Leadership Launchpad

Matt Gjertsen - Better Every Day Studios
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  • EVERY TWO WEEKS

Welcome to the Leadership Launchpad where we help technical managers improve themselves, their teams, and their organizations. Over the course of 20 years working in aerospace and technology, I have gotten to work with some of the smartest people on the planet and I have witnessed first hand how many of them struggle making that first jump to people leadership. On this show I talk with industry leaders, coaches, and authors to help give you actionable leadership insights to help improve your own performance and the performance of those around you.

  1. 3 DAYS AGO

    How the Best Teams Drive Innovation with Matt Gjertsen

    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 — let's go faster and find out who is. That's not just a NASA story. That's a story about how high-performing teams actually work. The first quality is being willing to push people hard enough that they fail. Not because failure is the goal, but because failure is the only way to find the constraint. If everyone's comfortable, you don't actually know what's holding the team back. You just think you do. The second quality is what happens next. Once you find the constraint, you have to disregard hierarchy and throw whatever resources are required at that one thing. Because by definition, fixing it raises the ceiling for the entire system. Then you find the next one and do it again. This is what founder mode actually looks like in practice. Not chaos. Not ignoring process. It's knowing what the constraint is at all times, and having the authority and willingness to go solve it personally. There's also a piece here on trust that Matt keeps coming back to. You can't push a team to failure in an environment where people are afraid to admit they're failing. The job isn't to make people comfortable. It's to make them comfortable being uncomfortable. If you're trying to figure out why your team keeps hitting the same ceiling, this episode is probably going to feel very familiar. Key Takeaways You can't find the constraint if you never push the system past its limits.Trust isn't about comfort — it's about making people comfortable with discomfort.Once you find the constraint, hierarchy stops mattering. Resources go there, full stop.The difference between what's impossible for a director and easy for a VP is just authority, not complexity.Every high-performing team is doing these two things: finding constraints and eliminating them, over and over.

    18 min

  2. 10 MAR

    Going from Buddy to Boss with Brian Ippolito

    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 actually changes when you move from leading a team to leading leaders, and why simple advice like “hit the forward button more” is harder to put into practice than it sounds. He also explains the very real “Bob from Valves” problem in manufacturing. When critical knowledge lives in one person’s head, it feels efficient until it becomes a risk. That’s part of the reason they built “Valve Camp,” an onboarding program that brings engineers, technicians, and even HR closer to the product so everyone understands the mission. Throughout the conversation, Brian reflects on how Marotta has kept its family-company culture while competing in aerospace and defense for more than 80 years, building hardware that has flown from the Apollo era to today’s heavy-lift rockets. If you are an engineer moving into management, leading technical teams, or trying to scale without losing what makes your company special, this episode is for you. Marotta Controls continues to grow across engineering, manufacturing, and support roles. If you want to work on aerospace systems that go from design to flight, take a look at their open positions. Episode Highlights00:00 From engineer to leader inside a growing aerospace company 07:45 The “buddy to boss” transition 11:30 Why delegation feels uncomfortable at first 14:42 Finding purpose when you stop doing the hands-on work 19:19 The “Bob from Valves” problem 24:40 Why documenting the “why” matters more than the “how” 27:13 Valve Camp and building technical talent from day one Key TakeawaysDelegation is a multi-year transition, not a flip of a switch.Technical leaders still need a way to “scratch the itch”, just maybe not at work.Tribal knowledge should constantly be converted into shared knowledge.Training isn’t overhead. It’s leverage.Culture compounds the same way leadership does. Brian Ippolito LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/brian-ippolitto-62325029Marotta Controls: https://marotta.com/ Matt Gjertsen Website: https://www.bettereverydaystudios.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewgjertsen/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BetterEveryDayStudios

    31 min

  3. 3 MAR

    Why Management Is Still the Hardest Problem with Casey Handmer

    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 firsthand accounts from people like General Groves hit differently. This conversation gets into hard feedback, demanding standards, and first principles thinking and why leaders need the social permission to push people without becoming jerks. If you care about building things that actually work, this one’s for you. If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to the show and share it with one person who’s building something hard. That’s how this grows. Terraform Industries is hiring across multiple technical roles. If you want to work on synthetic fuels, energy, and real world hardware problems, check out their website for open positions. Episode Highlights 00:00 Why management is still humanity’s unsolved problem 08:53 Managing people is kind of the perennial problem 15:06 Coaching high performers even when they’re better than you 18:13 “Being liked is optional. Succeeding is mandatory.” 21:39 How to argue hard without attacking the person 23:30 Why most teams don’t practice real first principles thinking 28:18 What makes outlier companies different 34:09 The power of simply being present as a leader 38:10 Terraform’s next milestones Takeaways Coordination is the real bottleneck in big problems.Avoiding short term discomfort creates long term damage.First principles thinking requires structure, not slogans.Coaching isn’t optional even for top talent.Leadership compounds over time. Small edges add up. If this conversation resonated with you, make sure you’re subscribed and send it to someone who needs to hear it. Terraform Industries is actively hiring engineers and operators who want to work on synthetic fuel, methanol production, and large scale energy systems. Learn more at their official site. Casey Handmer Website: https://www.caseyhandmer.com/X / Twitter: linkedin.com/in/casey-handmer-60183262LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/casey-handmer-60183262Terraform Industries: https://terraformindustries.com/ Matt Gjertsen Website: https://www.bettereverydaystudios.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewgjertsen/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BetterEveryDayStudios

    41 min

  4. 10 FEB

    How to Set Clear Expectations For Employees

    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 constraints (clarifying timelines, resources, and check-in points). Listeners will learn how these steps help ensure team members understand what is expected of them at work, leading to better engagement and performance.

    5 min

  5. 3 FEB

    3 Questions to Help Develop Your Employees

    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 employee growth: identifying one thing to improve, choosing an action to develop that skill, and setting a follow-up date. The episode offers actionable advice for managers looking to foster both team improvement and engagement.

    6 min

  6. 27 JAN

    Why Managers Need to Stop Talking

    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 back, listening more, and allowing team members to have a voice, ultimately fostering a stronger, more confident team.

    7 min

  7. 20 JAN

    Servant Leadership That Drives Results with Ajay Gnanasekaran

    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 Gnanasekaran explores how clear processes, technical education, and leadership training are vital for scaling operations and supporting rapid industry innovation. Practical examples and lessons highlight the need for adaptability and people-focused leadership to drive success in today’s evolving manufacturing landscape.

    32 min

  8. 13 JAN

    Human Factors That Drive Team Success with Susan Charlesworth

    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 and the realities of leadership in everyday organizations, highlighting the importance of trust, self-awareness, and adapting leadership frameworks to individual needs. The conversation also touches on the challenges technical professionals face as they move into management roles and the value of coaching and personalized development. Listeners interested in leadership development, especially within technical fields, will find practical advice and thoughtful reflection throughout the discussion.

    32 min
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About

Welcome to the Leadership Launchpad where we help technical managers improve themselves, their teams, and their organizations. Over the course of 20 years working in aerospace and technology, I have gotten to work with some of the smartest people on the planet and I have witnessed first hand how many of them struggle making that first jump to people leadership. On this show I talk with industry leaders, coaches, and authors to help give you actionable leadership insights to help improve your own performance and the performance of those around you.

Information

  • Creator
    Matt Gjertsen - Better Every Day Studios
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    178
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Better Every Day Studios - Matthew Gjertsen
  • Show Website
    Leadership Launchpad

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