Best Manager Ever

Dana Lawson is the CTO of Netlify. She’s been a technologist for decades, and was previously the VP of Engineering at Github and the Director of Engineering at New Relic, Heptio, InVision (acquired by Miro), and more. Dana has a diverse background, and served in the military. Dana's direct reports praise her for building confidence, providing autonomy support, for bringing honesty and compassion, and for sponsorship that goes beyond mentorship. In this episode, show creator and Fort Light founder Annie Riley sits down with Dana, and they discuss:How imposter shows up at senior levels– and how to handle it  How to deal with interpersonal conflictsWhat it takes to be an effective sponsorThe importance of embracing changeIf you’re interested in sponsoring an episode of Best Manager Ever, reach out:  [email protected] us on Substack Connect with Dana LawsonConnect with Annie RileyCheck out Fort Light to level up your leadership skillsConnect with our show’s Producer, Alexis RamdaouNominate your Best Manager Ever for the PodcastThis is a Production of Fort Light and Now it’s Hear Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Patrick Reynolds is the Co-Founder and Head of Product at Office Hours, an expert marketplace. Patrick started his career as a software engineer, before becoming a self-taught product designer and making the leap into product leadership. He has worked at an array of tech companies and startups including Affirm, Sweep, and Adobe. Patrick's direct reports praise him for his exceptional thoughtfulness, noting his ability to remember personal details and small, meaningful actions that remove friction and boost morale. They describe him as a natural coach who not only sets high standards but also provides the necessary support and resources to achieve them. In this episode, show creator and Fort Light founder Annie Riley sits down with Patrick, and they discuss:The difference between leadership and management  How to prime yourself so it’s easy to spot opportunities to support your team The difference between a culture that inspires ambition vs. enforces it How to consume content for maximum ROI The best way to spot (and stop!) perfectionism If you’re interested in sponsoring an episode of Best Manager Ever, reach out: [email protected] us on Substack Connect with Patrick ReynoldsConnect with Annie RileyCheck out Fort Light to level up your leadership skillsConnect with our show’s Producer, Alexis RamdaouNominate your Best Manager Ever for the PodcastThis is a Production of Fort Light and Now it’s Hear Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this expert episode, Annie Riley sits down with Matt Wallaert, an applied behavioral scientist who made the leap into the tech and startup worlds. Matt is currently the CXO at Oceans, and he’s previously held leadership roles at Clover Health, LendingTree, Microsoft, frog design, and more. Matt explains why all leaders should know and use the principles of applied behavioral science– because all startup leaders are in the business of behavior change with our customers, our teams, and ourselves. They discuss specific tactics that leaders can use to influence their team’s behavior, including the SIDE framework, promoting and inhibiting pressures, iterative experimentation, and more. Matt explains how applied behavioral science can be the key to unlocking lasting and meaningful behavior change, and to achieving a more empathetic and effective leadership style. If you’re interested in sponsoring an episode of Best Manager Ever, reach out: [email protected] us on Substack Connect with Matt WallaertConnect with Annie RileyCheck out Fort Light to level up your leadership skillsConnect with our show’s Producer, Alexis RamdaouNominate your Best Manager Ever for the PodcastThis is a Production of Fort Light and Now it’s Hear Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.