Leman Tech Leadership Podcast

Aleksandra Lemańska

Leman Tech Leadership Podcast Welcome to the Leman Tech Leadership Podcast, your ultimate guide to developing exceptional tech leadership skills. Whether you're a seasoned tech leader or just stepping into a managerial role, this podcast is designed to provide you with actionable insights and best practices to create a thriving work environment that people won't want to leave. Learn how to do it with host Aleksandra Lemańska, founder of LemanSkills, speaker, PCM leadership mentor and facilitator that works with hundreds of leaders each year to elevate their potential into the next level. Join Alex as she delves deep into the secrets of effective leadership, from mastering essential tools to implementing cutting-edge techniques. Each episode brings you invaluable knowledge, practical advice, or unique perspectives through engaging interviews with leaders that have their experiences and lessons to share. Discover the dos and don’ts of tech leadership, learn about the habits that drive success, and gather strategies to foster a motivated and engaged team. Follow Alex @aleksandralemanska on LinkedIn for more inspiration and actions that you can take as a transformational leader. Check out more as well on https://lemanskills.com!  

  1. #136 | Entrepreneurship Transformation, Courage and Interior Design (!) in Leadership w/ Aga Olszewska @LeadAsU

    2H AGO

    #136 | Entrepreneurship Transformation, Courage and Interior Design (!) in Leadership w/ Aga Olszewska @LeadAsU

    ▶︎ #136 | Entrepreneurship Transformation, Courage and Interior Design (!) in Leadership w/ Aga Olszewska @LeadAsU Join your host, Aleksandra Lemańska, for an inspiring episode of the Leman Tech Leadership Podcast as she engages in a lively conversation with Aga Olszewska, an experienced HR and Sales Leader, Founder at LeadAsU, and podcast host of the Polish show "Lider(ka) na Dywaniku." In this episode, Aga shares her insights on the vital role of courage, authenticity, and humor in effective leadership, particularly within the tech industry. The discussion delves into Aga's transformation into entrepreneurship, highlighting the lessons and stories from her early years that have shaped her leadership journey. Aga offers a unique perspective on leadership, comparing the mindset to a building's foundation, the skillset to its structure, and the toolset to its interior design. She emphasizes how leaders often use flashy new frameworks or tools to mask foundational issues. Through Aga's experiences and wisdom, this episode provides valuable guidance for leaders seeking to cultivate authenticity and resilience in their approach. Whether you're leading a team or embarking on your entrepreneurial journey, Aga's insights offer a roadmap for building strong, genuine leadership foundations. ✔︎ Mentioned in the episode: “Who Moved My Cheese? : An Amazing Way To Deal With Change In Your Work And In Your Life” DDI Leadership Resources ✉︎ FOLLOW AGA ON: ⤵︎ LinkedIn: @aga-olszewska/ LeadAsU: https://leadasu.com/ Lider(ka) na Dywaniku: https://open.spotify.com/show/09ImtJNXz14EZAw5PhS6BS?si=8b69a756879c4a58 ✉︎ FOLLOW ME ON: ⤵︎ LinkedIn: @aleksandralemanska TikTok: @aleksandra_lemanska X: @lemanskills Startup Community Poznan: @startup-community-poznan-scp www.lemanskills.com Join Leadership Pulse! https://lemanskills.com/pulse/

    57 min
  2. #135 | The Quiet Exodus: Why Mid-Level Talent is Silently Leaving Tech Teams

    2D AGO

    #135 | The Quiet Exodus: Why Mid-Level Talent is Silently Leaving Tech Teams

    ▶︎ #135 | The Quiet Exodus: Why Mid-Level Talent is Silently Leaving Tech Teams The people leaving technology teams aren't always the ones you'd expect. It's not just Juniors chasing better pay elsewhere or Seniors being poached by competitors. It's the middle — Engineers and Product Managers with three to eight years of experience who are quietly walking out the door with no dramatic exit. They're the engine of any tech organization, and most leadership teams won't notice they're gone until the damage is already done. The reasons they leave almost never come down to salary. What drives mid-level talent away is a lack of autonomy, a feeling of being invisible, and the sense that their work doesn't connect to anything meaningful. Tech teams have a structural problem here: Massive investment goes into recruiting at the bottom and poaching at the top, but the people in between are often left without a clear growth path or genuine ownership of anything. In this episode, we’re talking about easy solutions. Stay interviews — not exit interviews — can reveal what's actually driving people out before they leave. Transparent promotion criteria give people a reason to stay. And giving mid-level professionals real ownership of outcomes, not just tasks, sends a message that no compensation package can replicate: you matter here. Join the Masterclass! https://masterclass.lemanskills.com/ ✉︎ FOLLOW ME ON: ⤵︎ LinkedIn: @aleksandralemanska TikTok: @aleksandra_lemanska X: @lemanskills Startup Community Poznan: @startup-community-poznan-scp www.lemanskills.com Join Leadership Pulse! https://lemanskills.com/pulse/

