Experience-Focused Leaders

Alex Shevelenko
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Introducing Alex Shevelenko, CEO and founder of RELAYTO and the host of the Experienced-Focused Leaders Podcast. With a mission to empower seasoned business owners who recognize the critical role of customer experience in achieving success, Alex brings together a community of discerning listeners eager to explore new perspectives and strategies for enhancing their experience-centric approach. In our thought-provoking podcast episodes, we dive deep into the stories and insights of accomplished business owners who have honed their expertise in delivering exceptional customer experiences. These industry veterans possess a wealth of knowledge and practical experience, making them valuable resources for our audience of seasoned professionals who are passionate about creating meaningful connections with their customers. Our podcast serves as a platform for exchanging ideas, sharing best practices, and exploring innovative approaches to customer experience. We understand that our audience is composed of discerning individuals who have already achieved considerable success and are constantly seeking new ways to elevate their customer-centric strategies. If you are a seasoned business owner with a profound understanding of the significance of customer experience in driving business growth, we invite you to join us as a guest on our podcast. Share your unique insights, success stories, and the strategies that have set you apart in your industry.

  1. 23 HR AGO

    24 – From Wharton to Amazon: Business Model Innovation in Action

    Your host Alex Shevelenko welcomes Sergey Netessine, Senior Vice Dean of Innovation and Global Initiatives at the Wharton School and Durbani Armani Professor of Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Sergey is also an Amazon Scholar and a seasoned investor, bringing a rare blend of academic rigor, corporate strategy, and hands-on venture experience to the world’s leading organizations. In this conversation, Sergey shares his perspective on business model innovation, corporate-startup collaboration, and the role of culture in driving organizational change. He explains why the biggest barrier to innovation in large companies is not technical, but cultural, and contrasts this with the experimentation-driven mindset of startups. Sergey also discusses his unique approach to investing—not for returns, but for learning and insight—and how he integrates these experiences into teaching and research at Wharton. From his work shaping Wharton’s executive education programs and global youth initiatives to advising major companies like Amazon, Sergey illustrates how to bridge theory and practice, build disciplined investment processes, and nurture lifelong learning. This episode shows how curiosity, experimentation, and a structured approach can unlock innovation, both personally and organizationally. To continue the conversation with Sergey, connect with him via his LinkedIn or the Wharton website. To learn more about RELAYTO, visit: relayto.com.

    55 min

  2. 6 FEB

    23 – The End of the Hero: Why the Smartest Person in the Room is Often the Most Limited

    Your host Alex Shevelenko welcomes Stephen Josephs, a pioneer in adult development and the co-author of the seminal book Leadership Agility. With over 40 years of experience as an executive coach, Stephen helps senior leaders navigate high-pressure environments by recognizing the inner patterns that drive their behavior. A lifelong practitioner of meditation and Tai Chi, Stephen brings a unique blend of Taoist wisdom and developmental psychology to the world’s most established organizations. In this conversation, Stephen gets practical about the "internal" work of leadership. He explores the transition from "Heroic" leadership—where the leader must be the smartest person in the room—to "Post-Heroic" agility, where curiosity and collective intelligence take center stage. Stephen shares a powerful role-playing technique to dissolve conflict, explains why "getting over yourself" is the ultimate competitive advantage, and reveals how pre-verbal childhood patterns often act as the hidden "fuel" behind an overachiever’s drive. From his "When Harry Met Sally" moment with a meditation teacher to the day he turned down a Hollywood movie deal to protect his sense of self, Stephen’s stories illustrate a path to leadership that is grounded in radical honesty and self-trust. This episode shows how leadings from a place of "stillness" can drive better results for your team, your culture, and your own well-being. To continue the conversation with Stephen, connect with him at stephenjosephs.com. Think you’d be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE. To learn more about RELAYTO, visit: relayto.com

