Beyond Code: How Curiosity & Relationships Forge Top Tech Leaders with Jim Graham & Melissa Flicek (Part One)

Join Richard Walker for an unfiltered conversation with two visionary technology executives—Melissa Flicek and Jim Graham—as they dissect the non-technical traits that propelled them to CIO/CTO-level success. Rejecting outdated "techie in the corner" stereotypes, Melissa reveals how her "million questions" philosophy and passion for talent development drove innovation, while Jim shares why sitting in the "right chair at the right time" (paired with radical humility) unlocked transformative opportunities. Together, they unpack why curiosity isn’t innate—it’s cultivated through discomfort, personal development plans, and shadowing customer service teams to uncover automation goldmines.

Discover why authentic leadership means discussing Real Housewives in the boardroom (Melissa’s signature move) and treating relationships as "the long game" where high "say-do ratios" build unshakeable trust. Learn Jim’s framework for dissecting business levers before deploying tech, and Melissa’s counterintuitive "start with the willing" strategy for driving change—where consistent base hits trump risky home runs. They debate networking’s hidden power (hint: internal allies matter most), why failed interviews can be blessings ("If you can’t be authentic, it wasn’t the right fit"), and how to ask questions that expose real business needs.


Perfect for aspiring leaders and seasoned execs alike, this episode delivers actionable tools to transform from order-taker to strategic partner—one relationship, one question, and one uncomfortable growth moment at a time.