The BreakLine Arena

The world of strategic intelligence is evolving at an unprecedented pace. In this episode of the BreakLine Arena, we sit down with Eric Levesque, COO and Co-Founder of Strider Technologies, to explore how organizations can protect their technology, innovation, and competitive advantage in an era of global strategic competition.Eric shares his expertise on the high-stakes battleground of strategic intelligence, revealing how intellectual property threats, geopolitical conflicts, and emerging technologies are reshaping industries worldwide. We dive into Strider Technologies’ all-of-society approach, the critical role of government-private sector collaboration, and how Strider’s ability to process massive amounts of data faster than most gives organizations a decisive edge.Please like, rate, subscribe, or review our show if you’ve liked what you’ve heard! We’d love to hear your thoughts. If you’re interested in joining our community, please visit www.breakline.org. If you’re interested in exploring partnerships with BreakLine, please visit https://breakline.org/partners/partner-signup/.

How do you disrupt an entire industry and transform customer experience? Together with his team, TJ Parker, Co-Founder and former CEO of PillPack, did just that.During our conversation, TJ shares the journey of building PillPack, from their early vision and startup team, to navigating through extremely tense dynamics with very large incumbents, to ultimately selling PillPack to Amazon, and continuing to build for a much bigger market. He reflects on the biggest lessons learned, and also the most critical decisions that shaped the company’s success.It was a treat to have TJ’s big brother, Dan Parker, in the audience. When it came time for QA, Dan helpfully asked what percentage of college classes TJ actually attended.We also dive into the power of community, the importance of work ethic, and what’s next for TJ in his new(er) role as an investor at Matrix Partners.Please like, rate, subscribe, or review our show if you’ve liked what you’ve heard! We’d love to hear your thoughts. If you’re interested in joining our community, please visit www.breakline.org. If you’re interested in exploring partnerships with BreakLine, please visit https://breakline.org/partners/partner-signup/.

Join us in the BreakLine Arena for a conversation with Todd Bennett, President and COO of Deer Valley Resort. Todd and his team are known for the “Deer Valley Difference.” They deliver extraordinary experiences unavailable anywhere else in the world.Todd shares insights on leadership, innovation, and guest experience, and covers topics from major resort expansions, hosting the Olympics and the World Cup, the future of privatized ski resorts and how cutting-edge tech is changing the game for top ski resorts. We also dive into his personal journey, including The Man Behind the Maps, the beloved book that he self-published, and how overcoming a life-changing heart condition made him an even better leader.Please like, rate, subscribe, or review our show if you’ve liked what you’ve heard! We’d love to hear your thoughts. If you’re interested in joining our community, please visit http://www.breakline.org/. If you’re interested in exploring partnerships with BreakLine, please learn more at https://breakline.org/partners/partner-signup/.

In this engaging discussion, Lexi Reese, CEO and co-founder of Lanai Software, shares her journey from tech executive to U.S. Senate candidate. She reveals effective strategies for building high-functioning teams and the critical role of diversity in tech. Lexi also dives into the transformative potential of AI, emphasizing its importance for workplace inclusivity. Personal insights about navigating the challenges of politics are interwoven with thoughts on leadership and the future of AI, making for a thought-provoking conversation.

We’re thrilled to feature Leslie Snavely, CEO & President of CHG Healthcare, the largest physician and recruiting staffing company in the US. Join us as she shares her inspiring career journey, the unique insights she's gained as a military spouse, and how she stays true to her values: “I want to be who I am, where I am.”  With BreakLine’s new Utah initiative for military spouses and veterans underway, Leslie’s story is especially timely.Tune in to hear about her early days at Procter & Gamble, how she navigated cross-country moves for her husband’s military career, and her reflections on motherhood and moving back to Utah. Leslie speaks to the importance of mentorship, leading with values, and the unique insights that come from her dual role as a leader and military spouse.Don’t miss this inspiring conversation!

