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Emotional Business
Emotional Business
Author: Olga Skipper
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Emotional Business is a podcast for founders, creators, and change-makers who believe there’s more to business than spreadsheets and strategy. Hosted by Olga Skipper, this show explores the often-overlooked emotional undercurrent of entrepreneurship—highlighting how gut instinct, heart-centered decisions, and so-called ”illogical” paths can lead to powerful and profitable ventures.
Through candid conversations with a wide range of guests—from top executives and tech leaders to unconventional entrepreneurs—Olga dives deep into what it really takes to build a business that not only makes money but feels meaningful.
Listeners will walk away with a deeper understanding of how to:
- Embrace emotions as a strength, not a liability, in business.
- Make bold decisions based on inner truth, not external pressure.
- Create a business model that truly fits who they are—and make good money doing it.
This podcast is for anyone tired of cookie-cutter formulas and ready to explore success on their own terms.
Through candid conversations with a wide range of guests—from top executives and tech leaders to unconventional entrepreneurs—Olga dives deep into what it really takes to build a business that not only makes money but feels meaningful.
Listeners will walk away with a deeper understanding of how to:
- Embrace emotions as a strength, not a liability, in business.
- Make bold decisions based on inner truth, not external pressure.
- Create a business model that truly fits who they are—and make good money doing it.
This podcast is for anyone tired of cookie-cutter formulas and ready to explore success on their own terms.
23 Episodes
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In the 2025 season finale of the Emotional Business Podcast, host Olga Skipper welcomes Daria Saharova, founding partner at World Fund—a €300M venture capital powerhouse tackling climate, tech, and decarbonization. Known for her vision and grounded humanity, Daria Saharova brings over 15 years in tech, investment banking, and entrepreneurship to a profound conversation about belonging, risk, and the relentless pursuit of meaningful innovation.
Together, Olga Skipper and Daria Saharova chart the journey from Riga to Munich, exploring the emotional landscape of immigration, integration, and finding home. The episode pulls back the curtain on Daria’s path: navigating cultural difference, language barriers, building bridges outside her comfort zone, and manifesting resilience that fueled a career spanning multiple disciplines, culminating in the birth of World Fund in the heart of Europe.
Their conversation illuminates the internal calculus behind risk-taking, the mindset required to start—and stay—the course as a founder, and the discipline of seeking impact without succumbing to market skepticism or the turbulence of global politics. Daria Saharova discusses breaking ground as a woman VC, her “capitalistic” drive, building a team and portfolio with integrity, and investing in companies whose products thrive—even in the hands of climate skeptics.
In this episode, we explore:
The Immigration Journey—how open-mindedness, resilience, and language fluency fuel personal and professional integration
The Art of Building Social Bridges—proactively stepping out of cultural enclaves to create genuine local connections
Choosing Entrepreneurship (and Venture Capital)—decoding the pivotal career dots that led from startup founder to investment partner
Facing Down External Forces—navigating COVID, geopolitical strife, and unsupportive market climates while closing a landmark fund
VC as a Platform for Change—investing in deep tech and climate solutions, and the necessity of optimism in the face of systemic inertia
Resilience & Competitive Speed—the “immigrant advantage” of spotting and seizing opportunity, building without a backup plan, and outpacing the market
Multiplying Impact—how mobilizing communities and teams expands a founder’s reach beyond the constraints of time and resources
Looking Forward—how Germany and Europe must shift from preservation to radical innovation, and why technological sovereignty is essential for future growth
This episode is essential listening for immigrants, VCs, operators, and executives wrestling with commitment, self-doubt, and the desire to create radical impact in shifting, sometimes hostile environments. Founders and fund managers—especially women and those building in deep tech—will find Daria’s deeply honest journey particularly resonant.
Settle in for this candid, energizing, and unfiltered year-end conversation that moves far beyond investment returns to the emotional reality of pioneering a new future.
Don’t forget to subscribe and share with a founder, investor, or anyone craving courage for bold moves!
