The First CRO Hire: Why Most Founders Get It Wrong | Ryan Spillane on Building Elite Revenue Teams

The First CRO Hire: Why Most Founders Get It Wrong | Ryan Spillane on Building Elite Revenue Teams

Ryan Spillane, former Chief Commercial Officer at Techstars and one of the early leaders behind HubSpot's enterprise sales motion, shares why the first CRO hire is one of the most important decisions a founder will make. We explore the commercial archetypes that fit each stage of growth, the common mistakes founders make as they transition from selling themselves to building a sales organization, and how AI is reshaping product feedback loops, forcing startups to balance pattern recognition with the speed of modern product development.

We Win by Being Human: Paul Hamilton & Dr. Tatijana Busic on Fear, AI, and the Case for People

In this episode, Imran & Nick sit down with Paul Hamilton — KPMG Canada's Director of National Talent Attraction Strategy who spent over two decades in HR at Microsoft, LCBO, and KPMG — and Dr. Tatijana Busic — a clinical and organizational psychologist who co-created "The Inner Edge" leadership program — for a conversation about why 93% of organizations have adopted AI but are seeing almost no return. Using a treadmill metaphor that runs through the entire episode, they unpack why dropping a powerful new tool into a workplace doesn't mean anyone will use it — and why 31% of employees are actively sabotaging AI strategies from the inside. Paul shares a story from his time with Frank Clegg at Microsoft that reframes what leadership actually looks like at 5:30 in the evening, and introduces his concept of the "automation ceiling" — the point where human judgment, empathy, and relational intelligence become irreplaceable. Dr. Tatijana Busic breaks down why resistance to change isn't a character flaw — it's brain biology. Our fear centers aren't designed for chronic activation, and the speed of AI-era change is pushing people into reactive survival mode. She reveals why she turns down resilience training engagements when the executive team isn't doing the work themselves, and why humans succeed not because we're the smartest species, but because we're the best copycats. Together, they make the case that the organizations who win won't be the ones with the best AI — they'll be the ones who remember that people are still the greatest thing they'll ever build.

Closing the Courage Gap with Dr. Margie Warrell

In this episode, Imran & Nick sit down with Dr. Margie Warrell — bestselling author of The Courage Gap, leadership coach, and advisor to NASA, Microsoft, and Visa — for a conversation about why the gap between what leaders are doing and what they're capable of almost always comes down to fear. Margie shares the principle that's guided her life since childhood on an Australian dairy farm: growth and comfort can't ride the same horse. From there, they dig into why we overestimate risk, underestimate ourselves, and pay what she calls a "timidity tax" every time we choose safety over action. Margie breaks down why courage isn't a personality trait but a learnable skill, how the most successful founders she's met — including Richard Branson — didn't avoid failure but changed their relationship with it, and what it takes to scale a courage mindset across teams and organizations.

Own Your Voice: Kim Rittberg on Fear and Confidence

In this episode, Imran & Nick sit down with Kim Rittberg — former Netflix and Us Weekly executive who built a video unit into a $100 million sale — for a candid conversation about why even the most accomplished people hold themselves back. Kim was an award-winning executive producer who still took two years to start her business and a full year to greenlight her own podcast. The culprit every time was fear. Now a communications and confidence coach, Kim breaks down how to identify what's really holding you back — imposter syndrome, fear of judgment, or fear of failure — and why desire has to outweigh the fear for anything to change. They also dig into why your boss matters more than your job, how companies keep losing parents from the workforce, and why in an AI-saturated world, your humanity is the only real differentiator left.

The Truth About Staying, Thriving & Getting Promoted

In this episode, Imran & Nick sits down with Howie Konopko, Executive Vice President at Publicis and former Oracle colleague, for an honest conversation about what really makes people stay at companies- and what drives them away. Howie breaks down the framework every employee should use to evaluate their role: fair compensation, interesting work, trust in your team, and opportunities for growth. He shares practical advice on how to thrive in your organization by going above and beyond (without burning out), the traits that separate high performers from everyone else, and why having a bad manager might actually be one of the best learning experiences of your career. We also dive into the realities of modern work culture—from the distorted expectations social media creates for Gen Z employees to the ongoing tension between remote work and in-person collaboration. Howie reveals what he really looks for when hiring, how to differentiate yourself in interviews, and why dressing the part and embodying the role before you get promoted is crucial. Whether you're navigating your current job, considering a move, or trying to figure out how to advance your career, this episode is packed with actionable insights from someone who's managed hundreds of people across Citi, Oracle, and Publicis.