#198 | From Actor to AI Strategist: Red Flags, Real Feedback, and Leading Like Your Favorite Teacher w/ Sean Dagony-Clark (@Your Tech Ally)

▶︎ #198 | From Actor to AI Strategist: Red Flags, Real Feedback, and Leading Like Your Favorite Teacher w/ Sean Dagony-Clark (@Your Tech Ally)

In this episode of the Leman Tech Leadership Podcast, Alex welcomes Sean Dagony-Clark: a self-described "high-tech problem solver with a high human focus" whose path runs through acting, design, and 14 years in education {including running academic technology at Riverdale Country School} before landing at coding bootcamps Flatiron School and Iron Circle {formerly Thrive DX}, and now his own consultancy, Your Tech Ally, helping small and solo businesses build AI and tech strategy.

What makes this conversation stand out is how directly Sean connects his years in education to leadership: clear communication, constant feedback, and treating people like a favorite teacher would {not a taskmaster}. He is candid that most leaders learn on the job, not from studying leadership, and shares an early mistake that still guides him: lack of clarity in communication can quietly alienate the people you lead.

Sean also shares why he joined the STEMinist Summit {October 15–16, 2026} as an ally: a shared thread with co-host AJ Lauer’s work on imposter syndrome, and his belief that the biggest leadership skill in the AI era is still the human one {understanding what a tool can and cannot do, and using it without over-trusting it}.

If you are rethinking how you hire, give feedback, or lead through the noise of AI, this episode has practical, hard-won lessons for you.

Mentioned in the episode:

Turn the Ship Around!: by L. David Marquet

STEMINIST SUMMIT (October 15–16, 2026): https://steministsummit.com/

✉︎ FOLLOW SEAN ON: ⤵︎

LinkedIn: dagonyclark

Your Tech Ally: yourtechally.net

✉︎ FOLLOW ME ON: ⤵︎