Leadership Launchpad

Hosted by Matt Gjertsen - Better Every Day Studios

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Episodes

203

Latest episode

Oct 2026

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About the show

Welcome to the Leadership Launchpad where we help technical managers improve themselves, their teams, and their organizations. Host Matt Gjertsen — former Air Force instructor pilot and head of training and development at SpaceX — brings hard-won lessons from the world's most demanding organizations to help new managers lead with clarity and confidence. Each episode cuts through the noise with practical frameworks, real stories, and straight talk on what it actually takes to build high-performing teams in aerospace, defense, and beyond. Whether you're managing engineers, navigating organizational chaos, or just trying not to let your team down, Leadership Launchpad gives you the tools to get better every day.

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60 recent

October 13, 202613 min

Build a High-Feedback Team Culture w/ Matt Gjertsen

In this episode of Leadership Launchpad, the conversation explores why giving and receiving feedback is challenging, especially for technical managers. The discussion focuses on evolutionary and social reasons behind feedback anxiety and emphasizes the importance of a structured approach to feedback. Drawing from lessons in the book Minimum Viable Manager, listeners are introduced to actionable strategies, including the SBI (Situation, Behavior, Impact) and COIN feedback models. The episode outlines a three-step plan for building a high-feedback culture: starting by asking for feedback, giving reinforcing feedback, and finally delivering redirecting feedback. Practical examples and phased implementation advice offer a roadmap for leaders to improve team performance and foster trust. Timestamps of Important Moments: 00:00: Introduction to feedback and common challenges 01:15: Overview of the First Principles Leadership framework 02:04: Evolutionary and social roots of feedback anxiety 05:48: The importance of feedback for improvement 07:14: Three-step plan for giving and receiving feedback 09:45: SBI feedback model example and reinforcing feedback 10:54: COIN model for redirecting feedback 12:34: Phased approach to building feedback culture 13:34: Preview of next episode and conclusion

October 6, 202613 min

Setting Clear Expectations for Teams w/ Matt Gjertsen

In this episode of Leadership Launchpad, Matt Gjertsen delves into the importance of setting expectations for technical leaders and their teams. He explains why clear expectations are vital for productivity, motivation, and engagement, referencing research from Gallup’s Q12 survey and Daniel Pink’s book Drive . The discussion covers practical frameworks such as commander's intent for defining tasks and team working agreements to clarify communication norms. Gjertsen also touches on common challenges new managers face, particularly those transitioning from star individual contributors to leadership roles, and highlights the cognitive science behind how people process complex information at work. This episode is part two of a four-part series based on Gjertsen's book and focuses on the actionable steps leaders can take to cultivate clarity and alignment within their teams. Important Timestamps 00:01: Introduction to the four-part series based on Minimum Viable Manager 01:11: Overview of first principles leadership and three key requirements 02:07: The role of expectations in employee engagement (Gallup Q12 discussion) 03:21: Motivation drivers: autonomy, mastery, and purpose (Daniel Pink’s research) 04:34: Why expectations are challenging for new managers 06:00: The concept of chunking and memory in leadership 08:39: Framework for setting expectations using commander's intent 10:12: How to establish a team working agreement 11:15: Addressing ambiguity and the risks of unclear norms 12:15: Emphasizing outcomes and impact over hours worked 13:19: Preview of the next episode on giving feedback

September 29, 202615 min

Creating Trust in Technical Teams w/ Matt Gjertsen

In this episode of Leadership Launchpad, listeners are introduced to key concepts from the book Minimum Viable Manager. The episode focuses on the importance of building trust within technical teams, emphasizing it as the foundational element for productive conflict and high performance. Drawing on real-world examples such as Ford’s turnaround under Alan Mulally and research initiatives like Google’s Project Aristotle, the episode explains what trust means, why it matters, and actionable ways technical managers can strengthen team connections. Strategies include using connection-building questions in meetings and developing personal user manuals to foster better working relationships. This is the first in a four-part series that breaks down essential management responsibilities and practical steps for new and aspiring leaders. Important Timestamps: 00:00: Introduction to the episode and book structure 01:16: Overview of the First Principles Leadership framework 02:21: Why trust is essential for technical teams 03:12: Google’s Project Aristotle and psychological safety 04:30: Ford and Alan Mulally's example of team trust 06:46: Defining trust: skills, decisions, and connections 08:46: Practical techniques for building trust in teams 11:51: Creating user manuals to strengthen manager–employee relationships 13:00: Questions managers can ask to assess trust on their team 13:41: Preview of the next episode: setting expectations

