Passion for Disruptive Potential (wsg Michael Healander)
01/22/20 • 62 min
During this episode, You, Me, and Your Top Three host and CGS Advisors CEO, Gregg Garrett, speaks with Michael Healander, Co-Founder, President and CEO, Airspace Link – a company that is building highways for the autonomous drone industry. Michael and Gregg spend time discussing the importance of ingenuity and the patterns of disrupting an industry. Michael shares his ‘Top Three’ – from coaches that helped him recognize that you don’t need to be cut from the same cloth to succeed, to those that taught him that intentionally applying oneself increases the chances for success and greatness, to those who believed him before he even did, to the teammates who made the team stronger than the individual. And, you have to hear what Michael has to say about the magical power of passion.
About Michael HealanderAs President & CEO of Airspace Link, Inc. Michael Healander is responsible for running all facets of the business. Michael has a proven executive management track record and 15 years of experience driving sales growth in the technology industry. Prior to joining Airspace Link, Michael was Vice President of Business Development at Acuity Brands and he was responsible for all software sales across four brands. Previously, he was the co-founder and CRO of Geometri where he built an indoor mapping, analytics and navigation business that was successfully acquired by Acuity Brands. Michael also served on GISinc. management team for six years and was recognized as a leader in location technology. GISinc grew from 25 to 170 employees over this period. Michael has 20 years of experience in spatial technology, 12 years in state & local government, 7 years in the commercial and retail industry, 2 years in Federal (DoD) and currently holds an FAA commercial drone pilot license.
Show HighlightsSegment 1: Overview
1:00 The importance of reflecting on the industrial revolutions of the past.
6:50 Doubling back into the industrial era – where digital and industrial economics will start to collide.
8:19 Michael Healander – a geospatial engineer turned entrepreneur (Airspace Link.)
Segment 2: The “Top Three”
13:15 Michael’s ‘Top Three’ – Dave Gomez – Understanding what motivates people.
14:40 Michael’s ‘Top Three’ – Jim Silver – “If you apply yourself, you can be great.”
20:52 Michael’s ‘Top Three’ – Carl Ojala, Dr. Yichun Xie – Finding the passion for geospatial engineering.
21: 58 Michael’s ‘Top Three’ – Sally Price – The ability to feel like I can do anything.
22:58 Michael’s ‘Top Three’ – Lee Lichlyter – a GIS and business mentor. How to scale. (Sean Savage. Patrick Lencioni.)
32:17 Stepping back and handing your success to the next person.
33:40 Michael’s ‘Top Three’ – Danny Bradshaw – a partner with extreme trust.
35:45 Michael’s ‘Top Three’ – Alex Iskold – here at any moment. (Voxer.)
Segment 3: Industry Disruption & Transformation
39:46 Airspace Link: A geospatial asset management system.
45:30 Being the ‘Vanderbilt’ or ‘Eisenhower’ of drone travel.
47:32 How big is this industry? Global.
49:11 The Airspace Link growth path.
Segment 4: Leadership & Wrapping Up
53:17 Advice for youth: “Geospatial capabilities is a niche and people want that.”
56:58 Advice for leaders: ‘Hack’ passion and build your passion for whatever you are doing.
59:29 Check out Airspace Link’s newest launches and contact Michael on LinkedIn.
Additional InformationContact Michael Healander:
Contact Airspace Link:
During this episode, You, Me, and Your Top Three host and CGS Advisors CEO, Gregg Garrett, speaks with Michael Healander, Co-Founder, President and CEO, Airspace Link – a company that is building highways for the autonomous drone industry. Michael and Gregg spend time discussing the importance of ingenuity and the patterns of disrupting an industry. Michael shares his ‘Top Three’ – from coaches that helped him recognize that you don’t need to be cut from the same cloth to succeed, to those that taught him that intentionally applying oneself increases the chances for success and greatness, to those who believed him before he even did, to the teammates who made the team stronger than the individual. And, you have to hear what Michael has to say about the magical power of passion.
About Michael HealanderAs President & CEO of Airspace Link, Inc. Michael Healander is responsible for running all facets of the business. Michael has a proven executive management track record and 15 years of experience driving sales growth in the technology industry. Prior to joining Airspace Link, Michael was Vice President of Business Development at Acuity Brands and he was responsible for all software sales across four brands. Previously, he was the co-founder and CRO of Geometri where he built an indoor mapping, analytics and navigation business that was successfully acquired by Acuity Brands. Michael also served on GISinc. management team for six years and was recognized as a leader in location technology. GISinc grew from 25 to 170 employees over this period. Michael has 20 years of experience in spatial technology, 12 years in state & local government, 7 years in the commercial and retail industry, 2 years in Federal (DoD) and currently holds an FAA commercial drone pilot license.
