Speak In Flow

Hosted by Melinda Lee

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Jun 2026

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How loud is your inner critic? Would you love to silence the inner critic and develop the skills to Speak in Flow? After a decade of studying the state of flow, Melinda Lee has found the actionable and practical steps for heart-centred leaders to develop their communication confidence. Melinda helps leaders like you overcome their fear of public speaking and transform self-doubt into confidence & freedom, so they can exponentially increase their impact with heart and ease. We all have an internal dial of authentic strength, and when we learn to turn it up in spite of our circumstances, people feel and hear us, and our world changes. That is the power of our voice. When we Speak in Flow: · We feel free to be ourselves. · We speak from the heart. · We can connect with our audience · We feel more in alignment with our purpose. · Other people are attracted to us, and more opportunities show up! There are many ways to manifest authority, abundance and influence. What I stand for and love doing is empowering others to get in touch with their heart, tune into their intuition, and communicate their truth. This is Speak in Flow.

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June 11, 202638 min

The Communication Mistake Keeping You Stuck

Do you know how to communicate with intentionality? We communicate practically as a reflex because it's one of the first abilities we learn as babies, and it's fundamental to the human condition. But despite this, we take it for granted, as if knowing how to speak makes us great communicators. Dr. Joy Karavedas, leadership development expert and author of The Leadership TAP, joins Melinda Lee to challenge that assumption and reveal why intentional communication is the most overlooked lever for building autonomous, empowered teams.In This Episode, You Will Learn:The Equip, Empower, Engage FrameworkWhy building an autonomous team mirrors launching a confident young adult, and how moving through these three stages transforms dependency into true ownership.Why Letting Go Is the CEO's Biggest Challenge“It's really hard to let go. Anytime you're empowering others, that means you're giving them a little bit of your power.“How to recognize when your identity as the “savior“ is keeping your leadership team stuck, and practical steps to loosen control without losing accountability.Communicating Vision So It Actually Sticks“If they're not understanding, you're not communicating.”Why saying it once is never enough, and how repeating the why, celebrating small wins publicly, and tailoring your message to different audiences builds alignment over time.The Implicit Messages You Don't Realize You're Sending“A lot of implicit, unstated communication can communicate more loudly to some people than the words that you say.”How office layouts, who gets a door, and even what you celebrate silently shape your culture, and why awareness is the first step to intentional leadership.________________________________________________Spreadsheets never made employees wonder if they still mattered.AI does.That is why communication in the AI era requires humility, not authority. Exploration, not instruction. Psychological safety, not compliance.The old rules no longer apply.Learn why communication in the era of AI needs different skills in our latest post, "Communication in the Era of AI." ________________________________________________About the Guest: Dr. Joy Karavedas is an accomplished educator, conference speaker, and leadership expert with over 20 years of executive-level experience in independent schools and nonprofits. She sits at the unique intersection of education, organizational leadership, and human behavior, helping CEOs, executives, and emerging leaders build teams that run with clarity, confidence, and ownership. A published author of From Striving to Thriving and The Leadership TAP: How Leaders Get Noticed and Help Others Shine, Dr. Karavedas is the founder of Karavedas Coaching and Consulting, where she provides customized coaching and consulting to help individuals and organizations strengthen leadership, communication, and culture.Social Handles:LinkedIn Profile: www.linkedin.com/in/drkaravedas X Profile: @JKaravedasInstagram profile: instagram.com/drkaravedas Facebook Profile: facebook.com/drkaravedas Fun Facts:🌍 Joy has traveled to 26 countries and 30 U.S. states… and she's just getting started.👅 She is a super taster, which means her sense of taste is far more intense than the average person's. ____________________About Melinda:Melinda Lee is a Presentation Skills Expert, Speaking Coach, and nationally renowned Motivational Speaker. She holds an M.A. in Organizational Psychology, is an Insights Practitioner, and is a Certified Professional in Talent Development as well as Certified in Conflict Resolution. For over a decade, Melinda has researched and studied the state of “flow” and used it as a proven technique to help corporate leaders and business owners amplify their voices, access flow, and present their mission in a more powerful way to achieve results.She has been the TEDx Berkeley Speaker Coach and has worked with hundreds of executives and teams from Facebook, Google, Microsoft, Caltrans, Bay Area Rapid Transit System, and more. Currently, she lives in San Francisco, California, and is breaking the ancestral lineage of silence.Website: https://speakinflow.com/The Legacy Growth System™: https://www.speakinflow.com/legacy-growth-systemFacebook: https://m.facebook.com/speakinflowInstagram: https://instagram.com/speakinflowLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mpowerallThanks for listening!Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!Subscribe to the podcastIf you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app.Leave us an Apple Podcast review.Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts.

