Tech Leader Talk

Hosted by Steve Sponseller

Technology ManagementInterviews guests

Website RSS feed LinkedIn

Episodes

203

Latest episode

Oct 2026

Language

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.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

October 22, 202635 min

Turning Ambitious Ideas Into Successful Businesses – Vanessa Liu

On this episode of Tech Leader Talk I have the pleasure of talking with Vanessa Liu about the factors behind successful startups, from market tailwinds and luck to the teams that know how to navigate adversity. Vanessa is a business builder, a digital media entrepreneur and a technology innovator. She has been launching and building businesses for more than 25 years. During our discussion, Vanessa shares her path from aspiring astronaut to McKinsey consultant, startup founder, accelerator leader, and co-founder of Sugarwork. She also talks about lessons learned when working with SAP's accelerator programs. Vanessa explains that tacit knowledge is a strategic asset. Much of what makes a company distinctive lives in people's heads, not in CRMs or spreadsheets. Capturing that knowledge becomes even more important when companies want to automate workflows with AI. The company she co-founded, Sugarwork, helps capture that tacit knowledge. Vanessa shares her belief that the next phase of AI will require more than just technical progress. It will require thoughtful governance, broad participation, and a serious effort to keep people from being left behind. I'm sure you will enjoy my discussion with Vanessa and get some insights that can help you strengthen your own business. Today on the Tech Leader Talk podcast: - Tacit knowledge is a strategic asset - Looking for tailwinds before launching - Adoption is a current technology challenge - Building an exceptional team - The next major technology trend: Robotics Connect with Vanessa Liu : LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vanessawliu 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 .

October 15, 20266 min

Invention Mining Sessions that Capture Every Invention – Steve Sponseller

This is another solo episode of the Tech Leader Talk podcast. 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 sixth step in that system, which helps you discover every invention so you can build a valuable patent portfolio. As I've discussed on previous episodes, you can't take steps to protect your most valuable inventions if you don't identify them in the first place. A worst case scenario is when your team members create fantastic inventions, but they don't get discovered or protected. You can avoid that situation by scheduling regular Invention Mining Sessions. An invention mining session brings together team members who are working on a project or recently completed a project. During this meeting, team members identify innovative ideas that were developed during the project. For example, team members identify key obstacles that came up during product development. Then, they discuss how the obstacle was solved or overcome. In many cases, these solutions to key obstacles are inventions. For example, when the obstacle was encountered, there may not have been a known solution. In this case, the team had to create a solution that did not previously exist. This solution may be an invention. If an experienced team spends significant time solving a problem with no previous solution, that's likely to be an invention. During invention mining sessions, it's also important to discuss the most difficult or time-consuming part of the project. These areas may identify inventions because there was no straight forward solution to the issues faced. It's important to perform invention mining as a project is being completed and before public disclosure of the project. This gives you time to protect any inventions before disclosing them to the public. Also, for longer projects, I recommend scheduling invention mining sessions at several points during the project to identify the inventions as soon as possible. Identifying and evaluating inventions early allows the company to take steps to protect critical inventions with a patent application before any type of public disclosure that might eliminate patent rights. Be sure to add invention mining sessions to your project schedules so the team doesn't forget to perform this important task. 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 Message me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevesponseller 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 .

October 8, 202630 min

Satellite Connectivity Innovation – Parth Trivedi

Would you like to learn how to validate your business startup idea or business expansion plans? That's the topic of this episode. Today I'm talking with Parth Trivedi, who is the CEO of Skylo Technologies which provides a non-terrestrial network (NTN) that connects devices around the world. In his role as CEO, Parth is responsible for leading business operations including long-term goals, growth, profitability, and overall vision. During our discussion, Parth shares information about how his team validated their startup idea when creating Skylo Technologies. This included seeking critical feedback from independent advisors and potential customers. Parth also talks about how he and his team approach innovation in an ever-changing market. They focus on developing new systems that change their industry. Parth shares information about the challenges of designing new products that must operate within existing constraints, such as existing hardware systems and user behavior. I'm sure you will enjoy this discussion and pick up some valuable tips to use in your own business. Today on the Tech Leader Talk podcast: - Innovation techniques - Validating new ideas - Creating new standards - Dealing with confirmation bias - Launching a company with significant innovation constraints Resource: Chip War by Chris Miller - https://www.amazon.com/Chip-War-Dominate-Critical-Technology/dp/B09TX24J5Y Connect with Parth Trivedi : LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/parthtrivedi/ Website: https://www.skylo.tech 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 .

