![Leadership Journeys [240] - Jonne Välilä - "Most things—whether in life or business—just aren't worth the stress."](https://img.transistor.fm/bxt0qCadFEMSAbgTkrWQZkU1GPn22bp_HJyoOEpNZEg/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:1400/h:1400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS8xMGE2/YmRlODg0MjIxNGI2/MmVhMzgxNzIzNTQz/YmJhYS5wbmc.jpg "Leadership Journeys [240] - Jonne Välilä - \"Most things—whether in life or business—just aren't worth the stress.\"")
Leadership Journeys [240] - Jonne Välilä - "Most things—whether in life or business—just aren't worth the stress."
Description
This is the Leadership Journey series on the Choosing Leadership Podcast.
I believe we all have a lot to learn from each other's stories - of where we started, where we are now, and our successes and struggles on the way. With this series of interviews, my attempt is to give leaders an opportunity to share their stories and for all of us to learn from their generous sharing. If you know a leader whom you would like to see celebrated on the show, please send me a message on LinkedIn with their name.
What drives someone to keep building after 14 years of wins and failures?
In this candid conversation, serial entrepreneur Jonne Välilä shares how he went from selling skateboards in Finland to running 20+ brands and a hedge fund in Dubai—all while staying grounded, honest, and ambitious.
You'll hear his take on stress, cultural adaptation, and the mindset shifts that help leaders thrive in uncertain terrain.
If you're wrestling with pressure, imposter syndrome, or the constant chase for “more,” this episode will feel like a deep exhale.
Tune in for a refreshingly real take on leadership, risk, and what it truly means to play the long game.
You can find Jonne Välilä at the below links
In the interview, Jonne shares
- "Entrepreneurship is a cycle—start, stumble, learn, grow, repeat."
- "In Finland, I studied entrepreneurship; in Dubai, I lived it."
- "Most things in business—and life—aren’t worth the stress we give them."
- "I’d rather be painfully honest than politely misunderstood."
- "It’s not just about success—it’s about the feeling of becoming successful."
- "Failures don’t define your story—they sharpen your strategy."
- "Dubai pushes you forward without pushing you down."
- "Risk is essential—as long as it’s you taking it, not your clients or investors."
- "Transparency builds trust. And trust builds everything else."
- "Leadership is a choice. So is the courage to keep choosing it every day."
![Leadership Journeys [249] - Jason Hayes - " If I were to write a book, it would be called 'Thriving on Chaos'. "](https://img.transistor.fm/ccCnUhiNafWSCwIBuOZcA1iW2A6nq2OKAad-8Wh5OFw/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:1400/h:1400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS8zNDM2/OGFhM2JhZDhhNzMw/OGQ4NDY1YjEyOTUw/NTNiNS5wbmc.jpg "Leadership Journeys [249] - Jason Hayes - \" If I were to write a book, it would be called 'Thriving on Chaos'. \"")
![Leadership Journeys [248] - Ryan Howsam -"With structure and the right direction, success becomes inevitable."](https://img.transistor.fm/4A1LKcjdmVjHZMgabBRhTitDv0pXsawW37k7qdr1Zvw/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:1400/h:1400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS8wOWM4/MzEyYzI1ZTQ0ZWI2/ZjMyM2JmZjIxM2Q3/MzkwNy5wbmc.jpg "Leadership Journeys [248] - Ryan Howsam -\"With structure and the right direction, success becomes inevitable.\"")
![Leadership Journeys [247] - Jag Dhanda - "Great teams grow from passion, clear vision, and strong communication."](https://img.transistor.fm/RdiPXydzcfIabALXVkcCAEjKjVUxa4cBILb0RcjnOQg/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:1400/h:1400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9iMWFj/NTcyNDExNDZjNTI5/N2EwZjRmNDAyNTMx/NmFlZC5wbmc.jpg "Leadership Journeys [247] - Jag Dhanda - \"Great teams grow from passion, clear vision, and strong communication.\"")
![Leadership Journeys [246] - Tom Gegax - "The consultant said the problem was me—and after cancer, divorce, and a failing business, I was finally ready to hear it."](https://img.transistor.fm/lAfZmrFxMzFagWoFY1FjhOAShtVFt44nIF0EZis1WpU/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:1400/h:1400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS80MzEx/OTM4OWNhNGJjY2U0/NjI0MWUyOTBjZjY5/NWQ0OS5wbmc.jpg "Leadership Journeys [246] - Tom Gegax - \"The consultant said the problem was me—and after cancer, divorce, and a failing business, I was finally ready to hear it.\"")