    15 min
  3. #134 | Fighting Founder's Burnout, Finding a Community and Investor's Tips w/ Jono Bacon, @ex-Github, @Stateshift

    FEB 12

    #134 | Fighting Founder's Burnout, Finding a Community and Investor's Tips w/ Jono Bacon, @ex-Github, @Stateshift

    ▶︎ #134 | Fighting Founder's Burnout, Finding a Community and Investor's Tips w/ Jono Bacon, @ex-Github, @Stateshift In this episode of the Leman Tech Leadership Podcast, I'm thrilled to sit down with Jono Bacon, an accomplished Entrepreneur, Investor, and Community Builder, currently serving as the CEO and Founder of Stateshift. Join me, your host Aleksandra Lemańska, as we explore Jono's remarkable journey, which began at the age of 19 and has been marked by continuous entrepreneurial learning. We delve into the realities of the entrepreneurial path, discussing why it's not for everyone and what it truly takes to thrive in this challenging arena. Jono shares his experiences with anxiety and burnout, common struggles for Tech Founders, and offers insights on how to navigate these challenges effectively. Our conversation also touches on the importance of community in personal and professional growth. Jono provides valuable advice on how to lead and select the right community to support your journey. Additionally, he reveals key considerations he makes as an investor when choosing projects to back, offering listeners a glimpse into the mind of a seasoned entrepreneur and investor. ✔︎ Mentioned in the episode: “People Powered: How Communities Can Supercharge Your Business, Brand, and Teams” “The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don't Work and What to Do About It―A Guide to Starting a Business in a Productive and Successful Way” ✉︎ FOLLOW JONO ON: ⤵︎ LinkedIn: @jonobacon Website: https://www.jonobacon.com/ X: https://x.com/jonobacon YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jonobacon ✉︎ FOLLOW ME ON: ⤵︎ LinkedIn: @aleksandralemanska TikTok: @aleksandra_lemanska X: @lemanskills Startup Community Poznan: @startup-community-poznan-scp www.lemanskills.com

    50 min
  4. #133 | Burnout is an Organizational Failure, Not a Personal One

    FEB 10

    #133 | Burnout is an Organizational Failure, Not a Personal One

    ▶︎ #133 | Burnout is an Organizational Failure, Not a Personal One For years, burnout has been treated as an individual problem — something to fix with a vacation or a meditation app. But the reality is far more uncomfortable: When an entire team burns out, the failure didn't start with them. It started at the top. The World Health Organization classifies burnout as an occupational phenomenon, not a personal one, and that distinction changes everything about how we should be approaching it. The warning signs are there long before anyone says "I'm burned out." Disengagement, a quiet drop in work quality, and the rise of quiet quitting are all signals that leadership should be reading — not waiting for an exit interview to hear. And when leaders visibly glorify hustle culture, they give implicit permission for the whole organization to silently unravel. In this episode, we’re talking about how the fix isn't ping pong tables or free snacks. It's workload audits, protected time, and honest conversations about what's realistic. Burnout is expensive — replacing a burned-out employee costs two to three times their salary. But more importantly, it's preventable. And it starts with leaders deciding to see it as their responsibility, not someone else's. Join the Masterclass! https://masterclass.lemanskills.com/ ✉︎ FOLLOW ME ON: ⤵︎ LinkedIn: @aleksandralemanska TikTok: @aleksandra_lemanska X: @lemanskills Startup Community Poznan: @startup-community-poznan-scp www.lemanskills.com Join Leadership Pulse! https://lemanskills.com/pulse/

    13 min
  5. #132 | Addressing Fear of AI Transformation and Burnout & Hiring Entrepreneurial Spirit w/ Shahrzad Rafati @RHEI

    FEB 5

    #132 | Addressing Fear of AI Transformation and Burnout & Hiring Entrepreneurial Spirit w/ Shahrzad Rafati @RHEI