Connect with Olga:
LinkedIn: Olga Skipper
Website: www.olgaskipper.com
Connect with Daria:
LinkedIn: Daria Saharova
Website: https://www.worldfund.vc/
Share your reflections on this episode or reach out with your own emotional business story—Olga loves hearing from you!
In this episode of Emotional Business, host Olga Skipper is joined by Jennifer Cabala — seasoned journalist, longtime tech storyteller, and now a communications coach helping founders and CEOs articulate the narratives behind who they are and what they build.
Jennifer enters this conversation with years spent on both sides of the story: crafting them as a journalist, and now guiding leaders as they shape the stories that define their companies, their leadership, and their public presence.
Together, Olga and Jennifer explore what it really means to build a narrative from the inside out — not as a branding exercise, but as a deeply emotional and strategic process rooted in identity, origin, and intention. This conversation goes far beyond messaging frameworks and dives into the internal dialogues, motivations, and self-perceptions that shape how founders show up in the world.
It’s a grounded, transparent look at the craft of storytelling as an emotional skill — iterative, vulnerable, and profoundly connected to how we see ourselves.
In this episode, we explore:
• Understanding Your Origin Story — how childhood, environment, and early experiences form the emotional foundation of your narrative
• Personal Storytelling vs. Personal Branding — the crucial difference founders often miss
• Letting Your Story Evolve — why storytelling is iterative and changes as you change
• Communication as a Trainable Skill — not a talent you’re born with
• The Founder–Company Identity Loop — how to separate yourself from your company without disconnecting emotionally
• The Power of Self-Talk — how your internal voice shapes public confidence
• What a Storytelling Coach Actually Does — from shaping clarity to reducing narrative overwhelm
• Navigating Visibility and Public Persona — how to build a persona that feels authentic to you
• Balancing Personal and Professional Narratives — what belongs in the business story and what stays yours
Together, Olga and Jennifer go beneath the surface of “telling your story” and into the deeper emotional architecture founders rarely discuss publicly — identity, fear, motivation, upbringing, and the lifelong relationship we have with our own voice.
This episode is for founders, executives, and leaders who want to communicate with more clarity, presence, and authenticity — especially those navigating visibility, identity, and the vulnerable work of telling the world who they are.
So get comfortable and enjoy this reflective, warm, and insight-filled conversation.
Connect to Jennifer here
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifercabala/
https://jennifercabala.com/
In this episode of Emotional Business, host Olga Skipper speaks with coach and leadership expert Anna Shakhovets about the profound identity shift women experience when becoming mothers. Anna shares her personal journey and introduces the concept of matrescence—the emotional, psychological, and professional transformation that accompanies motherhood.
They explore how this shift impacts leadership, ambition, creativity, and a woman's sense of self, and discuss why grief, anger, and uncertainty are natural parts of this transition. The conversation provides clarity and tools for female executives navigating motherhood and for coaches supporting women through this period of change.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
How motherhood acts as a deep identity shift, not just a career pause
Why matrescence mirrors other major life transitions
The role of grief and loss in redefining oneself as a mother
Why women often focus on logistics instead of the emotional transition
How creativity emerges from the chaos of early motherhood
Why ambition often increases—not decreases—after becoming a mother
How to normalize difficult feelings like anger, guilt, and confusion
Why the motherhood transition is cyclical, not linear
How coaches can incorporate motherhood perspectives into leadership work
Keywords: motherhood, female executives, identity shift, coaching, leadership, transformation, emotional business, motherhood transition, women empowerment, personal growth
Book we mentioned: Jessie Harrold - Mothershift : Reclaiming Motherhood as a Rite of Passage
Links to find Anna:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-shakhovets/
https://www.reco-consulting.com/
If you want to work with Anna, join the interest list for The Fireside Circle for Female Leaders — a space to learn how to lead with depth, clarity, and connection.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeYVb5ZlpXLDxwta5aXn6RkD8_DP3ARGeJrmV-6D9pOBTh4bw/viewform
In this episode of Emotional Business, host Olga Skipper is joined by Laura Dittscheid — seasoned marketing leader, former CMO, and now the founder of NOOLA, a better-for-you food brand built publicly and intentionally for women navigating low-energy seasons and demanding everyday rhythms.
