From a One-Man Show to $12 Billion Projects

From a One-Man Show to $12 Billion Projects

From Speak In Flow by Melinda Lee

May 14, 2026 · 32 min · Season 2 · Episode 159

About this episode

Oscar Zavaleta shares his journey from a one-person operation to leading a team on billion-dollar projects, discussing leadership and delegation.

Are you a CEO who still finds yourself overwhelmed, unable to step away without things falling apart? In this Episode of The Speak In Flow Podcast with Melinda Lee, Oscar Zavaleta, founder and CEO of Montez Group, shares his journey from running a one-person operation to leading a team of 35 on billion-dollar infrastructure projects, such as the $12.5 billion VTA Silicon Valley megaproject. If you're a leader who cares deeply about quality but feels trapped by your own involvement, this episode will change how you think about letting go. In This Episode, You Will Learn: The Cost of Owning Everything “The hardest part is to say, you know what? I don't need to own it.” Why starting as a one-person show creates a dangerous pattern, and how to break the cycle before your company stagnates. How to Trust Your Team Without Losing Quality “If you break something, we'll fix it.” The mindset shift that allows you to empower people, even when real financial risk is on the line. Why Training Creates Leadership “If you put somebody completely unprepared, that spirit gets beaten down, and then it's hard to build up.” How investing in your people's preparation builds their confidence and their…

People in this episode

Host: Melinda Lee

Guest: Oscar Zavaleta

Topics covered

  • leadership
  • team management
  • business growth
  • trust in teams
  • communication
  • infrastructure projects

Keywords

  • CEO
  • one-man show
  • billion-dollar projects
  • team empowerment
  • communication
  • leadership training

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Montez Group, VTA

Places: Silicon Valley

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