40% Better - Engineering Leadership

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115

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Jul 2026

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Every week, we invite 1 expert on employee engagement and deep-dive into unlocking previously unheard of performance levels in teams and leaders. 40 Percent Better https://40pb.com

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July 24, 202650 min

Leadership Lessons That Actually Work I Matt Delacour

What does it really take to become a great engineering leader? In this episode of the 40% Better Podcast, Bill Lennan sits down with Matt Delacour, Chief Technology Officer at CoinList, to explore the leadership lessons that shaped his journey from entrepreneur and data scientist to CTO. Matt shares how coaching transformed his leadership style, why communication often matters more than technical ability, and how collaborative leadership creates stronger, more engaged engineering teams. He also discusses hiring, career growth, mentoring senior engineers, building high-performing teams, and why long-term thinking beats chasing every opportunity. If you're an engineering manager, software developer, startup founder, CTO, or anyone interested in leadership, career development, and building exceptional teams, this conversation is packed with practical insights. In this episode, you'll learn: • Matt Delacour's journey from entrepreneur to CTO at CoinList • Why soft skills are essential for engineering leaders • The value of executive coaching and self-awareness • How collaborative leadership improves team performance • Why managers don't need to be the most technical person in the room • Building trust and psychological safety within engineering teams • Hiring strategies for startups and growing companies • The importance of communication and career visibility • How to mentor engineers for long-term success • Why leadership is a marathon, not a sprint Subscribe for more conversations on leadership, technology, software engineering, management, and personal growth. Connect with Matt Delacour on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthieudelacour/ #Leadership #EngineeringLeadership #CTO #SoftwareEngineering #EngineeringManagement #TechLeadership #CareerGrowth #LeadershipDevelopment #StartupLeadership #CoinList #MattDelacour #40PercentBetterPodcast I hope you enjoy this episode! Give it a like, share, and subscribe to not miss the content coming your way weekly. – Bill and the 40 % Better podcast team Connect with Bill on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wblennan/ Visit the 40 Percent Better website here: https://40pb.com/ Listen to 40 % Better on these podcast platforms: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6qkqdMPkR9BqYPM7UPa4P0 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/40%25-better---engineering-leadership/id1709546347 Amazon Podcasts: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/01ad162e-7a33-4df4-8c29-04c4af0405fc/40-better---engineering-leadership #40PercentBetter #BillLennan #Leadership #TeamPerformance #EmployeeEngagement #PsychologicalSafety #BusinessGrowth #Kaizen #EngineeringLeadership #Coaching The 40% Better podcast with Bill Lennan unlocks previously unheard-of performance levels in teams and leaders. Bill Lennan, founder of 40 Percent Better, interviews experts on employee engagement, psychological safety, engineering leadership, and actionable mental models. Learn how to foster high-performing teams, improve team productivity, and achieve sustainable success in business through a focus on human-centered systems. #technologyleadership #productmanagement #engineeringleadership #leadershipdevelopment #careergrowth #podcast

