Shows
Sharpen The SpearStrategic Vision and Leadership in the Trades with Stephen SopkoRichard Walsh and Stephen Sopko explore the complexities of pleasing everyone in business and the power of storytelling for success. Stephen discusses transitioning between industries and tackling the skilled trades gap. They highlight building a positive workplace culture, upskilling leadership, and crafting a strategic vision. The conversation touches on balancing employee happiness with business realities, overcoming small business challenges, and managing seasonal cycles. They also discuss expanding business lines, fostering innovation, and the value of external perspectives. Stephen shares insights on rebuilding trust, delegation, recruitment strategies, and adapting to future technologies.
(0:00) The trap of trying to make everyone happy
(0:24) Sponsor...2025-05-191h 00
The Strategic VeteranStephen SopkoVeteran career transition tips, Air Force leadership experience, executive hiring secrets, and mastering the civilian job market—all from Steve Sapko, former USAF enlisted member turned executive coach. In this episode, we dive into how to optimize your post-service journey, avoid the traps of lowball job offers, and unlock real career success.🎖️🇺🇸 Guest Introduction:Steve Sapko served as a Contracting Officer (E-5) in the U.S. Air Force from 1987 to 1997. With top test scores and a strong Civil Air Patrol background, his journey began following the economic collapse of Florida’s Space Coast after the...2025-05-161h 07
So you want to be a leader... Really? By Defy ExpectationsBreaking the Sales Cycle: Defying Bureaucracy to Drive Revenue with Stephen SopkoSales acceleration expert Stephen Sopko joins us to unpack how shifting mindsets—not just systems—can unlock true sales velocity in even the most risk-averse organisations.
2025-05-1524 min
AIBiZAI vs. Outsourcing: Breaking the Mold with Stephen SopkoIn this enlightening episode of AIBiz, we welcome Stephen Sopko—executive coach, global negotiator, and tech industry whisperer. Together, we dive into the parallels between AI, automation, and outsourcing waves, and what makes AI fundamentally different in reshaping business leadership, operations, and careers. Stephen shares valuable insights on managing fear, storytelling in a post-resume world, and building adaptability as your greatest asset. Tune in to discover how to lead, hire, and thrive in the era of AI.
About the Guest:
Stephen Sopko is a seasoned executive coach, global negotiator, and advisor who has revitalized Fortune 100 teams, gu...2025-04-2419 min
BizBlendThe Narrative Advantage: Storytelling, Leadership & AI Agility with Stephen SopkoIn this episode of BizBlend, host Sana dives into a dynamic and deeply reflective conversation with Stephen Sopko—executive advisor, storyteller, and co-founder of Palisade Compliance. From negotiating with Nobel laureates to transforming enterprise leadership at Oracle and Dell, Stephen brings decades of insights on shaping impactful career narratives. Together, they explore how storytelling isn’t just a branding tactic—it’s a leadership superpower. Stephen reveals why fear-based leadership is outdated, how transparency builds trust, and why adaptability is your greatest career asset in the era of AI disruption.
Whether you're feeling stuck in your current role or...2025-04-2223 min
Famous Interviews with Joe DiminoVersatile Expert on Global Leadership, Career Narratives, & Accelerating Sales Stephen SopkoWelcome to a new edition of Famous Interviews with Joe Dimino! In this episode, we speak with Stephen Sopko, a versatile expert in global leadership, career narratives, and accelerating sales.Stephen’s diverse career began as a military contracting officer, where he played a key role in opening post-Soviet Eastern Europe to research contracts with the West—negotiating agreements with Nobel Prize-winning scientists. Later, he led a 280-person sales support and business practices team across 61 countries at a Fortune 100 software company, where he saw firsthand how shifting from a fear-based culture to an opportunity-driven mindset transformed results.A firm b...2025-02-1830 min
Fed Gov Today11/13/23: Transforming Citizen Experience in Government: A Fed Gov Today Original PodcastThis Special Fed Gov Today podcast is sponsored by Verizon.The Labor Department’s customer experience efforts include its response to a major piece of legislation. The American Rescue Plan Act features several services the Labor Department provides. Lesley Sheffield, Senior IT Project Manager for ARPA Unemployment Insurance Modernization at Labor, details the path that Labor has taken to modernize the UI process, and the road ahead.The Internal Revenue Service has added more than 5,000 customer service representatives...2023-11-1339 min