A Geek Leader Podcast - inspiring technical and creative leaders around the world

Hosted by John Rouda: technical leader, author, speaker, educator

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Episodes

480

Latest episode

Aug 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

The ultimate podcast for aspiring leaders in the creative or technology fields. John Rouda discusses leadership topics, interviews some of the greatest minds today and teaches you practical leadership tips, techniques, tricks and hacks to improve motivation, negotiation, and other much needed skills for leaders today.

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60 recent

August 14, 202631 min

AGL 482: Ekaterina Gorbacheva

About Ekaterina Ekaterina Gorbacheva is Global Expansion Director at Udora, a fast-growing gifting platform operating across 50+ countries and 1,500+ cities. She leads international growth through an experiment-driven approach, combining real-time localization data, customer insight, and cross-cultural product thinking to build systems that scale without adding headcount. Under her leadership, Udora has delivered 123% YoY order growth and 129% GMV growth. She manages CRM, content, partnerships, and optimisation teams across 10 time zones, and has secured strategic partnerships with 10+ UAE banks and fintech companies, with expansion now active in Brazil and Spain. Before Udora, she co-founded Spare Leash as CPO, launched a fully functional MVP in two months, expanded into the Chinese market during COVID, doubled the user base in six weeks, and automated all operations to keep the business running at full capacity without her direct involvement. Today We Talked About Background Localization Digital Behavoir Culture and expanding globally AI’s role AI Training for all teams Give yourself a Deadline Accountability Go for it. Connect with Ekaterina LinkedIn Website Leave me a tip $ Click here to Donate to the show I hope you enjoyed this show, please head over to Apple Podcasts and subscribe and leave me a rating and review, even one sentence will help spread the word. Thanks again!

August 7, 202629 min

AGL 481: Rob Snyder and The Power of PULL

About Rob Rob Snyder is a serial startup founder and a fellow at Harvard Innovation Labs. He graduated from Harvard Business School and previously worked at McKinsey & Company. He is also an entrepreneur-in-residence and venture partner for early-stage venture capital funds. Snyder lives with his wife and daughter in New Hampshire. Today We Talked About Rob’s background Entrepreneurship is hard PULL Framework P = Problem (the customer has a real problem or project they need to accomplish) U = Unavoidable (they can’t simply ignore it or postpone it indefinitely) L = Limitations (existing solutions have meaningful shortcomings) L = Looking (the customer is actively looking for a better solution) Painpoints and Problems Start-up Journey What is real demand? Demand exsist out there… you just have to find it What to do if your product isn’t gaining traction? Bottom-up Model Guide to staying sane as a founder Serve people that are stuck Connect with Rob LinkedIn Website Book Leave me a tip $ Click here to Donate to the show I hope you enjoyed this show, please head over to Apple Podcasts and subscribe and leave me a rating and review, even one sentence will help spread the word. Thanks again!

July 31, 202637 min

AGL 480: Craig Taylor with CyberHoot

About Craig Craig Taylor is a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) since 2001 and a 30-year veteran of cybersecurity. In 2014, he co-founded CyberHoot, a cybersecurity awareness training company built on a simple but powerful premise: people learn better through positive reinforcement than through fear. CyberHoot serves more than 350 MSP partners, 100 direct customers, and over 100,000 end users worldwide. Craig also leads a cybersecurity consultancy that has delivered virtual Chief Information Security Officer (vCISO) services to more than 50 companies across a wide range of industries and sizes. Throughout his career, Craig has led cybersecurity organizations at the intersection of high stakes and high complexity. He built and led security teams in web hosting at CSC, financial services at JP Morgan Chase, and manufacturing at Vistaprint, each environment demanding a different approach to culture, risk tolerance, and human behavior. Those experiences taught him that the hardest cybersecurity problems are rarely technical. They are organizational. Getting people to change behavior, make better decisions under pressure, and take ownership of their role in security requires the same skills as any leadership challenge: trust, clear communication, and a culture where doing the right thing is rewarded rather than punished. That insight is the foundation CyberHoot was built on. Beyond the business, Craig brings a lifelong commitment to service and personal development. He is a Toastmaster, a Rotarian in Portsmouth, NH, and a 12-year Pan-Mass Challenge rider who has raised more than $150,000 for Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, covering 192 miles every August in support of cancer research. Today We Talked About Background Cyber Security Security Awareness Training Cyber Awareness based on psychology How is AI affecting this? 20% off for Podcast Referral code “AGEEKLEADER” Rewards and incentives Eliminate the Deception based cyber training AI Slop Mythos Retention Policy New Risks… Zero Days Connect with Craig LinkedIn Website Leave me a tip $ Click here to Donate to the show I hope you enjoyed this show, please head over to Apple Podcasts and subscribe and leave me a rating and review, even one sentence will help spread the word. Thanks again!