July 17, 202657 min

Lead Without a Title I Natalie Renee Parker

Leadership is not about a title. It is about seeing a problem, taking initiative, and helping people succeed. In this episode of the 40% Better Podcast, Bill Lennan sits down with Natalie Renee Parker, Founder | Organizational Development | Talent Management | Employee Engagement at Natalie Parker Enterprises, to explore what real leadership looks like in today's workplace. Drawing from her experience across HR, talent management, organizational development, and executive coaching, Natalie shares practical lessons on employee engagement, leadership development, workplace culture, career growth, and creating meaningful impact without waiting for permission. Whether you're a first time manager, an executive, HR professional, or someone looking to grow your leadership skills, this conversation is packed with actionable insights that challenge traditional management thinking. In this episode, you'll learn: • Why leadership is a mindset, not a job title • How taking initiative can accelerate your career • The difference between managing people and leading people • Why employee engagement starts with trust • The truth about performance reviews and leadership accountability • How great leaders develop future leaders • Why understanding the "why" behind work matters • Building a healthy workplace culture • Strategic thinking vs constantly putting out fires • Career growth, influence, and leading without authority If you're interested in leadership, HR, organizational development, employee experience, talent management, executive leadership, career development, or workplace culture, this episode is for you. Connect with Natalie Renee Parker: Website: https://www.natalieparkerenterprises.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nataliereneeparker Subscribe to the 40% Better Podcast for more conversations with leaders, innovators, and industry experts sharing practical leadership strategies that help you grow personally and professionally. #Leadership #EmployeeEngagement #OrganizationalDevelopment #TalentManagement #WorkplaceCulture #LeadershipDevelopment #HRLeadership #Management #ExecutiveLeadership #CareerGrowth #BusinessLeadership #ProfessionalDevelopment #40PercentBetterPodcast I hope you enjoy this episode! Give it a like, share, and subscribe to not miss the content coming your way weekly. – Bill and the 40 % Better podcast team Connect with Bill on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wblennan/ Visit the 40 Percent Better website here: https://40pb.com/ Listen to 40 % Better on these podcast platforms: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6qkqdMPkR9BqYPM7UPa4P0 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/40%25-better---engineering-leadership/id1709546347 Amazon Podcasts: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/01ad162e-7a33-4df4-8c29-04c4af0405fc/40-better---engineering-leadership #40PercentBetter #BillLennan #Leadership #TeamPerformance #EmployeeEngagement #PsychologicalSafety #BusinessGrowth #Kaizen #EngineeringLeadership #Coaching The 40% Better podcast with Bill Lennan unlocks previously unheard-of performance levels in teams and leaders. Bill Lennan, founder of 40 Percent Better, interviews experts on employee engagement, psychological safety, engineering leadership, and actionable mental models. Learn how to foster high-performing teams, improve team productivity, and achieve sustainable success in business through a focus on human-centered systems. #technologyleadership #productmanagement #engineeringleadership #leadershipdevelopment #careergrowth #podcast

July 10, 202658 min

Scaling Teams With Great Leadership I Ben Van Every

What does it actually take to get real business value from AI? Jimi Li, CTO at ALM Media, has spent the last three years running AI initiatives inside a company that just went through a successful private equity exit — and he's got the framework to prove what works. From his early days in GE's global leadership program to building L'Oreal's e-commerce platform at scale, Jimi's career has always centred on one question: how does the work you're doing connect to business impact? That same lens is exactly how he approaches AI today. In this episode, Jimi breaks down the three categories of AI value every tech leader needs to understand — productivity, product enhancement, and new revenue streams — and explains why productivity is the most talked-about and the most dangerous if you don't have the right system to capture the gains. He also shares how cross-functional "fusion teams" are collapsing the feedback loop between engineering and the business, why AI fluency is becoming the dividing line between those who thrive and those who get left behind, and what the inflection point for mass adoption actually looks like. Key takeaways: AI value falls into three categories: productivity gains, embedding AI into core products, and new product or revenue creation — each requires a different strategy and measurement approach Productivity savings from AI are real but easily lost if your organisation isn't structured to capture them Cross-functional fusion teams that include sales, finance, product, and engineering dramatically accelerate the feedback loop and motivate developers by connecting their work to real outcomes AI fluency — knowing what's good, what's wrong, and how to direct the output — is what separates high performers from the rest The inflection point for mass AI adoption is closer than most think, probably within one to two years, as friction around prompting and context drops Leaders should focus on re-imagining workflows and tasks, not just learning tools AI amplifies your thinking — it doesn't replace your critical judgment, and that judgment is your core value Connect with Jimi Li: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimi-li/ If this episode got you thinking differently about AI and leadership, hit subscribe and leave us a review — it helps more leaders find the show. I hope you enjoy this episode! Give it a like, share, and subscribe to not miss the content coming your way weekly. – Bill and the 40 % Better podcast team Connect with Bill on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wblennan/ Visit the 40 Percent Better website here: https://40pb.com/ Listen to 40 % Better on these podcast platforms: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6qkqdMPkR9BqYPM7UPa4P0 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/40%25-better---engineering-leadership/id1709546347 Amazon Podcasts: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/01ad162e-7a33-4df4-8c29-04c4af0405fc/40-better---engineering-leadership #40PercentBetter #BillLennan #Leadership #TeamPerformance #EmployeeEngagement #PsychologicalSafety #BusinessGrowth #Kaizen #EngineeringLeadership #Coaching The 40% Better podcast with Bill Lennan unlocks previously unheard-of performance levels in teams and leaders. Bill Lennan, founder of 40 Percent Better, interviews experts on employee engagement, psychological safety, engineering leadership, and actionable mental models. Learn how to foster high-performing teams, improve team productivity, and achieve sustainable success in business through a focus on human-centered systems. #technologyleadership #productmanagement #engineeringleadership #leadershipdevelopment #careergrowth #podcast

