The Tech Leader's Playbook

The Tech Leader's Playbook

Welcome to The Tech Leader's Playbook, the essential podcast for tech executives and entrepreneurs eager to scale their businesses and innovate in a fast-paced industry. This is the perfect hub for C-Suite leaders, founders, CTOs, CPOs, and tech directors who are on a mission to build a high-impact team, develop innovative solutions, and lead their businesses to unprecedented growth. Tune in for cutting-edge insights, top-tier hiring strategies, and inspiring leadership principles to guide you on your tech leadership journey. The Tech Leader's Playbook, your blueprint for tech business success

Episodes

August 6, 2025 40 mins

In this episode of The Tech Leader's Playbook, Avetis Antaplyan sits down with Joel Benge, a strategist, author, and the mind behind "Message Therapy." With a rich and unconventional background that spans theater, video game testing, cybersecurity, and federal communications, Joel helps technical founders transform complex jargon into messaging that actually connects.


Joel unpacks the biggest reason messaging falls...

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In this episode of The Tech Leader's Playbook, Avetis Antaplyan sits down with the legendary NFL coach and Hall of Famer, Dick Vermeil—a Super Bowl champion, Rose Bowl champion, and one of the most respected leaders in football history. Known for orchestrating one of the greatest turnarounds in NFL history with the St. Louis Rams, Coach Vermeil shares the leadership principles that drove his career—from the gridiron to the vineyard...

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In this episode of The Tech Leader's Playbook, Avetis Antaplyan dives deep into the core leadership principle of extreme ownership. In this solo episode, Avetis, a seasoned entrepreneur and tech leader, delivers a powerful and unfiltered message on why every leader must take full responsibility for their culture, team performance, and company outcomes—regardless of external circumstances.


He breaks down how blame limits grow...

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In this episode of The Tech Leader's Playbook, Avetis Antaplyan sits down with Mark Donnigan, a seasoned virtual CMO and go-to-market strategist known for helping post-Series A tech companies scale with precision. With a background in video technology, streaming, and category design, Mark brings decades of practical insights to the table on what it takes to move beyond initial traction and build a sustainable growth engine.


...

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In this episode of The Tech Leader's Playbook, Avetis Antaplyan sits down with Russ Hawkins, a seasoned three-time CEO renowned for reviving and scaling struggling startups into profitable, exit-ready companies. With a background rooted in sales and a practical MBA earned through hands-on transformation work alongside McKinsey and AT&T, Russ shares his battle-tested playbook for turning chaos into clarity.


Together, they...

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In this episode of The Tech Leader's Playbook, Avetis Antaplyan welcomes Pete Steege, B2B growth strategist, founder of B2B Clarity, and author of the bestselling book Radical Clarity. With decades of experience across startups and Fortune 100 companies, Pete has carved out a unique niche: helping technical founders grow into confident, purposeful CEOs—no more accidental CEOs.


The conversation explores Pete’s unconventional journey ...

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In this episode of The Tech Leader's Playbook, we sit down with Michel Langlois, former Cisco and Juniper executive and author of Beyond the Code. From growing up on a chicken farm in rural Quebec to leading 6,000+ global engineers during the rise of the internet, Michel shares a masterclass on scaling tech organizations with heart and strategy.


Takeaways

  • It's not where you were born that dictate what you will become.

  • ...

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In this episode of The Tech Leader's Playbook, Avetis Antaplyan interviews Jon Staenberg, a three-time Stanford graduate and founder of Agate Hound Fund. They discuss John's unconventional journey through entrepreneurship and investing, starting from his early work experiences in Omaha to his ventures in Argentina's wine industry. The episode dives into the influence of Warren Buffett, the importance of storytelling in ...

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In this episode of The Tech Leader's Playbook, Avetis Antaplyan interviews Philip Merrick, a seasoned technologist and CEO of pgEdge. They discuss Merrick's journey in the tech industry, the evolution of leadership styles, the importance of building great teams, and the vision behind pgEdge. The conversation also covers the evolution of cloud computing, data security, and fostering a culture of innovation within teams. In t...