Laura steps into the conversation at a pivotal moment: the first months of building her own venture after an already successful career, a full family life, and years spent leading and scaling major female-focused D2C brands. Together, Olga and Laura explore what it truly feels like to start something new from a place of maturity, clarity, and lived experience—far beyond theory or youthful trial-and-error.
This episode takes you inside the emotional, strategic, and deeply personal layers of stepping into entrepreneurship: leaving a senior role, confronting unexpected realities, and managing the internal dialogues that shape every major transition.
In this episode, we explore:
Stepping Away from the CMO Identity — what it takes to detach from a high-status role and start fresh
Redefining the Terms of the Journey — setting boundaries, expectations, and non-negotiables in a new chapter
The Shift from Strategist to Executor — the shock of doing everything yourself after years of leading teams
When Your Network Helps—and When It Overwhelms — managing advice, opinions, and the noise of well-meaning supporters
The Complex Reality of Finding a Co-Founder — from mapping competencies to dealing with misaligned readiness
Navigating the Comparison Trap — why comparison surfaced so strongly and how Laura is learning to regulate it
Together, Olga and Laura move beyond the glossy narratives of entrepreneurship and dive into the real tension, honesty, and inner negotiations that shape a founder’s earliest months.
This episode is for seasoned professionals or executives considering a shift into entrepreneurship - especially later in their careers. It will resonate deeply with anyone battling comparison, external pressure, or the emotional weight of building something meaningful from the ground up. Founders wrestling with the search for the right co-founder will find this conversation particularly grounding.
So get comfortable and enjoy this rich, resonant, and insightful conversation.
Don’t forget to subscribe and share this episode with a fellow entrepreneur!
CHAPTERS
00:00 — Introduction to Emotional Business
00:19 — Meet Laura Dige: From CMO to Entrepreneur
00:59 — The Journey of Transition
06:18 — Challenges and Realizations
14:43 — Finding Balance and Overcoming Obstacles
27:27 — The Search for a Co-Founder
Connect with Olga:
Instagram: Olga Skipper
LinkedIn: Olga Skipper
Website: www.olgaskipper.com
Connect with Laura:
LinkedIn: Laura Dittschield
In this episode of Emotional Business, Olga Skipper speaks with Trish Perry, executive coach and founder of Harmonized Coaching, about the critical issue of workplace trauma.
Trish draws on her experience as both a corporate leader and a coach, sharing insights on how emotional wounds appear in professional settings and how they impact leadership, relationships, and team dynamics. The conversation introduces practical frameworks and tools to acknowledge, interrupt, and resolve trauma while cultivating psychological safety and accountability.
This conversation explores:
Defining trauma and identifying workplace-specific manifestations
Trish’s personal experiences with trauma in leadership and how they shaped her approach
The AIR Method (Acknowledge, Interrupt, Resolve) for addressing work trauma
Practical tools such as the Wheel of Control and distinguishing facts from narratives
How unresolved trauma influences decision-making, relationships, and company culture
The responsibilities leaders have to themselves and their teams in healing
How coaches and executives can apply these frameworks to foster healthier workplaces
Real-life examples and case studies illustrating the impact of trauma and its resolution
This episode is essential listening for executives, founders, HR professionals, and coaches who want to understand and address the emotional undercurrents shaping modern workplaces.
Website: www.harmonizeu.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trishperry/
Free Wheel of Control Gift: Email me WHEEL OF CONTROL at trish.perry@harmonizeu.com
In this episode of Emotional Business, Olga Skipper speaks with Alina Nilsson, Managing Partner at Gamegroove Capital and visionary entrepreneur, about navigating ambition, motherhood, and meaning in leadership.