July 24, 202633 min

AGL 479: Uma Subramanian on The Sought After Leader

About Uma Uma Subramanian founded Limitless Leaders to help mid-career tech professionals become confident leaders who inspire trust, build influence, and drive meaningful impact in their careers. With over two decades of experience in the tech industry, including a 20-year tenure at Microsoft, she understands the challenges of stepping into leadership roles, gaining recognition, and thriving in today’s fast-paced workplace. Uma is on a mission to build a community of empowered, sought-after leaders in tech. Her coaching programs provide the mindset, tools, and strategies needed to lead authentically, think strategically, and achieve measurable success—without sacrificing personal well-being. By blending practical strategies with actionable insights, she helps professionals grow into impactful leaders who inspire teams and deliver results. Her expertise spans communication, emotional intelligence, and strategic leadership, enabling her clients to lead with clarity and purpose. Uma brings deep expertise through certifications in Executive Coaching, DISC Behavioral Analysis, and the Corporate Facilitator Program from Maxwell Leadership. She has also completed advanced training in Positive Psychology, Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), and Coaching for Leaders through Seattle Coach. Outside of work, Uma is a proud mom of two teenagers and a beloved dog. She enjoys exploring personal development books, traveling to new destinations, and dancing to the vibrant beats of Bollywood music. Uma is deeply committed to balancing a fulfilling career with family life and inspiring others to live with purpose and intention. Today We Talked About Time at Microsoft Individual contributor to Manager Work on yourself first Leadership Coaching Perception Gap Hardwork isn’t enough SOAR Framework Strategic Impact Outstanding Communication and Influence Authroity and Personal Brand Relationship The Value you bring vs. the Value others see Communicate the Value Evaluate the Value Connect with Uma LinkedIn Website Book Leave me a tip $ Click here to Donate to the show I hope you enjoyed this show, please head over to Apple Podcasts and subscribe and leave me a rating and review, even one sentence will help spread the word. Thanks again!

July 17, 202634 min

AGL 478: Chris Miller on Taxes

About Chris Chris Miller is the Founder and CEO of One Atlanta Tax Solutions, a firm dedicated to delivering advanced tax strategies for accredited investors, business owners, and high-income professionals. A Certified Tax and Business Advisor (CTBA) with over 16 years of experience, Chris has focused his career on entrepreneurship and tax mitigation—helping clients legally reduce tax exposure while improving overall capital efficiency. Chris built One Atlanta Tax Solutions to address a structural gap in traditional tax planning, where most advisors focus on reactive strategy rather than proactive strategy. Under his leadership, the firm specializes in institutional-grade solutions designed to reduce tax liability and optimize capital deployment, including leveraged charitable structures, alternative investment strategies, and advanced tax mitigation frameworks. He works closely with a national network of CPAs, financial advisors, and strategic partners to source, structure, and implement high-impact opportunities. His approach is centered on preserving client capital and repositioning it for more efficient long-term outcomes. Chris remains actively involved in client strategy, partner development, and firm growth, and has positioned One Atlanta Tax Solutions as a resource for individuals seeking solutions beyond conventional tax planning. Today We Talked About Background Tax savings Big Beautiful Bill Taxes Bonus Planning ahead Exit Strategies W2 strategies 1 year of planning for FREE! (mention you heard about it on A Geek Leader) AI Connect With Chris LinkedIn Website Leave me a tip $ Click here to Donate to the show I hope you enjoyed this show, please head over to Apple Podcasts and subscribe and leave me a rating and review, even one sentence will help spread the word. Thanks again!

