In this episode, Dr. Wayne Pernell sits down with Bill Dunnion, CISO at Mitel, to explore the winding path that took him from engineering to operations to leading global cybersecurity efforts. Bill shares candid insights on leadership, decision-making, project success, and navigating pressure in a world where cyber threats never take a day off.

You’ll hear stories about early career pivots, how to build credibility with executives, why delegation is a superpower, and the best advice Bill ever received from his dad — wisdom that applies to leadership, career moves, and even card games.

Key Themes & Topics
● Bill’s surprising route from engineering to a global leadership role
● What people misunderstand about cybersecurity
● Translating technical data into business outcomes
● Why only 17% of projects succeed — and what to do about it
● Managing priorities when everything feels urgent
● Small-team leadership vs. big-organization leadership
● The hidden role of communication in security
● How Mitel supports enterprise communication around the globe
● The mindset behind good delegation
● Decision-making that leaves doors open, not shut

Grateful, but Ambitious — Leadership Lessons with Kapil Agrawal

In this powerful episode of One Sharp Sword, host Dr. Wayne Pernell sits down with Kapil Agrawal, a strategic leader whose career spans top companies like Uber, Capital One, and SnapLogic. From his small-town beginnings in India to Silicon Valley boardrooms, Kapil’s story is a masterclass in balancing gratitude with ambition — and leading with confidence and empathy.

Together, they unpack what it means to be “grateful, but ambitious,” embracing discomfort as a signal of growth and learning how humility, optimism, and authenticity fuel long-term success.

🎯 In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• Why being grateful but ambitious is the key to sustainable leadership
  
  
• How discomfort can be a powerful indicator of progress
  
  
• The mindset needed to lead through uncertainty with confidence and optimism
  
  
• Why empathy isn’t just kindness — it’s a business strategy
  
  
• How great leaders create future leaders through mentorship and modeling
  
  
• How setbacks become stepping stones when you believe in yourself
  
  

💬 Key Takeaway:
True leadership isn’t about perfection — it’s about progress. Gratitude grounds you. Ambition drives you. And empathy connects you.

From Law to Leadership: Building a Culture of Growth with Mark Schwartz

In this episode of One Sharp Sword, host Dr. Wayne Pernell sits down with Mark Schwartz, CFO, attorney, and transformation leader, to explore how authentic leadership and curiosity create lasting organizational growth.

Mark’s career journey spans finance, corporate law, and large-scale manufacturing and supply chain transformation — leading companies from single-site operations to billion-dollar enterprises. Now, as CFO of a private equity–backed machine learning company in the retail supply chain space, he’s helping consumer brands recover lost revenue and drive efficiency through transparency and trust.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:
● How to lead through complex change and transformation
● Why culture always wins over blame
● The power of perspective in leadership communication
● Lessons from scaling manufacturing operations to global success
● How curiosity, clarity, and collaboration redefine high-performance leadership

Key Takeaway: True leadership isn’t about having all the answers — it’s about creating alignment, learning from mistakes, and inspiring your team to grow.

In this episode of One Sharp Sword, Dr. Wayne Pernell welcomes Elena Leonova, a global product executive and entrepreneur whose work in platform product management bridges technology and humanity. Elena reminds us that even in the most technical roles, “there’s a human side to everything we do — that matters.” Her approach brings people and purpose into spaces often dominated by systems and code.

Dr. Pernell highlights Elena’s rare enthusiasm for coaching — a leader who doesn’t just endorse it, but embodies its transformative impact. Elena shares how coaching helped her “become more of herself,” a shift that reshaped her leadership and deepened her connection to her work and team.

Born and raised in Ukraine, Elena’s journey took her from studying math and physics to leading major global tech initiatives at eBay and beyond. Her story captures courage, curiosity, and the power of self-reinvention. Today, she’s building OneRank.io and writing a book on Platform Product Management, offering insights into how scalable ecosystems are built — and how true leadership always starts with people first, then process, then product.

In this episode of One Sharp Sword, Matt Schalsey and host, Dr. Wayne Pernell, dive into the mindset and mechanics of high-performance leadership, exploring how clarity fuels extraordinary outcomes. They discuss how leaders can elevate their presence, align actions with purpose, and stay grounded through rapid growth.

Jump in to learn more about

• Building trust through authenticity
• Sustaining success through personal development
• Leading with both confidence and compassion
• Embracing challenge as the path to growth

On this episode of One Sharp Sword, podcast host, Dr Wayne Pernell, engages with his guest, Christine Barnhart, to explore the evolution of leadership in supply chain consulting, highlighting the need for adaptability, cross-functional collaboration, and strategic integration of AI in logistics.

Christine is brilliant as she shares lessons from her journey in balancing technology with human-centered decision-making in order to drive transformation.

Listen in to learn more about:

• Leading teams through complex organizational change
• Building a culture of continuous improvement and mentorship
• Cultivating strategic empathy and resilience in global operations
• Preparing for the future of integrated digital ecosystems

Kristin Oelke is the CMO of Brightrose Ventures. She helps companies get back on track when things get messy.

On our podcast today, we dive into what “messy” is and how to get out of it.
We also talk about
● Curiosity
● Finding Purpose
● And how to be unafraid to try new things and Ask For Help!

She notes that in organizations, you need to be looking at building culture by contributing to it, while also discerning what your leadership values are and whether you’re aligned with those values.

Such a great interview with very human insights. Check it out!

What does a data geek and chief data analytics officer have to teach us about leadership? You’d be surprised!

Marcos Martins brings amazing insight about his path from Brazil to leading wonderful teams in the U.S. He says he has a passion for solving problems and that the data tells the story.

He invites the question of whether we ever have all the information we need - “we never have everything, but maybe you have enough.”

He positions his success on several key factors -
● Problems can be solved (See problems as puzzles)
● For each goal list, be determined to deliver to your stakeholders and to learn something new
● Get in partnership with your team members and become more likable and trustworthy
● Stay flexible, adaptable, persistent, and consistent

Marcos can be found on LinkedIn and welcomes the connection.