In this special holiday spoof episode of Best Manager Ever, Annie Riley, host and founder of Fort Light, chats with the one and only Santa Claus!

Known for spreading holiday cheer and managing a diverse team at the North Pole, Santa gives a rare interview about life behind the scenes. His direct reports, including elves and reindeer, praise Santa for his leadership, though they note he's their only manager ever ;)

We will dive into Santa's leadership style, the secrets behind the naughty and nice lists, and the challenges of maintaining the Christmas spirit all year long. Join us for a fun-filled episode with laughter and insight into the man behind the magic.

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In this recap episode of Best Manager Ever, host Annie Riley reflects on standout lessons from Season 3.

Annie discusses the six things our top manager guests have in common: high standards, clear communication, strong relationships with peers, a relentless focus on their own growth, a unique view of career management, and a human-first perspective.

It’s a chance to pause, look back, and notice what makes our guests so exceptional— and then think about how to apply those lessons in your own work.

Whether you're a longtime listener or just tuning in, this episode offers a meaningful recap of the themes that shaped our season.

Share your feedback and suggestions from the season in this super quick form, so we can make future episodes even better.

If you’re interested in sponsoring an episode of Best Manager Ever, reach out: sponsor@fortlight.com

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Connect with Annie Riley

Check out Fort Light to level up your leadership skills

Connect with our show’s Producer, Alexis Ramdaou

Nominate your Best Manager Ever for the Podcast

This is a Production of Fort Light and Now it’s Hear

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Jared Erondu is a seasoned design and startup leader, and is currently the Head of Design at early-stage startup Span. Jared spent eight years at Lattice rising from a solo designer pulling all-nighters in the early days, to leading a 50-person design organization and serving as GM across product and GTM as the company scaled. Earlier in his career, he was a design leader at Teespring and Omada Health. Jared is known for his design mentorship and community-building, and is an active advisor and angel investor.

Jared brings a calm, steady presence, especially during challenging times, always seeing the long view and providing unwavering support. His team appreciates his high standards, attention to detail, and commitment to craft, but also noted that he balances intensity with humor and approachability.

In this episode, show creator and Fort Light founder Annie Riley sits down with Jared, and they discuss:

• Why all managers should master selective transparency
• The right way to communicate destabilizing intel
• How to recondition your mindset for “hard mode” leadership
• How to build a bench of resources to support yourself
• The best way to recruit exceptional talent
• Why managing your own mindset is the ultimate leadership unlock

If you’re interested in sponsoring an episode of Best Manager Ever, reach out: sponsor@fortlight.com

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Connect with Jared Erondu

Connect with Annie Riley

Check out Fort Light to level up your leadership skills

Connect with our show’s Producer, Alexis Ramdaou

Nominate your Best Manager Ever for the Podcast

This is a Production of Fort Light and Now it’s Hear

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dana Lawson is the CTO of Netlify. She’s been a technologist for decades, and was previously the VP of Engineering at Github and the Director of Engineering at New Relic, Heptio, InVision (acquired by Miro), and more. Dana has a diverse background, and served in the military.

Dana's direct reports praise her for building confidence, providing autonomy support, for bringing honesty and compassion, and for sponsorship that goes beyond mentorship.

In this episode, show creator and Fort Light founder Annie Riley sits down with Dana, and they discuss:

• How imposter shows up at senior levels– and how to handle it
• How to deal with interpersonal conflicts
• What it takes to be an effective sponsor
• The importance of embracing change

If you’re interested in sponsoring an episode of Best Manager Ever, reach out: sponsor@fortlight.com

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Connect with Dana Lawson

Connect with Annie Riley

Check out Fort Light to level up your leadership skills

Connect with our show’s Producer, Alexis Ramdaou

Nominate your Best Manager Ever for the Podcast

This is a Production of Fort Light and Now it’s Hear

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Amit Shah is the COO of Virta Health, where he’s built the company from ~30 team members to over 800 colleagues working to reverse obesity and diabetes. Amit has 10+ years of experience in building and scaling entrepreneurial and high-growth healthcare organizations, with a focus on delivering financial and operational results while aligning on mission and values.

