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In this episode of the Amazing Teams podcast, we sat down with Sanket Merchant, a partner at PeakSpan Capital, who shares insights from his career journey in the software investment space. He discusses the importance of culture, clarity, and support in building high-performing teams and organizations. Sanket emphasizes the value of trust, agility, and gratitude in leadership and how these elements drive the success of entrepreneurial ventures. He also highlights the importance of evaluating entrepreneurial teams based on shared values and mutual respect, and the role gratitude plays in cultivating a positive work environment.

We dive into:

• How high-performing teams demonstrate accountability, commitment, and coachability
• Why trust is essential for building strong business partnerships
• The importance of agility and responsiveness in fast-paced environments

 Resources:

• Connect with Sanket on LinkedIn
• Learn more about PeakSpan Capital
• Don’t miss the Master Class featuring John Hamm of PeakSpan Capital

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In this episode of the Amazing Teams podcast, we sat down with Claire Lew, CEO adn founder of Canopy (formerly Know Your Team), to explore the evolving role of managers and the growing need for leadership development. She discusses the challenges of navigating uncertainty, maintaining morale, and giving honest feedback, while emphasizing the need for clear communication and strong leadership in today’s complex, digital workplace.

We dive into:

• How clear, timely feedback builds stronger teams
• Why manager engagement drives morale and culture
• The challenges of growing into leadership
• What Canopy is doing differently.

Tune in for Claire’s insights on building stronger teams through thoughtful leadership and clear communication.

Resources:

• Connect with Claire on LinkedIn
• Learn more about Canopy.is
• Follow Claire on Substack

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In this episode of the Amazing Teams podcast, we sat down with Stephen Lord, discuss the unique role of a Scrum Master, emphasizing the importance of kindness, empathy, and building trust within teams. He shares insights on treating developers as creative artists, fostering a positive team culture, and implementing gratitude practices to enhance team dynamics. The conversation offers actionable steps to improve workplace culture, highlighting the value of listening, authenticity, and recognition. The episode concludes with a heartfelt reflection on the power of appreciation in the workplace.

We dive into:

• A Scrum Master serves as a guide rather than a director.
• Developers should be viewed as artists, requiring a creative environment to thrive.
• Humor can lighten the atmosphere and improve team dynamics.
• Culture is shaped through everyday interactions — not just policies.

Tune in for Stephen’s insights on leading with empathy, fostering creativity, and building truly amazing team.  

Resources:

• Connect with Stephen on LinkedIn
• Learn more about Point74
• What is Scrum Master?
• Ted talk: How to start a movement

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In this episode of the Amazing Teams podcast, we sat down with Hannah Manizza, VP of Marketing at Forge Biologics, to explore the concept of a “wrong rock boss” and the critical role of effective leadership in team dynamics. Hannah shares her personal journey from a structured corporate environment to the fast-paced world of startups at Forge Biologics, highlighting both her professional growth and the evolution of the company.

We dive into:

• Why effective management starts with clear guidance and expectations
• How navigating ambiguity is a critical skill in startup environments
• The power of understanding individual motivations within a team
• What it takes to build a strong, high-performing team from the ground up

Tune in for Hannah’s practical insights on leadership, adaptability, and what it truly takes to build an amazing team.

Resources:

• Connect with Hannah on LinkedIn
• Learn more about Forge Biologics
• Learn about Adam Grant 

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In this episode of the Amazing Teams podcast, we sit down with Carl Smith, owner of the Bureau of Digital. Carl shares his journey from agency owner to community leader, reflecting on the role of people, motivation, and creativity in the workplace. He and his guests explore how to balance introversion and extroversion, lead with empathy, and create space for learning through failure. The conversation highlights the power of community, the emotional weight of leadership, and the lasting impact of our actions— “the wake” we leave behind.

We dive into:

• Why ‘PEOPLE’ are the core of what makes work better
• How allowing failure supports team growth
• The role of chaos in fostering creativity
• How strong communities protect themselves from negativity

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In this bite-sized episode of Amazing Teams, Una flips the mic and interviews HeyTaco founder Doug about the seven most common "why" questions people ask about the platform. From “Why tacos?” to “Why a daily limit?”, Doug dives into the design decisions that shaped HeyTaco into the gratitude-powered, culture-building tool teams love today.

Whether you're a longtime user or taco-curious newbie, this episode gives you a behind-the-scenes look at what makes HeyTaco so unique—and effective.

🌮 What We Cover:

• Why tacos? (and why not beer?)
• Why a daily taco limit instead of weekly/monthly?
• Why only five tacos a day?
• Why the name HeyTaco instead of something more... corporate?
• Why start with custom and collaborative rewards?
• Why not recommend gift cards (even though you can use them)?
• Why the given leaderboard is more powerful than you think
• Plus: Should managers get more tacos? And do teams actually use HeyTaco long-term?
  
