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Artwork for Leadership Launchpad
Leadership
Leadership Development
Trust
Spacex
Team Dynamics
Employee Engagement
Aerospace
Psychological Safety
Team Management
Feedback
Communication
Coaching
Delegation
Aerospace Industry
Hiring Practices
High-Performing Teams
Conflict Resolution
Team Empowerment
Management
Goal Setting

Welcome to the Leadership Launchpad where we help technical managers improve themselves, their teams, and their organizations. Host Matt Gjertsen — former Air Force instructor pilot and head of training and development at SpaceX — brings hard-won lessons from the world's most demanding organizations to help new managers lead with clarity and confidence. Each episode cuts through the noise with pra... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes185Founded6 years ago
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ManagementBusinessCareers

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Artwork for Leadership Launchpad

Latest Episodes

Most people think leadership in technical companies is about being the most knowledgeable person in the room. Knowing the answers, setting the direction, and solving the hardest problems yourself. But the longer you spend actually doing the job, the ... more

YouTube

Most leaders think their job is complicated. It’s not. I tend to break it down into three things: get people working together, get them working on the right things, and improve the work over time. The problem is that second one. Getting people focuse... more

YouTube

This solo episode explores the challenges and opportunities facing hard tech and leadership in today’s rapidly evolving technology landscape. The host announces the rebranding of their company from Better Everyday Studios to Built, with a renewed foc... more

YouTube

On this week’s episode of the Leadership Launchpad, we are bringing you a crossover episode from the VHTB podcast. If you enjoy the discussion and want more make sure to check out other episodes.

• YouTube: bit.ly/4sooBQo

• Spotify: https://... more

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Recent Guests

Matt Gialich
CEO of AstroForge
AstroForge
Episode: The Real Job of a CEO with Matt Gialich
Brian Mejeur
Avid talent strategist and co-host of the adjacent show, AdAstra Talent Advisors
AdAstra Talent Advisors
Episode: Where's the Line Between Pushing People and Being an A*hole?
Hans Koenigsmann
Former VP Build and Flight Reliability at SpaceX
SpaceX
Episode: The Real Price of Moving Fast in Aerospace with Hans Koenigsmann
Austin Spiegel
Co-founder and CTO of Sift
Sift
Episode: The Data Problem No One Solved with Austin Spiegel
Thomas Zurbuchen
Former Associate Administrator of NASA's Science Mission Directorate (2016-2022)
NASA
Episode: Why Constraints Make Teams Better with Dr. Thomas Zurbuchen
Brian Ippolito
Senior Director of Operations at Marotta Controls
Marotta Controls
Episode: Going from Buddy to Boss with Brian Ippolito
Casey Handmer
Founder of Terraform Industries; energy tech entrepreneur
Terraform Industries
Episode: Why Management Is Still the Hardest Problem with Casey Handmer
Ajay Gnanasekaran
Senior Program Director for Battery Workforce Development at Argonne National Labs
Argonne National Labs
Episode: Servant Leadership That Drives Results with Ajay Gnanasekaran
Susan Charlesworth
Former astronaut trainer for ESA, now a leadership coach focusing on human performance and teamwork
Charlesworth Human Performance
Episode: Human Factors That Drive Team Success with Susan Charlesworth

Host

Matt Gjertsen
Host of Leadership Launchpad; brings military and aerospace leadership perspectives to tech leadership.

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 30 ratings
  • Just what leaders need!

    Awesome podcast with insights and advice to make your leadership journey more manageable. Matt brings great energy and facilitates amazing conversations for anyone to be a better leader. Listen to one episode and I promise you’ll gain something out of it.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Raaaaaf
    United States2 years ago
  • Great leadership podcast!

    Matt’s unique background makes him a perfect host for a leadership podcast. He combines his background with his passion for behavior change to support leadership development. Highly recommend!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Heather B, SMM
    United States2 years ago
  • Great Podcast!

    If you are a leader or an L&D practitioner, this show is for you! Matt is a great host and asks deep and insightful questions.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    חלי נחמה
    United States2 years ago
  • Go-to L

    Fantastic podcast providing tangible leadership strategies! It’s great to hear insights from knowledgeable guests spanning a range of industries and verticals. As someone who aspires to transition into management, this is my go-to podcast for leadership upskilling.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Kris Torrence
    United States2 years ago
  • Fantastic show to help you make things better

    A great show to help you make yourself and your organization better. Matt is a great host with wonderful guests covering a wide range of topics that will get you thinking about how to improve your organization, develop your talent, and make your life better.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Andy Storch
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Guests span diverse industries and roles, offering broad perspectives.
Listeners praise actionable advice and depth of questions.
High-quality discussions on team performance and development.
Engaging host with practical leadership insights.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Data Problem No One Solved with Austin Spiegel
Q: What is telemetry and why is it so bad?
Telemetry is sensor data with timestamps from hardware and software, and the hardware domain needs higher fidelity and frequency than traditional software telemetry, which is why specialized hardware observability tools are required.
Why Constraints Make Teams Better with Dr. Thomas Zurbuchen
Q: What do you think are the core factors that determine whether a technical project succeeds or fails?
Ultimately, it's a balance between having the right people in the right roles, managing risk with a clear purpose, and fostering a culture where ideas are challenged but people feel supported. Technology can usually be figured out, but culture and leadership determine whether teams execute and learn quickly.
Why Management Is Still the Hardest Problem with Casey Handmer
Q: What was Casey's first experience with people leadership, and was Terraform his first leadership role?
Casey explains that Terraform was his first time with formal line management and payroll responsibilities, after having leadership experience in outdoor activities and volunteer settings, and that his exposure to leadership there shaped his approach as Terraform's leader.
Servant Leadership That Drives Results with Ajay Gnanasekaran
Q: What were some of the biggest challenges that you remember facing early in your people management career?
Ajay faced challenges in gaining the trust and respect of a team with more experience than him and emphasized the importance of personal leadership and kindness in overcoming those initial hurdles.
Empower Your Team With Effective Support with Jen Recla
Q: How do you work with people so they don't feel burnt out and can prioritize support?
Leaders must navigate their workload, manage their energy, and delegate responsibilities effectively.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Leadership Launchpad

What is Leadership Launchpad about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Leadership Launchpad focuses on practical leadership skills for technical managers, with conversations that highlight coaching, clear communication, talent development, and aligning training with real work. Episodes frequently explore how to lead high-performance engineering teams, balance speed with structure, and implement data-driven approaches to learning and performance. Noteworthy threads include the interplay between seasoned industry experience (aerospace, space tech, manufacturing) and modern leadership practices, plus a steady emphasis on applying classroom lessons to real-world team dynamics. The show tends to attract listeners who are engineering leaders, people managers, and L&D professionals seeking actionable insights they ca... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Leadership Launchpad?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Leadership Launchpad:

1. Off-Nominal
2. Main Engine Cut Off
3. The Daily

How many episodes of Leadership Launchpad are there?

Leadership Launchpad launched 6 years ago and published 185 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Leadership Launchpad?

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What guests have appeared on Leadership Launchpad?

Recent guests on Leadership Launchpad include:

1. Matt Gialich
2. Brian Mejeur
3. Hans Koenigsmann
4. Austin Spiegel
5. Thomas Zurbuchen
6. Brian Ippolito
7. Casey Handmer
8. Ajay Gnanasekaran

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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