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
Jul 29, 2025 • 46min
1 – From Idea to Impact: How to Make Your Innovations Actually Stick
Your host, Alex Shevelenko, sits down with Nick Jane, CFA and CEO of IdeaScale, to unpack what it really takes to drive innovation inside large organizations. Nick shares his journey from academia and Wall Street to leading one of the most impactful platforms in idea management. Along the way, he highlights what slows innovation down—bureaucracy, unclear communication, and the loss of creative hunger—and how leaders can design systems that do the opposite.Nick makes the case for passionate teams, clear structures, and fast feedback loops. He draws a sharp contrast between the rapid, decisive style of leaders like Elon Musk and the slower pace of publicly traded companies. The conversation also explores how innovation efforts often get stuck during implementation—and what to do about it.Finally, we zoom out to explore how companies can create environments where ideas can not only be shared but acted on. Nick breaks down how to make innovation scalable, why collective intelligence matters, and how content—especially short-form—can help companies engage customers and employees alike.To learn more about Nick’s work at IdeaScale, click HERE. Think you’d be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE. To learn more about RELAYTO, visit relayto.com.
Oct 22, 2024 • 39min
62 - Understanding the Non-Linear Buyer Journey: A New Approach to Marketing with Forget The Funnel's Georgiana Laudi
Your host, Alex Shevelenko, talks with the Co-Founder and Chief Strategist of Forget The Funnel, Georgiana Laudi. Georgiana argues that the sales funnel model is overly simplistic and dehumanizes customers by reducing them to mere leads. She advocates for a customer-led growth framework that prioritizes understanding and delivering value to customers throughout their entire journey. Georgiana emphasizes the importance of product marketing, operationalizing customer insights, and adopting a customer-centric approach to build meaningful, lasting relationships and drive better business outcomes.To learn more about Georgiana's work, click HERE and HERE.Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE.To learn more about RELAYTO, visit https://relayto.com/
Sep 30, 2024 • 54min
61 - Navigating the Evolving Landscape of Content Marketing: Insights on AI, Video, and Audience Engagement with Dental Claim Support's Pamela Wilson
Your host, Alex Shevelenko, talks with the CMO of Dental Claim Support, the Author of Master Content Marketing, and Master Content Strategy, Pamela Wilson. Pamela discusses the evolving landscape of content marketing, emphasizing the impact of AI advancements. She highlights the necessity of human oversight to maintain content quality and authenticity. Pamela explores strategies for engaging different audience segments, the importance of video content, and the changing behavior of B2B buyers using AI tools for research. She also addresses the challenge of maintaining high-quality content amidst the prevalence of low-quality, AI-generated material, advocating for thoughtful, trust-building content.To learn more about Pamela's work, click HERE, HERE, and HERE.Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE.To learn more about RELAYTO, visit https://relayto.com/
Sep 24, 2024 • 48min
60 - From Soldiers to Savvy Savers: Transforming Financial Planning for Military Families with First Command Financial Services' Kellie Richter
Your host, Alex Shevelenko, talks with the EVP, Chief Marketing and Client Experience Officer of First Command Financial Services, Kellie Richter. Kellie discusses the company's mission to support military families in achieving financial security. She highlights the importance of client experience, emphasizing clarity, consistency, and control. She also discusses the unique financial challenges faced by military families and the role of military spouses in financial decision-making. Kellie underscores the connection between employee and client experience, and First Command's commitment to community service and personalized financial coaching for military families.To learn more about Kellie's work, click HERE and HERE.Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE.To learn more about RELAYTO, visit https://relayto.com/
Sep 17, 2024 • 56min
59 - Positioning vs. Branding: Understanding the Key Differences for Business Success with Cunningham Collective's Andy Cunningham
Your host, Alex Shevelenko, talks with the Founder and President of Cunningham Collective, Andy Cunningham. Andy delves into the intricacies of business positioning, particularly in the tech sector. Andy shares her experiences, including working with Steve Jobs on the Apple Macintosh launch, emphasizing the importance of finding a unique market position. The discussion covers the distinction between positioning and branding, the challenges of a saturated market, and the significance of emotional connections in customer and employee engagement. Andy also highlights the role of leadership and strategic thinking in successful positioning.To learn more about Andy's work, click HERE and HERE.Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE.To learn more about RELAYTO, visit https://relayto.com/
