We hear a lot of horror stories about crazy founders and evil venture capitalists. Where are these stories rooted? I sat down with Helga Valfells, the founding partner at Crowberry Capital, and Renata Bade Barajas, co-founder and CEO of GreenBytes, to discuss the myths around startup life, raising capital, and relationships between founders, investors, and boards of directors.

In this episode, you will hear about:

• the history of venture capital and what made many people sceptical about the industry

Stay safe and #standwithukraine,

Anna

Resources:

Connect with Helga: https://www.linkedin.com/in/helgavalfells/

Learn more about Crowberry Capital: https://www.crowberrycapital.com/

Connect with Renata: https://www.linkedin.com/in/renata-bade-barajas-441b94124/

Learn more about GreenBytes: https://greenbytes.is/

Sign-up for the Sustainable Leadership Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/205a08ca614c/sustainableleadershipnewsletter

Book a Mindshifting Intensive: https://annaliebel.as.me/strategycall 

Support Ukraine: https://u24.gov.ua/

Does Iceland have a culture that reinforces firefighter mode? Is there anything unique about the island nation that makes asking for and finding well-being support a challenge? And is burnout something that’s on people’s minds?

In this episode, I talk with Maria Alva Roff, who’s my collaborator on a project Sustainable Leadership Navigator for Founders, sponsored by Rannis (the Icelandic Center for Research) and tailored for the Icelandic mindset. Maria details her experiences having been raised in Silicon Valley, only to return home to Reykjavik in her adult years with a unique view of what it is to be an Icelander, and how that affects founders’ wellbeing. 

In this episode, you will hear about:

• How environmental factors have created a distinct Icelandic mindset

Stay safe and #standwithukraine,

Anna

Resources:

Learn more about Maria: https://alva.mystrikingly.com/

Sign-up for the Sustainable Leadership Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/205a08ca614c/sustainableleadershipnewsletter

Book a Mindshifting Intensive: https://annaliebel.as.me/strategycall 

Support Ukraine: https://u24.gov.ua/

Being a CEO of a growing company is fulfilling yet often tough, tiring and frustrating. And we don't hear about those challenges and how to solve them enough. That is why my guest David Hemmat, the founder and CEO of Blue Coding LLC, and I are discussing his journey of building a company from scratch. With over 9 years since the start of Blue Coding, David has many experiences and insights to share with you.

In this episode, you will hear about:

• asking for help to process different stages in life

Stay safe and #standwithukraine,

Anna

Resources:

Connect with David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dhemmat/

Learn more about Blue Coding: https://www.bluecoding.com/

Sign-up for the Sustainable Leadership Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/205a08ca614c/sustainableleadershipnewsletter

Book a Mindshifting Intensive: https://annaliebel.as.me/strategycall 

Support Ukraine: https://u24.gov.ua/

What's your stand regarding working remotely vs being office-first or going hybrid? My today's guest David Hemmat, the founder and CEO of Blue Coding LLC, shares his decision process to close down the company's office and go fully remote.

In this episode, you will hear about:

• ways to think about bootstrapping your company vs taking external capital

Stay safe and #standwithukraine,

Anna

Resources:

Connect with David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dhemmat/

Learn more about Blue Coding: https://www.bluecoding.com/

Sign-up for the Sustainable Leadership Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/205a08ca614c/sustainableleadershipnewsletter

Book a Mindshifting Intensive: https://annaliebel.as.me/strategycall 

Support Ukraine: https://u24.gov.ua/

Many leaders I talk to pride themselves with being very accessible to their employees. Well, I am here to tell you this can be a big mistake with many negative implications...

In this episode, you will hear about:

• why and how well-intentioned leadership act can turn against yourself

Stay safe and #standwithukraine,

Anna

Resources:

Sign-up for the Sustainable Leadership Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/205a08ca614c/sustainableleadershipnewsletter

Book a Mindshifting Intensive: https://annaliebel.as.me/strategycall 

Support Ukraine: https://u24.gov.ua/

Can you go on a golfing trip with your friends in the middle of an intense, complex negotiation for your company? My today's guest, CEO of CL-Invest Arne Peder Blix, is sharing his experiences from 20+ years of starting, building and leading companies. From barely taking any paternal leave in his early career to going golfing in Spain in the heat of important negotiations, Arne's journey is a valuable insight in how one can better align to their values and build their career accordingly.

