The Leaders Who Care

Catch up with Episode #118 where we welcomed Mark Bijsterveld,  Signify (Phillips) Former CHRO.
Prior to the CHRO role, Mark was Head of Global HR Services at Signify. Before that, he has been co-leading creating Signify as stand-alone organization . He also held several roles as senior HR Business Partner, both at Signify and the Consumer Lifestyle division of Philips.
Mark started his career in Management Consulting at Deloitte Consulting and has worked in several senior HR positions at Microsoft and Orange telecom.
Mark, a Dutch national, holds a master’s degree in Organizational psychology and a PhD in Business Administration at the Radboud University in Nijmegen, the Netherlands. He is also a member of the Advisory Board for their Business Administration faculty.
Join us to unpack what it truly means to belong in the workplace, and how best to create an environment where this can be possible! 🤝

Catch up with Episode #115 where we welcomed Steve Cadigan, Steve is LinkedIn's first Chief HR officer and highly sought-after talent advisor to leaders and organizations across the globe.
Steve advises a wide range of innovative organizations that include Airbnb, Intel, Salesforce, The Country Music Association, Manchester United Football Club and the BBC. He is also regularly retained by some of Silicon Valley’s leading VC firms such as Andreesen Horowitz, & Sequoia, as well as top Consulting firms like Deloitte & McKinsey.
Steve speaks at conferences and teaches in major universities around the world. His work in helping shape the culture at LinkedIn led Stanford University to build a graduate-level class around this ground-breaking work. Throughout his career, the teams, cultures, and organizations he has led have been recognized as exceptional, “world-class” performers by the Wall Street Journal and Fortune Magazine.
Before launching his firm, Steve worked as an HR executive for over 25 years at a wide range of companies and industries including ESPRIT, Cisco Systems, Electronic Arts and capped by serving as the first CHRO for LinkedIn from 2009 through 2012, taking the company from a private firm of 400 employees, through an IPO and helping set it up to be the powerhouse that it has become today.
Today Steve serves on the Board of Directors to three companies and also sits on the Advisory Board of several other progressive organizations. In August of 2021 Steve published a ground-breaking book on the Future of Work titled Workquake: Embracing the Aftershocks of COVID-19 to Create a Better Model of Working. Even before its release it realized #1 on the Amazon list of Hot New Releases.
Tune in to find out more!

Tune in to Episode 14 where we welcomed Ransford Jones!

Ransford is a multi- sector visionary, eclectic, dynamic leader, an author, entrepreneur, certified executive/ Leadership coach and a relentless community advocate for Justice.
He is also the Pastor of the Destiny Gospel Centre in Markham Ontario, Canada.
He is a multi-sector leader, whose leadership experiences spanned over thirty years in profit and non- profit sectors , he served as a corporate executive in corporate Canada for many years, he served on many boards, national and international, including the Global Jamaica, diaspora council.
He has a College Diploma in Accounting and management, a Bachelors degree in Theology a Masters degree in Counselling and a honorary doctorate degree in divinity.
He has received serval prestigious awards, including the 2009 Weins Canada (Toyota&Lexus) International award, for excellence in Management, in Yokohama Japan
In 2021 he was awarded the prestigious BBPA Harry Jerome award for decade leadership
He is Married to his lovely wife of 24 years and they have two wonderful children.
Ransford's new book is also out, The 'Principles and Practices
of Productive Leadership'

Catch up with Episode #114 to dive into the above!

Catch up with Episode #111 where we talk all things AI!

Can AI work in an ethical and sustainable way?

What are the benefits for the world of business?

Just how sophisticated can AI generated content become?

Tune into delve into the above and more...

Tim is the co-founder of Automatic Content, with a diverse background in marketing, beginning his career in direct response marketing and later serving as the head of email marketing for a large international digital marketing agency. He also worked as the head of content for a leading multinational retailer, where he led content teams and developed B2C and B2B strategies.
As a co-founder of Automatic Content, Tim now focuses on building fine-tuned AI language models paving the way for the future of AI-generated content.
In addition, Tim worked as a marketing consultant with companies across the US, Europe, and the Middle East.

Episode #107 welcomed Viacheslav, the London School of Economics graduate, who learnt about the challenges banks and other non-bank financial institutions face during his former career at PwC, where he advised banks on developing and implementing digital strategies.
Due to the inability of large financial institutions to implement such strategies, the lack of capital available to businesses in emerging markets, and the abundance of capital seeking sustainable yields in developed markets, he and his co-founder Alex Fenechiu founded Finverity, a supply chain finance platform designed to mitigate all of these issues.
Viacheslav is responsible for the company's strategic direction, managing execution via setting clear objectives, ensuring team alignment, and instilling effective processes. He believes that the long-term success of Finverity is secured due to the quality of our product and the strength of our people and culture. He credits his consistently positive attitude, clarity of vision, and power of his intention to the daily practices he follows, such as yoga and meditation, and his overall simple lifestyle.
Tune in to hear more about Finverity's mission, and one of the faces behind it!

Tune into Episode #106 where we continued celebrating the Month of International Women's day, welcoming another strong Female leader.

Danielle Rainha joined us, A Human Resources executive with more than 25 years of experience of generalist HR positions in different industries.

Current CHRO and Board member at SHV Energy. A strategic leader with broad management and track record in a global organizational environment. International experience with deep understanding of cultural diversity.