  

🔥 Favorite Quotes:

“Recognition at work is often boring and formal. Tacos are fun. They make people smile.” – Doug
 “The best rewards aren't one-size-fits-all. They're personal, meaningful, and sometimes shared.” – Doug
 “HeyTaco works because it’s fun, and it becomes a habit that actually sticks.” – Una

📌 Episode Takeaway:

HeyTaco isn’t just a tool—it’s a philosophy. Designed around fun, habit formation, and meaningful peer-to-peer recognition, it puts everyone on equal ground and keeps gratitude flowing in a lighthearted, lasting way.

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In this episode of the Amazing Teams podcast, we sat down with Marc Cenedella, CEO of The Ladders,  to explore the evolving landscape of work culture. We discuss the shift to remote work, the key drivers of productivity, and the power of gratitude in the workplace. Marc shares insights on standing out in a competitive job market, the impact of AI on job applications, and the importance of crafting resumes that highlight measurable achievements. The conversation also touches on the role of meetings and how they can influence creativity and efficiency.

We dive into:

• How meetings can hinder productivity and creativity.
• 75% of job seekers prioritize intrinsic rewards over cash. 
• Gratitude fosters a positive work environment and strengthens team cohesion. 

Tune in to hear Marc’s advice on navigating today’s job market and building a thriving career. 

Resources:

• Paul Graham’s Maker’s schedule, manager’s schedule
• Learn more about Ladders
• Connect with Marc on LinkedIn
• The Ladders Career Cab from 2011

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In this episode of Amazing Teams: TacoBytes, Una andDoug Dosberg tackle a spicy topic—cringe appreciation messages. You know the ones: "Thanks for all you do," "You're the best," or "Thanks for everything." We’ve all sent them. But are they actually meaningful?

Una and Doug break down why these messages often fall flat—and how just a little more specificity can turn generic gratitude into something personal, memorable, and powerful. Learn a simple framework for writing better thank-you notes and hear real-time rewrites that hit all the right notes.

🌮 What We Cover:

• Why vague thank-yous feel insincere (and what to say instead)
  
  
• The 3-part recipe for meaningful recognition: Be specific, show impact, make it personal
  
  
• Common appreciation phrases and how to level them up
  
  
• Why “better to say something than nothing” still holds up—but there’s always room to improve
  
  
• How to recognize customers in ways that feel authentic and observant
  
  

🔥 Favorite Quotes:

“Even 1% more specific makes a huge difference.” – Una
 “When you highlight impact, people feel their work has purpose.” – Doug
 “Generic messages feel safe. But nichey is more meaningful.” – Una

💡 Episode Takeaway:

The next time you go to say “Thanks for everything,” pause. Ask yourself: What exactly am I thankful for? A little thought goes a long way—and helps people feel truly seen.

📬 Stay Connected:

Want to make recognition part of your team’s daily habit? Learn more at heytaco.com

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In this episode of the Amazing Teams podcast, we sit down with Morgan Witham, CEO of COLAB, about her journey from investment banking to leading a digital agency and how her team embraced a four-day work week. Morgan shares insights on workplace culture, employee retention, and the power of gratitude in building a thriving company.

We dive into:

• Morgan transitioned from investment banking to CEO of COLAB to help scale the business.
• The four-day work week was implemented to combat burnout and attract talent.
• Retention is influenced by overall workplace culture, not just policies.
• The four-day work week was not a silver bullet for retention issues.
• Gratitude and recognition are key components of CoLab's culture.

Tune in to hear Morgan’s leadership insights and how COLAB is redefining modern work culture! 

Resources:

• Get to know COLAB
• COLAB’s take on HeyTaco & team culture
• Connect with COLAB’s fearless leader, Morgan!

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In this episode of TacoBytes, Una Japundza sits down with Doug Dosberg, founder of HeyTaco, to dive into the origin story of everyone's favorite peer recognition tool. From his early days at The Motley Fool to his unexpected leap into building a culture-shaping product, Doug shares the behind-the-scenes moments that brought HeyTaco to life.

You'll hear how a frustrating experience with clunky HR software sparked a big idea, how game design principles helped fuel user engagement, and why Doug chose customer funding over investor dollars. This is a conversation about building with intention, staying close to your users, and why recognition works best when it's peer-powered and intrinsically motivated.

Key Takeaways

• Doug spent 11 years at The Motley Fool, where he focused on building tools to improve employee experience.
• HeyTaco was born out of frustration with a clunky, top-down HR tool—Doug wanted something simple, joyful, and people-first.
• He intentionally designed HeyTaco as a bottom-up platform, where feedback and recognition flow peer-to-peer.
• Game design theory played a major role in shaping the product’s engagement mechanics.
• The very first version didn’t even feature tacos—it all started with the beer emoji. 🍻
• One of Doug’s proudest milestones? The very first sale—and the realization that people would pay for a product that brought gratitude into the workplace.
• Doug shares why he opted to build a bootstrapped business focused on customer value rather than chasing VC funding.
• Intrinsic motivation > extrinsic rewards. Always.

Chapters

00:00 The Origins of Hey Taco

06:08 The Evolution of a Feedback Tool

11:56 Transitioning to Full-Time Entrepreneurship

13:31 The Role of Emojis in Branding

16:16 Lessons from the Journey