Real Life Superpowers

In this episode, we speak with Andres Richter, CEO of EMET Group, a Tel Aviv–listed services giant with 1,700 employees worldwide.

Andres isn’t your typical corporate leader. A turnaround and M&A expert, he stepped into his role in October 2023-just as war broke out-and has already led three successful acquisitions.

Previously, as CEO of Priority, he quadrupled the company’s revenues and workforce. Beyond the boardroom, he’s a former IDF special forces officer, an ultramarathon runner, a volunteer in elite-reserve units, and a mentor for at-risk youth.

He thrives on challenges-whether in business, endurance sports, or life itself.

“I'm a challenge guy. I live from project to project. I get somewhat bored if I do not have an impossible project in front of me.”

This episode is about leadership, resilience, and the discipline of making bold visions real.

In this conversation, we explore:

• Leading through others, not being a solo expert.

“I'm not the best technician, I'm not the best marketing guy, I'm not the best sales guy. I'm one of the best managers in terms of putting the strategy, making a certain level of plans, and making sure that the entire team works.”

• The necessity of change.

“I think that people, companies, and organizations in general have to keep changing. And those who don’t change stay behind.”

• Sports as a metaphor for business.

“There are people who can stand up from a couch and do a marathon. I'm not like this. I'm not the fastest, I'm not the thinnest, I'm not the youngest… But if you have a plan, and sufficient time, everything is doable.”

• Failing without fear.

“The older I get, I'm less worried about failing, because I know I could fail. I have failed. It's not that I’ve been 100% successful. So maybe with experience, I’m less afraid of failing, but I do plan to make sure that the impossible is possible.”

• Breaking down the impossible into steps.

“If I understand how to move from one to 100, (not from one to 1000 - that’s impossible to imagine) - but if I can imagine how to get from one to 100 in a few steps, I know I’ll be able to move from 100 to 2000.”

• Finding joy in progress.

“I really enjoy looking back and saying, ‘Listen, I started here, look where I am.’ Those are moments of joy for me.”

This episode is for anyone who’s ever faced overwhelming challenges and wondered how to move forward. It’s for leaders who want to harness resilience, adapt through change, and build teams that thrive under pressure.

🎧 Listen in - and share it with someone who’s ready to turn the impossible into possible.

In this episode, we speak with Aharon Horwitz, Co-Founder and CEO of Fullpath

Aharon Horwitz isn’t your typical founder story. He didn’t start with a clear roadmap or a VC-funded plan. Instead, he started with mission, grit, and no backup plan.

Before leading one of Israel’s fastest-growing startups, Aharon was fighting antisemitism as a student activist at Columbia University, and founding a social venture accelerator to empower marginalized communities.

Today, as CEO of Fullpath, Aharon is scaling a Jerusalem-based company that’s gaining serious momentum-and doing it in his own way, driven by mission, not ego.

“We didn’t even know we were going to get money to build it. We were just like, we’re going to do this.”

This episode is about resilience, long-game thinking, and the realities of leadership when there’s no roadmap-just relentless belief.

In this conversation, we explore:

What it takes to grow a startup from hustle to scale.

Aharon shares what it was like to grow Fullpath from 30 to over 250 employees-navigating each stage with new challenges and new stakes.

“I remember when it was really difficult for us to get 20 paying customers… and then I looked back and we had 350 clients. Then you just started to feel a change in how the go to market worked, where it wasn't all through this Sisyphean feeling of pushing that rock up the hill. Yes, I'm still pushing rocks, but there's also people who are pulling them up, and it's getting easier and easier.”

The raw early days: bus benches, borrowed spaces, no rules.

From sleeping in stations to squatting in libraries, Aharon recounts the extremes of the company’s earliest days.

“The stories I can tell you of that period were pretty intense… they included running out of money, trying to figure out how we're going to pay our bills, personally and professionally for months at a time…,working out of dirty apartments because we we couldn't find an office, or going to the public library at the Hebrew University, and just working there until they kicked us out”

Mission as a driver-and obligation as a motivator.

