Leaders in Motion - How Global Executives Reinvent Leadership in the Age of AI and Market Disruption

26. From Queens to Paris: Storytelling, Branding, and Cultural Humility in a World of AI Translation with Lory Martinez

“One Spanish listen…is equal to at least 10 listens because people listen with their friends.” Lory Martinez, Colombian-American brand strategist and founder of Maraviya in Paris, has spent the last two decades building multilingual story ecosystems—then translating that operating system into brand strategy for cross-border founders. Lory's journey runs from early radio journalism and engineering in upstate New York (at the moment audio first moved online) to a global communications pivot in France, to founding Studio Ochenta—an award-winning multilingual podcast company that scaled to 25+ languages and 100+ shows—before building Maravilla to help immigrant and first-generation founders tell the truth of their identity without losing themselves in the messaging. In this episode: * 𝗛𝘂𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝗰𝗹𝗲 — why cross-cultural teams require “I don’t know—teach me” as an operating stance * 𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝘃𝘀 𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗴𝗻𝘀 — why “just giving the files” fails, and how to bridge HQ/local misalignment * 𝗠𝗶𝗰𝗿𝗼-𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗺𝗺𝗶𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 — why “hyper-niche” groups can outperform mass targeting * 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘆 — how to decide who converts first, then tailor the same product to multiple audiences * 𝗔𝗜 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗜𝗥𝗟 — why translation tech can help, but human-to-human experience is what people buy * 𝗢𝘂𝘁𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀 — leadership lessons from remote production, and what “giving time back” changes inside teams If you lead across borders—or you’re building a brand that has to feel authentic in more than one culture—this conversation will sharpen how you think about language, audience, and the human side of strategy. 🎧 Subscribe now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your executive inspiration and learn how global leaders think ahead, move faster, and lead smarter. Subscribe to our newsletter [https://www.lyc-partners.ai/]to get access to exclusive insights and all the details about our Leadership Insights. If the topics discussed resonate with your own leadership challenges or the conversations happening in your organization - assessing international leaders, aligning global and local teams, building capabilities across regions. You can reach us at LYC Partners [http://www.lyc-partners.ai/contact-us] to set up a consultation. Produced by Bonjour Podcast [https://www.bonjourpodcast.com/] (Melanie Hong), Leaders in Motion blends storytelling, strategy, and data-driven insight, giving today’s leaders a roadmap to anticipate tomorrow’s challenges and lead with intention. To Contact Lory: * Her Substack [https://substack.com/@lorymartinez] * Her Website [https://www.lorymartinez.com/maraviya]   * Her Linkedin [https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorymartinez/] Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy [https://ausha.co/privacy-policy] for more information.

25. From Naval Officer to AI Architect: CEO-Led Transformation, and Hiring for the Vibe-Code Era with Ian Hogg

"We could see the SaaS apocalypse coming five years before it came." Ian Hogg is Chairman of SolvedBy.ai [http://SolvedBy.ai] and ShopWorks. He partners with SaaS leadership teams to embed practical, vertical AI engines into their products — not generic copilots, but AI built for specific operational contexts like workforce scheduling, demand forecasting, and labour efficiency. For any executive navigating software vendor decisions in an AI-first world, Ian offers one of the sharpest ground-level frameworks available. In this episode: * 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗮𝗮𝗦 𝗔𝗽𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹𝘆𝗽𝘀𝗲 𝗙𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 — Three buckets: simple SaaS already dead, complex SaaS racing to re-engineer, and AI-first SaaS coming for both * 𝗥𝗲𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝟱𝟬,𝟬𝟬𝟬 𝗙𝗲𝗲𝘁 — What AI-first re-engineering actually looks like inside a running SaaS business, bolt by bolt * 𝗖𝗘𝗢-𝗟𝗲𝗱 𝗔𝗜 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 — Why a CEO who rebuilt the company website over a weekend using Claude Code changed the culture of a 100-person business faster than any strategy deck * 𝗠𝗶𝗱𝗱𝗹𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 — Why "cautious and conservative" is now an organizational liability — and how top-down AI leadership breaks through it * 𝗛𝗶𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗩𝗶𝗯𝗲-𝗖𝗼𝗱𝗲 𝗘𝗿𝗮 — The application-build test every new hire at SolvedBy.ai [http://SolvedBy.ai] must pass — including marketing * 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗖𝗘𝗢𝘀 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗗𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗦𝗮𝗮𝗦 𝗩𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗿𝘀 — Red flags, QBR questions, and what a real AI roadmap from your supplier should look like right now * 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵-𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘂𝗲-𝗣𝗲𝗿-𝗘𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆𝗲𝗲 𝗠𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗹 — Running a 19-person global operation and why humans still need to get on a plane to Denmark * 𝗛𝗮𝘀 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗖-𝗦𝘂𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗩𝗶𝗯𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽? — The one board-level question that separates companies that will survive from those that won't For CEOs, board members, and transformation leaders navigating software vendor decisions and internal AI adoption — this episode gives you the framework and the diagnostic questions to act before the apocalypse reaches your stack. --- 🎧 Subscribe now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your executive inspiration and learn how global leaders think ahead, move faster, and lead smarter. Subscribe to our newsletter [https://lyc-partners.us22.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=a6ba34d5d9e108df4fae223c8&id=a0961ca045]to get access to exclusive insights and all the details about the Leaders in Motion Academy, our executive program. If the topics discussed resonate with your own leadership challenges or the conversations happening in your organization - assessing international leaders, aligning global and local teams, building capabilities across regions. You can reach us at LYC Partners [http://www.lyc-partners.ai/contact-us] to set up a consultation. -- Produced by Bonjour Podcast [https://www.bonjourpodcast.com/] (Melanie Hong), Leaders in Motion blends storytelling, strategy, and data-driven insight, giving today’s leaders a roadmap to anticipate tomorrow’s challenges and lead with intention. Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy [https://ausha.co/privacy-policy] for more information.

