The Cred Podcast
On every episode we will interview an authority across different industries who has deep industry knowledge and vast experience in the field. On this season of The Cred podcast, we will seek to understand the art and science of decision making.
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Sean Cunningham: Reaching Real People in a World Full of Bots
04/15/2026
Sean Cunningham: Reaching Real People in a World Full of Bots
What does it really take to hold an industry accountable? In this episode of The Cred Podcast, host Mack McKelvey sits down with Sean Cunningham, President and CEO of the Video Advertising Bureau (VAB), for a candid conversation about the state of premium video, the battle for measurement transparency, and why the future of advertising depends on getting back to real humans. From the inside story of how the VAB took on Nielsen during COVID to why 54% of internet traffic being non-human should terrify every marketer, Sean makes the case that the advertising industry has been far too tolerant of opacity, bad behavior, and metrics of illusion. The conversation covers the full spectrum of today's video landscape: why not all impressions are created equal, how direct-to-consumer brands have proven premium video is a full-funnel performance driver, and why the "death of linear" is a myth. Sean also gives a preview of what the VAB will be bringing to Possible in a few weeks.
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The Trust Knob: How AI Is Changing the Way Companies Make Decisions
04/09/2026
The Trust Knob: How AI Is Changing the Way Companies Make Decisions
What if the most important decision your company makes this year isn't made by a human at all? In this episode of The Cred Podcast, Mack McKelvey sits down with serial entrepreneur Brian Kathman, CEO of OpsCanvas, to unpack one of the most underexplored frontiers in AI: decision memory. Brian has been building companies since 1999 — from the world's first transactional online bank to mobile messaging long before the iPhone existed — and now he's tackling the question keeping enterprise leaders up at night: when do we trust AI to make the call? Brian introduces the concept of the "context graph" — the trillion-dollar missing layer that Foundation Capital calls the key to unlocking AI in production — and explains why 90% of enterprise AI initiatives are stuck in proof of concept. Spoiler: it's a trust problem, not a technology problem. They also dig into the "trust knob," the idea that handing decisions to AI isn't a binary switch but a dial, and that the smartest companies are figuring out how to turn it up gradually, without losing the humans along the way.
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Decisions Fail in the Gaps
04/01/2026
Decisions Fail in the Gaps
Decisions fail in the gaps, not the strategy. In this episode of The Cred Podcast, Denise Graziano (Founder and CEO of Graziano Associates) breaks down why smart teams still make costly decisions. It’s not a lack of data or intelligence. It’s misalignment, not thinking two steps ahead, or treating communication like an afterthought instead of a strategic tool. Denise has spent 30 years as a trusted advisor to CEOs, CFOs, and boards and she's watched the same pattern repeat itself: leadership teams who think they're aligned but aren't even defining the problem the same way. Meanwhile, speed driven by AI, investor pressure, and shrinking ROI runways pushes decisions forward before they're fully pressure-tested. And the fallout rarely looks like a bad strategy. It’s simply a gap nobody closed.
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First Check Calls Game
03/25/2026
First Check Calls Game
Most people think they’re not qualified to make investment decisions. Cheryl Kellond thinks that’s exactly the problem. A 3x founder, 3x Ironman, 4x mom, and CEO of PlayMoney, Cheryl is on a mission to open up early-stage investing to the people who actually understand the problems worth solving. In this episode, she challenges the outdated model of capital allocation and makes the case that the real barrier isn’t money, expertise, or access. It’s a system built for a world that no longer exists. At its core, this is a conversation about decision-making as a skill. Cheryl breaks down why small checks, consistent reps, and learning by doing matter more than waiting until you’re “ready.” She and Mack get into the math behind portfolio building, the reality that losses come before wins, and why the only thing that actually predicts success is how many decisions you make. If you’ve been sitting on the sidelines, consider this your push: first check calls game.
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Question the Question with Pam Scott & Di Tompkins
03/19/2026
Question the Question with Pam Scott & Di Tompkins
Feel stuck on a decision? Try interrogating the question. Pam Scott and Di Tompkins have been solving hard problems together for decades, and their first move is almost always to question whether someone is solving the right problem. As co-founders of The Curious Company, they bring outside perspective to mission-driven leaders who've hit a wall: a different color to paint with, a reframed question, and the kind of honest conversation most organizations aren't having internally. On this episode of The Cred Podcast, Mack sits down with two genuinely curious women who listen for a living, challenge with warmth, and have built a 26-year partnership by celebrating what makes them different. It's a conversation about creativity, decision-making, and what happens when you finally stop trying to answer the wrong question.
