Learning Through the School of Hard Knocks | with Amit Mital

Learning Through the School of Hard Knocks | with Amit Mital

Author: Bill December 2, 2025 Duration: 1:02:23
Join host Bill Lennan on the 40% Better podcast as he sits down with veteran executive Amit Mital for a candid look at his 25-year career.
In a world that prizes learning from others, Mital shares why his own personal experience and the "school of hard knocks" were his most valuable teachers. This episode challenges the traditional view of professional development and focuses on the power of doing and failing.
You will learn:
Why personal experience often trumps theoretical knowledge in real-world challenges.
The essential mindset shift that turns mistakes into valuable lessons for personal growth.
The critical importance of reflecting on past decisions to avoid repeating errors (and get 40% better in your own role).
How embracing difficulty and overcoming obstacles shapes a deeper, more resilient understanding of leadership.
If you believe true growth comes from getting your hands dirty and learning directly from your challenges, this episode is a must-listen for executives, leaders, and anyone committed to an ongoing journey of learning.

I hope you enjoy this episode! Give it a like, share, and subscribe to not miss the content coming your way weekly. – Bill and the 40 % Better podcast team
Connect with Bill on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wblennan/ 
Visit the 40 Percent Better website here: https://40pb.com/

Listen to 40 % Better on these podcast platforms:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6qkqdMPkR9BqYPM7UPa4P0
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/40%25-better---engineering-leadership/id1709546347 
Amazon Podcasts: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/01ad162e-7a33-4df4-8c29-04c4af0405fc/40-better---engineering-leadership

#40PercentBetter #BillLennan #Leadership #TeamPerformance #EmployeeEngagement #PsychologicalSafety #BusinessGrowth #Kaizen #EngineeringLeadership #Coaching The 40% Better podcast with Bill Lennan unlocks previously unheard-of performance levels in teams and leaders. Bill Lennan, founder of 40 Percent Better, interviews experts on employee engagement, psychological safety, engineering leadership, and actionable mental models. Learn how to foster high-performing teams, improve team productivity, and achieve sustainable success in business through a focus on human-centered systems.

Hosted by Bill, 40% Better-Engineering Leadership is a conversation for those who build and guide technical teams. This isn't about abstract theory; it's a practical dialogue focused on the tangible mechanics of morale, motivation, and output. Each episode features a single expert in employee engagement, and together we dissect the specific strategies that lead to measurable leaps in performance. You'll hear detailed explorations into what actually moves the needle for engineers and their managers, translating research and experience into actionable leadership techniques. The goal is straightforward: to provide the insights that can help your team operate at a significantly higher level of effectiveness and satisfaction. Tune in for a focused, deep-dive podcast that cuts through the noise of generic management advice, offering concrete ideas you can apply directly to the unique challenges of engineering leadership.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

40% Better - Engineering Leadership
Podcast Episodes
Power Dynamics at Work - your hidden advantage [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:35
Team leads have an incredibly high level of power - and they rarely understand this. Understanding your power is critical to team leadership.
Layoffs And Recruiting - episode 21 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:33
Some thoughts on layoffs. I've been layed off and had ventures fail - so had to lay-off teams. Some thoughts on "why" and ideas to reduce layoff possibilities.
The foundation for success - and Episode 20!! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:56
Leadership has challenges - that's the game. Learning to have emotional resilience is how we handle challenges with grace. Want more?Send us an email - hello@40pb.com
The Secret Career Unlock - Episode 19 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:46
Solving impossible problems.Launching cash cow products in record time. Easy interviews (yes, they can be easy).And promotions without asking. One key skill enabled this and more. Want more? Send an email to hello@40pb.c…
The framework for everything (including leadership) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:16
40PB uses a simple framework for our leadership system. This framework is used in many contexts - but strangely no-one talks about it. Mental Models (aka beliefs or principles), Skills, and Reps
Taking the Stress Out Of Change - Episode 17 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:53
Change is always happening and usually the emotional aspects are hardest to manage.Jacqueline Kappers has a fascinating approach to help people move through the emotional part of change - in a variety of contexts.If you…
Trust, Engagement, Culture - Episode 16 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:47
Everyone wants a great company culture - and employee engagement.But where do you start?Here's the recipe - build trust at the team level first.
Talking leadership with Shawn Richards of Blue Sky consulting [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:36
Leadership, mental frameworks, making systems, and improving team performance :-)Shawn's origin story.(he started as an accountant)Surprising mental frameworks Shawn has but his clients don't know yet. Financial impacts…
10x Engineers Don't Exist [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:21
but 2x teams doThere's a myth that super-human engineers exist and can outperform 10 "regular" engineers. This is the 10x myth of productivity. It's a lie. And it's a damaging lie on multiple fronts.2x teamsInstead of lo…