Leadership & L&D
Course · 14 lessons · 3h
From Technical Expert to Strategic Executive
After this course you can transition from individual contributor to strategic leader, run a focused first 90 days, and align AI initiatives with measurable ROI.
By the end, you'll be able to
- Engineering Your Executive Breakthrough
- From Technical Expert to Strategic Leader
- From Individual Contributor to Strategic Leader: Your First 90 Days as a New VP
- Beyond the First 90 Days
Curriculum
14 lessons- 01Engineering Your Executive BreakthroughThis episode introduces The Velocity Executive and lays the foundation for weekly content by breaking down who our ideal listener is: newly promoted VPs and Directors in high-growth companies. Daniel and Todd outline the specific challenges these leaders face and preview how the podcast addresses them through practical frameworks and real-world insight.
- 02From Technical Expert to Strategic LeaderNewly promoted VPs face a daunting shift: what made them successful in technical roles won’t suffice at the strategic level. In this episode, Todd and Daniel break down the essential mindset, skill, and relationship changes for leaders making this transition, offering a practical 90-day playbook for new executives. Get ready for real-world examples, proven frameworks, and candid stories from the front lines of executive life.11 min
- 03From Individual Contributor to Strategic Leader: Your First 90 Days as a New VPThis episode, hosted by Daniel Carter and Todd Curzon, addresses the critical challenges new VPs face in their first 6-18 months, focusing on shifting from a manager mindset to strategic leadership. Topics include managing multiple teams, engaging with senior stakeholders, and building executive presence in high-tech and growth-phase companies. Practical frameworks and actionable advice equip leaders to prioritize impact over effort and thrive in expanded roles.2 min
- 04Beyond the First 90 DaysDiscover why true leadership success extends past the myth of quick wins and how new executives can build lasting impact through strategic relationship building and cultural insight. Learn practical frameworks to navigate the critical first 18 months and create a roadmap for sustained organizational influence.10 min
- 05Leading with Insight and AccountabilityDiscover practical leadership tools like empathy mapping, the SBI feedback model, and the Accountability Dial that empower new executives to foster trust, deliver impactful feedback, and drive ownership in their teams. Through real-world stories and expert reflections, Daniel and Todd reveal how integrating these frameworks can transform communication and culture in high-growth tech organizations.12 min
- 06Exorcising the Expert: How VPs Become ArchitectsYou were promoted because you were excellent. But the very mastery that got you here can become a liability at VP level.In this episode of The Velocity Executive, we unpack the competence penalty: why strong individual performers get stuck in the expert role, how that “ghost” shows up in your decisions, and what it takes to shift from doer to architect.We also break down the three Ghost Score tiers — The Haunting, The Transition, and The Architect — and close with a free assessment to help you see where you are now.18 min
- 07Embracing Intelligent Failure for Leadership GrowthIn this episode, Daniel and Todd explore why striving for a flawless quarter can stifle learning and leadership development. They share insights on fostering psychological safety, reframing failures as experiments, and using intelligent failure to accelerate growth in new executive roles.10 min
- 08Why Smart Leaders Stay Too Long on Losing BetsThis episode exposes the costly trap of sticking to failing strategies—and the science behind it. Discover Annie Duke’s research on escalation of commitment, learn how to spot 'zombie execution,' and pick up practical frameworks for quitting with credibility.9 min
- 09The AI Agentic Inflection Point: Why Workflow Redesign Matters More Than the DemoDaniel and Todd unpack why most AI pilots stall as flashy productivity tools, and why the real breakthrough comes when leaders redesign how work moves across systems, handoffs, and decision points.They explore the unglamorous prerequisites for agentic AI — clean data, clear ownership, governance, and the right human checkpoints — and explain what executives need to get right before the technology can deliver real leverage.15 min
- 10The 10-20-70 Rule for AI SuccessThis episode breaks down why AI initiatives often stall when leaders focus on models and vendors instead of the harder work of workflows, trust, governance, and role clarity. The hosts explain how adoption, not novelty, is what turns AI into real business value.22 min
- 11AI ROI Fails When Management and Leadership MisalignExecutives may celebrate AI adoption, but managers often experience the reality as extra review, unclear decision rights, and more work piled onto already full teams. The episode argues that the real barrier to ROI is organizational: confusing announcements for clarity, and pilots for genuine change.13 min
- 12S1:E18 - AI Leadership Means Knowing When Not to AutomateThis episode explores the discernment premium in AI leadership: why judgment, restraint, and standards matter more than speed for its own sake. The hosts also unpack false readiness, fragmented AI adoption, and how senior leaders can avoid the trap of acting like overextended directors instead of effective VPs.18 min
- 13When AI Gets a Login: Managing Digital LaborLeaders debate how AI agents are moving from assistants to embedded team members, with logins, permissions, and accountability forcing a rethink of the org chart. The episode explores how managers become agent bosses and why the real challenge is redesigning workflows, ownership, and human-agent handoffs.14 min
- 14S1:E20 The Trust Gap New Executives Must CloseNewly promoted leaders often have the title before they have the trust, and this conversation explores why credibility is earned through clarity, consistency, and visible judgment. It also breaks down the small, repeatable habits that help bosses, peers, and cross-functional partners feel confident working with you.26 min
Your instructor
The Velocity Executive
This series, hosted by Daniel Carter and Todd Curzon, supports newly promoted VPs and Directors in high-growth tech and related industries navigating their transition to strategic leadership roles. It features practical leadership transition frameworks, executive presence development, and tactics to influence across organizations without authority. Designed for leaders in mid-market to Fortune 500 companies aiming to meet the demands of expanded responsibilities beyond working harder.
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14 lessons · 3h. Free, no signup.
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