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Inside the Leaders Mind

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by David Suson

48 episodes

Updated Daily

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Podcast Overview

What if the biggest leadership breakthroughs happen not from learning something new—but from seeing yourself differently? Welcome to Inside the Leader's Mind, where host David Suson—executive coach, keynote speaker, and creator of The Perception Code™—sits down with high-performing executives, founders, and thought leaders to unpack the internal shifts behind their external success. This isn't just another leadership podcast. It's a deep dive into the stories, identity shifts, decisions, and moments that changed everything. Each conversation explores how leaders spot limiting patterns, shift their perception, and spark action that leads to real performance, real results—and real impact. If you're a leader who wants to lead with more clarity, empathy, and influence, this is your new go-to podcast.

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Publishing Since

10/9/2025

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Recent Episodes

June 2, 2026

Logan Cuvo: From Hockey Burnout to Building Best DamTape

Summary Logan Cuvo, CEO of Best Dam Tape, joins David Suson to share how losing his hockey identity became the start of a new entrepreneurial path. After years of chasing elite hockey, moving away from home at 15, and facing the pain of being benched and burned out, Logan had to decide who he was without the sport that shaped him. That transition led him to build a bootstrapped sports tape company while still in college, now used by NHL and NCAA teams. This conversation explores identity, resilience, imposter syndrome, ego, friendship, and what young leaders can teach more experienced ones. Takeaways Logan Cuvo built Best Dam Tape while still a full-time college student. His hockey dream ended earlier than expected, forcing him to rebuild his identity. Elite athletics taught him discipline, commitment, teamwork, and mental toughness. He believes athletes often "die twice": when their sport ends and when life ends. Best Dam Tape grew from a $9,000 inventory investment into a brand used by NHL and NCAA teams. Logan says imposter syndrome is real, especially in big rooms with powerful people. A key leadership lesson he has learned is to separate ego from decision-making. He believes young people can earn trust through genuine relationships and follow-up. Soundbites "Athletes die twice." "Either you consume the stage or you let the stage consume you." "I will not fail. I cannot fail." "Separate your ego from yourself and your decisions." "People across the world want to work with people that they like." "Don't undermine the power of friendship." "None of us have any idea really what we're doing." Timestamps 00:01 Welcome to Inside the Leader's Mind 02:30 What is Best Dam Tape 06:11 Building a business while graduating college 06:50 Growing up in hockey 08:18 Moving away from home at 15 10:09 When hockey stopped feeling like the future 11:41 Feeling like he let people down 14:12 Turning pain into a business idea 15:07 What hockey taught him about confidence 17:20 Rebuilding identity after disappointment 19:14 Imposter syndrome and big rooms 20:42 NHL teams, Walmart, and the moment it became real 22:11 Bootstrapping and staying scrappy 26:12 What older leaders miss about ego 28:46 Advice for people in an in-between season 31:10 Why friendship matters in business 33:20 Logan's favorite films 34:39 How to connect with Logan Contact links for the guest Email: <a class= "decorated-link cursor-pointer" rel="noopener" data-start="3113" data-end="3134">logan@bestdamtape.com</a> Website: bestdamtape.com Social: @bestdamtape

May 7, 2026

Fail Fast, Learn Faster: Aras Sheikhi on Risk, Resilience, and Rebuilding From Zero

