Weekly insights to help you lead with more trust, clarity, and influence — from Donald C. Kunkel Jr., founder of the Elite Leadership Center™, author of The Foundations of Influence, and creator of the TECCA™ Influence System. Whether you’re leading a team, a classroom, a family, or a company, these no-fluff lessons are designed to help you build real leadership impact — rooted in trust, emotional intelligence, communication, credibility, and adaptability.
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Founder Elite Leadership Center Podcasts
Twice-weekly conversations with top executives and thought leaders at the intersection of business, technology, and innovation. Each episode of Technovation explores the technology trends that are transforming business, and the leaders driving digital change inside their organizations. Produced by Metis Strategy and hosted by firm President Peter High, Technovation is the premier podcast for IT and technology professionals with the largest collection of interviews with elite CIOs, CTOs, and ...
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Level Up and Live Podcast – The Podcast for Montgomery County’s Elite Business Owners & Entrepreneurs You’re already crushing it. You’ve built something that most people can’t. You’ve outworked, outlasted, and pushed past limits that stop others in their tracks. But now, you’re starting to ask the real question… Is this it? You’ve got the revenue, the wins, and the momentum—but deep down, you know there’s another level. Not just in business, but in life, fulfillment, and impact. This is the ...
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Greylock Partners’ Asheem Chandna on First-Check Investing, Founders, and the Age of AI
49:31
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49:31Where is software value heading in the age of AI? In the premiere episode of Technoventure, host Peter High speaks with Asheem Chandna, General Partner at Greylock Partners, one of Silicon Valley’s most storied venture firms. Asheem has led early investments in industry-defining companies such as Palo Alto Networks, AppDynamics, Rubrik, and Abnorma…
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Apple in China: Financial Times’ Patrick McGee on Tim Cook, Scale, and Risk
53:46
53:46
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53:46Apple’s success in China is more complicated—and consequential—than most realize. In this episode, Peter High speaks with Financial Times journalist and author Patrick McGee, who covered Apple for years and recently published Apple in China: The Capture of the World’s Greatest Company. Patrick’s reporting reveals how Apple became deeply intertwined…
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Scaling with SOPs, Faith, and Leadership: Austin Baker’s Entrepreneur Journey
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43:43
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43:43On this episode of the Level Up and Live Podcast, Sean Meyers sits down with Austin Baker, owner of A to Z Construction Services, LLC, a young business leader who is making waves in Montgomery County by “bringing sexy back” to homes while building his marriage, his faith, and his leadership. Austin opens up about the lessons he’s learned in three y…
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How Shez Partovi Is Driving Patient-Centered Innovation and AI Strategy at Philips
41:20
41:20
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41:20“Great innovations are painkillers, not vitamins.” In this episode, Peter High speaks with Shez Partovi, Chief Innovation & Strategy Officer and Chief Business Leader of Enterprise Informatics at Royal Philips, a €18B global health technology leader. Shez shares how Philips is building people- and patient-centric innovation by partnering with healt…
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Vijay Sankaran on Digitizing Johnson Controls and the Future of Smart Buildings
41:25
41:25
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41:25How can AI, digitization, and data create smarter, healthier, and more sustainable buildings? In this episode of Technovation, host Peter High welcomes Vijay Sankaran, Chief Digital and Information Officer of Johnson Controls, a global leader in smart building technologies. Vijay shares how he’s leading enterprise-wide digital transformation across…
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From Plumber to Purpose-Driven Leader: Larry Goodall’s Journey to Building a Life Without Regret
38:17
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38:17In this inspiring episode of Level Up and Live, host Sean Meyers sits down with Larry Goodall, owner of Goodall Plumbing, to uncover the real story behind building a business that lasts. Larry opens up about his journey from overcoming personal and professional challenges to becoming a respected leader in his community. From reshaping the public’s …
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Chris Isaacson on Resilient Market Infrastructure and Tech Leadership at Cboe
25:02
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25:02“Resilience is a mindset.” Chris Isaacson, Chief Operating Officer of Cboe Global Markets, joins Technovation host Peter High to discuss how the global exchange operator delivers trusted, 24/7 markets through technology, operational excellence, and a deeply integrated data strategy. A founding employee of BATS Global Markets and former CIO of both …
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Executive Talent in the Age of Transformation | Summit May 2025
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29:38How are companies redefining what it means to be a technology leader? In this episode of Technovation, we feature a panel recorded at our most recent Metis Strategy Summit, where Steven Norton moderated a discussion on executive talent and leadership transformation. Panelists include Joon Yoon, Global Co-Head of the Tech Officers Practice at Egon Z…
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Through a Different Lens – A Leadership Perspective on Emotional Reactivity
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12:21
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12:21Send us a text 🎙 Through a Different Lens – A Leadership Perspective on Emotional Reactivity Edition 30 – Elite Leader Insights™ Podcast In this episode of the Elite Leader Insights™ Podcast, Donald C. Kunkel Jr. explores one of the most misunderstood traits in leadership — emotional reactivity — and why it can be both a challenge and a hidden stre…
