Experience-Focused Leaders

Hosted by Alex Shevelenko

Business Entrepreneurship

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110

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Aug 2026

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About the show

Introducing Alex Shevelenko, CEO and founder of RELAYTO and the host of the Experienced-Focused Leaders Podcast. With a mission to empower seasoned business owners who recognize the critical role of customer experience in achieving success, Alex brings together a community of discerning listeners eager to explore new perspectives and strategies for enhancing their experience-centric approach. In our thought-provoking podcast episodes, we dive deep into the stories and insights of accomplished business owners who have honed their expertise in delivering exceptional customer experiences. These industry veterans possess a wealth of knowledge and practical experience, making them valuable resources for our audience of seasoned professionals who are passionate about creating meaningful connections with their customers. Our podcast serves as a platform for exchanging ideas, sharing best practices, and exploring innovative approaches to customer experience. We understand that our audience is composed of discerning individuals who have already achieved considerable success and are constantly seeking new ways to elevate their customer-centric strategies. If you are a seasoned business owner with a profound understanding of the significance of customer experience in driving business growth, we invite you to join us as a guest on our podcast. Share your unique insights, success stories, and the strategies that have set you apart in your industry.

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60 recent

August 21, 202638 min

49 – Stop Trying to Fix People: How Changing the Conversation Changes Everything

Your host Alex Shevelenko welcomes Sonja Lyubomirsky, Vice Chair of Psychology at UC Riverside, renowned happiness scientist, and author of How to Feel Loved: The 5 Mindsets That Get You More of What Matters Most . In this episode, Sonja shares her evidence-based, systematic take on why conventional happiness interventions frequently fall short if they don't foster deep human connection, especially in professional environments where leaders hold back from expressing warmth out of a fear that corporate culture won't approve. Sonja discusses the evolution of her 37-year career as a positive psychology pioneer—from studying the stark cultural contrasts of Russian and American happiness expressions as an immigrant to co-authoring her latest book with relationship scientist Harry Reis. She explains why feeling loved and connected is the fundamental driver of human well-being, emphasizing that whether in personal life or the workplace, the goal is not to force personal changes, but simply to "change the conversation." She introduces her core connection framework—distilling decades of research into simple formulas like Feeling Loved = To Know and To Be Known, driven by Asking + Listening + Sharing—and shares practical mindsets like "Multiplicity" to help people view colleagues and partners as complex quilts of traits rather than judging them by single flaws. The conversation also touches on the practicalities of executive leadership and team culture, including Sonja's advice on using active curiosity, vulnerable sharing, and high-quality listening to eliminate isolation and build high-trust workplace relationships without paying mere lip service to the word "love." She shares insights on overcoming evolutionary "friend-or-foe" biases, avoiding the trap of assuming you already know everything about long-term colleagues or partners, and adapting connection dynamics across different personality types, cultures, and neurodivergent individuals. This episode serves as a masterclass for any leader, marketer, or executive looking to move beyond dry corporate pitches and build a communication engine that drives real workplace engagement and human connection. To connect with Sonja, find her on LinkedIn or visit her websites at HowToFeelLoved.com and SonjaLyubomirsky.com . You can also find her book, How to Feel Loved , on Amazon and major booksellers. Want to be a guest on the show? Contact us here . To learn more about RELAYTO, visit RELAYTO.com .

August 14, 20261 hr 4 min

48 – Don’t Take It So Seriously: How to Engineer Fun at Work

Your host Alex Shevelenko welcomes Andrew Tarvin, CEO of Humor That Works, the world’s first "humor engineer," author of 501 Ways to Use Humor at Work , and former Procter & Gamble computer scientist. In this episode, Andrew shares his counterintuitive, systematic take on why conventional workplace communication frequently feels stiff and dry, especially in professional environments where employees hold back their sense of humor out of a fear that colleagues or leadership won't approve. Andrew discusses the evolution of his career from balancing a tech job at P&G with late-night stand-up comedy to training over 35,000 professionals across organizations like IBM, P&G, and the FBI on bringing levity to work. He explains why workplace humor is fundamentally different from stand-up comedy—emphasizing that the goal is not to be edgy or perform a Netflix-level routine, but simply to make work slightly more fun and engaging. He introduces his "Humor MAP" framework—breaking down how Medium, Audience, and Purpose dictate how levity should be applied—and shares practical techniques like the "comic triple," extended metaphors, and the 5x5 List method to create pattern interrupts that reduce stress, reset perspective, and boost productivity. The conversation also touches on the practicalities of go-to-market communication and corporate culture, including Andrew's advice on using curated humor (like the $1 million "porpoise" follow-up meme) to re-engage ghosted sales leads without trying too hard. He shares insights on using self-deprecating humor and "straw man" profiles to inspire behavioral change without making clients or team members feel stupid, as well as how AI can serve as a creative partner for brainstorming setups. This episode serves as a masterclass for any leader, marketer, or executive looking to move beyond dry corporate pitches and build a communication engine that drives real workplace engagement. To connect with Andrew, find him on LinkedIn or visit his website at humorthatworks.com . You can also find his book, 501 Ways to Use Humor at Work , on Audible and Amazon. Want to be a guest on the show? Contact us here . To learn more about RELAYTO, visit relayto.com .

