Gretchen Nemechek is the visionary founder of OPINARI, she is known for her empathetic and deeply connected approach to leadership. With a proven track record of driving accountability and unlocking individuals’ full potential, she is a transformative force in the corporate world.

During our conversation, Gretchen and I talked about all things life and business. Including Gretchen’s journey from the US to Germany, family changes, corporate departure and, of course, technology – as in pure daily life style, our connection dropped half-way through our conversation! (you’ll hear me welcoming her back about 50 minutes in).

Some of the points we cover:

1. Embracing change and leadership growth: Gretchen shares her perspective on embracing change, shaped by her childhood experiences, which led her to be open to opportunities throughout her career. She emphasises the importance of solving problems, being aware of one's strengths and maintaining a growth mindset. Gretchen also highlights the value of self-awareness in identifying what energises and drains individuals, which can guide career choices and problem-solving approaches.
2. Business and personal dynamics: as Gretchen says “business is personal” – we are human! Balancing personal approaches, characters, individuals… and AI is a task, no doubt about it. But for Gretchen, it all comes down to treating employees with dignity, especially during layoffs, and putting people at the core of business success.
3. Energy management in professional settings: ever felt like you do not want to do something at a certain point of the day? So have we! Hence the value of understanding one's peak performance times and energy levels throughout the day. Gretchen talks about the concept of a "battery check" (which I loved!) to assess emotional states and readiness for tasks. Much like we would do with our phone battery…
4. Personal accountability in organisational culture: conscious behaviour and personal accountability are at the heart of organisational cultures. Individuals at all levels should take ownership of their roles and not defer all responsibility to leaders. Gretchen experienced this herself, as she realised she needed to become the leader she wished she had, which led her to focus on self-awareness and understanding her own ego.
5. Mastering emotional response strategies: choosing how to respond to situations and emotions, noting that people can decide to change their day at any moment. Did you know that the physiological duration of emotions  is around 90 seconds?  

If you want to connect with Gretchen

https://www.linkedin.com/in/gretchennemechek/

https://opinari.co/

To connect with me:

⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucia-paredes-suanzes/⁠

⁠https://www.coachingwithlucia.com⁠

⁠https://www.instagram.com/coachingwithlucia/⁠

⁠[email protected]⁠

Follow us on: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/c_is_for_change/⁠

Music from Soundstripe: Our Way, by Luke Bergs and Markvards.