June 4, 202640 min

The Imagination Gap: AI Won't Steal Your Job

In 2026, graduates across the country booed any speaker who praised AI. Students are voicing a generation's worth of fear and anxiety over the prospect of losing entry-level jobs to AI.But is the answer to reject AI entirely? In this episode of the Speak In Flow Podcast, Melinda Lee sits down with Oguzhan Aygoren, director of the Institute of Business Innovation at UC Berkeley, to address the fear head-on. Oguzhan argues that the real problem isn't AI's power, it's our "imagination gap."In This Episode, You Will Learn:The Imagination Gap“Even the founders of AI have no idea of the limits. There is so much room for imagination.”In the industrial revolution, we had bold visions (like going to the moon) but lacked the tech. Today, we have superintelligent AI, but we've stopped dreaming. Oguzhan explains how closing this gap is the only cure for generational anxiety.How to Communicate a Crazy Vision Without Losing Your Team“It's not easy for the corporations and organizations if the direction is not aligned.”One compelling vision beats ten good ones. Learn why most employees are confused (not resistant) and how leaders can use transparency, opt-in culture, and radical celebration of failure to align everyone around a seemingly impossible goal.Founder Mode vs. Manager Mode“For other CEOs who are not founders, it's difficult to embody the founder's mindset.”The world's most valuable companies (SpaceX, Google, Nvidia) still operate like startups. Learn the five pillars of "startup orientation."The Billion-Dollar Solo FounderWe are entering an era where one person with AI can build a billion-dollar company. Oguzhan shares why staying small, agile, and impact-focused is the new competitive advantage.__________________________________________________Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt was repeatedly booed at the University of Arizona when he said AI would touch every profession. Not because the students hated technology, but because they sensed a gap between what leaders say about AI and what their own experience has been. Learn why communication in the era of AI means closing that gap in our latest blog post, "Communication in the Era of AI." __________________________________________________About the Guest: Oguzhan Aygoren is a director, board member, investor, mentor, and trusted advisor—but above all, he defines himself as an academic entrepreneur. With degrees in Electrical and Electronics Engineering, an MBA, and a PhD in Marketing, Oguzhan sits at the rare intersection of deep technical knowledge, business strategy, and human behavior.He has helped corporate leaders, startup founders, and researchers bridge the gap between cutting-edge innovation and real-world impact across some of the world's most prestigious institutions. Currently, he serves as the Director of the Institute for Business Innovation at UC Berkeley Haas Business School.Social Handles:Personal Website: https://www.oguzhanaygoren.com/ LinkedIn Profile: Oguzhan Aygoren - https://www.linkedin.com/in/oguzhanaygoren/ X Profile: https://x.com/oguzhan Instagram profile: https://www.instagram.com/oaygoren YouTube Profile: https://www.youtube.com/oguzhanaygoren Fun Facts:⚡ Oguzhan was playing with electronic circuits as a child and decided to study electronics engineering right then and there.💻 He started coding on a Commodore 64 at age 10🏎️ In an alternative life, he dreamed of becoming an F1 driver, until he actually got behind the wheel of a real car on an actual F1 circuit._________________________About Melinda:Melinda Lee is a Presentation Skills Expert, Speaking Coach, and nationally renowned Motivational Speaker. She holds an M.A. in Organizational Psychology, is an Insights Practitioner, and is a Certified Professional in Talent Development as well as Certified in Conflict Resolution. For over a decade, Melinda has researched and studied the state of “flow” and used it as a proven technique to help corporate leaders and business owners amplify their voices, access flow, and present their mission in a more powerful way to achieve results.She has been the TEDx Berkeley Speaker Coach and has worked with hundreds of executives and teams from Facebook, Google, Microsoft, Caltrans, Bay Area Rapid Transit System, and more. Currently, she lives in San Francisco, California, and is breaking the ancestral lineage of silence.Website: https://speakinflow.com/The Legacy Growth System™: https://www.speakinflow.com/legacy-growth-systemFacebook: https://m.facebook.com/speakinflowInstagram: https://instagram.com/speakinflowLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mpowerallThanks for listening!Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!Subscribe to the podcastIf you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app.Leave us an Apple Podcast review.Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts.