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Lana Kerr: Lead with Conviction, Execute with Consensus
03/11/2026
Lana Kerr: Lead with Conviction, Execute with Consensus
In this episode of The Cred Podcast, Lana Kerr joins Mack McKelvey for a candid conversation about decision-making as a founder, CEO, and leader. From trusting instinct in the early stages of growth to learning when to slow down and bring in more voices, Lana reflects on how her approach has evolved over time. She talks about the difference between making business decisions and people decisions, the importance of starting with the desired outcome, and why culture fit is just as important as credentials. The result is a thoughtful look at what it really means to lead: making the call, owning the consequences, and keeping the team moving with momentum in the same direction. As Lana puts it, leadership is often 80% psychology and 20% strategy because a team’s mindset and energy shape outcomes just as much as the plan itself.
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Making Decisions Like a Musician
02/19/2026
Making Decisions Like a Musician
Bill Shafton spent nine years as the legal backbone of Grindr, navigating a Chinese acquisition, a national security divestiture, and a Wall Street IPO. In this episode, he breaks down his philosophy on decision-making: how research sets the boundaries, but instinct drives the performance. Tune in to learn how Bill operates in the gray areas, making high-risk decisions with incomplete data, and why “technical correctness” doesn’t shield you from reputational fallout. If compliance is the baseline, trust is the real metric. He also shares why the legal function is less like a gatekeeper and more like an institutional liver (not glamorous, but essential to keeping the whole body running).
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Why Consensus Is the Wrong Signal With Steven Rosenblatt
02/03/2026
Why Consensus Is the Wrong Signal With Steven Rosenblatt
In this episode of The Cred Podcast, Mack talks with Steven Rosenblatt, co-founder and General Partner at Oceans, about how decisions really get made when you’re building companies, backing founders, and choosing what to stand behind before the outcome is obvious. Steven reflects on the early mobile days, helping Apple launch iAd, and his time at Foursquare, where survival meant rethinking the business entirely. Those experiences now shape how he invests at Oceans: why it’s all about the people, how he evaluates founders, and why consensus can be dangerous in venture investing. More than anything, Steven makes clear that early-stage decision-making is about backing people and committing to the call.
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Making Decisions in the Gray with Tess Michaels
01/29/2026
Making Decisions in the Gray with Tess Michaels
On this episode of The Cred Podcast, Tess Michaels, Founder and CEO of Clasp, joins Mack McKelvey to talk about making decisions while building a new category at the intersection of education, healthcare, and workforce retention, where there is no established playbook to follow. Tess breaks down how customer signals shape better decisions, why pattern recognition beats perfect data, and how learning when to say no is critical to scaling without distraction. Listen in on a sharp conversation on leadership, focus, and navigating the gray.
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Instinct, Ownership, and the Discipline of Decision-Making
01/21/2026
Instinct, Ownership, and the Discipline of Decision-Making
Rafat Ali doesn’t take notes. And he makes decisions on instinct. In this episode, the founder and CEO of Skift breaks down how he actually makes decisions as a global operator, committing to a choice, avoiding second-guessing, and never falling in love with a single option. He explains how visualization helps him pressure-test hires, products, and acquisitions, why early yellow flags almost always turn red, and the defining mistake early in his career when he sold his first company. Rafat looks for two signals when decisions are being made. First, is there a clear owner who will carry it forward once the conversation ends, or is it drifting in a sea of shared responsibility? When no one is clearly on the hook, progress slows and things slip. Second, he pays attention to how people handle details as a gauge for decision readiness. The people who think through implications and follow through are usually the ones prepared to make the call, not just weigh in. Tune in for a candid conversation about instinct, ownership, and what it really means to decide.
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The Power of Contextual Decision-Making with Lisa Pillette
01/14/2026
The Power of Contextual Decision-Making with Lisa Pillette
“I’ve probably seen more erroneous decision-making by over-reliance on data than by over-reliance on gut.” In this episode of The Cred Podcast, Mack McKelvey sits down with Lisa Pellette, a global CMO and transformation leader whose career spans Levi’s, Ralph Lauren, Lacoste, Casper, and Fossil Group, to talk about how data, context, and gut converge to inform decisions. Drawing on her background in psychology and decades of experience leading iconic brands and major transformations, Lisa unpacks the importance of defining a clear North Star, relying on contextual decision-making, and building your own team of decision-makers. Plus, learn how culture shapes whether mistakes are metabolized into momentum or friction.