Alina shares her journey from growing up in an entrepreneurial family to building a global career in tech — all while redefining what it means for women to “have it all.” She reflects on the early lessons from her father’s mentorship, the strength of the women in her family, and the ongoing challenge of integrating personal and professional life.
This conversation is a deeply honest look at how leaders can blend drive with presence, and success with emotional growth.
This conversation explores:
Growing up in an entrepreneurial environment and lessons from family business
The role of mentorship and strong women across generations
The creation of Emerge Conference and its impact on the tech ecosystem
Balancing professional ambition with motherhood and self-care
Redefining what “having it all” really means
The emotional complexity of leadership and seeking professional support
How vulnerability and reflection strengthen modern leadership
For any woman balancing ambition, care, and self-definition — this episode offers insight, honesty, and hope.
https://gamegroove.vc/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/gamegroovecapital/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/alinanilsson/
In this episode of Emotional Business, Olga Skipper speaks with Yi-Wei Ang, Chief Product Officer at talabat, one of the world’s leading food delivery companies, about courageous leadership, product excellence, and the human side of innovation.
Yi-Wei’s story spans continents—from Malaysia to Dubai—and each chapter has shaped his view of leadership, culture, and design. Starting his career in UX research, he built his way into product leadership while keeping people, empathy, and impact at the center.
This conversation explores what it takes to lead at scale with authenticity and courage: creating psychological safety, balancing empathy with decisive action, and remembering that great products begin with great humans.
Olga and Yi-Wei discuss:
Courageous leadership and why psychological safety fuels innovation
What makes a great product: balancing customer value with business growth
How global experience and cultural diversity shape leadership
The impact of parenthood on empathy and prioritization
The loneliness of senior leadership — and the importance of finding your tribe
How authenticity and continuous learning sustain long-term success
Why discipline, structure, and self-care routines keep leaders centered
If you’re a product leader, founder, or executive navigating growth and complexity, this episode is a masterclass in clarity, courage, and connection.
In this episode of Emotional Business, Olga Skipper speaks with Gonzalo Arenas, VP of Operations at Dunia, about the evolving role of operations in startups and the human side of building sustainable businesses.
Drawing on his bicultural upbringing and diverse career, Gonzalo shares how pragmatic idealism shapes his approach to leadership, trust, and team-building. He offers a grounded look at what it truly means to operate at scale — balancing empathy with efficiency, and adaptability with structure.
This conversation is a masterclass in what modern operations and leadership demand today: low ego, high transparency, and continuous learning.
This conversation explores:
How Gonzalo’s upbringing shaped his pragmatic idealism
Why operations play a crucial role in long-term business success
The importance of adapting to the needs of the company as a COO
Building trust through low ego and high transparency
Using empathy to understand and connect with stakeholders
Why choosing the right CEO to partner with is critical
The value of hands-on experience in small teams
Continuous learning as the foundation of effective leadership
Knowing when and how to implement process
How asking insightful questions adds real value
For founders, leaders, and operators alike, this episode is a reminder that operations isn’t just about execution — it’s about alignment, empathy, and trust.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/gonzaloarenas/
Book mentioned in the episode https://store.darrenhardy.com/products/the-compound-effect
In this episode of Emotional Business, Olga Skipper speaks with Šárka Betke—entrepreneur, former FinTech leader, and mother of two—about what it truly means to craft your own path.
Šárka shares her journey of moving from a successful career in finance and technology into the world of purpose-driven business. She opens up about learning to trust herself amid external doubt, the courage it takes to start again, and how to bring the wisdom of past experience into a completely new chapter.
Together, Olga and Šárka explore what authenticity in leadership looks like—especially during times of internal transition—and how leaders can communicate openly with their teams while staying true to themselves.
