T-Rex Radio

Running a company is complicated. Everyone has different priorities and conceptions of success. Left to their own devices, people default to a sort of mob rule where only the strongest personalities get their way, and often work in opposition. Things get murky, inefficient, and ultimately, deadly for the business. So how do we keep alignment? Here at Turntide, we rely on a system called “OKRs,” which stands for “Objective / Key Result.” Simply put, an objective is a goal for the business, and a key result is a measurable amount of progress toward that goal. It's a simple concept, right? No way it could go wrong. I invited some experts onto the show to share the finer points of OKRs, about where they fail, and what makes a good one. Perhaps, in order to understand what they are, we should take a look at they came from.

We've all had terrible managers. Hopefully, most of us have had some great ones, too. On this T-Rex Radio, we'll ask people about the qualities that motivated their best managers, and the faults that made their worst managers turn their jobs intolerable. Guests include Mike Evans, founder of Grubhub and Fixer. T-Rex Radio is a production of Turntide Technologies.

The story of every successful startup includes critical turning points that require challenging adaptations to win their markets. Turntide faced that moment in 2022 when it became clear that taking the company to the next level would require a wholesale transformation, from an organization that chases sales to one that develops products that fit customers' most important needs. This episode of T-Rex Radio is a very candid story of how Turntide implemented Marty Cagan's "Empowered" model, and arrived to 2023 a very different company from the year before.

Values listed on a poster on the wall are one thing. Actually working by them every day is quite another. In this episode, host and Chief People Officer Senia Maymin speaks with three of our engineers about Turntide's values. From the surprise they felt when discovering how seriously we take them, to learning what they mean and look like, to finding value and growth in incorporating them into their work and lives, they share their experiences in using the values to be better engineers.

A brief introduction to servant leadership at Turntide as we kick off a series of episodes on the topic.

Turntide Chief People Officer Senia Maymin has learned a lot from her education, research, and coaching practice. In this episode, she shares some practical frameworks for changing behaviors, exploring new ideas, and making changes (as well as reading, writing a book, and many other topics).

While kids may be heading back to school and parents back to offices, we wanted to document the trials and successes of pandemic parenting while WFH. As a largely remote workforce, we definitely learned some things that we can take forward as we all go back into the world. What we learned? It's different for every family. Some kids thrive. Some struggle. Some parents can share the duties of home schooling. Some can't. One thing we all loved? Zoom bombs from kids!

Paul gets together with Mike and Marti to discuss the integration of Riptide into Turntide, from introductions and culture match, to product offerings and customer value, to what the future holds.

An expert at digital business model transformations in industries such as manufacturing, healthcare, energy, and transportation, extensive experience with IoT connectivity and advanced analytics technologies, and a track record of hyperscaling teams, Brad shares the possibilities Turntide's technology brings as well as practical use cases.

As we seek to save our planet from the effects of pollution and climate change, we have the opportunity to improve the planet in other ways as well. Creating a workplace where every one of us, no matter our background, feels psychologically safe is core to our mission. So states the "why" of Turntide's Diversity, Equity, Belonging, & Inclusion team. Listen in as they talk goal-setting, strategies, the importance of belonging, and how it all comes together to make a stronger company. 

We had a lively discussion about No Rules Rules: Netflix and the Culture of Reinvention by Erin Meyer and Reed Hastings. Some of us loved it. Some not so much. Listen in on how we hash through new ideas and how (and what) we want to implement at Turntide.

Join Paul Maloney as he deep dives into the ultimate vision of SMC with Executive Chairman Ryan Morris. They discuss the multi-dimensional paradigm that SMC is executing to enable our mission - to replace all electric motors with optimal motor systems so every watt is worthwhile for humanity.

What would inspire one to leave a successful leadership role at a highly profitable company? Learn SMC Chief Revenue Officer Carl Burrow's reasons for doing just that to join Software Motor Company. He and Paul talk scope of opportunity, personal growth, great teams, and purposeful culture, as well as the challenges inherent in scaling a startup.

In the final episode of our Board of Directors series, Paul talks with Gordon Hunter and Richard Linder - two board members with significant experience in fast-growing companies. They talk science, engineering, supply chain, getting the right message to the right customers, and doing good for the world. Behind it all is the development of a strong culture of mutual respect and teamwork and hiring people that are not only the best at what they do, but are also a good cultural fit.

SMC is not just another technology looking for a problem to solve. It is addressing a real, hugely impactful issue facing the world today - energy consumption and climate change. In this episode, Kasper Sage and Greg Smithies of BMW i Ventures talk about their initial skepticism and why it grew into genuine excitement and investment in the company. 

Welcome to season 2 of T-Rex Radio! On this episode, SMC Board Member Prith Banerjee shares his perspective on what makes SMC so exciting, and how partnering with ANSYS is propelling our technology. From academia to HP and ABB to his current role as CTO of ANSYS, Prith's experience and vision are invaluable as SMC continues to grow. 

