What does real leadership look like when the pressure’s on? In this episode, we sit down with Brad Haczynski, Chief Commercial Officer at Cornelis Networks and former senior exec at Intel and Samsung, to explore the lessons that shaped him: the moments he got it right, the times he didn’t, and how humility and consistency became his edge.
We talk about what it means to transition from the structure of global tech giants to the chaos and opportunity of startup life. From building psychological safety to navigating team dynamics, Brad shares hard-won insights on servant leadership, authenticity, and why what you do matters way more than what you say.
Tune in to this episode as we explore:
(04:36) From Intel to Samsung: how the move shaped Brad’s career
(08:34) What servant leadership really looks like
(12:04) Leadership means removing the roadblocks
(15:38) How to balance support and independence
(17:39) Prepping for high-stakes CEO meetings
(20:09) The power of ‘Start, Stop, Keep’ feedback
(23:20) Why 90% carrot and 10% stick actually works
(27:22) Taking on a new role in a scrappy startup
(28:47) The six pillars that define great team culture
(34:52) Setting and resetting team expectations
(35:57) Success and self-doubt: how to handle both
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