October 1, 202633 min

Building A Tech Ecosystem – Paul Zelizer and Vicki Apodaca

Have you ever thought about how to build a tech ecosystem for your community? Today I'm talking with two people who are doing that right now. My guests today are Paul Zelizer and Vicki Apodaca. They are the organizers of the first Tech Week in New Mexico. Paul is a business coach for social entrepreneurs and has helped over 30,000 leaders grow their impact-driven companies and organizations. Vicki has been a founding member of several tech startups and is currently building a document intelligence platform with AI analytics. Paul and Vicki discuss New Mexico's emerging tech momentum, the role of national labs, startup funding, and the goal of bringing more investment and high-wage jobs to New Mexico. Vicki shares why inclusivity and "educating by doing" are central to the event, while Paul explains how the team has focused on New Mexico's distinct ecosystem. Paul and Vicki emphasize that New Mexico Tech Week is operated with the structure and discipline of a startup rather than as an informal community organization. Paul and Vicki also share the business lessons they have learned during the process of creating and implementing the Tech Week. I'm sure you will enjoy this conversation and get some ideas for creating or supporting a tech ecosystem in your area. Today on the Tech Leader Talk podcast: - Creating a startup ecosystem - Educate by doing - Being brave enough to try something new - Strong ecosystems need a flywheel Resources: New Mexico Tech Week: https://newmexicotechweek.com/ Connect with Vicki and Paul : Vicki – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoriaapodaca/ Paul – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulzelizer/ 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 .

September 24, 202636 min

Technical Presentations with Clown Presence – Don Colliver

Do you need help delivering compelling technical presentations? Today I'm talking with Don Colliver, who is a facilitator and communication consultant with over 20 years of experience . He has worked as a consultant for tech companies like Google, Cisco, Adobe, and IBM. Don is also a former theatrical clown for a circus and has performed with the Blue Man Group. He is the author of the book Wink: Transforming Public Speaking with Clown Presence. Don talks about how his experience as a clown helps him when training tech companies how to give good presentations. He also discusses how to present technical information without putting your audience to sleep. Don also shares the 3 questions you must ask about your audience before planning any presentation. I'm sure you will enjoy Don's tips and insights for building audience awareness, increasing rapport, and clearly communicating technical information. "Sometimes all you need is to hear positive feedback for a few presentations." – Don Colliver Today on the Tech Leader Talk podcast: - Important factors when presenting technical information - Why engagement is so important - 3 questions to ask about your audience when planning a presentation (Who – What – Why) - How to improve your tech team's presentations - A change in mindset regarding public speaking Resources: Don's book – Wink – https://www.amazon.com/Wink-Transforming-Public-Speaking-Presence/dp/B0B45CHMZK Free Audience Engagement Exercise – https://www.doncolliver.com/techengage Book: Crucial Conversations – https://www.amazon.com/Crucial-Conversations-Tools-Talking-Stakes/dp/1260474186 Connect with Don Colliver : LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/doncolliver/ 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 .

