Navigating Career Pivots and Politics with Kelly Vaughn

This week, Robbie and Chuck talk with Kelly Vaughn, Director of Engineering at Spot AI and a “recovering entrepreneur.” They discuss career evolution, the challenges of hiring and job-seeking, career politics, and Kelly’s unique perspective on leadership.

In this episode:

• (00:00) - Intro
• (02:39) - Wine tasting + review
• (10:15) - Career politics in getting promoted
• (17:28) - Conference talk + All Things Open
• (18:58) - Gluten sensitivity in Europe
• (21:07) - Pizza, casseroles, and comfort food
• (26:54) - Movie preferences and watching habits
• (33:01) - Therapy and mental health
• (35:13) - Airports and flight experiences
• (38:00) - Plugs

Links

• Spot AI: https://www.spot.ai/ [https://www.spot.ai/]
• Drinks: Drinks.com [http://Drinks.com]
• Bill Paxton: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Paxton [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Paxton]
• Weird Science: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weird_Science_(film) [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weird_Science_(film)]
• Anthony Michael Hall: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_Michael_Hall [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_Michael_Hall]
• The Hardy Boys: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hardy_Boys [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hardy_Boys]
• Ender’s Game: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ender’s_Game [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ender%27s_Game]
• Sentry: https://sentry.io [https://sentry.io]
• Fly Bye: https://www.foxrc.com/restaurants/fly-bye-to-go/ [https://www.foxrc.com/restaurants/fly-bye-to-go/]
• Ooni: https://ooni.com/ [https://ooni.com/]
• Super Mario Bros: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Mario_Bros [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Mario_Bros].
• The Super Mario Bros. Movie: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Super_Mario_Bros._Movie [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Super_Mario_Bros._Movie]
• Chris Pratt: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Pratt [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Pratt]
• All Things Open: https://2024.allthingsopen.org/ [https://2024.allthingsopen.org/]
• Render Conf: https://www.renderatl.com/ [https://www.renderatl.com/]
• Jim Gaffigan: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Gaffigan [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Gaffigan]
• Delta: https://www.delta.com/ [https://www.delta.com/]
• Coca-Cola: https://www.coca-cola.com/ [https://www.coca-cola.com/]
• The Modern Leader: https://modernleader.is/ [https://modernleader.is/]

Connect with Kelly

• Website: https://kvlly.com [https://kvlly.com]
• X / Twitter: https://x.com/kvlly [https://x.com/kvlly]
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellyvaughn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellyvaughn]
• The Modern Leader Newsletter: https://modernleader.is [https://modernleader.is]

Connect with Chuck and Robbie

• Robbie Wagner: https://x.com/RobbieTheWagner [https://x.com/RobbieTheWagner]
• Chuck Carpenter: https://x.com/CharlesWthe3rd [https://x.com/CharlesWthe3rd]

Subscribe and stay in touch

• Website: https://whiskey.fm [https://whiskey.fm]
• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/whiskey-web-and-whatnot/id1552776603 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/whiskey-web-and-whatnot/id1552776603]
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/19jiuHAqzeKnkleQUpZxDf [https://open.spotify.com/show/19jiuHAqzeKnkleQUpZxDf]
• Overcast: https://overcast.fm/itunes1552776603 [https://overcast.fm/itunes1552776603]
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WhiskeyWebAndWhatnot [https://www.youtube.com/@WhiskeyWebAndWhatnot]

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