August 7, 202643 min

47 – Why Customers Don't Buy Pain Points or ROI

Your host Alex Shevelenko welcomes Rob Snyder, an author, startup advisor, Harvard Business School MBA, and former McKinsey consultant. In this episode, Rob shares his counterintuitive, physics-based take on why conventional startup wisdom and traditional sales playbooks frequently fail, especially in a B2B landscape where founders are taught to push product features and showcase ROI over understanding genuine customer behavior. Rob discusses the evolution of his thinking from getting "punched in the face" by early startup failures to scaling a business to $104 million in revenue in two years without understanding why it finally clicked. He explains why modern B2B discovery often feels like an interrogation, with founders hollowing out buyer trust by clinging to rigid qualification frameworks like BANT or MEDDIC and running lengthy, non-aerodynamic product demos. He introduces his "Pull Framework"—breaking down how active Projects, Unavoidable needs, Limited options, and inherent Limitations dictate whether a customer will truly buy—providing a blueprint for eliminating up to 100% of unnecessary demos and pilots to compress 18-month sales cycles down to weeks. As the conversation explores enterprise friction, Rob highlights why inbound interest doesn't guarantee a sale, and why the most resilient founders will be those who hunt for internal "change agents" rather than relying on superficial pain points. The conversation also touches on the practicalities of enterprise sales physics and the psychology of buyer motivation, including Rob's advice on how to uncover a prospect's personal "so that" drivers without creating artificial urgency. He shares insights from advising hundreds of near-death startups, explaining how analyzing real customer data—specifically fast buyers and resurrected leads—can reveal the exact triggers that cause a customer to pull a product out of a founder's hands. This episode serves as a masterclass for any founder, revenue leader, or growth executive looking to move beyond "answer-obsessed" pitches and build a go-to-market engine that is operationally equipped to drive real velocity. To connect with Rob, find him on LinkedIn or visit his website at RobSnyder.org . You can also find his book, The Power of Pull , on Audible and Amazon. Want to be a guest on the show? Contact us here . To learn more about RELAYTO, visit: relayto.com .

July 23, 202651 min

46 – How to Build Your "Uncertainty Muscle" When the Stakes Are High

Your host Alex Shevelenko welcomes Elizabeth Weingarten, a journalist, applied behavioral scientist, and author of How to Fall in Love with Questions . In this episode, Elizabeth shares her visionary take on why active curiosity and emotional regulation are critical to cutting through modern friction, especially in a world where AI tools and corporate pressure push us toward fast, easy answers over genuine understanding. Elizabeth discusses the evolution of her thinking from navigating personal and professional turning points during the pandemic to studying the cognitive science behind how we handle ambiguity. She explains why modern business communication often feels like a misunderstood struggle, with leaders hollowing out team trust by romanticizing curiosity in theory while demanding rigid certainty in high-stakes meetings. She introduces her "Tree Framework" for categorizing questions—distinguishing short-term "Peach" queries from long-term "Pawpaw" challenges and core "Heartwood" values—providing a blueprint for letting go of ruminative "Dead Leaf" thoughts and focusing on the inquiries that actually drive growth. As the conversation explores the future of AI, Elizabeth highlights why instant digital answers risk atrophying our "uncertainty muscles," and why the most resilient leaders will be those who prioritize intentional, open-ended inquiry over knee-jerk solutions. The conversation also touches on the practicalities of leadership and the psychology of team trust, including Elizabeth's advice on how to move beyond defensive management by taking a strategic pause—a simple "Hmm" —to regulate emotions under pressure. She shares insights from years spent analyzing how people and teams process fear and ambiguity, explaining how reframing binary choices into expansive questions can protect a company's operational clarity and even heal interpersonal relationships. This episode serves as a masterclass for any tech, operations, or personal growth leader looking to move beyond "answer-obsessed" culture and build an environment that is philosophically and mentally equipped to stay curious in an era of unprecedented digital uncertainty. To connect with Elizabeth, find her on LinkedIn or visit her website at elizabethweingarten.com . You can also read her leadership and behavioral science thoughts on her Substack, Time Travel for Beginners . Want to be a guest on the show? Contact us HERE . To learn more about RELAYTO, visit: relayto.com .

