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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

31:45

Relationship-Driven Team Leadership with Jeff Guido

Leadership Launchpad ·

2025/07/08

In this episode of Leadership Launchpad, Jeff Guido, Senior Director of New Missions at Planet Labs, shares his insights on effective leadership in technical organizations. Jeff discusses his experience transitioning from a technical individual contributor to a leader, highlighting the challenges and strategies involved in delegation and empowering teams. He emphasizes the importance of building strong relationships and trust within teams, both internally and across organizations, to enable

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40:12

Re-air: Driving Innovation From the Top and Bottom...

Leadership Launchpad ·

2025/07/01

Do you want to foster a culture of innovation in your organization? In this episode of Leadership Launchpad, I speak with former Air Force leader John "Dragon" Teichert about his experience driving change and empowering teams at Edwards Air Force Base. We discuss practical strategies for encouraging idea sharing, aligning incentives, and relentlessly communicating priorities to overcome bureaucratic barriers. John shares insights from his upcoming book "Boom" on creating cultural transformation in

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13:06

How Personal Connection Drives Engagement and Retention

Leadership Launchpad ·

2025/06/24

In this episode, Matt shares the single easiest—and most overlooked—technique any manager can use to start building trust and psychological safety within their team: icebreakers. Drawing on his leadership experience in the US Air Force and as the former head of training and development at SpaceX, Matt explains why personal connections are the driving force behind team engagement, retention, and high performance.Matt breaks down the science behind small talk and “phatic language,” showing how even

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26:38

The Power of Reflection for Modern Leaders with Kevin...

Leadership Launchpad ·

2025/06/17

In this episode, leadership expert Kevin Eikenberry joins the show to discuss the challenges and nuances of leadership development. He shares his perspective on the limitations of leadership style models and personality tests, emphasizing that while they can provide insight, they often oversimplify complex human behaviors and risk becoming limiting identities rather than useful tools. Kevin highlights the importance of leaders taking time for self-improvement, encouraging practices like reflection,

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28:44

Building Feedback Loops for Team Success with Col....

Leadership Launchpad ·

2025/06/10

In this episode, guest Colonel Kris Saling, Director of Innovation for Manpower and Reserve Affairs in the U.S. Army, shares insights on the evolving landscape of talent management. The discussion covers how traditional talent processes—rooted in the industrial era—are being transformed by rapid technological changes, the importance of feedback loops, and the need for ongoing development for employees. Colonel Saling explains how the Army is using data and people analytics to empower lower-level

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33:36

Unlocking Team Engagement Through Trust with Dr. Lola...

Leadership Launchpad ·

2025/06/03

In this episode, Dr. Lola Gershfeld and Polina Marian from EMC Leaders discuss the impact of relationships and emotional connection within teams and organizations. Drawing on their experience working with technical and creative teams, they highlight how unresolved conflicts and a lack of emotional awareness can lead to disengagement, decreased productivity, and high turnover. The guests introduce their structured approach to building trust, increasing self-awareness, and repairing broken

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14:21

Mastering Delegation for New Leaders

Leadership Launchpad ·

2025/05/27

In this solo episode, Matt explores the common challenges managers face with delegation. Drawing from personal experience and insights from leaders at all levels, the episode examines why new managers often struggle to delegate tasks and the impact this has on teams and individual performance. Matt shares practical steps for improving delegation skills, including starting small, being clear about desired outcomes, and establishing appropriate check-in routines. The episode also provides examples and

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40:07

Unlocking Creativity in High Performing Teams with...

Leadership Launchpad ·

2025/05/20

In this episode, Kassi Kincaid, a speaker, trainer, and expert in creative leadership, joins the show to discuss the importance of creativity in leadership and team performance. She shares her five-step framework for fostering creativity within teams: generating ideas, pursuing them, overcoming disappointment, taking time to rest, and remembering how far you've come. The conversation highlights practical strategies for managers to encourage creative thinking, support team members through setbacks,

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40:21

Building a Culture of Curiosity with Andrew Barry

Leadership Launchpad ·

2025/05/13

In this episode of Leadership Launchpad, guest Andrew Barry, founder and CEO of Curious Lion, joins the discussion to explore the role of creativity in solving complex and open-ended problems. Andrew shares practical insights on what creativity truly means, drawing from research and his own experience, and highlights the importance of curiosity in the workplace. The conversation covers how organizational culture can both hinder and support curiosity, and offers actionable strategies for managers to

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35:09

The Power of Listening in Leadership with Sajid Mohamedy

Leadership Launchpad ·

2025/05/06

In this episode, Sajid Mohamedy, co-founder of ExoFarm and Executive Vice President at Nisum, shares his insights on leadership in rapidly scaling organizations. He discusses the challenges of maintaining authentic communication and building trust as companies grow, drawing on his experiences leading teams across different continents and industries. Sajid also talks about ExoFarm’s mission to accelerate crop and pharmaceutical research using AI and automation, with applications on Earth and in

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13:48

Goal Setting Strategies for Stronger Teams

Leadership Launchpad ·

2025/04/29

In this episode, Matt focuses on effective goal setting for managers and their teams. He addresses common areas of confusion, including the difference between milestone goals and daily activity goals, the role of personal goals within organizations, and the importance of considering interdependencies when creating goals. Listeners will hear practical advice on balancing different types of goals, aligning personal development with company objectives, and ensuring individuals are set up for success

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44:19

Leading Teams Through Legal Landmines with Shawn...

