A Geek Leader Podcast - inspiring technical and creative leaders around the world

John Rouda: technical leader, author, speaker, educator
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The ultimate podcast for aspiring leaders in the creative or technology fields. John Rouda discusses leadership topics, interviews some of the greatest minds today and teaches you practical leadership tips, techniques, tricks and hacks to improve motivation, negotiation, and other much needed skills for leaders today.

  1. 5d ago

    490: Dr. Mik Kersten on Output to Outcome

    About Mik Dr. Mik Kersten is an independent technology strategist and researcher best known as the creator of the Flow Framework and author of the bestselling book Project to Product. Mik founded Tasktop and led the company as CEO until its acquisition by Planview in 2022. He continues to support Planview as an Executive in Residence. Mik started his career as a Research Scientist at Xerox PARC as part of the team that created the first aspect-oriented programming language. He then completed his PhD in Computer Science at the University of British Columbia, where he pioneered the integration of software development and collaboration tools. That work became the foundation for Tasktop and helped shape the emerging field of Value Stream Management. Before shifting his focus to flow, outcomes, and organizational modularity, Mik wrote more than one million lines of open-source code that are still in use today. His work now focuses on helping leaders transition from output-driven management to outcome-driven operating models, enabling organizations to harness the power of AI in a human-centric way. Mik lives in Vancouver, Canada, and enjoys skiing, biking, and surfing with family and friends. Today We Talked About Background Flow AI changing programming careers Managers to Makers Tree model Object Oriented concepts What’s next Connect with Mik LinkedIn Book Leave me a tip $ Click here to Donate to the show I hope you enjoyed this show, please head over to Apple Podcasts and subscribe and leave me a rating and review, even one sentence will help spread the word.  Thanks again!

  2. Oct 2

    AGL 489: Maximos Lih

    About Maximos Executive Coach and founder of Emboldened LLC, Maximos Lih’s leadership story traces back to his grandfather, an orphan who taught himself to read and eventually rose to become a four-star general in the Chinese military. Years after his grandfather’s retirement, strangers would approach the family with stories and gratitude for how “the General” had impacted their lives. From him, Maximos learned that true greatness is measured in how you make people feel. After immigrating to America, Maximos carried that lesson forward. As he navigated a new world with English as his second language, he quickly recognized the power individuals have to shape the energy of a room. We can choose to foster kindness, excellence, and belonging, or exclusion and mockery. He committed himself to the former, a choice that has guided his journey ever since. After graduating from UC Berkeley, Maximos was hired at Google as a data specialist in technical recruiting. His mandate: bring in the best engineers without scaling to mediocrity. That work propelled him into the startup world and later to Google Ventures, where he helped hundreds of founders scale their companies and leadership. He witnessed Uber grow from 80 to 500 employees in six months, supported Flatiron Health through a billion-dollar exit, and learned that high-performing teams must be built like Olympic teams—driven by mission, rare talent, and deep trust. After nearly a decade at Google Ventures, Maximos now shares those lessons with the next generation of leaders, helping small teams scale without losing their edge and ensuring more people have the opportunity to thrive. Today We Talked About Leadership Background Venture at good Scaling yourself Hero to Host Coffee is slow Context over control Highly aligned, loosly coupled What are the things that “only” I can do? Humane Layoffs AI Having craftsmanship… taste and structure, rather than just throwing things at the wall. Connect with Maximos Linkedin Leave me a tip $ Click here to Donate to the show I hope you enjoyed this show, please head over to Apple Podcasts and subscribe and leave me a rating and review, even one sentence will help spread the word.  Thanks again!

