What happens when everything you’ve built is taken from you? In this raw and powerful episode, serial entrepreneurs Laura and Ray Blakney open up about losing their company, facing betrayal, and navigating the darkness of depression.

They share the unfiltered truth of hitting rock bottom — and the hard but transformative journey of finding resilience, rebuilding trust, and redefining success. For entrepreneurs and leaders, this is more than a story: it’s a reminder that failure only happens when you stop trying.

✨ Whether you’re in the middle of your own struggle or preparing for the challenges ahead, the lessons in this conversation will stay with you.

LINKS

Follow me on Instagram and LinkedIn for more Real Talk about Life as an entrepreneur. 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stories/anja_from_alemania/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anja-from-alemania/

Connect with Laura and Ray on LinkedIn

Laura: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laublakney/

Ray: https://www.linkedin.com/in/raymondblakney/

In this episode of Mentor Up, I’m sharing the recording of a live talk I gave at the SIBB Female Founder Event in Berlin.

It’s not a how-to guide or a glorified success story. It’s real talk about what it actually means to be a nomadic founder:  9 years of bootstrapping my company ZALOA Languages — until forming a strategic partnership with one of our biggest clients who later became our investor. 

I also reflect on my own path — from being born in Germany to living in different countries since 2007 — and what it feels like to come full circle, speaking as a founder in my home country again.

📝 Don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review — it really helps others discover Mentor Up.

LINKS

Follow me on Instagram and LinkedIn for more Real Talk about Life as an entrepreneur. 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stories/anja_from_alemania/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anja-from-alemania/

Come to a Female Founder Talk in Berlin at the SIBB: 

https://sibb.de/en/sibb-eventseries/

What does it take to scale a business to $100 million — and what if the biggest thing holding you back is you?

We talk about the mindset shifts needed to grow past $1M, why most founders never manage to scale, and what it really takes to build a business in the era of AI. Dan shares practical insights, bold decisions, and the unfiltered truth about what drives companies to high growth.

And at the end of the episode, in the Real Talk segment, I open up about why I believe I’m currently the bottleneck in my own company — and why I’ve decided to take time this summer to go deep and work on that.

LINKS

Follow me on Instagram and LinkedIn for more Real Talk about Life as an entrepreneur. 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stories/anja_from_alemania/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anja-from-alemania/

More about Dan: 

Follow Dan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danroitman/

Dan's company to empower human innovation creating a brighter future for kids: https://mindfinity.com/

Launching something new is never easy — but launching a completely new product while running an already successful business? That’s a whole different game.

In this solo episode, I’m sharing the honest, behind-the-scenes story of the launch of our new technology last week. From rebuilding our platform while still supporting thousands of users, to navigating shifting timelines, stretched teams, and tough decisions — I take you inside the chaos, the clarity, and the lessons.

You’ll hear:

What made this launch so uniquely challenging

The biggest mistakes and turning points along the way

Why staying the same became riskier than starting over

And 5 practical tips for founders preparing to launch (or relaunch) their own product

If you're building something new — or thinking about it — this episode is for you. No filters. Just real talk.

LINKS

Follow me on Instagram and LinkedIn for more Real Talk about Life as an entrepreneur. 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stories/anja_from_alemania/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anja-from-alemania/

In this episode of Mentor Up, we dive deep into a topic that is relevant to all of us money.

In the Spotlight, we look at why financial education is still one of the most overlooked tools for personal and professional growth—and why it matters not just for investors, but for everyone who wants to build a sustainable life and business.

For the Real Advice segment, I’m joined by Cristina Jaeger, a finance expert with over 14 years of experience in wealth management and founder of herFinancialFreedom, a platform that has helped over 2,000 women gain confidence in investing and planning their financial futures. She shares clear, practical advice on how to take control of your money and get started with investing—no matter your income or experience level. The advice she gives in this episode applies equally to men and women!

And in the Real Talk, I open up about the financial structure of my own company—what’s worked, what’s nearly broken us, and the lessons I’ve learned about cash flow, risk, and trust over the past 10 years as a founder.

If you are enjoying this podcast, make sure to subscribe and leave a quick review—it helps more people discover the podcast and supports us in keeping Mentor Up going strong!

LINKS

Follow me on Instagram and LinkedIn for more Real Talk about Life as an entrepreneur. 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stories/anja_from_alemania/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anja-from-alemania/

Discover Cristina's program HerFinancialFreedom

Website: https://www.herfinancialfreedom.net/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/her.financialfreedom/

Connect with Cristina on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cristina-jaeger/

Today’s spotlight is on a big question: should you have a co-founder?

In the category Real Talk, I open up about how I chose my business partner back in 2017. 

And in Real Advice, things get personal – I’ve invited my former business partner to join me as we publicly talk, for the first time, about why we’re no longer working together as business partners, what actually worked between us, and what we would do differently if we had the chance to start over.

If you like this episode, please don’t forget to subscribe to it and share it with everyone interested in business, innovation and personal development! 

LINKS

Follow me on Instagram and LinkedIn for more Real Talk about Life as an entrepreneur. 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stories/anja_from_alemania/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anja-from-alemania/

In this episode of the Mentor App, we dive deep into the harsh realities of the startup world, exploring why most startups fail and more importantly, how to avoid becoming part of that statistic. Join us as we introduce revolutionary founder, Rava A. Zaki, who delves into the future of mobility with his Flying Houses, and shares his visionary take on sustainable innovation.

As we journey through real stories and personal experiences, we uncover the critical lessons learned from failed startups, explore the importance of flexibility, and discuss the necessity of finding your true purpose as an entrepreneur.

Tune in for a candid conversation full of insights and tips on how to thrive in business, innovation, and personal development.

Success isn’t a solo journey—it’s built on the wisdom of the right mentors. In this episode of Mentor Up, I sit down with Jeannie Edmunds to explore how to build your own personal advisory board and find the mentors who can help you thrive in both business and life. 

We discuss:

LINKS

Follow me on Instagram and LinkedIn for more Real Talk about Life as an entrepreneur. 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stories/anja_from_alemania/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anja-from-alemania/

Jeannie's Travel Company Next Tribe for Women 45+: https://nexttribe.com/

Book "Start me Up" - by Jeannie Edmunds: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B095Q1747C