![Leadership Journeys [245] - Syed Ahmed - "What people wouldn't know around me is i prefer solitude"](https://img.transistor.fm/ZmhcEmdpgOaFyFva-eD4ce81M0BLY20X6SqFo0TViaM/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:1400/h:1400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9iYjkw/ZmNiMzExY2JlMWVi/ZmQxODZhY2MwMWQ1/NTNiYS5wbmc.jpg "Leadership Journeys [245] - Syed Ahmed - \"What people wouldn't know around me is i prefer solitude\"")
![Leadership Journeys [244] - Conor McGowan Smyth - "I have a deep hunger to explore—both the world and my spiritual side."](https://img.transistor.fm/8xAmTkTdD9eWE60sQXznHk4WTjOee9834JKVT0en90g/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:1400/h:1400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS8xZGM1/M2Y1OWQ1MTNjMThm/NmVlZDFlOTcxYzQ0/ODMxMC5wbmc.jpg "Leadership Journeys [244] - Conor McGowan Smyth - \"I have a deep hunger to explore—both the world and my spiritual side.\"")
![Leadership Journeys [243] - Gillian-Alexandre Huart - "When I was in Belgium, I was called French. When I was in France, I was called Belgian."](https://img.transistor.fm/bo9sMSvxFRmkLfnBXe5KEWTcv0hSrMjd18U382RVftk/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:1400/h:1400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS83Y2M1/ODM5NDE0ZDEyNjY5/Y2Q0NTBlZWI2MGJk/ODJmMi5wbmc.jpg "Leadership Journeys [243] - Gillian-Alexandre Huart - \"When I was in Belgium, I was called French. When I was in France, I was called Belgian.\"")
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![Leadership Journeys [241] - Zach Smith - "Connection through new cultures or places can spark powerful inner growth."](https://img.transistor.fm/mfYnAQgs35kK1fwUEDrOKhtyRaVdYGdcczd_uG71HLw/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:1400/h:1400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS82NjAw/ZWQyNDdjNTEyYTlh/YWRjODJhZDNkNjM3/MDdkNS5wbmc.jpg "Leadership Journeys [241] - Zach Smith - \"Connection through new cultures or places can spark powerful inner growth.\"")
![Leadership Journeys [239] - Steven Meersman - " You can never achieve balance because then you're standing still and you die"](https://img.transistor.fm/9jPa_cyhVaOJiZXD8ap4EV0rMPusWoK3RdESibGuRYs/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:1400/h:1400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS8wODgz/NjM1MGE3NDc4ZDVh/YzQ5YWUyODVmMjky/OTAwYy5wbmc.jpg "Leadership Journeys [239] - Steven Meersman - \" You can never achieve balance because then you're standing still and you die\"")
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![Leadership Journeys [237] - Anant Agarwal - " Sales is vanity. Profit is sanity, and cash is reality. "](https://img.transistor.fm/vxexrYvqejzGqcd_mCt8TligJzFExKvlEN72K8SvKZA/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:1400/h:1400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9jNzMz/MzljMjY2OGVkMTAz/MjVmOGU4Mzc3M2Ni/MzA2My5wbmc.jpg "Leadership Journeys [237] - Anant Agarwal - \" Sales is vanity. Profit is sanity, and cash is reality. \"")
![Leadership Journeys [236] - Jason Foster - "People do their best work when they feel safe to disagree."](https://img.transistor.fm/qgcNAcAVvWHR3LqZ9jDn9Iyrf6nW5qrlI0ceU7PFBtg/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:1400/h:1400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9mMjE5/MDk0ZmQyMWM4Njg2/NDEzZTA0ZTliYTJm/NWZkYy5wbmc.jpg "Leadership Journeys [236] - Jason Foster - \"People do their best work when they feel safe to disagree.\"")
![Leadership Journeys [235] - Jonathan Brun - "Anything valuable and lasting takes time to build."](https://img.transistor.fm/i2b0ZLHYL1nPoTCjKasmajMoUbjeJbwaGI0FnwMwYfQ/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:1400/h:1400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9jN2I3/YTNhYTJlZTU0MTcw/MmQ5NjgyZTIzZGMx/NGMxNS5wbmc.jpg "Leadership Journeys [235] - Jonathan Brun - \"Anything valuable and lasting takes time to build.\"")
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