July 10, 202655 min

45 – The 1,000-Yard Stare: How Near-Death Rewrites Success

Your host Alex Shevelenko welcomes Ted Elliott, CEO of Copado and experienced tech entrepreneur. In this episode, Ted shares his visionary take on why operational alignment and deep empathy are critical to cutting through modern business friction, especially in a world where corporate complexity and generative AI are rapidly rewriting the rules of leadership and enterprise communication. Ted discusses the evolution of his thinking from serving on the frontlines as a first-time founder navigating the heavy "burden of foundership" to stepping into global leadership roles across high-growth startups and tech unicorns. He explains why modern business communication often feels like a misunderstood struggle, with executive teams hollowing out their alignment by misinterpreting their own goals and operational data. He introduces the concept of navigating "the thousand-yard stare" of veteran leadership—a blueprint for balancing highly ambitious growth targets with the narrow, disciplined focus required to solve an organization’s or a customer’s most urgent distribution needs. As the conversation explores the future of AI, Ted highlights why the speed of automated tools cannot replace the clear, intentional connection of a trusted message, and why the most resilient enterprise organizations will be those that prioritize verified internal communication tools over unguided data sprawl. The conversation also touches on the practicalities of leadership and the psychology of team trust, including Ted’s advice on how to move beyond defensive, reactionary management by adopting an empathetic, open-minded approach to feedback. He shares insights from his decades spent analyzing how information and software spread across global, multicultural markets, explaining how practicing radical transparency and strategic simplicity can protect a company’s operational speed and even save a leader's organizational trust. This episode serves as a masterclass for any tech or operations leader looking to move beyond "innovation theater" and build a corporate ecosystem that is philosophically and technically equipped to stay aligned in an era of unprecedented digital uncertainty. To connect with Ted, find him on LinkedIn or view his leadership thoughts on the Forbes Technology Council. You can also visit copado.com to see his vision for high-integrity DevOps and automated software delivery in action. Don't just build a product—build the trust to solve the world's problems! Want to be a guest on the show? Contact us at info@relayto.com. To learn more about RELAYTO, visit: relayto.com .

July 3, 20261 hr 4 min

44 – How to Turn "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly" of Pharma Data into a Trusted Asset

Your host Alex Shevelenko welcomes Michelle Bridenbaker, Global Head of Medical Excellence and Communications at Recordati, Vice President of MILE, and CEO of Unbiased Science . In this episode, Michelle shares her visionary take on why scientific transparency and human empathy are critical to cutting through the modern "attention economy," especially in a world where social media algorithms and generative AI are rapidly rewriting the rules of healthcare communication. Michelle discusses the evolution of her thinking from serving on the frontlines as a critical care nurse to stepping into global leadership roles across drug safety and medical affairs. She explains why modern medical communication often feels like a misunderstood struggle, with clinicians hollowing out their limited patient time to meet heavy administrative demands. She introduces the concept of navigating "the good, the bad, and the ugly" of data—a blueprint for balancing highly regulated information with the narrow, disciplined focus required to solve a patient's or clinician's most urgent health literacy needs. As the conversation explores the future of AI, Michelle highlights why the speed of generative tools cannot replace the "human connection" of a trusted messenger, and why the most resilient healthcare organizations will be those that prioritize verified, guardrailed data environments over generic internet content. The conversation also touches on the practicalities of leadership and the psychology of public trust, including Michelle’s advice on how to move beyond defensive, judgmental communication by adopting an empathetic, open-ended approach to patient inquiries. She shares insights from her decades spent analyzing how information spreads across global, multicultural markets, explaining how practicing radical transparency and data literacy can protect a company’s compliance and even save a clinician's professional trust. This episode serves as a masterclass for any life sciences leader looking to move beyond "innovation theater" and build an communication ecosystem that is philosophically and technically equipped to stay trusted in an era of unprecedented digital uncertainty. To connect with Michelle, find her on LinkedIn or follow her insights at unbiasedscipod.com. You can also visit mile-association.org to see her vision for high-integrity medical information leadership in action. Don't just build a product—build the trust to solve the world's problems! Want to be a guest on the show? Contact us HERE . To learn more about RELAYTO, visit: relayto.com.