May 28, 20269 min

What Sets You Apart? Most Can't Answer.

What truly sets your company apart? Most leaders can't answer that question clearly, and that's exactly why their communication breaks down as they scale. In this episode of the Speak in Flow podcast, Legacy Growth Series, Melinda reveals how speaking in flow goes beyond public speaking to transform communication into a standardized system of clarity, one that keeps leadership, internal teams, and client-facing messaging perfectly aligned.In This Episode, You Will Learn:Why “Soft Skills” Are Actually a System“Communication becomes less about a soft skill, and more about a system of standards.”How to create clear standards for what your team tolerates (and doesn’t tolerate) in communication, turning inconsistent chatter into reliable execution.How to Build a Culture of CommunicationWhat gets repeated gets believed, executed on, and felt by your clients. Learn how intentional cadences and accountability systems turn internal alignment into external reputation.Closing the Gap Between Leadership and Teams"What is shared, what is reinterpreted, and what is reinforced?" A powerful framework to stop message dilution at every level, from CEO huddle to client conversation.Why Growth Breaks“It's not because a leadership team lacks intelligence or effort.”Why the same conversations that worked with 5 people will fracture a team of 50, and how clarity around your uniqueness prevents that fracture.________________________________________Knowing everything isn't enough. Real leverage isn't just eloquence or intelligence; it's having clarity about what sets you apart.Learn why it's not necessary to have all the answers in our latest post. "The Smart Person Trap. Being Right Isn't Enough to Lead."________________________________________About Melinda:Melinda Lee is a Presentation Skills Expert, Speaking Coach, and nationally renowned Motivational Speaker. She holds an M.A. in Organizational Psychology, is an Insights Practitioner, and is a Certified Professional in Talent Development as well as Certified in Conflict Resolution. For over a decade, Melinda has researched and studied the state of “flow” and used it as a proven technique to help corporate leaders and business owners amplify their voices, access flow, and present their mission in a more powerful way to achieve results.She has been the TEDx Berkeley Speaker Coach and has worked with hundreds of executives and teams from Facebook, Google, Microsoft, Caltrans, Bay Area Rapid Transit System, and more. Currently, she lives in San Francisco, California, and is breaking the ancestral lineage of silence.Website: https://speakinflow.com/Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/speakinflowInstagram: https://instagram.com/speakinflowLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mpowerallThanks for listening!Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!Subscribe to the podcastIf you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app.Leave us an Apple Podcast review.Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts.