In this episode, you will hear about:

• Arne's take on tech development and what it means to be human these days

Stay safe and #standwithukraine,

Anna

Resources:

Connect with Arne: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arnepederblix/

An article we recently wrote together: https://www.eu.vc/p/founder-wellbeing-what-can-and-should

Steve Jobs' biography: https://www.amazon.com/Steve-Jobs-Walter-Isaacson/dp/1451648537

"Thinking Fast and Slow" book: https://www.amazon.com/Daniel-Kahneman-Thinking-Fast-Paperback/dp/B08HRV2P4N/

"Noise" book: https://www.amazon.com/Noise-Human-Judgment-Daniel-Kahneman/dp/0316451398/

Sign-up for the Sustainable Leadership Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/205a08ca614c/sustainableleadershipnewsletter

Book a Mindshifting Intensive: https://annaliebel.as.me/strategycall 

Support Ukraine: https://u24.gov.ua/

Ever woken up feeling like you're already behind schedule for today? Or had that suffocating anxiety about your work week on Monday morning? Then buckle up and listen in!

In this episode, you will hear about:

• finding uniquely your system for preparing your week

Stay safe and #standwithukraine,

Anna

Resources:

The episode 50 Shades of No - Your Guide to Protecting Your Boundaries, published 3.05.2023

The older episode I refer to: A Simple Planning Tool to End Your Overwhelm Forever, published 12.10.2022

Sign-up for the Sustainable Leadership Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/205a08ca614c/sustainableleadershipnewsletter

Book a Mindshifting Intensive: https://annaliebel.as.me/strategycall 

Support Ukraine: https://u24.gov.ua/

Feels extra special to release this conversation just when my husband and I celebrated 12 years together. Because many relationships don't last as long, or don't get to be in the great space that we're in after a dozen years with each other.

My today's guest, Alma Dora Rikardsdottir, knows a ton about why relationships fail and is committed to solving one of the top divorce reasons with her company, HEIMA. 

In this episode, you will hear about:

• what's the third shift and why it matters for our progress as a society

Stay safe and #standwithukraine,

Anna

Resources:

Connect with Alma Dora: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rikardsdottir/

Learn more about HEIMA: https://www.getheima.com/

"Fair Play" book by Eve Rodsky: https://www.fairplaylife.com/the-book

Sign-up for the Sustainable Leadership Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/205a08ca614c/sustainableleadershipnewsletter

Book a Mindshifting Intensive: https://annaliebel.as.me/strategycall 

Support Ukraine: https://u24.gov.ua/

Ever tried to organize your schedule, mental headspace or your home to help yourself get out of the overwhelm and stress? Only to fail miserably and add even more stress? This episode is for you then! In it, I share why these attempts fail and what you need to do instead, to set yourself up for success.

In this episode, you will hear about:

• why organizing is the last thing you should be thinking about when you are overwhelmed

Stay safe and #standwithukraine,

Anna

Resources:

The episode about accepting help with Max Iwey: Episode 32 from 24.06.2021

The Mel Robbins Podcast episode I refer to: https://www.melrobbins.com/podcasts/episode-58

Sign-up for the Sustainable Leadership Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/205a08ca614c/sustainableleadershipnewsletter

Book a Mindshifting Intensive: https://annaliebel.as.me/strategycall 

Support Ukraine: https://u24.gov.ua/

That super word of two letter that is so hard to say so often... How do you say "no" when your whole self really wants it to be the answer to yet another request from a demanding client of a lazy colleague? How do you make sure you don't end up always picking up slack in the projects you work on? And why the hell the "50 shades" reference?

In this episode, you will hear about:

• why it is important to say "no" as a leader more often

Stay safe and #standwithukraine,

Anna

Resources:

The episode about energy budget: Mindshifting Moment 7 from 11.11.2022

Sign-up for the Sustainable Leadership Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/205a08ca614c/sustainableleadershipnewsletter

Book a Mindshifting Intensive: https://annaliebel.as.me/strategycall 

Support Ukraine: https://u24.gov.ua/