Once angel investors came on board, the mindset shifted:

“I have to make this work. I took in other people’s money. This has to become a success.”

The value and risk of design partnerships.

Aharon breaks down the strategy behind building with a customer-even if it doesn’t scale at first-and why Israeli startups excel at this approach.

“build it in a way that doesn't scale with that customer, and you understand it, and then you scale, then you figure out how to scale it.”

Making the hard calls under pressure.

He opens up about rough investor conversations and risky decisions during tough periods-some that led to Fullpath’s most explosive growth.

“We had to take some risks that made me feel like, ‘Oh, this is too much.’ But we decided we're going to take the risks. We're going to we're going to do what we need to do, and if necessary, clean things up afterwards. And you know, in the end, it was one of our best growth periods ever; we grew like crazy.

Leadership as balance-not certainty.

This episode is for anyone who’s ever wondered if they have what it takes to start. It’s for those ready to stop waiting for perfect conditions, trust their instincts, and follow a hunch—even without a perfect plan.

🎧 Listen in - and share it with someone who’s ready to bet on themselves.

In this episode, we speak with Dor Eligula, co-founder and Chief Business Development Officer at Bridgewise.

Dor’s story doesn’t follow the usual tech-founder script. He didn’t come from a coding bootcamp, a combat unit, or a fintech background.

He started with a PlayStation controller.

As one of Israel’s first-ever professional gamers - crowned a three-time national FIFA champion with his twin brother - Dor learned early how to blend focus, competition, and conviction. That same drive would later power him through a very different arena: AI-driven fintech.

Dor went on to co-found Bridgewise, a platform that delivers AI-generated investment research to banks and stock exchanges across 15+ countries. The company has raised $35M, operates in four markets, and serves institutions like Nasdaq, eToro, and the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange.

“Some of our investors, in the early beginning, said, ‘You guys are crazy if you believe you are going to be successful in Japan.’ We told them, ‘We’ll prove you wrong.’ And we are doing it as we speak.”

This conversation is about entrepreneurship beyond formulas: how unconventional beginnings, deep self-belief, and a strong sense of impact can fuel global scale.

In this conversation, we explore:

From pro gamer to tech founder.

Dor shares how his early years as a top FIFA player - competing nationally with his twin brother - shaped his competitive edge and drive to excel, long before he stepped into the world of tech.

“If you do it, win. Be good at this.”

Taking extreme steps toward big goals.

He shares why successful founders need to find internal motivation strong enough to justify the risks.

“Every person, in order to achieve extraordinary achievements, needs to find the reasoning inside themselves to take extreme steps.”

Balancing personal and professional identity.

Finding deep satisfaction in the personal moments, like when his mother finally saw her son’s product in a national TV ad.

“She said, ‘Now I understand what you guys do.’ It was maybe one of the biggest moments of joy in my life.”

The role of connections, partners, and persistence.

Beyond luck, his path was shaped by the ability to identify and build with the right people at the right time.

Why success is about more than money.

To Dor, his startup is about building something that creates real, positive impact.

“I want to create a story in Bridgewise that is a story of success, a story of good impact.”

This episode is for anyone questioning whether their background is “right” for the startup world - and for anyone who needs a push to “just do it”

🎧 Tune in and share with someone writing their own unconventional success story.

In this episode, we speak with Shiri Grosbard, culture architect, community builder, and employer branding expert.

Shiri has spent over two decades exploring how people shape companies - and how companies shape people. From co-founding G CMO, Israel’s leading marketing leadership community, to shaping culture at AppsFlyer and Verbit, she’s built her career on connecting values, storytelling, and growth.

At its core, her leadership is about building people. A vocal advocate for women’s leadership, Shiri speaks openly about breaking barriers, lifting others as she climbs, and rewriting the narratives that hold women back. Whether mentoring future leaders or challenging limiting norms, she walks the talk.

