Former Indiegogo CEO Becky Center shares hard-earned lessons from her journey through Groupon's hypergrowth, her transition to first-time CEO, and her experience leading teams through modern tech's most pressing challenges. Gain practical frameworks for avoiding the "hobby role" trap, leveraging remote work to level the leadership playing field, and building powerful alumni networks that strengthen your organization. Center's candid approach offers fresh perspectives on balancing business needs with employee growth, making tough decisions as a non-founder CEO, and turning uncomfortable truths into organizational advantages. This episode is essential listening for C-suite executives, ascending leaders, and anyone responsible for developing tech talent.…

Meirav Oren, co-founder and chairwoman of Versatile, left Intel to build a company that’s transforming the construction industry through data-driven innovation. Crane-mounted sensor and vision systems are revolutionizing job site safety and efficiency, while delivering pivotal insights on operational success. Meirav delves into practical leadership tools and frameworks, "open by default" communication, impactful performance reviews, and how to accelerate startup agility as organizations grow. Learn how Merav approaches challenging situations like hiring decisions, managing remote teams, and creating a culture of learning from mistakes. She also shares her unique perspective on fundraising, offering it as a growth opportunity rather than a necessary challenge. Follow Tools for Tech Leaders on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/14406502/ Find Ian Tien on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iantien/ Learn about Mattermost: https://mattermost.com/…

Can you teach plants to communicate? In this episode, hear about Shely Aronov’s journey, CEO of InnerPlant, from launching a food brand to creating biotech crops that send signals about their stress and health to farmers. Shely shares lessons on leadership, the pivotal role of strategy, and the evolving hiring needs of startups—from scrappy generalists to industry experts. Discover how InnerPlant uses cutting-edge science to make plants signal stress, how satellite imagery transforms farming, and why outsiders often drive the biggest breakthroughs. This episode is packed with insights on scaling a deep-tech startup, embracing change, and disrupting entrenched markets. Follow Tools for Tech Leaders on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/14406502/ Find Ian Tien on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iantien/ Explore Mattermost here: https://mattermost.com/…

In this episode, Dr. Carole Robin, renowned for leading Stanford's famous "Interpersonal Dynamics" course, shares powerful insights on building exceptional relationships in tech leadership. Known as the "Queen of Touchy Feely," Dr. Robin breaks down why interpersonal skills are often more challenging—and more crucial—than technical expertise in building successful organizations. The conversation offers concrete tools for improving professional relationships and team dynamics. Learn practical frameworks like the "Net Model" for giving feedback, managing conflicts before they escalate, and balancing vulnerability with leadership. Dr. Robin explains how to create cultures of trust and open communication, drawing from her experience teaching thousands of Silicon Valley leaders and her work with tech executives through the Leaders in Tech program. Whether you're leading a startup or managing teams at scale, these insights will help you build stronger, more effective organizations through better interpersonal dynamics. Follow Tools for Tech Leaders on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/14406502/ Find Ian Tien on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iantien/ Explore Mattermost here: https://mattermost.com/…

Ian sits down with Nick Halla, a pioneering farmer/engineer-turned-entrepreneur who helped build the groundbreaking company Impossible Foods from the ground up. Nick shares fascinating insights from his journey starting as a "croissant engineer" at General Mills to becoming the first employee at Impossible Foods, where he worked alongside founder Pat Brown for 11 years to revolutionize the food industry through sustainable plant-based alternatives. The conversation delves into valuable lessons about scaling companies, managing the transition from a science-focused to a commercially-driven organization, and the delicate balance between visionary leadership and operational execution. Nick also offers practical advice on board management and corporate governance, before discussing his current work in climate tech, where he's focusing on adaptation, resilience, and reversing environmental damage through innovative technologies. The episode is a masterclass in building and scaling mission-driven companies that tackle global environmental challenges. Follow Tools for Tech Leaders on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/14406502/ Find Ian Tien on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iantien/ Explore Mattermost here: https://mattermost.com/…