September 22, 202633 min

Driving Results Through Better Team Alignment w/ Susan Stone

In this episode, Susan Stone, CEO of Blue Current, discusses the company's journey in developing high-performance, silicon-based solid-state batteries for electric vehicles and energy storage. She shares insights on the technical and cultural challenges of scaling from R&D to commercialization, emphasizing the importance of communication, cross-team collaboration, and creating flexible feedback loops. Stone also addresses leadership development, sharing practical advice for new managers on the value of context, over-communication, and being open to asking questions. The conversation covers strategies for navigating rapid organizational change, aligning teams during key transitions, and balancing the needs of individual contributors with leadership paths. Important Timestamps 02:21: Susan Stone explains Blue Current’s unique battery technology 05:42: Blue Current achieving development milestones ahead of schedule 08:03: How unexpected battery performance opened new markets 09:19: The importance of integrated teamwork and avoiding silos in scale-up 11:24: Impactful mentorship from Amazon board member on improving cycle times 13:44: Susan Stone’s early leadership lessons about the critical role of context 17:02: Communicating context and customer impact in technical organizations 20:25: Leadership and communication challenges during commercialization 23:54: Strategies for company-wide communication and decision-making 29:48: Advice for frontline leaders and importance of seeking guidance

September 15, 202621 min

Balancing Chaos and Control in Teams with Matt Gjertsen

This episode of Leadership Launchpad delves into the leadership principle known as "the line," a concept discussed by Travis Kalanick, founder of Uber, during his conversation on the David Senra podcast. The episode explains how leaders can find the balance between too few and too many rules within their teams and organizations. Drawing from real-world examples at companies like Uber, City Storage Systems (now Atoms), and Netflix, the discussion breaks down the dangers of both chaos and excessive control, and offers insights into how leaders can foster innovation while maintaining necessary structure. Listeners will also hear practical advice for technical managers on communicating expectations, building effective processes, and developing leadership skills that influence where "the line" is drawn in their teams. Important Timestamps 00:00: Introduction to "the line" leadership principle 01:02: Background on Travis Kalanick and City Storage Systems 02:25: The dangers of chaos in organizations 03:10: Pitfalls of excessive rules and bureaucracy 05:59: Defining the line: minimum viable rules 08:35: The impact of hiring and team diversity on rules 12:45: Three levels of skill and understanding organizational rules 14:39: Uber’s city launch playbook and practical application of the line 18:40: Multi-dimensional nature of the line in scaling organizations 20:09: Setting clear expectations and the link between leadership and innovation

September 8, 202630 min

Mastering Organizational Development w/ Gabrielle Rufrano

In this episode, Gabrielle Rufrano, a doctoral candidate in Industrial and Organizational Psychology at Clemson University, shares insights from her experiences in both large organizations like NASA and fast-paced startups in the energy sector. She discusses the fundamentals of industrial and organizational psychology, emphasizing the importance of evidence-based practices and organizational culture. Gabrielle compares the structured, mission-driven culture at NASA with the more flexible but less unified environment of a startup, highlighting how organizational maturity and resources impact the implementation of research-backed development practices. She also explores the gap between academic research and practical application in industry, and how both sides can improve collaboration for better workplace outcomes. Timestamps 00:00 – Introduction to Gabrielle Rufrano and discussion of organizational culture 02:17 – Explanation of industrial and organizational psychology 03:17 – How research is conducted and validated in the field 06:08 – Example of experimental research with workplace bias 10:14 – Comparison of NASA and startup cultures 14:21 – Details of organizational development work at NASA 19:54 – The value of organizational culture and its real-world impact 22:25 – Challenges in applying research in fast-moving industries 27:02 – Key lessons for bridging academia and industry

September 1, 202631 min

Empowering Teams in Fast-Growing Startups w/ Shan Mohta

In this episode, Shan Mohta, co-founder and CEO of Vendra, discusses his journey building a manufacturing platform aimed at streamlining the process of ordering custom parts in the US, with a focus on aerospace and defense. Shan Mohta shares how Vendra leverages software to match customer designs with the best-fit suppliers, improving supply chain resilience and reducing lead times. He provides insights into his leadership style, shaped by experiences at major tech companies and startups, emphasizing accessibility and decision-making empowerment for his team. The discussion also covers the early pivots in Vendra’s product direction, the value of direct and constructive feedback, and lessons learned from collaborating with both large and small manufacturing customers. Important Timestamps 00:00: Shan Mohta shares how brutal early feedback shaped Vendra. 00:45: Introduction to Vendra’s mission and customer base. 03:00: How Vendra streamlines custom parts manufacturing. 04:19: The importance of supply chain resilience. 06:16: How Vendra scales from prototypes to large production runs. 10:24: Lessons from large companies vs. startups and impact on Vendra’s culture. 13:32: Empowering teams to make decisions and developing a coaching mindset. 18:30: Creating clear decision-making constraints for team members. 23:33: What inspired Shan to found Vendra. 25:50: The importance of honest feedback and Vendra’s pivotal moments. 30:00: Building a culture of customer feedback and continuous improvement.

