wins, failures, and learnings openly is key to building trust and momentum across the organization.Follow Felicia Schwatz on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/felicia-schwartz/Sponsored by This Dot Labs: thisdot.co

In this episode of the Leadership Exchange, Danny Thompson sits down with Dr. Stephanie Adams, Director of Intellectual Property and Grants at Micron Biomedical, to explore how Micron’s groundbreaking microneedle patch is redefining drug delivery. Stephanie shares how this painless, self-administered technology—already making waves in global vaccine distribution—could transform access to healthcare worldwide. They also discuss the intersection of IP protection and equitable access, the challenges of scaling a first-of-its-kind product, and how mission-driven innovation can drive real impact.Key points from this episode:- Micron Biomedical has developed a painless, self-administered microneedle patch for vaccines and injectables, reducing the need for cold storage and trained medical staff.- The technology is already being used in clinical trials in Africa with support from the Gates Foundation, showing promise in improving vaccine access in low- and middle-income countries.- Dr. Adams explains how Micron is protecting its innovations while keeping affordability and global accessibility at the core of its strategy.- She shares her journey from molecular biology and IP law to public health and biotech, emphasizing how aligning passion and skills can lead to meaningful, purpose-driven careers.Chapters0:00 – The Problem with At-Home COVID Tests0:46 – Meet Dr. Stephanie Adams3:04 – What Micron Biomed Is Building7:07 – How the Microneedle Patch Works10:02 – Solving Needle Phobia and Expanding Use Cases14:02 – Cold Chain Elimination and Global Distribution16:46 – Community Feedback and Early Impact19:36 – Balancing IP with Accessibility23:13 – Scaling Production and Regulatory Navigation26:02 – Stephanie’s Career Journey and Mission30:51 – Most Rewarding Moment and Final ThoughtsFollow Dr. Stephanie Adams on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-adams-ph-d-415b681/Sponsored by This Dot: thisdotlabs.com

In this episode of the Leadership Exchange podcast, Tracy Lee talks with Maria Thacker-Goethe, President and CEO of Georgia Life Sciences, to discuss the future of life sciences in Georgia and beyond. They talk about the growth of the local biotech and medtech ecosystem, the critical need for stronger innovation pipelines, and how collaborations between tech and life sciences are reshaping the industry.Maria shares insights on how AI, manufacturing, and public-private partnerships are driving change, the urgent need for federal investment to maintain U.S. leadership in biotech, and the realities of building a thriving life sciences workforce.Key Points from this Episode:- Georgia's life sciences ecosystem is growing rapidly, with strong university pipelines, a strategic location, and increasing focus on biomanufacturing—but continued collaboration and urgency are needed to stay competitive.- Cuts to NIH, NSF, and BARDA threaten the U.S.’s leadership in biotech. Maria stresses that public-private partnerships and sustained R&D investment are essential to maintain global standing.- AI, robotics, and advanced tech are transforming the sector. While life sciences move slower due to regulation, there's a growing opportunity to shorten timelines through thoughtful integration.- Life sciences is a high-risk, high-reward investment space. Scientific, regulatory, and reimbursement hurdles make returns slower and more complex than in tech, but the impact can be massive.Chapters0:00 – The risks and rewards of biotech01:17 – Atlanta’s life sciences ecosystem02:46 – What Georgia Life Sciences does05:11 – Georgia’s growth and competitive pressure07:29 – Innovation showcases and female founders10:14 – AI and emerging trends in life sciences13:07 – Biotech timelines vs tech timelines14:35 – How the US can stay globally competitive18:23 – Workforce, manufacturing, and trade policy24:02 – Investment risks in the life sciences sector30:07 – Biotech startup lifecycle and acquisition path32:43 – Where to learn more and stay connectedFollow Maria Thacker-Goethe on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariathacker/Sponsored by This Dot Labs: thisdotlabs.com