Fluent in Spanish, Portuguese and English. MBA in business administration, graduated Social Work and Marketing.

We explored building inclusive cultures and creating an environment where employees feel truly seen and listened to.
We also dive into how care, and business results can work in tandem without sacrificing one or the other!
Catch the full episode here...

Episode #105 celebrated Bulgaria’s Liberation Day where we welcomed Christo Popov, born and raised in Communist Bulgaria.

Christo is the Founder and CEO of Fast Track – applying the Fast Track system to over 500 companies in 27 countries - Numerous publications in Forbes, Fortune, Business times of India, Manila times, Human Resource Management, and others - Member of YPO for 17 years, Education Chair for Europe, Chapter Chair -and Father of three amazing daughters.

Christo spent 2 years in Bulgaria/Russia Special forces before going on to achieve the following… MSc in International Economics – Sofia and Moscow - MBA – Cambridge University - Ph.D. – Harvard Business School - Joint Diploma in Management - Instead, London Business School. Chirsto also spent one year in an ashram in India to study Vedanta, Buddhism, and Zen.

Started over 25 companies in 10 countries - 2 bankruptcies, 2 IPOs, and two exits and completed over 12 M&A transactions to the total value of 1 B.

What an incredibly diverse background, tune in to find out more!

Listen in to our insightful conversation with Shely Aronov...

Shely is the CEO/co-founder of InnerPlant, a company creating crops that communicate via optical signals when they’re thirsty or sick to increase yields and reduce chemical use. Born in Israel, she is a Tel Aviv University graduate and holds an MBA from Standford.

As technology is on the rise, we find out all about the technology giving plants a voice, truly revolutionising farming and agriculture.

Tune in to find out exactly how all this works! 

As a Life Coach, LiveCast Host, Husband, and Father, Gene spent over 20 years in the world of tech as a leader building high performing teams and delivering predictable results for clients across multiple industries.

This gave me him a front row seat to watch people in business drive themselves into the ground and I believed there was a better way.

Now his mission is to influence people to discover what it would take for them to live their life with direction, presence, courage, boldness and to chart their path through the fog.

As a Coach Gene works with clients to step beyond their comfort zone to face their challenges, and to find one thing daily that can bring them closer to the life they desire. 

Gene is also the host of the show LiveCast Conversation With and I interview guests to "peal" back the curtain on the bumps and triumphs of their story.

Tune in to discover what it truly means to live beyond the fog...

"If a single secret to organizational success existed, it would be this: recruiting, empowering, and retaining top-of-the-line talent"

Adja has more than 23 years’ of energy industry experience.

Ba held several HR leadership positions more recently as the Chief Human Resources Officer at Franklin Energy and worked for 20 years for the French multi-national Electricite de France.

Mrs Ba has created strong alliances among executives, peers, and stakeholders. She is an accomplished executive who excels at analyzing lucrative global business needs, identifying growth opportunities, and attaining leverage in competitive markets.

She is an influential strategist who develops processes and procedures to address workforce design and positively impact company change, and who aligns awareness of cultural, economic, and social matters to deliver effective policies. Her dedication to maximizing bottom-line performance and delivering service excellence can be key for any project.

As an HR Leader, she also has an extensive experience in managing safety and establishing a safety culture for our employees.

Tune in! 

Listen in to find out more about Dave's take on leadership!

We delve into the complexities of people management and bringing out the best in a room full of different personalities. 

Dave has worked in defence industry, then Diamond Tooling then Automotive for 20 years and now VELUX for the last 7, so about 40 years in manufacturing and Engineering.

Held roles as Global Directors for Quality, Environment, Health, and Safety in Global Corporations

Travelled widely and industrialised products in America, China, India, Europe, South Africa

6 Sigma Master Black Belt, training Black belts and management teams

Hobbies include Computer Gaming, Reading, Motorcycles, competitive target shooting.

Motivated by being told something can’t be done. (Draw the line at Time Travel)

Outlook on life…..every day you wake up is a good one.

It was great to have you Dave!

Amanda is an emeritus professor at the University of South Wales and an honorary professor at Cardiff University. She has clinical and research experience and founded and ran a transdisciplinary clinical and research team for 20 years relating to neurodiversity. She is a qualified GP and has a Ph.D. relating to emerging adulthood and neurodiversity. She has initiated and run a Masters in SEN programme.

Amanda is also the founder and CEO of Do-IT Solutions, a tech for good company that provides neurodiversity screening and web-based support tools for schools and for adults in education and employment.

Amanda has been on government advisory boards (e.g., Hidden Impairment National Group) as well as advising UK and international charities in the field of neurodiversity. This includes being a patron of the Dyspraxia Association in New Zealand, and Chair of Movement Matters UK. She is also the current chair of the ADHD Foundation and works closely with many other charities working in this area

She has written 9 books and more than 100 research papers in the field and her latest book published in 2021:'Neurodiversity at Work, Drive Innovation, Performance and Productivity with a Neurodiverse Workforce' has won the Business Book Awards 2022 for EDI. Amanda has been voted one of the top UK HR Thinkers in 2022 and also one the lifetime achievement awards at the National Diversity Awards as well as being voted in the power 50.

Amanda has lived experience of neurodiversity first hand, as she sees herself as neurodivergent as well as being a parent of neurodivergent children, and grandchildren.