    ▶︎ #132 | Addressing Fear of AI Transformation and Burnout & Hiring Entrepreneurial Spirit w/ Shahrzad Rafati @RHEI In this engaging episode of the Leman Tech Leadership Podcast, I have the pleasure of speaking with Shahrzad Rafati, the visionary Founder and CEO of RHEI. Join me, your host Aleksandra Lemańska, as we explore the profound impact of growing up in an entrepreneurial household on Shahrzad's career, inspiring her to make daring decisions and embrace innovation. Our conversation delves into the critical role of creativity and storytelling in building meaningful and impactful products. Shahrzad shares her insights on how these elements are essential in crafting a compelling business narrative that resonates with audiences and stakeholders alike. We also address the challenges of wearing multiple hats as a Founder and Leader, discussing strategies to prevent burnout and maintain a healthy work-life balance. Shahrzad offers practical advice on how to navigate the fear of technology, particularly the transformative potential of AI, and how to embrace these changes confidently. Additionally, we highlight the importance of recruiting individuals with an entrepreneurial spirit in your initial hires, emphasizing how this can lead to significant success as you embark on new business ventures. ✔︎ Mentioned in the episode: “Good to Great: A Study of Management Strategies of Companies with Lasting Growth” “The Beginning of Infinity: Explanations That Transform the World” ✉︎ FOLLOW SHARZAD ON: ⤵︎ LinkedIn: @shahrzad Website: https://rhei.com/ TEDx Vancouver Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HIxnTruN78 ✉︎ FOLLOW ME ON: ⤵︎ LinkedIn: @aleksandralemanska TikTok: @aleksandra_lemanska X: @lemanskills Startup Community Poznan: @startup-community-poznan-scp www.lemanskills.com

    53 min
  6. #130 | Leading Leaders, Building Trust and Invest in Intentional Learning w/ Pranav Lal @ex-Slack, @Gusto, @Forbes Tech Council

    JAN 29

    #130 | Leading Leaders, Building Trust and Invest in Intentional Learning w/ Pranav Lal @ex-Slack, @Gusto, @Forbes Tech Council

    ▶︎ #130 | Leading Leaders, Building Trust and Invest in Intentional Learning w/ Pranav Lal @ex-Slack, @Gusto, @Forbes Tech Council In this insightful episode of the Leman Tech Leadership Podcast, I sit down with Pranav Lal, a seasoned enterprise architect and business technology strategist. Currently serving as the Head of Business Technology at Gusto and Senior Director of GTM Systems at OneTrust, Pranav is also a respected member of the Forbes Technology Council. Join me, your host Aleksandra Lemańska, as we dive into the critical aspects of scaling up teams and technology in today's fast-paced business environment. Pranav shares his expertise on the nuances of leading leaders versus leading other team members, highlighting the distinct approaches required to inspire and guide those in leadership positions. We discuss the importance of instilling a strong "why" behind a team's efforts, emphasizing how this clarity and purpose can significantly build trust and drive collective success. Our conversation also explores the transformative power of intentional continuous learning. Pranav explains how fostering a culture of deliberate learning can be a game-changer for teams, helping them stay ahead of the curve amidst constant change. Moreover, he emphasizes the importance of strengthening Emotional Intelligence (EQ) and focusing on practical solutions that teams can implement, regardless of the evolving landscape (including AI). ✔︎ Mentioned in the episode: Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us The Mel Robbins Podcast ✉︎ FOLLOW PRANAV ON: ⤵︎ LinkedIn: @pranavl ✉︎ FOLLOW ME ON: ⤵︎ LinkedIn: @aleksandralemanska TikTok: @aleksandra_lemanska X: @lemanskills Startup Community Poznan: @startup-community-poznan-scp www.lemanskills.com

    52 min

About

Leman Tech Leadership Podcast Welcome to the Leman Tech Leadership Podcast, your ultimate guide to developing exceptional tech leadership skills. Whether you're a seasoned tech leader or just stepping into a managerial role, this podcast is designed to provide you with actionable insights and best practices to create a thriving work environment that people won't want to leave. Learn how to do it with host Aleksandra Lemańska, founder of LemanSkills, speaker, PCM leadership mentor and facilitator that works with hundreds of leaders each year to elevate their potential into the next level. Join Alex as she delves deep into the secrets of effective leadership, from mastering essential tools to implementing cutting-edge techniques. Each episode brings you invaluable knowledge, practical advice, or unique perspectives through engaging interviews with leaders that have their experiences and lessons to share. Discover the dos and don’ts of tech leadership, learn about the habits that drive success, and gather strategies to foster a motivated and engaged team. Follow Alex @aleksandralemanska on LinkedIn for more inspiration and actions that you can take as a transformational leader. Check out more as well on https://lemanskills.com!