Chief in Tech S1E7 - Leslie Vander Baan: From the Bench to the Boardroom

From the Bench to the Boardroom: Lessons from Leslie Vander Baan on Resilience, Risk, and Reinvention in Tech

What does it really take to navigate uncertainty, setbacks, and reinvention in a tech career?

In this episode, we hear a candid and deeply personal journey through entrepreneurship, career pivots, and the emotional realities of building, losing, and rebuilding in the tech industry. From blind ambition and launching a bold consumer-to-consumer venture, to scaling nationally with a Fortune 750 partner and facing the devastation of winding it all down, this story offers unfiltered insights into resilience and growth.

We explore key lessons on:

• Turning internal doubt and anxiety into fuel for growth
• Embracing risk and learning by starting before everything is perfect
• Navigating career setbacks, pivots, and unexpected endings
• Making decisions driven by opportunity rather than fear
• The power of reflection, recalibration, and trusting non-linear career paths
• How closed doors can lead to powerful full-circle moments

From entrepreneurial beginnings to leading an AI-powered inspection platform in Silicon Valley, this episode is a reminder that success is rarely linear—and that every experience, high or low, shapes your leadership story.

🎧 Tune in to discover how resilience, adaptability, and self-trust can help you not just survive but thrive, through professional challenges.