On top of the above, She has a new book on Neurodiversity in Education coming out in 2023 with authors Paul Ellis and Abby Osbourne!

We're super excited to welcome Carolina García Arbeláez, Global Sustainability and Innovation Director at Anheuser-Busch InBev.

Carolina is an inspiring leader with 10 years of experience working for a more equitable and sustainable world. She is a One Young World Ambassador and one of the 88 women around the world chosen for the Homeward Bound leadership program and its Antarctic Expedition in 2019!

She is the founder of Still New, a sustainable fashion for children start up and currently works as Global Sustainability and Innovation Director for ABInBev and is the Co-lead of the 100+ Accelerator.

She has been working for ABInBev over the past four years in Sustainability at a local, regional and global scale. She has published several articles in national and international media.

For more than 3 years she worked in WWF in the international climate negotiations (from COP19 to COP22) and in local climate advocacy.

She has taught international environmental law courses at Rosario and Externado University as well as being the author of the climate change book “Cambio climático: lo que está en juego” and author of the booklets “El Acuerdo de París: así actuará Colombia frente al cambio climático”, amongst others.

We are super excited to welcome back our first ever guest! Episode #1- Patrick Hamilton Walsh.

As we approached our 100th episode, we celebrated by catching up with our first leader who truly cares.

Patrick is an award-winning author and keynote speaker who has presented his insights and work to audiences, governments and leading corporations across the world.

Working to ensure everyone receives an equal chance in life, he has focused extensively on creating solutions to global mega trends for the benefit of all.

A results-oriented executive with over 20 years domestic and international experience in start-ups, multinational corporations and major accounting firms. With a start-up DNA, Walsh has been highly successful in building relationships with decision makers, seizing control of critical problem areas, and delivering on commitments.  The celebrations keep coming, Patrick has also just released his new book which has been in the making over the past tumultuous 4 years, ‘Talent Cities- How the Nordics are Winning the Race for Talent’ 

It all starts with a compelling story. 

Alix Edmiston is a Canadian corporate communications strategist who works with leaders in tech and financial services to hone their unique story to place them at the centre of the conversation. Whether they want to thrive as a thought leader on LinkedIn, elevate their brand via traditional media, or introduce something new and exciting to the marketplace, she will get them the engagement they desire.

As a passionate gender diversity champion, she is helping leaders promote and develop their female talent. She holds a certificate in women’s executive leadership from Yale University where she earned an A+. She wrote her book Confessions from the Cubicle to share stories about the unique problems young women face in the corporate world. She is one of the co-founders of Better and Stronger Allies Together, an initiative started by Benchmark Corp and uOttawa to bring male allies together to help drive concrete change to close the gender gap.

Jess Meredith is a neurodiversity advocate, trainer and speaker. She is a proud ADHDer and parent to wonderful neurodiverse children. She is on a mission to create inclusive environments for those with a neurological difference such as ADHD, autism and dyslexia, from schools to the workplace, and beyond. Jess is passionate about raising awareness with people before neurodiversity impacts them personally. She firmly believes that to create truly inclusive societies we must all accept and embrace our neuro-diversities.

She uses her lived experience and the power of storytelling to deliver unforgettable talks. Jess is a staunch advocate for reframing the narrative around neurodiversity. She has delivered talks and spoken on panels for Accenture, The Adecco Group, Capgemini, Coulter Partners and more.

Jess' social enterprise, Differing Minds, supports organisations to be more neuro-inclusive through training, consulting, coaching and more. Differing Minds also delivers lessons to primary school children about neurodiversity to firstly, improve the school environment for neurodivergent children, and secondly, to create the change needed more broadly in society by educating and empowering future generations.

Listen in to Episode #93 where we learn all about the inspiring story behind Jin Dawod's life. 

Who is Jin Dawod?

One of the lucky people who came out alive from the bombs, snipers, and anti-aircraft guns of the Syrian War,

Jin Dawod is the Founder of Peace Therapist, a Platform that works B2B and B2C psychological therapy, it is a social initiative that provides free therapy for refugees traumatized by war.

She is proficient in 4 languages and is a sworn translator in 3 languages. She has been working actively in the fields of human rights, refugee rights and women's empowerment. The aim is to equip and empower women with the necessary skills, confidence and opportunities to succeed in STEM career fields and Entrepreneurship.☮️

And to empower refugees mentally and psychologically to heal and have the strength and ability to continue their new life and also themselves support the host communities.

Episode #92 welcomed Arnaud Saint-Paul to the podcast!

As a philanthropist and award-winning serial software, finance, and social impact entrepreneur for more than 20 years, living between Los Angeles and Paris, Arnaud went through his awakening at the young age of 13.

While having a successful career in Finance and Technology across continents, Arnaud has been travelling throughout the world to study the different religions and philosophies on an interesting relentless quest to understand himself.

Arnaud’s life purpose is now to open billions of hearts and help them find harmony inside and out.

Listen in!

The Leaders Who Care Episode #91 With Umran Beba

An experienced senior business executive with general management, talent, and diversity background. Close to 35 years of experience in Consumer Goods Industry where 25 years was with PepsiCo in four different locations namely Istanbul, Hong Kong, Dubai, and New York. She was the Asia Pacific President of PepsiCo following president and general management roles in Southeast Europe, East Mediterranean /Middle East, and Turkey. She has been in Chief HR Officer and Chief Diversity Officer roles in her career.