July 3, 202645 min

Stop Managing, Start Leading I Jonathan Domsky

40 Percent Better Podcast with Bill Lennan featuring Jonathan Domsky, Founder and Coach at Untangled Coaching. In this episode, Jonathan shares his journey from accidental entrepreneur to leadership coach and explains how personal growth, self-awareness, and better leadership practices can transform businesses and lives. Jonathan talks about building a successful company, learning leadership through experience, creating strong team cultures, and why great leaders do not need to be the smartest person in the room. Instead, they need to empower their teams, remove obstacles, and help people succeed. They discuss leadership development, entrepreneurship, finding your purpose, overcoming limiting beliefs, building accountability, and discovering your zone of genius. Jonathan also shares how stepping away from a successful business helped him find more meaning and impact through coaching. Topics covered: • Leadership lessons from entrepreneurship • Building strong teams and company culture • Why leaders should empower instead of control • Personal growth and mindset transformation • Finding your purpose and zone of genius • Overcoming self-limiting beliefs • Creating a more meaningful business and life Guest: Jonathan Domsky Founder, Coach Untangled Coaching Connect with Jonathan Domsky on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/business-personal-growth-coach/ Subscribe for more conversations about leadership, entrepreneurship, business growth, and personal development. #Leadership #LeadershipDevelopment #Entrepreneurship #BusinessGrowth #Coaching #PersonalGrowth #Mindset #40PercentBetter #TeamLeadership #PurposeDrivenLeadership I hope you enjoy this episode! Give it a like, share, and subscribe to not miss the content coming your way weekly. – Bill and the 40 % Better podcast team Connect with Bill on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wblennan/ Visit the 40 Percent Better website here: https://40pb.com/ Listen to 40 % Better on these podcast platforms: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6qkqdMPkR9BqYPM7UPa4P0 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/40%25-better---engineering-leadership/id1709546347 Amazon Podcasts: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/01ad162e-7a33-4df4-8c29-04c4af0405fc/40-better---engineering-leadership #40PercentBetter #BillLennan #Leadership #TeamPerformance #EmployeeEngagement #PsychologicalSafety #BusinessGrowth #Kaizen #EngineeringLeadership #Coaching The 40% Better podcast with Bill Lennan unlocks previously unheard-of performance levels in teams and leaders. Bill Lennan, founder of 40 Percent Better, interviews experts on employee engagement, psychological safety, engineering leadership, and actionable mental models. Learn how to foster high-performing teams, improve team productivity, and achieve sustainable success in business through a focus on human-centered systems. #technologyleadership #productmanagement #engineeringleadership #leadershipdevelopment #careergrowth #podcast

