Why Most Leadership Teams Are Already Behind | Episode 35 with Julie Toma

Why Most Leadership Teams Are Already Behind | Episode 35 with Julie Toma

In this episode of The Insurgent Mindset, we sit down with Julie Toma to explore why innovation often dies inside established organizations, how boards can either accelerate disruption or completely block it, and why curiosity, courage, and psychological safety are becoming essential leadership traits in a rapidly changing world. Julie shares insights from her experience across healthcare, marketing leadership, governance, and board strategy — unpacking everything from AI adoption and customer disruption to why fear of failure quietly destroys growth cultures from the inside out. We also dive into the changing role of modern marketing leaders, the growing importance of customer insight and strategic curiosity, and why the best organizations are actively “seeing around corners” before competitors do. This conversation is essential listening for executives, founders, board directors, marketers, and leaders trying to navigate uncertainty without becoming obsolete. Connect with Julie on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/julietoma/ -- Hosted by seasoned strategy consultants Matt Tice and Rondo Moses, with a combined 50 years of experience, this podcast will challenge you to transcend the status quo and reshape how you think about and approach competing in the business marketplace.  Learn more at www.insurgencegroup.com [http://www.insurgencegroup.com/].    Subscribe to “The Insurgent Mindset” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify Podcasts or Youtube, and visit us as www.insurgencegroup.com [http://www.insurgencegroup.com/] to learn more.    Have questions or topics you’d like us to cover in a future episode? Email us at theinsurgentmindset@gmail.com [theinsurgentmindset@gmail.com].   This podcast is hosted by Matt Tice & Rondo Moses Produced by Faith Moavenzadeh Original Music by Caius Tice

The Architecture of Learning, Storytelling, and Challenger Thinking with Jamie Engel | Episode 34

What if the future of learning isn’t about better content—but better design? In this episode, Jamie Engel, founder of Neutopia, breaks down the “architecture of learning” and why most organizations get it wrong. Drawing from a career spanning film, storytelling, and education, he reveals how the convergence of platform, program, and people creates transformational learning experiences—and why storytelling is the most underrated leadership skill in modern business. This conversation explores how leaders can build true learning organizations, harness AI without losing critical thinking, and create cultures driven by curiosity, community, and adaptability. From the hero’s journey as a framework for education to the role of emotion in decision-making, this episode challenges conventional thinking and offers a new blueprint for designing experiences that actually change people—and organizations—for the better. Learn more about Neutopia here: https://neutopia.co/ Connect with Jamie here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamielengel/ -- Hosted by seasoned strategy consultants Matt Tice and Rondo Moses, with a combined 50 years of experience, this podcast will challenge you to transcend the status quo and reshape how you think about and approach competing in the business marketplace. Learn more at www.insurgencegroup.com. Subscribe to “The Insurgent Mindset” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify Podcasts or Youtube, and visit us as www.insurgencegroup.com to learn more. Have questions or topics you’d like us to cover in a future episode? Email us at theinsurgentmindset@gmail.com. This podcast is hosted by Matt Tice & Rondo Moses Produced by Faith Moavenzadeh Original Music by Caius Tice

Your Next Customer Won’t Be Human: Competing in an AI-Driven Market with Katja Forbes | Episode 33

What happens when your next customer isn’t human? We sit down with Katja Forbes (author of Machine Customers) and break down the rapid rise of agentic commerce and what it means for business strategy, customer experience, and competitive advantage. With AI agents already making purchasing decisions and retail agent traffic surging by thousands of percent, the shift is already here, and most leadership teams are underestimating just how fast this transformation is unfolding. This conversation explores how AI-powered buyers are reshaping markets, commoditizing brands, and forcing a rethink of everything from marketing to trust to organizational design. From “algorithmic moats” to value-based differentiation, Katja outlines what it takes to stay competitive when machines, not humans, are evaluating your business. If you’re thinking about AI, digital transformation, or the future of commerce, this episode delivers a clear signal in a world full of noise. Learn more and connect with Katja here: https://www.thecxevolutionist.ai/ -- Hosted by seasoned strategy consultants Matt Tice and Rondo Moses, with a combined 50 years of experience, this podcast will challenge you to transcend the status quo and reshape how you think about and approach competing in the business marketplace.  Learn more at www.insurgencegroup.com [http://www.insurgencegroup.com/].    Subscribe to “The Insurgent Mindset” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify Podcasts or Youtube, and visit us as www.insurgencegroup.com [http://www.insurgencegroup.com/] to learn more.    Have questions or topics you’d like us to cover in a future episode? Email us at theinsurgentmindset@gmail.com [theinsurgentmindset@gmail.com].   This podcast is hosted by Matt Tice & Rondo Moses Produced by Faith Moavenzadeh Original Music by Caius Tice

