Tech Leader Talk

Hosted by Steve Sponseller

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Episodes

186

Latest episode

Jun 2026

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About the show

The Tech Leader Talk podcast brings together successful technology company leaders, entrepreneurs, and experts from around the technology industry to share successes, challenges, and examples of what's working now to build strong tech companies. Tune in each week as Steve Sponseller interviews a new leader in the tech world.

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60 recent

June 11, 202634 min

Space Tech Innovation for X-Ray Satellite Inspection – Lee Rosen

Do you want to hear the story behind a space technology innovation that performs x-ray satellite inspection in space? Keep listening because that's what I'll be discussing today with my guest, Lee Rosen. Lee is a co-founder of Think Orbital with an interesting background spanning military service in the Air Force and working at SpaceX. His fascination with aviation began in his high school rocketry club and has continued through his work at Think Orbital. Lee discusses how the team at Think Orbital discovered that electron beam technology could generate x-rays. This discovery led to their innovative system that can x-ray satellites to determine if weapons or other dangerous objects are hidden inside a satellite. On this episode, Lee shares his motivation for co-founding Think Orbital and talks about the current projects the company is developing. Lee talks about how true innovation often comes from accidental discoveries while solving real problems. He also shares his belief that success in tech isn't just about physics – it's about questioning every human-made constraint. If it's not a law of nature, it's open to challenge and innovation. I'm confident that this conversation with Lee Rosen will give you some valuable information that you can apply in your own business. Today on the Tech Leader Talk podcast: - True innovation from accidental discoveries - Rigorous testing techniques - Cross-disciplinary experimentation - Enabling large-scale construction in space - Why you should question every human-made constraint Connect with Lee Rosen: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leewrosen/ Website: https://thinkorbital.com/ Thanks for listening! Be sure to get your free copy of Steve's book, Cracking the Patent Code, and discover his proven system for identifying and protecting your most valuable inventions. Get the book at https://stevesponseller.com/book.

June 4, 202628 min

Creating Valuable Innovations In Space Technology – Ryan Sullivan

Can a "non-traditional background" produce valuable innovations in space technology? On this episode of Tech Leader Talk, I'm talk with Ryan Sullivan who is a co-founder of Space Kinetic. He talks about how his work with the Peace Corps and other non-technical organizations taught him problem-solving techniques that enable him to be a strong tech leader today. Ryan shares insights on building breakthrough hardware, tackling national security challenges, and why asking "naive" questions leads to real progress. Ryan discusses how he and the team at Space Kinetic created the Whirlwind electromechanical deployment system. This system offers a new approach to deploying micro-payloads from a host spacecraft at high velocities. Ryan recommends reading on a wide variety of topics and drawing inspiration from outside your immediate field to create "aha moments" that shape company strategy. I'm sure you will get some valuable insights from our conversation that you can apply in your own work. Today on the Tech Leader Talk podcast: - Working on the frontier - Building new space architectures - Culture thrives when leaders encourage questions - Creative problem solving - Finding inspiration in unexpected places Connect with Ryan Sullivan: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryansteelesullivan/ Website: https://www.spacekinetic.com/ Thanks for listening! Be sure to get your free copy of Steve's book, Cracking the Patent Code, and discover his proven system for identifying and protecting your most valuable inventions. Get the book at https://stevesponseller.com/book.

May 28, 202614 min

Creating Invention Evaluation Criteria for a Robust Patent Strategy – Steve Sponseller