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Sliding Doors Decisions with Sarah Pousho
01/07/2026
Sliding Doors Decisions with Sarah Pousho
What happens when a lifelong fascination with space collides with a 30-year career in building complex commercial deals? This week, Mack McKelvey sits down with Sarah Pousho, Co-Founder and CEO of Space Bridge Partners, to explore the unconventional decisions that shaped her career and how she now helps fund some of the most ambitious space missions in the world. Sarah traces her path from aspiring astronaut to consumer products executive, and ultimately back to the space sector, where she leads a new model for funding exploration, science, and education missions. The conversation dives into: Making high-stakes decisions when the buck truly stops with you Blending gut instinct with expert input and data How decades of deal-making prepared Sarah for the complexities of space missions The personal decisions that quietly set the course for an entire career This episode is a candid look at confidence earned over time, the power of non-linear paths, and the “Sliding Doors” decisions you make in your life. 00:00 Journey to Space Bridge Partners 07:54 Decision-Making in High-Stakes Environments 19:19 Navigating Outcomes and Learning from Mistakes 27:04 Future Plans for Space Bridge Partners
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Head, Heart, Wallet: Inside Marci Weisler’s Decision-Making Framework
12/10/2025
Head, Heart, Wallet: Inside Marci Weisler’s Decision-Making Framework
Marci Weisler didn’t build her career by following a script. She followed her curiosity. From analyst to mobile pioneer, from co-founding SWSI Media (which became Viacom’s Queen Boss) to leading a major line of business at T-Mobile and now advising companies as a managing director in investment banking — Marci has made a career out of stepping into what’s new before it’s obvious. In this episode, she talks with Mack about why she’s always chased the “bright, shiny” emerging ideas, how her Head, Heart, Wallet framework keeps her grounded when the stakes rise, and what she’s learned from the decisions that didn’t go as planned. She also shares how decision-making shifts when you move from a startup to a matrixed giant, and why the environment you’re in should shape how you choose. It’s a practical, candid look at how leaders refine their judgment and why curiosity, not certainty, is often the smarter compass. 00:00 Marci Weisler's Career Journey 08:24 Decision-Making Frameworks 15:45 Navigating Decision Outcomes 25:58 Hiring Challenges and Lessons Learned 34:03 Rapid Fire Insights
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Clear on the Outcome, Flexible on the Approach with Camille Preston, PhD
11/19/2025
Clear on the Outcome, Flexible on the Approach with Camille Preston, PhD
Camille Preston went to the beach to start writing her book… and it promptly snowed 13 inches for the first time in more than a decade. An abrupt reminder that conditions change fast, even when you think you know what’s coming. It’s the perfect setup for this conversation about how leaders actually make decisions today. A business psychologist and author of , Camille challenges the old markers of success and pushes leaders to understand themselves well enough to make decisions from the inside out. She talks about being “totally put together and a hot mess,” not as a contradiction but as an honest snapshot of what it feels like to lead on shifting ground. In this conversation with Mack, Camille shares the tools she uses with leaders every day: to get the right perspective, using so the head, heart, and body all inform the choice, and applying her to recognize when you're in comfort, growth, or approaching burnout. Across it all, she comes back to the idea that anchors her approach: be clear on the outcome, flexible on the approach. In a world flooded with data but starved for real clarity, Camille argues that the most valuable leadership skill is the ability to pause, shift perspective, and listen inward.
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Explaining Your Gut: The Missing Step in Decision-Making with Gladys Kong
11/12/2025
Explaining Your Gut: The Missing Step in Decision-Making with Gladys Kong
Some people talk about trusting their gut. Gladys Kong has learned how to explain hers. In this conversation, the CEO of Azira joins Mack to talk about how she makes tough decisions: when to lean on data, when to listen to her instincts, and how to translate that gut feeling into something her team can understand and act on. With the precision of an engineer and the perspective of a seasoned leader, Gladys shares how she brings logic and empathy to the table and why transparency builds stronger teams than perfection ever could. Gladys reminds us that leadership isn’t about having all the answers, it’s about creating space for others to speak up, learn, and grow with you.