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In this episode of The Tech Leader's Playbook, Adam Coffey, a seasoned private equity expert, shares his insights on the dynamics of private equity and its impact on entrepreneurs. He discusses the importance of understanding private equity, the role of company culture, and the significance of choosing the right business model. Adam also reflects on his experiences with successful and less successful exits, emphasizing the infl...

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In this episode of The Tech Leader's Playbook, Avetis Antaplyan interviews Josh Dorfman, a serial climate entrepreneur, about his journey into sustainability and the founding of Planted, a company focused on creating sustainable materials. They discuss the challenges of commercializing innovative solutions, the importance of scaling climate tech, and the role of media in raising awareness about climate action through Supercool, a p...

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In this episode of The Tech Leader's Playbook, Avetis Antaplyan interviews Alfred Miranda, a seasoned CTO with extensive experience across various industries including cannabis, fashion, and technology. They discuss the importance of diverse industry experience, the challenges of adapting leadership styles, and the pitfalls of traditional industries in adopting technology. Alfred shares valuable insights from his time at MedMen, a ...

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In this episode of The Tech Leader's Playbook, Tammy Alvarez discusses the intrinsic link between business success and career fulfillment, emphasizing the need for individuals to align their personal ambitions with organizational goals. She highlights the broken nature of corporate systems that often overlook employee motivation and engagement, leading to a significant portion of the workforce feeling unfulfilled. Tammy shares ...

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In this episode of The Tech Leader's Playbook, Keren discusses the concepts of toxic ambition and workaholism, exploring how they manifest in leadership and personal life. She shares her journey to becoming a coach and author, emphasizing the importance of aligning personal choices with one's true self. The discussion dives into the 'gilded cage' of success, where achievements can lead to feelings of entrapment. Ker...

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In this episode of The Tech Leader's Playbook, Dr. David Yang shares his entrepreneurial journey, discussing the challenges and successes he faced while building multiple companies. He emphasizes the importance of understanding customer pain points and the three essential elements—referred to as the 'three magic crystals'—that contribute to startup success. The discussion also touches on the significance of market needs, the excite...

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In this compilation episode of the Tech Leaders Playbook, we bring you a powerhouse mix of insights from top minds exploring how AI is transforming marketing, personal branding, and precision healthcare. You'll hear expert insights on why emotional intelligence is the new edge in the age of automation, how personal connection and consistent content win over sterile AI-generated noise, and what it means to position your startup ...

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In this episode of The Tech Leader's Playbook, Avetis Antaplyan and Ashley Rudolph explore the intricacies of career growth, the importance of hard work, and the transition from execution to strategic thinking in leadership roles. They discuss the significance of managing generational expectations in the workplace, the lessons learned from scaling General Assembly, and the critical nature of hiring the right talent. The dialogu...

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In this episode of The Tech Leader's Playbook, Jenny Fielding shares her insights on entrepreneurship, venture capital, and the importance of resilience and grit in the startup world. She discusses her journey from being a founder to a venture capitalist, the lessons learned from her successes and failures, and the unique thesis of her fund, Everywhere Ventures. Fielding emphasizes the significance of timing in startups and the cha...

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In this episode of The Tech Leader's Playbook, Avetis Antaplyan speaks with Rohini Kasturi, CEO of HG Insights, about the transformative role of data intelligence in driving revenue growth and operational efficiency. They discuss the evolution of data usage in the context of AI, the importance of creating a growth playbook, and the need for precise intelligence in decision-making. Rohini shares insights on market dynamics, the impa...

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In this compilation episode of The Tech Leader's Playbook, top thought leaders share their insights on business growth, innovation, and marketing ROI. The discussion covers the power of mastermind groups in gaining industry-leading perspectives and the complexities of scaling B2B service businesses. Experts break down key strategies for success, including the importance of talent acquisition, a strong sales culture, and niche s...

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