On this episode, I'm continuing my discussion of the 7-Step system I created that's helped many tech companies build robust patent strategies. I will be discussing the fourth step in that system, which is important to ensure that you create the best invention evaluation criteria for your business. Two important things your Patent Strategy must do: 1. Protect your company's critical inventions 2. Support your business goals By creating Invention Evaluation Criteria that's unique to your particular business, you satisfy both of those requirements. First, your Invention Evaluation Criteria ensures that you are protecting your most valuable inventions. And, your Invention Evaluation Criteria is customized for your specific business goals. By creating invention evaluation criteria that's unique to your company, you can be sure that you are spending your patent budget to protect the inventions that are critical to your company's success. With many of my clients, we create 12-15 different evaluation criteria that are applied to each invention. Based on applying the evaluation criteria to multiple inventions, those inventions can be prioritized based on their value to the company. I will discuss some of the common evaluation criteria used by clients for many years. · Feasibility of the invention. Is it commercially feasible to design and produce the invention? If the cost is too high or the development time is too long, the invention may not be a good choice for patenting. · Does the invention cover a "must-have" feature? If this feature fills a desired gap in the marketplace, it may be a good candidate for a patent application if other criteria are confirmed. · Does the invention satisfy short-term or long-term goals of the company? As I mentioned earlier, the inventions you patent should support company goals. · Is the invention related to the company's exit strategy? Will the invention support that exit strategy? · Are there any potential patentability problems? Some inventions may be valuable, but difficult to protect with a patent. · Can someone easily design around the invention? If the invention is patented, can a competitor avoid infringing the patent by easily designing around the patent? · Should the invention be maintained as a trade secret instead of disclosing the invention details in a patent application? · What's the lifetime value of a patent covering the invention? If the invention is likely to be obsolete in a couple years, it may not be worth the time and expense to seek patent protection. These are just some of the invention evaluation criteria that may be appropriate to your company. It's important to define your own invention evaluation criteria that support your company goals and help build a portfolio of patents that are valuable to your organization. Questions? If you have any questions about building a robust patent strategy for your company, contact me to schedule a complimentary call. Contact me via email: Steve@SteveSponseller.com Thanks for listening! Be sure to get your free copy of my latest book, Cracking the Patent Code, and discover my proven system for identifying and protecting your most valuable inventions. Get the book at https://stevesponseller.com/book.

May 14, 202635 min

Get Funding Without Giving Up Control of Your Tech Company – Ron Bauer

Would you like a roadmap that helps your tech startup grow while you maintain control of the company? On this episode, I have a great discussion with Ron Bauer who helps companies launch and raise funds without giving up control of the company. Ron is a venture capitalist and entrepreneur with more than 20 years of experience in technology, life sciences, education technology, and natural resources. He has created a number of ventures with leading entrepreneurs and scientists. He is the founder and managing partner of Theseus Capital. Ron has also launched ventures with several academic institutions, such as Oxford, Cambridge, Stanford, and Cornell. He has as strong track record of nurturing innovative concepts and supporting entrepreneurs and scientists from early-stage startups to initial public offerings. Ron has successfully raised capital across many sectors, multiple geographies, and ever-changing market conditions. I'm sure you will enjoy this discussion with Ron, where he shares his expertise with launching and growing tech companies, and discusses strategies for raising funds. "The roadmap we created allows the founders to maintain control of the company and retain full scientific and creative freedom." – Ron Bauer Today on the Tech Leader Talk podcast: - What investors look for in tech startups - Creating and launching university spin-out companies - Adapting to changing economic environments - The critical importance of intellectual property - Identifying hot sectors based on changing market conditions Book recommendations: Upsiders by Bobby Castro: https://www.amazon.com/UPSIDERS-confusion-distractions-create-permanent/dp/B09ZCQSCSP The Breakthrough Code by Tom McCarthy: https://www.amazon.com/Breakthrough-Code-Living-Without-Limits/dp/B09RPWV5VG Connect with Ron Bauer: Website: https://thescapital.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronbauer888/ Thanks for listening! Be sure to get your free copy of Steve's latest book, Cracking the Patent Code, and discover his proven system for identifying and protecting your most valuable inventions. Get the book at https://stevesponseller.com/book.