Amit’s direct reports praise his ability to balance the needs of Virta’s members, business, and staff, describing him as incredibly kind, caring, driven, and a fierce protector of his team. He is celebrated for his passion, structured thinking, dedication to his own growth and development, and continuous improvement in leadership.

In this episode, show creator and Fort Light founder Annie Riley sits down with Amit,

and they cover:

• How to build a gratitude practice that supports your team – and yourself
• The importance of emotional awareness and regulation in leadership
• Energy management habits and practices
• A process to take charge of feedback, learning, and growth
• The relationship between execution and strategy in startups

If you’re interested in sponsoring an episode of Best Manager Ever, reach out: sponsor@fortlight.com

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Connect with Amit Shah

Connect with Annie Riley

Check out Fort Light to level up your leadership skills

Connect with our show’s producer Alexis Ramdaou

Nominate your Best Manager Ever for the Podcast

This is a Production of Fort Light and Now it’s Hear

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Patrick Reynolds is the Co-Founder and Head of Product at Office Hours, an expert marketplace. Patrick started his career as a software engineer, before becoming a self-taught product designer and making the leap into product leadership. He has worked at an array of tech companies and startups including Affirm, Sweep, and Adobe.

Patrick's direct reports praise him for his exceptional thoughtfulness, noting his ability to remember personal details and small, meaningful actions that remove friction and boost morale. They describe him as a natural coach who not only sets high standards but also provides the necessary support and resources to achieve them.

In this episode, show creator and Fort Light founder Annie Riley sits down with Patrick, and they discuss:

• The difference between leadership and management
• How to prime yourself so it’s easy to spot opportunities to support your team
• The difference between a culture that inspires ambition vs. enforces it
• How to consume content for maximum ROI
• The best way to spot (and stop!) perfectionism

If you’re interested in sponsoring an episode of Best Manager Ever, reach out: sponsor@fortlight.com

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Connect with Patrick Reynolds

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Check out Fort Light to level up your leadership skills

Connect with our show’s Producer, Alexis Ramdaou

Nominate your Best Manager Ever for the Podcast

This is a Production of Fort Light and Now it’s Hear

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Sophie Ruddock brings deep expertise in scaling mission-driven tech companies, and is now the COO at Empathy. Sophie was an early employee at Multiverse, where she grew with the company and ultimately became their global COO leading through rapid growth and market expansion.

Sophie’s direct reports praise her empowering leadership style, her commitment to their development, and her unwavering advocacy. She hires people for their unique expertise and encourages them to bring their full selves to work, and reminds them of their value even in moments of self-doubt.

In this episode, show creator and Fort Light founder Annie Riley sits down with Sophie, and they discuss:

• What a “founder mindset” really means for employees
• How to earn the right to dissent
• How to lead when someone on the team has an unexpected crisis
• The mindset shift that enabled Sophie to go from managing 3 to 600+ people

If you’re interested in sponsoring an episode of Best Manager Ever, reach out: sponsor@fortlight.com

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Connect with Sophie Ruddock

Connect with Annie Riley

Check out Fort Light to level up your leadership skills

Connect with our show’s Producer, Alexis Ramdaou

Nominate your Best Manager Ever for the Podcast

This is a Production of Fort Light and Now it’s Hear

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this expert episode, Annie Riley sits down with Matt Wallaert, an applied behavioral scientist who made the leap into the tech and startup worlds. Matt is currently the CXO at Oceans, and he’s previously held leadership roles at Clover Health, LendingTree, Microsoft, frog design, and more.

Matt explains why all leaders should know and use the principles of applied behavioral science– because all startup leaders are in the business of behavior change with our customers, our teams, and ourselves.

They discuss specific tactics that leaders can use to influence their team’s behavior, including the SIDE framework, promoting and inhibiting pressures, iterative experimentation, and more. Matt explains how applied behavioral science can be the key to unlocking lasting and meaningful behavior change, and to achieving a more empathetic and effective leadership style.

If you’re interested in sponsoring an episode of Best Manager Ever, reach out: sponsor@fortlight.com

Join us on Substack

Connect with Matt Wallaert

Connect with Annie Riley

Check out Fort Light to level up your leadership skills

Connect with our show’s Producer, Alexis Ramdaou

Nominate your Best Manager Ever for the Podcast

This is a Production of Fort Light and Now it’s Hear

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.