Episode Overview
Podcast: Becker Business
Host: Scott Becker
Guest: J. Tod Fetherling (Board Member, Author, Speaker, Health Data & Analytics Leader)
Date: January 23, 2026
Episode Title: Leadership, Analytics, and Decision Making in a Data Driven World
This episode centers on the intersection of leadership, advanced analytics, and decision-making in a rapidly evolving, data-driven world. Scott Becker interviews Tod Fetherling, delving into Tod’s frameworks for business strategy, his experiences with startups, the human dimensions of leadership, and the dynamic role of AI in career development and organizational success.
Main Discussion Points and Insights
1. Guest Introduction and Career Background
[01:02]
-
Tod Fetherling introduces himself: 35 years in healthcare data analytics, five startups, now focused on writing and speaking.
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Recent activities: Writing four books based on his entrepreneurial experiences.
Quote:
"I've been writing four books. I have these frameworks in my head...I just felt like I needed to get down on paper."
— Tod Fetherling [01:33]
2. Tod’s Core Frameworks for Business
[01:33]
- Four main frameworks inform his work:
- Strategy
- Advanced Analytics
- Decision Sciences
- Leadership
3. Bridging Advanced Analytics and Decision-Making
[02:29]
-
Most excited about the intersection of analytics and human decision-making.
-
Despite technological progress, effective decisions always require the human touch.
Quote:
"It still comes down to the human element of making a decision and executing up against that strategy."
— Tod Fetherling [02:46]
4. Keys to Startup Success
[03:27]
-
Vision (the “head”) and mission (“the heart”) are critical for attracting the right people and driving organizational success.
-
Frameworks simplify execution and accelerate business growth.
Quote:
"If you get those two things right, you will find that business will accelerate...because it attracts the right people."
— Tod Fetherling [03:33]
5. Leadership Advice: People and Questions
[04:07]
-
Most important: The team and their alignment with vision and mission.
-
Leaders should focus on asking better, more thoughtful questions for breakthrough results.
Quote:
"The more time that people spend thinking about the questions before they ask them winds up translating into true breakthroughs..."
— Tod Fetherling [04:24]
6. Identifying Blind Spots and Organizational Priorities
[05:19]
-
Self-reflection: Always ask, "What are you missing? What are your blind spots?"
-
Use pilots and iterative testing to uncover gaps and refine strategy.
Quote:
"What are you missing? What are your blind spots? What do you think you need to understand before you make that decision?"
— Tod Fetherling [05:26]
7. Piloting, Testing, and Managing Risk
[07:26]
-
Advocates for low-risk pilot projects: "fire bullets, not cannons"—test ideas with minimal investment, iterate rapidly, then scale.
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Strategic planning up front is essential; once an idea gains traction, invest further.
Quote:
"Pilot projects allow you to take five, six different pilots without huge investment and begin to...come out with a better answer."
— Tod Fetherling [07:51]
8. Scaling Efforts: When to Double Down
[08:49]
-
Time and energy are more valuable than money; money follows validated ideas.
-
Tipping point to scale comes when there's a clear customer value proposition and easy customer buy-in.
Quote:
"Money will always find the best ideas and execution...If you are finding customers easily that want to say yes...that’s the point...to double down."
— Tod Fetherling [08:50]
9. Advice for Emerging Leaders and Career Shifts
[09:47]
-
Advanced AI tools now help individuals align passions with economic opportunity and fulfillment.
-
Champions the Japanese concept of “ikigai”—finding purpose at the intersection of passion, skill, and economic opportunity.
Quote:
"If you can find that intersection where you can make customers extremely happy and employees...extremely happily delivering that service...that's what it's all about."
— Tod Fetherling [10:37]
10. Current Roles: Boards, Investing, Writing, Speaking
[11:20]
- Involvement includes private investments, active board participation, prolific writing, and speaking about analytics and quantum computing.
- Emphasis on painting a vision for how these technologies will shape business.
11. Lessons from Golf (and Business)
[13:10]
- After retiring, Tod focused on improving his golf game, applying the same focus and iterative learning as in business.
- Personalized coaching (on-course lessons) made the biggest improvement—parallels drawn to business coaching.
- Success came from chipping and short game, underscoring the value of mastering fundamentals through daily practice and targeted improvements.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On Leadership:
"For me, the vision is the head and the mission is the heart."
— Tod Fetherling [03:29] -
On Questions in Leadership:
"I would give to leaders...is, is asking better questions. What I'm finding is the more time that people spend thinking about the questions before they ask them...translates into true breakthroughs."
— Tod Fetherling [04:22] -
On Self-Awareness:
"What are you missing? What are your blind spots? What do you think you need to understand before you make that decision?"
— Tod Fetherling [05:26] -
On Scaling Efforts:
"Money will always find the best ideas and execution."
— Tod Fetherling [08:50] -
On Career Fulfillment:
"The Japanese call it iki, and I am a huge component or a huge fan [of] that particular model as it relates to career journeys."
— Tod Fetherling [10:10] -
On Practice in Golf and Business:
"When I got over the initial sort of improvements...I found the best way to lower my handicap was actually chipping everything inside of 50 yards to the green is making a world of difference."
— Tod Fetherling [13:46]
Timestamps for Key Segments
- 01:02 — Tod’s career background and current projects
- 01:33 — Introduction to Tod’s four frameworks
- 02:29 — Importance of analytics-to-decision translation
- 03:27 — Vision, mission, and the secret to successful startups
- 04:07 — Leadership advice: teams and questioning
- 05:19 — Self-assessment and blind spots
- 06:00 — Prioritization and value of pilots
- 07:26 — Piloting ideas and managing risk
- 08:49 — Deciding when to scale up
- 09:47 — Guidance for emerging leaders and leveraging AI tools
- 11:20 — Tod’s current roles and focus
- 13:10 — Lessons from golf applied to business
Tone and Style
The discussion is candid, reflective, and practical, drawing on real-life experience. Both Scott and Tod maintain an encouraging, approachable tone, with an easy rapport, blending business rigor with relatable stories (e.g., the golf metaphor).
Summary
This episode offers rich insights for entrepreneurs, established leaders, and those navigating career decisions in a data-driven era. Highlights include practical frameworks for executing strategy, the enduring importance of the human element in analytics and decisions, the power of asking better questions, the iterative value of pilot testing, and the need to remain aware of personal and organizational blind spots. The episode closes with a heartfelt exchange and actionable lessons drawn both from business and from Tod’s golf journey, reinforcing the value of focus, persistence, and continuous self-improvement.