In this episode, I speak with Artuğ Acar, a mechanical engineer, startup advisor, and former executive at Amazon Robotics, RightHand Robotics, and Mercury. Artuğ was named one of Business Insider’s top 10 leaders transforming North America, and after this conversation, it’s easy to see why.

Artuğ shares how leadership and problem-solving intersect and why your ability to build trust will always matter more than technical brilliance. He explains that the best leaders don’t need to be the smartest in the room, they need to ask the best questions, stay close to the work, and create cultures where others can thrive.

We talk about how to let go of ego, lead without micromanaging, and coach people into greater ownership without overwhelming them. Artuğ introduces the concept of nemawashi, a Japanese term for quietly building alignment before making a big decision. It’s one of the best explanations I’ve heard of how to truly sell an idea, especially in systems that resist change.

He also shares how he developed emotional intelligence over 20+ years, not through a textbook, but by learning from mistakes and choosing to invest in people first. One line stands out: “You win the people first. Then you solve the problem.”

We explore how to build no-ego teams, when it’s time to let go of high-performing culture mismatches, and how AI can support (not replace) what great leaders do best: connect.

Artuğ’s insights are clear, direct, and timely, especially for healthcare leaders solving complex problems with limited time, tight margins, and evolving teams.

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