Tech Legacies

Fanny Dunagan
  • 4.9 (7)
  • TECHNOLOGY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Want to get ahead in the tech industry? Want tech insights? Join host Fanny Dunagan as top executives share their untold stories about their tech careers, reveal what lessons they've learned, and offer advice for professionals who hope to get ahead. Are you motivated? Looking for career growth? Then make sure you follow this show. Get tips from tech executives from AT&T, FedEx, Verizon, Hasbro, Textron, and EY. Discover strategies for technology and team culture. Learn about the importance of innovation and how it drives company culture. Enjoy personal stories and leadership advice. Gain valuable leadership skills and explore new ideas. If you want to succeed in tech, then Tech Legacies with Fanny Dunagan is for you!

  1. 6D AGO

    The Leadership Shift No One Trains You For | E09f

    Being promoted doesn’t automatically make you a leader. In this Tech Bytes clip, executive coach and former Fortune 500 leader Shaunna Black speaks directly to middle managers — the most stretched, pressured, and overlooked leaders in today’s organizations. Shaunna breaks down: Why middle management is harder than ever The mistake most new managers make Why your job is no longer “doing the work” How to shift from individual contributor to leader What it really means to be a multiplier Why heart-centered leadership drives results Her message is simple but powerful: Stop trying to control people. Start unleashing them. If you’re a new manager… If you’re overwhelmed by your workload… If you’re trying to lead without losing yourself… This one’s for you.

    4 min

  2. FEB 25

    How to Survive a Toxic Culture | E09e

    End Fear Culture. It sounds simple. It isn’t. In this powerful final episode, Fanny Dunagan sits down with Shaunna Black, author of Leading With Heart, to confront one of the most overlooked drivers of poor performance in organizations: fear-based leadership. From semiconductor manufacturing floors running at 99% yield to Fortune 500 boardrooms layered in hierarchy and armor, Shaunna makes a compelling case: You will never get high performance from a toxic, blame-driven, fear-filled environment. The metrics may look good. The processes may be precise. But outcomes are still produced by people. And people operating from fear will never bring their full heart, mind, and soul to the work. In this conversation, you’ll hear: Why “what we tolerate becomes our culture”How fear hides behind titles, hierarchy, and protectionThe difference between operating from love vs. operating from fearWhy vulnerability is strength, not weaknessHow culture affects not just performance — but families and communitiesWhy ending fear culture is a leadership choice Shaunna challenges leaders to put the armor down. Step out from behind the desk. Drop the title. Be human. Because love isn’t soft. Love raises the bar. Love builds high-performance teams. If you lead a team — in tech, manufacturing, or anywhere — this conversation may challenge you. The real question is simple: Are you leading from fear… or from love?

    16 min

  3. FEB 23

    Why Smart Leaders Build Alliances | E09d

    Ever shared a great idea… and watched someone else get credit for it? In this Tech Bytes clip, executive coach and former Fortune 500 leader Shaunna Black shares the strategy that changed her career — building allies outside the room. As one of the few women in leadership at Texas Instruments, Shaunna explains: Why competing in the room doesn’t work How to find safe, trusted teammates The Japanese concept of nemawashi How to create informal alliances What to do when your ideas get ignored Instead of fighting for attention in the moment, Shaunna shows how pre-work relationships can shift power dynamics and make sure your voice is heard. If you’ve ever felt invisible in meetings… If you’re navigating tough leadership rooms… This one’s for you.

    3 min

  4. FEB 20

    The Secret Behind High Trust High Performance Teams | E09c

    Most leaders focus on goals, metrics, and performance. But executive coach and former Fortune 500 leader Shaunna Black says leadership starts somewhere… deeper relationships. In this Tech Legacies conversation, Shaunna explains why “the relationship is the container” and how leaders shape culture moment by moment through behavior, not slogans. You’ll learn: • Why leaders are “climate makers” • How trust creates unstoppable teams • What middle managers misunderstand about leadership • Why removing toxic behavior matters more than talent • How belonging drives performance, retention, and growth When people feel safe, seen, and valued, they don’t just work harder. They care about each other. And that changes everything. If you want stronger culture, higher performance, and real loyalty, this conversation is for you.