    1h 28m

  3. 30 JAN

    22 – Stop Passing the Hot Potato: Leadership in Sustainability

    Your host Alex Shevelenko welcomes Magali Anderson, a global sustainability and innovation leader and former Chief Sustainability & Innovation Officer at Holcim. Magali brings deep, real-world experience leading change at scale—across operations, markets, and incentives. Today, she serves on the boards of Anglo American and the Capitals Coalition, mentors founders through the Creative Destruction Lab, and invests in ESG-driven ventures. In this conversation, Magali gets practical about why sustainability efforts stall—and what actually works. She shares how staying close to operations keeps leaders grounded, why guilt and fear often block progress, and how responsibility is too often passed between companies, customers, investors, and governments. Magali explains why aligning financial goals with sustainability goals is the only way teams move, and why sometimes leaders must act first—before the data feels safe or consensus is formed. From business model shifts like leasing over selling, to a real example where acting despite skepticism led to rapid global adoption and strong market share, this episode shows how sustainability can drive financial, reputational, and operational results. To continue the conversation with Magali, connect with her on LinkedIn. Think you’d be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE. To learn more about RELAYTO, visit: relayto.com

    57 min

  4. 23 JAN

    21 – The $120 Billion Founder Community You’ve Never Heard Of

    Your host Alex Shevelenko welcomes Shannon McClenaghan, the CEO of StartX, Stanford University’s elite, non-profit startup community for alumni, faculty, and serial founders. A seasoned leader at the helm of one of Silicon Valley’s most powerful "secret weapons," Shannon oversees an ecosystem that has helped launch 20 unicorns and create over $120 billion in value—all without taking a single cent of equity from its founders. In this conversation, Shannon pulls back the curtain on the "magic" of StartX. She explores the unique psychology of the founder, describing the "secret handshake" of leaders who must hold radical optimism and the fear of failure in their minds simultaneously. Shannon breaks down the power of a "pure mission" and explains why the most valuable advice doesn't come from investors or experts, but from a peer-to-peer "flywheel" where successful decacorn founders return to mentor the next generation. If you’re focused on building high-trust communities, navigating the lonely journey of a founder, or understanding why "human-grade" connection is the ultimate competitive advantage in the age of AI, this episode offers a profound look at the humanity behind the statistics. To learn more about Shannon and the StartX community, visit startx.com or reach out at shannon@startx.com. To learn more about RELAYTO, visit: relayto.com

    44 min

  5. 16 JAN

    20 – The Last Frontier is Ourselves: Leading from the Inside Out

    Your host Alex Shevelenko welcomes A.J. Thomas, the CEO of The Troublemaker Lab and Founder and General Partner of Good Trouble Ventures. A visionary leader and former "Chaos Pilot" at Google X, A.J. specializes in helping extraordinary founders build enduring companies through coaching, strategy, and mindful innovation. In this conversation, A.J. explores the intersection of technology, creativity, and culture. She discusses her "Troublemaker" philosophy—scaling companies without losing one's soul—and breaks down her unique framework of balancing Self, Health, and Wealth for sustainable leadership. Drawing from her non-traditional background as a musician and a former undocumented immigrant, she shares how the "courage to be curious" can transform constraints into "portals" for innovation. If you’re focused on human-centered innovation, building mission-driven cultures, or navigating the complexities of scaling at the edges of technology and creativity, this episode offers a profound mindset shift for modern leaders. To learn more about A.J. and follow her insights, visit thetroublemakerlab.com and goodtrouble.vc. To learn more about RELAYTO, visit: relayto.com

    56 min

  6. 9 JAN

    19 – How to Connect Frontline Workers to Strategy and Culture

    Your host Alex Shevelenko welcomes Nicole Alvino, a pioneering leader in employee experience and founder of FirstUp, a platform that connects organizations with their workforce at scale. With experience building technology solutions for some of the world’s largest companies, Nicole helps enterprises engage frontline employees, drive alignment, and create meaningful workplace experiences through personalization and innovative communication strategies. In this conversation, Nicole talks about the challenges companies face in connecting with their entire workforce, why personalized and hyper-relevant communication is critical for engagement and performance, and how leaders can foster a people-first culture while scaling globally. She shares lessons from building FirstUp, selling to large enterprises, and creating a mission-driven organization that balances technology, culture, and employee wellbeing—illustrating how thoughtful leadership and authentic connection drive measurable business outcomes. If you’re focused on improving employee engagement, bridging gaps between leadership and frontline teams, or delivering a more human-centered approach to enterprise communication, this episode offers actionable insights and inspiration. To learn more about Nicole and follow her insights, visit: FirstUp website and LinkedIn. To learn more about RELAYTO, visit: relayto.com