Umran Beba is the co-Founder of the Beba Innovation and Entrepreneurship Foundation since 2018. She is an Independent Non-Executive Board Director in Bakkavor Group plc., co-Vice Chair in the board of International Youth Foundation and a trustee of Purchase College Foundation board.

She is also a partner at August Leadership based in N.Y. as a search, leadership, and diversity consultant since 2020.

Having recently launched a book called Leaders with Purpose in Turkish (Deger Yaratan Liderler) with her co-author Arzu Cekirge Paksoy, listen in to find out more!

Listen in the Episode #89 with Judith Jungmann!

Judith has 25 years of experience in the people function and is still fascinated by it, she believes that ultimately the driver of business success is people.

Prior to joining Beckers as CHRO in 2018 (where she was also responsible to set a sustainability strategy for the business), Judith has been responsible for People and Communications at Scout24 with a special focus on the transformation of business and HR after the acquisition by private equity. Her HR school was Danone, where she started in Germany and was promoted HR Director very quickly, before she moved to international roles like Global Talent Director and Regional HR Director, responsible for 12 countries, both mature and emerging. She started her career at Siemens. Her motto is "unleashing potential of individuals and organisations" since a long time. Judith holds a first and second law degree and tries to learn about topics like leadership, organizational development, people development on a continuous basis, she cannot get enough of reading, listening and discussing about it.

The Leaders Who Care: Episode 88 with Heather R. Younger

In this episode, Marian M.P. Temelkov, Global CEO of Dynamis Group, welcomes to the podcast Heather Younger- Author of The Art Of Caring Leadership.

Heather is an experienced keynote speaker, two-time author, and the CEO and Founder of Employee Fanatix, a leading employee engagement, leadership development, and DEI consulting firm, where she is on a mission to help leaders understand the power they possess to ensure people feel valued at work.

We explore...

✅The importance of creating a culture of listening 

✅Bringing your best self In order to empower others

✅How being a leader who cares doesn’t necessarily mean having a title

Episode #86 welcomes Director of Spacemakers and award winning author, Daniel Sih.

Daniel is the co-founder of Spacemakers®, a productivity consulting group for busy leaders. His book "Spacemaker - how to unplug, unwind and think clearly in the digital age" won best personal development book in the Australian Business Book Awards in 2021, and was a finalist for best technology book and best cover design.

As a trainer, coach and keynote speaker, Daniel has worked with CEO’s, executives, and other senior professionals throughout Australia and beyond. He is the creator of best-selling productivity courses such as Email Ninja, List Assassin and Priority Samurai with more than 20,000 students online and offline.

Daniel has a broad professional history in which caring for humanity has always been at the core of,  including leadership roles in physiotherapy, health management, project management and Christian ministry.

Daniel is also about to release his second book!- “Raising Tech-Healthy Humans”- a parenting book to help parents reset their children's tech habits and give them a great start to life. This drops in November!

In this episode, Marian M.P. Temelkov, Global CEO of Dynamis Group, welcomes to the podcast Ellie Norman - Former CMO at Formula 1.

Ellie Norman is an inspirational, marketing leader with particular strength in building brands and creating customer impact. Ellie has managed ‘challenger’ brands, brand revitalisations and turnarounds in fast-moving, consumer-centric, highly commercial environments, including media telco, automotive, and sports entertainment, at the global, regional, and national levels.

In 2004 Ellie was headhunted to join Honda Motor Europe as Communications Manager. Accolades include ‘Impossible Dream’ TV ad and winning ‘Advertiser of the Decade’ 2012 The Arrows. In 2009 Ellie’s role was expanded to lead the communications strategy for 27 markets responsible for pan-European Advertising, media, digital, and printed materials.

In September 2012 Ellie was asked to join Virgin Media as Head of Advertising. During her time at Virgin Media, Ellie led the evolvement of all Brand campaigns with a renewed focus on the key drivers of Brand Equity and ultimately the value ‘Brand’ contributes to the business. This resulted in Virgin Media’s most effective brand communications and creatively the first Gold Arrow for the Bolt 9.58-sec ad.

In january 2014 Ellie’s role was expanded to develop and lead the strategy and implementation of Sponsorship. This resulted in a shift away from V Festival and an emphasis on strategically relevant partnerships and included Southampton Football Club, Football Supporters Federation, BAFTA TV and EGX.

Following the change in ownership at F1, in 2017 Ellie was asked to join the management team as the company's first Director of Marketing to lead the sport in growing its fan base, defining its vision, values & purpose, and ultimately delivering sustainable growth. This included a new identity for the sport after 24 years and a focus on fan engagement. This role was expanded to include Research & Analytics, subscription acquisition, CRM/MarTech, Customer Service, Brand Experience and Web/App & Social Media.

Ellie is a fellow of The Marketing Academy, NED of the Marketing Society, a member of Marketing Group Great Britain, and has a passion for Barry’s Bootcamp and classic Porsches.

In this episode with Krum Garkov, Executive Director at eu-LISA:

✔️ What does serving in the public sector look like,

✔️ The role of cultural care in governmental success,

✔️ Addressing digital security’s challenges and threats,

✔️ The latest digital transformation and security trends,

✔️ How to proactively address the digital security topic, and more!

