It Comes Back to People

In this episode of It Comes Back to People, Netysha Santos of Avion Consulting sits down with Nathalie McGrath, Co-Founder of The People Design House and former VP of People at Coinbase, where as one of the first employees, she helped scale the company from roughly 10 to over 1,000 employees.

Nathalie discusses building culture intentionally from a company's earliest days, and how that culture must evolve rather than stay fixed as an organization moves through different stages of hypergrowth. She dives into the challenges of leadership transitions at scale, including how to support long-tenured employees as new, more experienced leaders come in above them. The conversation also covers the role of coaching and psychological safety in helping teams take risks and grow, practical lessons for first-time managers, and how she sees AI reshaping the value of human-built, in-person, and creative work going forward.

Expect to Learn:

• Why culture is a reflection of the founder or leader, not a separate initiative
• How to diagnose and codify a company's real culture through structured questioning
• What's at stake financially and operationally when culture and behavior are misaligned
• How culture needs to evolve, not just persist, through different stages of hypergrowth
• Why leadership transitions during scaling are painful but necessary, and how to handle them with care
• How AI is reshaping the value of human-built, in-person, and creative work

Episode Breakdown with Timestamps:

• [00:00] - Nathalie's journey from marine biology to Stanford GSB
• [04:46] - Joining Coinbase as employee #11 and shifting into people & culture
• [07:09] - Building an intentional culture from day one at early-stage Coinbase
• [09:33] - Defining culture: intentionality, honesty, and the founder's reflection
• [11:15] - Diagnosing and codifying culture through founder interviews
• [16:00] - Navigating culture through hypergrowth from 11 to hundreds of employees
• [24:21] - Leadership transitions and bringing in new leadership as organizations scale
• [29:35] - Coaching, growth, and learning to make mistakes
• [33:08] - Lessons for first-time managers and managing across generations

"Disclosure: Portions of this episode (such as the introduction or promotional segments) use AI-generated voice narration produced under human editorial review."

Follow the Guest, Nathalie McGrath:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathaliemcgrath/
• Company's Website: https://thepeopledesignhouse.com/
• Company LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-people-design-house

Follow the Host, Netysha Santos

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/netysha-santos-laborbe/

More for Avion Consulting:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/avionconsulting/
• Website: http://www.avionconsulting.com/

In this episode of It Comes Back to People, Netysha Santos of Avion Consulting sits down with Fabrice Bernhard, Cofounder of Theodo, a multi-country tech consultancy, to discuss building high-performance tech teams. Fabrice shares why the most critical challenges in scaling teams are human, not technical, and how lean principles can transform organizations. He explains the importance of trust, empathy, psychological safety, and collaboration, and how these factors drive innovation and efficiency. Fabrice also discusses his book, The Lean Tech Manifesto, which applies Toyota’s lean production principles to modern software teams.

Expect to Learn:

• Why human factors often outweigh technical skill in high-performing tech teams
• How lean principles guide problem-solving and decision-making
• The importance of psychological safety and team trust for innovation
• Tools and methods to identify skill gaps and coach teams effectively
• How AI can support human-centric problem solving

Episode Breakdown with Timestamps:

• [00:00] - Introduction to Fabrice Bernard & Thedo consultancy
• [02:36] - Fabrice’s background and professional progression
• [04:13] - Transition from technical expertise to leadership focus
• [06:29] - Defining the working environment: skills, technology, and management support
• [09:43] - Skills assessment and continuous learning within teams
• [12:21] - Lean thinking and systematic problem solving
• [15:04] - Writing The Lean Tech Manifesto and learning from the process
• [17:41] - Early team structures, scaling challenges, and bureaucracy vs autonomy
• [24:19] - Benefits of lean principles on team performance and culture
• [30:21] - AI and human-centric automation in lean teams
• [38:07] - Final thoughts and wrap-up

Follow the Guest, Fabrice Bernhard:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fabricebernhard/
• Company’s Website: https://www.theodo.com/
• Company LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/theodo/

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/netysha-santos-laborbe/

More for Avion Consulting:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/avionconsulting/
• Website: http://www.avionconsulting.com/

In this episode of It Comes Back to People, Host Netysha Santos of Avion Consulting, Inc. is joined by Aaron Battista, a seasoned retail industry leader with over 25 years of experience. Aaron is the Founder and CEO of Battista Co., Managing Partner and Chief Retail Officer at The Ember Co., and a retail executive who has worked with global brands including VF Corporation, Gucci, Lucky Brand, and Seven for All Mankind

Aaron shares how leadership in modern organizations is deeply tied to people, culture, and trust rather than just strategy or numbers. He explains why high-performing teams thrive when they are given space to learn, make mistakes, and grow. The conversation explores how culture, onboarding, and leadership behavior shape long-term business success, and why human-centered leadership is becoming more important in an AI-driven world.

• Why leadership success depends more on people than strategy alone
• How psychological safety enables teams to learn through mistakes
• Why high-performing teams need freedom to experiment and grow
• How strong onboarding and training improve retention and engagement
• Why HR and talent functions must have a strategic role in business
• How brand promise and culture directly impact customer experience

• [00:00:00] – Introduction of Guest
• [00:01:54] – Aaron’s background, education, and transition from operator to advisor.
• [00:03:00] – Experiences with global brands like Seven For All Mankind, Gucci, and The Body Shop.
• [00:08:09] – Building high-functioning teams for successful retail expansion.
• [00:11:39] – The concept of psychological safety in leadership and its importance.
• [00:12:55] – Evaluating talent and role alignment within an organization.
• [00:22:37] – The role of brand promise and its impact on employee engagement.
• [00:26:34] – Evaluating the cost of turnover and its impact on business operations.
• [00:28:29] – Green flags that indicate an organization values its employees.
• [00:39:04] – Human resources’ critical role in organizational success and development.
• [00:45:04] – Closing thoughts on leadership, retail, and the evolving landscape of talent management.

