What does real leadership look like when you don’t have the title yet?

In this episode of One Sharp Sword, I sit down with Ryan George, Chief Marketing Officer at Docupace, to talk about ambition, culture, setbacks, and leading people with intention.

Ryan didn’t rise through marketing by positional authority. He led first through influence — before he ever had the title.

We explore:

• How to lead before you’re officially “the leader”
• The wake-up call of a brutal 360 review — and what to do with hard feedback
• Why culture is built on support, not “gotcha” moments
• The difference between managing performance and managing people
• Why your job as a leader is to prepare people for their next role — even if that means losing them

Ryan shares openly about being laid off, facing an identity crisis, and realizing that the bumps are the growth.

Three powerful leadership takeaways:

1. Choose the right people to work for — culture trickles down.
2. Growth rarely feels smooth — lean into the discomfort.
3. People have lives beyond work — lead with understanding, not punishment.

If you care about culture, influence, and lifting as you lead, this conversation delivers.

🎥 Watch the full episode now on my YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/y62FHv7NXi0

🔔 Subscribe for more leadership insights:
👉 https://www.youtube.com/@DrWaynePernell

#LeadershipWithoutTitle #InfluenceOverAuthority #CultureMatters #LeadershipGrowth

Ryan George's LinkedIn page: linkedin.com/in/rageorge

What do most leaders get wrong about culture, performance, and the future of work?

In this episode of One Sharp Sword, Dr. Wayne Pernell sits down with the former first CHRO of LinkedIn and author of Workquake to unpack what actually drives high-performing teams in today’s rapidly changing world.

We discuss:

• Why culture is a leadership responsibility — not HR’s
• How hypergrowth silently breaks communication
• Why learning agility matters more than job security
• The hidden poison in fear-based performance systems
• How AI should enhance people — not replace them

If you’re leading through change, building a high-performance culture, or navigating AI disruption — this conversation is essential.

Trust scales. Bureaucracy suffocates. Leadership decides.

🎥 Watch the full episode now on my YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/X5RNRC54cNs

🔔 Subscribe for more leadership insights:
👉 https://www.youtube.com/@DrWaynePernell

#Leadership #FutureOfWork #OrganizationalCulture #AILeadership #ExecutiveLeadership

Steve Cadigan's LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/cadigan

In this episode of One Sharp Sword, Dr. Wayne Pernell sits down with mission-driven tech founder Dekel Skoop, a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree who has built companies serving underserved markets—from web accessibility to cybersecurity.

Dekel shares hard-earned leadership lessons on scaling organizations, hiring for adaptability and common sense, and why people always come before process and product. He also unpacks how real growth guarantees change—and why great leaders plan for it instead of resisting it.

This is a grounded, practical conversation for founders, executives, and leaders navigating growth in fast-changing environments.

Key Takeaways

• Why people—not products—are the foundation of scalable organizations
• How successful growth guarantees change (and why that’s a good thing)
• The leadership discipline of hiring people who are better than you
• How to assess adaptability, culture fit, and common sense when hiring
• Why small and midsize businesses are the backbone of the global economy
• How Guardz is simplifying cybersecurity for MSPs and SMBs

Connect with Dekel
● LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dekel-skoop-469335118

🎥 Watch the full episode on my YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/3bmEkAXph-g