Her approach blends bold self-belief with pragmatic experimentation, and her path illustrates the power of intentionality and presence, whether you’re building culture, a career, or a community.

In this conversation, we explore:

Seeing is becoming.

Representation matters. As Shiri puts it:

“You can’t be what you can’t see.”

Empowering women by leading visibly, fearlessly, and unapologetically.

Shiri shares what it means to model confidence, challenge norms, and speak success into reality - especially for the next generation of women leaders.

“I don't like it when women say, ‘Oh, I got lucky.’ We create our own opportunities.”

Bold belief at 23.

A young Shiri told a potential boss:

“I know that I’ll be an asset to any organization that’s going to take me.”

That confidence set the tone for her transformative early career.

Knowing when to step down

Launching something doesn’t guarantee you can lead it forever:

“The fact that you know how to build something from scratch doesn't mean you can run it five years later.”

Friction fuels progress.

Hearing “no” often signals you’re on to something:

“I get motivated when people tell me, ‘No, that’s not a good idea.’ It… motivates me.”

Vision, imagination, and fearless action.

She combines vivid imagination with a healthy dose of risk-taking:

“If I can see it, I can do it. And also, I’m not afraid to fail.”

The pre-manifestation ritual.

Long before “manifesting” was popular, Shiri tracked and envisioned her goals annually:

“If you’re very targeted, if you know what you want, it’s easier to get it.”

Entrepreneurship within structure.

Not every organization thrives with creative energy:

“Some organizations want you to be in your box.”

Unexpected entry points.

Her biggest career booster? Fluent English - not a tech degree:

“What got me the foot in the door was actually my linguistic skills.”

Lighten up to level up.

Her life mantra is simple:

“What’s the worst case scenario? If we’re healthy… we can handle it.”

Don’t ask for permission ask for forgiveness

She believes in taking action before waiting for permission:

“I’d rather not ask and then say, ‘oops, sorry.'”

You are more than your job.

She warns against tying identity to employment:

“The essence is Shiri. It’s not the place that I work for.”

Prepare for the unpredictable.

Always have a Plan B - especially later in life:

“Always have something else going on so you don’t give someone else that power.”

If you’re designing your career, building culture, or carving out leadership on your own terms - this episode offers grounded insights, intentional strategies, and real-world courage.

🎧 Tune in and share it with someone who’s crafting their own path.

In this episode, we speak with Miri Yudovich, Co-founder and CEO of SafeHouse Tech.

SafeHouse Tech is on a mission to secure everyone online. Since launching its flagship app BodyGuard in 2019, the cybersecurity startup has protected over 4 million users, become breakeven by 2024, and built a distribution network spanning 5,000 retail outlets across more than 700 cities.

Miri co-founded the company and served as COO before stepping into the CEO role - guiding SafeHouse from early vision to wide-scale execution. Her leadership style is pragmatic, resilient, and deeply human.

“I'm just a very pragmatic person. I like to do things my way.”

This conversation is about calculated risk, women leadership, letting go of control, building systems that scale, and creating balance on your own terms.

We explore:

How Miri’s path shifted when she chose to follow the unknown.

She shares how her entry into SafeHouse wasn’t part of a linear career plan - but rather a leap driven by instinct, curiosity, and a willingness to bet on the unexpected.

“I thought to myself, I don't know where this might lead… for me, that was the epitome of risk-taking.”

The early days of building in an overlooked market.

When Miri and her co-founders pitched B2C cybersecurity, they were dismissed. But years later, they had built what critics said didn’t exist.

“Six years ago, we told VCs… they told us, ‘You’ve completely lost it.’ 4 million clients later, we created an industry.”

The entrepreneurial grind - and seven phases of hell.

Miri gives an honest account of what it takes to scale, especially in markets that are still being shaped.

“Every startup goes through seven phases of hell.”

How preparing for maternity leave became a case study in scalable leadership.