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The Final Filter: Layering Intuition over Data and Debate with Danielle Lee
11/05/2025
The Final Filter: Layering Intuition over Data and Debate with Danielle Lee
From building AT&T’s first-party audience business to helping take Spotify public and reimagining the NBA’s fan experience during the height of the pandemic, Danielle Lee has made high-stakes calls across some of the world’s most visible brands. In this episode, she breaks down her decision-making framework: get crystal clear on goals, weight what matters most, pressure-test with trusted voices, and never let hype (or “golden handcuffs”) outrank integrity. The final layer? Intuition. Danielle explains how reading the intangibles (integrity, character, fit) sits on top of the data to tip pivotal choices. We also get inside the differences between enterprise caution and startup speed, how to coach teams to decide for themselves, and what to do when your values and the org diverge.
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How a Journalist’s Mindset Drives Better Decision-Making with Margaret Magnarelli
10/29/2025
How a Journalist’s Mindset Drives Better Decision-Making with Margaret Magnarelli
In this episode, Mack talks with Margaret Magnarelli, VP of Marketing and Communications at Baldor Specialty Foods, about how her roots in journalism shape the way she leads, makes decisions, and builds teams. Before leading marketing for one of the East Coast’s largest specialty food distributors, Margaret spent years as an editor at Seventeen, Good Housekeeping, and Money Magazine, a background that taught her to ask better questions, understand audiences deeply, and communicate with empathy. She and Mack dive into how those same skills translate into stronger leadership: knowing when to move fast or slow, balancing data with intuition, and helping her team make confident, customer-centric choices. It’s a conversation about curiosity, clarity, and what it really takes to make thoughtful decisions in a fast-moving business.
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Decision Intelligence for the C-Suite: Inside Snowfire AI with Greg Genung
10/22/2025
Decision Intelligence for the C-Suite: Inside Snowfire AI with Greg Genung
In this episode of The Cred Podcast, Mack McKelvey talks with Greg Genung, founder and CEO of Snowfire AI, about how AI is reshaping the way executives make decisions. After two decades in cybersecurity, Greg built Snowfire to solve one of leadership’s biggest pain points: turning overwhelming business data into clear, actionable intelligence. He shares how the platform personalizes insights, accelerates due diligence, and (most importantly) gives leaders their time back. They also explore what it means to make adaptive decisions in real time, how AI can transform boardroom dynamics, and why waiting on clean data is no longer an option. Along the way, Snowfire may be doing something even bigger: unintentionally breaking down silos across teams by aligning everyone around the same intelligence. The result? A clearer path to accountability, faster action, and smarter outcomes.
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Call the Shots. Own the Outcomes. A Founder’s Framework with Jon Reilly
04/17/2025
Call the Shots. Own the Outcomes. A Founder’s Framework with Jon Reilly
What does real ownership look like in leadership? In this episode, Mack McKelvey sits down with Jon Reilly, co-founder and CEO of Akkio, to explore the kind of decision-making that builds momentum. Jon breaks down his mental model for making decisions—from obvious 80/20 calls to murky 51/49s—and shares how speed, clarity, and accountability help his team move faster and smarter. He also discusses the importance of hiring people with a strong sense of ownership—those willing to make decisions, stand by them, and lean in to learn from their mistakes. We talk about: 💡 Why decision paralysis is the enemy of progress 🎯 Why prioritization is as critical as the decisions themselves 💥 What it means to bet on yourself—and stake your reputation on it 🛠️ Why “we can do better” isn’t just Jon’s mantra, it’s his leadership operating system Jon also shares why he doesn’t read business books and the power of building a board that challenges you to think bigger. This episode is a must-listen for anyone building, leading, or learning how to make decisions that matter.
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The Opportunity Lens of Decision-Making with Sheila Marmon
04/03/2025
The Opportunity Lens of Decision-Making with Sheila Marmon
This week, host Mack McKelvey sits down with Sheila Marmon, founder and CEO of Mirror Digital, to explore the art of decision-making, overcoming obstacles, and embracing transparency. Sheila reflects on the valuable lessons from her first venture, highlighting the importance of alignment, shared vision, and the power of listening to diverse voices when making decisions. At Mirror Digital, Sheila has built a tech-enabled media company that helps brands connect with diverse, trend-setting audiences. Her approach to decision-making is clear: “Decisions aren’t always easy, but you have to move when something is pressing. And if you make a bad decision, you pivot. Understanding the cost of not making the decision allows me to move forward with making decisions and trying new things.” For Sheila, decision-making is a practice, not a process. Her "test and learn" mentality fosters a culture of experimentation, growth, and continuous learning. By standardizing smaller decisions, she frees up mental space for bigger challenges, creating a democratic culture at Mirror Digital that stays in tune with the cultural zeitgeist. In a world that never stops changing, Sheila is always looking ahead, staying curious, and challenging herself and her team to never settle.
