Experience-Focused Leaders
Alex Shevelenko
Introducing Alex Shevelenko, CEO and founder of RELAYTO and the host of the Experienced-Focused Leaders Podcast. With a mission to empower seasoned business owners who recognize the critical role of customer experience in achieving success, Alex brings together a community of discerning listeners eager to explore new perspectives and strategies for enhancing their experience-centric approach.
In our thought-provoking podcast episodes, we dive deep into the stories and insights of accomplished business owners who have honed their expertise in delivering exceptional customer experiences. These industry veterans possess a wealth of knowledge and practical experience, making them valuable resources for our audience of seasoned professionals who are passionate about creating meaningful connections with their customers.
Our podcast serves as a platform for exchanging ideas, sharing best practices, and exploring innovative approaches to customer experience. We understand that our audience is composed of discerning individuals who have already achieved considerable success and are constantly seeking new ways to elevate their customer-centric strategies.
If you are a seasoned business owner with a profound understanding of the significance of customer experience in driving business growth, we invite you to join us as a guest on our podcast. Share your unique insights, success stories, and the strategies that have set you apart in your industry.
In our thought-provoking podcast episodes, we dive deep into the stories and insights of accomplished business owners who have honed their expertise in delivering exceptional customer experiences. These industry veterans possess a wealth of knowledge and practical experience, making them valuable resources for our audience of seasoned professionals who are passionate about creating meaningful connections with their customers.
Our podcast serves as a platform for exchanging ideas, sharing best practices, and exploring innovative approaches to customer experience. We understand that our audience is composed of discerning individuals who have already achieved considerable success and are constantly seeking new ways to elevate their customer-centric strategies.
If you are a seasoned business owner with a profound understanding of the significance of customer experience in driving business growth, we invite you to join us as a guest on our podcast. Share your unique insights, success stories, and the strategies that have set you apart in your industry.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Jan 23, 2026 • 44min
21 – The $120 Billion Founder Community You’ve Never Heard Of
Your host Alex Shevelenko welcomes Shannon McClenaghan, the CEO of StartX, Stanford University’s elite, non-profit startup community for alumni, faculty, and serial founders. A seasoned leader at the helm of one of Silicon Valley’s most powerful "secret weapons," Shannon oversees an ecosystem that has helped launch 20 unicorns and create over $120 billion in value—all without taking a single cent of equity from its founders.In this conversation, Shannon pulls back the curtain on the "magic" of StartX. She explores the unique psychology of the founder, describing the "secret handshake" of leaders who must hold radical optimism and the fear of failure in their minds simultaneously. Shannon breaks down the power of a "pure mission" and explains why the most valuable advice doesn't come from investors or experts, but from a peer-to-peer "flywheel" where successful decacorn founders return to mentor the next generation.If you’re focused on building high-trust communities, navigating the lonely journey of a founder, or understanding why "human-grade" connection is the ultimate competitive advantage in the age of AI, this episode offers a profound look at the humanity behind the statistics.To learn more about Shannon and the StartX community, visit startx.com or reach out at shannon@startx.com.To learn more about RELAYTO, visit: relayto.com
Jan 16, 2026 • 56min
20 – The Last Frontier is Ourselves: Leading from the Inside Out
Your host Alex Shevelenko welcomes A.J. Thomas, the CEO of The Troublemaker Lab and Founder and General Partner of Good Trouble Ventures. A visionary leader and former "Chaos Pilot" at Google X, A.J. specializes in helping extraordinary founders build enduring companies through coaching, strategy, and mindful innovation.In this conversation, A.J. explores the intersection of technology, creativity, and culture. She discusses her "Troublemaker" philosophy—scaling companies without losing one's soul—and breaks down her unique framework of balancing Self, Health, and Wealth for sustainable leadership. Drawing from her non-traditional background as a musician and a former undocumented immigrant, she shares how the "courage to be curious" can transform constraints into "portals" for innovation.If you’re focused on human-centered innovation, building mission-driven cultures, or navigating the complexities of scaling at the edges of technology and creativity, this episode offers a profound mindset shift for modern leaders.To learn more about A.J. and follow her insights, visit thetroublemakerlab.com and goodtrouble.vc.To learn more about RELAYTO, visit: relayto.com
Jan 9, 2026 • 51min
19 – How to Connect Frontline Workers to Strategy and Culture
