OneSharpSword

By Dr. Wayne Pernell, CEO and Founder, DynamicLeader, Inc.Society & Culture Business Education Self-Improvement Management

OneSharpSword episodes

April 14The Future of Gaming, Digital Ownership, AI, and Leadership with Arron Goolsbey
The next evolution of the internet isn’t theoretical — it’s already live.

In this episode of One Sharp Sword, Dr. Wayne Pernell sits down with Arron Goolsbey, President & COO of Mythical Games, to explore the future of player-owned economies, Web3 gaming, AI in interactive entertainment, and leadership at scale.
Arron has helped scale some of the most influential platforms in gaming — from Wizards of the Coast to Activision Blizzard to Meta. Now, he’s helping build what many see as the next version of the internet: interactive, player-owned ecosystems.

Most digital experiences operate on a consumption model:
You buy it. You use it. You leave with nothing.
At the same time, leaders are navigating rapid disruption in AI, blockchain, and digital transformation — often without clear frameworks for culture, decision-making, and innovation.
Key Themes
Digital ownership vs digital consumption
Blockchain as infrastructure
Web3 gaming strategy
Tribal leadership models
Psychological safety in innovation
Scaling creative organizations
Meaningful work and cultural accountability
Arron Goolsbey is President & COO of Mythical Games, a company pioneering player-owned digital economies in gaming. His prior leadership roles include senior positions at Wizards of the Coast, Activision Blizzard, and Meta.
Learn more: 🌐 https://mythical.games
🔗 Arron Goolsbey's LinkedIn Page: linkedin.com/in/arron

#OneSharpSword #WaynePernell #ArronGoolsbey #Web3Leadership #DigitalOwnership #AIAndCreativity #Web3Gaming #FutureOfWork
🎥 Watch the full episode now on my YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/jAdpuxjgCD4
🔔 Subscribe for more leadership insights:
👉 https://www.youtube.com/@DrWaynePernell
50 min
April 07Systems, AI, and the Small Things That Change Everything with Gilbert Guzmán
In this episode of One Sharp Sword, Dr. Wayne Pernell welcomes Dr. Gilbert Guzmán — executive leader, AI founder, and author of Atomic Impact — for a powerful conversation on leadership, systems thinking, and productivity.
After being fired early in his career, Gilbert rebuilt his trajectory through operations, HR leadership, and enterprise-level strategy at Kroger before launching IntraQ, an AI-powered HR command center for small businesses.
Together, they unpack why most workplace problems aren’t caused by people — they’re caused by systems.
You’ll learn:
The critical difference between leadership and management
Why chasing KPIs often backfires
Dr. W. Edwards Deming’s Red Bead Experiment explained
How “fundamental attribution error” damages culture
The hidden impact of small, unmeasured actions
Transformative productivity and the Chain Reaction Coefficient
How AI can reduce HR risk for startups and small businesses
Why every leader’s real job is to reduce friction
If you’re a founder, executive, HR leader, or entrepreneur navigating growth, AI, and performance metrics — this episode will challenge how you think about productivity and people.

🎥 Watch the full episode now on my YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/L_B-xYULctc
🔔 Subscribe for more leadership insights:
👉 https://www.youtube.com/@DrWaynePernell

#Leadership #SystemsThinking #Productivity #AIinBusiness #WorkplaceCulture #HRLeadership #TransformativeProductivity #AtomicImpact

Gilbert Guzmán's LinkedIn Page: linkedin.com/in/gilguz
1 hr 5 min
March 31Saying Yes Before You’re Ready. Choosing Growth When It’s Hard with Christine Maguire
What does it take to lead through crisis, scale global teams, and pivot industries — successfully?
In this episode, Dr. Wayne Pernell interviews Christine Maguire, EVP & Chief Business Officer at RVO Health, about building a bold, non-linear career across media, travel, and healthcare leadership.
Christine shares how she:
Transitioned from construction and finance into digital media
Led transformation at Condé Nast
Navigated massive layoffs at TripAdvisor during COVID
Built culture through transparency and empathy
Now oversees major health media brands serving millions
You’ll learn:
Why “choose your hard” is a leadership mantra
How empathy unlocks performance
How to communicate vision across distributed teams
Why stepping back can launch you forward
How great leaders remove obstacles instead of forcing growth
If you're an executive, founder, or emerging leader navigating uncertainty, this episode delivers practical insights on scaling teams, managing change, and leading with clarity.

🎥 Watch the full episode now on my YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/rp9OnY758os
🔔 Subscribe for more leadership insights:
👉 https://www.youtube.com/@DrWaynePernell
#Leadership #ExecutiveLeadership #TeamScaling #CrisisManagement #CareerGrowth #EmpathyInLeadership #OrganizationalCulture #OneSharpSword

Christine Maguire’s LinkedIn Page: linkedin.com/in/christine-maguire-7717472a
43 min
March 24AI Doesn’t Replace Leaders — It Reveals Them with Daniel Morales
In this episode, I’m joined by Daniel Morales Jr., founder of AI Shield OS and a former U.S. Army leader, to unpack why so many AI initiatives stall inside organizations.
Despite massive investments in artificial intelligence, many companies are failing to see expected ROI. Daniel explains why the issue isn’t usually the technology — it’s decision architecture, governance, and alignment.
We explore:
Why AI accelerates probability, not wisdom
How leadership decisions compress time in the AI era
The role of intentional communication in AI adoption
Why shared understanding creates buy-in
How leaders must own decision responsibility
The human side of exponential technological change
Daniel’s work focuses on diagnosing AI friction points and helping leaders align culture, governance, and strategy before adding more tools.
If you’re a CEO, founder, executive, or change leader navigating AI implementation, this episode delivers grounded insight and practical clarity.

#AILeadership #OneSharpSwordPodcast #WaynePernell #LeadershipClarity #DanielMoralesJr #TechAndLeadership #AIAdoption
🎥 Watch the full episode now on my YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/LeCauYDhBeo
🔔 Subscribe for more leadership insights:
👉 https://www.youtube.com/@DrWaynePernell

Daniel Morales 's LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/daniel-morales-jr-303186320
42 min
March 17Finance is storytelling. Leadership is perspective. Growth requires courage with Joe Hamrahi
In this episode, I’m joined by Joe Hamrahi — CPA, founder of FinStrat CFO, and seasoned executive leader — for a powerful conversation about business growth, resilience, and relationships.
Joe shares his journey from accounting to executive finance to launching his own fractional CFO firm — and why he finally made the leap in his 50s.
We discuss:
Why accounting is about telling the story behind the numbers
The difference between compliance and strategic finance
How to ask better business questions: What happened? Why? Where do we go now?
Why genuine relationships outperform transactional networking
The courage it takes to step outside your comfort zone
How mentorship, therapy, and coaching accelerate growth
Joe also explains why “slow and steady like a manatee” can be better than chasing explosive growth — and why understanding your goals matters more than chasing arbitrary metrics.
If you're a founder, CEO, or entrepreneur seeking clarity in your financial story and business direction, this episode delivers grounded wisdom and practical insight.

🎥 Watch the full episode now on my YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/PH897Z1WIOM
🔔 Subscribe for more leadership insights:
👉 https://www.youtube.com/@DrWaynePernell
#Leadership #BusinessGrowth #FinancialLeadership #Entrepreneurship #CFOInsights #OneSharpSword

Joe Hamrahi's LinkedIn Page: linkedin.com/in/joehamrahi
49 min
March 10Leading Before the Title: Influence, Culture, and Growth with Ryan George
What does real leadership look like when you don’t have the title yet?
In this episode of One Sharp Sword, I sit down with Ryan George, Chief Marketing Officer at Docupace, to talk about ambition, culture, setbacks, and leading people with intention.
Ryan didn’t rise through marketing by positional authority. He led first through influence — before he ever had the title.
We explore:
How to lead before you’re officially “the leader”
The wake-up call of a brutal 360 review — and what to do with hard feedback
Why culture is built on support, not “gotcha” moments
The difference between managing performance and managing people
Why your job as a leader is to prepare people for their next role — even if that means losing them
Ryan shares openly about being laid off, facing an identity crisis, and realizing that the bumps are the growth.
Three powerful leadership takeaways:
Choose the right people to work for — culture trickles down.
Growth rarely feels smooth — lean into the discomfort.
People have lives beyond work — lead with understanding, not punishment.
If you care about culture, influence, and lifting as you lead, this conversation delivers.