Summary Aras Sheikhi, CEO of Janus Innovation Hub, has rebuilt his life from zero four times -- in Iran, Dubai, Australia, and now San Diego. A former faculty member at Sharif University of Technology, Aras found his calling as a bridge between academic research and industry need. After a successful exit in Australia, he launched Janus to support first-generation immigrant founders who have the resilience to build but need the right mentors, playbook, and community to thrive. Aras and David also explore neurodivergent entrepreneurship, why failure is just compressed learning, and what it really means to build your wings on the way down. <hr class="border-border-200 border-t-0.5 my-3 mx-1.5" /> Takeaways Immigrants are wired for entrepreneurship. Having rebuilt their lives, networks, and identity from scratch, first-generation founders carry resilience and flexibility -- the two traits that matter most in a startup journey. Mentorship only works when it's matched correctly. A mentor who hasn't lived the same concerns can't truly advise. Janus pairs founders with mentors from their own communities who understand the full picture -- visa stress, cultural pressure, and business all at once. Failure is compressed learning. Reframing failure removes the stigma and keeps founders moving. If you haven't pivoted or failed, you probably haven't built anything meaningful yet. Name it and tame it. When you rename failure as a compressed lesson, you can own it instead of avoid it. Language shapes how founders process setbacks and keep going. Neurodivergent thinkers see over the fence. Through co-founder Mustafa and the Nordic Frontier pipeline with Vanderbilt, Stanford, and UCSD, Aras is building ecosystems that treat neurodivergent thinking as an asset, not a limitation. <hr class="border-border-200 border-t-0.5 my-3 mx-1.5" /> Soundbites "Immigration is like building your wings on a way down when you don't have a safety net." "The idea is not important at all. The things you need are resiliency and flexibility." "If you know how to negotiate with your fear, congratulations -- welcome to the club. You are an entrepreneur." "When we see the fence, neurodivergent people see over the fence." "If I don't fail on a daily routine, something happened -- I'm on my safe side. And that is not development." <hr class="border-border-200 border-t-0.5 my-3 mx-1.5" /> Timestamps 00:01 -- Introduction: Aras Sheikhi, CEO of Janus Innovation Hub 01:14 -- From Iran to Dubai to Australia to San Diego: the full journey 07:07 -- When academia stopped being enough and the bridge role emerged 09:21 -- Seeing talent in others as a core leadership ability 11:25 -- Why immigrant founders need a different playbook 13:53 -- Mentor matchmaking: why community alignment matters 15:29 -- Life and business are interwoven -- especially for immigrants 17:18 -- Why immigrants may be naturally suited for entrepreneurship 20:06 -- Nothing to lose: the risk advantage of starting over 23:15 -- Where early-stage founders get stuck most often 25:07 -- How to destigmatize failure and keep moving 27:53 -- What pivoting signals about a founder's mindset 29:33 -- Defining neurodivergent: seeing over the fence 31:27 -- Mustafa and the founding of the Nordic Frontier pipeline 35:24 -- What changes when investors see neurodivergent thinking as an asset 39:32 -- The obstacle that became the path 43:49 -- The question Aras wishes people would ask him <hr class="border-border-200 border-t-0.5 my-3 mx-1.5" /> Contact Links LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aras-sheikhi-9210b54b/ Website: janusinnovationhub.com <hr class="border-border-200 border-t-0.5 my-3 mx-1.5" /> Keyword Tags Immigrant founders, entrepreneurship, startup ecosystem, Janus Innovation Hub, neurodivergent entrepreneurs, resilience, failure mindset, compressed learning, mentor matchmaking, San Diego startups, early stage startups, pivot strategy, Nordic Frontier, Vanderbilt University, UCSD, Stanford, Inside the Leader's Mind, innovation hub, immigrant leadership, ecosystem building

May 4, 2026

The Brain Behind Sharpie, Graco & Expo: Kris Malkoski on Building Billion-Dollar Brands From Farm Girl to Fortune 500