Instead of stepping away reactively, she built an entire department to function without her - turning what could’ve been a liability into one of the company’s biggest strengths.

“I had to forgo power and responsibility. I had to bring in people, I had to teach them, because I had a deadline.”

What motherhood taught her about control, leadership, and humility.

Her transition into parenthood revealed a core truth: you can’t control outcomes, but you can control how you show up and how fast you learn.

“Becoming a mother humbled me… and I think that’s the essence of being a CEO, a COO, an entrepreneur. Making decisions, making them quickly, learning from them quickly, and being humble enough to know that you can’t control all outcomes”

Balancing ambition and boundaries.

Miri shaped SafeHouse’s meeting culture around her life - not the other way around.

“Because I was one of the founders, I could dictate the times of the meetings… after 4pm there were no meetings unless it was urgent.”

Redefining what ‘doing it all’ means.

She challenges the narrative that women must choose between family and career. It’s not about whether there’s a cost - it’s about whether you’re willing to pay the price.

“Every choice you make in life has a price. If you’re willing to pay the price, then fantastic.”

If you’ve ever wrestled with scale, risk, work-life balance, or carving your own version of leadership, this episode is for you.

Listen in and share with someone who’s building on their own terms.

In this episode, we speak with Lior Segal, Co-founder and Managing Partner at Horizon Capital

Horizon Capital is an Israeli venture capital fund backing founders at the Pre-Seed and Seed stages. It’s sector-agnostic by design, built to support early-stage startups wherever opportunity strikes.

Lior’s path to venture wasn’t linear. Before launching the fund, he led Data Matching Solutions as CEO until its acquisition by SafeCharge. He stayed on as VP of Gaming Innovation and later helped shape global payment strategies at Nasdaq-listed TSG. His operator-first lens gives him a practical, grounded perspective that shapes how he evaluates and supports startups.

Together with his co-founder - Yani Jacobi, who also happens to be his childhood friend - he built Horizon Capital from the ground up, without a traditional investing background. And while their portfolio includes headline names like Verbit, OwnBackup, and Blue Ribbon, this conversation doesn’t focus on the wins. It focuses on the how.

“We are trying to master uncertainty.”

In this conversation, we dive into what it really takes to run a VC fund like a startup, the importance of founder dynamics, and the discipline required to stay focused in a market defined by noise.

We explore:

Self-fulfillment and leaving law behind to build in tech.

Lior began his career as a lawyer but quickly realized it wasn’t the right path. He shifted into the tech and fintech world, trading legal frameworks for hands-on company building.

What it means to build a venture fund from scratch.

Lior and his partner launched Horizon without prior investing experience - treating it as a startup in its own right, complete with its own pitch process, learning curve, and pressure to prove value fast.

How friendship can work in business - if boundaries are clear.

They set ground rules from day one: friendship comes first, business second. Professional disagreements are dealt with directly, and personal trust stays intact.

The dynamic between co-founders - and what Horizon pays close attention to

From subtle looks in meetings to how roles are divided, Horizon places a strong emphasis on how startup founders interact, not just the business model.

Why focus matters more than vision at the early stage.

Lior urges founders to avoid distractions, skip the five-year plans, and build a short, focused path to the next funding round.

“it's very nice to think you know, 5 or 10 years ahead, but in this world, when everything can blow up one morning, you can't really do it. You need to have a great vision, but you need to be very focused."

The challenge of monetizing AI products in a crowded market.

AI may be everywhere, but few founders know how to turn it into revenue. Lior breaks down the importance of testing pricing early and identifying real user value.

The current noise in the AI space - and how to think through it.

With so many startups riding the AI wave, it’s harder than ever to stand out. Horizon looks for teams that go beyond tech wrappers and hype, and build something defensible.

How staying calm is a strategic advantage.

In a market that shifts by the day, Lior shares how he makes decisions without panicking - staying anchored in strategy, even when conditions are unpredictable.