May 7, 202637 min

Innovation Leadership at IBM – Nick Donofrio

Are you moving fast enough? On today's episode, I have a wonderful discussion with Nick Donofrio, who has spent most of his life as a technology leader. Although Nick had countless accomplishments, he wonders if he was moving fast enough. Nick worked in various roles at IBM for 44 years. During that time, he redefined innovation at IBM and initiated worldwide collaboration for the company. Nick was the first Executive Vice President of Innovation and Technology at IBM. And he was named one of Business Week's 25 top innovation champions. Nick is the author of the book: If Nothing Changes, Nothing Changes. The book discusses how Nick and others led IBM's global technical team. During our discussion, Nick talks about how Innovation played an important role in IBM's transformation during his 44 years at the company. I'm sure you will enjoy this discussion (and get some tips for your own business, like I did) as Nick shares his knowledge and experiences during his many years at IBM. "Transforming IBM into an innovation company was all about value creation." – Nick Donofrio Today on the Tech Leader Talk podcast: - How IBM was transformed into an innovation company - Helping your team members be more successful - The role of Nick's mom in his career Nick's Book: If Nothing Changes, Nothing Changes: https://www.amazon.com/If-Nothing-Changes-Donofrio-Story/dp/1544531346 Connect with Nick Donofrio: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholas-donofrio-7588609/ Thanks for listening! Be sure to get your free copy of Steve's latest book, Cracking the Patent Code, and discover his proven system for identifying and protecting your most valuable inventions. Get the book at https://stevesponseller.com/book.

April 30, 202633 min

Combining Blockchain with Serverless Infrastructures – Tim Wagner

Is your company leveraging the latest data sharing and data storage technologies? On today's episode, I am talking with Tim Wagner. Tim is the CEO of Vendia, which provides a platform that combines next generation blockchain with a serverless infrastructure. Tim is passionate about growing teams within organizations and innovating problems related to data sharing. He also has technical knowledge in programming languages, modern databases, and algorithm design. On today's episode, Tim and I discuss the power of combining serverless architectures with blockchain technologies. We also discuss the value of transparency in your organization and growing strong teams. "If you're going to build a blockchain technology that services millions of customers, you need access to enough silicon to do that." – Tim Wagner Today on the Tech Leader Talk podcast: - Current data sharing and data storage trends - The importance of transparency in your business - Tips for growing strong teams - The power of combining blockchain with serverless infrastructures - The growth of multi-cloud systems Connect with Tim Wagner: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timawagner/ Website: https://www.vendia.net/ Thanks for listening! Be sure to get your free copy of Steve's latest book, Cracking the Patent Code, and discover his proven system for identifying and protecting your most valuable inventions. Get the book at https://stevesponseller.com/book.

April 23, 202631 min

B2B Marketing - The War Between Art & Science – Camela Thompson

On this episode, I talk with Camela Thompson, who is a B2B thought leader, an entrepreneur, a podcaster, and an author. Camela and I discuss B2B marketing. In particular, Camela explains "The War Between Art & Science" – which includes issues related to digital marketing in today's world. We also talk about the ability to track and analyze results in different types of marketing. "We now have the ability to measure the impact of the creative item we're testing." – Camela Thompson Today on the Tech Leader Talk podcast: - How to solve the conflict between art and science in marketing - A common website problem you can easily fix in a few minutes - How Camela's background in data has helped her succeed as a marketer - B2B priorities for tech companies - Modifying your website pages based on who is viewing the content Resources: The Revenue Marketing Report Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-revenue-marketing-report/id1568810136 Book: Non-Violent Communication by Marshall Rosenberg (https://www.nonviolentcommunication.com/product/nvc/) Connect with Camela Thompson: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/camela-thompson/ Website: https://www.camelathompsoncreative.com/ Thanks for listening! Be sure to get your free copy of Steve's latest book, Cracking the Patent Code, and discover his proven system for identifying and protecting your most valuable inventions. Get the book at https://stevesponseller.com/book.