Connect with Guest Aaron Battista:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaronbattista/

Connect with Guest Company Battista Co.:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/battista-co/

Connect with Guest Company The Ember Co.:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/embercompany/
• Website: https://www.embercompany.co/

Connect with the Host Netysha Santos:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/netysha-santos-laborbe/

More from Avion Consulting, Inc.:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/avionconsulting/
• Website: http://www.avionconsulting.com/

In this episode of It Comes Back to People, Host Netysha Santos of Avion Consulting, Inc. sits down with Guest Kevin Nelis, Advisory Principal at True. and a strategy advisor with over a decade of experience across venture building, consulting, and leadership advisory.

Kevin breaks down why culture is not a soft concept but the real driver of execution, performance, and survival in modern organizations. He explains how strategy without culture collapses in practice, why investors prioritize founders over products, and how leadership today is about building adaptability in a world shaped by constant AI-driven change. He also introduces the idea of “human infrastructure” and explains why the future belongs to organizations that invest in communication, behavior, trust, and decision-making systems rather than just tools and technology.

Expect to Learn:

• Why culture determines whether strategy actually works in execution
• How investors evaluate leadership teams beyond products and markets
• Why adaptability is now a survival skill in an AI-driven business world
• What “human infrastructure” means and why it drives organizational success
• How leaders can design environments that improve decision-making and behavior
• Why growth mindset and learning matter more than raw talent over time

Episode Breakdown with Timestamps:

• [00:00] – Introduction to Kevin Nelis and his background in consulting, venture building, and advisory work
• [03:34] – Defining organizational culture and what actually shapes it inside companies
• [05:04] – How leaders intentionally shape culture and influence behavior
• [09:29] – How investors evaluate leadership teams and why founders matter most
• [10:36] – Why strategy fails without cultural alignment in execution
• [17:48] – Traits of strong leaders including optimism and long-term thinking
• [20:12] – Budget allocation using the 10-20-70 model for tech, data, and people
• [23:33] – Human infrastructure and how it improves execution and change speed
• [36:47] – B Corp mindset, ethical business, and reinvesting profits into real societal impact
• [42:51] – Closing Remarks

Follow the Guest, Kevin Nelis:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-nelis/
• Website: https://www.true.global/

Follow the Host, Netysha Santos:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/netysha-santos-laborbe/

More from Avion Consulting, Inc.:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/avionconsulting/
• Website: http://www.avionconsulting.com/

In this episode of It Comes Back to People, Netysha Santos from Avion Consulting sits down with Ken Hickey, CFO coach at Ken Advisory and a finance leader with over 30 years of experience, including 16 years at Microsoft, to discuss the evolving role of the CFO. Ken explains why technical expertise alone is no longer enough and how CFOs must develop strategic leadership skills to navigate ambiguity, influence stakeholders, and drive business value.

He shares insights on executive presence, the human role of CFOs as a signal to boards and investors, and how finance can be the starting point for AI and digital transformation initiatives within organizations.

Expect to Learn:

• How the CFO role has evolved from technical reporting to strategic leadership
• Key leadership skills CFOs need for influencing boards, CEOs, and investors
• Why executive presence and personal authority are critical for CFO success
• How to manage ambiguity while maintaining professional rigor
• The role of finance in driving AI adoption and digital transformation

Episode Breakdown with Timestamps:

• [00:00] - Introduction to Ken Hickey & his career background
• [02:55] - Transition from corporate finance to executive coaching
• [05:12] - Challenges of the CFO role and high turnover
• [09:30] - Gap between technical training and strategic leadership needs
• [12:48] - Executive presence and communicating effectively with stakeholders
• [15:18] - Risks of not developing strategic CFO capabilities
• [21:05] - Moving from control to influence; operational to strategic focus
• [25:55] - Learning leadership through experience and self-development
• [32:15] - Managing ambiguity and decision-making frameworks
• [35:04] - AI and innovation: finance as a starting point for digital transformation

Follow the Guest, Ken Hickey:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ken-hickey/
• Website: https://www.kenhickeyadvisory.com/
• Company LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ken-hickey-advisory/

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/netysha-santos-laborbe/

More for Avion Consulting:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/avionconsulting/
• Website: http://www.avionconsulting.com/

In the world of leadership, the best talent isn't just filling roles—they're shaping the future of organizations. They're the strategic thinkers, the cultural architects, and the leaders who drive performance through their people.

Welcome to Leadership: Risk and Return, hosted by Netysha Santos. With a proven track record in leadership development and executive coaching, Netysha has been empowering organizations to create high-performing teams and visionary leaders for years. This podcast delves into the real-world challenges and opportunities that leaders face across industries, from building cohesive teams to transforming decision-making processes.

Whether you're an executive striving to navigate organizational change or a leader looking to elevate your team’s potential, Leadership: Risk and Return is your essential resource for building effective leadership systems that deliver lasting impact.

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