Smidgen of Proof

Christopher Donaleski
  • 5.0 (2)
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It is said that the average person makes 35,000 decisions each day. Each decision, whether conscious or unconscious, is based on what we know and what we believe to be right. Join us as we explore how technology shapes our decisions and how we, in turn, influence the tech around us. We’ll dive into the impact of tech on daily life, our interactions, and how we navigate a rapidly changing world. From business insights to life’s big questions, we’ll uncover new perspectives and stories to better understand the evolving relationship between people, technology, and each other.

  1. 6H AGO

    Ep. 33 - AI Deep Dive: You Can’t Save Your Way to 10X — Why Value Creation Is the Real ROI

    AI Deep Dive: You Can’t Save Your Way to 10X — Why Value Creation Is the Real ROI Welcome to another AI-powered deep dive—where we take our most impactful articles and translate them into short, insight-dense audio sessions for your walk, drive, or workday. Today’s episode breaks down a truth most leaders feel but rarely say out loud: You can’t cut your way to 10X. Skipping Starbucks won’t scale your business, and tightening budgets without creating new value only slows momentum. Cost discipline keeps the lights on. Value creation turns the lights into a lighthouse. In this episode, you’ll explore: Why reducing waste is necessary but never enough The mindset shift that separates “Quarter Savers” from “Value Builders” How AI becomes a tool for creating new demand, not just efficiency The simple question winning leaders ask: “What will customers gladly pay for because it saves time, adds certainty, or makes work easier?” If you’re ready to rethink growth, this one’s for you. Cost is fuel.Value is the destination.Growth is the engine. Let’s get into the deep dive.

    18 min

  2. 2D AGO

    Ep. 32 - Building the Golden Bridge: Leading Change When You’re Not in Charge with Guest Michelle Pauk

    In this episode of The Validated Mind, Christopher Donaleski sits down with Michelle Pauk, executive coach, facilitator, and author of Build a Golden Bridge: How to Lead Change When You’re Not in Charge. Michelle brings over 20 years of experience in global organizations, high-growth startups, and nonprofits. Together, we unpack what it really takes to lead change with confidence and humanity, especially when authority isn’t on your side. We discuss: How to create trust and alignment during complex transformations The role of emotional intelligence in influence and follow-through Why the most powerful change often starts from the middle How to bridge data, emotion, and strategy without losing yourself in the process This is an episode for every leader navigating uncertainty—where clarity, not control, becomes the real advantage. 🎧 Listen now on Smidgen of Proof—where we explore how decisions actually get made.

    56 min

  3. OCT 28

    Ep. 31 - Forecasting the Human Side of Change with Guest Erica Wexler

    What if the biggest barriers to change aren’t what we can see — but what we can’t? In this episode, Christopher Donaleski sits down with Erica Wexler, Change Architect and Founder of Transformational Guidance, to explore what she calls “the alchemy of the invisible.” Together, they unpack how the validation of our thinking patterns shapes culture, readiness, and the way leaders guide transformation. Erica shares insights from her work across insurance, manufacturing, healthcare, and higher education — showing how neuroscience, systems thinking, and leadership all intersect when companies face AI disruption, organizational fatigue, and the pressure to adapt faster than ever.

    58 min

  4. OCT 14

    Ep. 30 - Trust Before Tech: The Real Playbook for Customer Experience with Guest Camila Ferreira

    In this season’s first episode of Smidgen of Proof, host Christopher Donaleski sits down with Camila Ferreira, a global customer experience leader who’s lived in six countries, led international teams, and ran Uber Eats operations during the pandemic. Together, they explore what it really means to “serve first” in business—how speaking your client’s language builds trust, why finance and CX are two sides of the same coin, and how data and empathy must coexist for real leadership to emerge. Camila shares powerful stories from her career, from transitioning out of finance to leading CX transformations at scale, and reveals why most companies never make it across the bridge between what they say and what customers actually feel. This conversation dives deep into courage, leadership, and decision-making with only a smidgen of proof. Key themes: Seeing the world through your customer’s eyes The bridge between finance and customer experience How fear and courage shape leadership decisions Why authentic connection can’t be automated—even by AI Building trust before technology

    56 min

  5. AUG 12

    Ep. 29 - The Bias of Action: Why Doing Something Isn’t Always Progress

    This episode explores a behavior that often looks like leadership but quietly undermines it, the compulsion to act without clarity. Host Christopher Donaleski opens with the story of JFK’s early misstep at the Bay of Pigs to reveal how urgency, pressure, and fear can drive poor decisions disguised as decisive action. From boardrooms to battlefields, we explore how the bias for action manifests, why stillness can feel risky, and how the best leaders learn to pause before taking action. If you’ve ever felt the pressure to “just do something,” this episode offers the perspective and the questions you need to lead with intention, not reaction.

    7 min

  6. AUG 5

    Ep. 28 - The Sunk Cost Trap (And Why You Stay Too Long)

    Episode 7: The Sunk Cost Trap (And Why You Stay Too Long) explores the powerful pull to keep going simply because you've already come so far. Host Christopher Donaleski opens with a personal story from a family hike at Enchanted Rock, setting the stage for a deeper exploration of why letting go can feel like failure, even when it’s the most sensible move. From the boardroom to war rooms, we examine real-world examples, such as the Vietnam War and BlackBerry’s fall from relevance, to illustrate how sunk costs can distort our judgment. You'll learn why we stay in jobs, projects, or relationships past their prime, and how to spot the signs when you're stuck. If you’ve ever wrestled with whether to keep going or call it, this episode gives you the questions and the permission to pivot with purpose.

    7 min

  7. JUL 29

    Ep. 27 - How Emotion Fuels (Not Fights) Rational Decisions

    In this episode, Christopher Donaleski unpacks one of the most persistent myths in business and leadership: the belief that emotion and logic are at odds. Drawing on the research of neurologist Antonio Damasio, he reveals that emotion isn’t a distraction from rational thinking—it’s a necessary part of it. From gut feelings to executive decision-making, you'll hear how emotion helps guide focus, create meaning, and drive action in ways data alone cannot. If you’ve ever been told to “leave emotion out of it,” this conversation will challenge that idea and show how the best leaders use emotion as a source of clarity and insight.

    5 min

  8. JUL 15

    Ep. 26 - Decision Fatigue

    You don’t run out of time. You run out of clarity.In this episode of Smidgen of Proof, Christopher Donaleski unpacks decision fatigue, what it is, how it quietly erodes your judgment, and why even leaders like Jeff Bezos build their schedules around protecting mental energy.You'll learn how to recognize the signs, guard your best thinking, and design smarter systems that help you protect your most valuable decisions, before your brain hits empty.

    9 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

It is said that the average person makes 35,000 decisions each day. Each decision, whether conscious or unconscious, is based on what we know and what we believe to be right. Join us as we explore how technology shapes our decisions and how we, in turn, influence the tech around us. We’ll dive into the impact of tech on daily life, our interactions, and how we navigate a rapidly changing world. From business insights to life’s big questions, we’ll uncover new perspectives and stories to better understand the evolving relationship between people, technology, and each other.

Information

  • Creator
    Christopher Donaleski
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2025
  • Episodes
    33
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Christopher Donaleski
  • Show Website
    Smidgen of Proof