August 25, 202637 min

Navigating Career Paths as a Team Leader w/ Rich Phipps

In this episode, Rich Phipps, former manager of technicians and development tests at SpaceX’s McGregor test facility and a veteran submariner, shares his leadership journey from the Navy to SpaceX. He discusses transitioning from a technician to a leadership role, the differences and similarities between leading in the military and in a high-tech environment, and the importance of influence, communication, and trust. Rich outlines how his teams tackled challenges such as team integration, career progression, and minimizing workplace distractions. He also provides a definition of leadership that has guided his approach, emphasizing aligning diverse skills towards a shared mission. Listeners gain practical insights into fostering collaboration between engineers and technicians, building meaningful workplace relationships, and creating clear career development paths in dynamic, fast-paced organizations. Important Timestamps [00:00:00] Introduction to influence as the essence of leadership [00:02:08] Rich Phipps describes his career path and experiences at SpaceX [00:04:00] Transitioning from technical expert to formal people leader in the Navy [00:08:42] Challenges moving from military leadership to entry-level technician at SpaceX [00:12:13] Comparing leadership and management: skills versus position [00:16:31] Strategies for bridging the engineer-technician gap [00:21:12] Addressing career progression as a workplace distraction [00:25:08] Developing clear technician career paths at SpaceX [00:29:04] Rich’s guiding definition of leadership and five key leadership concepts

August 18, 202622 min

Top Leadership Lessons for Technical Managers w/ Matt Gjertsen

This episode of Leadership Launchpad celebrates a milestone: surpassing the 200th episode mark. The conversation features a recap of top insights and leadership lessons from previous standout guests, including Steph Bertmer (Pinterest), Megan Galloway (EverLeader), Matt Kuda (Voyager Technologies), Holly Betke (StockX), General John Teichert (Edwards Air Force Base), Jesse Kleekamp (K2 Space), Brian Manning (ZonaSpace), Ian Marrone (Apex), Paul Cotillion (Applied Atomics), and Casey Hanrahan (Terraform Industries). Key topics include leading through change, the importance of transparency, building influence, the challenges of management, hiring rigor, coaching conversations, and embracing autonomy as a leader. Important Timestamps 00:00: Introduction and episode milestone 02:02: Lessons from Steph Bertmer on leading through change and communicating with teams 04:02: Megan Galloway on centers of influence in organizational change 05:50: Matt Kuda's analogy on pushing limits and accepting mistakes in leadership 08:45: Holly Betke on getting buy-in and identifying team misalignment 10:45: General John Teichert on fostering innovation and closing the feedback loop 12:29: Jesse Kleekamp’s approach to rigorous hiring at K2 Space 14:17: Brian Manning’s advice on the transition from engineer to people manager 15:36: Ian Marrone’s introduction to the GROW model for coaching conversations 17:49: Paul Cotillion on transparency and financial reality in startups 19:11: Casey Hanrahan on the core challenge of management and prioritizing team success 21:57: Closing remarks and final thoughts on the new book

August 11, 202633 min

Leading Without Authority in Tech Teams w/ Lindy Elkins-Tanton

In this episode of Leadership Launchpad, Lindy Elkins-Tanton, Director of the Berkeley Space Sciences Laboratory and Principal Investigator of NASA’s Psyche mission, shares insights on leading high-stakes, technical teams. She explains the objectives and significance of the Psyche mission—humanity’s first deep exploration of a metal-rich asteroid—and offers a detailed look at her role as principal investigator. The discussion covers leadership challenges, including leading with responsibility but limited authority, fostering open communication, and the value of surfacing problems early. Elkins-Tanton also addresses the unique pressures placed on teams during COVID-19 and strategies for maintaining effective collaboration across dispersed workforces. The episode concludes with reflections on the scientific mysteries of asteroid 16 Psyche and the excitement of pioneering new frontiers in space science. Timestamps for Key Moments: 02:34: Explanation of the Psyche mission’s goals and significance 04:36: The principal investigator role defined 07:00: Leading without formal authority 10:24: Transition from technical work to leading teams 14:42: The importance of surfacing bad news early 17:45: Creating a culture where junior team members can speak up 25:20: Leadership challenges during COVID-19 31:16: Scientific questions guiding the Psyche mission 32:33: Upcoming mission milestones