On this episode of T-Rex Radio, Paul talks with Ryan, Avid, and David about working with VES Environmental Solutions. They share the impact SMC's value of "Respect Humanity" has had on the team's ability to work together effectively and efficiently.  

This week Paul continues his discussion on OKRs with Eric. They talk about his focus on VES, go to market strategy, and how VES uniquely demonstrates SMC's capabilities and ability to add sustainable value. 

We continue on the theme of OKRs with Avid's objectives around VES, creating a tiger team, and bringing the values and agreements SMC works by to our partners and customers. 

Today's episode features People Ops Director Jay Gardner's take on OKRs. She and Paul talk about the difference between objectives and key results, and then delve into Jay's own OKRs - for SMC and for herself. 

This episode dives into SMC's objectives. Ryan talks about the why, how, and where these OKRs will take the company. 

This week Ryan talks with Nick Nagel. They talk abut the mechanical aspects of the motor, the promise the technology holds, and what the vision for the future looks like. 

Today's episode is a special one. Paul Wickberg had the chance to sit down with Steve Hagen, an industry veteran of 40 years - most recently at Sprouts. They talk about energy efficiency measures trying new technologies, making mistakes, and what makes a good vendor/partner, among other things. 

Today we get to hear about the fruition of all the work that's gone into creating the Smart Motor System - getting on the roof and installing them in RTUs. Sam and Paul talk about what the industry has been like, why SMC's motors are different, and what it takes to get them working in the field. 

On this episode, Paul talks with Levi about the value of open communication and common goals in building successful teams. They talk about creating an environment that is silo-free, developing interpersonal relationships with team members, and focusing on project goals to get them to the finish line. 

Asking questions. Acknowledging there is a lot to learn. Being open to others' experiences. Today's episode is with Eric Meyerson, VP of Marketing at SMC, who shares how he has approached each new market he has engaged with. From millennials at YouTube to dairy farmers in Minnesota, Eric shares how his curiosity and willingness to learn has led to success. 

On the pod this week, Paul and Ryan talk productivity. From what you eat, to what you do, to how you do it, there is a lot to maximizing your ability to get things done.

This week we get to hear about the beginning of the technology from Piyush. He and Ryan talk about the inspiration for the SMC motor, early problem solving, where we are and where we are going from here.

This episode is a conversation with Operations Engineer Hemik Parikh. He and Paul talk root cause analysis, first principles thinking, working with cross-functional teams, lean processes, and continuous improvement.  

In this episode, Paul turns the tables on sometimes-interviewer and pod producer Patti and asks her the questions. They talk about the various aspects of marketing, just getting started, and the many things that go into culture-building.

Finding solutions for clients. Addressing real world issues. Establishing priorities. In this episode, Paul and Bruce sit down to talk about how SMC's products have evolved and continue to evolve to meet the demands of the market.

Living up to our behavioral agreements isn't always easy, but doing so does provide a way through difficult situations. On this episode of T-Rex Radio, Avid and Paul W share a time they had a disagreement, and how each used SMC's five behavioral agreements as a way back to the table. In the end, through practicing extreme ownership and trust, they found a way to not only communicate better, but to find a way to add sustainable value to the company. 

Effective teamwork requires precise and open sharing of information. On this episode of T-Rex Radio, Ryan talks with VP of Engineering Spencer Worley about how SMC's emphasis on communicating openly and precisely saves precious time and sets the stage for success. 

On this episode of T-Rex Radio, Paul and Ryan talk about first principles and the importance of stripping away supposition and assumption to create space for new ideas and solutions to hard problems. 

On this episode of T-Rex Radio, Paul Maloney talks to EVP of Sales Paul Wickberg about the value of storytelling, building lasting relationships with customers, authenticity, and playing above the line. 

After six years in the Israeli army, there isn't much that daunts Maya Aharon, director of special projects at SMC. In this episode, she shares about growing up fast as a member of the military and how the decisions she learned to make there help her navigate through seeming chaos to find a path to success today.

Paul Maloney visits SMC's San Francisco office to talk with Director of Software Federico Nusymowicz. They talk Fed's path to SMC, what makes SMC so different, when it's important to go slow to go fast, what it means to have a growth mindset, and learning from mistakes.

On this episode, guest host Paul Maloney talks withHR Director Jay Gardner about the culture at SMC, playing above the line, and the value of oops moments in a learning organization.

Paul Maloney visits the SMC office to talk with Mark Johnston and Ryan Morris about the origins of the company, how alignment sets the stage for progress, and the necessity of radical candor in solving hard problems. 

Part 2 of T-Rex Radio's first podcast turns the tables, with Avid interviewing Ryan. They discuss his diverse background, why this work matters to him, and what he thinks are key elements of success. 

The inaugural episode of T-Rex Radio is part 1 of a two-part interview between Executive Chairman Ryan Morris and VP of Strategic Products Avid Boustani. This episode is the Avid interview. Learn more about his background, his role at SMC, and what he finds truly unique about the company.