Author: Beth Pyne

What does real ownership look like in leadership? In this episode, Mack McKelvey sits down with Jon Reilly, co-founder and CEO of Akkio, to explore the kind of decision-making that builds momentum.

Jon breaks down his mental model for making decisions—from obvious 80/20 calls to murky 51/49s—and shares how speed, clarity, and accountability help his team move faster and smarter. He also discusses the importance of hiring people with a strong sense of ownership—those willing to make decisions, stand by them, and lean in to learn from their mistakes.

We talk about:

💡 Why decision paralysis is the enemy of progress

🎯 Why prioritization is as critical as the decisions themselves

💥 What it means to bet on yourself—and stake your reputation on it

🛠️ Why “we can do better” isn’t just Jon’s mantra, it’s his leadership operating system

Jon also shares why he doesn’t read business books and the power of building a board that challenges you to think bigger. This episode is a must-listen for anyone building, leading, or learning how to make decisions that matter.

This week, host Mack McKelvey sits down with Sheila Marmon, founder and CEO of Mirror Digital, to explore the art of decision-making, overcoming obstacles, and embracing transparency. Sheila reflects on the valuable lessons from her first venture, highlighting the importance of alignment, shared vision, and the power of listening to diverse voices when making decisions.

At Mirror Digital, Sheila has built a tech-enabled media company that helps brands connect with diverse, trend-setting audiences. Her approach to decision-making is clear: “Decisions aren’t always easy, but you have to move when something is pressing. And if you make a bad decision, you pivot. Understanding the cost of not making the decision allows me to move forward with making decisions and trying new things.”

For Sheila, decision-making is a practice, not a process. Her “test and learn” mentality fosters a culture of experimentation, growth, and continuous learning. By standardizing smaller decisions, she frees up mental space for bigger challenges, creating a democratic culture at Mirror Digital that stays in tune with the cultural zeitgeist.

Every decision a leader makes sends ripples through a business, a team, and even a career. In this episode of The Cred Podcast, host Mack McKelvey sits down with Jason Kaplan, CEO of SixMap, to explore the complexities of decision-making in leadership. From navigating tough calls—like leaving a company—to understanding when to go slow and when to move fast, Jason shares insights from his journey as a founder and executive.

In leadership, there are no easy answers—if it were easy, someone else would have already made the call.

In this episode, Dr. Alvin Glay, Chief Strategy Officer at Response Media, shares his approach to decision-making—blending data with contextual intelligence. Drawing from his experience as a Liberian refugee, Dr. Glay explains how navigating uncertainty and high-pressure situations sharpened his ability to make fast, high-stakes decisions. For Alvin, no decision is too small, every mistake is a data point for future decisions, and great leaders equip their teams with the tools to make confident decisions.

Tune in to learn:

• Why data informs, but context drives decisions
• The importance of teaching decision frameworks to avoid bottlenecks
• The lessons behind a $250,000 mistake
• Why moving fast doesn’t mean skipping the learning process
  
  Insightful, inspiring, and packed with academic insight and real-world wisdom.

AI is everywhere—but how should executives actually use it to make better decisions? In this episode of The Cred Podcast, host Mack McKelvey sits down with Minerva Tantoco, a true tech pioneer who went from founding an AI startup in the ’80s to becoming NYC’s first-ever Chief Technology Officer. Minerva cuts through the AI hype, explains why AI should be seen as intelligent assistance (not artificial intelligence), and shares her (secret) framework for making better strategic decisions.

We also dive into:

• The AI winter of the ’90s
• The consumerization of technology
• Why human oversight is critical in AI-powered decision-making
• What executives need to know when adopting AI

Tune in for a fascinating conversation on balancing human expertise with machine intelligence.

In this episode of The Cred Podcast, Mack McKelvey sits down with Dr. Aaron Andalman, Chief Science Officer and co-founder of Cognitiv, to break down the science behind decision-making.

With a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from M.I.T. and research experience as a Helen Hay Whitney Fellow at Stanford, where he developed advanced computational microscopy methods to study learning and memory, Aaron brings a unique perspective to the table.

He covers:

• Balancing the rigor of academia with the fast-paced nature of tech
• The science behind gut instincts
• Key traits of top decision-makers
• AI’s role in making faster, smarter choices
• How free will (if it exists) factors into it all

In this episode of The Cred Podcast, Mack McKelvey sits down with Terry Kawaja, founder and CEO of Luma Partners and a leading voice in the ad tech industry

Terry shares his nuanced approach to decision-making: moving quickly on small matters, while deliberately hitting the “pause button” on larger decisions.  “I usually have a gut instinct right away,” he explains, “but I have a pause button now. I don’t allow myself to make a big decision quickly. I sit on it, I sleep on it, think about it. Sometimes I’ll bounce it off a few people I trust.”

Known for his objective credibility, Terry also opens up about the bold decisions he’s made in the past and how they’ve paid off. “I would rather ruffle some feathers and be right in the long run because people notice.”

Plus, tune in at the end for Terry’s industry predictions for the year ahead!

In this episode of The Cred Podcast, host Mack McKelvey sits down with Andrea Sullivan, President of vYve, a leadership acceleration program within Vayner Media.

Andrea dives into the challenges modern leaders face, from the impact of stress on decision-making to the importance of delegating decisions and balancing gut intuition with diverse perspectives. She also discusses the “Midlife Chrysalis” and the power of building a culture of kindness and inclusivity as a leader.

Plus, tune in to discover how Andrea’s first job at a farmer’s market shaped the foundation of her marketing philosophy.

In this episode of The Cred Podcast, we’re joined by Mickey Alam Khan, CEO of Luxury Roundtable, global luxury expert, brand builder, and turnaround specialist.

Renowned for his ability to anticipate and capitalize on market shifts, Mickey has founded influential publications like Luxury Daily, Mobile Marketer, and American Marketer, and successfully navigated four business exits—making decision-making his specialty.

Mickey shares his approach to swift decision-making (24-48 hours max), why you can’t live with regret, and the few times a coin comes into play. “You make the decisions for the times you live in. You cannot second-guess yourself. Yes, you’ll make bad decisions. I made a couple of bad decisions in my life and you know what? They brought me to where I am today.”

You’ll also hear his unique take on the value of a college education, not as a qualification, but as a critical life experience that teaches social navigation, adaptability, and interpersonal skills—something that even the likes of Zuckerberg and Gates could have benefited from, in his view.

Tune in for a fascinating conversation on the mindset that drives success, how to trust your instincts, and why timing is everything

In this episode, we’re joined by “Tech Humanist” Kate O’Neill, a global keynote speaker, author, and executive advisor renowned for her expertise in helping leaders navigate the future of technology, transformation, and human-centered innovation. With over 25 years of experience, Kate shares insights on how executives can make smarter decisions in the age of AI, balancing the immediate need for digital adaptation with the long-term vision for meaningful, human-centric progress.

She also discusses themes from her upcoming book, What Matters Next: A Leader’s Guide to Making Human-Friendly Tech Decisions in a World That’s Moving Too Fast, offering tools to help leaders manage the pressure of rapid change while fostering responsible innovation that benefits both people and business.

As a pioneer of Strategic Optimism, Kate empowers leaders to leverage technology—not just as a tool for efficiency but as a way to enrich human experience. In this conversation, we dive into the role of AI in executive decision-making, the importance of foresight, and the ethical considerations that must guide businesses through rapid technological change.

Tune in to hear how you can rethink the way you’re thinking, innovate responsibly, and understand the longitudinal impacts of your decisions.