This conversation explores:
Crafting a career path that reflects who you are—not who you’re “supposed” to be
Moving from FinTech to purpose-driven entrepreneurship
Integrating lessons from your old career into a new vision for work and life
Building your vision through external doubt and self-trust
What Šárka would tell her younger self when she left employment for entrepreneurship as a mother of two
How to stay authentic as a leader while navigating your own transitions
This episode is for:
🌿 Women in traditional industries finding their voice early in their careers
💡 Anyone wondering if it’s time to make the jump into something new
✨ Those who doubt their vision—but know it’s worth pursuing anyway
For Olga, this was the most optimistic yet truthful conversation on creating your own path.
https://www.vinofactum.wine/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/vinofactum
https://www.linkedin.com/in/%C5%A1%C3%A1rka-betke-12a7a457/
On Authenticity
https://youtu.be/1lJDm6-SJQI?si=mS1KP0tjDpup3PaE
In this episode of Emotional Business, Olga Skipper sits down with Nektarios Liolios—former banker, FinTech pioneer, and mental health advocate—to explore the unseen human side of startups.
From his early career in banking and FinTech to co-founding The Future Farm, Nektarios has experienced the high-stakes, high-stress reality of entrepreneurship. His story shines a light on the toll burnout can take—and why connection, resilience, and community are essential for building sustainable success.
This conversation explores:
The hidden costs of burnout in the startup ecosystem
Why connection and community are critical for resilience
How “rootedness” influences leadership and wellbeing
Realigning founding teams to sustain long-term ventures
How The Future Farm is normalizing conversations about founder mental health
The role of coaches, advisors, and emotional intelligence in supporting entrepreneurs
For founders, investors, and leaders alike, this episode is a reminder: sustainable startups begin with sustainable people.
http://linkedin.com/in/nekliolios
https://www.thefuturefarm.co/
https://foundology.org/
In this episode of Emotional Business, Olga Skipper speaks with Hilary Aylesworth—a former educator turned product strategist and AI leader. Hilary brings a unique perspective on leadership, weaving together her background in teaching, her work in AI at CoachHub, and her lived experience as both a professional and a parent.
This conversation explores how intuition, transparency, and emotional intelligence can shape leadership in the fast-moving world of technology. From the ethics of AI in coaching to the realities of systemic loneliness at the top, Hilary offers both practical and deeply human insights.
This conversation explores:
How a background in education shapes product and leadership decisions
Why emotional intelligence is the bedrock of effective tech leadership
The ethics of AI in coaching and development
Balancing professional ambition with motherhood
Caregiving as a leadership strength—not a weakness
Why executives underestimate loneliness—and the power of asking for help
For leaders navigating technology, AI, and human connection, Hilary’s perspective is both refreshing and essential.
https://www.coachhub.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/hilaryaylesworth
In this episode of Emotional Business, Olga Skipper is joined by Alex Farcet—entrepreneur, impact investor, and co-founder of the Raspberry Syndicate, a collective investing in climate tech startups across Europe and Africa.
From Silicon Valley to corporate boardrooms, from personal crises to purpose-driven leadership, Alex has lived many lives. Through each, he’s discovered that alignment—between values, risk, and passion—is the true north of entrepreneurship.
This conversation explores:
How family health crises reshaped Alex’s approach to risk and business
Why ego is both a driver and a danger in leadership
The art of evaluating founders beyond pitch decks
Networking as an introvert (and why it works)
The role of intuition in entrepreneurial decision-making
How storytelling and creativity shape impact ventures
Why climate tech is a calling, not just a market
If you’re an entrepreneur, investor, or leader navigating risk and purpose, this episode offers both honesty and inspiration.
https://www.raspberry.ventures/
In this episode of Emotional Business, Olga Skipper is joined by Severin Zugmayer—founder of New Renaissance Ventures, the first dedicated venture fund for the cultural and creative industries in Europe. With a background spanning Red Bull, Google, and Speedinvest, Severin isn’t your typical VC. He’s redefining what it means to invest—not just in products or founders, but in culture, creativity, and meaning.
Severin shares how his creative upbringing and professional journey led him to build a fund focused on the overlooked but high-potential world of creative tech. From music and film to spatial computing and AI, his thesis is as bold as it is timely.