May 26, 202634 min

Scaling a Company? Here's Why Most Leaders Fail

About 80% of new U.S. businesses survive their first year. However, only about 50% make it to year five, and roughly 35% last ten years. What truly makes the difference between those who survive in the long term and those who don't? In this episode of The Speak In Flow Podcast, fractional CMO Sarah Fruy joins Melinda Lee to unveil how to be part of the success stories while your company keeps growing. A must-listen for any executive or founder feeling the growing pains of a team that's doubling in size, wondering why your hard-earned culture feels like it's slipping away, and looking for a proven roadmap to scale without breaking what made you strong.In This Episode, You Will Learn:Why Growth Breaks Companies“There tends to be this friction between the old and the new.”Sarah reveals why turnover during scaling is actually healthy and how to manage the transition from wearing many hats to owning specialized roles.The OKR Communication System“Every action that each individual, each department is taking should be in service of a company-level objective.”Cascading objectives and key results (OKRs) create clarity. Weekly all-hands meetings, Slack updates, and AI recaps work together to prevent message dilution.The One Tool That Ends Meeting Madness“Audit your meetings.”Cut unnecessary calls, dismiss people after 15 minutes when their part is done, and use asynchronous updates on Slack instead of performative stand-ups.Why Your Company Values Are Probably Lying to Your EmployeesIf you say you value work-life balance but celebrate the person who worked all weekend, you're creating a disconnect that kills morale.____________________________________Believing that you have all the answers is one of the fastest ways to stifle your team members’ initiative and hinder your company’s growth. The worst part? Many leaders fall into this trap without realizing it.Learn how to avoid this pitfall in our latest blog post. "The Smart Person Trap." ____________________________________About the Guest: Sarah Fruy is an experienced fractional CMO and marketing advisor who has nearly 20 years of experience in B2B and B2C across online advertising, SaaS, and digital media. She has helped two companies scale past $100 million and played a key role at Pantheon, contributing to the company's rise to a $1 billion valuation and unicorn status. As VP of Marketing at Rockbot, she spearheaded initiatives that generated a 76% year-over-year surge in marketing-driven revenue.Social HandlesWebsite: www.sarahfruy.com LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahfruy/ Fun Facts:🌿 Sarah's love for growing plants started small but has spiraled into a full-blown jungle with 45 pots (and counting) taking over her house.🧩 She's a puzzle purist — no cheating by looking at the picture on the box. The harder, the better.📷 She's also passionate about photography, especially capturing intimate portraits of loved ones and black-and-white architecture shots that tell a story through shadows and light._____________________________About Melinda:Melinda Lee is a Presentation Skills Expert, Speaking Coach, and nationally renowned Motivational Speaker. She holds an M.A. in Organizational Psychology, is an Insights Practitioner, and is a Certified Professional in Talent Development as well as Certified in Conflict Resolution. For over a decade, Melinda has researched and studied the state of “flow” and used it as a proven technique to help corporate leaders and business owners amplify their voices, access flow, and present their mission in a more powerful way to achieve results.She has been the TEDx Berkeley Speaker Coach and has worked with hundreds of executives and teams from Facebook, Google, Microsoft, Caltrans, Bay Area Rapid Transit System, and more. Currently, she lives in San Francisco, California, and is breaking the ancestral lineage of silence.Website: https://speakinflow.com/The Legacy Growth System™: https://www.speakinflow.com/legacy-growth-systemFacebook: https://m.facebook.com/speakinflowInstagram: https://instagram.com/speakinflowLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mpowerallThanks for listening!Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!Subscribe to the podcastIf you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app.Leave us an Apple Podcast review.Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts.

May 21, 202632 min

One Wrong Sentence Just Cost You a Client

What truly kills trust in a high-stakes conversation? Is it fumbling your words, talking too much, or freezing when you don't have the answer? In this episode of the Speak In Flow podcast, host Melinda Lee sits down with Becca Gordon, entrepreneur, advisor, and founder of Becca Gordon Consulting, with over 25 years of experience, to diagnose the hidden communication problems that sabotage leaders when the pressure is on.From having the wrong people in the room to failing to listen because you're too busy planning your next brilliant point, Becca exposes the subtle yet devastating ways leaders erode trust without even realizing it.In This Episode, You Will Learn:The #1 Trust Eroder“Part of being a leader is selecting who's in the conversation.” Strategically choosing who speaks, when, and why is important. Showing respect among your team matters more than being right.Three Somatic Tactics to Stop Talking Too Much“Take physical notes so I'm not just thinking of what I'm going to say next.” A self-described Type A Virgo who loves to be heard, Becca shares her three grounding strategies.What to Do When You Don't Know the AnswerMaking up an answer breaks trust instantly. Instead, learn how to pause, redirect, ask clarifying questions, or buy time with integrity.Why People Buy the Second-Best Product"People will choose the second-best product if it's provided by people they trust." Discover how communication standards across your entire company drive customer loyalty, retention, and ultimately, acquisition.____________________________________If you're someone whose mind races and needs to voice ideas as they come, you've likely found yourself talking too much, interrupting, or coming off as rude, even unintentionally.Learn how to make a good impression, maintain your train of thought, and express recognition of others' ideas in our latest blog post, "The Smart Person Trap."____________________________________About the Guest:Becca Gordon is an entrepreneur, consultant, advisor, investor, and C-suite executive with over 25 years of experience driving innovation across the healthcare industry. From medical education to women's health to healthtech, she has helped early-stage startups master commercialization, go-to-market strategy, messaging, sales teams, and revenue optimization. Becca also spent 12 years in direct perinatal and postpartum care before founding Two Doulas Birth, which she successfully led to acquisition in 2017. Since then, she has become a VC advisor and investor, consulting for hundreds of early-stage digital health and medical device startups.Social HandlesLinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/becca-gordon/Fun Facts:🥾 Becca is an avid traveler and outdoorswoman who also serves as an educator for the Sierra Club's local Wilderness Travel Course🍪 Her weakness? Chocolate chip cookies and cheese pizza. No fancy desserts needed.👶 After 12 years in direct perinatal care, she has likely coached more people through labor than most CEOs have coached through board meetings, and she says the communication principles are surprisingly similar.___________________________________About Melinda:Melinda Lee is a Presentation Skills Expert, Speaking Coach, and nationally renowned Motivational Speaker. She holds an M.A. in Organizational Psychology, is an Insights Practitioner, and is a Certified Professional in Talent Development as well as Certified in Conflict Resolution. For over a decade, Melinda has researched and studied the state of “flow” and used it as a proven technique to help corporate leaders and business owners amplify their voices, access flow, and present their mission in a more powerful way to achieve results.She has been the TEDx Berkeley Speaker Coach and has worked with hundreds of executives and teams from Facebook, Google, Microsoft, Caltrans, Bay Area Rapid Transit System, and more. Currently, she lives in San Francisco, California, and is breaking the ancestral lineage of silence.Website: https://speakinflow.com/The Legacy Growth System™: https://www.speakinflow.com/legacy-growth-systemFacebook: https://m.facebook.com/speakinflowInstagram: https://instagram.com/speakinflowLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mpowerallThanks for listening!