If you’re looking for practical insights on founder dynamics, business focus, and building in uncertain times - this one’s for you.

Tune in, take notes, and share it with someone who’s building something bold.

In this episode, we speak with Yulia Bassan, Managing Director of Woman2Woman, a powerhouse program dedicated to advancing women in leadership and management roles in Israel.

Under Yulia’s leadership, the program has grown into a key force shaping the future of female leadership, expanding its reach, forging partnerships with industry giants, and driving measurable impact.

Her mission?

To break barriers and create equal opportunities - not just talk about change, but actively lead it.

“The mental load is not evenly distributed. Women are still expected to juggle it all. But leadership isn’t about waiting for change - it’s about making it happen.”

In this conversation, we dive into what it really takes for women to rise in leadership:

The reality of balancing career and family - especially in times of crisis.

From the war in Israel to the daily demands of leadership, Yulia sheds light on how external forces impact women’s choices. “Some women don’t have the privilege of choice.”

How workplace biases still persist - and how to push back.

Yulia shares her own experiences - being asked to take notes in meetings, expected to play a supportive role rather than a leadership one. “The way you say ‘no’ matters. Confidence isn’t just about what you say - it’s how you say it.”

Why speaking up is a career strategy.

Many women hesitate to claim their achievements. Yulia explains why enthusiasm and visibility are key to professional growth. “If you don’t put yourself forward, no one else will.”

How resilience isn’t about doing it alone but about having the right support.

Whether in war, career, or personal life, sisterhood and community make the difference. Yulia shares how Woman2Women pivoted during the war to providea sense of belonging and strength.

This episode is for anyone who believes leadership should be built on talent - not gender.

If you’re looking for inspiration, practical career strategies, and a deeper understanding of the challenges and solutions for women in leadership, this one’s for you.

In this episode, we speak with Marc Gaffan, a three-time startup operator, investor, and current CEO of Ionix, which just raised a $42M Series A.

Marc has spent the past two decades in cybersecurity. In 2008, he co-founded Incapsula, later acquired by Imperva, and since then, he’s led, invested in, and mentored multiple cyber startups.

But if there’s one thing he’s learned?

No two startup rodeos are the same.

“Every startup has its own dynamics, its own challenges. There’s no playbook. You can’t ask ChatGPT to write the recipe for doing a startup. When they do that, then I think we’ll be done.”

In this conversation, we dive into what it really takes to build, lead, and survive in the startup world:

The startup rollercoaster never stops - but you get better at holding on.

Marc explains that experience doesn’t mean things get easier. "It’s not that you come up with better answers to problems, but you recognize the common themes. You know it won’t be a smooth sail, and over time, it doesn’t shake you as much as it used to.”

Mental and decision-making resilience - the two muscles every founder needs.

It’s one thing to push through a tough moment. It’s another to do it over and over again without burning out. “How do you keep your mental resilience going? It’s a tough roller coaster.”

The harsh reality of being an investor vs. an operator.

We talk about the limits of investor influence - and why control ultimately belongs to those in the trenches. “The only thing a board can really do operationally is fire the CEO. If you really want to have an impact, you can’t be on the sidelines. You have to be in the field.”

Why fixing weaknesses is a waste of time - and how to leverage strengths instead.

Too many people spend their careers trying to be something they’re not. Marc argues for a different approach: “If you’re not gifted at math, forcing yourself to be really good at it won’t work. Instead, invest heavily in what you are good at. That’s where you’ll find fulfillment and confidence.”

The importance of celebrating wins - even when the work isn’t done.

It’s easy to focus on the unfinished 15%. The problems. The gaps. The “not there yet.” But Marc reminds us: “You need to stop and appreciate how far you’ve come. Your gut instinct sharpens over time - not because of luck, but because experience refines it.”

The innocent bliss of starting something new.

“As a CEO, you don’t really know what you’re getting into. And in some ways, that’s good. If you truly understood the odds, you might never take the leap. But the journey matters. And who you take it with matters even more.”