This conversation explores:
Why creativity is the next frontier in venture capital
What most investors get wrong about emotional founders
How AI is changing the game for cultural innovation
The realities of being a solo GP (and why it’s both powerful and lonely)
What resilience really looks like in a high-risk, long-game profession
The emotional intelligence required to manage LPs, founders, and yourself
If you’re a founder, funder, or future builder wondering what VC could look like beyond the spreadsheets—this episode will expand your thinking.
https://www.nr.ventures
What happens when you close a 25-year arc of success — and realize the next chapter demands something entirely different?
In this episode of The Emotional Business Show, Olga Skipper talks with Oleg Bibergan, founding partner at S16, a venture fund and community investing in transformative startups. With a background spanning Goldman Sachs, technology, and venture capital, Oleg has built a reputation for clarity and conviction. But behind the professional milestones lies a deeper story of transition, self-discovery, and redefining what success truly means.
Together, they explore:
How Oleg reflects on the “arc” of his career and life so far, and what it means to enter a new chapter at 40
The role of scaffolding — meditation, journaling, stubborn persistence, and community — in staying centered
Why equanimity and emotional intelligence are critical traits for investors and founders alike
His shift from data-heavy investing to founder-focused, velocity-driven decision-making
The belief that provision = love, and his search for integration between material success and playful creativity
How “golden shadows” and curated role models can shape the next evolution of leadership and growth
This is a rare look at the inner life of a venture capitalist: how emotional insight, personal rituals, and conscious community building shape not just investments, but identity and impact.
🎧 Tune in to discover what it means to navigate high-stakes decisions without losing connection to yourself, your values, or the people around you.
https://www.s16vc.com/
What does it mean to lead thousands of people without losing your humanity?
In this episode of The Emotional Business Show, Olga Skipper speaks with Matthias Hofmann, Executive Vice President of Last Mile Logistics Austria at Austrian Post, about what it takes to lead with clarity, empathy, and authenticity at scale.
Matthias shares his journey from consultant to corporate leader, and how he discovered that the real key to leadership isn’t spreadsheets or strategy — it’s people. Together, they explore:
Why he left consulting to find a “home” where he could make long-term impact
The importance of being yourself as a leader (and why pretending drains more energy than it saves)
How tough times and failures shaped his resilience and perspective
The surprising lessons fatherhood taught him about leadership and empathy
What younger managers most want to know about balancing priorities and handling setbacks
How to glue teams together through connection, consistency, and walking the talk
Why a leader’s responsibility sometimes means helping someone out of the wrong role
This conversation is both practical and deeply human — a look at leadership not as a title, but as a responsibility to yourself, your team, and the system you serve.
🎧 Tune in to learn how to lead large teams with both operational clarity and emotional depth.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthias-hofmann-at
What does it take to achieve success early—and stay grounded while chasing more?
In this episode of The Emotional Business Show, Olga Skipper sits down with Olga Shikhantsova, former VC partner at Speedinvest, Forbes 30 Under 30 alum, and now Head of Product Strategy at Finom, to explore the emotional undercurrents of rapid achievement and reinvention.
Together, they unpack:
How family values, moving countries, and sheer hunger shaped Olga’s path
The paradox of early recognition: confidence on the outside, self-doubt on the inside
Why humility and doubt can be powerful drivers of growth
The role of personal “boards of directors” and support systems in navigating high-stakes careers
Her transition from investor to operator — and what it means to move from strategy to execution
The qualities that distinguish leaders who simply grow from those who truly transform
This conversation goes beyond the headlines of Forbes covers and venture capital wins. It’s a candid look at ambition, alignment, and the courage to choose what matters again and again as your story evolves.
Tune in to discover how to lead with clarity, act through doubt, and keep growing when your career accelerates faster than your identity can catch up.
https://finom.co
https://www.linkedin.com/in/shikhantsova/
In this episode of Emotional Business, Olga Skipper sits down with Aape Pohjavirta—serial entrepreneur, systems thinker, startup mentor, and founder of impactful ventures like Funzi—to explore what it really means to lead, live, and build with heart in a world addicted to hustle.