June 26, 202646 min

Becoming a Corporate Gargoyle I Dominic Vogel

40 Percent Better Podcast with Bill Lennan featuring Dominic Vogel, President of Vogel Cyber Leadership & Coaching. In this episode, Dominic shares his journey from cybersecurity leadership to entrepreneurship, the lessons he learned from burnout, and how self-awareness transformed his approach to leadership. They discuss the connection between leadership and cybersecurity, building trust, embracing uncertainty, the importance of curiosity, and why cyber risk should be treated as a business priority, not just an IT issue. Dominic Vogel talks about creating meaningful impact, developing stronger leaders, and helping organizations understand that security starts with people, culture, and better decision-making. Topics covered: • Leadership lessons from a cybersecurity career • Moving from corporate life to entrepreneurship • The role of curiosity in effective leadership • Cybersecurity as a business responsibility • Managing risk through better prioritization • Building resilient teams and organizations Guest: Dominic Vogel President, Vogel Cyber Leadership & Coaching Connect with Dominic Vogel on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/domvogel/ Subscribe for more conversations on leadership, business, technology, and personal growth. #Leadership #Cybersecurity #CyberRisk #BusinessLeadership #Entrepreneurship #CISO #InformationSecurity #40PercentBetter #LeadershipDevelopment I hope you enjoy this episode! Give it a like, share, and subscribe to not miss the content coming your way weekly. – Bill and the 40 % Better podcast team Connect with Bill on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wblennan/ Visit the 40 Percent Better website here: https://40pb.com/ Listen to 40 % Better on these podcast platforms: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6qkqdMPkR9BqYPM7UPa4P0 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/40%25-better---engineering-leadership/id1709546347 Amazon Podcasts: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/01ad162e-7a33-4df4-8c29-04c4af0405fc/40-better---engineering-leadership #40PercentBetter #BillLennan #Leadership #TeamPerformance #EmployeeEngagement #PsychologicalSafety #BusinessGrowth #Kaizen #EngineeringLeadership #Coaching The 40% Better podcast with Bill Lennan unlocks previously unheard-of performance levels in teams and leaders. Bill Lennan, founder of 40 Percent Better, interviews experts on employee engagement, psychological safety, engineering leadership, and actionable mental models. Learn how to foster high-performing teams, improve team productivity, and achieve sustainable success in business through a focus on human-centered systems. #technologyleadership #productmanagement #engineeringleadership #leadershipdevelopment #careergrowth #podcast

June 19, 20261 hr 16 min

The Future of Construction AI I Victor Augusteo,

In this episode of 40 Percent Better, Bill Lennan sits down with Victor Augusteo, CTO @ Boon, for a wide-ranging conversation on leadership, decision-making, artificial intelligence, construction technology, and the mental models that shape success. Victor shares lessons from his personal leadership journey, explaining how concepts like enlightened self-interest, situational awareness, and pattern recognition influence both business and life. The discussion explores how leaders can develop stronger decision-making skills, build resilient teams, and create systems that scale knowledge across organizations. The conversation also dives deep into the relationship between human cognition and AI, comparing neural networks to human thought processes and examining how desires, aspirations, communication, and emotional resilience affect performance in high-pressure environments. Later, Bill Lennan and Victor Augusteo explore the construction industry's growing adoption of AI, including the challenges of construction estimation, data acquisition, commercial building projects, and the emerging market for barn dominium construction. Victor shares insights into startup growth, technology adoption, and the future of specialized AI models designed for construction workflows. Topics covered: • Leadership and personal growth • Situational awareness and mental models • Decision-making under pressure • Emotional resilience and communication skills • Neural networks and human cognition • Artificial intelligence and pattern recognition • AI adoption in construction • Construction estimation software • Barn dominium design and construction • Commercial and industrial construction • Startup challenges and innovation • Data acquisition for AI models • Technology adoption and market trends Whether you're interested in leadership development, AI technology, entrepreneurship, construction innovation, or building high-performing teams, this episode offers valuable insights and practical takeaways. About the Guest: Victor Augusteo is CTO @ Boon, where he focuses on leveraging technology and AI to solve complex challenges in construction, estimation, and business operations. Connect with Victor Augusteo on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoraugusteo/ Subscribe for more conversations on leadership, technology, entrepreneurship, and personal growth. #40PercentBetter #BillLennan #VictorAugusteo #CTOatBoon #Leadership #ArtificialIntelligence #ConstructionTech #AI #Entrepreneurship #DecisionMaking #MentalModels #ConstructionIndustry #StartupGrowth #Technology #BusinessLeadership I hope you enjoy this episode! Give it a like, share, and subscribe to not miss the content coming your way weekly. – Bill and the 40 % Better podcast team Connect with Bill on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wblennan/ Visit the 40 Percent Better website here: https://40pb.com/ Listen to 40 % Better on these podcast platforms: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6qkqdMPkR9BqYPM7UPa4P0 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/40%25-better---engineering-leadership/id1709546347 Amazon Podcasts: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/01ad162e-7a33-4df4-8c29-04c4af0405fc/40-better---engineering-leadership #40PercentBetter #BillLennan #Leadership #TeamPerformance #EmployeeEngagement #PsychologicalSafety #BusinessGrowth #Kaizen #EngineeringLeadership #Coaching The 40% Better podcast with Bill Lennan unlocks previously unheard-of performance levels in teams and leaders. Bill Lennan, founder of 40 Percent Better, interviews experts on employee engagement, psychological safety, engineering leadership, and actionable mental models. Learn how to foster high-performing teams, improve team productivity, and achieve sustainable success in business through a focus on human-centered systems. #technologyleadership #productmanagement #engineeringleadership #leadershipdevelopment #careergrowth #podcast

