Bryan Liles has been working in tech for almost 30 years with roles at VMware, Digital Ocean, AWS, and more. He is known for being a great technical leader. He is not a people manager. In this episode, I wanted to explore leadership as an Individual Contributor, and Bryan was the perfect guest for this. He believes in helping others at work so that everyone can win. On this episode of the Pay-It-Forward Society, we talk about:

• The difference between being a boss and being a leader. Leaders help everyone succeed, not just themselves.

• How you can be a leader in what you do, even if you’re not in charge. Bryan talks about leading in tech by sharing new ideas and ways of working.

• Bryan’s goal is to improve the people around him. He shows us that when one person wins, it doesn’t mean someone else loses.

• Ways to make a good impact at work even if you don’t have power or a big title. It’s about setting a good example and encouraging your teammates.

• Bryan’s own stories about leading in tech. He gives tips for others who want to make a big impact too.

Bryan shares his thoughts on how anyone at work can be a leader, showing us that it’s about what you do, not your job title.

Bryan mentioned several books during this episode including:
- Start with Why by Simon Sinek
- Wiring the Winning Organization by Gene Kim and Steven J. Spear
- Don't Make Me Think by Steve Krug
- Accelerate: Building and Scaling High Performing Technology Organizations by Dr Nicole Forsgren, Gene Kim, Jez Humble

- What If? by Randal Munroe

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Where to follow Bryan Liles

- X: https://twitter.com/bryanl

- LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryanliles/

Where to find Romain Jourdan:

- LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rjourdan/

- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/rjourdan_net

- Subscribe to The Pay-It-Forward Society newsletter: https://www.tpifs.com

In this episode of the Pay-It-Forward Society, we sit down with Adrian Koehler, a 0-bullshit coach and co-founder of Take New Ground. Adrian shares his insights into what truly makes a leader effective and how to cultivate a culture of commitment and purpose within organizations. Our conversation reveals:

• Leadership as a Personal Commitment: Adrian underscores the importance of leaders seeing their role as a personal vocation, far beyond the confines of a job.

• The Power of Vulnerability: He advocates for vulnerability as a strength, enabling leaders to connect authentically with their teams and foster a culture of trust.

• Designing Organizations for Impact: Adrian discusses strategies for organizational design that encourage innovation, engagement, and a relentless pursuit of excellence.

• The Legacy of Leadership: The conversation also touches on the legacy leaders leave behind, emphasizing the significance of making a meaningful difference in the lives of others.

This episode is a treasure trove for anyone interested in redefining leadership and organizational success through the lens of purpose and authenticity.

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Where to follow Adrian Koehler

• LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adriankoehler/

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adrian.k/?hl=en

• Check-out Adrian’s podcast:

  • Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-naked-leadership-podcast/id1495058489

  • Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/73ZuLDaxdfhCNYXlmIQy01?si=9a5b25f227f64ae1

Where to find Romain Jourdan:

• LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rjourdan/

• Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/rjourdan_net

• Subscribe to The Pay-It-Forward Society newsletter: https://www.tpifs.com

James Colgan is a seasoned product leader with a track record in tech companies like Rackspace, Microsoft, Slack, and more recently Spendesk. In this episode, he joins us to share his insights on leading through innovation and strategic frameworks. In our conversation, we cover:

• The essence and impact of the W model in strategic planning: https://review.firstround.com/the-secret-to-a-great-planning-process-lessons-from-airbnb-and-eventbrite

• Techniques for effective team communication and decision-making

• The role of leadership in driving product-led growth

• Implementing cultural transformation within tech organizations

• Keys to aligning team objectives with organizational goals

This episode is packed with James' valuable experiences and actionable advice for anyone looking to sharpen their leadership skills in the tech industry.

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During the episode, we discussed and mentioned several impactful books, which include:

• "Empowered" by Marty Cagan

• "Hit Refresh" by Satya Nadella

• "The Culture Map" by Erin Meyer

• "Team Topologies" by Matthew Skelton and Manuel Pais

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Where to follow James Colgan

• LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesacolgan

• Threads: @sfojames

• Check-out James’s newsletter! https://www.beyondthebuild.ai/?r=2qvebn&utm_campaign=subscribe-page-share-screen&utm_medium=web

Where to find Romain Jourdan:

• LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rjourdan/

• Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/rjourdan_net

• Subscribe to The Pay-It-Forward Society newsletter: https://www.tpifs.com