Mr. Garkov is a goal-oriented, innovative technology strategist driving large-scale global operations to optimize IT portfolio management and operational efficiency. He has more than 15 years of cross-cultural experience spanning the public and private sectors, complemented by two Master's degrees in the area of information technology and an MBA.

From 2007 until taking up the ED post in eu-LISA Mr. Garkov was Operations Director for the Experian Group ltd., a leading global information provider serving the finance industry. He commanded all delivery centre operations and ensured the alignment of technology solutions with business objectives across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and India.

Prior to that, Mr. Garkov worked as a Program Manager at Hewlett Packard, a major technology company, where he was responsible for key program initiatives, including a large-scale data centre consolidation and application portfolio consolidation and integration.

From 2003 to 2006 he served the Bulgarian National Revenue Agency as a CIO, where he delivered several successful initiatives, including the country-wide implementation of a new core revenue management system and infrastructure. He also led the agency to receive recognition as a first-class ICT organization.

In 1996 Mr. Krum joined the Centre for Mass Privatization (Bulgaria), the specialized government agency overseeing the privatization of public assets in Bulgaria. In the Centre, Mr. Krum shared various responsibilities. Initially, he was appointed National Coordination Senior Expert to manage information technology strategy and operations. Within two years, he was named Deputy Director of ICT.

About the Agency: eu-LISA, with its seat in Tallinn, fulfills the operational management tasks for the second generation Schengen Information System (SIS II), Visa Information System (VIS) and EURODAC. The Agency thereby supports the implementation of the EU's border management, asylum and migration policies. The Agency started its operations on 1 December 2012. The headquarters of the Agency is in Tallinn (Estonia), while the operational management of the large-scale systems is carried out in Strasbourg (France) with a backup site in Sankt Johann im Pongau (Austria).

Tune in for the final episode of Season 2!

In this episode with Jean-Michel Noé - Group M&A & Business Development Director at Korian:

✔️ How do mergers and acquisitions (M&A) really work,

✔️ What determines a successful M&A,

✔️ Is the M&A process the same in every industry,

✔️ What role does Leadership Due Diligence play in the M&A process,

✔️ Why involving the local experts is critical, and more!

Jean-Michel Noé is an experienced professional with a focus on International M&A, European Healthcare, Corporate Development, Strategic Partnerships, and Innovation & Investment. Currently, he serves as the Group M&A and Business Development Director at Korian.

Korian's M&A department has several responsibilities within the group, but is mainly focused on international development. But when it comes to M&A, “Mergers and acquisitions are a people business, before being a financial question. This is why relations with local actors through our networks in our living areas are essential. To select them, it is important to remember that an M&A strategy stems from a corporate vision. This is why Korian has implemented strategic and financial criteria that enable us to ensure value creation, and which remain central to this entire process,” Jean-Michel shares.

About the company: Korian provides a range of medical and non-medical care and support services for the elderly and people with short or longer-term health issues. Korian’s services cater to a wide variety of needs and circumstances, ranging from a helping hand at home or occasional out-patient care, to temporary or permanent live-in care at specialist facilities like post-acute care or rehabilitation clinics and nursing homes.

Korian has more than 900 care facilities and networks in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Netherlands and Belgium. Besides, Korian is listed on Euronext Paris and employs more than 55 000 people.

Tune in! 

In this episode with Jure Knehtl, CEO of WeScale:

✔️ How to know if you are ready to scale the business,

✔️ What changes when you start scaling,

✔️ The role of the company’s culture in talent retention,

✔️ Why being honest with your clients pays off,

✔️ How to onboard with care, and more!

Jure Knehtl, the CEO of WeScale, is an expert in scaling e-commerce businesses in the EU. He had scaled 10 businesses from 4- to 7 digits by investing more than €42,500,000 on Facebook and Instagram ads. He holds a record of 20,000 products sold a day by winning the hearts and minds of customers with localization in Europe, influencer marketing, and UGC.

Having started his first successful business at the age of 21, Jure understands and values all aspects of running a fast-growing e-commerce business and provides partnerships to selected founders in his WeScale eCommerce boutique agency.

Tune in!

In this episode with Jakob Modéer, Regional Manager of the Swiss Entrepreneurship Program:

✔️ Opportunities and challenges in the Balkan region from the Western perspective,

✔️ The role of culture in the country’s economy,

✔️ Why an economic system would need plurality,

✔️ Using entrepreneurship as a vessel to massively help,

✔️ How to practically support less developed countries, and more!

Swedish by origin, American/British by education, and Balkanite by marriage and life! 30+years of living, working, failing, surviving, and succeeding in southeast Europe. Factory-owner, exporter, job creator, motivator, storyteller and now, startup ecosystem supporter with the Swiss Entrepreneurship Program.

Being born and raised in Sweden, a country that scores in the top 10 of any global development index, made for a wonderful and worry-free childhood. As a teenager, with restlessness with life in a society of collective conformity and completion, Jakob applied to study for a high school year in the US, which was followed by BA studies at Lewis & Clark College out in Oregon. At the American university, Jakob was struck by the openness of the discourse, the closeness of the professors and their push for well-argued cases to improve the status quo, and the equal rejection of unsupported complaining.