In this episode of The Leadership Exchange, Rob Ocel sits down with Shawn Wang—better known as Swyx—to explore how AI is reshaping the software industry from the inside out. Swyx shares his journey from parsing Bloomberg chat logs as a trader to co-founding the AI Engineer Summit and helping define the emerging discipline of AI engineering. He draws parallels to previous waves like frontend and DevOps, noting how AI engineering is quickly becoming its own specialization with unique practices, tools, and community norms.They discuss where AI is genuinely driving productivity—particularly for developers—and where hype still outpaces adoption. Swyx offers a grounded perspective on concepts like maintainability in the age of agents, and what it means for teams when both humans and machines are shaping the codebase. The episode also explores how leaders can navigate internal vs. external AI strategy and why building strong mental models is essential for staying ahead in a fast-moving field.Four Keypoints for this Episode:- AI engineering as a discipline – Swyx outlines how AI engineering is emerging as a distinct field, similar to how frontend and DevOps evolved, with its own tooling, best practices, and professional identity.- Real vs. hyped productivity gains – While AI tools have meaningfully increased productivity for developers, especially in coding workflows, broader low-code and no-code adoption has yet to deliver the same level of impact.- Rethinking maintainability – Traditional ideas of code maintainability may shift as agent-generated code becomes more common. Readability remains crucial, but flexibility and agent compatibility may redefine what "good" code looks like.- Leadership in an AI-augmented world – Leaders should focus on both internal and external AI use cases, develop frameworks for experimentation, and encourage teams to learn in public to stay adaptive in a fast-moving ecosystem.Follow Shawn Wang on Social MediaTwitter/X: https://x.com/swyxLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawnswyxwang/Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/swyx.ioSponsored by This Dot: thisdot.co

In this episode of The Leadership Exchange, Danny Thompson sits down with Mike Davey, VP of Product at Raptor Maps, to explore the impact of AI on product design, team efficiency, and the renewable energy sector. Mike shares lessons from working across fintech, adtech, and now clean tech—highlighting how AI can drive data efficiency without compromising quality. They unpack the human side of leadership, including the balance between empathy and accountability, the power of user manuals at work, and what separates good hires from great ones.Keypoints from this episode:- AI in renewable energy – Mike discusses how large language models (LLMs) can improve data quality and efficiency in industries like clean tech by reducing manual work and unlocking value from messy or incomplete datasets.- Balance between efficiency and oversight – The conversation highlights the importance of maintaining a human feedback loop when using AI tools to avoid over-reliance and ensure quality doesn’t suffer in the pursuit of speed.- Creativity vs. automation – Mike shares a cautionary tale about how auto-generated content can flatten user experiences, emphasizing that AI should amplify human value—not replace it.- Hiring in the AI era – From adding “just enough friction” to application forms to looking for outcome-oriented thinking, Mike explains how leaders can spot strong candidates and foster growth through structure, not micromanagement.Chapter0:00 – AI bios and loss of differentiation0:40 – Intro to Mike Davey2:10 – AI and data efficiency in clean tech5:03 – Over-automation risks7:05 – Human oversight in AI processes10:01 – RAG and agentic workflows12:09 – Creativity loss with AI-generated content14:29 – AI tools in product and design18:25 – AI in hiring and filtering candidates21:48 – Identifying future leaders25:23 – OKRs and outcome thinking27:01 – Empathy vs accountability29:07 – User manuals for team alignment31:12 – Soft skills and adaptability33:43 – Wrap upFollow Mike Davie on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daveymichael/Sponsored by This Dot: thisdot.co