    17 min

  5. FEB 18

    The Hard Truth About AI Layoffs and Broken Trust | E09b

    Is AI really driving layoffs… or is that just the story we’re being told? In this Tech Bytes clip, executive coach and former Fortune 500 leader Shaunna Black breaks down what she’s really seeing in today’s tech landscape, and why trust inside organizations is eroding. Shaunna shares: Why tech feels more uncertain than ever How companies are using “AI” as a cover story The impact of layoffs on trust and culture Why cutting training is a long-term mistake What young workers will remember about this moment She also calls out the growing gap between AI hype and actual adoption, and why leaders need to communicate with more honesty and humanity. If you’re navigating change, layoffs, or uncertainty at work… this one hits close to home.

    4 min

  6. FEB 16

    They’re Blaming AI… But That’s Not the Truth | E09a

    Is AI really causing layoffs… or is it just the story we’re being told? In this conversation, executive coach and former Fortune 500 leader Shaunna Black shares what she’s seeing inside organizations today and why trust between companies and employees is quietly breaking. We talk about: • Why companies say “AI” when the real issue is economic fear • The dangerous shift away from training and developing people • How leaders unintentionally destroy trust during uncertainty • Why younger workers will remember how companies acted in this moment • The difference between efficiency and humanity at work Shaunna also explains why leadership is still about people, not technology and why connection, empathy, and courage matter more in an AI world, not less. If work has felt colder, more transactional, or uncertain lately… this conversation will resonate.

