How to build a team that works for your business

Ange Dove (00:00)
Welcome to the podcast show. I’m really excited to have a guest with us today — Daria Rudnik. She is a team architect and executive coach who helps overloaded leaders build high-trust, self-sufficient teams so they get better results with less burnout.

She’s an award-winning author of Clicking, co-author of The AI Revolution, and the creator of AIDRA.ai — an AI-powered coach for leaders.

A former Chief People Officer and ex-Deloitte professional, Daria brings over 15 years of global leadership experience to every conversation.

Alright, welcome Daria to the show — so lovely to have you here.

Daria Rudnik (00:47)
Thank you, Ange. It’s exciting to be here. I love listening to your show, and now I’m happy to be a guest.

Ange Dove (00:54)
Glad to have you on. Before we get into the leadership gems you’ll share today, let’s start with your journey.

I think everyone running a business eventually realizes they need to build a team. I wish I knew earlier what you’re about to share today — it would have made things much easier.

So tell us, how did you get started in your career?

Daria Rudnik (01:24)
I started my career at Deloitte, which was a great experience. I moved up the ladder and became a Chief People Officer for tech and telecom companies.

I led global projects — setting up offices in new countries, cultural transformations, mergers and acquisitions. That gave me a deep understanding of how important strong, high-trust, self-sufficient teams are.

I saw how strong teams survive crises — like the 2008 financial crisis when I worked in banking — and how disengaged teams can lead to a company’s downfall.

Ange Dove (02:27)
Yes, absolutely. You also hear about “silent quitting,” where employees disengage and eventually leave.

Daria Rudnik (02:40)
Or they stay… and do nothing!

Ange Dove (02:44)
Exactly. So you had all this corporate experience — what made you start your own business instead of staying in a stable role?

Daria Rudnik (03:28)
It was scary — very scary. I actually tried several times before making the leap.

A steady paycheck feels safe. But at some point, I realized I wanted to focus on what I do best — helping leaders build strong teams.

When I moved from Moscow to Israel three and a half years ago, I decided it was time to start fresh and build my own business.

Ange Dove (04:43)
So you didn’t just start a business — you moved countries too. That’s a big reset.

Were there setbacks along the way?

Daria Rudnik (05:21)
Before that move, I often went back to corporate because I received attractive offers. But eventually, I committed fully to my business.

Ange Dove (05:29)
And now you’ve proven you can leave corporate and succeed independently.

Those fears — were they justified?

Daria Rudnik (05:57)
They were real fears. But the reward of running your own business outweighs them.

Helping people, seeing results, and focusing on what you love — that’s incredibly rewarding.

Ange Dove (06:36)
I love that — the reward outweighs the fear.

Now let’s talk about your leadership framework.

Daria Rudnik (07:13)
I developed a formula called CLIC to help teams thrive:

1. Clear Purpose – Teams must share a common goal.

2. Linking Connections – Strong internal and external relationships.

3. Integrated Work – Clear norms on how teams operate.

4. Collaborative Decisions – Not all decisions belong to the leader.

5. Knowledge Sharing & Feedback – Continuous learning and growth.
   
   

Ange Dove (10:51)
What stands out is communication. It’s about clarity, expectations, and psychological safety.

Daria Rudnik (12:25)
Exactly. I worked with a team where one employee panicked when her boss called.

Once they discussed communication preferences, they agreed he’d text first before calling.

Simple change — huge impact.

Ange Dove (13:29)
That really shows how important communication styles are.

Daria Rudnik (14:43)
Absolutely.

Another example — I worked with a leadership team full of conflict. They all wanted success but had different priorities.

We aligned their purpose and created “keep it up” and “cut it out” behaviors.

Months later, they removed a team member who didn’t align with those behaviors — without CEO intervention.

That’s when you know a team is self-sufficient.

Ange Dove (18:08)
That’s powerful. Have you seen the opposite — where CEOs block progress?

Daria Rudnik (18:22)
Yes, but leaders must see themselves as part of the team — not above it.

Strong executive teams break silos and work toward shared goals.

Ange Dove (19:48)
So for someone building a company, what’s your top advice?

Daria Rudnik (20:40)
The CEO must build the culture.

If you don’t define it intentionally, it forms anyway — and often doesn’t support your goals.

Ange Dove (22:08)
Yes — I’ve seen companies display values but not live them.

Daria Rudnik (23:27)
Exactly.

Also, startups must think ahead. As they grow, clarity in roles, processes, and communication becomes essential.

Ange Dove (24:31)
And culture attracts the right people too.

Daria Rudnik (25:13)
Yes.

Another key point — leaders often overprotect teams. They step in too much, which leads to burnout and disengagement.

Instead, empower your team. They can handle more than you think.

Ange Dove (26:34)
That ties into delegation. Letting go is essential for growth.

Daria Rudnik (27:01)
Exactly.

Ange Dove (27:03)
You’ve also written a book, Clicking. Where can people connect with you?

Daria Rudnik (27:40)
You can find me on LinkedIn or visit my website at dariarudnik.com for resources and templates.

Ange Dove (28:03)
Fantastic. We’ll link everything below.

Daria, thank you so much — this has been incredibly valuable.

Daria Rudnik (28:29)
Thank you for having me. I hope this was helpful.

Ange Dove (28:35)
Thank you.