24. Fixing Your Sales System: ICP Execution Gaps, Qualification Discipline, and Revenue Coaching with Romka Walkowiak

"The truth is that if the sales system that supports go-to-market is broken, the go-to-market strategy is not going to work." Romka, Managing Director of GrowWise Solutions, she helps founders and CEOs architect their revenue engines for maximum year-over-year growth. Based in Singapore, Romka works across SME, mid-market, and enterprise organizations — and consistently sees the same blind spot at every level. As head of GrowWise Solutions, Romka has built a practice around diagnosing and rebuilding sales execution systems — moving organizations from spray-and-pray selling to structured, evidence-based revenue growth. The work spans ICP operationalization, pipeline discipline, CRM visibility, and frontline coaching. In this episode: * 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗧𝗠 𝗠𝘆𝘁𝗵 — Why most revenue problems are execution failures, not strategy failures * 𝗜𝗖𝗣 𝗘𝘅𝗲𝗰𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗚𝗮𝗽𝘀 — The difference between having an ICP on paper and operationalizing it in the field * 𝗠𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗶-𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 — Why targeting one contact per account is a red flag (average buying decisions involve 9 people) * 𝗤𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 — Qualifying deals out is as important as qualifying them in * 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘃𝘀 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 — How ICP clarity eliminates discount-driven conversations * 𝗖𝗥𝗠 & 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝗩𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 — Using hard data to find winning patterns instead of relying on gut * 𝗖𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 & 𝗥𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 — Why "what gets inspected gets respected" defines frontline behavior * 𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗼𝗺 𝗼𝗳 𝗮 𝗙𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 — Why structure and creativity are not mutually exclusive in sales Essential listening for founders, CEOs, CROs, and sales leaders who suspect their revenue engine needs more than a strategy refresh — and want a practical system to fix it. --- 🎧 Subscribe now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your executive inspiration and learn how global leaders think ahead, move faster, and lead smarter. Subscribe to our newsletter [https://lyc-partners.us22.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=a6ba34d5d9e108df4fae223c8&id=a0961ca045]to get access to exclusive insights and all the details about the Leaders in Motion Academy, our executive program. If the topics discussed resonate with your own leadership challenges or the conversations happening in your organization - assessing international leaders, aligning global and local teams, building capabilities across regions. You can reach us at LYC Partners [http://www.lyc-partners.ai/contact-us] to set up a consultation. -- Produced by Bonjour Podcast [https://www.bonjourpodcast.com/] (Melanie Hong), Leaders in Motion blends storytelling, strategy, and data-driven insight, giving today’s leaders a roadmap to anticipate tomorrow’s challenges and lead with intention. Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy [https://ausha.co/privacy-policy] for more information.