July 10, 202633 min

AGL 477: Chris Hallberg

About Chris Chris’s passion is helping entrepreneurs achieve their vision by enabling them to get more of what they want from their businesses. He does this by transforming the traditional business mindset into a more disciplined, execution-focused, military-inspired approach. Having spent nine years in military and civilian law enforcement roles—leading others at a young age—he draws on the best of his leadership training and real-world experience across both military and business environments. He is currently authoring his first book, The Business Sergeant’s Field Manual: Military-Grade Business Execution Without All the Yelling and Push-Ups . In it, he outlines a practical framework for building high-performance teams that “re-enlist” every quarter by embracing a structured leadership style and implementing a simple, proven business operating system that keeps all aspects of the organization aligned. At the core of his approach is EOS® (the Entrepreneurial Operating System), created by Gino Wickman. He considers EOS the “silver bullet” for business execution. EOS is a comprehensive, proven system that integrates a holistic business model with a complete set of simple tools designed to align and synchronize every part of an organization—helping businesses achieve the results they’ve always wanted. More than 5,000 companies have used EOS to take their organizations to the next level. Through EOS, leadership teams experience: Vision: Ensuring everyone in the organization is 100% aligned on where the company is going and how it will get there. Traction: Building discipline and accountability so teams consistently execute on that vision. Healthy: Creating a cohesive, functional leadership team—because great organizations require leaders who truly work well together. Today We Talked About Background Military Service Agentic AI EOS – Entrepreneurial Operating System Vision Values Mission Goals Rocks Long-term Issues People right people in the right seats Data What are your metrics? Weekly, Monthly, Yearly Issues 7 Day Action Items Process Traction Bring the vision down GoExpand – AI Connect with Chris Business Sargent LinkedIn GoExpand Leave me a tip $ Click here to Donate to the show I hope you enjoyed this show, please head over to Apple Podcasts and subscribe and leave me a rating and review, even one sentence will help spread the word. Thanks again!

July 3, 202626 min

AGL 476: Tyler Wells on BrainGrid AI

About Tyler Tyler Wells is a veteran software engineer, entrepreneur, and podcast host with more than 25 years of experience building complex systems at scale. He is the Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer of BrainGrid AI, where he leads innovation at the intersection of data, AI, and intelligent infrastructure. Prior to BrainGrid, Tyler spent time at Twilio and Skype, contributing to high-growth tech environments. In 2021, he left Twilio to launch his own venture. Tyler is a passionate investor, proud father, and husband who brings a practical, battle-tested perspective to conversations about AI, data strategy, engineering leadership, and entrepreneurship. Today We Talk About Background Building with AI AI Product Management Specifications Get good at the tools Use AI against itself Ask it Scale yourself Use hooks for your specs Connect with Tyler LinkedIn Website Leave me a tip $ Click here to Donate to the show I hope you enjoyed this show, please head over to Apple Podcasts and subscribe and leave me a rating and review, even one sentence will help spread the word. Thanks again!