  3. Sep 25

    AGL 488: Bruno Lecoq

    About Bruno Bruno Lecoq is the CEO of BEMO and a trusted voice in cybersecurity compliance for US-based small and mid-sized defense contractors. He works hands-on with business owners, IT leaders, and executives to turn complex regulatory frameworks into practical, achievable compliance outcomes. With deep expertise across CMMC, SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, and NIST 800, Bruno is known for his calm, implementation-first approach. Rather than promoting fear or over-engineered solutions, he helps organizations align compliance requirements with the tools, processes, and systems they already use, particularly within Microsoft environments. Bruno is frequently sought out by organizations that feel overwhelmed by compliance mandates and unsure where to start. His work reframes compliance as an operational maturity journey rather than a checkbox exercise, helping companies reduce risk, control costs, and build long-term security confidence. Today We Talked About Background Microsoft Evolution from on prem, to cloud, to AI MFA Intune AI Cyber Security Training   Connect with Bruno LinkedIn Wesbite Leave me a tip $ Click here to Donate to the show I hope you enjoyed this show, please head over to Apple Podcasts and subscribe and leave me a rating and review, even one sentence will help spread the word.  Thanks again!

  4. Sep 18

    AGL 487: Sean Campbell

    About Sean Over 20 years of experience in technology strategy, research, and training, have seen Sean work with Fortune 500 companies, mid-market organizations, and business leaders navigating complex tech decisions. Through Cascade Insights, he trains teams, advises leadership, and provides research-driven insights to go beyond experimental into practical, effective AI adoption for the human side In addition to his work in consulting, Sean is an assistant professor of business at George Fox University, where he teaches applied AI courses. His students work with real organizations to design AI strategies, build workflows, and deliver consulting engagements, giving him a unique perspective on how AI is shaping the next generation of business leaders. Today We Talked About Background Teaching AI redesigning work AI will change work forever Change the way we teach 3 human framework George Fox The Art of Asking Connect with Sean LinkedIn Website Leave me a tip $ Click here to Donate to the show I hope you enjoyed this show, please head over to Apple Podcasts and subscribe and leave me a rating and review, even one sentence will help spread the word.  Thanks again!

  5. Sep 11

    AGL 486: Richard Moore

    About Richard Mr. Moore, P.E. is the President and Founder of Moore Engineering. He is a Vietnam veteran where he was a Lieutenant with the Corps of Engineers assigned to the 102 Construction Engineering Company building roads in the Central Highlands. He also taught water supply and wastewater treatment at the Army Engineer School at Fort Belvoir, VA. Mr. Moore is an internationally recognized expert in water quality protection and wastewater and stormwater management, has published widely in the field and is an Adjunct Professor at Wentworth Institute of Technology. His 40 years of engineering and project management experience includes successful oversight of infrastructure projects. Mr. Moore has a proven track record of completing large-scale and complex infrastructure projects in the US and abroad. Mr. Moore holds a BS and MS in Civil Engineering and is a Registered Professional Engineer. Early in his career he worked for Metcalf and Eddy on wastewater and stormwater projects nation-wide. More recently, Mr. Moore served as President of Tetra Tech Rizzo from 2000 to 2007, where he managed the firm’s domestic and international engineering operations with a diverse portfolio of assignments for both public and private clients. He was responsible for growing the company’s annual revenue from $20M to $40M. In his last two years as President, Tetra Tech Rizzo won the ROI (Return on Investment) award, Tetra Tech’s highest award among approximately 30 operating units. Subsequently, Mr. Moore led Tetra Tech India Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Tetra Tech with a staff of approximately 200, through 2012. Mr. Moore is a life member of ASCE, served on the Board of ACEC Massachusetts and was Chair of several national committees for the Water Environment Federation (WEF). Today We Talked About Officer Life Getting out of comfort zone Vietnam India Don’t hide your mistakes Working with Teams Building Trust Project Management Leadership Emotional Intellegence Trust Don’t peak too early Trust your neighbors Plant seeds… Connect with Richard Website Books A Charmed Young Life An Officer’s Journey A Cosultant’s Story Leave me a tip $ Click here to Donate to the show I hope you enjoyed this show, please head over to Apple Podcasts and subscribe and leave me a rating and review, even one sentence will help spread the word.  Thanks again!

