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Grand Slam Journey

Grand Slam Journey

Hosted by Klara Jagosova

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Episodes

94

Latest episode

Jul 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

Grand Slam Journey explores how lessons from competitive sports shape life, career, and business transitions. I host conversations with athletes, business leaders, and tech innovators, uncovering purposeful mindsets and tangible strategies — from leadership and trust to decision-making frameworks and emerging technologies, such as AI. Each episode offers actionable insights for thriving physically, mentally, and professionally, helping you navigate transitions and unlock your full human potential. Available in audio and video on YouTube.

Listen to episodes

60 recent
July 31, 20261 hr 14 min

94. Stephen Rose | From 5 Airborne to Tech CEO: Military Leadership, AI & Scaling Render Networks

In this episode, Klara Jagosova speaks with Stephen Rose, CEO of Render Networks, former Managing Partner at Nokia Bell Labs, and General Manager of Global Industries at IBM — a 25-year telecommunications and technology veteran who has built and led multi-billion-dollar businesses across four continents.Stephen's journey spans serving in the elite British Army 5 Airborne Brigade, building a consultancy from zero to €11M and 90 consultants, leading Nokia's largest ever services deal at over $1B, reskilling 40% of IBM's global headcount, and now leading Render Networks at the most consequential moment in American broadband history.The conversation explores: What the 5 Airborne Brigade actually teaches you about leading people under pressure. Why most leaders get hierarchy completely wrong — and the distributed leadership model that works. How Stephen navigated engineering boardrooms for decades without a formal engineering degree. How radical transparency got 40% of IBM reskilled faster than any performance review ever could. Why fiber and electric infrastructure builds are now one race — and what the next 24 months look like. How AI is reshaping how field crews build and verify networks at scale.The fear bubble framework for separating real risk from perceived anxiety.🎗️ Stephen is running the annual Para 10-miler to support veterans battling cancer and suicide. Donate here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-our-fight-against-cancer-and-veteran-suicidesConnect with Stephen:https://www.linkedin.com/in/thestephenrose/stephen.rose@rendernetworks.comRebel Rebel Newsletter:https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/rebel-rebel-7415159371611086850/The Fear Bubble:https://a.co/d/04ouny37Music — Karl Jenkins, The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace:https://youtu.be/nslz63M70c0?si=9zKhwrBp4hE2NzJ7Send us Fan MailLEORÊVER COMPRESSION AND ACTIVEWEARGet 10% off Loerêver Balanced Compression and Activewear to elevate your confidence and performance8 EIGHT SLEEPSave $200 on 8Sleep and get better quality and deeper sleep with automatic temperature adjustmentDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.This content is also available in a video version on YouTube.If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with someone who may enjoy it as well, and consider leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. You can also submit your feedback directly on my website. Follow @GrandSlamJourney on Instagram, Facebook,  Twitter, and join the  LinkedIn community.

