Software Without Borders

#38 Creating Alignment in Times of Chaos

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In this episode of Software Without Borders, we sit down with Joe Forgét—founder of Igniting Momentum and a leader who has lived through mergers, global team integrations, and the uncomfortable-but-necessary transitions that define high-growth companies. Joe breaks down what really happens when organizations hit those inflection points: culture drift, misalignment, operational chaos, and the quiet pressure founders and leaders carry while trying to scale.
Guest Introduction:
Joe Forgét is the founder of Igniting Momentum, a leadership and operations coach who helps growing companies rebuild clarity, alignment, and execution discipline. With deep experience leading global teams through mergers, restructures, and rapid scale, Joe blends operating system rigor with human-centered leadership. His work centers on creating momentum through intentional rhythms, strategic alignment, and practical accountability structures.
Key Takeaways:
  • Companies often realize they need help when they hit the moment Joe calls: “The business owns me now.”
  • Momentum comes from structured operating rhythms — not heroic effort.
  • Frameworks like EOS, Pinnacle, and System & Soul provide scaffolding, but must be tailored to each organization.
  • Early-stage founders may not need full frameworks yet, but scale-ups absolutely do.
  • Mergers & acquisitions create cultural collisions; alignment must come before acceleration.
  • Empowerment only works when role clarity and accountability structures are in place.
  • Progress must be viewed through “the gap and the gain,” recognizing wins instead of only missing pieces.
    • Chapter Markers:
    0:00 Welcome back to Software Without Borders
    0:23 Introducing guest Joe Forgét
    2:17 Joe’s discovery of coaching
    4:11 The Ignition Framework (Align → Activate → Accelerate)
    6:22 EOS, Pinnacle, System & Soul explained
    8:04 Coaching in fast-growth organizations
    9:47 The moment leaders realize the business owns them
    11:35 Measuring early momentum
    15:51 The Gap and the Gain mindset
    17:02 People-first additions in newer operating frameworks
    20:03 Why implementation must be customized
    23:35 Cultural blending in mergers
    26:58 Choosing between scale, exit, or reinvention
    30:25 Post-inflection indicators that help is needed
    33:12 Role clarity as empowerment
    35:05 Why coaches need their own coaches
    End: Closing insights and wrap-up
    Keywords:
    Software Without Borders, Andy Hilliard, Scott Pollov, Joe Forget, Igniting Momentum, leadership coaching, operating rhythms, EOS, System and Soul, business scaling, mergers and acquisitions, organizational alignment, executive coaching, leadership frameworks, global team leadership
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    Software Without BordersBy Andy Hilliard - Accelerance