In this episode of Tools for Tech Leaders, Ian sits down with Oscar, Emmy, and Peabody-winning filmmaker Bill Guttentag to explore the art of drawing out meaningful stories and insights from leaders. Bill shares his experience conducting compelling interviews, sharing techniques to help create the right environment to ask questions that reveal genuine, illustrative moments. They discuss how his work interviewing leaders for Stanford Business School and his documentary filmmaking inform each other, and examine techniques for helping people share their wisdom in authentic ways. Bill offers practical guidance on preparation, building trust, and creating space for vulnerability. His insights on Silicon Valley and Hollywood's converging but distinct cultures also illuminate how different leadership styles can thrive across industries. Whether you're looking to improve how you conduct interviews, lead discussions, or create environments where people can do their best work, this conversation offers valuable tools for your interviewing and leadership toolkit. Follow Tools for Tech Leaders on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/14406502/ Find Ian Tien on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iantien/ Explore Mattermost here: https://mattermost.com/…

Ian sits down with ex-McKinsey Executive Coach Jess Yuen to explore critical leadership topics including performance management, strategic thinking, and coaching. Drawing from her extensive experience as a former Chief People Officer and McKinsey consultant, Jess breaks down multiple approaches to executive coaching, shares frameworks for giving effective feedback, and discusses how to handle both high performers and underperformance. The conversation culminates in valuable insights about strategic thinking, where Jess shares two key hacks for leadership development. Throughout the episode, Jess emphasizes the importance of clear communication, intentional culture building, and taking time to step back and view challenges from a higher vantage point.…

Jerry Perullo, former Chief Information Security Officer at Intercontinental Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange, shares invaluable insights from his extensive career in cybersecurity, including his experiences at Silicon Valley Bank and his current venture, Adversarial Risk Management. Jerry offered practical advice on conducting effective red team exercises, managing critical infrastructure security, and adapting to the ever-changing nature of cyber risks. His unique perspective on the FDIC's role during bank receiverships and the concept of "adversarial risk management" provided eye-opening lessons for tech leaders navigating today's complex security landscape. This conversation is packed with actionable insights for C-suite executives and technology decision-makers looking to enhance their organization's cybersecurity posture. Follow Tools for Tech Leaders on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/14406502/ Find Ian Tien on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iantien/ Explore Mattermost here: https://mattermost.com/…

Zack Urlocker, a seasoned tech executive with an impressive track record at companies like MySQL, Zendesk, and Duo Security, shares his invaluable insights from his journey scaling businesses from early-stage startups to industry leaders. This episode explores the evolution of open source business models, the challenges of rapid growth in SaaS companies, and the critical importance of prioritizing reliability and security in product development. Zack’s stories about navigating security incidents and scaling challenges provide eye-opening lessons for tech leaders facing similar hurdles and inspire them to rethink what is possible. Follow Tools for Tech Leaders on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/14406502/ Find Ian Tien on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iantien/ Explore Mattermost here: https://mattermost.com/…

In this episode of Tools for Tech Leaders, Ian speaks with Mark Leslie, the founding CEO of Veritas Software and a legendary figure in Silicon Valley. Mark shares invaluable insights from his remarkable journey scaling Veritas from a $64 million valuation at IPO to over $64 billion. The conversation delves into Mark's strategic approach to business transformation, his philosophy on leadership and trust-building, and the lessons he's learned from serving on over 50 company boards, offering practical advice on navigating corporate lifecycles, fostering innovation, and maintaining an entrepreneurial spirit in large organizations. This far-reaching conversation provides counsel to founders, C-suite executives, and aspiring leaders looking to build and scale successful technology companies in today's ever-changing landscape. Follow Tools for Tech Leaders on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/14406502/ Find Ian Tien on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iantien/ Explore Mattermost here: https://mattermost.com/…

Welcome to Tools for Tech Leaders, the podcast where C-Suite Executives and Tech Decision Makers can connect with ideas that resonate and are useful in their daily lives.