What does it take to build category-defining companies, lead through massive technological change, and still maintain perspective on what matters most?
In this inspiring episode of Transformational Thinkers, Sara Sheehan sits down with Maria Colacurcio, CEO of Syndio and co-founder of Smartsheet, to discuss the intersection of leadership, AI, pay equity, and personal growth. Maria shares how her experiences as an entrepreneur, executive, athlete, wife, and mother have shaped her belief that leaders must develop change agility to succeed in today’s rapidly evolving business environment.
Maria reflects on her experience launching Smartsheet and the lessons learned from building a company amid economic uncertainty, product pivots, and the challenges of scaling a startup from an idea to a public company. She explains why some of the hardest moments often become the most meaningful chapters in an entrepreneur’s journey and why learning to do hard things remains one of the most valuable leadership skills.
They discuss Syndio and its mission to transform compensation management. Maria discusses the company’s evolution from a pay equity platform to a comprehensive pay decision-intelligence solution. She explains how increasing pay-transparency regulations, global compliance requirements, and advancements in artificial intelligence have created an opportunity to rethink how organizations make compensation decisions.
Sara and Maria also explore what it takes to create entirely new market categories, build momentum around innovation, and recognize when organizations need to pause, validate strategy, and prepare for their next stage of growth. Maria shares why leadership teams must evolve alongside the business and how bringing in specialized expertise can accelerate transformation when the timing is right.
Beyond business, Maria offers a fascinating look into her success as a competitive HYROX athlete. She explains how training for world-class competition has strengthened her resilience, sharpened her mindset, and reinforced lessons that apply directly to entrepreneurship and leadership. Her perspective on pushing beyond perceived limitations provides powerful takeaways for anyone pursuing ambitious goals.
Whether you are leading organizational change, navigating AI adoption, building a high-growth company, or striving to become a stronger or better leader, this episode delivers practical insights and inspiration for embracing transformation with confidence.
Tune in to discover how change agility, responsible AI, and intentional leadership can help organizations create fairer workplaces and achieve extraordinary outcomes.
Key Moments:
00:00:01 | Meet Maria Colacurcio
Sara introduces Maria Colacurcio, CEO of Syndio, co-founder of Smartsheet, HYROX World Champion, and mother of seven.
00:00:25 | Beyond the LinkedIn Profile
Maria shares why family, relationships, and life experiences are just as important as professional accomplishments in defining who we are.
00:01:55 | Recognition Beyond Gender
Maria discusses being named one of Goldman Sachs’ 100 Most Exceptional Entrepreneurs and why recognition without gender qualifiers matters.
00:04:20 | Lessons from Building Smartsheet
Maria reflects on co-founding Smartsheet, navigating startup challenges, and learning that hard experiences often become the most treasured memories.
00:08:16 | Why Doing Hard Things Matters
The conversation explores resilience, mindset, and how overcoming difficult challenges builds leadership capability.
00:09:04 | The Evolution of Syndio’s Mission
Maria explains how Syndio expanded from pay equity into AI-powered compensation decision intelligence.
00:13:56 | Revolutionizing Compensation Decisions
How AI, transparency, and data are helping organizations make fairer, smarter, and more strategic pay decisions.
00:15:07 | Becoming a First-Time CEO
Maria shares the personal and family support system that gave her the confidence to step into the CEO role.
00:17:52 | The Power of Change Agility
Why leaders must continually evaluate their ability to evolve alongside their organizations.
00:18:32 | Building an Entirely New Category
Maria reveals what it takes to create momentum, define a new market category, and know when the timing is right to scale.
00:22:21 | Earning Trust with Sensitive Data
How Syndio manages compensation data for global enterprises while meeting rigorous AI governance and compliance standards.
00:26:11 | When AI Became the Future of Syndio
The moment Maria realized AI was not simply a feature but a foundational shift for the company.
00:31:25 | Scaling Trust Across 10 Million Employees
How Syndio’s platform helps organizations govern pay decisions across 100 countries while maintaining transparency and accountability.
00:34:45 | Building the Next Leadership Team
Maria discusses Syndio’s leadership expansion and why deep functional expertise became critical for the company’s next growth phase.
00:37:37 | HYROX Championships, Resilience, and Leadership
Maria explains how elite athletic competition strengthens mental toughness, resilience, and performance as a CEO.
00:43:06 | The Future of Decision Intelligence for Pay
Maria shares her vision for compensation transparency, performance alignment, and the future of workplace equity over the next five years.
00:46:05 | Final Thoughts and Looking Ahead
Sara reflects on Syndio’s momentum and the transformative impact Maria’s work could have on the future of work.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
- “Do Hard Things” by Steve Magness
- Smartsheet
- EU Pay Transparency Directive
- HYROX
About Maria Colacurcio:
Maria Colacurcio is reshaping how enterprises govern their largest and most consequential investment: how they pay their people. As CEO of Syndio, she leads the company that defined the market for pay equity software and is now pioneering Decision Intelligence for Pay. Under her leadership, Syndio partners with global brands including Walmart, Microsoft, and Salesforce to make every pay decision compliant, optimized, and aligned with business strategy.
Maria previously co-founded Smartsheet, which went public in 2018. She has built her career at the intersection of technology, policy, and purpose-driven leadership, earning recognition as one of the 100 most exceptional entrepreneurs by Goldman Sachs Builders + Innovators Summit.
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Contact Maria Colacurcio:
- Website: Syndio
- LinkedIn: MColacurcio
Contact Sara Sheehan | Sara Sheehan Consulting:
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