    51 min

  7. 19/12/2025

    18 – From Design Sprints to Boardrooms: Turning Human-Centered Insights into ROI

    Your host Alex Shevelenko welcomes Iliana Oris Valiente, a multidisciplinary innovator at Accenture who sits at the intersection of emerging technology, human-centered design, and capital investment. With experience bridging startups, large enterprises, and family offices, Iliana helps organizations turn insights into measurable business impact, foster innovation, and unlock growth opportunities. In this conversation, Iliana talks about the challenges enterprises face when adopting new technologies, why human-centered design is critical for innovation to deliver real business results, and how startups and corporates can collaborate effectively without slowing progress. She shares lessons from structuring design sprints, advising venture-backed companies, and guiding capital allocation for maximum impact—illustrating how patient capital and strategic partnerships can accelerate growth and innovation. If you’re focused on driving measurable business outcomes through innovation, bridging organizational silos, or investing strategically in high-potential opportunities, this episode delivers actionable takeaways you can put into practice. To learn more about Iliana and follow her insights, visit her LinkedIn and Substack. To learn more about RELAYTO, visit: relayto.com.

    37 min

  8. 05/12/2025

    17 – Your Documents Speak Louder Than You Think

    Your host Alex Shevelenko welcomes Stephan Kuhnert, co-founder and co-CEO of Empower, a software suite that helps organizations create consistent, professional, and on-brand content across Microsoft 365. With clients ranging from global enterprises to Microsoft itself, Stephan has spent years helping teams save time, boost productivity, and ensure every document, presentation, or spreadsheet reflects their brand and builds trust. In this conversation, Stephan talks about the challenges companies face in creating high-quality, engaging content, why first impressions in documents matter more than ever, and how professional design—applied at scale—can influence trust, engagement, and even revenue. He shares insights from working with some of the most complex and detail-oriented organizations in Germany and beyond, offering practical approaches leaders can apply immediately to make their communications clearer, more consistent, and more persuasive. If you’re focused on building trust, improving internal and external communications, or ensuring your brand is represented consistently at every touchpoint, this episode delivers actionable takeaways you can put into practice. To learn more about Stephan and Empower, visit: empowersuite.com To learn more about RELAYTO, visit: relayto.com

    35 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Introducing Alex Shevelenko, CEO and founder of RELAYTO and the host of the Experienced-Focused Leaders Podcast. With a mission to empower seasoned business owners who recognize the critical role of customer experience in achieving success, Alex brings together a community of discerning listeners eager to explore new perspectives and strategies for enhancing their experience-centric approach. In our thought-provoking podcast episodes, we dive deep into the stories and insights of accomplished business owners who have honed their expertise in delivering exceptional customer experiences. These industry veterans possess a wealth of knowledge and practical experience, making them valuable resources for our audience of seasoned professionals who are passionate about creating meaningful connections with their customers. Our podcast serves as a platform for exchanging ideas, sharing best practices, and exploring innovative approaches to customer experience. We understand that our audience is composed of discerning individuals who have already achieved considerable success and are constantly seeking new ways to elevate their customer-centric strategies. If you are a seasoned business owner with a profound understanding of the significance of customer experience in driving business growth, we invite you to join us as a guest on our podcast. Share your unique insights, success stories, and the strategies that have set you apart in your industry.

Information

  • Creator
    Alex Shevelenko
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    86
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Alex Shevelenko
  • Show Website
    Experience-Focused Leaders