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Leading Through Change — Why Most Transformations Fail Before They Start
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15:54Send us a text 🎙 Leading Through Change — Why Most Transformations Fail Before They Start Edition 29 – Elite Leader Insights™ Podcast In this episode of the Elite Leader Insights™ Podcast, Donald C. Kunkel Jr. unpacks one of the most consistent failure points in organizational growth: change without influence. Billions are spent on change initiativ…
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From H-E-B to Family Business Leader: Josh Webb on Building a Customer-Obsessed Company
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41:52In this episode of the Level Up and Live podcast, host Sean Meyers talks with Josh Webb, owner of Webb’s Custom Apparel, about transforming a family business into a thriving, customer-focused success story. Josh shares how he went from a corporate career at HEB to taking over his parents’ business, why learning every role was key to understanding t…
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How Breakthru Beverage’s CIO Is Building an AI-Ready, Data-Driven Sales Engine
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31:02How do you digitally transform a leading beverage distributor across 16 markets? In this episode of Technovation, host Peter High speaks with Glenn Remoreras, Chief Information Officer of Breakthru Beverage Group, a family-owned company with $8.6B in annual revenue and operations across the US and Canada. Glenn shares how he is driving innovation, …
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Why We Still Struggle to Develop Leaders — and What’s Missing
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14:07Send us a text 🎙 Why We Still Struggle to Develop Leaders — and What’s Missing Edition 28 – Elite Leader Insights™ Podcast In this episode of the Elite Leader Insights™ Podcast, Donald C. Kunkel Jr. unpacks one of the most frustrating truths in modern leadership development: we know what great leadership looks like—but we still struggle to create i…
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Technovation 1000: Jeffrey Katzenberg on DreamWorks, Disney, WndrCo & Creative Risk
55:08
55:08
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55:08From Hollywood mogul to venture capital visionary, Jeffrey Katzenberg’s story is one of bold bets, iconic storytelling, and relentless reinvention. In this milestone 1000th episode of Technovation, host Peter High welcomes Katzenberg to reflect on a remarkable career spanning five decades across film, animation, and now AI-driven venture investing.…
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From Lawn Care Hustle to Business Empire: How Caleb Moore Built STOP Equipment in Montgomery County Show
38:56
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38:56In this episode, we dive into the inspiring journey of a determined entrepreneur who started out in the lawn care industry and grew his hustle into a thriving business. He opens up about the pivotal decisions that shaped his path, the hurdles he faced along the way, and the valuable lessons learned from both wins and setbacks. The conversation also…
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From Tesla CIO to Tekion CEO: Jay Vijayan’s Journey Transforming Auto Retail
19:41
19:41
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19:41From Tesla to Tekion: How Jay Vijayan Is Transforming the Automotive Experience In this episode of Technovation, Peter High speaks with Jay Vijayan, Founder & CEO of Tekion and former CIO of Tesla, about revolutionizing the dealer-to-consumer automotive experience through a cloud-first, AI-powered SaaS platform. Jay shares how his time at Oracle, V…
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Unlocking Value: From AI Investment to Impact with AMD, Ingram Micro, and Palantir
31:26
31:26
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31:26How are executives creating value from AI investment? In this Technovation episode, we feature a panel from our most recent Metis Strategy Summit where Metis Strategy’s Chris Davis moderates a panel on how companies can unlock real value from their investment in AI with AMD CIO Hasmukh Ranjan, Palantir CIO Jim Siders, and Ingram Micro CTO Dham Path…
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🎙️ Authenticity Is Your Superpower: Branding That Connects with Michael David Riley
46:14
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46:14In this powerful episode of Level Up + Live, host Sean Meyers sits down with branding expert and authenticity advocate Michael David Riley to unpack the real meaning of branding and why being your true self is your biggest business asset. From the 35,000 decisions we make each day to the 80% of thoughts rooted in negativity, Michael dives deep into…
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How Mars Uses AI and Platforms to Scale Value Across Brands
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24:30At Mars, digital services must feel shared and personal at the same time. In this episode, Peter High speaks with Marina Bellini, President of Global Services and Digital Technologies at Mars. With over 150,000 associates across 70+ markets, Mars spans industries from pet care and veterinary services to food and confectionery. Marina oversees share…
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How Intel, Experian, and General Mills are Driving Innovation with GenAI and Agents
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30:05
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30:05How are digital leaders driving real business impact with GenAI and agents? In this Technovation episode, we feature a panel from our most recent Metis Strategy Summit where Metis Strategy’s Steven Norton speaks with three top executives who are driving innovation through generative AI and agents: Motti Finkelstein, CIO of Intel; Shri Santhanam, EV…
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Emotional Intelligence Is a Leadership Discipline—Not a Personality Trait