Your host Alex Shevelenko welcomes Nicole Alvino, a pioneering leader in employee experience and founder of FirstUp, a platform that connects organizations with their workforce at scale. With experience building technology solutions for some of the world’s largest companies, Nicole helps enterprises engage frontline employees, drive alignment, and create meaningful workplace experiences through personalization and innovative communication strategies.In this conversation, Nicole talks about the challenges companies face in connecting with their entire workforce, why personalized and hyper-relevant communication is critical for engagement and performance, and how leaders can foster a people-first culture while scaling globally. She shares lessons from building FirstUp, selling to large enterprises, and creating a mission-driven organization that balances technology, culture, and employee wellbeing—illustrating how thoughtful leadership and authentic connection drive measurable business outcomes.If you’re focused on improving employee engagement, bridging gaps between leadership and frontline teams, or delivering a more human-centered approach to enterprise communication, this episode offers actionable insights and inspiration.To learn more about Nicole and follow her insights, visit: FirstUp website and LinkedIn.To learn more about RELAYTO, visit: relayto.com
Dec 19, 2025 • 37min
18 – From Design Sprints to Boardrooms: Turning Human-Centered Insights into ROI
Your host Alex Shevelenko welcomes Iliana Oris Valiente, a multidisciplinary innovator at Accenture who sits at the intersection of emerging technology, human-centered design, and capital investment. With experience bridging startups, large enterprises, and family offices, Iliana helps organizations turn insights into measurable business impact, foster innovation, and unlock growth opportunities.In this conversation, Iliana talks about the challenges enterprises face when adopting new technologies, why human-centered design is critical for innovation to deliver real business results, and how startups and corporates can collaborate effectively without slowing progress. She shares lessons from structuring design sprints, advising venture-backed companies, and guiding capital allocation for maximum impact—illustrating how patient capital and strategic partnerships can accelerate growth and innovation.If you’re focused on driving measurable business outcomes through innovation, bridging organizational silos, or investing strategically in high-potential opportunities, this episode delivers actionable takeaways you can put into practice.To learn more about Iliana and follow her insights, visit her LinkedIn and Substack.To learn more about RELAYTO, visit: relayto.com.
Dec 5, 2025 • 35min
17 – Your Documents Speak Louder Than You Think
Your host Alex Shevelenko welcomes Stephan Kuhnert, co-founder and co-CEO of Empower, a software suite that helps organizations create consistent, professional, and on-brand content across Microsoft 365. With clients ranging from global enterprises to Microsoft itself, Stephan has spent years helping teams save time, boost productivity, and ensure every document, presentation, or spreadsheet reflects their brand and builds trust.In this conversation, Stephan talks about the challenges companies face in creating high-quality, engaging content, why first impressions in documents matter more than ever, and how professional design—applied at scale—can influence trust, engagement, and even revenue. He shares insights from working with some of the most complex and detail-oriented organizations in Germany and beyond, offering practical approaches leaders can apply immediately to make their communications clearer, more consistent, and more persuasive.If you’re focused on building trust, improving internal and external communications, or ensuring your brand is represented consistently at every touchpoint, this episode delivers actionable takeaways you can put into practice.To learn more about Stephan and Empower, visit: empowersuite.comTo learn more about RELAYTO, visit: relayto.com
Nov 28, 2025 • 45min
16 – Why leaders shouldn’t be the smartest person in the room
Your host Alex Shevelenko welcomes Kevin Lee, a digital marketing pioneer who has spent decades helping companies grow revenue through sharper execution rather than inflated budgets. Before Google existed, Kevin was already building the technology and tactics many teams still rely on today. He co-founded Didit, scaled it into one of New York’s leading agencies, authored four books, and built nonprofit initiatives like Giving Forward, raising millions for social causes along the way.In this conversation, Kevin talks about what it really takes to build trust, deliver value, and drive outcomes in a world flooded with automation and noise. With firsthand experience from every phase of digital marketing, he brings clear principles leaders can apply immediately—especially when teams are expected to achieve more with less.If you’re focused on customer trust, team leadership, or building a business grounded in real purpose—not just louder messaging—this episode delivers strong takeaways you can put into practice.To learn more about Kevin, visit his LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/variousventures/Think you’d be a great guest on the show? Apply.To learn more about RELAYTO, visit relayto.com.
