Leadership BITES

Mike Grossman shares his journey of running early stage technology companies in Silicon Valley, reflecting on the challenges, successes, and the importance of people in business. He emphasizes the need for emotional intelligence and understanding the context of business, particularly in relation to people and financial aspects. Mike also discusses the significance of having the right people in the right places and the challenges of managing and dealing with people as a company grows. The conversation covers topics related to leadership, team dynamics, hiring, company culture, and the impact of technology on business. It also delves into the importance of radical honesty, mental health, and managing expectations in a business environment. The conversation delves into the roller coaster ride of business environments, the importance of emotional resilience, and the challenges faced by entrepreneurs. It also explores the motivation behind writing a book and the evolving nature of decision-making in the tech industry. Takeaways Silicon Valley CEO Mike Grossman shares insights on running early stage technology companies The importance of people and financial context in business Challenges and successes of managing and dealing with people as a company grows Trust and role modeling are essential for fostering effective communication and team dynamics. The focus on input rather than outcome, radical honesty, and managing mental health are crucial for navigating the challenges of running a business. Emotional resilience is crucial in navigating the ups and downs of business environments. The decision-making criteria in the tech industry is evolving, and the pace of change is accelerating. Chapters 00:00 The Journey of Running Early Stage Technology Companies 03:10 The Role of People in Business 08:42 Managing and Dealing with People as a Company Grows 17:08 Fostering Effective Communication and Team Dynamics 18:07 Challenges of Hiring and Company Culture 18:32 Adapting to Small vs. Large Organizations 20:26 Managing Expectations and Radical Honesty 21:12 Defining Success and Societal Expectations 22:05 Navigating Business Pressures and Mental Health 23:00 Focus on Input and Managing Expectations 24:31 Navigating Business Challenges and Results 25:19 Maintaining Equilibrium and Managing Expectations 32:06 Impact of Technology on Business 35:34 Navigating the Roller Coaster 36:46 Emotional Resilience and Professionalism 37:16 Mental Health and Decision-Making 40:07 Motivation for Writing a Book 50:54 Evolving Decision-Making in Tech

Psychometric assessments can provide significant insight, but they should never be mistaken for a definitive answer. In this episode of Leadership Bites, I speak with occupational psychologist Peter Rhodes about what psychometric assessments can genuinely tell us, where their limitations sit and why every result needs to be explored, tested and corroborated. We discuss personality, resilience, conscientiousness, ambition, emotional intelligence and the handling of anxiety. We also consider what these characteristics might mean when recruiting senior leaders, assessing potential or building an effective leadership team. Peter shares examples from his work with pilots, chief executives, public authorities and senior appointments, including what happens when ambition is not matched by conscientiousness and why somebody can be socially capable without being emotionally attached. The profile creates the evidence and the questions. The real value comes from the quality of the conversation that follows. To find out more about Guy Bloom and his award winning work in Team Coaching, Leadership Development and Executive Coaching click below. The link to everything CLICK HERE UK: 07827 953814 Email: [email protected] Web: www.livingbrave.com

Marc Jantzen, Founder of The Consultancy Growth Network, joins Guy Bloom to explore what it really takes to build, grow and lead a successful consultancy. Marc reflects on selling Blue Sky, taking time away from work and eventually returning to build something new in The Consultancy Growth Network. He shares how he tested his proposition, launched with only six members and adapted the business when lockdown made its original model impossible. The conversation explores the value of mentors, the importance of testing ideas with the market and why consultancy leaders need people around them who understand the journey. Guy and Marc also discuss the impact of AI on consulting, the move from charging for time to pricing around value and the changing shape of consultancy firms as technology replaces more junior analytical work. They close with an honest discussion about leadership, motivation, transparency, vulnerability and why being a decent human being matters, but is not always enough. There are moments when leaders must step forward, create belief and have the conversations others may prefer to avoid. To find out more about Guy Bloom and his award winning work in Team Coaching, Leadership Development and Executive Coaching click below. The link to everything CLICK HERE UK: 07827 953814 Email: [email protected] Web: www.livingbrave.com

In this episode of Leadership Bites, Guy Bloom speaks with Sharath Jeevan OBE, legacy expert, Oxford lecturer, author of Inflection: A Roadmap for Leaders at a Crossroads, and founder of the Generational Success Lab at Saïd Business School. Sharath describes legacy not as something leaders think about at the end of their career, but as the mark they are choosing to leave right now. The conversation explores why legacy matters in a world of uncertainty, AI, pressure, private equity, short term targets and constant organisational change. Guy and Sharath challenge the idea that leadership is just task, output and performance management. They discuss why leaders need to think more deeply about meaning, contribution, significance and the experience they create for others. Sharath shares how his own background, from being an Indian immigrant to becoming a social entrepreneur, adviser, author and OBE, shaped his thinking on preservation, reinvention and impact. He also explains why legacy is not only for CEOs or people nearing retirement, but for anyone who wants their work to matter. This conversation looks at legacy through the lens of individuals, teams and organisations. It asks how leaders can build institutions, develop people, create ideas and shape cultures that continue beyond them. A key theme is that legacy is not a soft idea. It is a strategic lens. It helps leaders stay grounded, make better decisions, hold long term intent alongside short term pressure, and create work that has meaning beyond the immediate task. If you are leading a team, shaping a business, working through an inflection point, or asking what your leadership is really leaving behind, this episode will give you plenty to think about. To find out more about Guy Bloom and his award winning work in Team Coaching, Leadership Development and Executive Coaching click below. The link to everything CLICK HERE UK: 07827 953814 Email: [email protected] Web: www.livingbrave.com

In this episode, Guy Bloom sits down with long time colleague Jamie MacPherson for a conversation grounded in real leadership experience. This is not theory. It is what leadership looks like in practice when expectations are high, pressure is real, and people are watching. Together, they explore: The gap between knowing and doing in leadership What shows up under pressure The behaviours that build trust and the ones that quietly erode it The reality of leading peers, not just teams Why experience does not always equal effectiveness This is a conversation shaped by years of working in and around leadership, not observing it from a distance. If you are serious about your impact as a leader, there is something in here for you. 00:00 Introduction to Leadership Dynamics 01:03 Defining Leadership: What Does It Mean? 04:11 The Spectrum of Leadership: Big L vs. Small L 10:02 Contextual Leadership: When Position Doesn't Matter 14:02 The Role of Followership in Leadership 19:48 The Essence of Being a Leader 29:47 Conclusion: When Does Leadership Truly Start? To find out more about Guy Bloom and his award winning work in Team Coaching, Leadership Development and Executive Coaching click below. The link to everything CLICK HERE UK: 07827 953814 Email: [email protected] Web: www.livingbrave.com