Graduation coincided with the fall of the Berlin Wall and the rush for societal change in East Europe and the USSR. Jakob got a job in Moscow, constructing the first golf course in the USSR. The encounter with the negative effects of totalitarianism and the planned economy was eye-opening. Finding a way to operate and get a job done in a completely different culture was an incredible challenge, a learning journey that Jakob now treasures very much. Today, 30+ years later, he recognizes that those months in the Soviet capital were his watershed moment, he knew at that moment, that this is where he wanted to be – on the front lines of the re-introduction of individual freedoms, free market, and free-thinking.

During the last three decades in the lands of southeast Europe aka The Balkans, Jakob has started and failed as a factory owner, succeeded as an exporter of multiple products, worked as a consultant on job creation programs, and advised national and local governments on the art of creating jobs (often in deprived geographical areas) and most recently managing a program which puts entrepreneurs first, as the primary change agents, in a transitional society.

Tune in!

In this episode with Catherine Bell, Founder of The Awakened Company:

✔️ How to build caring companies and inspire awakening,

✔️ The importance of thanking life through kindness,

✔️ 3 practical hacks to improve any relationships,

✔️ How to create your “I am” statement,

✔️ The future of work and collaboration, and more!

Catherine Bell is a successful serial entrepreneur, business leader, and best-selling business author who focuses on awakening the fire within as the Founder of The Awakened Company. She founded BluEra, a Profit 500 executive search firm. As a top-200 growing company in Canada and top-10 in Alberta, BluEra was a successful example of the Awakened Company System in action, one that is being integrated into the Smith (Queen's) School of Business Masters of Entrepreneurship. She now helps organizations develop culture strategies.

Catherine’s revolutionary business book, The Awakened Company, was awarded the Nautilus Book Awards in Business & Leadership, a bestseller one week after its release, a bestseller on Amazon, chosen as “8 of The Best Leadership Books of 2015”, and recognized as a top-book combining business and mindfulness. Catherine has been published in Fortune, HBR, Profit, Conscious Company Magazine, Women of Influence, and has written for the UN. She has worked around the globe from the UK to Cuba, with Fortune 500 companies, and serial entrepreneurs. Catherine has an MBA from the Smith School of Business at Queen’s University, a sociology degree from Western University, is certified in the Enneagram, and is a yoga instructor. She was a Jarislowsky Fellow at the Haskayne School of Business and is on the Expert Panel for the Canadian Centre for the Purpose of the Corporation.

She also started The Awakened Project, which is a jewellery line that helps females get out of poverty by starting their own businesses with microloans. Catherine has also been a Board Member of the Distress Centre and Open to Grow. She currently is an Advisor to the Impact Society and Telus Spark (Science Centre), and the Dalai Lama Center. She has completed the Institute of Corporate Directors Not for Profit Essentials Program, and her focus is to be a healthy universal muse to radiate love, wisdom, and power in everything she does.

Tune in!

In this episode with German Coppola - Co-Founder and CEO of Yumiwi:

✔️ How to inspire entrepreneurial spirit into your kids,

✔️ Using a personal checklist before starting each day,

✔️ How to develop a solid self-care morning routine,

✔️ Practical tools to support your mindfulness and productivity, and more!

German Coppola is the CEO and co-founder of Yumiwi, an event automatization platform that is helping organizations and brands capture, clean, and integrate event data so that brands can make better decisions.

As a tech entrepreneur who focuses on building people skills above all else, he has successfully created and conceptualized several successful companies which revolve around events, technology, and shared experiences. As the Founder and CEO, he works alongside marketers, designers, and technologists to make sense of the event industry by identifying unspoken users’ needs and trends.

He is also a Speaker, Mentor, Course creator, and host of his YouTube Channel and Podcast where he dives deep into Productivity, Mindset, and Technology. German loves reading, listening to music, and spending quality time with his family while teaching his three kids values and strategies of what it is to be and think like an entrepreneur.

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In this episode with Sergiu Negut, Co-Founder & EVP at FintechOS:

✔️ The importance of showing up as the real you,

✔️ How can care be translated across various business ventures,

✔️ How to utilize the power of momentum,

✔️ Scaling the business with care and intention, and more!

Sergiu is a reputed entrepreneur, angel investor, speaker, and lecturer at Maastricht School of Management. He has a positive track record of business growth in different roles (adviser, board member, angel investor, manager) and across different industries (healthcare, IT&C, financial services, HR, consulting).

Committed to building powerful teams and backed by a broad experience in business development, including M&A & startups, Sergiu co-founded FintechOS, a company that deploys its technology in more than 20 markets on 4 continents and is backed by some of the most reputable VCs in Europe. Sergiu coordinates Finance & Investor Relations, HR and Operations, bringing his strong contribution to the overall strategy and development of the FintechOS.

The company’s centrepiece technology, FintechOS, puts automation and personalisation at the heart of innovation, allowing financial services providers to transform the digital customer experience quickly and affordably.

In 2020, FintechOS was recognized as Europe’s hottest fintech startup and ranked among the most well-funded VC-backed tech companies in Europe (CB Insights).

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In this episode, Marian M.P. Temelkov, Global CEO at Dynamis Group, welcomes to the podcast Keith Williams - Co-founder and Managing Director at Phenotypeca.

Tune in and discover:

✔️ What is bioscience and what does it have in store for humanity,

✔️ How to create a caring environment for teams to thrive,

✔️ Applying care when facing adversity,

✔️ The role of effective communication when leading diverse teams,

✔️ About the ability to recharge, and more!

