Episodes

In this episode of The Tech Leader's Playbook, Avetis Antaplyan sits down with the legendary NFL coach and Hall of Famer, Dick Vermeil—a Super Bowl champion, Rose Bowl champion, and one of the most respected leaders in football history. Known for orchestrating one of the greatest turnarounds in NFL history with the St. Louis Rams, Coach Vermeil shares the leadership principles that drove his career—from the gridiron to the vineyards of Vermeil Wines. This episode dives deep into the human side o...

In this episode of The Tech Leader's Playbook, Avetis Antaplyan dives deep into the core leadership principle of extreme ownership. In this solo episode, Avetis, a seasoned entrepreneur and tech leader, delivers a powerful and unfiltered message on why every leader must take full responsibility for their culture, team performance, and company outcomes—regardless of external circumstances. He breaks down how blame limits growth, how silence equals agreement, and why leaders must set the tone thro...

In this episode of The Tech Leader's Playbook, Avetis Antaplyan sits down with Mark Donnigan, a seasoned virtual CMO and go-to-market strategist known for helping post-Series A tech companies scale with precision. With a background in video technology, streaming, and category design, Mark brings decades of practical insights to the table on what it takes to move beyond initial traction and build a sustainable growth engine. Together, they explore why so many engineering-led startups struggle to ...

In this episode of The Tech Leader's Playbook, Avetis Antaplyan sits down with Russ Hawkins, a seasoned three-time CEO renowned for reviving and scaling struggling startups into profitable, exit-ready companies. With a background rooted in sales and a practical MBA earned through hands-on transformation work alongside McKinsey and AT&T, Russ shares his battle-tested playbook for turning chaos into clarity. Together, they unpack Russ’s journey from humble beginnings to orchestrating successful pi...

In this episode of The Tech Leader's Playbook, Avetis Antaplyan welcomes Pete Steege, B2B growth strategist, founder of B2B Clarity, and author of the bestselling book Radical Clarity. With decades of experience across startups and Fortune 100 companies, Pete has carved out a unique niche: helping technical founders grow into confident, purposeful CEOs—no more accidental CEOs. The conversation explores Pete’s unconventional journey from engineer to executive advisor, detailing pivotal moments th...

In this episode of The Tech Leader's Playbook, we sit down with Michel Langlois, former Cisco and Juniper executive and author of Beyond the Code. From growing up on a chicken farm in rural Quebec to leading 6,000+ global engineers during the rise of the internet, Michel shares a masterclass on scaling tech organizations with heart and strategy. Takeaways It's not where you were born that dictate what you will become. You have to take the ways to get there. There was no playbook for scaling infr...

In this episode of The Tech Leader's Playbook, Avetis Antaplyan interviews Jon Staenberg, a three-time Stanford graduate and founder of Agate Hound Fund. They discuss John's unconventional journey through entrepreneurship and investing, starting from his early work experiences in Omaha to his ventures in Argentina's wine industry. The episode dives into the influence of Warren Buffett, the importance of storytelling in business, and the emerging opportunities in search funds and entrepreneurship...

In this episode of The Tech Leader's Playbook, Avetis Antaplyan interviews Philip Merrick, a seasoned technologist and CEO of pgEdge. They discuss Merrick's journey in the tech industry, the evolution of leadership styles, the importance of building great teams, and the vision behind pgEdge. The conversation also covers the evolution of cloud computing, data security, and fostering a culture of innovation within teams. In this conversation, Phillip Merrick shares his insights on the importance o...

In this episode of The Tech Leader's Playbook, Adam Coffey, a seasoned private equity expert, shares his insights on the dynamics of private equity and its impact on entrepreneurs. He discusses the importance of understanding private equity, the role of company culture, and the significance of choosing the right business model. Adam also reflects on his experiences with successful and less successful exits, emphasizing the influence of macroeconomic conditions. He provides valuable advice for as...

In this episode of The Tech Leader's Playbook, Avetis Antaplyan interviews Josh Dorfman, a serial climate entrepreneur, about his journey into sustainability and the founding of Planted, a company focused on creating sustainable materials. They discuss the challenges of commercializing innovative solutions, the importance of scaling climate tech, and the role of media in raising awareness about climate action through Supercool, a platform that highlights successful climate tech stories. In this ...

In this episode of The Tech Leader's Playbook, Avetis Antaplyan interviews Alfred Miranda, a seasoned CTO with extensive experience across various industries including cannabis, fashion, and technology. They discuss the importance of diverse industry experience, the challenges of adapting leadership styles, and the pitfalls of traditional industries in adopting technology. Alfred shares valuable insights from his time at MedMen, a rapidly growing cannabis company, and emphasizes the need for eff...

In this episode of The Tech Leader's Playbook, Tammy Alvarez discusses the intrinsic link between business success and career fulfillment, emphasizing the need for individuals to align their personal ambitions with organizational goals. She highlights the broken nature of corporate systems that often overlook employee motivation and engagement, leading to a significant portion of the workforce feeling unfulfilled. Tammy shares insights on the importance of self-advocacy, the dangers of chasing l...