June 22, 20261 hr 10 min

93. Peter Linder | How 46 Losses Built a 35-Year Ericsson Career: 5G, AI in Sports & Storytelling

In this episode of the Grand Slam Journey Podcast, host Klara Jagosova speaks with Peter Linder, Head of Thought Leadership Americas at Ericsson, one of the world's leading voices in telecommunications and technology, ranked the #1 technology expert on LinkedIn in 2022, and a 35-year veteran of Ericsson, shaping the global narrative around broadband, 5G, and AI, and now sporting events.Peter grew up in Anderstorp, Sweden. A small town of 5,000 people with 300 companies and a Formula One racetrack in its backyard. From competing as a skier and tennis player to working at 11 years old, Peter's upbringing forged a mindset of relentless curiosity, entrepreneurial grit, and the ability to thrive under pressure.Including one unforgettable year in tennis where he lost 46 matches in a row — zero wins — and still came back.The conversation explores:🎾 How losing 46 straight matches built the grit that defined a 35-year career🏎️ Growing up in the paddock of the Formula One and Swedish Grand Prix, and how motorsport sparked a passion for technology🌍 From broadband to 5G to AI — 34 years of transformation at Ericsson across five continents🤖 How AI is reshaping the live sports fan experience — and what's coming next📡 The future of 5G connectivity and why rural digital inclusion matters🎙️ Why storytelling is the last irreplaceable human superpower in an AI age🧠 Pressure as a spring: the psychology behind performing in high-stakes momentsWhether you're an engineer, a leader, an athlete transitioning careers, or simply someone trying to build something meaningful. Peter's journey is a masterclass in never giving up and always finding the next frontier.Connect with Peter:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterglinder/Blog: Tweeterlinder.comEmail: peter.linder@ericsson.comSend us Fan MailLEORÊVER COMPRESSION AND ACTIVEWEARGet 10% off Loerêver Balanced Compression and Activewear to elevate your confidence and performanceDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.This content is also available in a video version on YouTube.If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with someone who may enjoy it as well, and consider leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. You can also submit your feedback directly on my website. Follow @GrandSlamJourney on Instagram, Facebook,  Twitter, and join the  LinkedIn community.

May 17, 20261 hr 13 min

92. Brian Modoff | From Destroyer to Wall Street to VC: AI, Tech Trends & Never Giving Up

In this episode, Klara Jagosova speaks with Brian Modoff, founder and CEO of MC3 Ventures, Advisory Partner at Summit Partners, and former EVP of Corporate Strategy at Qualcomm. Brian's journey spans enlisting in the US Navy at 17, eight years of night school while working full time, 23 years as one of Wall Street's most consistently top-ranked technology analysts, a pivotal role at Qualcomm leading M&A and venture strategy, and now investing in the next generation of breakthrough companies as a venture capitalist.From a cryptology-equipped destroyer off the coast of Iran to the boardrooms of Deutsche Bank and Qualcomm, Brian's path is a masterclass in persistence, pattern recognition, and never crawling under your desk when things go wrong.The conversation explores:How Brian built a 23-year career on Wall Street, outlasting an average analyst lifespan of 8 yearsSpotting Qualcomm's rise before anyone else — and having the courage to put a sell rating on them firstThe $30 billion conversation with Steve Mollenkopf that led to joining Qualcomm as EVPWhy the right idea matters more than the perfect founding team in early-stage investingWhy putting a CFO in charge of a tech company is an automatic sell signalWhy America's venture capital community is its most important economic assetThe one piece of advice Brian would give every young person entering the workforce today🎙️ Watch Brian's 6G Keynote (B6GS 2025): https://ieeetv.ieee.org/channels/communications/keynote-brian-modoff-summit-partners-b6gs-2025Key themes: venture capital, Wall Street, Qualcomm, MC3 Ventures, Summit Partners, tech investing, startup investing, innovation, persistence, leadership, AI, engineering careers, wireless technology, mosaic theory, M&A strategy.Send us Fan MailLEORÊVER COMPRESSION AND ACTIVEWEARGet 10% off Loerêver Balanced Compression and Activewear to elevate your confidence and performance8 EIGHT SLEEPSave $200 on 8Sleep and get better quality and deeper sleep with automatic temperature adjustmentDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.This content is also available in a video version on YouTube.If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with someone who may enjoy it as well, and consider leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. You can also submit your feedback directly on my website. Follow @GrandSlamJourney on Instagram, Facebook,  Twitter, and join the  LinkedIn community.