Leadership Launchpad ·

2025/04/22

In this episode, attorneys John Gordon and Shawn Cheadle from Taft’s Aerospace and Defense practice group join the show to discuss the essential role of compliance for leaders in the aerospace and defense sectors. They break down the unique challenges that small and large companies face, such as building compliance frameworks from scratch, handling government contracts, navigating export regulations, and complying with OSHA requirements. The conversation highlights practical steps managers and

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34:45

Setting Priorities to Fuel Growth with Dan Ceperley

Leadership Launchpad ·

2025/04/15

In this episode of Leadership Launchpad, Dan Ceperley, co-founder and COO of LeoLabs, discusses the importance of focus and time management for startups. He explains how LeoLabs, a company that tracks objects in low Earth orbit, has rapidly built a global network of radar stations since its inception in 2016. Dan shares insights into the necessity of prioritization, especially in the fast-paced environment of a startup where time is more valuable than cash. He also touches on transitioning from an

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42:03

Using Systems to Create Successful Teams with David...

Leadership Launchpad ·

2025/04/08

In this episode of Leadership Launchpad, guest David Hirschfeld, a seasoned software development veteran, discusses the role of systems and protocols in building exceptional teams. Drawing from his extensive experience and his work at Techies, Hirschfeld sheds light on the importance of focusing on the root problems faced by customers rather than becoming consumed by product features. The conversation delves into AI’s evolving role in software development, emphasizing the current limitations and the

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19:27

A VC, Headhunter, and Trainer Walk into a Bar

Leadership Launchpad ·

2025/04/01

In this crossover episode of Leadership Launchpad, we are sharing an episode of the VHTB podcast with Brian Mejeur and Justus Killian to talk about the transition engineers face when moving into management roles. The discussion highlights the lack of resources and guidance for engineers aspiring to become managers, contrasting it with the abundance of material for business professionals. Key points of the conversation include the shift in skills required from technical to people-focused abilities,

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43:03

The Importance of Trust and Empowerment with Paul Day

Leadership Launchpad ·

2025/03/25

In this episode of Leadership Launchpad, guest Paul Day, co-founder and VP of Engineering at Muon Space, discusses the transition from top-level individual contributors to people managers. He emphasizes the importance of trust, empowerment, and a concept he terms "organizational EQ" in managing technical teams. Paul shares insights into the challenges engineers face when moving into management roles, such as overcoming the need for perfection and shifting from hands-on problem-solving to

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32:58

Embracing Autonomy for Team Growth with Brian Manning

Leadership Launchpad ·

2025/03/18

In this episode of the Leadership Launchpad, guest Brian Manning, co-founder and CEO of Zona Space Systems, discusses the complexities and strategies of effective leadership, particularly in technical fields. Brian shares insights from his diverse experiences, transitioning from an individual contributor to a people leader, and highlights the importance of trust and delegation in leadership roles. He also explores the intricacies of building a leadership team capable of driving innovation at Zona

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15:03

How to Use Urgency to Get More Done

Leadership Launchpad ·

2025/03/11

In this episode of Leadership Launchpad, the focus is on increasing team productivity by creating urgency. The episode discusses the Eisenhower decision matrix, which categorizes tasks by importance and urgency, and how it can help manage time more effectively. It addresses the challenge many face of spending too much time on urgent but not necessarily important tasks. It introduces the concept of setting tighter timelines to make important tasks also feel urgent, pushing teams to be more efficient

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30:19

Becoming a Successful People Manager with Omar Halabieh

Leadership Launchpad ·

2025/03/04

In this episode of Leadership Launchpad, guest Omar Halabieh, Director of Technology for Amazon Payment Services, shares insights from his leadership journey with over 20 years of experience in the tech industry. The discussion revolves around the challenges faced by new people managers, covering topics like delegation, relationship management, and building trust. Omar reflects on his first role as a people manager in an energy company and highlights key aspects that contributed to his leadership

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10:11

The Fastest Way to Make Your Team More Productive

Leadership Launchpad ·

2025/02/25

In this episode of Leadership Launchpad, Matt discusses techniques to accelerate team development by bypassing the often lengthy process of forming, storming, norming, and performing stages. Introducing the concept of a personal user manual, the host explains how it can help teams quickly understand individual working preferences, thereby speeding up the transition to high performance. Drawing from experiences at SpaceX and other fast-growing companies, practical advice is given on creating and

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175 results

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