Kristine Sargsyan: Building Successful Leadership Models for Tech Startups | Hamlet Azarian, Kristine Sargsyan

Leading from the Inside Out — In this episode of the Growth Ventures Podcast, host Hamlet Azarian speaks with Kristina Sargsyan, a leadership advisor, public speaking coach, and the author of Pilgrimage to the Brain. She’s also the founder of Think Studio and the long-time licensee of TEDx Yerevan.

From her neuroscience-based book to building Armenia’s TEDx community and coaching executives on storytelling and organizational growth, Kristina shares how brain science, emotional awareness, and authentic communication can redefine modern leadership.

Whether you’re scaling a startup or shaping culture as a founder, this episode delivers insights into the kind of leadership the future needs.

What We Covered with Kristina

The Brain as a Leadership Tool

Kristina’s book Pilgrimage to the Brain empowers readers to understand how their brains actually work—not just theoretically, but practically for decision-making, emotional regulation, and personal growth. She dispels the myth that we only use 10% of our brain and emphasizes the power of conscious development.

Building TEDx Yerevan: Storytelling that Transforms

Inspired by a TED Talk during a low point in her career, Kristina brought TEDx to Armenia and created a methodology that helps speakers surface new insights—not just repeat old ideas. Her process blends neuroscience, leadership theory, and creativity to help thought leaders share their unique perspectives with clarity and impact.

Think Studio and Leadership Development

Think Studio helps founders, executives, and teams lead with greater clarity through customized leadership programs and storytelling strategy. The goal isn’t just presentation—it’s helping leaders think better, communicate authentically, and grow cultures rooted in trust and emotional intelligence.

Why Communication is Everything

From feedback frameworks to thought leadership content, Kristina reinforces that every business problem is a communication problem at its core. And in an era of scale and speed, authentic dialogue is more valuable than ever.

Startups, Burnout, and the Future of Leadership

She warns against the toxic cycle of hustle and comparison in tech culture and offers a neuroscience-grounded path to sustainable leadership. It’s not about working less—it’s about working consciously and building from a place of meaning, not metrics alone.

Key Timestamps

01:30 – Why she wrote Pilgrimage to the Brain
07:10 – Debunking brain myths and creative thinking
14:30 – The origin of TEDx Yerevan and idea coaching
20:45 – The art of extracting unique speaker stories
28:00 – Launching Think Studio for deeper leadership work
33:00 – Why feedback is the backbone of communication
39:00 – Coaching founders to develop signature voice
45:00 – The burnout trap in startup culture
51:00 – Creating future-fit leaders through brain-first development

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Final Thoughts

Kristina Sargsyan reminds us that leadership isn’t a title—it’s a daily practice of awareness, communication, and growth. Whether you’re pitching on stage or managing your team, her neuroscience-backed insights offer a powerful lens for becoming the kind of leader others want to follow.

In a noisy world full of tactics and trends, her approach brings us back to what really matters: thinking clearly, speaking truthfully, and growing intentionally.

Connect with Kristina Sargsyan

LinkedIn: Kristina Sardaryan