Built by People Leaders

#28 Managing Executive Stress & The Physiology of Pressure with Ed Howard

In this episode of Built by People Leaders, host Daria Rudnik sits down with Ed Howard, founder of One Breath Leadership and author of the One Breath Leadership book and app. Ed spent 20 years as a global compliance executive in investment banking before combining that high-stakes corporate experience with three decades of Zen training to create practical micro-recovery tools for corporate skeptics. Together, they break down how sustained stress physically alters our cognitive state, and how people leaders can help executives maintain decision quality, emotional regulation, and sanity without needing hours out of their packed calendars. Challenges Addressed * The Stress Hijack: How the physiological threat response silently alters a leader's perception, causing intelligent, values-driven people to narrow their honesty and miss critical signals. * The Failure of Standard Wellness: Why traditional corporate mindfulness programs fail when they are simply bolted onto a high-speed culture that actively rewards hustle, speed, and reaction over reflection. * Email Apnea: The physical habit of holding your breath when opening stressful inbox messages, and how this oxygen-starved state reduces an executive's day-to-day effectiveness by 30-40%. Actionable Micro-Habits for Leaders The One-Breath Rule: Demystifying meditation by stripping it down to the bare bones—breath, mind, and attention—to switch the brain out of "cognitive wheel-spinning." Trigger-Based Habit Stacking: How to spread micro-recovery throughout a 12-hour day by anchoring a single deep breath to existing operational triggers like opening a laptop, sitting at a desk, or getting into an elevator. The Professional Athlete Model: Shifting the executive culture from performative, fear-based busyness to a high-performance framework where recovery is valued just as much as performance.   Links & Resources Mentioned: * Connect with Ed Howard on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/edward-howard-a86aa823/] * Learn more about the book and app at One Breath Leadership [https://www.onebreathleadership.com/]

#27 Why AI Transformation Fails Without Human Readiness with Marina Morgan, Fractional Strategy Leader

In this episode of the Built by People Leaders podcast, host Daria Rudnik speaks with Marina Morgan, fractional strategy leader, executive facilitator, and founder of AIQ Impact, about why successful transformation depends less on technology and more on human and organizational readiness. Marina shares insights from her journey across corporate leadership in Russia and her transition to entrepreneurship in Silicon Valley, where she now builds the AIQ framework for measuring how prepared organizations are for AI adoption. The conversation explores how leadership mindset shapes organizational culture, why strategy cycles are shrinking in the age of AI, and how companies must rethink adaptability as a core capability. Marina also reflects on the challenges of scaling organizations in a non-linear environment, the importance of aligning executives around execution rather than planning, and why enjoyment and neurophysiological well-being are essential for creativity, resilience, and sustainable performance in fast-changing systems. Takeaways * AI transformation success depends on human readiness, not technology. Even the best tools fail if employees and leaders are not aligned in behavior, mindset, and adoption. * Organizational culture is a direct reflection of leadership mindset. Founders and top leaders shape how strategy is executed far more than any formal HR system or structure. * Strategy cycles are collapsing due to AI-driven speed. Companies have moved from 5-year plans to real-time, data-driven decision-making, making adaptability a core leadership skill. * HR and strategy must be tightly connected to business KPIs. Influence comes from linking people initiatives directly to revenue, market position, and operational outcomes. * AI is reshaping identity at both individual and organizational levels. Professionals and companies must continuously redefine roles, capabilities, and direction in a rapidly shifting environment. * Enjoyment is a performance driver, not a luxury. Psychological well-being directly impacts creativity, resilience, and cognitive flexibility needed for adaptation and growth. https://www.linkedin.com/in/marinamorgan-sf [https://www.linkedin.com/in/marinamorgan-sf] aiqimpact.com [http://aiqimpact.com]

#26 What European Companies Get Right About HR with Anastasia Minko, Senior HR Project Manager at Smart Europe

In this episode of the Built by People Leaders podcast, host Daria Rudnik speaks with Anastasia Minko, Senior HR Project Manager at Smart Europe, about how HR leadership changes across cultures, industries, and stages of company growth. Drawing from her experience in global corporations, fast-growing tech companies, and German organizations, Anastasia shares practical insights on navigating complexity in international HR, building systems that support business growth, and why leadership culture matters more than processes alone. The conversation explores the differences between German and Russian management cultures, the role of HR in creating business structure without overcomplicating processes, and why leadership behavior during difficult moments shapes employees far more than formal policies. Anastasia also reflects on coaching, organizational maturity, psychological safety, and how leaders can create environments where disagreement stays productive rather than personal. Takeaways * Strong leadership is revealed in how managers handle mistakes. Employees recover and grow faster when leaders treat mistakes as solvable problems instead of personal failures. * Professional disagreement creates stronger organizations than personal conflict. Healthy cultures allow leaders to challenge ideas without attacking individuals or damaging trust. * HR maturity shows up when leaders no longer question the need for people systems. In mature organizations, performance management, pay structures, and leadership development are viewed as business infrastructure, not HR bureaucracy. * Organizational culture is shaped less by slogans and more by everyday leadership behavior. The way managers react under pressure becomes the real culture employees experience. * International HR becomes easier when leaders focus on human similarities before cultural stereotypes. Understanding people first creates better collaboration across countries and teams. * Leadership development delivers the most value when connected to real business feedback. Coaching works best when it reflects actual employee experience and organizational realities, not abstract self-improvement goals. https://de.smart.com/de/ [https://de.smart.com/de/] https://www.linkedin.com/in/anastasia-minko/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/anastasia-minko/]