Keith Williams is Co-founder and Managing Director of Phenotypeca, the ‘go-to’ platform for the development of baker’s yeast strains that is making life-saving medicines more affordable and accessible for all that need them. He is an entrepreneur, investor and director with over thirty years’ global experience in the IT and Healthcare sectors and a strong interest in the intersection of the two disciplines.

Keith has used this expertise to spearhead multiple industry-leading biotechnology projects, most recently assembling a consortium of world leaders in robotics, automation, artificial intelligence, and machine learning to collectively develop a revolutionary Lab 4.0 approach. Keith has an MSc in Biochemical Engineering and a BSc in Biological Sciences from the University of Birmingham, and is a self-confessed cricket nut.

About Phenotypeca:

Phenotypeca is becoming the ‘go-to’ platform for the development of baker’s yeast strains for industrial-scale manufacture of vaccines, therapeutic and other recombinant proteins. These markets had over $200billion in revenue globally in 2020 and Phenotypeca offers an animal free, sustainable option for both these specific markets and other industrial applications.

Phenotypeca has generated the World’s largest collection of diverse baker’s yeast strains engineered for industrial recombinant protein production and is developing the ground-breaking Lab 4.0 approach alongside a consortium of World leaders in machine learning, robotics and artificial intelligence. Phenotypeca is currently fundraising and was recently awarded a grant by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for a project in the vaccine development space.

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In this episode with Lubomila Jordanova - Founder and CEO of Plan A:

✔️ How to care for the Planet as a business,

✔️ The path of discovering your true calling,

✔️ Building a sustainable and appreciated team,

✔️ The role of consistent self-management and care,

✔️ Where to find a like-minded community that cares, and more!

Lubomila Jordanova is the co-founder and CEO of Plan A, a software provider offering an end-to-end platform that uses machine learning and science to enable businesses to manage and improve their carbon and ESG performance.

Lubomila is also co-founder of the Greentech Alliance, a community of more than 1,500 startups connected to more than 500 advisors from VC, media, and business. Prior to Plan A, she worked in investment banking and venture capital as well as the fintech industry in Asia and Europe. She was an official speaker at COP26 and G7 and serves as an Obama Foundation Europe Leader 2022. Lubomila has been recognised as a MIT Innovator Under 35 Europe 2022, Marshall Fund Fellow 2022, Top 50 Women in Tech in Germany 2021 (Handelsblatt) and 30 under 30 (Forbes), among others.

About Plan A:

Plan A is a leading corporate carbon accounting and decarbonisation software solutions provider. The German company has developed a SaaS platform that combines cutting-edge technology and the latest scientific standards and methodologies (certified by TÜV Rheinland). The end-to-end software solution automates CO2 emissions calculation, carbon reduction planning, and ESG reporting for businesses.

Founded in 2017, the company has already received several awards, most recently Generali’s SME EnterPRIZE Award 2021 and the prestigious The Europas Award 2021. Plan A closed a Series A funding round of USD 10 million in November 2021 (HV Capital and Keen Venture Partners, joining Demeter, coparion, and Softbank as investors). Plan A is a B Corp certified business and adheres to strict social and environmental standards.

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In this episode with Zane Bojāre, Head of Marketing and Communications at Startup Wise Guys:

✔️ The concept of social entrepreneurship and care within it,

✔️ Practicing sustainability in business and personal life,

✔️ How to best support founders and be of service,

✔️ Why caring too much may become harmful,

✔️ Not letting self-care be neglected, and more!

After 10+ years in marketing communications and building her own company - a social enterprise providing senior employment and minimizing textile waste, Zane is currently helping techy startup founders become successful entrepreneurs at one of Europe’s top startup accelerators – Startup Wise Guys.

She is the main person behind a comprehensive Startup Scene report about the Baltic region and an active Co-Creator at Riga TechGirls.

Untypical for the tech sector, she holds a Master's degree in Philosophy.

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In this episode with Dr. Karin Lubin - a coach, teacher, trainer, speaker, and international director of The Passion Test®:

✔️ Where does passion come from,

✔️ How to discover your top-5 passions,

✔️ The theory of thriving, surviving, and alignment,

✔️ Discovering what the organization’s passions are,

✔️ The choice of leaving a positive impact, and more!

Karin Lubin, EdD, is a coach, teacher, trainer, speaker, international director of The Passion Test®, and creator of the series, My Life Through the Seasons, A Wisdom Journal and Planner®.

Karin clearly remembers the day, twenty years ago, when she decided she would stop obsessing over her thoughts and her career and decided to instead go for what felt better! That realization led her to switch careers and begin to do all that she can to help others to go deeper to be greater.

When she was 8 years old and her parents were in the midst of a messy divorce, Karin discovered the power of journaling to help her work through her thoughts and emotions. Over many years of journaling, she discovered that this kind of self-reflection allowed her to get in touch with buried or ignored aspects of herself and helped her to see herself in relationship with herself, with others, and with the natural world of which we are all a part.

Karin hopes that counsellors, therapists, coaches, and individuals use her Seasonal Wisdom Journals as tools to define, refine, dive in, explore, understand and build emotional intelligence and resiliency in this changing world. She encourages everyone to Go Deeper to Be Greater!