Aape doesn’t play by the usual rules. From starting his first company at 19 to losing it all—and doing it again—his journey is anything but linear. He shares how he’s spent a lifetime “digging holes and climbing out,” and why that struggle shaped his 4S life philosophy: Simple, Slow, Stubborn, and Stupid.
This conversation dives into:
The difference between vision and delusion—and why it takes humility to know the line
How failure, not fear, helps define your real limits
What most startup founders miss when they chase scale instead of meaning
Why trust (not tech) is the backbone of transformation
How unlearning, therapy, and asking for help became his late-stage superpowers
What it means to lead from clarity, not ego, in a rapidly shifting world
Whether you’re building a company, navigating personal reinvention, or rethinking how you define success—this episode is a powerful invitation to live truthfully, lead vulnerably, and trust deeply.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aaape
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aapeaape/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaape/
In this powerful episode of Emotional Business, Olga Skipper is joined by Dana Pavlychko—entrepreneur, transformation mentor, strategic advisor, and co-founder of Empower Impact Academy.
Dana’s story is anything but ordinary: she rebuilt her life and career after fleeing Ukraine with her family, sold her publishing business in the middle of a crisis, completed her Executive MBA at Oxford, and now helps leaders thrive in chaos—not by escaping it, but by moving through it with purpose and clarity.
This episode dives deep into:
What effortless resilience really means (and how to develop it)
How Dana pivoted careers, countries, and industries without losing her core self
The mindset shift that helped her lead a transformation—from burnout to joy
The reality of building a meaningful career while raising three young kids
Why motherhood makes her a better leader—and vice versa
Whether you're a founder, a mother, in transition, or simply questioning your next move—this conversation will shift your thinking on what it means to live and lead with purpose, even in uncertain times.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dana-pavlychko-b44a0673/
In this episode of Emotional Business, Olga Skipper is joined by Thor Mitchell—a seasoned product leader, mentor, and former Google and Miro executive—who brings over 25 years of experience leading product teams across Europe, the US, and Australia.
But this conversation isn’t about frameworks or velocity charts.
It’s about the human side of product leadership.
We dive deep into:
How emotional intelligence builds stronger product teams
The difference between being “nice” and being strategically empathetic
The art of active listening and self-regulation as a leadership superpower
How to manage conflict without losing influence—or relationships
What new leaders must unlearn if they want to scale their impact
Why personal development isn’t optional at the top—and how Thor keeps growing
Whether you’re a new product manager or a senior leader navigating complex orgs, this episode is a masterclass in grounded, emotionally intelligent leadership.
📍 Thor’s background includes roles at Google, Miro, and CrowdCube, and mentoring leaders in high-growth tech environments.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thormitchell/
Medium: https://medium.com/@thor.mitchell
Website: https://www.balderton.com/team/thor-mitchell/
Product Minded: https://www.product-minded.co.uk/
In this episode of Emotional Business, host Olga Skipper sits down with Olga Lorenz—partner at global executive search firm True Search, practicing visual artist, and mother of three—for an honest conversation about identity, creativity, and leadership in a changing world.
Olga shares how her international upbringing shaped her worldview, why executive search is more art than algorithm, and how painting keeps her sane amid high-stakes boardroom decisions. This is a candid, deeply human exploration of what it means to live and lead without splitting yourself into pieces.
We talk about:
The power of humor and self-awareness in high-pressure careers
Why executive search is less about resumes and more about resonance
How Olga balances motherhood, a demanding career, and a vibrant creative life
Her take on AI, authenticity, and the real meaning of “cultural fit”
Whether you're navigating career transitions, leading a team, or building a life that feels fully yours—this episode offers perspective and permission to show up whole.
LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/olga-lorenz-5785a15























