In this episode of The Tech Leader's Playbook, Avetis Antaplyan sits down with Mark Monchek, founder and Chief Opportunity Officer of Opportunity Lab. A seasoned author, speaker, and advisor, Mark has guided leaders from top global organizations through times of radical disruption. Drawing from his books Culture of Opportunity and the forthcoming Opportunity Intelligence, Mark shares how to unlock growth through collaboration, mindset shifts, and purpose-driven leadership.
The conversation explores how leaders can thrive in chaos by embracing abundance over scarcity, building resilient networks, and identifying leverage points in times of upheaval. Mark recounts powerful stories—from rebuilding Asheville’s River Arts District after Hurricane Helene to transforming the Literacy Assistance Center’s resources through network mapping—that illustrate his belief in turning disruption into opportunity. The discussion also dives into cultivating generosity, forging unconventional partnerships (even with competitors), and the philosophy behind his upcoming “UnConference” for mid-market CEOs. This episode offers a compelling mix of history, personal resilience, and actionable strategies for leaders who want to create lasting impact in their organizations and communities.
Takeaways
Radical disruptions impact all sectors simultaneously today, making adaptability more critical than ever.
Leveraging networks can unlock hidden resources—often far more than organizations realize.
Scarcity mindset limits growth; abundance mindset fosters collaboration and innovation.
Crisis moments often accelerate trust, generosity, and community-building.
Major innovations often emerge during economic downturns or crises.
Partnerships—even with competitors—can expand capacity without adding overhead.
Resilient leadership starts with finding a “place to stand” before taking action.
Leaders should cultivate anti-fragility: emerging stronger after adversity.
Most significant personal and professional growth comes from responding to challenges, not avoiding them.
The UnConference model emphasizes peer-to-peer learning and authentic relationship-building.
Storytelling and shared vision drive cooperation and collective success.
Aligning business goals with a higher purpose strengthens resilience and motivation.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Mark Monchek’s background in business, art, and psychology
03:35 Defining radical disruption and why today’s challenges are different
05:24 Rebuilding Asheville’s River Arts District after Hurricane Helene
09:18 Finding leverage points in crisis and innovation during downturns
13:31 Case study: Unlocking hidden resources at the Literacy Assistance Center
19:53 Generosity, abundance mindset, and building collaborative networks
24:12 The UnConference model for authentic leadership connections
34:19 Partnerships, resilience, and balancing priorities
40:09 Lessons in resilience from family history and adversity
46:29 Why the UnConference exists and the outcomes it aims to create
53:31 Closing advice: Lead with purpose and embrace collaboration
Mark Monchek’s Social Media Links:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/markmonchek/
Mark Monchek’s Website:
Resources and Links: