Peer Ripples

In this episode of Peer Ripples, Noa and Ofir are joined by Sean Persaud, a leader known for his mastery in building and maintaining meaningful relationships over decades.

Together, they explore why networking often gets a bad reputation and how genuine relationships are built differently. Sean shares his approach to staying connected, creating value for others, and building a community of people who invest in one another over time.

The conversation covers authenticity, generosity, leadership, navigating new organizations, and the small habits that turn introductions into lasting relationships.

Whether you're building your career, joining a new company, or simply looking to create more meaningful connections, this episode offers a refreshing perspective on what relationship-building can look like.

Takeaways

• The best relationships are built on authenticity, not transactions.
• Consistent small actions often matter more than grand gestures.
• Bringing value starts with curiosity, generosity, and genuine interest in others.
• Strong networks are communities built over time, not collections of contacts.

Chapters

00:00 Networking or Building Relationships?

19:44 Building Relationships Across Cultures and Time Zones

24:30 When to Invest More and When to Step Back

30:19 Starting Fresh in a New Organization

34:00 Vulnerability, Authenticity, and Trust

39:00 Reflection and Takeaways

More About Us:

• Connect with Ofir & Noa
  https://www.linkedin.com/in/noarcoach/
  https://www.linkedin.com/in/ofirronen/
• Connect with Sean Persaud
  https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-persaud-2203371/
• Our Website
  https://advago.co/
• Podcast YouTube Channel
  https://www.youtube.com/@PeerRipplePodcast
  Noa Ronen YouTube Channel
  https://www.youtube.com/@NoaRCoach

In this episode of Peer Ripples, Noa and Ofir are joined by Carolina Climate co-founders Ben Provan and Majela Fonseca to explore what it takes to turn a group of people into a community.

One year after launching Carolina Climate, Ben and Majela reflect on the journey of building a grassroots movement for climate and clean tech founders across North Carolina. They share why they started the community, what they've learned about leadership, partnerships, and co-creation, and why the strongest communities are built with people, not for people.

The conversation explores community building, shared purpose, founder engagement, partnership, and the challenge of knowing when to lead and when to let go.

• Communities are built with people, not for people.
• Shared purpose creates stronger connections than shared interests alone.
• Partnership accelerates community growth without reinventing the wheel.
• Leadership means creating space for others to contribute and take ownership.
• Sometimes the most important step is to stop planning and start.

00:00 Why Start a Community?

12:00 From Silos to Community

24:00 Principles of Community Building

35:00 Leading and Letting Go

Entrepreneur, startup operator, and co-founder of Carolina Climate. Ben works with startups, innovation programs, and climate-focused ventures across North Carolina.
Connect with Ben Provan
https://www.linkedin.com/in/benprovan/

Marketing and business development leader, ecosystem builder, and co-founder of Carolina Climate. Majela works closely with founders, startups, and entrepreneurial communities across the Triangle.
Connect with Majela Fonseca
https://www.linkedin.com/in/majelafonseca/

Connect with Ofir & Noa

https://www.linkedin.com/in/noarcoach/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ofirronen/

Our Website

https://advago.co/

Podcast YouTube Channel

https://www.youtube.com/@PeerRipplePodcast

Noa Ronen YouTube Channel

https://www.youtube.com/@NoaRCoach

In this episode of Peer Ripples, Noa and Ofir are joined by Rob Ocel, VP of Innovation at This Dot Labs and host of the Engineering Leadership Podcast.

The conversation delves into the concept of leaders taking space and the challenges associated with it. It explores the balance between leadership and team ownership, as well as the role of a leader in creating space for themselves and their team. Key takeaways include the importance of permission and duty, the freedom that comes from clear rules of the game, and the concept of owning the middle as a leader.

Takeaways

• Permission and responsibility go hand in hand as a leader
• Leaders create space by building systems rather than controlling every decision.
• Trust grows when expectations are clear.
• Owning the middle is a critical leadership skill.
• Clear rules of the game create freedom, not restriction.

00:00 Permission to Take Space

10:00 Leadership, Freedom, and Boundaries

18:00 Owning the Middle

30:00 Rules of the Game

35:30 Reflection and Takeaways

• Connect with Ofir & Noa
  https://www.linkedin.com/in/noarcoach/
  https://www.linkedin.com/in/ofirronen/
• Connect with Rob Ocel
  https://www.linkedin.com/in/robocel/
• Our Website
  https://advago.co/
• Podcast YouTube Channel
  https://www.youtube.com/@PeerRipplePodcast
  Noa Ronen YouTube Channel
  https://www.youtube.com/@NoaRCoach

In this episode of Peer Ripples, Noa and Ofir explore the role consistency plays in relationships, leadership, and teams.

Every Sunday morning, Noa and Ofir take the same walk and grab coffee together.

That simple ritual sparks a conversation about consistency, trust, leadership, and why people need more than direction. They need to know what they can count on.

Together, they discuss how predictability reduces anxiety, why trust is built through repeated actions, and how leaders can create stability while navigating constant change. From family routines to workplace expectations, this episode explores the connection between consistency, trust, and meaningful relationships.

• Consistency creates predictability.
• Predictability reduces anxiety.
• Trust is built through consistent actions, not intentions.
• Leaders create stability through clear expectations and communication.
• Teams thrive when they have trust, direction, and room to find their own path.