June 26, 202634 min

AGL 475: Marissa McCourry

About Marissa Marissa is an executive coach and leadership development expert who coaches high-achieving senior leaders in need of external perspective. Her career spans academia, consulting, and corporate leadership, giving her a well-rounded point of view on how leaders are groomed and supported for the future. She has designed executive education programs at Thunderbird School of Global Management and the University of Arizona, built large-scale experiential and simulation-based leadership programs with BTS (a global consulting firm), and led enterprise-wide talent and leadership strategies as Director of Global Leadership Development at Vanguard and Visa. Through her firm, mFluence Coaching & Consulting, Marissa partners with leaders to translate insight into action—helping them adopt new mindsets, shift behaviors, and achieve measurable results in both their professional and personal lives. She measures success by her clients’ breakthroughs: the “aha” moments that lead to lasting change. What sets Marissa apart is her ability to bring three lenses to every engagement: academic rigor (for proven, evidence-based science), external consulting expertise, and firsthand corporate experience developing senior leaders. She understands leadership theory and how it works in real organizational life when the rubber meets the road. Today We Talked About Background Leadership Emotional Intelligence What Coaches don’t do What Coaches do EQ Assessments Happiness Improving your EQ Self-Awareness Connect With Marissa LinkedIn Website Leave me a tip $ Click here to Donate to the show I hope you enjoyed this show, please head over to Apple Podcasts and subscribe and leave me a rating and review, even one sentence will help spread the word. Thanks again!

June 19, 202641 min

AGL 474: Louis Carter

About Louise Louis Carter is the founder and CEO of Most Loved Workplace® and Best Practice Institute. He’s an organizational psychologist who helps leaders understand what actually makes people love where they work — and how that shows up in performance, reputation, and results. Louis created the Love of Workplace Index™ and SPARK™ framework, which use real employee sentiment and behavioral data to measure trust, respect, and emotional connection at work. His research powers the annual Most Loved Workplaces® rankings featured in The Wall Street Journal and The Economist. Beyond research, Louis builds and advises AI-enabled platforms that translate culture into real-world signals used by leaders, candidates, and modern search and AI systems. He’s the author of In Great Company and a frequent voice on leadership, culture, and the future of work. Today We Talked About Background Most Loved Workplace Volunteering together Culture Equality – know everyone’s name SPARK Love of Workplace Index Courage and Bravery No Brainer Hire In Great Company Fear is a learned behavior Ask for what you want 100% of the time Let go of what you think you know… Mistakes leaders make What you feed, becomes your culture…. acountability Rules Team vs. Family Ray Williams – Springfield Clinic story Doing the right thing Problems are on your shoulders…make peace with that. VISAPAGE Connect with Louise Company Books Website LinkedIn Leave me a tip $ Click here to Donate to the show I hope you enjoyed this show, please head over to Apple Podcasts and subscribe and leave me a rating and review, even one sentence will help spread the word. Thanks again!

June 12, 202627 min

AGL 473: Dustin Domerese

About Dustin Dustin Domerese is a thought leader and technology innovator within the Microsoft ecosystem. He delivers his vast technical experience in the CRM, ERP, and Software Development industries to business leaders, end-users, and technical leaders throughout the community. Working for Barclays, EMC2, HP, and Microsoft before his founding of multiple companies has provided a wealth of industry knowledge and expertise. Dustin is a consultant for over three hundred companies across various industries; he is a senior software developer and public speaker. As an entrepreneur, he has founded multiple technology companies in different sectors. As a technology innovator Dustin has trained and worked with hundreds of partners in the Microsoft, SAP, Oracle, and Salesforce ecosystems. His company, Dynamic Consultants Group, has been a finalist in the Microsoft partner channel awards for empowering the Microsoft partner community and advises their clients on all things digital transformation and technology. Dustin has been a speaker worldwide, presenting many technology-focused sessions with Microsoft. As his hobby, Dustin is an accomplished musician, outdoor enthusiast, and a mostly terrible golfer. Today We Talked About Background Digital Transformation Processes and Mistakes Growth Companies Rescue Companies Software selection process Failure to Launch… Clear Requirements Live in a 90 day world Connect with Dustin LinkedIn Website Book Leave me a tip $ Click here to Donate to the show I hope you enjoyed this show, please head over to Apple Podcasts and subscribe and leave me a rating and review, even one sentence will help spread the word. Thanks again!