#25 AI Transformation Without Losing Culture with Chris Farr, Operations Executive at Invision Technologies

In this episode of the Built by People Leaders podcast, host Daria Rudnik speaks with Chris Farr, Operations Executive at Invision Technologies, about leadership, organizational growth, and how HR can become a true operational partner during periods of rapid change and AI transformation. Drawing from his experience leading teams in the MSP and technology space, Chris shares practical insights on scaling businesses without losing culture, building trust during uncertainty, and why communication is the foundation of effective leadership. The conversation explores how HR supports growth far beyond hiring — through onboarding, process building, coaching leaders through difficult conversations, and helping organizations maintain alignment during constant change. Chris also discusses the importance of leaders listening to employees instead of making decisions in isolation, and why trust must be built long before companies face restructuring, mergers, or other difficult transitions. Takeaways * Trust must exist before organizations go through change — employees accept uncertainty more easily when leadership credibility is already established. * HR creates the most value when it helps scale culture, communication, and operational consistency during growth. * Leaders make better decisions when they stay close to frontline employees instead of operating in isolation. * Successful AI adoption starts with improving employee efficiency and reducing repetitive work, not replacing people. * Companies need clear AI governance and employee education to avoid security, compliance, and operational risks. * AI transformation is ultimately a leadership and communication challenge as much as a technology challenge. www.invtech.com [http://www.invtech.com] https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-farr-409b3585/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-farr-409b3585/] Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Guest 01:08 Chris Farr's Leadership Journey 01:58 The Role of HR in Organizational Growth 03:15 Strategic Support from HR 04:25 Shared Responsibility for Company Culture 04:55 Successful HR Partnerships 06:07 Collaboration Between HR and Business Leaders 06:56 Finding Balance in HR Leadership 08:18 The Essence of Great Leadership 09:36 Learning from Leadership Experiences 10:31 Navigating Change in Fast-Growing Companies 11:05 Supporting Employees Through Change 12:25 Handling Uncertainty and Transparency 14:58 AI's Impact on Workplaces 16:01 AI as a Tool for Efficiency 17:52 AI Adoption in Organizations 20:19 The Role of AI Officers 22:17 HR's Role in AI Transformation 24:04 Building AI Governance 25:01 Rapid Fire Questions and Conclusion

#24 Hiring Executives in 2026: What Startups Keep Getting Wrong — with John Pezoulas, Co-Founder of Ready Set Exec

In this episode of the Built by People Leaders podcast, host Daria Rudnik speaks with John Pezoulas, co-founder and managing partner of Ready Set Exec [https://readysetexec.com/], about the realities of executive hiring in startups and scaling companies. With from more than 20 years in recruitment and executive search, John shares why recruiting is ultimately about helping people find opportunities where they can succeed — not just filling roles. The conversation explores how startups often overhire for titles they don’t actually need yet, why great recruiters rely more on curiosity and research than industry background alone, and how executive turnover can quietly damage business momentum and team trust. John also explains why founders need to balance ambition with realistic compensation, how employer branding became essential for attracting senior talent, and why companies should treat recruitment as a long-term culture-building exercise rather than a transactional process. Takeaways * Strong recruiters succeed because they learn fast, not because they already know every industry. Curiosity, research, and the ability to deeply understand a business matter more than starting as a subject-matter expert. * Startups often hire for aspirational titles instead of current business needs. A company may not need a C-level executive yet — sometimes a strong director plus fractional leadership creates better results at an earlier stage. * Executive turnover creates hidden operational costs beyond replacement fees. Every leadership change disrupts trust, team dynamics, decision-making speed, and institutional knowledge across the company. * Employer branding is no longer optional for startups hiring senior talent. Candidates increasingly evaluate founders’ visibility, company reputation, and online presence before considering high-risk opportunities. * Recruitment is fundamentally a culture-building function. Every leadership hire reshapes how teams collaborate, communicate, and perform together over time. https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnpezoulas/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnpezoulas/] readysetexec.com [http://readysetexec.com] Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Recruitment and Career Paths 02:22 The Satisfaction of Recruitment 05:38 Understanding the Role of Recruiters 06:27 The Importance of Industry Knowledge 10:09 Consultation and Strategy in Executive Search 14:29 Navigating Startup Hiring Challenges 20:01 Retention of Executive Leaders 23:50 The Cost of Turnover in Leadership 26:52 Onboarding and Team Dynamics 27:50 Job Market Predictions for 2026