June 29, 202655 min

39 – Why Investors Aren't Buying Your Startup

Your host Alex Shevelenko welcomes Sephi Shapira , a four-time tech founder, author of Fundable , and a legendary coach who has helped founders secure over a billion dollars in venture funding. In this episode, Sephi shares his visionary take on why "fundability" is an internal quality of the leader rather than a metric of the business, especially in a world where AI is rapidly rewriting the rules of entrepreneurship. Sephi discusses the evolution of his thinking from raising $100M+ for his own startups to coaching the next generation of "Unicorn" founders. He explains why modern fundraising often feels like a misunderstood struggle, hollowing out the energy of even the most motivated entrepreneurs. He introduces the concept of "The Prize" —a blueprint for balancing high-level vision with the narrow, disciplined focus required to solve a customer's most painful "buzzing in the ear" problems. As the conversation explores the future of AI, Sephi highlights why the speed of generative tools cannot replace the "coherency" of a human founder, and why the most resilient brands will be those that prioritize "market pull" over merely forcing a product into existence. The conversation also touches on the practicalities of leadership and the psychology of performance, including Sephi’s advice on how to move beyond "Blunder Mode" by adopting a "Victor Mentality." He shares insights from his decades spent analyzing why some startups thrive while others fail, explaining how practicing radical responsibility can protect a company’s mission and even save a founder’s mental health. This episode serves as a masterclass for any leader looking to move beyond "innovation theater" and build an organization that is philosophically and technically equipped to stay "fundable" in an era of unprecedented uncertainty. To connect with Sephi, find him on LinkedIn or follow his insights at sephyshapira.com . You can also visit sephyshapira.com/book to see his vision for high-integrity fundraising in action. Don't just build a product—build the fundability to solve the world's problems! Want to be a guest on the show? Contact us at relayto.com/contact . To learn more about RELAYTO , visit: relayto.com .

June 26, 202645 min

43 – Rebranding the CMO: Drop the "ING" and Speak the CEO's Language

Your host Alex Shevelenko welcomes Payal Raina, an experienced corporate marketing leader and the founder of the fin.tech marketing community. In this episode, Payal shares her visionary take on why smart communication, human connection, and long-term relationships are the ultimate competitive advantages in a world increasingly dominated by trillion-dollar tech shifts and AI. Payal discusses the evolution of her thinking from her early days during the pandemic to her decision to bootstrap a global network that breaks down industry-specific silos to bring traditional finance, fintech, and tech infrastructure together. She explains why modern corporate "best practices" of hiding behind generic demand generation tricks and vanity metrics can often feel like a trap, hollowing out an organization's focus by prioritizing transactional numbers over earning genuine trust from real customers. She introduces the reality of presenting complex B2B strategies—breaking through the noise of crowded markets by prioritizing "peer validation" and clear storytelling above all else. As the conversation explores the future of corporate leadership and fast-paced client relationships, Payal highlights why her community has become a core trusted advisory layer for over 25,000 members globally, and why the most resilient brands will be those that rebrand themselves to speak the numbers-driven language of the CEO. The conversation also touches on the practicalities of leadership and the psychology of client engagement, including Payal's advice on how to protect an organization from digital detachment by servicing both human buyers and the emerging world of "machine customers" with structured, interactive content. She shares insights from her decades spent scaling marketing efforts, explaining how a simple, intentional focus on building a true sense of belonging can blossom into an unbreakable foundation of client loyalty. She also breaks down her deliberate, highly personal playbooks for keeping a growing network deeply connected—from encouraging board members to pay it forward to fostering high-engagement global events that feel like an authentic reunion. This episode serves as a masterclass for any leader looking to move beyond "innovation theater" and build an organization that is philosophically and humanly equipped to stay resilient in an era of unprecedented uncertainty. To connect with Payal, find her on LinkedIn (Payal Raina). You can also visit fintechmarketingcommunity.com to see her vision for authentic, high-value communication in action and sign up for their free forum. Don't just build a product—build the skills to solve the world's problems! Want to be a guest on the show? Contact us at support@relayto.com. To learn more about RELAYTO, visit: relayto.com.