Marc has built companies. He’s struggled. He’s succeeded. He’s learned. And now, he’s here to share his perspective.

If you’ve ever tried to build something from the ground up - this episode is for you.

In this episode, we speak with Daniel Leviathan, a truly visionary leader with a diverse and inspiring background, despite being only 27.

Daniel’s aspirations can come across as borderline delusional, but I think if anyone can achieve what he’s set off to - it’s him. It’s as Steve Jobs famously said “Those who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do.

In 2019, Daniel embarked on a profound personal journey, exploring the depths of shamanism, Buddhism, and other ancient and modern wisdom traditions. His quest for knowledge led him to study at the Highden Mystery School and even spend a month on a deserted island, immersing himself in transformative internal experiences.

By 2021, Daniel had founded and led a project called Sync, which brought together individuals from diverse domains into cohesive groups of twelve. Through his facilitation, these groups deepened their trust and coherence, creating powerful connections.

In 2023, Daniel co-founded Zoé with Michael Matias. Zoé is a community of heart-driven individuals dedicated to building a sustainable, just, and beautiful world. Through online and in-person experiences in Israel and California, Zoé fosters deep internal connections on a personal level, social level, and with nature. The gatherings focus on building trust, appreciating life's inherent beauty, aligning around shared values, and collaborating on impactful projects and initiatives.

We discuss:

• the importance of synergy among value-driven, capable individuals to create a more sustainable world

• the challenges of food waste, global warming, and the misalignment between real value and incentives

• the phenomena of tragedy of the commons, arms race, and misalignment between real value and incentives

• the misalignment between GDP metrics and real value and the need for a shift in societal values

• the importance of being less attached to outcomes and more focused on the process

• The mission of Zoé

• And much more

As you’ll quickly hear, this is a very unique being, deeply devoted to personal growth, empowering others and making the world a better place.

We hope you enjoy your listen

In this special episode, we speak with Professor Haim Zvi Dotan.

Prof Dotan embodies the intersection of innovation, artistry, and forward-thinking design.

He’s an internationally renowned architect, poet, educator, and futurist.

He’s the visionary mind behind the Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Glass Bridge- the world’s first, longest, and highest glass-bottom bridge - a stunning architectural marvel that has become an iconic landmark in China and a symbol of bold innovation worldwide.

He’s been recognized for his groundbreaking contributions, earning numerous honors, including the title of “Honorary Citizen of Zhangjiajie” and the prestigious iNNOVEX Global Leader of Innovation Award.

Beyond his architectural accomplishments, he’s a dedicated educator, sharing his expertise as a professor at leading institutions like Fudan University, the Shanghai Institute of Visual Arts, and the DeTao Masters Academy.

And above all of this, he’s truly a special spirit.

We discuss:

• The concept of time and the journey of life

• Prof. Dotan’s belief that every person is a genius if they connect to their inner soul and DNA

• The role of education in connecting students to their inner wisdom and the importance of passion and curiosity in achieving success.

• How creativity is linked to being fully aware of the now

• The concept of being a "startup nation" and how everyone has a unique mission and passion that they should follow

• The importance of following one's passion and not being afraid to explore different paths in life

• Prof. Dotan’s passion for being a bridge between people and how this has shaped his career and life

• The importance of being oneself and not trying to fit into societal expectations or the expectations of others.

• And much more!

This episode is dedicated to Miri Perlman, a 25-year-old student of Professor Dotan who passed away unexpectedly. Shortly before her passing, Miri attended Professor Dotan’s workshop, “Green Cities and Smart Building” at HIT. During the workshop, she drew a portrait of Professor Dotan, and he captured a photo of her while drawing. Tragically, this photo turned out to be the last picture taken of her alive.

In many ways, this episode is a reminder of how fragile life truly is, and how important it is to truly try to tap into the best version of ourselves and do the best with what we have because we only have one life.

We hope you listen to this unique episode.