May 19, 20266 min

Why Smart Leaders Lose the Room

In our last episode, we explored the hidden costs of founder dependency, which occurs when all decisions ultimately rest with the CEO and nothing gets done. In this episode of the Legacy Growth Series, Melinda addresses a critical question that every CEO must answer: Can your leadership team effectively represent you when you're not present? She explains why being the smartest person in the room isn't enough and how the true measure of credibility is whether your message is carried forward.In This Episode, You Will Learn:The "Smart Person" Trap“When you talk so fast, you start to see the people, the room, zoning out.”Why including every detail and talking too fast actually erodes your authority, and the simple shift from what you say to how you make people feel that rebuilds it instantly.Clarity vs. NoiseHow to diagnose if your leadership team is bringing clarity to your clients or just adding noise, and why the difference directly determines how your business moves forward.What People Carry Forward"Executive presence isn't about how much you know. It's about what people carry forward."Why the only message that matters is the one people remember, repeat, and act on.The 4-Question Leadership Audit“And then ask yourself, as they're speaking, how do I feel?”The exact four questions every leader on your team must be able to answer to test their presence, their clarity, and whether clients will trust them when you're not in the room._____________________________________We all want to be the Sherlock Holmes of our team. The one that solves the puzzle and saves the day.But being the smartest person in the room isn't the same as being the leader people want to follow.Learn how to leverage your intelligence as an asset and unite your team in our latest post. "The Smart Person Trap. Being Right Isn't Enough to Lead."_____________________________________About Melinda:Melinda Lee is a Presentation Skills Expert, Speaking Coach, and nationally renowned Motivational Speaker. She holds an M.A. in Organizational Psychology, is an Insights Practitioner, and is a Certified Professional in Talent Development as well as Certified in Conflict Resolution. For over a decade, Melinda has researched and studied the state of “flow” and used it as a proven technique to help corporate leaders and business owners amplify their voices, access flow, and present their mission in a more powerful way to achieve results.She has been the TEDx Berkeley Speaker Coach and has worked with hundreds of executives and teams from Facebook, Google, Microsoft, Caltrans, Bay Area Rapid Transit System, and more. Currently, she lives in San Francisco, California, and is breaking the ancestral lineage of silence.Website: https://speakinflow.com/Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/speakinflowInstagram: https://instagram.com/speakinflowLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mpowerallThanks for listening!Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!Subscribe to the podcastIf you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app.Leave us an Apple Podcast review.Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts.

