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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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes191Founded6 years ago
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ManagementCareersBusiness

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Artwork for Leadership Launchpad

Latest Episodes

Most companies say they’re developing leaders.

But when you look at what actually happens on the floor, or inside a new manager’s first real team, it doesn’t line up.

Craig Coyle spent years as an Army aviator and now works with frontline leaders i... more

Most technical training programs fail before the first technician ever sets foot in the room. Not because the content is wrong. Because the entire design is wrong.

Traditional training asks: did they understand it? Technical training asks something ... more

YouTube

Most leaders talk about speed. Ian Walsh doesn’t.

In this conversation, he separates speed from what actually matters in leadership: velocity, meaning speed with direction. Ian has spent his career in aerospace and defense, from flying Marine Cobra ... more

YouTube

Most people think leadership starts when someone gives them authority.

I don't think that's true.

One of the ideas that kept coming up in my conversation with Keith Ferrazzi is that leadership is rarely granted before it's demonstrated. The people ... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Keith Ferrazzi
Founder and CEO of Ferrazzi Greenlight; New York Times bestselling author
Ferrazzi Greenlight
Episode: Stop Waiting for Permission to Lead w/ Keith Ferrazzi
Chapman Snowden
Chief Operating Officer of AstroForge, former Chief of Staff and Head of Mining
AstroForge
Episode: How to Scale Chaos Without Losing Control w/AstroForge COO Chapman Snowden
Nancy Cable
Senior Director of Manufacturing at Ursa Major
Ursa Major
Episode: The Real Job of Leadership in Technical Teams with Nancy Cable
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

Host

Matt Gjertsen
Host of Leadership Launchpad; guides discussions with guests on leadership, teams, and organizational dynamics in hard-tech environments.

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.

The show is viewed as a valuable resource for L&D and engineering leadership.
Hosts are commended for deep, thoughtful questioning and high-quality conversations.
Listeners praise practical leadership insights and actionable frameworks.
Guests are described as knowledgeable and diverse across tech industries.

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.

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Gender Skew
Location
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Age Range
Household Income
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Frequently Asked Questions About Leadership Launchpad

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

- This show centers on practical leadership for technical managers operating in high-stakes, engineering-heavy environments. Episodes routinely explore how to lead fast-moving teams, balance speed with reliability, and design scalable people processes in aerospace, defense, and other hard-tech domains. Expect frameworks, real-world stories, and candid talks with founders, operators, and leaders shaping ambitious technical programs. A standout throughline is turning complex technical challenges into clear leadership actions, with an emphasis on culture, hiring, onboarding, and risk management.

- Noteworthy is the balance between theory and actionable playbooks—from minimum viable processes to coaching, feedback culture, and servant leadershi... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Leadership Launchpad?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Leadership Launchpad:

1. Main Engine Cut Off
2. Are We There Yet?
3. This Week in Space (Audio)
4. "There I was..." An Aviation Podcast
5. Planetary Radio: Space Exploration, Astronomy and Science

How many episodes of Leadership Launchpad are there?

Leadership Launchpad launched 6 years ago and published 191 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Leadership Launchpad?

Recent guests on Leadership Launchpad include:

1. Keith Ferrazzi
2. Chapman Snowden
3. Nancy Cable
4. Matt Gialich
5. Brian Mejeur
6. Hans Koenigsmann
7. Austin Spiegel
8. Thomas Zurbuchen

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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