Show HighlightsSegment 1: Overview
1:00 The importance of reflecting on the industrial revolutions of the past.
6:50 Doubling back into the industrial era – where digital and industrial economics will start to collide.
8:19 Michael Healander – a geospatial engineer turned entrepreneur (Airspace Link.)
Segment 2: The “Top Three”
13:15 Michael’s ‘Top Three’ – Dave Gomez – Understanding what motivates people.
14:40 Michael’s ‘Top Three’ – Jim Silver – “If you apply yourself, you can be great.”
20:52 Michael’s ‘Top Three’ – Carl Ojala, Dr. Yichun Xie – Finding the passion for geospatial engineering.
21: 58 Michael’s ‘Top Three’ – Sally Price – The ability to feel like I can do anything.
22:58 Michael’s ‘Top Three’ – Lee Lichlyter – a GIS and business mentor. How to scale. (Sean Savage. Patrick Lencioni.)
32:17 Stepping back and handing your success to the next person.
33:40 Michael’s ‘Top Three’ – Danny Bradshaw – a partner with extreme trust.
35:45 Michael’s ‘Top Three’ – Alex Iskold – here at any moment. (Voxer.)
Segment 3: Industry Disruption & Transformation
39:46 Airspace Link: A geospatial asset management system.
45:30 Being the ‘Vanderbilt’ or ‘Eisenhower’ of drone travel.
47:32 How big is this industry? Global.
49:11 The Airspace Link growth path.
Segment 4: Leadership & Wrapping Up
53:17 Advice for youth: “Geospatial capabilities is a niche and people want that.”
56:58 Advice for leaders: ‘Hack’ passion and build your passion for whatever you are doing.
59:29 Check out Airspace Link’s newest launches and contact Michael on LinkedIn.
Additional InformationContact Michael Healander:
Contact Airspace Link:
Previous Episode
Active and Empathetic Leadership (wsg Alisyn Malek)
During this episode, You, Me, and Your Top Three host and CGS Advisors CEO, Gregg Garrett, speaks with Alisyn Malek, COO and Co-Founder, May Mobility. Alisyn talks about how her company is helping to define a totally new transportation system and what it is like transitioning from being an engineer to corporate innovator to founder and industry disruptor. Alisyn and Gregg discuss large macro systems and the delicate balance between simplicity and complexity. Of course, Alisyn speaks about her Top 3, a group of strong women who helped her find empathy, bravery, and to reflect on her own future career path. And, you have to hear what she says about “badass women” who support one another.
About Alisyn MalekAlisyn Malek is the COO and Co-Founder of May Mobility, Inc.
May Mobility’s vision is to transform cities through autonomous technology, creating a safer, greener, more accessible world. They have made it their mission to reimagine transportation by developing and deploying autonomous shuttles that get people to their destinations safely and easily. Service has launched in Detroit, Columbus, Ohio, Providence, Road Island as well as Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Alisyn was formerly the head of the innovation pipeline at General Motors. Prior to that role she was an investment manager at GM Ventures. During her tenure there, she led investment in the autonomous space, including the early negotiations with Cruise Automation, helping to cement GM’s autonomous strategy. As an automotive engineer, she led a global team to develop SAE Level 3 charging technology for GM’s Spark and Bolt EV Products. As well as supporting release of electrical components for the first generation Chevy Volt.
Alisyn holds two bachelor’s degrees from the University of Michigan, Mechanical Engineering and German Language. Malek was recognized as a top ten female innovator to watch by the Smithsonian in 2018, named a top automotive professional under 35 to watch by LinkedIn in 2015 for her work in cutting-edge product development and corporate venture, and identified as a Crain's Detroit 20 in their 20’s awardee for her work in engineering and deployment of advanced charging systems..
Show HighlightsSegment 1: Overview
1:00 Thinking through macros systems – societal/industrial systems, organization systems, and the leadership system.
3:18 Over the next decade – there will be less and less independent systems (with examples).
10:16 Alisyn Malek – May Mobility. Corktown Studios. And more. (General Motors)
Segment 2: The “Top Three”
12:23 Alisyn’s ‘Top Three’ – Alyssa Jernigan – A clear dialogue. Seeing the blind spots.
14:44 Alisyn’s ‘Top Three’ – Vanessa Miller – Surround yourself with people who have different skills than you. Creating empathy.
18:20 Alisyn’s ‘Top Three’ – Elaina Farnsworth – A source of experience and guidance.
Segment 3: Industry Disruption & Transformation
22:58 May Mobility – founded to solve a unique challenge facing the world today; an imbalance in access to mobility within the backdrop of increasingly congested cities and towns.
23:50 Look at global mobility marketplace and how they use ACES (autonomous, connected, electric, shared) vehicles.