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The Ripple Effect of Leadership Decisions with Jason Kaplan
03/27/2025
The Ripple Effect of Leadership Decisions with Jason Kaplan
The Ripple Effect of Leadership Decisions with Jason Kaplan Every decision a leader makes sends ripples through a business, a team, and even a career. In this episode of The Cred Podcast, host Mack McKelvey sits down with Jason Kaplan, CEO of SixMap, to explore the complexities of decision-making in leadership. From navigating tough calls—like leaving a company—to understanding when to go slow and when to move fast, Jason shares insights from his journey as a founder and executive. In leadership, there are no easy answers—if it were easy, someone else would have already made the call.
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Bridging Academic Insight and Real-World Wisdom with Dr. Alvin Glay
03/13/2025
Bridging Academic Insight and Real-World Wisdom with Dr. Alvin Glay
In this episode, Dr. Alvin Glay, Chief Strategy Officer at Response Media, shares his approach to decision-making—blending data with contextual intelligence. Drawing from his experience as a Liberian refugee, Dr. Glay explains how navigating uncertainty and high-pressure situations sharpened his ability to make fast, high-stakes decisions. For Alvin, no decision is too small, every mistake is a data point for future decisions, and great leaders equip their teams with the tools to make confident decisions. 🎧 Tune in to learn: 🔹 Why data informs, but context drives decisions 🔹 The importance of teaching decision frameworks to avoid bottlenecks 🔹 The lessons behind a $250,000 mistake 🔹 Why moving fast doesn’t mean skipping the learning process Insightful, inspiring, and packed with academic insight and real-world wisdom.
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AI as an Ally: Minerva Tantoco on Keeping Humans in the Loop.
03/06/2025
AI as an Ally: Minerva Tantoco on Keeping Humans in the Loop.
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Breaking Down Decisions: From Gut Instincts to AI Insights with Dr. Aaron Andalman
02/20/2025
Breaking Down Decisions: From Gut Instincts to AI Insights with Dr. Aaron Andalman
In this episode of The Cred Podcast, Mack McKelvey sits down with Dr. Aaron Andalman, Chief Science Officer and co-founder of Cognitiv, to break down the science behind decision-making. With a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from M.I.T. and research experience as a Helen Hay Whitney Fellow at Stanford, where he developed advanced computational microscopy methods to study learning and memory, Aaron brings a unique perspective to the table. He covers: Balancing the rigor of academia with the fast-paced nature of tech The science behind gut instincts Key traits of top decision-makers AI’s role in making faster, smarter choices How free will (if it exists) factors into it all
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Credibly Irreverent: Terry Kawaja Unfiltered
12/12/2024
Credibly Irreverent: Terry Kawaja Unfiltered
In this episode of The Cred Podcast, Mack McKelvey sits down with Terry Kawaja, founder and CEO of Luma Partners and a leading voice in the ad tech industry Terry shares his nuanced approach to decision-making: moving quickly on small matters, while deliberately hitting the “pause button” on larger decisions. "I usually have a gut instinct right away,” he explains, “but I have a pause button now. I don't allow myself to make a big decision quickly. I sit on it, I sleep on it, think about it. Sometimes I'll bounce it off a few people I trust.” Known for his objective credibility, Terry also opens up about the bold decisions he's made in the past and how they’ve paid off. "I would rather ruffle some feathers and be right in the long run because people notice.” Plus, tune in at the end for Terry’s industry predictions for the year ahead!
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Gut Intuition, Diverse Perspectives, and the Midlife Chrysalis with Andrea Sullivan
12/05/2024
Gut Intuition, Diverse Perspectives, and the Midlife Chrysalis with Andrea Sullivan
In this episode of The Cred Podcast, host Mack McKelvey sits down with Andrea Sullivan, President of vYve, a leadership acceleration program within Vayner Media. Andrea dives into the challenges modern leaders face, from the impact of stress on decision-making to the importance of delegating decisions and balancing gut intuition with diverse perspectives. She also discusses the "Midlife Chrysalis" and the power of building a culture of kindness and inclusivity as a leader. Plus, tune in to discover how Andrea’s first job at a farmer’s market shaped the foundation of her marketing philosophy.