Signal vs Noise: Discernment in a World of Disruption with Stephanie Christopher | Episode 32

In a world defined by constant disruption, the ability to distinguish between signal and noise has become one of the most critical leadership skills. In this episode of The Insurgent Mindset, the conversation explores how mid-market leaders are navigating uncertainty, identifying meaningful trends, and making faster, more confident decisions in an increasingly complex environment. Joined by Managing Director of Vistage ANZ, Stephanie Christopher, drawing on her insights from peer advisory networks and real-world leadership experiences, the discussion unpacks how CEOs are evolving their approach to AI, from early curiosity to practical application, and why the real opportunity lies not just in efficiency, but in growth. The episode also explores the ongoing challenges of talent, the realities of a multi-generational workforce, and the importance of strategy and execution in a rapidly shifting market. At the core of the conversation is a deeper leadership capability: discernment. The ability to read signals, trust instinct, absorb diverse perspectives, and act decisively is what separates those who disrupt from those who are disrupted. For leaders looking to stay ahead in 2026, this episode offers a grounded perspective on how to build adaptability, sharpen judgment, and operate with clarity in a noisy world.--Hosted by seasoned strategy consultants Matt Tice and Rondo Moses, with a combined 50 years of experience, this podcast will challenge you to transcend the status quo and reshape how you think about and approach competing in the business marketplace. Learn more at www.insurgencegroup.com. Subscribe to “The Insurgent Mindset” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify Podcasts or Youtube, and visit us as www.insurgencegroup.com to learn more. Have questions or topics you’d like us to cover in a future episode? Email us at theinsurgentmindset@gmail.com. This podcast is hosted by Matt Tice & Rondo MosesProduced by Faith MoavenzadehOriginal Music by Caius Tice Connect with Stephanie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniechristopherceo/

Don’t Let Private Equity Catch You with Your Pants Down | Episode 31

Most mid-market CEOs believe they’re building valuable businesses, but when private equity shows up, they quickly discover how much value they’ve left on the table. In this episode, we break down the critical difference between two types of leaders: those who manage for performance, and those who architect for enterprise value. Using a simple example of two identical $5M EBITDA businesses with dramatically different outcomes, the conversation reveals why valuation multiples (not just growth) determine real wealth creation. The episode explores the shift from being a “taker” to a “maker”, from reacting to deals on the back foot to proactively engineering a business that commands premium valuations. From leadership dependency and customer concentration to scalable models, defensible advantages, and buyer-specific value drivers, this is a deep dive into how sophisticated investors think and how leaders can stay ahead of them. Because if you’re not actively building for value, someone else will. -- Hosted by seasoned strategy consultants Matt Tice and Rondo Moses, with a combined 50 years of experience, this podcast will challenge you to transcend the status quo and reshape how you think about and approach competing in the business marketplace.  Learn more at www.insurgencegroup.com [http://www.insurgencegroup.com/].    Subscribe to “The Insurgent Mindset” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify Podcasts or Youtube, and visit us as www.insurgencegroup.com [http://www.insurgencegroup.com/] to learn more.    Have questions or topics you’d like us to cover in a future episode? Email us at theinsurgentmindset@gmail.com [theinsurgentmindset@gmail.com].   This podcast is hosted by Matt Tice & Rondo Moses Produced by Faith Moavenzadeh Original Music by Caius Tice