28:04 Expanding May Mobility to the global market. (Toyota Motor Company.)
30:43 “The last mile is hard. That is a lot of what we are doing today.”
34:27 Being a leader in a growing organization: you have to be thoughtful to keep everyone growing in the same direction.
39:38 Creating a startup in Southeast Michigan and growing it for sustainability.
Segment 4: Leadership & Wrapping Up
44:14 How do you accomplish everything at the same time? “Learning to forgive myself.”
47:59 “People don’t actually like women who are direct.” – being a woman leader in the automotive space.
49:11 Special advice for women: For any perceived minority...”Don’t take no as the first answer. And sometimes you just have to brush it off.”
51:32 Detroit Badass Ladies – There are a lot of bad ass ladies in this city and we need more excuses to get together and elevate ourselves to new levels of bad assery.
56:01 Advice for leaders: Actively listen. Depersonalize things.
Next Episode
Maximizing the Overlap (wsg Seun Phillips)
During this episode, You, Me, and Your Top Three host and CGS Advisors CEO, Gregg Garrett, speaks with Seun Phillips former Managing Director of PlanetM & Founder of STEMNETICS. Seun and Gregg talk about mobility and how the roles of safety, accessibility, and electric and autonomous vehicles are playing a major role within the automotive industry. Seun’s ‘Top Three’ gives us a broader look into who he leans on for inspiration – from those who give him the drive to have an entrepreneurial spirit, to business groups who gave him first-hand experience that allowed him to excel today’s world. Seun shares his thoughts on the challenges facing the automotive industry and shares hints on what makes a good leader and how leaders can not only preach inclusivity, but also live it. Finally, Seun highlights the My Dream Big Club which focuses on bringing like-minded individuals together to discuss transformative topics, motivate each other and support big dreams.
About Seun PhillipsSeun Phillips is the co-founder of My Dream BIG Club, which started in 2018 with the mission to inspire and motivate others to dream BIG. In 2015 also founded STEMNETICS and is currently serving as the Executive Director to deliver projects catered for ages 4 – 10 at home and in the classroom to strengthen 21stcentury skillsets.
Phillips started his professional career as a Senior Electrical Engineer at Motorola Mobile Devices, where he focused on audio circuitry and accessory compatibility. Phillips went on to co-found the Chicago-based non-profit, Project SYNCERE, with the mission to increase the number of underrepresented and disadvantaged K-12th grade students pursuing science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
Phillips recently served as the Managing Director of PlanetM, an initiative of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC). As the Managing Director, he was responsible for growing operations, partnerships and technology development within Michigan’s connected autonomous vehicle industry.
Prior to joining MEDC, Phillips served as the Vice President of Education and Engagement at the Michigan Science Center in Detroit, MI. Phillips was responsible for programming and developing partnerships between corporations, schools, foundations and community organizations.
Phillips graduated from the University of Michigan with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering and a minor in mathematics. Phillips received the Five Under Ten from his alma mater to recognize his professional achievements and contributions to the community-at-large. He also received the Conversations Awards, which highlighted Chicago’s most dynamic movers and shakers within Entrepreneurship, Medicine and Non-Profit businesses. Phillips serves on the Board of Directors for Project SYNCERE and the Folu Phillips Foundation.
Show HighlightsSegment 1: Overview
1:15 Ven Diagrams – The history behind them and their importance in the connecting world.
3:15 Leadership – clearing the path to success.
6:23 Work Life Balance – creating the ‘integration’
9:20 Seun Phillips: From consumer electronics, to education, to mobility.
Segment 2: The “Top Three”
12:50 Seun ‘Top Three’ – Omonye Phillips – Surround yourself with people who drive you and have a strong entrepreneurial spirit.
14:40 Seun ‘Top Three’ – ‘The Corporate World’ – How different experience allow you to excel.
Segment 3: Industry Disruption & Transformation
17:20 Mobility – How increased safety, accessibility, data, and emerging vehicle types are driving change.
19:30 Concerns about the industry – “There is no true one standard for us to follow”
22:10 The opportunities California presents.
24:45 My Dream Big Club – To bring like-minded individuals together to discuss transformative topics, motivate each other and support big dreams.
29:40 Trends as the enablers of dreams.
Segment 4: Leadership & Wrapping Up
32:50 “Leadership is empathy, truly and genuinely caring about the people that are around you.”
35:50 Advice for leaders: As a leader you need to be able to include everyone in the conversation. Make the workplace as inclusive as possible.
41:00 Is the diversity ‘why’ starting to be believed?
44:20 Listen to the (new!) My Dream Big Club Podcast.
45:36 Keep in contact with Seun via LinkedIn and email.
Additional InformationContact Seun Phillips:
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