Sep 10, 2024 • 58min
58 - The Neuroscience of Marketing: Understanding Consumer Behavior for Better Results with Roger Dooley
Your host, Alex Shevelenko, talks with the Keynote Speaker, Author, and Friction Hunter, Roger Dooley. Roger discusses how understanding the brain can enhance marketing strategies and improve customer and employee experiences. Roger emphasizes the importance of reducing friction in user interactions, citing examples from various industries. He explores how trust, transparency, and intuitive design can foster better customer relationships and employee engagement. Roger highlights the significance of leveraging behavioral science principles, motion in user interfaces, and continuous feedback to create memorable and effective experiences.To learn more about Roger's work, click HERE and HERE.Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE.To learn more about RELAYTO, visit https://relayto.com/
Sep 3, 2024 • 1h 7min
57 - Mastering the Art of Customer-Centric Storytelling in Business with Business of Story's Park Howell
Your host, Alex Shevelenko, talks with the Business Story Strategist, Keynote Speaker, Sales Storytelling Coach, Podcaster, and Brand Raconteur at Business of Story, Park Howell. Park, an Emmy Award-winning business storytelling coach, talks about the pivotal role of storytelling in business. Park shares about his transition from running an advertising agency to becoming a storytelling coach, highlighting the shift from traditional advertising to narrative-driven approaches. He emphasizes that the customer should be the story's hero, not the brand. Park covers common storytelling mistakes and introduces the "And, But, Therefore" (ABT) framework for crafting compelling narratives. The speakers also explore the importance of clarity, emotional connection, and reducing friction in the customer journey.To learn more about Park's work, click HERE and HERE.Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE.To learn more about RELAYTO, visit https://relayto.com/
Aug 13, 2024 • 45min
56 - From Confusion to Clarity: How Innovative Software is Changing Employee Benefits with LHD Benefit Advisors' Whitney Boyer
Your host, Alex Shevelenko, talks with the CMO of LHD Benefit Advisors, Whitney Boyer. Whitney discusses digital experience software's transformative impact on employee benefits communication, focusing on the RELAYTO platform. Aimed at employee and insurance professionals, Whitney addresses challenges in effectively communicating benefits and highlights innovative solutions. She also emphasizes the importance of internal champions within sales teams to promote the adoption of new tools and technologies, ultimately improving client interactions and service offerings.To learn more about Whitney's work, click HERE and HERE.Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE.To learn more about RELAYTO, visit https://relayto.com/
Aug 6, 2024 • 50min
55 - Mastering the Art of Seed Investing and Startup Innovation with Floodgate's Mike Maples
Your host, Alex Shevelenko, talks with the Founding Partner of Floodgate, Mike Maples. Mike explores the intricacies of seed investing and entrepreneurship. He discusses the evolution of seed investing, the challenges of fundraising, and the critical importance of product-market fit. Mike shares his experiences and insights, emphasizing the need for unique market insights, emotional connections with investors and customers, and the significance of "lighthouse customers" who guide product development. The conversation also delves into the concept of "founder future fit" and the importance of creating new market categories to achieve breakthrough success.To learn more about Mike's work, click HERE and HERE.Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE.To learn more about RELAYTO, visit https://relayto.com/
Jul 30, 2024 • 1h 2min
54 - The Role of Social Proof and Defaults in Influencing Consumer Choices with Tim Ash
Your host, Alex Shevelenko, talks with the International Keynote Speaker, Bestselling Author, and Executive Advisor, Tim Ash. Tim discusses how evolutionary psychology impacts consumer behavior and decision-making. Key themes include the complexity of B2B sales, the importance of champion enablement, and the role of corporate culture in innovation. Tim emphasizes leveraging pain points in marketing, the power of storytelling, and the necessity of understanding the audience. He advocates for tailored marketing strategies that address specific needs and foster long-term customer relationships.To learn more about Tim's work, click HERE and HERE.Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE.To learn more about RELAYTO, visit https://relayto.com/
