In this wrap-up episode, Jeff Lakusta and Nadia Carta look back on the three-year experiment that became 99 conversations exploring the human side of leadership. They revisit the early days when fewer than ten people were listening, the joy of celebrating tiny signs of growth, and the deeper lessons that made the project sustainable. Along the way, they trace the themes that surfaced again and again: leadership grounded in values, the unexpected loyalty that follows honest accountability, and...

Leadership isn’t just the strategy you announce—it’s the story people can believe long enough to live. In this conversation, Gavin McMahon, CEO of Fassforward and author of Story Business, traces his path from mechanical engineer to transformation guide, and reframes change as a human act before it’s a corporate one. What began as faith in logic, meritocracy, and clean answers evolved into something messier and more powerful: the recognition that organizations move when people’s inner narrat...

Leadership isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about learning how to stay steady when none seem to exist. In this conversation, Gila Wilensky, Chief Solutions Officer at WPP Media, shares what it means to lead with curiosity, composure, and a sense of humor in an industry that never stops reinventing itself. From her first lesson—“be a duck”—to her later discovery that tension and change can be creative forces, Gila reveals how she balances decisiveness with empathy and innovation with im...

Behind every impressive career journey lies a set of values that quietly steer the course. In this episode, Aysun Demircan reflects on how core values evolve over time, why debating both sides of an argument taught her empathy, and how she navigates the tension between chasing growth and staying rooted with people she loves to work with. She opens up about building a decision-making framework that balances intuition with analytical rigor, the role of mentors and “kitchen cabinets” in career ...

Leadership's truest test lies in how we treat our peers, own our mistakes, and invite others to run alongside us. From his early days in the U.S. Air Force to his role as a marketing executive at State Farm and pro bono advisor to the National VFW, Sean has spent his career building cultures where curiosity beats criticism, where failure fuels growth, and where meaning matters more than momentary happiness. In this episode, Sean shares why “done beats perfect” is more than a mantra—it’s a m...

While technology rewrites the rules of work, creativity, and truth itself, hold fast to what makes us human by embracing uncertainty and showing vulnerability. From PepsiCo to Visa to the boardroom of a Fortune 200 company, Shiv Singh has spent his career navigating moments of massive transformation. In this episode, he shares why AI is not just another technological shift but a force as profound as the discovery of fire—and why the future of leadership will demand more humanity, not less. ...

What does it take to lead yourself—before you can lead anyone else? You start by knowing yourself, being yourself, and showing up as yourself. From scaling startups to stepping away for a “blank canvas” sabbatical, Nish Patel has spent his career reimagining what leadership can look like in an age of rapid change. In this episode, he shares how living with a rare neurological condition became his greatest teacher—shaping his perspective on resilience, perspective, and the human side of innov...

What does it take to lead with courage—when you’re the only one in the room who looks or sounds like you? You advocate for yourself, open the door for others, and build the future one brick at a time. From growing up in a 300-square-foot apartment in India to becoming a global tech executive, Vidya More has built a remarkable career at the forefront of AI and innovation. In this episode, she shares the winding journey that took her from soldering broken radios to leading data and AI strategy...

How do you lead in crisis when every protocol breaks down? You listen, adapt—and bring the volleyballs. From night landings in sandstorms to leading sailors mid-pandemic, Navy pilot (and Jeff's personal hero/brother!) Patrick Lakusta shares the messy, human side of leadership in high-stakes environments. In this episode, Patrick opens up about taking command of a Joint Strike Fighter Squadron, the emotional complexity of military transitions, and the unexpected ways transparency and humor su...

How do you lead with humanity in the face of uncertainty? You ask for what you need. From door-to-door sales in Texas to leading national teams in the luxury skincare space, Alessia Todde’s leadership journey is one of grit, transformation, and heart. But behind her impressive résumé lies a deeper story—one of learning from management mistakes (like all of us!), navigating the chaos of working motherhood, and most recently, facing a breast cancer diagnosis with courage and clarity. In this e...