Karin is also dedicated to coaching of a different sort—as a personal trainer. She channels her passion for physical health, fitness, and bodybuilding by leading online workouts three times a week.

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In this episode with Zachery Dereniowski - Mental Health and Kindness Ambassador:

✔️ The journey from the lowest point to making a global, positive impact,

✔️ Understanding what the youth struggle with today,

✔️ How to spread kindness and express care to bring joy and inspire,

✔️ Powerful examples of the best social media can offer,

✔️ How can we all start supporting strangers, and more!

In the midst of COVID-19 pandemic, mental health activist Zachery Dereniowski found himself at a personal breaking point. With the hope of giving people a voice and the confidence that they are not alone in their struggles, Zach started sharing mental health content.

Zachery started a movement that seeks to normalize conversations around mental health and well-being. Social media provided a platform to bring a global community together during COVID, a time when people are yearning for a way to connect, be authentic, and be vulnerable. Zachery hopes to inspire people through his simple but powerful formula: "Vulnerability = Relatability = Empowerment".

As of today, over a million followers on Instagram and YouTube, and almost 7 million followers on TikTok, witness Zachery’s acts of kindness (find him as “MDMotivator”). Through his passion and sincerity, he powerfully inspires others to care as well and leave a positive impact on the people around them.

Zachery has also appeared on various podcasts and News media outlets, including ABC News and Studio10 in Australia, spreading the message of care for mental health, and inspiration for more acts of kindness.

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In this episode, Marian M.P. Temelkov, Global CEO of Dynamis Group, welcomes to the podcast Bob Rae - Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Canada to the United Nations in New York.

Tune in and hear about:

✔️ Why great leaders should go into politics,

✔️ What does it take to work in the public service,

✔️ The role of ego, resilience, and care in leadership,

✔️ How do high-level leaders balance their personal and professional lives,

✔️ What makes business and politics so similar, and much more!

Bob Rae is the Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Canada to the United Nations in New York. He served as Premier of Ontario from 1990-1995, interim Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada from 2011-2013.

Mr. Rae taught law and public policy at the University of Toronto and was a partner and senior counsel to the law firm OKT LLP, specializing in indigenous law and constitutional issues. Bob Rae is a Privy Councillor, a Companion of the Order of Canada, a member of the Order of Ontario.

In October 2017, Mr. Rae was appointed as Canada’s Special Envoy to Myanmar. In this role, he engaged in diplomatic efforts to address the crisis in the country’s Rakhine State and wrote the report “Tell Them We’re Human” in 2018.

In March 2020, he was named by Prime Minister Trudeau to be Canada’s Special Envoy on Humanitarian and Refugee Issues. This led to his report “A Global Pandemic Requires a Global Response”, which was made public shortly before his appointment as Ambassador to the UN.

In addition to several government reports, he is the author of five books. Along with music, reading, and writing, he loves tennis, golf, and fishing. Mr. Rae is married to Arlene Perly Rae, writer and public advocate on issues affecting women and children. They have three daughters and five grandchildren.

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In this episode with Kotryna Kurt - Founder and CEO of Linkedist:

✔️ Why should caring leaders build a strong online presence,

✔️ The latest trends and happenings around #care on LinkedIn,

✔️ What to share on social media as a leader (and you should!)

✔️ The importance of reducing transactional relationships,

✔️ How to practice caring leadership in your everyday life, and more!

Kotryna Kurt is the founder of a consulting company called Linkedist, a company that built LinkedIn strategies for companies such Lego, Danfoss, Visma, Nordic Secondary Fund, and many others. She is also an active contributor and a thought leader on LinkedIn, where she talks about entrepreneurship, leadership, sales, and marketing.

In addition, Kotryna has delivered +300 company and public workshops over the last five years and helped various European accelerators educate their startups about marketing and sales. Within the previous years, she has shared her knowledge at the events like TechBBQ, Login, Growth Marketing Conference San Francisco, Startup Wise Guys Accelerators, Sales Formula, and more.

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In this episode, Stoyan Yankov, Co-Founder and Co-Host of The Leaders Who Care, welcomes to the podcast Estelle Morrison - Registered Psychotherapist, M.Ed, CCTP.

Tune in to hear about:

✔️ How to best address feelings of overwhelm, helplessness, and confusion in uncertain times,

✔️ Practical ideas to sustain good mental health,

✔️ Returning to in-person work: how to involve your team in decision-making and why,

✔️ How would the ideal hybrid model work look like,

✔️ Living authentically on and off your social media profiles, and more!

Estelle Morrison is an industry leader who is committed to addressing the mental health crisis in a truly meaningful way. Her career history includes senior leadership of clinical services for several Canadian and Global Employee and Family Assistance Programs (EFAP), with oversight for the creation, development, training and delivery of all mental health programs and staff. In these roles, Estelle provided support for hundreds of executives and employees alike.

Her direction included crisis management for first responders, as well as local and large-scale traumas including 9/11, SARs, and most recently, the Covid-19 pandemic. In addition, Estelle has enjoyed a long-standing private psychotherapy practice, providing direct service using creative and intuitive clinical approaches across a wide range of mental health concerns. She has mentored and supervised new and experienced clinicians around the globe.

Estelle is a huge proponent of preventative mental health programming and has included expanding accessibility through digital and virtual means. She enjoys running a variety of workplace training programs, including those for Leaders regarding employee mental health and wellbeing.

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