In this episode, Tracy Lee sits down with Trip Barnes from Insperity to talk about the winding paths of leadership, startup life, and personal growth. Together, Tracy and Trip unpack what it means to build something that lasts—whether that’s a business, a family, or a mini cheesecake company started from a random party conversation. They explore the tension between hustle and burnout, how to recognize when it’s time to pivot, and what founders often miss when it comes to building culture and caring for people.Keypoints from this Episode-Career pivots and personal growth – Trip Barnes reflects on navigating multiple jobs, grad school, and mental health challenges to eventually find meaningful work supporting small businesses and startups.- Burnout and work-life balance – Tracy and Trip discuss the cost of hustle culture, how overworking can impact health, and why it's crucial to recognize personal limits before it's too late.- The importance of people and culture – Founders often overlook culture early on; this episode highlights why investing in people, benefits, and a supportive environment is key to long-term success.- Startups, support systems, and serendipity – From escape rooms to cheesecake businesses, the episode shows how small conversations and strong support networks can lead to big shifts and unexpected opportunities.Chapters0:00 – Introduction4:23 – Career pivots and lessons from the hospitality industry7:31 – Mental health, burnout, and learning balance14:04 – Founder mindset vs CEO mindset21:22 – Delegation, trust, and scaling a team25:06 – Advice for people ready to pivot31:00 – Supporting startups through ATDC and closing thoughtsFollow Trip Barnes on Linkedin:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/trip-barnes/Sponsored by This Dot: thisdot.co

In this episode of Leadership Exchange, Rob Ocel is joined by Eric Poon, Head of IT at Shoppa’s Toyota Material Handling, for a fascinating conversation on the future of industry, the evolving role of humans in automation, and the ethical responsibilities of computing.Eric shares his journey from Peloton and PepsiCo to leading IT at a company with bold ambitions to double in size in five years. He breaks down what Industry 4.0 brought us—edge computing, IoT, automation—and why Industry 5.0 is the next step: one where humans and machines work together, not in competition.They explore why removing people entirely from the equation doesn't work, how data strategy underpins everything from AI to operational success, and what it really means to design ethical systems. Expect stories (including a wild AI résumé rejection), real-world insights on data governance, and a call for more human-centered approaches in tech.Key points from this episode:- Industry 5.0 emphasizes human-machine collaboration: While Industry 4.0 focused on automation and efficiency through technologies like IoT and edge computing, Industry 5.0 highlights the need for humans to work alongside machines—especially for creativity, nuance, and adaptability.- You can’t automate good judgment: Efforts to fully replace human workers with robots often fail. Eric shares that human insight is still critical, particularly in tasks that require context, subtlety, or ethical considerations.- Data strategy is foundational to AI success: Rather than jumping straight to AI, organizations must first build strong data governance practices. Without clean, well-structured data, even the best AI models will produce poor results.- Ethical computing goes beyond compliance: Designing responsible systems requires more than just following the law. Eric calls for integrating philosophy and ethics into tech development—especially as AI becomes more embedded in decision-making.Chapters0:00 – Why AI needs good data2:15 – What is Industry 5.0?4:56 – Why automation alone isn’t enough10:35 – Building a data strategy before AI19:39 – Ethics and responsibility in computing27:40 – Real-world AI failures and accountability36:18 – Final thoughts and how to connect with EricFollow Eric Poon on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/epoon02/Sponsored by This Dot: thisdot.co

In this episode of Leadership Exchange, Tracy Lee chats with healthcare IT leader and WIT board member Monique Weeks about how AI is reshaping healthcare—and what that means for patients, professionals, and the future of work.They talk about the fear of AI replacing jobs, the need for human oversight, and how documentation tools can improve the patient experience. Monique also shares why she took a sabbatical, how she's redefining success, and what inspired her upcoming podcast, Unmasked Conversations.Keypoints from this episode:- AI is helping reduce administrative overhead in healthcare, allowing professionals to spend more time with patients. Rather than replacing jobs, it's positioned to augment and empower teams.- Certifications like the free Salesforce AI associate and specialist tracks (available through 2025) are a great way for people to upskill and stay relevant in a rapidly evolving job market.- Taking time off, like a sabbatical, can be a powerful way to realign your career with your values. Monique shares how stepping back gave her clarity on what kind of leadership and company culture she wants next.- Generational conversations in the workplace often overlook that priorities shift with life stages. Instead of categorizing people by age, leaders should focus on meeting their teams where they are in life.Chapters0:00 Introduction and Welcome2:11 Salesforce AI Summit3:51 AI Adoption in Organizations8:02 AI Opportunities in Healthcare14:53 Healthcare Privacy Considerations17:06 Taking a Sabbatical21:42 Maintaining Well-being as an Executive23:54 Evolving Workplace Culture30:43 Upcoming Podcast: Unmask Conversations33:19 Closing InformationFollow Monique Weeks on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/moniquecweeks/Sponsored by This Dot: thisdot.co

