North Star Leaders

Why Matters with Terry Myerson

What happens when a tech leader decides to take on one of the hardest problems in healthcare - building a system that can actually save lives with data? How do you unite dozens of massive health systems, a pandemic, and a shared mission into one groundbreaking company? In this episode, Lindsay sits down with Terry Myerson, CEO of Truveta and former Microsoft executive, to unpack the story of how an idea born in the chaos of 2020 became one of the most innovative healthcare data platforms in the world. Terry opens up about what it takes to lead through uncertainty, how to rally people around a clear “why,” and what he’s still learning five years into building Truveta. You’ll hear them discuss: * How a simple but bold mission - “saving lives with data” - became the heartbeat of Truveta * Why the early days of the pandemic revealed how little usable healthcare data actually existed * The power of simplicity when trying to build momentum around a big idea * What Terry learned about leadership, culture, and purpose from his years at Microsoft * How to balance the “why, how, and what” when you’re building something brand new * The surprising parallels between leading a startup and leading a huge corporate team * Why Terry believes the best learning doesn’t come from books, but from diving in and doing the work Resources: Terry Myerson on Truveta [https://www.truveta.com/] | Truveta's LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/truveta/] | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/tmyerson/] Lindsay Pedersen - Contact me to tell me who you'd like to hear as a guest! [https://ironcladbrandstrategy.com/contact] | Connect with me on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindsaypedersen/]

Prioritize Boldly with Andrew Grauer

How do you decide what to build when every day brings a hundred new possibilities? And how do you keep your focus without losing the spark of creativity? In this episode of North Star Leaders, Lindsay talks with Andrew Grauer, CEO of Learneo, the company behind well-known brands like Course Hero, CliffNotes, and QuillBot. Andrew opens up about what it’s like to lead through rapid change, why empathy has always been at the core of his approach, and how he balances the thrill of innovation with the discipline of prioritization. They also explore the personal side of leadership - what keeps Andrew energized and how he avoids burnout after nearly two decades of building companies. You’ll hear them discuss: Why watching an idea go from conversation to prototype to production in record time keeps him energized as an entrepreneur How empathy for students and professionals reveals the real problems worth solving, rather than chasing surface-level fixes The way QuillBot is evolving from a writing tool into a broader platform for generative AI and multimodal communication The simple decision-making framework Andrew uses to weigh priorities, risks, and opportunities when setting a roadmap How he thinks about the tension between going deeper into one capability versus expanding wide into new product areas The personal routines and mindset shifts that help him stay healthy, present with his family, and resilient as a leader Resources: Andrew Grauer on Learneo [https://www.learneo.com/] | Quillbot [https://quillbot.com/] | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewtategrauer/] Lindsay Pedersen - Contact me to tell me who you'd like to hear as a guest! [https://ironcladbrandstrategy.com/contact] | Connect with me on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindsaypedersen/]

Team Energy with Amanda DePalma

Plenty of leaders talk about collaboration. Far fewer can actually make it happen—especially when the stakes are high, and the timelines are brutal. So what’s the real difference between the buzzwords and the leaders who truly deliver? In this episode, Lindsay sits down with Amanda DePalma, Head of Global Marketing for Ultrasound at Siemens Healthineers. Amanda shares the real stuff: how she learned to lead cross-functional teams without micromanaging, the years it took to trust her own thinking style, and the moments that shaped her commitment to mentorship and diversity. She also opens up about the role storytelling plays in healthcare, why patient impact keeps her grounded, and why the current wave of AI innovation finally feels different - and genuinely helpful - for clinicians and patients. You'll hear them discuss: * How Amanda’s early career in every corner of marketing shaped the way she leads today * The culture of trust she builds so teams can do their best work without being over-managed * The moment she realized authenticity mattered more than mimicking the “loudest voice in the room” * Why forcing people to behave outside their natural style leads to burnout * The difference between coaching, mentoring, and sponsoring and why sponsorship changed her career * How real patient stories keep teams connected to the purpose behind the work * The global challenges clinicians face right now, from staffing shortages to long diagnostic wait times * Why AI is finally moving from buzzword to real-world impact in imaging and procedures * The possibilities opening up at the intersection of devices, imaging, and intelligent workflows Resources: Amanda DePalma on Siemens Healthineers [https://www.siemens-healthineers.com/] | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/amandaldepalma/] Lindsay Pedersen - Contact me to tell me who you'd like to hear as a guest! [https://ironcladbrandstrategy.com/contact] | Connect with me on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindsaypedersen/]

Local Value with Todd Dunlap

Every box on your doorstep, every item you’re ready to toss - could those be hidden opportunities to build community? Todd Dunlap, CEO and board chair of OfferUp, thinks so. In this episode, he joins Lindsay to talk about why local marketplaces are about far more than buying and selling. For Todd, it’s about people, trust, and connection - and the leadership lessons that keep him grounded while running a fast-growing business. You’ll hear them discuss: How business problems across industries tend to rhyme, but the people you solve them with make all the difference The ways OfferUp is helping communities unlock local value in goods, services, and even conversations A simple used boat cover that turned into something life-changing for a family in need Why Todd welcomes respectful challenge over easy harmony when building teams His approach to decision-making: right decisions, wrong decisions, and the real risk of indecision The “platinum rule” of leadership he picked up from his mom, and why it matters more than ever Why his core principle is people first, even when others argue it should be profit or shareholders Resources: Todd Dunlap on the OfferUp [https://offerup.com] | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/todddunlap/] | OfferUp on Google Play [https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.offerup&hl=en_GB&pli=1] | OfferUp on App Store [https://apps.apple.com/us/app/offerup-buy-sell-simple/id468996152] Lindsay Pedersen - Contact me to tell me who you'd like to hear as a guest! [https://ironcladbrandstrategy.com/contact] | Connect with me on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindsaypedersen/]

Energized Leadership with Dan Lorenc

Selling doesn’t have to feel slimy. Open source doesn’t have to feel risky. And leadership doesn’t have to drain you. Dan Lorenc, CEO and founder of ChainGuard, has built a company - and a culture - around those beliefs. In this episode of North Start Leadership Podcast, Dan and Lindsay dig into what it means to build a “safe source for open source,” how to lead with authenticity, and why sometimes the best way to serve customers is to take work off their plate entirely. You’ll hear them discuss: * Why Dan, an engineer at heart, fell in love with sales once he realized it could be about solving real problems for people * The hidden risks of open source software, and how ChainGuard is tackling them head on * The difference between building another “smoke alarm” tool versus creating a fireproof foundation * How Dan keeps his team aligned and motivated in a fully remote environment * Why repetition is one of the most underrated leadership tools * The company values that guide ChainGuard, including the reminder to take the work seriously without taking themselves too seriously Resources Dan Lorenc on the Chainguard [https://www.chainguard.dev/] | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/danlorenc/] Lindsay Pedersen - Contact me to tell me who you'd like to hear as a guest! [https://ironcladbrandstrategy.com/contact] | Connect with me on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindsaypedersen/]