April 18, 202655 min

91. John M. Madura | From the Rowing Boat to Robotics: Physical AI, Engineering & Seizing Opportunity

In this episode of the Grand Slam Journey Podcast, host Klara Jagosova speaks with John Madura, mechanical engineer, 2x USA Rowing National Team Member, and robotics innovator at Dexterity. John's journey spans from being recruited into rowing over pizza in a college lunch line at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, to representing the United States at the World Championships in 2012 and 2015, earning a PhD at UC Berkeley, and now building physical AI and autonomous robots at the cutting edge of the industry.From an unexpected lunch line recruitment to the USA National Team, John's path is proof that seizing unlikely opportunities — and refusing to let go of them — can lead to a life you never could have planned.The conversation explores: How John discovered rowing by accident and made it to the USA National TeamThe parallels between elite rowing and long-cycle hardware engineeringBuilding physical AI and autonomous robots at DexterityWhy hardware is the unsung hero of the AI revolutionTeamwork, ego, and the 2016 Olympics sculling missHow to spot opportunities and seize them before they disappearConnect with John on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-m-madura-0651a82b/Connect with Klara on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/klarajagosova Key themes: robotics, physical AI, mechanical engineering, elite rowing, USA Rowing, Dexterity, performance mindset, career transitions, STEM, discipline, opportunity, resilience.Send us Fan MailThis content is also available in a video version on YouTube.If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with someone who may enjoy it as well, and consider leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. You can also submit your feedback directly on my website. Follow @GrandSlamJourney on Instagram, Facebook,  Twitter, and join the  LinkedIn community.

January 26, 202653 min

90. Josh Simons | From Musician to CEO: Building a Career Beyond the Stage

Klara Jagosova speaks with Josh Simons — musician, songwriter, entrepreneur, and CEO of Vinyl Group — about his journey from touring internationally with indie band Buchanan to leading Australia’s only ASX-listed music company. Josh shares lessons on creativity, performance, and building sustainable careers beyond the stage.Drawing parallels between music and sport, the conversation explores:Growing up in a music-driven familyTransitioning from artist to entrepreneurPerformance, discipline, and career longevityThe creative process behind songwritingAI, leadership, and the future of musicWhether you’re a creative, founder, or leader, this episode offers practical insights on reinvention, mindset, and long-term success at the intersection of music, business, and technology.🔗 Connect with Josh: 🌐 Website  ︱ 🔗 LinkedIn ︱ 🎤 TEDx ︱ 🎥 Final Investor Video of the Year (LinkedIn)Send us Fan Mail8 EIGHT SLEEPSave $200 on 8Sleep and get better quality and deeper sleep with automatic temperature adjustmentLEORÊVER COMPRESSION AND ACTIVEWEARGet 10% off Loerêver Balanced Compression and Activewear to elevate your confidence and performanceDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.This content is also available in a video version on YouTube.If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with someone who may enjoy it as well, and consider leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. You can also submit your feedback directly on my website. Follow @GrandSlamJourney on Instagram, Facebook,  Twitter, and join the  LinkedIn community.

November 3, 20251 hr 23 min

89. Jurgen Arts︱From Court to CFO: Adaptability, AI & the Future of Telco Networks

Want a front-row seat to how a global CFO blends tennis-honed grit with people-first leadership to rethink telecom’s future? In this episode, Klara Jagosova sits down with Jurgen Arts, Vice President & CFO for Market Area Europe & Latin America at Ericsson, who brings nearly three decades of experience leading M&A, finance transformation, and cross-regional teams.We trace Jurgen’s path from an introverted Dutch tennis kid to a global leader known for transparency, curiosity, and balance — in business and in life. He shares how authenticity builds trust, how honesty early in a role prevents friction later, and how sports resilience fuels strategic decision-making.We explore:• How culture shapes leadership across regions• M&A lessons from integrating Cradlepoint and Vonage• The evolving role of AI as a practical co-pilot• Building connected global teams and financial agility• 5G network APIs and the shift to pay-per-use models• Continuous learning, mentorship, and curiosity as long-term success drivers🎾 Plus: Jurgen’s reflections on cooking, running, padel, golf, and inspiring his two sons to carry forward the family’s love for tennis.Connect with Jurgen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jurgen-arts-ba808a3/Send us Fan MailLEORÊVER COMPRESSION AND ACTIVEWEARGet 10% off Loerêver Balanced Compression and Activewear to elevate your confidence and performance8 EIGHT SLEEPSave $200 on 8Sleep and get better quality and deeper sleep with automatic temperature adjustmentDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.This content is also available in a video version on YouTube.If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with someone who may enjoy it as well, and consider leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. You can also submit your feedback directly on my website. Follow @GrandSlamJourney on Instagram, Facebook,  Twitter, and join the  LinkedIn community.

