In this conversation Ben speaks to Evgeny Shadchnev, founder and former CEO of Makers Academy, and now a founder coach - in fact, Ben's own coach and mentor.
Given this relationship between Evgeny and Ben, this episode is the longest and, in many respects, the most introspective to date. The experience of almost inverting Ben's and Evgeny's roles, with Evgeny playing the participant and Ben the facilitator role in the conversation, was an educational one for them both, especially given the depth and complexity of experiences Evgeny has to draw upon.
Evgeny discusses how his own personal identity and cultural upbringing have shaped his approach to work, and the challenges and blockers he faced when realising it was time to step down as CEO of Makers Academy. He broaches the subject of reconciling our personal needs with the decisions we make in working contexts, as well as discussing the importance and benefits of cultivating the art of slowing down.
They talk about how extrinsic motivations and expectations, as well as the harsh realities of the imperfect world in which we live, affect our work, and why embracing “negative” experiences and going against the grain can help us grow and realise our most fulfilling work.