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15:40Send us a text 🎙 Emotional Intelligence Is a Leadership Discipline—Not a Personality Trait In this episode of the Elite Leader Insights™ Podcast, Donald C. Kunkel Jr. breaks down one of the most misunderstood elements of leadership: emotional intelligence. Too many leaders still treat EQ as a soft skill—or worse, a personality trait you're either b…
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Why Most Business Owners Struggle With Bookkeeping and How Rebecca Barker Fixes It
47:35
47:35
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47:35In this episode of the Level Up + Live Podcast, host Sean Meyers sits down with Rebecca Barker, wife, mother, entrepreneur, and the founder of Barker Management LLC, to unpack one of the most overlooked but critical areas in business: bookkeeping. Rebecca shares how she helps business owners and entrepreneurs across Montgomery County stay compliant…
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Adam Brotman & Andy Sack on Becoming an AI-First Business and Future-Proofing
52:58
52:58
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52:58“The genie is out of the bottle” In this episode of Technovation, host Peter High speaks with Adam Brotman and Andy Sack, co-CEOs of Forum3 and co-authors of AI First: The Playbook for a Future-Proof Business and Brand. Adam is a former co-CEO of J.Crew and Starbucks Chief Digital Officer, while Andy is a longtime entrepreneur, VC, and former advis…
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Leading Through Change: CIOs on Agility, Experience & Transformation
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33:02
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33:02994: Leading Through Change Requires Culture, Clarity, and Courage. In this episode of Technovation, Metis Strategy’s Andrew Krusell moderates a powerful panel with three accomplished CIOs: Richard Donaldson (CIO of Duke Energy), Neal Sample (CIO of Walgreens Boots Alliance), and Darlene Taylor (CIO of Superior Industries). Together, they share can…
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We All Hate Pointless Meetings—So Why Do We Keep Having Them?
8:43
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8:43Send us a text 🎙 We All Hate Pointless Meetings—So Why Do We Keep Having Them? In this episode of the Elite Leader Insights™ Podcast, Donald C. Kunkel Jr. unpacks one of the biggest productivity killers in modern leadership: meetings that waste time, erode trust, and derail execution. Meetings were designed to move teams forward—but too often, they…
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Purpose-Driven Marketing Strategy for Business Owners with Kyle Ewald, Founder of Zion Digital
53:00
53:00
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53:00Can someone who lost both parents to addiction rise to lead a thriving marketing agency, run an orphanage in Guatemala, and stay grounded in faith and purpose? Spoiler: yes—and his name is Kyle Ewald. In this electric conversation, Kyle, founder of Zion Digital, pastor, and purpose-driven entrepreneur, sits down with me to share a raw, redemptive j…
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Why the CIO at FICO Owns Innovation, Not Just IT
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27:43
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27:43Customer-first IT and innovation at scale. On this episode of Technovation, host Peter High speaks with Mike Trkay, Chief Information Officer at FICO, a $2B analytics software company. Mike leads not only internal IT but also the operations of FICO’s customer-facing SaaS and PaaS platforms making him a unique, customer-facing CIO. Mike shares insig…
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How UHG Is Aligning Its AI Strategy on Patient-Centered Care
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36:39
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36:39“Healthcare, first of all, unlike other industries, has to be held to a higher standard in terms of responsibility.” In this episode of Technovation, host Peter High speaks with Sandeep Dadlani, Executive Vice President and Chief Digital & Technology Officer of UnitedHealth Group, the Fortune 3 healthcare leader. Sandeep explains how his team’s tec…
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How Comparison Hijacks Growth—and Steals Your Momentum
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9:19Send us a text 🎙 How Comparison Hijacks Growth—and Steals Your Momentum In this episode of the Elite Leader Insights™ Podcast, Donald C. Kunkel Jr. takes on one of the most overlooked leadership traps: comparison. It doesn’t just distract—it distorts. And when left unchecked, it slowly pulls even the most driven leaders off track. From subtle self-…
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Faith Behind the Chair: Renee Owen on Leading a Christ-Centered Business with Her Daughters
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42:23Get the Inside Scoop! Subscribe to my YouTube channel for exclusive, behind-the-scenes looks at how I run my business, train for HYROX, build strong connections, and cultivate a vibrant community. Your support empowers us to inspire and help even more people! 👉 Join the journey here Welcome back to the Level Up and Live Podcast — the show that help…
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Backing First-Principles Founders: Rajeev Dham on AI, SaaS, and Agentic Enterprise Tech
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25:08In this episode of Technovation, Peter High speaks with Rajeev Dham, Partner at Sapphire Ventures, about how venture capital investment in enterprise technology is evolving in the age of AI. Rajeev discusses why he prioritizes first-principles, highly technical founders over playbook-driven approaches, and how enterprise buyers are distinguishing b…
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Talent Strategies for an AI Future: CIO Insights from TD SYNNEX, Zurich, and Western Digital
32:06
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32:06In this episode of Technovation, we feature a panel from the Metis Strategy Summit moderated by Ozlem Ulusoy, exploring how senior technology executives are preparing their talent for an AI-driven future. Joining the conversation are Kristie Grinnell, CIO of TD SYNNEX; Madhu Ramamurthy, CIO of Zurich North America; and Sesh Tirumala, CIO of Western…
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