00:00 Why Consistency Matters

08:45 Leadership and Predictability

16:00 Trust, Change, and Accountability

28:20 Reflection and Takeaways

Connect with Ofir & Noa

https://www.linkedin.com/in/noarcoach/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ofirronen/

Our Website

https://advago.co/

Podcast YouTube Channel

https://www.youtube.com/@PeerRipplePodcast

Noa Ronen YouTube Channel

https://www.youtube.com/@NoaRCoach

In this episode of Peer Ripples, Noa and Ofir are joined by Sean Persaud, a leader known for his mastery in building and maintaining meaningful relationships over decades.

Together, they explore why networking often gets a bad reputation and how genuine relationships are built differently. Sean shares his approach to staying connected, creating value for others, and building a community of people who invest in one another over time.

The conversation covers authenticity, generosity, leadership, navigating new organizations, and the small habits that turn introductions into lasting relationships.

Whether you're building your career, joining a new company, or simply looking to create more meaningful connections, this episode offers a refreshing perspective on what relationship-building can look like.

• The best relationships are built on authenticity, not transactions.
• Consistent small actions often matter more than grand gestures.
• Bringing value starts with curiosity, generosity, and genuine interest in others.
• Strong networks are communities built over time, not collections of contacts.

00:00 Networking or Building Relationships?

19:44 Building Relationships Across Cultures and Time Zones

24:30 When to Invest More and When to Step Back

30:19 Starting Fresh in a New Organization

34:00 Vulnerability, Authenticity, and Trust

39:00 Reflection and Takeaways

More About Us:

• Connect with Ofir & Noa
  https://www.linkedin.com/in/noarcoach/
  https://www.linkedin.com/in/ofirronen/
• Connect with Sean Persaud
  https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-persaud-2203371/
• Our Website
  https://advago.co/
• Podcast YouTube Channel
  https://www.youtube.com/@PeerRipplePodcast
  Noa Ronen YouTube Channel
  https://www.youtube.com/@NoaRCoach

In this episode of Peer Ripples, Noa and Ofir explore the idea of space and why it feels harder to find than ever before.

From back-to-back meetings and remote work to AI and constant connectivity, many of the natural pauses that once existed in our day have disappeared. Together, they discuss what happens when we lose the space to process, reflect, and be intentional.

The conversation explores how leaders can create more meaningful conversations, reduce noise, and make room for better decisions, stronger relationships, and greater presence at work and at home.

• Space is not just time away from work. It is the ability to pause, process, and be present.
• Leaders need to create intentional space rather than waiting for it to appear.
• Fewer, more focused conversations often create more impact than more meetings.
• Asking "Should I be here?" can be a powerful question for leaders, teams, and families.

00:00 What Does Space Mean Today?

07:08 Creating Intentional Space

13:39 The Lost Spaces of Travel and Work

18:45 Less Noise, More Meaningful Conversations

22:00 Reflection and Takeaway

More About Us:

• Connect with Ofir & Noa
  https://www.linkedin.com/in/noarcoach/
  https://www.linkedin.com/in/ofirronen/
• Our Website
  https://advago.co/
• Podcast YouTube Channel
  https://www.youtube.com/@PeerRipplePodcast
  Noa Ronen YouTube Channel
  https://www.youtube.com/@NoaRCoach

The conversation with Paul Browning, GTM Leader, delves into the essence of a strong team and how leaders build one. Exploring the dynamics of teamwork, balancing individual and team goals, defining a "good" team, and embracing failure and trust as key components of effective teamwork. The conversation delves into themes such as building trust and collaboration, balancing work and fun as a team, the roles of the leader and the team, and community building. It explores the role of leadership in fostering a high-performing team and the significance of community building and leadership in a broader context.

Takeaways

• Team collaboration
• Building trust Work hard, play hard
• Balancing work and fun
• Leadership in community building

Chapters

• 00:00 The Jazz Ensemble Experience
• 18:39 Defining a Good Team
• 23:39 Embracing Failure and Trust
• 29:52 Balancing Work and Fun
• 39:22 Community Building and Leadership

• More About Us:
• Connect with Ofir & Noa
  https://www.linkedin.com/in/noarcoach/
  https://www.linkedin.com/in/ofirronen/
• Connect with Paul Browning
  https://www.linkedin.com/in/browningpaul/
• Our Website
  https://advago.co/
• Podcast YouTube Channel
  https://www.youtube.com/@PeerRipplePodcast
  Noa Ronen YouTube Channel
  https://www.youtube.com/@NoaRCoach

The conversation covers a wide range of topics related to change management, leadership, and the impact of AI on organizations. It delves into the challenges of balancing change and resistance, the future of change management, and the importance of feedback and validation in communication. The discussion also explores the cultural impact on change and the evolving role of subject matter experts in the age of AI.

Takeaways

• Balancing change and resistance is a critical challenge for leaders.
• The future of change management will involve multidisciplinary teams and a dynamic interplay between humans and AI.

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction and Background
• 05:45 Resistance to AI
• 15:02 Cultural Impact on Change
• 20:54 Future of Change Management
• 36:23 Feedback and Validation
  
  More About Us:
• Connect with Ofir & Noa
  https://www.linkedin.com/in/noarcoach/
  https://www.linkedin.com/in/ofirronen/
• Connect with Vittoria Burr
  https://www.linkedin.com/in/vittoriaburronni/?locale=en
• Our Website
  https://advago.co/
• Podcast YouTube Channel
  https://www.youtube.com/@PeerRipplePodcast
  Noa Ronen YouTube Channel
  https://www.youtube.com/@NoaRCoach