In this episode of The Tech Leader's Playbook, Keren discusses the concepts of toxic ambition and workaholism, exploring how they manifest in leadership and personal life. She shares her journey to becoming a coach and author, emphasizing the importance of aligning personal choices with one's true self. The discussion dives into the 'gilded cage' of success, where achievements can lead to feelings of entrapment. Keren highlights the significance of systems for well-being and the pervasive nature...

In this episode of The Tech Leader's Playbook, Dr. David Yang shares his entrepreneurial journey, discussing the challenges and successes he faced while building multiple companies. He emphasizes the importance of understanding customer pain points and the three essential elements—referred to as the 'three magic crystals'—that contribute to startup success. The discussion also touches on the significance of market needs, the excitement of innovation, and the necessity of having the right team to...

In this compilation episode of the Tech Leaders Playbook, we bring you a powerhouse mix of insights from top minds exploring how AI is transforming marketing, personal branding, and precision healthcare. You'll hear expert insights on why emotional intelligence is the new edge in the age of automation, how personal connection and consistent content win over sterile AI-generated noise, and what it means to position your startup like a media company. We also dive into the future of healthcare—wher...

In this episode of The Tech Leader's Playbook, Avetis Antaplyan and Ashley Rudolph explore the intricacies of career growth, the importance of hard work, and the transition from execution to strategic thinking in leadership roles. They discuss the significance of managing generational expectations in the workplace, the lessons learned from scaling General Assembly, and the critical nature of hiring the right talent. The dialogue emphasizes the need for clarity in focus and the power of asking th...

In this episode of The Tech Leader's Playbook, Jenny Fielding shares her insights on entrepreneurship, venture capital, and the importance of resilience and grit in the startup world. She discusses her journey from being a founder to a venture capitalist, the lessons learned from her successes and failures, and the unique thesis of her fund, Everywhere Ventures. Fielding emphasizes the significance of timing in startups and the characteristics that make successful founders. She also highlights t...

In this episode of The Tech Leader's Playbook, Avetis Antaplyan speaks with Rohini Kasturi, CEO of HG Insights, about the transformative role of data intelligence in driving revenue growth and operational efficiency. They discuss the evolution of data usage in the context of AI, the importance of creating a growth playbook, and the need for precise intelligence in decision-making. Rohini shares insights on market dynamics, the impact of AI on sales and marketing, and the balance between automati...

In this compilation episode of The Tech Leader's Playbook, top thought leaders share their insights on business growth, innovation, and marketing ROI. The discussion covers the power of mastermind groups in gaining industry-leading perspectives and the complexities of scaling B2B service businesses. Experts break down key strategies for success, including the importance of talent acquisition, a strong sales culture, and niche specialization. The conversation also highlights the role of customer ...

In this episode of The Tech Leader's Playbook, Lior Weinstein shares his journey into the world of AI, discussing the evolution of technology, the significance of hardware advancements, and the emergence of new AI models. He emphasizes the limitations of current AI intelligence, clarifying misconceptions about its capabilities and the future of AI technology. The discussion also touches on the rapid growth of AI investments and the implications for various industries. In this conversation, Aveti...

In this episode of The Tech Leader's Playbook, Avetis Antaplyan and Brent Kedzierski discuss the concept of human-centric work design, exploring its implications for workplace efficiency and employee engagement. Brent shares insights from his extensive experience in organizational psychology, emphasizing the importance of understanding worker dynamics, the role of technology, and the need for structured work environments to enhance productivity. The conversation dives into metrics of work intens...

In this episode of The Tech Leader's Playbook, Avetis Antaplyan interviews Vladimer Botsvadze, a leading expert in digital transformation and AI. They discuss the evolution of digital marketing, the importance of personal branding, and how AI is reshaping marketing strategies. Vladimir emphasizes the need for emotional intelligence and authentic connections in a noisy digital marketplace, highlighting the significance of community and storytelling in building a personal brand. He shares insights...

In this episode of The Tech Leader's Playbook, David Hirschfeld shares his extensive experience in the tech industry, focusing on the transformative impact of AI on startups and business operations. He emphasizes the importance of understanding product-market fit, the distinction between needs and wants, and the lessons learned from both successful and failed ventures. Hirschfeld also discusses practical applications of AI, particularly in healthcare, and the common pitfalls companies face when ...

In this episode of The Tech Leader's Playbook, Avetis Antaplyan and Mike Robbins explore the significance of authenticity and psychological safety in leadership and team dynamics. They discuss how personal experiences shape leadership styles, the importance of aligning individual and team goals, and the necessity of fostering an environment where team members can bring their whole selves to work. The dialogue emphasizes the role of trust, vulnerability, and emotional intelligence in creating hig...