🎥 Watch the full episode now on my YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/y62FHv7NXi0

🔔 Subscribe for more leadership insights:
👉 https://www.youtube.com/@DrWaynePernell

#LeadershipWithoutTitle #InfluenceOverAuthority #CultureMatters #LeadershipGrowth

Ryan George's LinkedIn page: linkedin.com/in/rageorge
43 min
March 03 The Former First CHRO of LinkedIn: What Leaders Get Wrong About Culture, AI & Performance
What do most leaders get wrong about culture, performance, and the future of work?
In this episode of One Sharp Sword, Dr. Wayne Pernell sits down with the former first CHRO of LinkedIn and author of Workquake to unpack what actually drives high-performing teams in today’s rapidly changing world.
We discuss:
• Why culture is a leadership responsibility — not HR’s
• How hypergrowth silently breaks communication
• Why learning agility matters more than job security
• The hidden poison in fear-based performance systems
• How AI should enhance people — not replace them
If you’re leading through change, building a high-performance culture, or navigating AI disruption — this conversation is essential.
Trust scales. Bureaucracy suffocates. Leadership decides.
🎥 Watch the full episode now on my YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/X5RNRC54cNs
🔔 Subscribe for more leadership insights:
👉 https://www.youtube.com/@DrWaynePernell
#Leadership #FutureOfWork #OrganizationalCulture #AILeadership #ExecutiveLeadership

Steve Cadigan's LinkedIn page: linkedin.com/in/cadigan

56 min
February 24Interview with Dekel Skoop
In this episode of One Sharp Sword, Dr. Wayne Pernell sits down with mission-driven tech founder Dekel Skoop, a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree who has built companies serving underserved markets—from web accessibility to cybersecurity.
Dekel shares hard-earned leadership lessons on scaling organizations, hiring for adaptability and common sense, and why people always come before process and product. He also unpacks how real growth guarantees change—and why great leaders plan for it instead of resisting it.
This is a grounded, practical conversation for founders, executives, and leaders navigating growth in fast-changing environments.
Key Takeaways
Why people—not products—are the foundation of scalable organizations
How successful growth guarantees change (and why that’s a good thing)
The leadership discipline of hiring people who are better than you
How to assess adaptability, culture fit, and common sense when hiring
Why small and midsize businesses are the backbone of the global economy
How Guardz is simplifying cybersecurity for MSPs and SMBs
Connect with Dekel
● LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dekel-skoop-469335118

🎥 Watch the full episode on my YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/3bmEkAXph-g
35 min
February 17Interview with Nick Yaitsky
AI has been around for decades—but only recently has it become accessible, scalable, and deeply personal. In this episode of One Sharp Sword, Dr. Wayne Pernell speaks with Nick Yaitsky, Chief AI Officer at Lulav Technology Partners, about what actually works when AI meets healthcare, leadership, and organizational culture.

Nick breaks down hyper-personalization, data ethics, failing fast vs. learning fast, and why leaders must fix broken processes before layering in AI. This is a grounded, human conversation about growth, fear, adaptability, and building organizations that are truly future-ready.
What You’ll Learn:
Why AI enables personalization at a level humans alone can’t scale
The difference between AI-native and AI-branded organizations
How leaders can evolve culture without burning it down
Why fear is information—not a stop sign
The leadership mindset required to navigate rapid change
Connect with Nick:
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/nickyaitsky
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://lulav.ai
🎥 Watch the full episode on my YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/EUckhht5Ego
45 min
February 10Interview with Robert Beaven
In this episode of One Sharp Sword, Dr. Wayne Pernell sits down with Robert Beaven—human-centered culture architect and leadership coach—to explore why culture isn’t a side initiative, it is the strategy.
Together, they unpack what it really takes to build trust and psychological safety in organizations, especially in a world shaped by rapid change, remote work, and increasing complexity. Robert shares hard-earned lessons from his journey through corporate leadership, consulting, and culture design—along with practical insights leaders can use immediately.
This conversation dives into curiosity as the foundation of trust, the danger of perfectionism, the power of presence, and why great leaders don’t call people out—they call them in.
Key Topics Discussed:
Why culture is the primary driver of sustainable performance
Psychological safety as a leadership responsibility
Curiosity as the foundation of trust and belonging
The myth of perfection and the cost of comparison
Leadership presence: how you show up is the message
Calling people in vs. calling people out
Building trust through boundaries, grace, and consistency
Supporting introverts and quieter voices on teams
Why leaders must grow people—not just results
Giving yourself (and others) grace in a polarized world
This conversation dives into curiosity as the foundation of trust, the danger of perfectionism, the power of presence, and why great leaders don’t call people out—they call them in.
Robert Beaven is a human-centered culture architect with more than 20 years of experience helping leaders design cultures where people thrive and performance follows. His work focuses on leadership alignment, psychological safety, trust, and courageous conversations.
Connect with Robert:
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/robertbeaven
🎥 Watch the full episode on my YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/nReCgtQtG3I
41 min

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