Join Tracy Lee, CEO of This Dot Labs, in this episode of Leadership Exchange as she sits down with Nachi Desai, a technology leader who has held CTO roles at Beckett Collectibles, Nothing Bundt Cakes, and Oriental Trading Company.In this conversation, Tracy and Nachi explore the challenges of transitioning from engineering to leadership and the importance of understanding the business side of technology. Nachi shares insights from his career, including the hard lessons learned through failure, the shift from focusing on personal success to empowering others, and the value of mentorship. He also discusses why engineers should "eat their own dog food"—immersing themselves in the products they build to truly understand user needs.Keypoints from this episode:- Transitioning from engineering to leadership requires a mindset shift. Leadership isn’t about being the smartest person in the room—it’s about enabling others to succeed. Engineers looking to step up must develop soft skills, business awareness, and the ability to drive consensus.- Failure is the best teacher in leadership growth. Nachiket shares how his biggest leadership lessons came from failures, including losing his first C-level job due to a lack of engagement with peers. True growth happens when leaders embrace failure as a learning opportunity.- Understanding the business is just as important as understanding the tech. Engineers who want to grow into leadership roles must go beyond coding and understand business fundamentals—listening to earnings calls, engaging with finance and marketing teams, and solving the right problems instead of chasing trends.- "Eat your own dog food" to build better products. A great leader and engineer should immerse themselves in their product. Whether it’s baking at Nothing Bundt Cakes or collecting trading cards at Beckett Collectibles, Nachiket emphasizes the importance of using the products you build to truly understand customer needs.Chapters0:00 – Intro: Tracy Lee & Nachi Desai on Leadership1:01 – Nachi’s Journey: From Engineering to CTO3:55 – Learning Through Failure & Coaching10:02 – Engineers vs. Leaders: Mindset Shifts13:10 – Why Business Context Matters for Engineers18:26 – Growth, Communication & Culture Lessons25:20 – Mentorship, Motivation & Endgames29:26 – Reflections & Final ThoughtsFollow Nachi Desai on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nachiket/Sponsored by This Dot: thisdot.co

In this episode of the Leadership Exchange podcast, Tracy Lee chats with Michael Kovacs, former co-founder of Open Channel (acquired by Stripe), about the realities of startup sales, the importance of saying no to the wrong customers, and the evolving role of AI in SaaS. Michael shares how sales is really about helping people make progress, the lessons he learned from “painful yeses,” and why quality of revenue matters more than just closing deals. They also explore how AI could enable hyper-customized software experiences, reducing the need for manual integrations. Key points from this episode:- Sales is Helping, Not Just Selling – The best sales approach is guiding people toward the right solution, even if that means saying no.- Not All Revenue is Good Revenue – Taking on the wrong customers can hurt a business; prioritizing quality of revenue leads to better long-term success.- AI Will Enable Hyper-Customized SaaS – Future SaaS products could be tailored instantly for each user’s unique needs, eliminating one-size-fits-all software.- Most People Can Start a Business – The biggest barrier to entrepreneurship is mindset, not capability—just start.Chapters:00:00 AI: A Solution Looking for a Problem? 00:47 Welcome to The Leadership Exchange Podcast 02:03 From Startup to Acquisition: Michael’s Journey 05:23 The Reality of Selling in Startups 12:50 Saying No to the Wrong Customers 17:50 Customization at Scale: The Future of AI in SaaS 21:55 AI’s Potential in Different Industries 26:01 Advice for Founders: Just Start 27:40 Where to Find Michael KovacFollow Michael Kovacs on Social MediaLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeljkovacsSponsored by This Dot: thisdot.co