August 31, 20251 hr 24 min

88. Rani Yadav-Ranjan ︱ AI for Humanity's Sake

What if we could revolutionize healthcare and other industries by using the untapped computing power that sits idle in hospitals every night? Meet Rani Yadav-Ranjan, Chief AI Officer at Greycloud AI, who's pioneering a breakthrough approach to AI that respects both data privacy and urgency.After watching her mother's medical journey, Rani had a revelation: doctors function as "databases" of knowledge, but these repositories remain isolated within individual hospitals. Her solution? A patented system that transforms existing computers in closed networks into distributed training devices, operating during off-hours to build sophisticated AI models without compromising sensitive patient data. "From six o'clock till six in the morning, that's twelve hours of computing power we could use," she explains, describing how her technology chunks and chains data through multiple nodes, each with a unique blockchain identifier to ensure validity.This innovative approach reflects Rani's decades-long career at the intersection of emerging technologies. As one of the most influential women in tech, with over 20 patents, she pioneered mobile payments in the early 2000s, navigated cultural resistance to e-commerce in Japan, and continues to advocate for the ethical development of AI. Through personal anecdotes about balancing leadership with motherhood and observations about gender bias in corporate cultures, Rani offers a master class in resilience and strategic thinking.Rani's perspective on AI's future is refreshingly nuanced. Rather than fearing job displacement, she sees AI as enhancing human capabilities while emphasizing the irreplaceable value of experience. "What I use AI for is code reviews," she notes. "It's awesome to say, 'here's 3,000 lines of code, tell me where the missing semicolon is." As she prepares to publish her book "Constitutional Democracy in the Algorithmic Age," Rani continues to champion responsible innovation that serves humanity's needs while respecting our rights and privacy.Connect with Rani on LinkedIn to follow her groundbreaking work at the intersection of AI, healthcare, and ethical technology development.https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryadavranjan/https://yadav-ranjan.com/Send us Fan MailLEORÊVER COMPRESSION AND ACTIVEWEARGet 10% off Loerêver Balanced Compression and Activewear to elevate your confidence and performance8 EIGHT SLEEPSave $200 on 8Sleep and get better quality and deeper sleep with automatic temperature adjustmentDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.This content is also available in a video version on YouTube.If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with someone who may enjoy it as well, and consider leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. You can also submit your feedback directly on my website. Follow @GrandSlamJourney on Instagram, Facebook,  Twitter, and join the  LinkedIn community.

August 3, 20251 hr 32 min

87. Noah Sturm︱How Augment Redefines B2B Sales with Relationships, Empathy & AI

Noah Sturm, Senior Vice President of Sales and Revenue at Augment AI, shares his journey from an unstructured upbringing through professional golf aspirations to becoming a transformative sales leader building AI-powered relationship technology to transform and redefine how B2B sales are done.• Raised in a dynamic, homeschooled environment that fostered creativity, resilience, and comfort with uncertainty• Developed extraordinary resilience, helping his family through his mother's cancer battle and later his father's passing during his college years • Transitioned from a potential professional golf career to sales excellence, starting at RR Donnelly, where he grew from $70,000 quota to multi-million dollar accounts• Joined N3 and later Accenture, becoming a vice president at just 28 years old, by focusing on execution rather than conventional experience• Now building Augment to transform B2B sales by focusing on durable relationships and addressing the 83% of buying decisions that happen without salespeople present• Believes AI should enhance human relationships rather than replace them, focusing on making mid-performers act like top performers through situational awareness• Advocates for kindness, empathy, and spending less time on social media to foster genuine human connectionGet in touch with Noah on LinkedIn at noah-sturm-augment or email him at noah@augment.coSend us Fan MailLEORÊVER COMPRESSION AND ACTIVEWEARGet 10% off Loerêver Balanced Compression and Activewear to elevate your confidence and performance8 EIGHT SLEEPSave $200 on 8Sleep and get better quality and deeper sleep with automatic temperature adjustmentDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.This content is also available in a video version on YouTube.If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with someone who may enjoy it as well, and consider leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. You can also submit your feedback directly on my website. Follow @GrandSlamJourney on Instagram, Facebook,  Twitter, and join the  LinkedIn community.