April 16, 202633 min

Creating an Authentic Brand that Attracts Customers – Kate DiLeo

On this episode, I have a valuable conversation with Kate DiLeo about her Brand Strategy Process for technology companies. Kate believes that a brand is the path of least resistance to revenue and she's passionate about helping organizations create common ground with their customers. She has worked with over 200 companies across 20 sectors, helping them create authentic brands that attract more customers. "Your brand is the path of least resistance to revenue." – Kate DiLeo Today on the Tech Leader Talk podcast: - How Kate's Brand Strategy Process is different from other approaches - Learn a process that quickly helps companies articulate who they are, why they're different, and how to solve their customer's problems - How a brand can help technology companies (especially startups and small tech companies) - When you should start thinking about a brand strategy Connect with Kate: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katedileo/ Website: https://katedileo.com/ Thanks for listening! Be sure to get your free copy of Steve's latest book, Cracking the Patent Code, and discover his proven system for identifying and protecting your most valuable inventions. Get the book at https://stevesponseller.com/book.

April 9, 202635 min

Solving Real Problems and Niching Down – Dan Fuller

If you are enjoying the Tech Leader Talk podcast, can you do me a favor and share it with one or two friends who might enjoy the content? This will increase the number of podcast listeners, which helps make a bigger impact in the tech industry. Thanks for your help. When growing a tech business, you must focus on solving real problems, niching down, and building your network. Today, I'm discussing those issues with Dan Fuller, who has 15 years of experience in the unmanned systems industry (such as drones) and more than two decades in aerospace, semiconductors, and advanced technology. During our conversation, Dan explains why it's important for tech startups to niche down and go deep. He also talks about how his curiosity for solving real-world problems led him from the corporate world into entrepreneurship. Dan discusses the rapid advancement in drone technology and the impact it's having on various industries. He shares insights on making decisions in rapidly changing technology environments. Dan and I also talk about the importance of identifying and protecting inventions, which includes designing a patent strategy for your company. I'm sure you will get some valuable insights from this conversation with Dan that you can apply in your own organization. Today on the Tech Leader Talk podcast: - Avoiding hype and solving real problems - Patent strategies for tech startups - Technology as a tool, not an end in itself - The value of relationships and community - Decision-making in rapidly changing technology environments Resource: Dan's "Beyond the Fog" newsletter on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/beyond-the-fog-7169134803827580928/ Connect with Dan Fuller: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danieldfuller/ Website: https://clarifyconsultingllc.com/ Thanks for listening! Be sure to get your free copy of Steve's book, Cracking the Patent Code, and discover his proven system for identifying and protecting your most valuable inventions. Get the book at https://stevesponseller.com/book.

April 2, 202637 min

The Power of the Space Mindset – Shelli Brunswick

Space is not just rockets – it's a mindset for leadership, strategy, and collaboration across borders and industries. On today's episode, I have the pleasure of talking with Shelli Brunswick, who will be discussing the power of the space mindset. Shelli is an experienced leader in the space industry with previous roles in the military and with the Space Foundation. Today she is the CEO and founder of SB Global, LLC. During our conversation, Shelli discusses the rapidly evolving landscape of technology and space – and talks about the "space mindset." She also talks about her latest book "What's Space Got to Do with It? An Interstellar Guide to Success." This book is a valuable resource for anyone looking for a blueprint to succeed in in the space industry – from students to executives. Shelli also shares insights from launching her own company and advising entrepreneurs and organizations throughout the world. Shelli explains that today's leaders must see the big picture and foster global collaboration. Whether you're interested in space, technology, entrepreneurship, or fascinated by the future of leadership, you will love this conversation with Shelli. Today on the Tech Leader Talk podcast: - Rapid evolution of the space industry - Global and cross-sector collaboration - Bridging academia, industry, and government - Collaboration drives innovation - Leadership, awareness, access, and action Resource: Shelli's Latest Book: What's Space Got to Do with It? An Interstellar Guide to Success Link to Shelli's book: https://www.amazon.com/Whats-Space-Got-Do-Interstellar/dp/B0FTZMGV77 Connect with Shelli Brunswick: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shellibrunswick/ Website: https://shelli-brunswick.com/ Thanks for listening! Be sure to get your free copy of Steve's book, Cracking the Patent Code, and discover his proven system for identifying and protecting your most valuable inventions. Get the book at https://stevesponseller.com/book.