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Timing Your Decisions with Mickey Alam Khan
11/21/2024
Timing Your Decisions with Mickey Alam Khan
In this episode of The Cred Podcast, we’re joined by Mickey Alam Khan, CEO of Luxury Roundtable, global luxury expert, brand builder, and turnaround specialist. Renowned for his ability to anticipate and capitalize on market shifts, Mickey has founded influential publications like Luxury Daily, Mobile Marketer, and American Marketer, and successfully navigated four business exits—making decision-making his specialty. Mickey shares his approach to swift decision-making (24-48 hours max), why you can’t live with regret, and the few times a coin comes into play. “You make the decisions for the times you live in. You cannot second-guess yourself. Yes, you'll make bad decisions. I made a couple of bad decisions in my life and you know what? They brought me to where I am today.” You’ll also hear his unique take on the value of a college education, not as a qualification, but as a critical life experience that teaches social navigation, adaptability, and interpersonal skills—something that even the likes of Zuckerberg and Gates could have benefited from, in his view. Tune in for a fascinating conversation on the mindset that drives success, how to trust your instincts, and why timing is everything.
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The Future of Decision-Making with Kate O'Neill
11/07/2024
The Future of Decision-Making with Kate O'Neill
In this episode, we’re joined by “Tech Humanist” Kate O’Neill, a global keynote speaker, author, and executive advisor renowned for her expertise in helping leaders navigate the future of technology, transformation, and human-centered innovation. With over 25 years of experience, Kate shares insights on how executives can make smarter decisions in the age of AI, balancing the immediate need for digital adaptation with the long-term vision for meaningful, human-centric progress. She also discusses themes from her upcoming book, What Matters Next: A Leader's Guide to Making Human-Friendly Tech Decisions in a World That’s Moving Too Fast, offering tools to help leaders manage the pressure of rapid change while fostering responsible innovation that benefits both people and business. As a pioneer of Strategic Optimism, Kate empowers leaders to leverage technology—not just as a tool for efficiency but as a way to enrich human experience. In this conversation, we dive into the role of AI in executive decision-making, the importance of foresight, and the ethical considerations that must guide businesses through rapid technological change. Tune in to hear how you can rethink the way you’re thinking, innovate responsibly, and understand the longitudinal impacts of your decisions.
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The Role of Failure in Success with Gary Goldberg
10/31/2024
The Role of Failure in Success with Gary Goldberg
In this episode of The Cred Podcast, host Mack McKelvey sits down with Gary Goldberg, Founder and President of SquadLocker, Inc., to explore the complexities of leadership, decision-making, and the powerful role of failure in success. Drawing from his early experiences observing his father build a successful textile business, Gary shares valuable insights that shaped his approach to leadership and innovation. When it comes to decision-making, Gary stresses that everything should be wrapped in the company’s goals, cautioning that leaders often overlook the importance of communicating and truly contextualizing those goals for their teams. “Not only do we have to set goals and get people beating the drum to the mantra, but these people in their individual work style have to contextualize the mantra for their own passions.” In this candid conversation, Gary also opens up about the challenges and rewards of managing people: "The hardest thing about businesses is the people. The best thing about businesses is the people." He offers advice for aspiring leaders, encouraging them to embrace failure as a crucial part of the journey: "Take pleasure and triumph in your failures. Don’t fear them. The majority of my career has been a series of failures leading to an accomplishment. And I tell people I fail forward.” Tune in to discover how Gary leverages passion, curiosity, and creativity in every decision he makes.
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Bumpers, Bets, and Context: Paul Hanges’ Approach to Decision-Making
10/17/2024
Bumpers, Bets, and Context: Paul Hanges’ Approach to Decision-Making
Description: In this episode of The Cred Podcast, host Mack McKelvey chats about decision-making with Paul Hanges, CEO of JibJab, where the mission is to spread joy. Paul believes in empowering his team to make decisions by acting as the "bumper" in the bowling lane—guiding them while providing the context necessary for them to see the bigger picture. He explains, “I'm going to guide you to knock down the pins and make sure you're not veering off course, but I'm not here to do the work for you.” Rejecting hustle culture, Paul embraces hyper-prioritization, keeping his schedule as open as possible to support his team and maintain a healthy work-life balance. When it comes to navigating outcomes, Paul draws on his experience playing poker, saying you need to divorce yourself from the idea that the outcomes determine whether a decision was right. Instead, it’s all about embracing data (to a degree), core values, context, and risk tolerance. From managing an emotional piggyback to leading the fondly dubbed “cockroach of the internet,” Paul shares his professorial take on leadership and decision-making, both big and small.
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