May 14, 202632 min

From a One-Man Show to $12 Billion Projects

Are you a CEO who still finds yourself overwhelmed, unable to step away without things falling apart? In this Episode of The Speak In Flow Podcast with Melinda Lee, Oscar Zavaleta, founder and CEO of Montez Group, shares his journey from running a one-person operation to leading a team of 35 on billion-dollar infrastructure projects, such as the $12.5 billion VTA Silicon Valley megaproject. If you're a leader who cares deeply about quality but feels trapped by your own involvement, this episode will change how you think about letting go.In This Episode, You Will Learn:The Cost of Owning Everything“The hardest part is to say, you know what? I don't need to own it.”Why starting as a one-person show creates a dangerous pattern, and how to break the cycle before your company stagnates.How to Trust Your Team Without Losing Quality“If you break something, we'll fix it.”The mindset shift that allows you to empower people, even when real financial risk is on the line.Why Training Creates Leadership“If you put somebody completely unprepared, that spirit gets beaten down, and then it's hard to build up.”How investing in your people's preparation builds their confidence and their ability to lead.Communication as Rocket Fuel, Not a Soft SkillWhat becomes possible when your whole team can speak about your company with one consistent voice.________________________________You can’t delegate to a team that isn’t working toward the same goal. So, before you consider lightening your workload, ask yourself: “Is my team ready for the responsibility? And how can I tell?”Learn how to identify misalignment in our latest blog post. "Identifying Misalignment. Is your team not working toward the same goal?"________________________________About the Guest:Oscar Zavaleta is the founder and CEO of Montez Group, a construction management firm headquartered in San Francisco with offices in Long Beach and Seattle. Born in El Salvador, he earned his Civil Engineering degree from Santa Clara University and has since worked on iconic projects, including SoFi Stadium and the $12.5 billion VTA Silicon Valley megaproject. Oscar is passionate about mentoring the next generation of leaders and dedicates time to supporting industry nonprofits in workforce development, construction management, and transportation. His philosophy? Hire great people, train them well, and then get out of their way.Social HandlesWebsite: www.montezgroup.comFun Facts:🏃‍♂️ Oscar is a dedicated runner and casual golfer.✈️ He loves to travel and read.🪑 In his spare time, he makes furniture.________________________________About Melinda:Melinda Lee is a Presentation Skills Expert, Speaking Coach, and nationally renowned Motivational Speaker. She holds an M.A. in Organizational Psychology, is an Insights Practitioner, and is a Certified Professional in Talent Development as well as Certified in Conflict Resolution. For over a decade, Melinda has researched and studied the state of “flow” and used it as a proven technique to help corporate leaders and business owners amplify their voices, access flow, and present their mission in a more powerful way to achieve results.She has been the TEDx Berkeley Speaker Coach and has worked with hundreds of executives and teams from Facebook, Google, Microsoft, Caltrans, Bay Area Rapid Transit System, and more. Currently, she lives in San Francisco, California, and is breaking the ancestral lineage of silence.Website: https://speakinflow.com/Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/speakinflowInstagram: https://instagram.com/speakinflowLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mpowerallThanks for listening!Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!Subscribe to the podcastIf you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app.Leave us an Apple Podcast review.Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts.

