Innovate or Die: Stay on Offense | Travis Hann

Summary In this episode, executive search leader Travis Hann joins Anthony to break down what “Innovate or die” really looks like in practice. They dig into why comfort is dangerous for founders, how humility fuels great leadership, and why execution beats endless strategy. Travis shares hard-won lessons from leading CEO searches - what separates magnetic leaders from pretenders, how to avoid analysis paralysis, and when to rip off the band-aid on tough decisions. They also explore AI’s real role in hiring (“AI can identify, but humans qualify”), the power of storytelling to align teams, and how to build a culture that top talent wants to join. From delegation during founder transitions to staying on offense when the market gets choppy, this conversation is a playbook for resilient, growth-minded leadership. Special Guest Travis Hann is a partner at Pender & Howe, an executive search firm that builds leadership teams across North America and globally through its alliance network. He specializes in CEO and C-suite searches, helping founders and boards find leaders who combine humility, EQ, and execution. A student of continuous improvement, Travis champions evidence-based hiring, real-world testing over theory, and creating cultures that attract top performers. Chapters 00:00 – Introduction to Travis Hann and “Innovate or Die” concept 02:30 – Challenges of Leadership and Continuous Learning 06:00 – The Importance of Experience and Storytelling in Leadership 10:45 – AI’s Impact on Executive Search and Business Operations 15:20 – Finding and Attracting Top Talent 20:15 – The Role of Coaches and Mentors in Leadership 24:00 – Execution vs. Strategy in Business 27:45 – AI’s Potential in Automating Business Processes 30:30 – Company Culture and Employee Engagement 33:00 – Discussion of Pender’s Executive Search Services 36:26 – Closing Remarks and Favorite Golf Course TRAVIS’ INFO: Website: https://penderhowe.com/en/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/travis-hann/?originalSubdomain=ca Firm: Pender & Howe – Executive Search  PODCAST INFO: Website: https://FutureFactory.live Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0SsZRdrvWTUs1QY6Zu1sU6 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/future-factory/id1659895549 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/207e04aa-11a1-4b28-964a-148608422a49/future-factory   FUTURE FACTORY SOCIAL: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/futurefactorypodcast/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/FutureFactoryFF Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/futurefactorypodcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/futurefactorypodcast TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@futurefactorypodcast?_t=8ZIxAf4Orra&_r=1 ANTHONY'S SOCIAL: Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/anthonyamunategui/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/anthony.amunategui.3 Find great guests at PodMatch https://www.joinpodmatch.com/futurefactorypodcast