SEASON: 5 EPISODE: 29

Episode Overview:

Welcome back to the Becoming Preferred podcast. The podcast that helps business professionals and entrepreneurs go from being just another option to being the emotional favorite. Today we're addressing a topic that so many of us navigate daily: the power of quiet leadership. The business world often celebrates the loudest voice in the room, but what if the most powerful leaders are actually the ones who are thinking, listening, and observing?

Our guest today is a living testament to this idea. With over two decades as a successful product and technology executive, he's led teams and scaled startups, but he's here today as the voice of the quiet thinker. He's the host of the Powerful Introvert podcast and newsletter, and he's on a mission to help introverted professionals and leaders embrace their natural strengths and thrive on their own terms. Please join me for my conversation with Greg Weinger.

Guest Bio:

What if the best leaders weren’t the loudest voices in the room?

Greg Weinger has spent over 20 years proving that introverts and unconventional thinkers can thrive in leadership. A seasoned product and technology executive, he has helped scale startups 10X to $70M+ in revenue, leading teams that build market-leading digital products and drive business growth. A Stanford graduate, he studied English literature, creative writing, and software engineering—giving him a unique ability to blend technical expertise, storytelling, and strategic thinking to make complex ideas accessible and actionable.

Greg is the author and host of Powerful Introvert, a Substack publication and podcast dedicated to helping introverts unlock their leadership potential. A sought-after speaker, he challenges outdated leadership norms and explores how organizations can create inclusive leadership structures that embrace diverse working styles.

He is also deeply interested in the intersection of technology and personal wellness, exploring how wearable biometrics and machine learning can optimize meditation, mindfulness, exercise, and sleep to help leaders operate at their best. His mission is to redefine leadership by prioritizing self-awareness, leveraging introverts’ strengths, and creating space for different leadership styles to thrive.

Greg speaks with depth, clarity, and a touch of irreverence, delivering insights that challenge assumptions, spark new ways of thinking, and provide practical takeaways for better leadership and performance.

Greg lives in Portland, Oregon, with his wife of 25 years, their two cats, and their golden retriever, Mervin. He is a proud father of two college-aged children.

Insight Gold Timestamps:

02:11 Introverts are looking inwardly first

02:21 Extroverts, the bias is outward first, they're acting, they're emoting

04:39 They talk about ambiverts

07:02 The more prepared introverts are, the generally the better off they are going into a situation

08:23 So, what are the most damaging misconceptions about introverted leaders

09:04 Just because they're quiet doesn't mean that they don't have anything to say

12:58 Why do we have such a bias towards the extroverted leader?

14:47 There are absolutely ways to do this in a way that are authentic to you

16:32 My personal practice, I wake up earlier and I am meditating for 40 minutes to an hour

20:05 How should we approach to make that introvert feel comfortable or that extrovert feel comfortable?

21:17 Introverts like authenticity

23:25 What's your advice for turning self-doubt into a source of confidence and credibility?

25:29 When you're vulnerable, you're speaking your truth, that's authentic

27:10 The phrase is: Let the puppy tire itself out

28:18 It's a constant practice to be as present as we can

30:45 There's never been a better time to understand yourself, accept yourself, and have support for becoming the leader that you ought to be

31:47 I started this podcast called Powerful Introvert

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregoryweinger/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@powerfulintrovert

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/powerful_introvert

Podcast: https://www.powerfulintrovertpodcast.com/

Email: [email protected]

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://bookme.michaelvickers.com/lite/rainmaker-leadgen-platform-demo

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

Resources: https://becomingpreferred-podcast.com/resources/