A Geek Leader Podcast - inspiring technical and creative leaders around the world

AGL 452: Crispin Thompson

Crispin Thompson · January 16, 2026

Executive Coach · Leadership · Artificial Intelligencein

Interview with Crispin Thompson

Podcast: A Geek Leader Podcast - inspiring technical and creative leaders around the world

January 16, 2026 · 39 min

Listen to Crispin Thompson on A Geek Leader Podcast - inspiring technical and creative leaders around the world.

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AGL 452: Crispin Thompson

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A Geek Leader Podcast - inspiring technical and creative leaders around the world

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Key topicsStalled — Why Strong Managers Stop Rising After the PromotionCrispin Thompson has watched strong managers get promoted and then quietly stop rising, across 25 years running large international teams at Hewlett Packard Enterprise, TaskUs, and QSC. Companies assume the promotion proves the person is ready; he argues it is the moment they are most exposed, handed a bigger room with no work done on how they show up in it. Through The Leadership Studio he coaches leaders past the perfectionism and self-doubt that keep them quiet, using his own missteps as the raw material. Listeners leave able to spot the newly promoted people going silent on their teams, and what to do before a good manager becomes a lost one.Why Global Companies Fail When Leadership Stays LocalToo many multinationals treat overseas managers as tokens rather than true leaders-and the damage shows up in disengagement, attrition, and stalled growth. Crispin has seen this firsthand leading teams in Mexico, Poland, Romania, and across Europe: when talent outside headquarters isn’t developed and trusted, companies lose both loyalty and productivity. He explains why leadership pipelines must extend beyond the home office, and how investing in cultural nuance turns potential friction into an advantage. With practical strategies for spotting emerging leaders globally and making promotions meaningful, Crispin shows how companies can move past tokenism to build cultures where people everywhere feel seen, valued, and ready to lead. Token Gesture — Why Your Best People Abroad Stop Raising Their HandsCrispin Thompson has led teams in Mexico, Poland, Romania and across wider Europe, and he keeps seeing the same pattern: overseas managers promoted for appearances while the real decisions stay at headquarters. The cost shows up later as disengagement, attrition and stalled growth in the markets a company most needs to win. He walks through how to spot emerging leaders far from the home office, make their promotions mean something, and turn cultural nuance from friction into an edge. Listeners leave knowing why their strongest people abroad have gone quiet, and what to change before they leave.View all topics →

About Crispin Thompson

Global Leadership Coach Helping Professionals Get Heard and Take Ownership

25+ years Leadership experience5 countries Multicultural teams ledFortune 100 Former technology executivePublished author The Human Advantage

Crispin Thompson has spent more than twenty-five years shaping how people lead, communicate, and grow. In senior roles at Hewlett Packard Enterprise, TaskUs, and QSC, he managed large international teams and drove major transformation programs—experiences that revealed how easily careers stall when strong managers are promoted without the confidence or presence to step fully into leadership.

That observation became the foundation for The Leadership Studio, where Crispin helps leaders bridge the gap between how they see themselves and how others experience them. His coaching focuses on practical shifts that carry real weight in the room: learning to project calm under pressure, making decisions when information is incomplete, and moving past the perfectionism that undermines confidence. He often draws on his own missteps or on vivid historical examples, turning abstract ideas into stories and exercises that leave a lasting mark.

Leading multicultural teams across Mexico, Poland, Romania, India and the U.S. also shaped his perspective. He saw firsthand how cultural nuance can either unlock connection or create disconnection, and how organizations that neglect leadership development outside headquarters risk losing trust and talent. That global view continues to inform his work, alongside his service on the Make-A-Wish® Central & South Texas Governing Board, which deepened his belief that leadership is ultimately about service.

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About this episode

About Crispin

Crispin Thompsonis the Founder and Principal Consultant at The Leadership Studio, offering nearly 30 years of experience in leadership roles throughout the technology industry. With a proven track record in driving transformational change, he specializes in digital transformation, pricing strategy, and operations management. Known for his hands-on, people-first approach, Crispin empowers teams to thrive and achieve exceptional results through effective coaching services.

Before founding The Leadership Studio, Crispin served as an Executive at a Fortune 100 tech company, where he led cross-functional teams to achieve groundbreaking successes in partner and finance transformations. His leadership development initiatives consistently bridged the gap between high-level strategy and operational execution, earning recognition for innovative solutions and strategic insight.

At The Leadership Studio, Crispin leverages his expertise to help individuals and organizations navigate complex challenges and build sustainable paths to success. He is passionate about fostering growth, driving impactful change, and cultivating a culture of excellence, all while enhancing team expertise.

Outside of work, Crispin enjoys traveling, playing some very mediocre golf, and spending time with his young daughter, reflecting his belief in a balanced and well-rounded approach to leadership.

Today We Talked About

Background

Days at HP

Communication

Being Intentional about communication

Forget Perfection... just be better than you were

Speak as you are being spoken

Make it a "we" not an "I"

Different perspectives / lenses

Imposter syndrom

It's not the 1st time... I've been here before

Emotional Intellegence, how to read the room?

Empathy

Introspection

Listening for Intent

AI and Emotional Intellegence

History

Connect with Crispin

Website

Book

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Guest: Crispin Thompson