May 12, 202627 min

30-Year Sales Leader Reveals the Truth About Startup Growth

What if the biggest obstacle to scaling your startup isn't your strategy, but your inability to let go? In this episode of the Speak In Flow podcast, host Melinda Lee sits down with Chris Sterbenc, fractional CRO with over 30 years of experience scaling companies from sub-$1 million to double-digit millions. Together, they unpack why even seasoned leaders struggle with accountability, and how “busyness” often masks a lack of clarity that quietly kills growth. If you're a first-time founder or a CEO who feels like you're still doing a little bit of everything, this episode is your roadmap to installing simple systems.In This Episode, You Will Learn:Why Accountability Breaks Down“Especially for startup companies and CEOs that are first-time founders, in that they're doing a little bit of everything, And so a lot of mistakes get made, and sometimes they're really avoidable.”Chris explains why startup CEOs often fail to set clear expectations because they're doing everything themselves, and how that leads to blurred lines, finger-pointing, and missed numbers.How to Delegate Without Micromanaging“Carve off pieces of your world to specialists, but know where the lines begin and end.”Discover how to give your team a clear mission, defined boundaries, and the freedom to execute without meddling or hovering.One Simple Shift to Build Accountability as a Culture“Take the time, make sure both people are exactly on the same page.”Slow down. Document expectations. Use AI tools to record and clarify action items. Chris shares how taking just two extra minutes to confirm “who, what, and when” can prevent the most common breakdowns in execution.What Becomes Possible When Communication Is a SystemLess friction. More collaboration. A “frictionless environment” where people openly say, “I'm failing at this, help me fix it,” instead of hoping no one notices. That's the ceiling, and it's higher than most founders realize._________________________________________A startup's growth is threatened by more than just accountability. Misalignment is right around the corner. What's the solution to both? Communication.Understanding where the problem lies is the first step.Learn how to identify misalignment in our latest blog post. "Identifying Misalignment. Is your team not working toward the same goal?"_________________________________________About the Guest:Chris Sterbenc is a fractional CRO and sales leadership veteran. Since 1990, he has helped scale multiple high-growth startups from sub-$1 million to double-digit millions, with several of those companies going public or being acquired, including Infrascale (acquired by Route 66), FreedomVoice (acquired by GoDaddy), Axcient (acquired by eFolder), and more. Today, he coaches first-time founder CEOs through his fractional CRO practice, Scale Up Accelerator Group, where he helps install foundational sales and go-to-market processes so startups can scale without chaos.Social HandlesLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissterbencsalesleadercro/Fun Facts:⛳ He's a lifelong sports enthusiast and still plays "a ton of golf," traveling the country by gravel road to discover new courses.🍺 He's a huge foodie and loves exploring local microbrews and cuisine wherever he goes.🏃‍♂️ He's had to "cool it on the more vigorous sports" as the mileage on his body adds up, but that hasn't slowed his competitive spirit._____________________________________About Melinda:Melinda Lee is a Presentation Skills Expert, Speaking Coach, and nationally renowned Motivational Speaker. She holds an M.A. in Organizational Psychology, is an Insights Practitioner, and is a Certified Professional in Talent Development as well as Certified in Conflict Resolution. For over a decade, Melinda has researched and studied the state of “flow” and used it as a proven technique to help corporate leaders and business owners amplify their voices, access flow, and present their mission in a more powerful way to achieve results.She has been the TEDx Berkeley Speaker Coach and has worked with hundreds of executives and teams from Facebook, Google, Microsoft, Caltrans, Bay Area Rapid Transit System, and more. Currently, she lives in San Francisco, California, and is breaking the ancestral lineage of silence.Website: https://speakinflow.com/Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/speakinflowInstagram: https://instagram.com/speakinflowLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mpowerallThanks for listening!Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!Subscribe to the podcastIf you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app.Leave us an Apple Podcast review.Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts.

May 7, 202644 min

The 3 Words Killing Your Team's Execution

Excessive corporate jargon and endless meetings have caused many team members to tune out, even during important meetings. So it's no surprise that, although everyone initially agrees on the plan, friction between teams begins as soon as the work starts. In this practical episode of the Speak In Flow podcast, host Melinda Lee sits down with strategic communications expert Eileen Wixted to diagnose why alignment breaks down, and exactly how to fix it. Eileen debunks the myth that communication is a "soft skill," revealing why it's actually a hard, hardwirable discipline as critical as math or science.In This Episode, You Will Learn:Why "Clear is Kind" Isn't Just a Saying“High-performing teams have a high-performing communication culture. You cannot have one without the other.”How leaders waste time, energy, and money communicating after solving problems, and the simple shift to putting communication at the center of every decision.Alignment vs. Agreement“You don't have to agree. But once the decision is made, you align and carry the flag.”A masterclass in how executive teams can debate fiercely, then move forward as one.The PEAR Model for High-Stakes Communication“A high-performing leadership team begins with its ability to communicate well.”A practical framework (People, Environment, Assets, Reputation) to assess any crisis or sensitive situation, even when you have no time to prepare.Tabletop Drills Are the New Crisis PlansWhy 120-page binders don't work anymore, and how running short, injection-based crisis simulations prepares your team for real-world chaos._________________________________"Soft" problems often have hard consequences, and misalignment is one of them. The main problem is that it is difficult to spot without training and is often confused with a lack of motivation or accountability.Can you clearly identify when your team is misaligned?Learn how to identify misalignment in our latest blog post. "Identifying Misalignment. Is your team not working toward the same goal?"_________________________________About the Guest:Eileen Wixted is a nationally recognized strategic communications and crisis management veteran and the principal of Wixted & Company. A former Emmy Award-winning broadcast journalist. Her firm has been named an Agency Elite Top 120 Firm by PRNews for four consecutive years, and she was named the Des Moines Business Record's 2016 Woman Business Owner of the Year. Today, she helps executives find the courage and the words to communicate in a way that builds understanding, trust, and lasting alignment, because as she puts it, "you can make great business decisions, but if you don't know how to communicate them, they will never get implemented."Social HandlesWebsite: https://www.thinkwixted.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eileen-wixted-97b4796/Fun Facts:🍝 Eileen is originally from Brooklyn, New York, and brings that direct, no-nonsense style to everything she does.🍽️ Her first job was as a waitress at a Coney Island diner, where you could not write anything down or use a tray to carry the food. Arms only!🕺 She also won the Big Daddy's disco contest in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. (Yes, really.)_________________________________About Melinda:Melinda Lee is a Presentation Skills Expert, Speaking Coach, and nationally renowned Motivational Speaker. She holds an M.A. in Organizational Psychology, is an Insights Practitioner, and is a Certified Professional in Talent Development as well as Certified in Conflict Resolution. For over a decade, Melinda has researched and studied the state of “flow” and used it as a proven technique to help corporate leaders and business owners amplify their voices, access flow, and present their mission in a more powerful way to achieve results.She has been the TEDx Berkeley Speaker Coach and has worked with hundreds of executives and teams from Facebook, Google, Microsoft, Caltrans, Bay Area Rapid Transit System, and more. Currently, she lives in San Francisco, California, and is breaking the ancestral lineage of silence.Website: https://speakinflow.com/Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/speakinflowInstagram: https://instagram.com/speakinflowLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mpowerallThanks for listening!Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!Subscribe to the podcastIf you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app.Leave us an Apple Podcast review.Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts.