September 17, 202634 min

Supporting Space Tech Startups – Casey DeRaad and Arial DeHerrera

Do you want to learn about a Space Tech Ignitor program that helps space tech startups get tailored guidance, expert connections, and access to investors and customers? That's what I'm discussing today with my guests, Casey DeRaad and Arial DeHerrera. As they discuss during this episode, Casey brings the vision, industry experience, and funding knowledge to NewSpace Nexus. Arial turns that vision into action by managing the details and helping companies tell their stories. Casey and Arial talk about the NewSpace Ignitor program and the secret behind the Ignitor's great results. In the last four years, NewSpace Ignitor has supported 63 startups that have raised over $350 million in total funding and contracts. Specifically, Casey brings decades of experience from AFRL, NASA, and industry partnerships, while Arial explains how an unexpected call pulled her from a potential career in medicine into space tech. Casey and Arial share their beliefs that space tech startups don't fail only because of their technology. Often, the harder problem is reaching the right customer, telling a clear story, and surviving uncertain funding cycles. Casey describes the NewSpace Ignitor as "a startup helping startups." Through the program, companies receive tailored support based on their specific needs, from customer connections and demonstration equipment to workforce resources and space qualification. Arial explains the three strengths of the program: 1. Connecting suppliers to buyers 2. Providing access to a broad expert network 3. Offering tailored navigation based on each company's actual challenges I'm sure you will enjoy this conversation and get some insights on what it takes to grow a successful space tech startup. Today on the Tech Leader Talk podcast: - Growing a space tech startup - Success is not just based on the technology - A customized approach to growing tech startups - Concept to Product to Sales - The story behind the NewSpace Ignitor program Resources: NewSpace Nexus website: https://www.newspacenexus.org/ Learn more about NewSpace Nexus activities: https://www.newspacenexus.org/join-us/ Connect with Casey, Arial, and NewSpace Nexus : Casey – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/casey-anglada-deraad-3201a715/ Arial – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arial-deherrera-3597b819a/ 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 .

September 10, 202635 min

Building the Right Team for Your Tech Company – Mike Krupit

Would you like to learn how to build the right team for your technology company? That's what I'm discussing on this episode with my guest, Mike Krupit. Mike is the founder and CEO of Trajectify, which provides leadership and business growth support. Prior to founding Trajectify, Mike worked with eight Silicon Valley Startups where he learned valuable business leadership lessons. On this episode, Mike talks about building a "not-to-do list" and outsourcing or automating tasks you don't enjoy or could be handled more efficiently by someone else. He also shares his thoughts on how you should delegate authority, not just tasks. Mike discusses why your business culture comes from core values and hiring decisions. He recommends defining the behaviors your values require, then using those values throughout the hiring and recognition process. Mike also gives his thoughts on the four accountabilities of an effective CEO: 1. The organization's vision 2. Putting the right people in the right seats 3. Financial and legal sustainability 4. Being the company's outside face and voice Today on the Tech Leader Talk podcast: - Startup challenges and insights - Company culture comes from core values and hiring decisions - How to delegate authority - The importance of building a "not-to-do list" - Four accountabilities of an effective CEO Connect with Mike Krupit : LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mkrupit/ Website: https://www.trajectify.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 .

August 27, 202641 min

A Good UX Design Improves Your Business – Matt Genovese

Would you like to learn how to create a User Experience (UX) that accelerates time-to-market and reduces cost? That's exactly what I'm discussing today with Matt Genovese. Matt is the founder and CEO of Planorama, which is a User Experience design firm that focuses on making complex and technical software – simple and intuitive to use. Matt and the team at Planorama follow the mantra, "Time to market, accelerated by design." During our discussion, Matt shares information about how he and his team get involved early in the product design process so the UX requirements and documentation are defined at the beginning - and play an important role in the entire design process. Matt also explains the importance of User Stories in the overall UX design process to save time and money. He also mentions a free User Story Generator tool offered by Planorama. There's a link to this tool in the show notes. I know you will find value in this interview and get some insights for improving your company's User Experience design process. " Design is all about requirements. UX defines the solid visual requirements for a product. So, the investment in a good UX design saves money on the development activities." – Matt Genovese Today on the Tech Leader Talk podcast: - A first step to improve your UX - How a good UX design improves your business - What are User Stories and why are they important to the design process - When to start UX design in the product design process - The importance of UX design to software companies Connect with Matt Genovese : Contact Matt: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mgenovese/ 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 .