    28 min

  7. FEB 13

    CEOs & CIOs - How to lead with heart in a tech world with Shaunna Black | E09

    What if the most powerful leadership tool isn’t AI… but your heart? In this episode of Tech Legacies Podcast, host Fanny Dunagan sits down with executive coach, speaker and former Fortune 500 leader, Shaunna Black to explore what it really means to lead with heart in today’s high-tech, high-pressure world. From running global operations and semiconductor manufacturing plants to coaching executives, Shaunna shares why connection, trust, and humanity are not “soft skills” but rather the foundation of high performance. Together, they unpack: Why people (not metrics) drive results How middle managers shape culture every dayWhat great bosses, teachers, and coaches have in commonWhy trust is the secret to unstoppable teamsHow to drop the armor and lead as your authentic selfWhy love belongs in leadership conversations Shaunna also shares insights from her new book, Leading With Heart, and why now, more than ever, we need leaders who create safety, belonging, and purpose at work. If you’ve ever felt “too soft” to lead… If you’ve worked under a toxic boss… If you want to build a culture people want to be part of… 👉 This conversation is for you. _____________________________ Connect with Shaunna on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/shaunnablack/ Want to build your authority and brand as a tech leader? Subscribe to our newsletter for updates, a free branding guide and 1-hour training for tech professionals: https://techlegacies.ck.page/newsletter Connect with the podcast host, Fanny Dunagan on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/fannydunagan/ 🎧 Listen on your favorite podcast platform Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/tech-legacies/id1704049511 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/461kEaQZGqHoAl1nv3W4qe?si=a74e94fa09264828 📖 Get the book: Leading With Heart by Shaunna Black https://a.co/d/04KcB9yA 👍 Like, subscribe, and share if this resonated with you ------------------------------------------- Timestamps: 01:19 Welcome: CEOs & CIOs—How to Lead with Heart in Tech 01:51 Meet Shauna Black: Heart-Centered Executive Coach + Author 02:33 Shauna’s Career Origin Story: Teacher → Mechanical Engineer → Tech Leader 03:58 Texas Instruments Leadership Journey: Global Ops, EHS, and Turnarounds 05:23 The Toughest Assignment: Turning Around TI’s Worst Wafer Fab (18-Month Deadline) 06:47 Why Heart-Centered Leadership Works in Command-and-Control Environments 07:11 Inside-Out Leadership: Family Values, Sports Teams, Teaching, and Service 08:57 Leading “Your Way”: Why Authentic Leadership Beats Copying the Hierarchy 10:49 Women in Leadership + Athletics + All-Girls Schools: Confidence and Capacity 12:36 The 2025–2026 Tech Climate: Uncertainty, Cost-Cutting, and AI Narratives 14:01 The Trust Crisis: Why Young People Will Remember This Era 16:05 Why She Wrote “Leading with Heart”: People Aren’t Replaceable Parts 18:48 Empathy Isn’t Weakness: Leadership = Results Through People 19:45 Best Boss Test: Connection, Belonging, and Feeling Seen 21:55 Chapter 1—Self-Awareness: The Power of Knowing Yourself 23:10 You’re Unique on Purpose: Identity, Gifts, and Leading from Wholeness 24:56 The Return-to-Yourself Journey: Unburying the Heart at Work 26:28 Your Superpower: Relational Leadership, Love, and Deep Connection 29:34 High Performance Through Care: Accountability Without Shame 32:29 Starting When It Doesn’t Feel Safe: Owning Your Story + Finding Courage 34:51 Nemawashi: Building Alliances Outside the Room (Influence Without Armor) 38:10 Your Energy Enters First: Self-Awareness and Emotional Spillover 41:01 The People Who Know You Best: Family + Work “Second Families” 42:03 Chapter 3—Who Are We Together?: Relationships as the Container 44:00 Culture in Action: Inclusion, Stopping Bullying, and What Leaders Allow 46:50 Middle Managers: The Toughest Job + Being the Team’s Climate Maker 49:25 From Doer to Leader: Multipliers, Removing Barriers, Unleashing Talent 52:02 Moving to the C-Suite: Vision, Strategy, and Playing at the Next Level 55:26 Trust = Safety: The Foundation of High-Trust, High-Growth Cultures 57:40 Trust Ripples: From 1:1 to Unstoppable Teams and Strong Culture 59:30 Build the Culture Now: One Person at a Time—Choose Love 1:01:14 Love vs Fear: The Simplest Leadership Decision 1:02:53 Manufacturing Myth-Busting: Semiconductor Precision as the Ultimate Team Sport 1:06:47 Love and Legacy: Healing Teams, Better Homes, Better Communities 1:11:30 Legacy Statement: Love + Authenticity + Bringing Humanity Back to Work a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNRnxbafuZQ&t=4520s" rel="noopener noreferrer"...

    1h 18m

  8. FEB 12

    The Career Framework Every Tech Leader Should Know | E08f

    What does it really take to move from mid-level manager to VP or C-suite in tech? Ashish Barve shares a deliciously memorable framework, called PIE: Performance, Image, Exposure. Learn how this trio has guided his journey from programmer to executive, and why each slice of the “PIE” matters at every level of your career. Ashish breaks down: Why performance alone isn’t enough How to build a reputation that sticks The power of exposure… and how to get it If you’re stuck in the “what’s next?” phase of your tech career, this short episode offers real talk, relatable advice, and a simple framework you won’t forget. Watch now and grab your slice of the PIE.

    4 min
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Ratings & Reviews

4.9
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

Want to get ahead in the tech industry? Want tech insights? Join host Fanny Dunagan as top executives share their untold stories about their tech careers, reveal what lessons they've learned, and offer advice for professionals who hope to get ahead. Are you motivated? Looking for career growth? Then make sure you follow this show. Get tips from tech executives from AT&T, FedEx, Verizon, Hasbro, Textron, and EY. Discover strategies for technology and team culture. Learn about the importance of innovation and how it drives company culture. Enjoy personal stories and leadership advice. Gain valuable leadership skills and explore new ideas. If you want to succeed in tech, then Tech Legacies with Fanny Dunagan is for you!

Information

  • Creator
    Fanny Dunagan
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    60
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Fanny Dunagan
  • Show Website
    Tech Legacies