July 13, 20251 hr 23 min

86. Josh Payne⏐Coframe: The AI-Powered Future of Digital Experiences

Josh Payne shares his unique journey from musician to tech entrepreneur, exploring how AI is creating a more personalized, adaptive internet experience that could revolutionize how we interact with the internet, websites, and overall digital experiences. • Personalization is fundamentally changing the internet, making it more contextual and adaptive to individual users• Josh sees personalized experiences becoming essential, predicting A/B testing will eventually be obsolete • Founding multiple startups, including AccessBell, Autograph with Tom Brady, and now Coframe• Coframe uses AI to transform website testing from months-long processes to minutes or hours• Working with major brands like OpenAI and The Economist to drive millions in incremental revenue through personalization• Finding balance through music, playing with the SF Philharmonic, and using flotation tanks for deeper thinking• Partnering directly with OpenAI to train specialized models for website code generation• The importance of choosing founding team members based on working relationships rather than friendship alone• Josh's perspectives on AI's rapid advancement and the need for responsible governance while embracing its creative potentialLearn more about Josh and Coframe: https://www.coframe.com/josh@coframe.comhttps://x.com/joshpxyneSend us Fan MailLEORÊVER COMPRESSION AND ACTIVEWEARGet 10% off Loerêver Balanced Compression and Activewear to elevate your confidence and performance8 EIGHT SLEEPSave $200 on 8Sleep and get better quality and deeper sleep with automatic temperature adjustmentDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.This content is also available in a video version on YouTube.If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with someone who may enjoy it as well, and consider leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. You can also submit your feedback directly on my website. Follow @GrandSlamJourney on Instagram, Facebook,  Twitter, and join the  LinkedIn community.

June 1, 20251 hr 12 min

85. Abby Davisson ︱ How to Make Big Life Decisions — Without the Stress!

Abby Davisson shares a comprehensive framework for making life's biggest decisions, from career transitions to family planning, with a clear process that reduces anxiety and builds confidence.• The Five C's Framework: Clarify what's important, Communicate with those involved, Consider broad choices, Check in with trusted resources, and examine Consequences across time horizons• Rest is not something earned after work is done – it's essential to incorporate deliberate breaks to enhance creativity and decision-making• Career success and family life can coexist with strategic outsourcing and focusing parental presence during truly critical developmental stages• Who you partner with can be either a career accelerant or roadblock – early honest conversations about expectations and values are crucial• Decision-making skills improve with practice – finding the right conditions for important conversations (like hiking or walking by water) can facilitate better communication• Entrepreneurship requires letting go of one trapeze to catch the next – small experiments can build confidence before making the full leap• Financial planning should align with your values – clarify your needs, wants, and wishes to make more intentional choicesWatch it on YouTubeAbby's SubstackAbby's website📖 Get the book: MONEY & LOVE: AN INTELLIGENT ROADMAP FOR LIFE'S BIGGEST DECISIONSIf you enjoyed this episode, please consider subscribing or dedicating one minute of your time to provide an official review wherever you listen to this podcast, or perhaps share this episode with someone who might also enjoy it.Send us Fan MailLEORÊVER COMPRESSION AND ACTIVEWEARGet 10% off Loerêver Balanced Compression and Activewear to elevate your confidence and performance8 EIGHT SLEEPSave $200 on 8Sleep and get better quality and deeper sleep with automatic temperature adjustmentDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.This content is also available in a video version on YouTube.If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with someone who may enjoy it as well, and consider leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. You can also submit your feedback directly on my website. Follow @GrandSlamJourney on Instagram, Facebook,  Twitter, and join the  LinkedIn community.

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