May 5, 202610 min

Your Team Is Working Hard But Going Nowhere

Are your teams working hard but moving in different directions? Join Melinda Lee as she cuts through the noise of busy calendars and makes a full effort to reveal the hidden culprit slowing down your growth: misalignment, not a lack of motivation.In this special episode of the Speak in Flow podcast Legacy Growth Series, Melinda tackles one of the most expensive and overlooked problems facing leaders today, and gives you a single question that will diagnose exactly where your organization is breaking down.In This Episode, You Will Learn:The Real Reason Your Team Isn't Growing“If only effort equated to growth, then you'd be thriving...”Why "working harder" never equals growth, and how to spot the difference between productive motion and directionless activity that costs you opportunities.The Cost of MisalignmentAligned teams are 58% faster and 72% more profitable. Discover what misalignment is actually costing your company, including your very best people, who burn out not from hard work, but from working hard with nothing to show for it.The One Question That Exposes Your Growth ProblemA simple, powerful question to ask your leadership team (and bonus points if your whole organization can answer it). The pause after you ask it is a direct measure of what's slowing your company down.From Clarity to Results“Execution is the question between clarity and the results.”Once clarity is solved, a new problem emerges: execution. Melinda previews her next episode, Why Strategies Fail Without an Accountability System, setting the stage for what comes after alignment.__________________________________________Are your teams working hard, but growth remains stagnant? 🚩The problem is rarely motivation. It's misalignment.Only 28% of executives can clearly articulate their company's strategic priorities. The results? Less productivity and more burnout.Learn how to identify misalignment in our latest blog post. "Identifying Misalignment. Is your team not working toward the same goal?"_________________________________About Melinda:Melinda Lee is a Presentation Skills Expert, Speaking Coach, and nationally renowned Motivational Speaker. She holds an M.A. in Organizational Psychology, is an Insights Practitioner, and is a Certified Professional in Talent Development as well as Certified in Conflict Resolution. For over a decade, Melinda has researched and studied the state of “flow” and used it as a proven technique to help corporate leaders and business owners amplify their voices, access flow, and present their mission in a more powerful way to achieve results.She has been the TEDx Berkeley Speaker Coach and has worked with hundreds of executives and teams from Facebook, Google, Microsoft, Caltrans, Bay Area Rapid Transit System, and more. Currently, she lives in San Francisco, California, and is breaking the ancestral lineage of silence.Website: https://speakinflow.com/Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/speakinflowInstagram: https://instagram.com/speakinflowLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mpowerallThanks for listening!Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!Subscribe to the podcastIf you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app.Leave us an Apple Podcast review.Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts.