Leadership, Learning & Innovation | DisrupTV Ep. 11
In DisrupTV Episode 11, hosts R “Ray” Wang and Vala Afshar sit down with three thought leaders who explore leadership, learning, and change in modern organizations:
- Sharon Wienbar, CEO of Hackbright Academy (women in tech education)
- Liz Wiseman, President of The Wiseman Group, author & leadership expert
- Ron Miller, technology & business journalist, commentator
Together, they examine how leadership mindsets, continuous learning ecosystems, and innovation practices intersect — and how organizations can better adapt in a fast-shifting environment.
Key Takeaways & Themes
Leadership as Amplification
Liz Wiseman talks about how leaders’ roles shift from “knowing” to “amplifying” intelligence and capability in others — creating space for growth rather than constraint.
Learning & Growth Mindsets
Sharon Wienbar underscores the importance of cultivating a culture of continuous learning—especially in tech and education—so teams adapt rather than resist change.
Bridging Strategy & Execution
Ron Miller emphasizes the tension between visionary strategy and day-to-day execution; success lies in creating alignment and feedback loops between the two.
Empowering Through Mentorship & Coaching
Coaching, mentoring, and scaffolding are essential leverages. The guests argue that formal and informal development channels help sustain growth in organizations.
Innovation Under Constraints
Innovation doesn’t always mean unlimited freedom. The discussion shows how constraints (budget, time, regulation) can be design challenges, not just obstacles.
Maintaining Momentum Through Change
The trio discusses how consistency, small wins, and visible leadership support help carry change initiatives through inevitable resistance and fatigue.
Final Thoughts & Guidance for Leaders
- Shift from hero to enabler. Leadership’s next frontier is boosting collective intelligence, not solo brilliance.
- Design learning as continuous, not episodic. Embed micro-learning, stretch assignments, and reflection into workflows.
- Reinforce strategy with feedback loops. Link vision to metrics and real signals to ensure course correction.
- Use constraints creatively. Boundaries can focus innovation — not just limit it.
- Sustain change by celebrating small wins and modeling commitment. Change fatigue is real—momentum matters.
- Invest in coaching and mentoring. Formal and informal development systems help embed change deeply.
If your organization is wrestling with scaling leadership, embedding learning, or aligning vision with execution, this episode provides a robust playbook.
Related Episodes
For further exploration of topics discussed in Episode 11, consider these related DisrupTV episodes:
