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PODCAST

Leadership Launchpad

Matt Gjertsen - Better Every Day Studios

Welcome to the Leadership Launchpad where we help technical managers improve themselves, their teams, and their organizations. Host Matt Gjertsen — former Air Force instructor pilot and head of training and development at SpaceX — brings hard-won lessons from the world"s most demanding organizations to help new managers lead with clarity and confidence. Each episode cuts through the noise with practical frameworks, real stories, and straight talk on what it actually takes to build high-performing

business management

All Episodes

35:30

The Data Problem No One Solved with Austin Spiegel

Leadership Launchpad ·

2026/04/07

Most teams don’t realize they’re missing critical data until something goes wrong.In this episode, Austin Spiegel, co-founder and CTO of Sift and former SpaceX engineer, dives into why telemetry, simple in concept, a value and a timestamp, can become a massive problem in hardware. Miss even a fraction of a second, and you lose the story. Software engineers have plenty of tools to solve this. Hardware engineers haven’t, until now.We also talk leadership, what it’s like stepping into management early,

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36:29

Why Constraints Make Teams Better with Dr. Thomas...

Leadership Launchpad ·

2026/03/31

Most technical teams think they have a technology problem.They usually don’t.In this episode, Dr. Thomas Zurbuchen, former head of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, talks about what actually goes wrong after overseeing dozens of missions and tens of billions in spend.We get into why canceling missions isn’t failure. It’s what makes risk possible in the first place. If you don’t kill things, one bad bet can quietly consume everything around it.He also breaks down something that feels backwards at

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17:45

How the Best Teams Drive Innovation with Matt Gjertsen

Leadership Launchpad ·

2026/03/24

Most people ask what makes SpaceX different.It's a fair question. But the answer isn't what most people expect.In this solo episode, Matt breaks down the two qualities that separate organizations that thrive in chaos from the ones that get buried by it — and why most teams are unknowingly doing both of these things wrong.The trigger was Jared Isaacman's changes to the Artemis program and a framing that came out of the Off Nominal podcast: nobody said they were the constraint. So Isaacman said, fine

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30:53

Going from Buddy to Boss with Brian Ippolito

Leadership Launchpad ·

2026/03/10

Most engineers don’t start their careers thinking, “I can’t wait to manage people.”They want to build things. Tinker. Solve hard problems. See hardware fly.In this episode, Brian Ippolito from Marotta Controls talks about what it’s been like to grow inside a third-generation aerospace company that grew from about 130 people to nearly 1,000 during his career.We talk about the moment you stop being someone’s peer and become their manager, and how uncomfortable that shift can be. Brian shares what

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40:41

Why Management Is Still the Hardest Problem with...

Leadership Launchpad ·

2026/03/03

Managing people is still the hardest problem in business. We’ve built rockets, nuclear reactors, and AI systems… but getting humans to coordinate? Still unsolved.In this episode, Casey Handmer talks about what leadership actually looks like when real stakes are involved when families depend on payroll, when bad decisions compound, and when “being liked” can quietly kill performance. He shares what he’s learned building Terraform Industries, why most management books aren’t that useful, and why

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05:10

How to Set Clear Expectations For Employees

Leadership Launchpad ·

2026/02/10

In this episode, Matt Gjertsen shares practical advice for managers on how to set clear expectations for their teams. Drawing from his experience as a former Air Force instructor pilot and talent development leader at SpaceX, he introduces the concept of "commander's intent," a military technique for effective delegation and communication. The episode breaks down the three essentials for communicating tasks: context (explaining the purpose and impact), outcome (defining what success looks like), and

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05:47

3 Questions to Help Develop Your Employees

Leadership Launchpad ·

2026/02/03

In this episode of Leadership Launchpad, Matt Gjertsen shares practical strategies for developing talent within teams. Drawing on his military experience, Matt Gjertsen explains why building talent internally is often more effective than hiring externally. He emphasizes the importance of employee development in driving engagement and productivity, referencing Gallup research on workplace engagement. Matt introduces three simple questions leaders can use in one-on-one conversations to support

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06:47

Why Managers Need to Stop Talking

Leadership Launchpad ·

2026/01/27

In this episode, host Matt Gjertsen shares a personal story about a mistake made early in her management career—talking too much and not empowering her team members. She explains how new managers often feel the need to prove themselves and end up dominating conversations, which can undermine team trust and engagement. Matt offers practical advice on shifting from providing all the answers to asking questions and encouraging others to contribute. The episode highlights the importance of stepping

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31:43

Servant Leadership That Drives Results with Ajay...

Leadership Launchpad ·

2026/01/20

In this episode, Ajay Gnanasekaran, Senior Program Director for Battery Workforce Development at Argonne National Labs, shares his experiences leading large technical teams in high-growth manufacturing environments, including the build-out of Panasonic’s Gigafactory in Nevada. He discusses strategies for workforce development, overcoming challenges in recruiting and retaining talent, and the importance of cultivating a high-performance culture through servant leadership and accountability. Ajay

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31:55

Human Factors That Drive Team Success with Susan...

Leadership Launchpad ·

2026/01/13

In this episode, Susan Charlesworth, a specialist in human performance and former astronaut trainer for the European and UK Space Agencies, shares insights from her career in aviation psychology and leadership coaching. She discusses her path from early studies in psychology and aviation to working with astronauts and mission controllers, focusing on topics like leadership, teamwork, and communication. Susan Charlesworth explains the differences between structured, technical training environments

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35:33

Transparent Leadership for High-Impact Teams with...

Leadership Launchpad ·

2026/01/06

In this episode, Paul Keutelian, CTO of Applied Atomics, discusses his experience leading teams to tackle complex engineering challenges in the nuclear and advanced industry sectors. He shares insights from his time at SpaceX, including the role of responsible engineers, the importance of ownership, and how to create a culture where mistakes are learning opportunities rather than career setbacks. The conversation explores how Applied Atomics approaches rapid innovation by aligning supply chain

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12:04

Focus, Repetition, and Time: Leadership Essentials...

Leadership Launchpad ·

2025/12/29

In this episode of Leadership Launchpad, guest Lauren Waldman, a learning professional with a background in neuroscience, joins the show during the Dev Learn conference in Las Vegas. Lauren shares insights on how understanding the brain's mechanisms is essential for effective learning, behavior change, and habit formation in the workplace. The discussion highlights the differences between behaviors and habits, emphasizing that true, lasting change comes from creating strong memories through focus,

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10:51

Identifying the Root Cause of Team Challenges with...

Leadership Launchpad ·

2025/12/26

In this episode of Leadership Launchpad, guest Jess Almlie, a strategic learning and talent development consultant, explains why training isn't always the solution to team performance issues. Drawing on her experience and insights from her book "L&D Order Taker No More," Jess Almlie shares practical examples and questions managers can use to diagnose workplace challenges, such as misaligned reward systems and process inefficiencies. Listeners will learn when training is appropriate and when

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11:37

Empower Your Team With Effective Support with Jen Recla

Leadership Launchpad ·

2025/12/22

In this episode, leadership coach and trainer Jen Recla discusses the vital role managers play in supporting and sustaining employee development after formal training ends. Drawing from her experience with executive leaders in smaller organizations, Jen emphasizes that true learning and change occur in the workplace, where ongoing coaching and follow-up from managers are crucial. She offers practical advice for leaders on prioritizing team support, effective delegation, and creating growth

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10:23

Data-Driven Leadership for Real Impact with Dr....

Leadership Launchpad ·

2025/12/19

In this episode of Leadership Launchpad, Dr. Alaina Szlachta, founder and chief measurement architect of By Design Development Solutions, shares her perspective on the importance of evidence-based training requests. Drawing from her background in academic research and learning analytics, Dr. Szlachta explains why managers should bring data and tangible evidence—not just hunches or anecdotes—when approaching training teams for support. She highlights how numbers, including team feedback and

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10:29

The Manager’s Role in Employee Growth with Brandon...

Leadership Launchpad ·

2025/12/17

In this episode of Leadership Launchpad, Brandon Carson, Chief Learning Officer at Docebo, shares his insights on the role of managers in the employee performance experience. Drawing from his extensive leadership background at major companies like Starbucks and Walmart, Brandon explores how managers can effectively connect individual strengths and opportunities to drive team performance. He emphasizes the importance of coaching, intentional talent development, and viewing training as an ongoing,

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13:12

Training That Transforms Business Outcomes with David...

Leadership Launchpad ·

2025/12/15

In this episode, David James, Chief Learning Officer at 360Learning and host of the Learning and Development Podcast, shares insights on how training should directly relate to the work employees do. He emphasizes that effective training isn't just about delivering broad topics, but about addressing the real needs and skills required for specific roles. The discussion covers the importance of integrating learning with everyday work, focusing on closing proficiency gaps, and using data-driven

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07:33

Aligning Training to Business Goals with Ryan Austin

Leadership Launchpad ·

2025/12/12

In this episode of Leadership Launchpad, Ryan Austin, founder and CEO of Cognota, shares his insights on what managers should understand about training and talent development. Drawing from his experience working with various learning teams, Ryan emphasizes the crucial role managers play in identifying capability gaps within their teams and making strategic investments to achieve business goals. The conversation highlights how managers, being close to frontline challenges, can offer valuable input in

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09:31

How Managers Boost Workplace Performance with Kevin...

Leadership Launchpad ·

2025/12/11

In this episode of Leadership Launchpad, Kevin Yates joins the conversation to share insights on what managers should know about training and talent development. Drawing on his global experience as the "L&D Detective," Kevin highlights the importance of aligning development initiatives with business goals. He emphasizes that performance improvement is a collective effort, involving not just the manager and talent development, but also teams like marketing, product development, and software

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07:45

The Manager’s Role in Continuous Learning w/Debbie...

Leadership Launchpad ·

2025/12/09

In this episode, Debbie Richards, an international keynote speaker and AI strategist, shares insights from her experience working with enterprise organizations at the intersection of AI and learning. She emphasizes the importance of treating talent development as a strategic partner rather than just a source of training. Debbie discusses why simply implementing training isn't always the solution to business problems, highlighting the need for managers to provide context, feedback, and ongoing

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175 results

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