Nov 21, 2025 • 1h 21min
15 – Show, Don’t Tell: Donna Griffit on Breaking Through with Product Demos
Your host Alex Shevelenko welcomes Donna Griffit, a globally recognized corporate storyteller who has helped hundreds of startups and Fortune 500 leaders raise more than $1.5B by clarifying their narratives and showing the true value behind complex ideas.Together, they discuss why visual storytelling is the key to breaking through noise, especially in industries where information is dense, regulated, and difficult to understand. Donna explains why people don’t connect with text-heavy content and how a simple shift—show first, talk second—can change the way audiences listen, remember, and act.Donna shares practical advice on crafting a pitch people care about, the importance of a powerful demo, and how showing a product in action creates instant understanding. She breaks down why the human brain responds to visuals, what Steve Jobs mastered that most founders miss, and how to structure a story that lands across different audiences.To connect with Donna, visit DonnaGriffit.com or try Deck Check at DonnaGriffit.com.Think you’d be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE. To learn more about RELAYTO, visit relayto.com.
Nov 14, 2025 • 53min
14 – From Armani to Regenerative Cotton: Federico Marchetti’s Vision for Responsible Fashion
Your host Alex Shevelenko welcomes Federico Marchetti, the entrepreneur who reshaped luxury retail by founding Yoox Net-a-Porter, a public company later sold in a transaction valued at $6 billion. Today, Federico serves on the board of Giorgio Armani and leads large-scale initiatives in digital innovation and regenerative sustainability.Together, they explore how creativity and business discipline can coexist at scale—and why this combination is the real competitive edge for brands navigating rapid digital change. Federico shares the origins of bringing luxury fashion online, long before e-commerce was mainstream, and what it takes to build something enduring in a market where everyone else looks the same.He also discusses his current work with leading fashion houses, including the rollout of digital product passports, regenerative materials, and supply-chain transparency. Federico opens up about lessons from collaborating with Giorgio Armani and King Charles, the importance of being a “doer” around visionary leaders, and why courage—not shortcuts—has shaped every step of his journey.Federico also highlights themes from his new book, The Geek of Chic: American Dream, Italian Style, written to inspire the next generation to take risks and stay true to themselves.To continue the conversation with Federico, connect with him on LinkedIn.Think you’d be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE.To learn more about RELAYTO, visit relayto.com.
Nov 7, 2025 • 32min
13 – The Human in the Loop: Why Great Marketing Still Needs One
Your host Alex Shevelenko welcomes Randy Wootton, a seasoned revenue leader and CEO whose career spans leadership roles at Microsoft, Salesforce, RocketFuel, Percolate, Seismic, and Maxio. Together, they explore how AI is reshaping go-to-market strategy and what it takes to build enduring organizations in a time of rapid technological change.Drawing from decades of experience driving growth and orchestrating major acquisitions and exits, Randy shares how leaders can balance innovation with execution—and why clarity of purpose is the true multiplier for scaling teams and revenue. He discusses lessons from integrating AI into business operations, building strong company cultures through transitions, and helping today’s founders lay the groundwork for long-term success.Randy also shares insights from his current work at CEOx, where he advises AI-first and Agentic AI companies on building scalable go-to-market engines and leadership infrastructure.To continue the conversation with Randy, connect with him on LinkedIn or learn more about CEOx.Think you’d be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE.To learn more about RELAYTO, visit relayto.com
Oct 31, 2025 • 49min
12 – What Leadership Looks Like When Trust Is Your Currency
Your host Alex Shevelenko welcomes Erik Carlson, President and CEO of Notified, a leading technology partner for investor relations, public relations, and communications professionals. Together, they explore how leaders and companies can turn content into trust—and trust into measurable business impact.With more than 15 years of experience across private equity, M&A, and strategic finance, Erik shares why trust is the most valuable business currency and how consistent, authentic storytelling builds it. He explains how organizations can unlock the power of content by repurposing and personalizing it for investors, employees, and customers, and why quality human storytelling still matters even in an age of AI.Erik also dives into leadership in transition, reflecting on his first 90 days as CEO, and shares his philosophy of presence with purpose—focusing fully on what matters most, whether at work or at home.To continue the conversation with Erik, connect with him on LinkedIn or learn more at notified.com.Think you’d be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE.To learn more about RELAYTO, visit relayto.com.
