Episode Details

In this episode of Mind Over Masculinity, Avik sits down with executive coach and former CTO Andrew Hinkelman to unpack why high-performing men often hit an invisible ceiling in senior leadership. The real blocker is rarely intelligence or output. It’s people skills, emotional self-awareness, and relationship-building that were never taught in the “be the fixer” career playbook.
They talk burnout signals that sneak up over weeks, the ego-driven “I got it” pattern, and how human-centered leadership drives trust, autonomy, and performance. Andrew also shares a simple weekly practice for founders, CTOs, and managers to sharpen clarity and lead better without turning into an authoritarian.

About the Guest  :

Andrew Hinkelman is a former CTO with 25 years of corporate experience, including 8 years leading engineering organizations. Now a certified executive coach, he helps founders, CEOs, and CTOs shift from smart manager to trusted leader by building self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and human-centered leadership habits.

Key Takeaways  :

• Smart technical leaders often stall because leadership requires people skills, not just expertise and execution.

• “Be more strategic” and “build relationships” usually means. Improve communication, trust-building, and influence without relying on authority.

• Many men carry individual-contributor habits deep into management. That creates an “invisible ceiling” where respect exists but followership does not.

• Burnout is not always dramatic. It can look like constant tiredness, apathy, or starting Monday already exhausted.

• The fixer mindset feels safe but it creates dependency. Teams get quieter and wait for answers instead of building autonomy.

• A key shift is realizing. Your ego can drive you into the ground if you need to be in every meeting and solve everything.

• Andrew starts coaching with self-awareness. Identify the daily inputs that make you strong (sleep, movement, food, family time, focus blocks).

• Emotional rewiring is moving from “expertise mode” to connection mode. Seeing people as humans you need and who need you.

• A high-leverage practice. 20 minutes of pen-and-paper journaling before email, asking “What do I really want?” to clarify values and intent.

• Best career advice. You are the source of your next chapter. Build inner stability and active listening. Then stronger workplace relationships compound over time.

Connect with the Guest  

Andrew’s best channel is LinkedIn. Send a connection request to Andrew Hinkelman. Use the link on his LinkedIn profile to book a quick intro call. He also offers no-pressure coaching conversations.

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