Join us in the BreakLine Arena for a conversation with Josh Araujo, CEO of Forterra. His team, among the earliest innovators in the field, is revolutionizing the defense sector with its dual-use autonomous vehicle systems, while supporting and protecting soldiers and civilians on the front line.  Josh delves into a series of compelling topics, including his unique journey from the Marines to Wall Street and to leading Forterra. He highlights his core leadership principles and the significance of staying close to the operational level to genuinely empower teams. Josh ends by sharing his goals and plans to scale Forterra while maintaining a strong culture of innovation.“A leader should enable their team. Take the blame when things go wrong, and give credit to others when things go right.”Please like, rate, subscribe, or review our show if you’ve liked what you’ve heard! We’d love to hear your thoughts. If you’re interested in joining our community, please visit www.breakline.org. If you’re interested in exploring partnerships with BreakLine, please visit https://breakline.org/partners/partner-signup/.

Join us in the BreakLine Arena for a conversation with Chris Mahl, President and COO of Pryon. Pryon is developing a best-in-class knowledge management platform, transforming complex, unstructured data from multiple sources into solutions for leading enterprises and government agencies.Chris dives into a range of interesting topics, from professional experiences and lessons learned in his earlier career to the transformation and impact we’re currently experiencing with AI. He emphasizes how essential passion is to the success of businesses and their workforce, details Pryon's distinctive strategies for tackling AI issues, and so much more!“A startup is a ridiculously, wonderfully complicated, exciting experience.”Please like, rate, subscribe, or review our show if you’ve liked what you’ve heard! We’d love to hear your thoughts. If you’re interested in joining our community, please visit www.breakline.org. If you’re interested in exploring partnerships with BreakLine, please visit https://breakline.org/partners/partner-signup/.

Join us in the BreakLine Arena for a conversation with John Donahoe, President & CEO of NIKE, Inc., world's leading designer, marketer and distributor of authentic athletic footwear, apparel, equipment, and accessories for a wide variety of sports and fitness activities. John dove into his own career transitions and the deeper sense of purpose that guides him. He shared some of the inner challenges he has navigated throughout his career, insights from “wisdom conversations” he had with peers and mentors during a sabbatical, how he and his wife, Eileen, built a dual-career family, and so much more.This podcast was recorded on Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023. References to events or facts are true up to that point but might have changed between the recording and release of this episode.Please like, rate, subscribe, or review our show if you’ve liked what you’ve heard! We’d love to hear your thoughts. If you’re interested in joining our community, please visit www.breakline.org. If you’re interested in exploring partnerships with BreakLine, please visit https://breakline.org/partners/partner-signup/.

Join us in the BreakLine Arena for a conversation with Jessica Nordell, journalist, and author of  The End of Bias: A Beginning.In our conversation, she shares practical and research-backed approaches for addressing the habits of mind and action that prevent leaders from building and retaining outstanding teams. Among other topics, she describes the power of having an “existence proof,” the stabilizing and uplifting role that mentors play for up-and-coming professionals, and how to prevent “shadow requirements” from blocking one’s path to success. Please like, rate, subscribe, or review our show if you’ve liked what you’ve heard! We’d love to hear your thoughts. If you’re interested in joining our community, please visit www.breakline.org. If you’re interested in exploring partnerships with BreakLine, please visit https://breakline.org/partners/partner-signup/.

Join us in the BreakLine Arena for a conversation with Jen Sovada, President of Public Sector at SandboxAQ. SandboxAQ is harnessing the power of AI + Quantum technology to develop products for computationally-intensive industries including the public sector, healthcare, and telecommunications.Jen dives into her experience working on emerging technology while bridging the public-private sector gap, as well as her mentality around being a lifelong learner. She also shares some tips for building effective teams, managing imposter syndrome, and building a career in national security.“When building a team, don’t look just at the qualities and skillsets that they bring. Look at how interested they are in learning, how inquisitive they are, and whether or not they want to grow and build.”Please like, rate, subscribe, or review our show if you’ve liked what you’ve heard! We’d love to hear your thoughts. If you’re interested in joining our community, please visit www.breakline.org. If you’re interested in exploring partnerships with BreakLine, please visit https://breakline.org/partners/partner-signup/.