June 12, 202633 min

Building Trust Through Leadership I Dave Bair

In this episode of 40 Percent Better, Bill Lennan sits down with Dave Bair, Operations Executive: Certified Change Management Professional; Collaborative Design & NLP Practitioner, to explore the leadership principles that help teams thrive in complex and fast-changing environments. Dave shares his leadership journey, the transferable skills that shaped his career, and why creating clarity, trust, and psychological safety is essential for high-performing teams. The conversation covers learning organizations, effective communication, cultural learning, team dynamics, and the evolving role of leaders in modern organizations. Whether you're a manager, executive, team leader, or aspiring leader, this episode offers practical insights on building trust, fostering continuous learning, and leading with self-awareness. Topics Covered: • Leadership in technology • Leadership journey and transferable skills • Building trust within teams • Psychological safety at work • Learning organizations and continuous improvement • Communication strategies for leaders • Team dynamics and organizational culture • Change management and leadership development • Technical leadership vs people leadership • Self-awareness and vulnerability in leadership Key Takeaways: • Leadership is about creating clarity and trust. • Psychological safety encourages innovation and learning. • Effective communication requires understanding your audience. • Cultural learning is just as important as technical learning. • Trust is built through consistent actions over time. • Great leaders enable their teams to succeed. About the Guest: Dave Bair is an Operations Executive, Certified Change Management Professional, Collaborative Design & NLP Practitioner with extensive experience leading teams, driving organizational change, and building learning-focused cultures. Connect with Dave Bair on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bairdave/ Connect with 40 Percent Better for more conversations on leadership, learning, personal growth, and professional development. #40PercentBetter #BillLennan #DaveBair #Leadership #TechnologyLeadership #PsychologicalSafety #TeamDynamics #LearningOrganization #LeadershipDevelopment #CommunicationSkills #TrustInLeadership #ChangeManagement #OrganizationalCulture #Management #ProfessionalGrowth I hope you enjoy this episode! Give it a like, share, and subscribe to not miss the content coming your way weekly. – Bill and the 40 % Better podcast team Connect with Bill on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wblennan/ Visit the 40 Percent Better website here: https://40pb.com/ Listen to 40 % Better on these podcast platforms: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6qkqdMPkR9BqYPM7UPa4P0 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/40%25-better---engineering-leadership/id1709546347 Amazon Podcasts: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/01ad162e-7a33-4df4-8c29-04c4af0405fc/40-better---engineering-leadership #40PercentBetter #BillLennan #Leadership #TeamPerformance #EmployeeEngagement #PsychologicalSafety #BusinessGrowth #Kaizen #EngineeringLeadership #Coaching The 40% Better podcast with Bill Lennan unlocks previously unheard-of performance levels in teams and leaders. Bill Lennan, founder of 40 Percent Better, interviews experts on employee engagement, psychological safety, engineering leadership, and actionable mental models. Learn how to foster high-performing teams, improve team productivity, and achieve sustainable success in business through a focus on human-centered systems. #technologyleadership #productmanagement #engineeringleadership #leadershipdevelopment #careergrowth #podcast