<h3 class="text-text-100 mt-3 -mb-1 text-[1.125rem] font-bold"> Summary</h3> Kris Malkoski, CEO of Learning and Development at Newell Brands, overseeing $2.2 billion in revenue and 1,000 employees, shares how growing up on a farm in rural Nebraska shaped her leadership philosophy. From washing eggs at age five to managing iconic brands like Graco, Sharpie, and Expo, Kris reveals how prioritization, work ethic, and a relentless drive to "make a difference" have guided her 20+ year career. She discusses agile teamwork, modeling leadership behavior, the parallels between parenting and managing people, and why feedback is the greatest gift a leader can give. <hr class="border-border-200 border-t-0.5 my-3 mx-1.5" /> <h3 class="text-text-100 mt-3 -mb-1 text-[1.125rem] font-bold"> Takeaways</h3> <ul class= "[li_&]:mb-0 [li_&]:mt-1 [li_&]:gap-1 [&:not(:last-child)_ul]:pb-1 [&:not(:last-child)_ol]:pb-1 list-disc flex flex-col gap-1 pl-8 mb-3"> <li class="whitespace-normal break-words pl-2">Making a difference is a career strategy — it makes you irreplaceable</li> <li class="whitespace-normal break-words pl-2">Prioritization is a skill learned early; focus on what matters most right now</li> <li class="whitespace-normal break-words pl-2">The best leaders model the behaviors they expect from their teams</li> <li class="whitespace-normal break-words pl-2">Surrounding yourself with people smarter than you frees you to lead better</li> <li class="whitespace-normal break-words pl-2">50% of business performance is people — most leaders under-invest there</li> <li class="whitespace-normal break-words pl-2">Setting clear, transparent expectations with real consequences drives results</li> <li class="whitespace-normal break-words pl-2">Feedback is a gift — both giving and receiving it accelerates growth</li> <li class="whitespace-normal break-words pl-2">Parenting and leadership require the same core skills: fairness, consistency, and consequences</li> <li class="whitespace-normal break-words pl-2">Agile daily check-ins (15 minutes) can compress 12–18 month timelines dramatically</li> <li class="whitespace-normal break-words pl-2">Genuine care for your people builds loyalty and long-term performance</li> </ul> <hr class="border-border-200 border-t-0.5 my-3 mx-1.5" /> <h3 class="text-text-100 mt-3 -mb-1 text-[1.125rem] font-bold"> Soundbites</h3> <ul class= "[li_&]:mb-0 [li_&]:mt-1 [li_&]:gap-1 [&:not(:last-child)_ul]:pb-1 [&:not(:last-child)_ol]:pb-1 list-disc flex flex-col gap-1 pl-8 mb-3"> <li class="whitespace-normal break-words pl-2">"If I made a difference on my business, I was not replaceable easily."</li> <li class="whitespace-normal break-words pl-2">"Be the change you wish to see in the world."</li> <li class="whitespace-normal break-words pl-2">"Winners love to be winners — and they double down to win some more."</li> <li class="whitespace-normal break-words pl-2">"My team and business performance is only as good as the weakest link."</li> <li class="whitespace-normal break-words pl-2">"People want fair, transparent expectation setting."</li> <li class="whitespace-normal break-words pl-2">"Feedback is a gift."</li> <li class="whitespace-normal break-words pl-2">"I want people to come to fun and growth and personal and professional enjoyment."</li> </ul> <hr class="border-border-200 border-t-0.5 my-3 mx-1.5" /> <h3 class="text-text-100 mt-3 -mb-1 text-[1.125rem] font-bold"> Timestamps</h3> <ul class= "[li_&]:mb-0 [li_&]:mt-1 [li_&]:gap-1 [&:not(:last-child)_ul]:pb-1 [&:not(:last-child)_ol]:pb-1 list-disc flex flex-col gap-1 pl-8 mb-3"> <li class="whitespace-normal break-words pl-2"> 00:00 — Introduction & guest bio</li> <li class="whitespace-normal break-words pl-2"> 03:33 — Growing up on a farm in rural Nebraska</li> <li class="whitespace-normal break-words pl-2"> 07:00 — What that upbringing instilled: prioritization & making a difference</li> <li class="whitespace-normal break-words pl-2"> 08:31 — Breaking into Procter & Gamble without the "right" background</li> <li class="whitespace-normal break-words pl-2"> 13:07 — Teaching her own kids work ethic</li> <li class="whitespace-normal break-words pl-2"> 18:59 — The younger generation, technology & human connection</li> <li class="whitespace-normal break-words pl-2"> 22:09 — Setting culture: phones down, laptops closed, people present</li> <li class="whitespace-normal break-words pl-2"> 25:43 — Agile teams: from idea to Walmart PO in 5 weeks</li> <li class="whitespace-normal break-words pl-2"> 29:38 — Why seeing people grow is Kris's greatest reward</li> <li class="whitespace-normal break-words pl-2"> 33:55 — What it really means to lead at the billion-dollar level</li> <li class="whitespace-normal break-words pl-2"> 37:36 — The leadership-parenting connection</li> <li class="whitespace-normal break-words pl-2"> 42:35 — The #1 thing blocking organizational transformation</li> <li class="whitespace-normal break-words pl-2"> 43:15 — What Kris knows now that she wishes she knew earlier</li> <li class="whitespace-normal break-words pl-2"> 46:00 — The question no one asks Kris — and her surprising answer</li> </ul> <hr class="border-border-200 border-t-0.5 my-3 mx-1.5" /> <h3 class="text-text-100 mt-3 -mb-1 text-[1.125rem] font-bold"> Contact Links</h3> <ul class= "[li_&]:mb-0 [li_&]:mt-1 [li_&]:gap-1 [&:not(:last-child)_ul]:pb-1 [&:not(:last-child)_ol]:pb-1 list-disc flex flex-col gap-1 pl-8 mb-3"> <li class="whitespace-normal break-words pl-2"> LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kris-malkoski-2346122/</li> <li class="whitespace-normal break-words pl-2"> Company: <a class= "underline underline underline-offset-2 decoration-1 decoration-current/40 hover:decoration-current focus:decoration-current" href="https://www.newellbrands.com">Newell Brands</a></li> </ul>

48 total episodes available with 1 transcripts

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What is Inside the Leaders Mind?: What if the biggest leadership breakthroughs happen not from learning something new—but from seeing yourself differently?

Welcome to Inside the Leader's Mind, where host David Suson—executive coach, keynote speaker, and creator of The Perception Code™—sits down with high-performing executives, founders, and thought leaders to unpack the internal shifts behind their external success.

This isn't just another leadership podcast. It's a deep dive into the stories, identity shifts, decisions, and moments that changed everything.

Each conversation explores how leaders spot limiting patterns, shift their perception, and spark action that leads to real performance, real results—and real impact.

If you're a leader who wants to lead with more clarity, empathy, and influence, this is your new go-to podcast.
How often does this podcast release new episodes?: This podcast updates daily.
Where can I listen to this podcast?: This podcast is available on 4 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
Does this podcast accept guests?: Yes, this podcast regularly features guests.

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