Driving Results Through Better Team Alignment w/ Susan Stone

In this episode, Susan Stone, CEO of Blue Current, discusses the company's journey in developing high-performance, silicon-based solid-state batteries for electric vehicles and energy storage. She shares insights on the technical and cultural challenges of scaling from R&D to commercialization, emphasizing the importance of communication, cross-team collaboration, and creating flexible feedback loops. Stone also addresses leadership development, sharing practical advice for new managers on the value of context, over-communication, and being open to asking questions. The conversation covers strategies for navigating rapid organizational change, aligning teams during key transitions, and balancing the needs of individual contributors with leadership paths.

Important Timestamps

• 02:21: Susan Stone explains Blue Current’s unique battery technology
• 05:42: Blue Current achieving development milestones ahead of schedule
• 08:03: How unexpected battery performance opened new markets
• 09:19: The importance of integrated teamwork and avoiding silos in scale-up
• 11:24: Impactful mentorship from Amazon board member on improving cycle times
• 13:44: Susan Stone’s early leadership lessons about the critical role of context
• 17:02: Communicating context and customer impact in technical organizations
• 20:25: Leadership and communication challenges during commercialization
• 23:54: Strategies for company-wide communication and decision-making
• 29:48: Advice for frontline leaders and importance of seeking guidance