What if the biggest obstacle to innovation isn’t competition—but slow decision-making? Is slow decision making holding you back? In this episode of North Star Leadership, Lindsay Pedersen sits down with Jennifer Nuckles, Chairperson & CEO of R-Zero, to explore what it takes to lead across industries—from CPG to gaming, fintech, and health tech. Jennifer shares hard-won lessons on risk-taking, moving fast, and why leading with influence beats leading with authority. Whether you're a brand strategist, executive, or aspiring CEO, this conversation is packed with insights on navigating leadership at every level.

Key Takeaways:

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  Leadership Beyond Titles: The best leaders don’t rely on authority—they influence, inspire, and align people toward a common goal.


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  Making the Leap to CEO: The shift from CMO to CEO means owning every decision, from office space to product launches. The stakes are higher, but so is the impact.


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  Lessons from CPG to Tech: Traditional industries can be slow-moving, while tech embraces speed and risk. Jennifer explains why she left CPG to scale businesses at hyper-growth speeds.


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  Risk & Reward: Why moving fast—even if it means breaking things—is essential for companies aiming for exponential, rather than incremental, growth.


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  The Power of Cross-Industry Experience: Jennifer’s career spans CPG, fintech, gaming, and health tech. She shares why great leadership transcends industries.


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  The Hidden Challenge of Decision-Making: The biggest bottleneck in large organizations? Layers of approval. Jennifer contrasts CPG’s cautious approach with tech’s real-time agility.


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  Why Every CEO Needs Experts: Great leaders know their strengths—and surround themselves with the best minds to fill the gaps.

Resources:

Jennifer Nuckles on LinkedIn I R-Zero

Lindsay Pedersen - Contact me to tell me who you'd like to hear as a guest! | Connect with me on LinkedIn