June 23, 20261 hr 5 min

38 – Why Your Childhood "Programs" Are Tanking Your Startup

Your host Alex Shevelenko welcomes Dave Hersh , the visionary founder of Jive Software, an active investor, and the author of the upcoming book The Eros Advantage . In this episode, Dave shares his deep-dive into why human connection and psychological awareness are the ultimate competitive advantages in an era where AI is rapidly commoditizing traditional business "moats." Dave discusses the evolution of his thinking from his journey leading Jive Software through its 2011 IPO to his work today coaching high-impact leaders. He explains why modern "hyper-growth" culture often creates a destructive monoculture, pushing startups to scale prematurely and hollow out the creative spirit of the organization. He introduces the concept of "Emotional Market Fit" —a blueprint for moving beyond functional pain points to understand the subconscious desires and identity shifts of the people a company serves. As the conversation explores the future of AI, Dave highlights why "ego-fueled" leadership is becoming a liability and why the most resilient brands will be those that prioritize "World Building" over mere transactional marketing. The conversation also touches on the practicalities of leadership and the psychology of performance, including Dave’s advice on the "Inner Board Meeting." He shares a framework for diagnosing the "shadow parts" of a founder’s personality—such as the warrior, the child, or the hero—explaining how internal alignment can protect a company’s mission and even save a leader’s personal well-being. This episode serves as a masterclass for any leader looking to move beyond "innovation theater" and build an organization that is philosophically and technically equipped to stay "alive" in an era of unprecedented uncertainty. To connect with Dave, find him on LinkedIn or follow his insights at davehersh.com . You can also subscribe to his newsletter to see his vision for human-first business moats in action. Don't just build a product—build a world where people want to belong! Want to be a guest on the show? Contact us at relayto.com/contact . To learn more about RELAYTO , visit: relayto.com .

June 19, 202642 min

42 – Words Matter: The Secret to Winning in a Zero-Sum Market

Your host Alex Shevelenko welcomes Michael Marcon, the founder and CEO of Symphony Risk Solutions. In this episode, Michael shares his visionary take on why smart communication, human connection, and long-term relationships are the ultimate competitive advantages in a world increasingly dominated by trillion-dollar tech shifts and AI. Michael discusses the evolution of his thinking from his early days as a multi-time founder to his team's decision to build Symphony Risk around industry-specific specialties that harmonize like a finely-tuned orchestra. He explains why modern corporate "best practices" of hiding behind massive legal disclaimers and industry jargon can often feel like a trap, hollowing out an organization's focus by prioritizing transactional metrics over earning genuine trust from real customers. He introduces the reality of presenting complex risk strategies—breaking through the noise of crowded markets by refusing to use confusing acronyms and prioritizing clarity above all else. As the conversation explores the future of corporate leadership and fast-paced client relationships, Michael highlights why his firm has become a core trusted advisory layer for high-stakes industries like private equity, and why the most resilient brands will be those that offer open, transparent solutions instead of burying their value behind endless caveats. The conversation also touches on the practicalities of leadership and the psychology of client engagement, including Michael's advice on how to protect an organization from digital detachment by focusing presentations on a clear "headline" of expectations that buyers can easily digest. He shares insights from his four decades spent scaling firms, explaining how a simple, intentional focus on plain English and targeted analogies can blossom into an unbreakable foundation of client loyalty. He also breaks down his deliberate, highly personal playbooks for keeping a growing team and network deeply connected—from sending handwritten client notes to personally signing birthday cards for every employee. This episode serves as a masterclass for any leader looking to move beyond "innovation theater" and build an organization that is philosophically and humanly equipped to stay resilient in an era of unprecedented uncertainty. To connect with Michael, find him on LinkedIn (Michael Marcon) or reach out directly to his team at michael.marcon@symphonyrisk.com. You can also visit symphonyrisk.com to see his vision for authentic, high-value communication in action. Don't just build a product—build the skills to solve the world's problems! Want to be a guest on the show? Contact us at support@relayto.com. To learn more about RELAYTO, visit: relayto.com.