The Execution Gap Podcast
A podcast cast that explores why business strategy fails, and how the top 10% of leaders close the gap.
The Execution Gap explores this question by sitting down with top CEOs, founders, and thought leaders who have closed the gap between big ideas and real outcomes. Hosted by Jim Apodaca, award-winning coach, consultant, and founder of Apodaca Consulting, the show uncovers the frameworks, stories, and lessons that separate the top 10% of leaders from the rest.
Each episode offers candid conversations on strategy, OKRs, agile, AI, and the leadership practices that turn vision into execution. Whether you’re scaling a startup, leading a transformation, or driving change inside an enterprise, you’ll walk away with practical insights you can put into action.
🎙️ Tune in to learn how great leaders bridge the gap between strategy and execution and how you can too.
Episode #1:
Charlie Cole - President at XGEN.AI
In this episode I had the privilege of sitting down with
Charlie Cole, President of XGEN AI - and a 2x turnaround CEO with past leadership roles at Samsonite, FTD, and Tribute Technology.
In this episode, Charlie drops some powerful insights on:
🔹 Why most of today’s e-commerce SaaS stack will be obsolete in 3–5 years.
🔹 How XGen.AI is re-defining personalization with a “Pepsi Challenge” approach (spoiler alert: they haven’t lost yet).
🔹 The leadership evolution every founder faces - learning to replace yourself with people more experienced than you.
🔹 Why structure isn’t the enemy of startups - it’s the enabler of real autonomy and innovation.
If you’re a founder, operator, or anyone wrestling with how to scale using AI, you won’t want to miss this one.
A huge thank you to Charlie for coming on the show - it was an honor and a privilege. 🙏
📺 Watch the full episode: https://bit.ly/charlie-cole-podcast
Episode #2:
Chris Munz - SVP of Business Development at DLIVRD Technologies
In this episode I had the privilege of sitting down with Chris Munz - SVP Of Business Development Of DLIVRD Technologies.
In this episode, Chris shares some powerful insights on:
🔹 The seismic shift from “butts in seats” to building digital-first hospitality experiences.
🔹 Why restaurants today are as much tech companies as they are food businesses.
🔹 The critical role of people and culture in scaling delivery networks.
🔹 Where the next big opportunities lie in restaurant tech over the next 3 - 5 years.
🔹 Why execution, not just ideas separate the top 10% of leaders from the rest.
Chris brings not only deep industry insight, but also practical stories about what it takes to innovate, adapt, and win in today’s fast-changing landscape.
If you’re a leader in hospitality, tech, or simply curious about where digital consumer trends are taking us - this is an episode you don’t want to miss.
A huge thank you to Chris for coming on the show - it was an honor and a privilege. 🙏
📺 Watch the full episode: https://bit.ly/chris-munz-podcast
Episode #3:
John Christly - VP of Commercial Service at One Zero Solutions
In this episode I had the privilege of sitting down with John Christly - VP of Commerical Service at One Zero Solutions.
In this episode we dive into the realities of execution in high-stakes environments, and we unpack:
🔹 Why cybersecurity is as much about leadership and culture as it is about technology.
🔹 The balancing act between strengthening cybersecurity while scaling innovation.
🔹 How to close the execution gap between strategy and results in high-risk environments.
🔹 Where the next big opportunities lie in restaurant tech over the next 3 - 5 years.
🔹 Lessons learned from leading technology, security, and business transformation initiatives.
John’s perspective is a masterclass in bridging vision with action, especially in industries where the cost of failure is high.
If you’re a leader navigating cybersecurity, governance, or transformation - you won’t want to miss this one.
A huge thank you to John for coming on the show - it was an honor and a privilege. 🙏
📺 Watch the full episode: bit.ly/john-christly-podcast
Episode #4:
Nazar Davyda - Co-Founder & CEO at GO TO-U
In this episode I had the privilege of sitting down with Nazar Davyda - Co-Founder & CEO at GO TO-U.
In this episode we unpack:
🔹 Why EV charging “experience” doesn’t exist today, and how GO TO-U is changing that.
🔹 How scaling 10x can be easier (and more strategic) than 2x.
🔹 What it takes to transition from startup hustle to enterprise reliability.
🔹 Where the next big opportunities lie in restaurant tech over the next 3 - 5 years.
🔹 The mindset shifts every founder needs in order to embrace sustainable growth.
Nazar and his team are solving a critical challenge for the EV industry, and re-defining what “seamless” really means for drivers worldwide.
A huge thank you to Nazar for coming on the show - it was an honor and a privilege. 🙏
📺 Watch the full episode: https://bit.ly/nazar-davyda-podcast
Episode #5:
Lesley Li - Head of Partnerships at Chargeblast
In this episode I had the privilege of sitting down with Lesley Li - Head of Partnerships at Chargeblast.
In this episode, we unpack how Lesley and her team are closing the execution gap:
🔹 Hire fast, but hire right – bring in people who complement each other across time zones.
🔹 Build a culture of honesty, over perfection – transparency beats flawless performance every time.
🔹 Leverage AI for alignment – use tools like HubSpot, Notion, and Slack automations to keep teams synced.
🔹 Where the next big opportunities lie in restaurant tech over the next 3 - 5 years.
🔹 Align incentives – success should be shared, not siloed.
Lesley’s leadership philosophy is a playbook in itself: build trust, stay authentic, and scale without losing the heartbeat of your team.
A huge thank you to Lesley for coming on the show - it was an honor and a privilege. 🙏
📺 Watch the full episode: https://bit.ly/lesley-li-podcast
Episode #6:
Daniel Alb - VP of Product Management at Revieve
In this episode I had the privilege of sitting down with Daniel Alb - VP of Product Management at Revieve.
In this episode, we unpack how to balance bold vision with focused delivery, and his insights are pure gold for any leader navigating growth and complexity:
🔹 Clarity beats complexity. The best teams execute through ruthless prioritization and knowing what to say “no” to matters as much as what to say “yes” to.
🔹 Trust fuels personalization. In AI-powered products, trust isn’t optional - it’s the foundation for adoption and long-term success.
🔹 OKRs drive alignment. Linking day-to-day work to company objectives gives teams the autonomy and confidence to focus on what truly matters.
🔹 Big bets require iteration. Every breakthrough starts as a hypothesis. The difference between good teams and great ones? Testing, learning, and adjusting with discipline.
If you’re a product or operations leader struggling with alignment or execution clarity, this one’s a must-listen.
A huge thank you to Daniel for coming on the show - it was an honor and a privilege. 🙏
📺 Watch the full episode: https://bit.ly/daniel-alb-podcast
Episode #7:
Evgeny Golubov - CEO at Commit Offshore
In this episode I had the privilege of sitting down with Evgeny Golubov - CEO at CommIT Offshore.
In this episode, we dive into:
🔹 Why startups must move fast, break things, and rebuild better.
🔹 Leading global tech teams without losing culture.
🔹AI’s role in augmenting engineers - not replacing them.
🔹 Why matching soft skills is the secret to retention
If you're a founder or tech leader navigating scale, talent strategy, and AI-powered execution - you’ll want to catch this one.
A huge thank you to Evgeny for coming on the show - it was an honor and a privilege. 🙏
📺 Watch the full episode: https://bit.ly/daniel-alb-podcast