If you think becoming a manager is the only ticket to success, think again. In this episode of The Learn-It-All™ podcast, host Damon Lembi sits down with Josh Nanavaty, VP of Ticket Sales for the San Jose Sharks, for a candid and practical conversation about the real shift from “me” to “we” in leadership. Josh Nanavaty shares what top performers miss when stepping into management, why some fail (and why that’s OK), and how to create high-performing, psychologically safe teams from day one. This episode delivers a treasure trove of actionable advice for current and aspiring leaders, especially those navigating that pivotal jump from individual contributor to manager. Get ready to rethink promotion, hear powerful mindset shifts, and learn concrete ways to build trust, transparency, and growth in yourself and your team. If you’re leading, want to lead, or simply want to help others uplevel their careers, this is an episode you’ll want to share. In this episode, you’ll learn: The crucial mindset shift from individual contributor to people leader (and what you must unlearn) How to know if leadership is really the next step for you—or if you're happiest as a top performer Tactics for building trust with new teams, especially when promoted from within or joining fresh How to handle mistakes, foster psychological safety, and own failures as a leader The importance of transparent career roadmaps and why “giving everyone a voice” creates loyalty and retention Why Josh Nanavaty believes in “chameleon leadership”—and how to adapt your style for different personalities Timestamps: 00:00 – The “we before me” question every aspiring leader should ask 00:35 – Josh Nanavaty’s career path: from intern to VP 01:02 – The mindset shift of winning through your team 02:04 – What leaders need to unlearn 03:31 – Josh’s early leadership mistakes: the battle with marketing 04:59 – Delegation, empowerment, and letting others learn (even if mistakes happen) 06:33 – Why Josh wanted to get into leadership: not the thrill of the chase, but the thrill of team success 08:57 – Two manager types: product management vs. people management 10:55 – Why you should define success for yourself 11:11 – The hardest career challenge: shifting from peer to boss 12:41 – Building trust and psychologically safe environments 14:13 – Owning mistakes, coaching, and why leaders must wear team failures 19:05 – Overcoming the “intern” image & building credibility with senior leadership 21:24 – Why title and money never trump having a great boss 24:00 – Starting fresh at the Sharks: pros and cons of a clean slate 26:26 – Josh’s “observe, listen, build trust” new leader plan 29:32 – Implementing a transparent 4-year career roadmap 33:56 – Josh’s three pillars of team culture 36:56 – Authenticity, being a fan serving fans, and dealing with tough seasons 39:28 – The top traits Josh hires for: hard work, relationships, competitiveness 41:42 – Chameleon leadership: adapting style to individuals 44:07 – Josh’s #1 practical advice for struggling leaders: Lean on your network 45:08 – Where to find Josh online (and at the SAP Center!) About Josh Nanavaty Josh Nanavaty is the Vice President of Ticket Sales for the San Jose Sharks. Starting his career as an intern with the Vancouver Canucks, Josh Nanavaty rose through the ranks, gaining a reputation for relationship-driven leadership, and eventually made the jump to a senior leadership role with the...