June 5, 202648 min

Leadership, AI, and Cybersecurity I Craig Taylor

In this episode of 40 Percent Better, Bill Lennan sits down with Craig Taylor, CEO and Co-Founder of CyberHoot, to talk about leadership, cybersecurity, communication, and the power of positive reinforcement in workplace training. Craig shares his journey from early leadership experiences and public speaking failures to building a cybersecurity company focused on making security awareness engaging, human, and effective. The conversation dives into leadership lessons, root cause problem solving, social anxiety, Toastmasters, AI tools like ChatGPT and Claude, and why most cybersecurity training fails employees. You’ll also hear how CyberHoot is changing the way organizations approach cybersecurity awareness through gamification, behavioral psychology, and educational design. Topics covered: • Leadership lessons from failure • Public speaking and overcoming social anxiety • Root cause analysis in tech leadership • Cybersecurity awareness training • Positive reinforcement vs punishment culture • AI tools for writing and productivity • ChatGPT vs Claude • Building company culture in tech • Psychology and behavior change • Entrepreneurship and startup growth About the Guest: Craig Taylor is the CEO and Co-Founder of CyberHoot, a cybersecurity awareness and training platform that helps organizations improve cyber literacy through engaging and positive learning experiences. With a background in psychology, cybersecurity, and education, Craig brings a unique perspective to leadership and human behavior in technology. Companies and People Mentioned: 40 Percent Better Bill Lennan Craig Taylor CyberHoot Connect with Craig Taylor on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/craigmtaylor/ Learn more about CyberHoot: https://cyberhoot.com](https://cyberhoot.com Subscribe for more conversations on leadership, technology, communication, and personal growth. #40PercentBetter #BillLennan #CraigTaylor #CyberHoot #CyberSecurity #Leadership #AI #ChatGPT #ClaudeAI #PublicSpeaking #SocialAnxiety #TechLeadership #Entrepreneurship #CyberAwareness #businesspodcast I hope you enjoy this episode! Give it a like, share, and subscribe to not miss the content coming your way weekly. – Bill and the 40 % Better podcast team Connect with Bill on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wblennan/ Visit the 40 Percent Better website here: https://40pb.com/ Listen to 40 % Better on these podcast platforms: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6qkqdMPkR9BqYPM7UPa4P0 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/40%25-better---engineering-leadership/id1709546347 Amazon Podcasts: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/01ad162e-7a33-4df4-8c29-04c4af0405fc/40-better---engineering-leadership #40PercentBetter #BillLennan #Leadership #TeamPerformance #EmployeeEngagement #PsychologicalSafety #BusinessGrowth #Kaizen #EngineeringLeadership #Coaching The 40% Better podcast with Bill Lennan unlocks previously unheard-of performance levels in teams and leaders. Bill Lennan, founder of 40 Percent Better, interviews experts on employee engagement, psychological safety, engineering leadership, and actionable mental models. Learn how to foster high-performing teams, improve team productivity, and achieve sustainable success in business through a focus on human-centered systems. #technologyleadership #productmanagement #engineeringleadership #leadershipdevelopment #careergrowth #podcast

May 29, 202646 min

Leadership Through the Power Leadership Through the Power of Story I Gavin McMahonof Story I Gavin McMahon

In this episode of 40 Percent Better, Bill Lennan sits down with Gavin McMahon, CEO of fassforward and author of Story Business, for a fascinating conversation about leadership, storytelling, team alignment, and the power of creating shared context. Drawing from his experience working with organizations around the world, Gavin explains why storytelling is one of the most effective tools a leader can use to inspire action, build trust, and help teams make better decisions. The discussion explores how leaders can create motivated, high-performing teams by focusing less on directing every task and more on helping people understand the bigger picture. Topics covered include: * Why storytelling is a critical leadership skill * The difference between empowerment and agency * How great leaders create alignment across teams * The Hope, Fear, and Reason framework for influencing decisions * Building intrinsically motivated teams * Product storytelling and innovation lessons from Slack * Why engineers and technical professionals benefit from storytelling skills * Leading organizational change through better communication * Creating cultures that encourage ownership and growth Gavin also shares stories from his career, insights from researching and writing Story Business, and practical advice for managers, executives, founders, and aspiring leaders looking to improve how they communicate and influence others. About Gavin McMahon Gavin McMahon is the CEO of fassforward, a consulting firm that helps organizations navigate transformation and change. He is the author of Story Business, a book that explores how storytelling can be used to drive better leadership, stronger brands, more effective products, and healthier organizational cultures. Connect with Gavin McMahon on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/gmcmahon/ Subscribe to 40 Percent Better for more conversations on leadership, technology, management, and personal growth. #40PercentBetter #BillLennan #GavinMcMahon #fassforward #CEO #Leadership #Storytelling #Management #TeamLeadership #BusinessLeadership #CommunicationSkills #ProfessionalDevelopment #Podcast I hope you enjoy this episode! Give it a like, share, and subscribe to not miss the content coming your way weekly. – Bill and the 40 % Better podcast team Connect with Bill on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wblennan/ Visit the 40 Percent Better website here: https://40pb.com/ Listen to 40 % Better on these podcast platforms: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6qkqdMPkR9BqYPM7UPa4P0 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/40%25-better---engineering-leadership/id1709546347 Amazon Podcasts: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/01ad162e-7a33-4df4-8c29-04c4af0405fc/40-better---engineering-leadership #40PercentBetter #BillLennan #Leadership #TeamPerformance #EmployeeEngagement #PsychologicalSafety #BusinessGrowth #Kaizen #EngineeringLeadership #Coaching The 40% Better podcast with Bill Lennan unlocks previously unheard-of performance levels in teams and leaders. Bill Lennan, founder of 40 Percent Better, interviews experts on employee engagement, psychological safety, engineering leadership, and actionable mental models. Learn how to foster high-performing teams, improve team productivity, and achieve sustainable success in business through a focus on human-centered systems. #technologyleadership #productmanagement #engineeringleadership #leadershipdevelopment #careergrowth #podcast