August 20, 202634 min

Protecting Space Tech Inventions – Steve Sponseller

Episode 200! I'm excited to publish the 200th episode of the Tech Leader Talk podcast. I've talked with some amazing people and learned something from every guest. I hope you enjoy this episode and learn from the information I share. Are you protecting your company's critical inventions that create a competitive advantage, attract investors, and increase valuation? This interview is part of the Space Tech Innovation event where Space Tech Leaders share the latest trends and key insights to grow any tech company. The event is Free – you can register at https://SpaceTechInnovation.com to see all the videos, edited transcripts, and an executive summary of each interview. Today's interview is going to be different. I've turned the tables and I am the person being interviewed. Shelli Brunswick (a previous guest on the podcast) has generously agreed to interview me today. Shelli is the former Chief Operating Officer of Space Foundation and a fantastic interviewer for her own podcast. Today, I will be talking with Shelli about my insights from interviewing eight space tech leaders as part of the Space Tech Innovation event. I've been working with tech companies for more than 25 years, but I still discovered new things from my discussions with the space tech leaders. I will also be sharing my own knowledge and experience about how tech companies (space tech and non-space tech) can protect their most valuable inventions to create patent portfolios that provide a competitive advantage, attract investors, and increase company valuation. I think you will enjoy this conversation with me and get some valuable tips and insights that can help you in your own business activities. "Two of the biggest mistakes I see space tech companies make regarding their inventions are 1) not having a system to identify all inventions created by their team, and 2) not understanding patent filing deadlines." – Steve Sponseller (Patent Strategist at Strategic IP Solutions, LLC) Today on the Tech Leader Talk podcast: - Why space tech companies must protect their inventions - Insights from talking with eight space tech experts for the Space Tech Innovation event - Biggest mistakes when protecting inventions - The motivation behind Steve's book, Cracking the Patent Code - Why collaboration among space tech companies is critical Resources: Space Tech White Paper: https://stevesponseller.com/spacetech/ Steve's book, Cracking the Patent Code: https://stevesponseller.com/book Connect with Steve Sponseller : LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevesponseller/ Website: https://stevesponseller.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 .

August 13, 202633 min

Space Engineering: Power Systems and Orbital Data Centers – Al Tadros

Do you want to know how an experienced space tech CTO solves space's toughest problems? Keep listening because that's what I'm discussing with today's guest, Al Tadros. Al is a Space Technology Innovator and the CTO of Redwire Space. In this role, he is focused on making strategic investments that support Redwire's customers, advance technology development, and maintain a collaborative technical culture. Al has three decades of experience in space systems engineering, including satellite and space systems for exploration, national security, and commercial missions. On today's episode, Al talks about his passion for solving tough problems, which led him to pursue engineering in the space industry. During our discussion, he shares information on designing space-based power systems, roll-out solar arrays, and orbital data centers. Al shares his insights on redundancy and risk strategies when developing systems that operate in space. He also discusses challenges when dealing with space industry innovation. Al provides his thoughts on the evolution of power systems for space missions and how those power systems may change in the future. He also talks about challenges when scaling up power generation for orbital data centers, lunar systems, and other systems. Whether you're an engineer, a tech leader, or just curious about the future of space, this episode will provide inspiration and practical insights from an industry leader. Today on the Tech Leader Talk podcast: - Techniques for solving hard problems - Scaling up power systems for space - Designing with redundant systems - High-efficiency, roll-out solar arrays (ROSA) - Requirements and challenges for orbital data centers Resources: Orbital Data Centers white paper: https://rdw.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/RDW26-053-ODC-Power-Thermal-Study-White-Paper-R11-Digital.pdf Video: Deployment of Roll-Out Solar Array (ROSA): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0CFejld5r_I Connect with Al Tadros : LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/al-tadros-986a583/ Website: https://rdw.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 .