23. From Dubai to Shanghai: Leading Through Volatility with Sonia Benjelloun Carpentier

“You cannot know China until you live in China.” Sonia Benjelloun-Carpentier, Managing Director of Piaget China, has spent two decades across hard luxury—from Tag Heuer to De Beers, Cartier, Bulgari, and now Piaget—leading brands through complex markets where culture, consumer psychology, and timing decide everything. Sonia’s career arc is a study in mobility and reinvention: born and raised in Morocco, trained in Paris, early marketing foundation at L’Oréal, then a jump into watchmaking and jewelry in Dubai. From there she built retail and high-jewelry depth in London and Paris, returned to the Middle East to lead marketing and communications, then stepped into full P&L leadership—first as Managing Director for Middle East, India and Africa, and since 2022 as MD for mainland China, arriving at the height of uncertainty. In this episode: * 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗺𝗼𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 — why moving early builds cultural agility that compounds for life * 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝗻-𝘀𝗮𝗶𝗱 — leading in markets where meaning sits between the lines * 𝗙𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 vs 𝗨𝗞 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗷𝗼𝗹𝘁 — how “close” markets can still work very differently * 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗠𝗗 — the left-brain / right-brain shift, and the non‑negotiable link between brand and sales * 𝗡𝗲𝗴𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗮 — why the deal often closes after the meeting, not in it * 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗺𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗰𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗲𝘀 — COVID, reopening whiplash, real estate shock, and confidence cycles * 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗹𝘂𝘅𝘂𝗿𝘆 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲 — Gen X, Millennials, Gen Z, and how one brand speaks to all * 𝗪𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 — what surprised her about China, and what “having women at the table” looks like in practice If you lead a business across borders—or you’re trying to translate a market’s real dynamics back to headquarters—this conversation is a practical guide to operating with humility, speed, and clarity. --- 🎧 Subscribe now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your executive inspiration and learn how global leaders think ahead, move faster, and lead smarter. Subscribe to our newsletter [https://lyc-partners.us22.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=a6ba34d5d9e108df4fae223c8&id=a0961ca045]to get access to exclusive insights and all the details about the Leaders in Motion Academy, our executive program. If the topics discussed resonate with your own leadership challenges or the conversations happening in your organization - assessing international leaders, aligning global and local teams, building capabilities across regions. You can reach us at LYC Partners [http://www.lyc-partners.ai/contact-us] to set up a consultation. -- Produced by Bonjour Podcast [https://www.bonjourpodcast.com/] (Melanie Hong), Leaders in Motion blends storytelling, strategy, and data-driven insight, giving today’s leaders a roadmap to anticipate tomorrow’s challenges and lead with intention. Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy [https://ausha.co/privacy-policy] for more information.

22. From Dot-Com Disruption to AI Utility: Cybersecurity Shifts, Rural TB Screening, and The Happiness Index with Karthik Tirupathi

“AI will become like internet. Everyone in every business will have to use AI just like the way we use electricity or we use water. It will become a utility.” Karthik Tirupathi, CEO and senior board executive in Healthcare IT, shares an operator’s view on how leaders can navigate disruption across markets and technology cycles. Karthik’s journey runs from early enterprise tech (including SAP and HP) to a decade as an entrepreneur building an education business preparing IT talent for Japan, to leading a healthcare software platform company through cybersecurity shocks and the early AI wave. Today, he works in board and advisory roles tied to AI-driven public health initiatives, with a focus on last-mile access. In this episode: * 𝗔𝗜 𝗔𝘀 𝗔 𝗨𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 — Why Karthik believes the hype and fear cycles eventually normalize into operational necessity. * 𝗗𝗼𝘁-𝗖𝗼𝗺 𝗟𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗻𝘀 — How the internet boom separated “PowerPoint + homepage” businesses from real value creation. * 𝗖𝘆𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟬𝗫 — How post-COVID threat surfaces reshaped product and enterprise security expectations. * 𝗪𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗩𝘀 𝗟𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘀 — Why leaders must keep “eyes on the horizon” and build ongoing evaluation capability. * 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗕𝗶𝗮𝘀 — How data access disadvantages smaller countries and parts of the global south in AI adoption. * 𝗟𝗮𝘀𝘁-𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝗗𝗶𝗮𝗴𝗻𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀 — Portable X-ray + cloud + AI workflows that bring respiratory screening to rural communities. * 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗲𝘅 — A talent-first system that reduced leadership attrition and strengthened internal promotion. * 𝗨𝗽𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗡𝗲𝘅𝘁-𝗚𝗲𝗻 — Why breadth and soft skills now differentiate early-career talent. This episode is for cross-border leaders, APAC executives, and board-level operators who want an on-the-ground view of how tech disruption reshapes decision rights, talent strategy, and healthcare access. --- 🎧 Subscribe now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your executive inspiration and learn how global leaders think ahead, move faster, and lead smarter. Subscribe to our newsletter [https://lyc-partners.us22.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=a6ba34d5d9e108df4fae223c8&id=a0961ca045]to get access to exclusive insights and all the details about the Leaders in Motion Academy, our executive program. If the topics discussed resonate with your own leadership challenges or the conversations happening in your organization - assessing international leaders, aligning global and local teams, building capabilities across regions. You can reach us at LYC Partners [http://www.lyc-partners.ai/contact-us] to set up a consultation. -- Produced by Bonjour Podcast [https://www.bonjourpodcast.com/] (Melanie Hong), Leaders in Motion blends storytelling, strategy, and data-driven insight, giving today’s leaders a roadmap to anticipate tomorrow’s challenges and lead with intention. Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy [https://ausha.co/privacy-policy] for more information.