May 22, 202640 min

Friction Free Leadership That Works I Jimmy Burroughes

In this episode of 40 Percent Better, Bill Lennan sits down with Jimmy Burroughes, Founder of Aidencoach.io, to explore what real leadership looks like beyond job titles and hierarchy. The conversation dives deep into practical leadership lessons drawn from military cadets, software teams, and modern organizations struggling with complexity, trust, and execution. Jimmy shares his core philosophy of leadership as a mindset, not a position, and introduces powerful ideas like friction removal and compound performance through his Simplify to Amplify approach. Together, Bill and Jimmy unpack why so many teams feel stuck despite working hard, and how clarity, ownership, and better communication can unlock significantly higher performance. They also discuss how leaders can reduce overwhelm by prioritizing impact over urgency, using simple frameworks like weekly alignment check-ins, the 3 by 3 by 3 method, and setting clear decision boundaries within teams. The discussion highlights how trust, autonomy, and role clarity directly influence motivation, engagement, and results. Bill brings his experience from product and startup environments, connecting leadership theory to real-world execution challenges in tech teams, prioritization battles, and stakeholder management. Key topics covered: Leadership as a mindset Friction removal in organizations Simplify to Amplify framework Compound performance and 1 percent improvements Building trust and psychological safety Role clarity and ownership in teams Managing priorities and stakeholder alignment Practical communication systems for leaders Guest: Jimmy Burroughes, Founder, Aidencoach.io Connect with Jimmy Burroughes on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmyburroughes/ Host: Bill Lennan Podcast: 40 Percent Better If you are a team leader, manager, or aspiring leader looking to improve team performance without adding complexity, this conversation offers practical, real-world tools you can start using immediately. I hope you enjoy this episode! Give it a like, share, and subscribe to not miss the content coming your way weekly. – Bill and the 40 % Better podcast team Connect with Bill on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wblennan/ Visit the 40 Percent Better website here: https://40pb.com/ Listen to 40 % Better on these podcast platforms: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6qkqdMPkR9BqYPM7UPa4P0 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/40%25-better---engineering-leadership/id1709546347 Amazon Podcasts: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/01ad162e-7a33-4df4-8c29-04c4af0405fc/40-better---engineering-leadership #40PercentBetter #BillLennan #Leadership #TeamPerformance #EmployeeEngagement #PsychologicalSafety #BusinessGrowth #Kaizen #EngineeringLeadership #Coaching The 40% Better podcast with Bill Lennan unlocks previously unheard-of performance levels in teams and leaders. Bill Lennan, founder of 40 Percent Better, interviews experts on employee engagement, psychological safety, engineering leadership, and actionable mental models. Learn how to foster high-performing teams, improve team productivity, and achieve sustainable success in business through a focus on human-centered systems. #technologyleadership #productmanagement #engineeringleadership #leadershipdevelopment #careergrowth #podcast