On this episode of the McCoy Leadership Podcast, we sat down with Giorgio Natili—tech leader, author, and fearless management advocate. Giorgio shared his journey from overcoming terrible bosses to leading innovation at companies like Amazon, Capital One, and Mozilla. We dove into why honesty, vulnerability, and putting people first matter so much more than chasing titles or perfection. Giorgio reminded us that excellence trumps perfection, and that real impact is measured by the lives you touch, not your number of followers. Whether you're a new manager or a seasoned leader, this episode is packed with insights on tackling challenges head-on, building authentic teams, and finding meaning in your work.

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Download your free episode guide here!

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00:00 Tech and AI Journey: Excellence Pursuit

04:17 Unique Career Journey Challenges

08:06 "Leadership: Support from Behind"

12:52 "Challenging Questions Unsettle Colleagues"

14:30 "Balancing Truth and Diplomacy"

17:51 Evolving Culture to Prevent Obsolescence

21:03 Redefining Success Beyond Titles

26:44 From Fear to Fascination: Sharks

28:36 Procrastination and Fear Connection

32:15 Embrace Vulnerability for Success

36:32 Podcast Success Through Impactful Leadership

40:35 "Passion for Music in Events"

43:40 Advice for Educators from Leaders

45:50 "Maximizing Gen AI for Tasks"

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Here are my top three takeaways for anyone navigating management or leadership roles:

🔹 Perfection Doesn’t Exist, Excellence Does: Giorgio shared that striving for perfection can be paralyzing, but aiming for excellence pushes teams and leaders to continuously grow and deliver real value.

🔹 Honesty & Courage Matter: Too often, managers sugarcoat reality or hide issues from leadership, fearing repercussions. Giorgio’s experience proves that clear, direct, and respectful communication—no matter how uncomfortable—is key to solving problems and building lasting trust.

🔹 Embrace Vulnerability & Challenges: Whether it’s swimming with literal sharks (yes, he did!) or facing career fears, Giorgio encourages leaders to acknowledge fears and tackle them head-on. Procrastination often signals underlying fear—so be open about it and ask for help when needed.

If you’re curious to hear practical wisdom on management, leadership, and even tackling your own “sharks,” I highly recommend listening to this episode! And remember: focus on meaningful impact, not just chasing titles or superficial perfection.

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