  6. Sep 4

    AGL 485: Julian Reeve

    About Julian Julian Reeve is an international keynote speaker helping leaders and organizations understand human value in the age of AI. In 2017, after conducting a performance of the Broadway phenomenon Hamilton, Julian Reeve suffered a stress-induced heart attack. He was 43 years old. Two years later, injury ended his performing career altogether. These events prompted a fundamental examination of identity, achievement, burnout, creativity, and the systems that support human performance. His findings formed the foundations of Perfect Equilibrium®, a proven methodology helping leaders and organizations mitigate burnout through intentional work design, and informed his TEDx Talk, book on perfectionism, and articles for major media outlets including The Hill and Fast Company Magazine. Today, Julian’s work is built around one powerful idea: Unmistakable Identity™ will become the foundation of human advantage as AI redefines work and human value. Today We talked About background stress burnout Perfect Equilibrium® mindset systems self-care self-awareness self-compassion self-efficacy strategy Unmistakable Identity™ Identity Capability Judgement Intential Connect With Julian Website LinkedIn Leave me a tip $ Click here to Donate to the show I hope you enjoyed this show, please head over to Apple Podcasts and subscribe and leave me a rating and review, even one sentence will help spread the word.  Thanks again!

  7. Aug 28

    AGL 484: Valerie Holden

    About Valerie Valerie Holden is a confidence coach, speaker, and former law enforcement professional who helps female entrepreneurs overcome fear, anxiety, and self-doubt so they can confidently show up, speak up, and grow their businesses. Through her From Anxiety to Authority framework, Valerie teaches practical strategies that help women regulate stress, build confidence, and take meaningful action in sales conversations, networking events, presentations, videos, and other high-stakes business situations. Drawing from more than 20 years in law enforcement and her extensive experience helping clients navigate personal and professional challenges, Valerie helps women move from overthinking and avoidance to clarity, courage, and confidence. Today We Talked About Fear Anxiety Calming techniques Hypnosis Overthinking things Zones Green Zone Yellow Zone Red Zone Noticing Thoughts… Breathing Techniques Fear of speaking up Fear of failure and success Fear of AI Sound healing   Connect with Valerie Website LinkedIn Leave me a tip $ Click here to Donate to the show I hope you enjoyed this show, please head over to Apple Podcasts and subscribe and leave me a rating and review, even one sentence will help spread the word.  Thanks again!

  8. Aug 21

    AGL 483: Nick Jonsson

    About Nick Nick Jonsson is widely recognized as the world’s leading authority on Executive Loneliness. His pioneering work has earned him a dedicated Executive Loneliness Wikipedia page and international recognition, establishing him as one of the world’s most respected voices on leadership, vulnerability, mental wellbeing, and authentic connection. Ranked #28 in the world among the Global Gurus Top 30 Coaching Professionals, Nick is a TEDx speaker, international bestselling author of Executive Loneliness, Professional Certified Coach (PCC), Certified Master Coach (CMC), qualified Counsellor and Psychotherapist, and a certified Team Psychological Safety practitioner. After more than two decades in international business leadership, Nick experienced burnout, addiction, and profound loneliness while leading from the top. His recovery transformed both his life and his purpose. Today, everything he teaches is grounded in lived experience as well as professional expertise. Nick works globally with leaders, teams, and organizations through keynote speaking, executive coaching, counselling and psychotherapy, leadership facilitation, and Team Psychological Safety training. He is also a top 2% Ironman triathlete, founder of a men’s support group, suicide prevention volunteer, and host of The Limitless Podcast, featuring conversations with leaders and changemakers from around the world. His mission is to empower people to build a limitless life through vulnerability and holistic wellbeing. Today We Talked About Executive Loneliness Asking for help Rock Bottom Talking to others Physical training Relationships Honest converesations Relationships replaced alcohol Share how you feel Fear Don’t overshare Connect with Nick LinkedIn Website Book Podcast Leave me a tip $ Click here to Donate to the show I hope you enjoyed this show, please head over to Apple Podcasts and subscribe and leave me a rating and review, even one sentence will help spread the word.  Thanks again!

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The ultimate podcast for aspiring leaders in the creative or technology fields. John Rouda discusses leadership topics, interviews some of the greatest minds today and teaches you practical leadership tips, techniques, tricks and hacks to improve motivation, negotiation, and other much needed skills for leaders today.

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