Sharks in the Pool

In this episode of Sharks in the Pool, Pascale interviews Inga Dengel, a seasoned leader with a diverse background in finance, marketing, and general management.

Inga shares her journey from a challenging start in her career to becoming a general manager at PepsiCo, where she led a large team in Greece and Cyprus. The conversation delves into her personal life, including her passion for running, its importance, and the lessons she has learned from parenting. Inga also discusses her new venture, Young Blossom 25.

• Inga emphasizes the importance of building habits through enjoyable activities.
• She reflects on her career evolution from finance to general management.
• Inga shares her experience of feeling out of her comfort zone in new roles.
• She discusses the significance of feedback and personal growth over time.
• Inga highlights the challenges of engaging teams and the need for effective communication.
• She reflects on the impact of motherhood on her personal development.
• Inga discusses the misconceptions about Gen Z and their career aspirations.
• She emphasizes the importance of purpose and guidance for younger generations.
• Inga shares insights on the anxiety faced by Gen Z in decision-making.
• She highlights the need for companies to adapt to the changing workforce dynamics.

What does it take to rise fast, fail hard, and come back stronger than ever?

In this episode of Sharks in the Pool, I speak with Robert “Robby” Sadjak, Managing Partner of Dr. Maier & Partner and Valtus Germany, about his extraordinary journey through global brands, personal failure, and professional reinvention.

Robby’s career spans both triumph and transformation:

✅ Built powerhouse brands at Henkel and PepsiCo, including turning Germany into the #2 global market for Rockstar Energy

✅ Launched and failed his own startup — and came back with sharper focus and stronger values

✅ Now drives leadership impact through two of Germany’s most respected firms in executive search and interim management

🎧 5 powerful takeaways you’ll get from this episode:

🔑 1. The real reasons his startup failed — and what ex-corporate leaders need to unlearn to succeed

Forget the playbook. Robby explains why corporate success can be your biggest blind spot as a founder.

🏁 2. Why interim leadership is booming — and here to stay

With over 15,000 interim executives in Germany, Robby explains how C-level leaders are finding freedom, focus, and control in the interim model.

🧠 3. How to build teams that follow you for life

Leadership isn’t about charisma — it’s about creating safety, clarity, and momentum. Robby shares the method that made his teams loyal for years.

🌍 4. How parenting and global travel shaped his leadership mindset

From Sri Lanka to Japan, Robby reflects on how shared values and cultural curiosity created alignment at home — and in business.

🤖 5. Why AI is already reshaping executive leadership

From sourcing talent to strategic decision-making — Robby shares how he’s actively integrating AI to stay ahead of the curve.

💬 Whether you’re a C-level leader, founder, or in a moment of career change — this conversation will move you, challenge you, and sharpen your thinking.

Bonus episode | The rise of discount in KSA🇸🇦 | An AI episode

🎭 NEW EPISODE: The Art of Flow & The Power of Presence

Get ready for one of our most captivating episodes yet! Live from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, we welcome actress, soft skills coach, and world traveler Nicole Garbellini, who shares her journey, wisdom, and secrets to mastering the stage—and life.

🔹 The Flow State Unlocked – How actors tap into the "flow" and why it can help you perform better in any situation.

🔹 Overcoming Fear & Finding Your Voice –Nicole's story of battling accent bias in acting and turning it into her strength.

🔹 Theater, Beauty, and Society's Pressures – A deep dive into the differences between the Middle East, the UK, and Asia regarding beauty standards and self-expression.

🔹 Never Let Your Team Fail – A powerful lesson from the stage that applies to leadership, teamwork, and personal growth.
🔹 From Ice Skating to Big Dreams – Why embracing new experiences, even as adults, keeps us alive and inspired.

This episode is packed with insights, humor, and hard-hitting drama. Don't miss it! 🎙️🔥 #SharksInThePool #Acting #FlowState #Leadership

Maria Estlander, an experienced FMCG senior leader who's climbed the ranks at global giants like L'Oréal, Mars, and Essity, shares her journey which is truly inspirational.

🚀Trusting your instincts and being brave enough to try, even if it means failing, is the key to unlocking the best things in life. 

🚀Stepping outside your comfort zone and asking questions can lead to personal growth and expanded opportunities. 

🚀Effective leadership requires balancing ambition and drive with empathy and understanding to guide a team toward success. 

🚀Connecting insights, reading trends, and anticipating future changes is a valuable superpower in any business. 

🚀Continuous learning, even in familiar environments, continuous learning keeps life exciting and allows for ongoing personal development.

In this episode, I speak to Jin Choi, a senior leader with over 11 years of experience at Meta (former Facebook). Jin is a media professional and an inspirational leader with excellent self-reflection skills. He is taking us on his career journey and the most significant challenges, giving us a sneak peek into his private life. THANK YOU so much for this episode, dear Jin.

Am 08. März feierten viele weltweit den International Women's Day, genau wie ich. In meinen 29 Jahren in der FMCG Industrie durfte- und darf ich viele tolle Leaderinnen kennenlernen. Und natürlich gibt es auch starke, maskuline Leader, das ist auch klar. Wer mich kennt, weiss allerdings auch das Female Ledership meine Leidenschaft ist, daher Gentlemen, heute ist der Fokus mal nicht bei uns😆.

In der 40. Folge von Haie im Schwimmbad treffe ich auf die rheinische Frohnatur, Persönlichkeit und langjährige Leaderin, Patricia Sung, welche als VP Western Europe bei der Mast Jägermeister SE tätigt ist. Was soll ich sagen. Eine tolle Frau, starke Persönlichkeit mit einem großen Erfahrungsschatz aus der FMCG Industrie & Leidenschaft für Menschen.

Unter anderem sprechen wir über diese Themen:

🚀 Ihre Learnings- und Erfahrungen bei Storck, Tchibo, & Reemtsma

🚀 Wie wichtig professionelle Partnerschaften sind und wie man diese entwickelt

🚀 "Der Verjüngungskur" von Jägermeister

Liebe Patricia, es war mir eine Ehre Dich als Gast gewinnen zu können.

Habt viel Spass mit dieser Folge!

Pascale