Today I welcome Andy Ellis, partner at Wild Ventures, to discuss career journeys, leadership challenges, and the essence of inclusion in the workspace.  Andy shares his unique professional path from his time at Akamai Technologies to the Air Force and beyond, offering insights into leadership and personal development.  We also explore the dynamics of hiring for startups versus established companies, the importance of engaging and retaining talent, and strategies for effective management.  Additionally, Andy talks about his book, '1 Percent Leadership,' and how it distills essential leadership lessons into practical advice. 00:00 Introduction 00:23 Guest Introduction: Andy Ellis 00:58 Andy's Career Journey 02:09 Life Lessons and Early Jobs 03:42 Family and Financial Lessons 05:52 The Importance of Inclusion 07:00 Writing the Leadership Book 09:13 Leadership and Inclusion Insights 14:43 Interview Tips and Personal Development 20:26 The Role of Interviews: Saying No 20:44 Navigating the Interview Process 21:26 Interviewing Founders vs. Executives 22:20 The Startup Ecosystem and Team Dynamics 23:30 Hiring Executives for Immediate Needs 24:37 Challenges in Talent Sourcing and Leadership 30:31 The Importance of Team Alignment 31:35 Developing Future Leaders 35:16 Mismanagement of Expectations 39:05 Conclusion and Final Thoughts Follow us: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sbr2th/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sbr2th.techtalent/ Find Out More at SBR2TH: https://www.sbr2th.com/podcast/ Learn More About Andy Ellis: https://www.linkedin.com/in/csoandy/