Move Fast. Break Shit. Burn Out‪.‬ Catalyst Constellations

In our latest episode, we chat with Ian Wright, Founder and CEO of the Disruptive Innovators Network. Known for his innovative leadership, Ian shares his journey from the public sector to building a community of innovators.

During the conversation, Ian discusses lessons from his early career, emphasizing that change often fails when people don’t stop to understand the problem they’re trying to fix. This realization led him to adopt a more thoughtful approach, focusing on understanding the problem clearly before attempting to solve it.

Then he explains how to implement massive shifts without risk, introducing the concept of having two teams: one to manage the future and one to manage the past. This dual-team strategy helps manage both current operations and the transition to the future, ensuring a smooth progression. He underscores that failures in driving change are usually cultural, not technical. Therefore, bringing people on board and becoming a storyteller are essential skills for effective leadership, emphasizing the need for clear communication.

Ian also shares his experiences as a Catalyst executive, often having ideas that no one else could see. He stresses the importance of timing, knowing when to push on and when to let go—a decision-making process he refers to as “Play or Pass". Finally, Ian shares that a successful Catalyst executive needs a strong peer network, exceptional resources, and a bit of inspiration. These elements are vital for navigating the complexities of leadership and driving impactful change.

Tune in to this episode to gain insights from Ian's experiences and learn how to lead transformative change in your organization.

Original music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lynz Floren⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

We loved our engaging chat with Lenin Oyuga, Head of Telco Digital Partnerships MEA at Mastercard. With his extensive background in technology strategy and business leadership, Lenin is renowned for making cutting-edge technology applicable and influential across continents, including Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

In this episode, Lenin shares his approach to being a Catalyst for change within large organizations. He discusses the crucial roles of innovative thinking and strategic execution in driving transformation and fostering growth. His insights into leveraging cross-functional collaborations to create sustainable competitive advantages are particularly enlightening.

Lenin also reflects on his personal journey, highlighting his work with the We Are Family Foundation and Young African Leadership Initiative. Beyond his professional achievements, he shares a personal note, revealing that being a father has been his most fulfilling role, grounding and driving his ambition to effect change.

Tune in to this compelling conversation that's both energizing and inspiring.


Original music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lynz Floren⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

We jump into a chat with an outstanding guest from the world of commerce, Sharon Gee, the Senior Vice President of Sales and Partnerships at Feedonomics. Known for her energetic leadership and innovative approach to business, Sharon brings a ton of experience from global companies like
BigCommerce, BORN Group, Tribal DDB, and more.

During the episode, Sharon shares her philosophy on driving transformation within large organizations and the crucial role of catalysts in sparking growth and innovation. She dives into the challenges and strategies of leading change, highlighting the importance of aligning diverse teams toward shared goals. Sharon’s insights into building effective partnerships and leveraging her extensive network to boost business growth are super engaging.


Sharon also opens up about her unique journey from touring as a spinto soprano to becoming a top corporate executive, showing how she blends her artistic flair with her business savvy.

Don’t miss out on this engaging conversation that’s both inspiring and eye-opening.

Original music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lynz Floren⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

In our latest episode, we chat with Christina Rapsomanikis, the Global Vice President of Digital & e-Commerce at Mars. Known for her dynamic leadership and transformative vision, Christina takes us through her journey from fast-paced innovation to embracing a more intentional and tranquil approach. Christina opens up about a turning point when her health forced her to slow down. Initially resistant, she discovered that this shift allowed her to work more mindfully, enhancing both her impact and well-being. By slowing her pace, Christina made more thoughtful, strategic decisions that led to sustainable, long-lasting change within her organization. Beyond that, Christina shares her insights on the power of mentorship and building a supportive network of fellow Catalysts. She emphasizes how surrounding herself with like-minded individuals has been crucial for her growth. Creating a supportive group of trusted advisors has helped Christina maintain balance while continuing her transformative journey.

Original music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lynz Floren⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

In our latest episode, we're thrilled to have Dr. Frederik G. Pferdt, Google's first Chief Innovation Evangelist and the creative mind behind Google's Innovation Lab. Listen as Dr. Frederik shares his journey through one of the tech world's most legendary creative cultures. Frederik dives deep into his philosophies on innovation and creativity, nurtured over a decade through his pioneering work at Google and teaching at Stanford’s School. He talks about the concept of being a Catalyst in environments resistant to change and how his sustainably focused life in the Santa Cruz Mountains influences his approach to living and leading.


With insights that have shaped entities from the UN to NASA, Frederik's strategies for embracing and driving change are not just compelling—they are transformative and focused on the personal journey of being a change maker.

His upcoming book, "What's Next is Now: How to Live Future Ready," promises to be an essential personal journey guide for change makers looking to confidently tackle future challenges while embodying the attributes needed to realize positive change.

Instead of asking ourselves or those around us “What do you want to be in the future?” he encourages people to consider an amazingly provocative question “How do you want to be in the future?” “What future self can you envision today that you want to be in the future? Do you want to become a person that is more empathetic, more kind, more loving, more open, more curious?”

Original music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lynz Floren⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Maria Giudice (Founder at Hot Studio) wrote the book Changemakers: How Leaders Can Design Change in an Insanely Complex World because she wished it was the book she had when she stepped into the catalytic and challenging VP of Design roles at Facebook, then Autodesk. She shares how she learned the hard way about the importance of humility and relationship building with those most resistant to change. In addition we discuss the critical role that mentors and peers have as guiding lights. As an Executive Coach today, she invites us all to identify our life’s through line and joy.

Original music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lynz Floren⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.