Stoyan Yankov is a productivity and performance coach, bestselling author, podcast host, and keynote speaker who helps organizations build high-performance cultures and boost productivity. With experience working with over 550 companies worldwide, including Coca-Cola and HP, he delivers practical strategies and engaging presentations. As the host of the Productivity Mastery podcast, Stoyan shares insights from top global leaders, combining strategic storytelling with actionable tools to inspire success.

In this energizing episode of The Black Belt in Leadership, Aslak de Silva sits down with Stoyan Yankov – productivity coach, keynote speaker, host of the Productivity Mastery podcast, and author of two books on performance and productivity.

From growing up in a small town in Bulgaria and chasing a finance dream, to producing award-winning films, and eventually transforming lives through leadership coaching, Stoyan’s journey is a powerful story of purpose, resilience, and reinvention.

Together, they explore:

How to build a strong team culture using the PERFORM methodology

Why leadership is like gardening, and productivity like filmmaking

How dishwashing and keynote speaking can coexist

Why being vulnerable as a leader must come from a place of strength

Practical tools for building resilient, high-performing teams

This episode is packed with honest stories, laughter, and leadership tools you can use today.

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Stefan Gogoll is a German tech entrepreneur, visionary leader, and former professional athlete with over 25 years of experience driving software innovation and AI adoption. As the founder of andagon Holding and the creator of aqua cloud, his companies has played a role in modernizing QA, compliance, and test management strategies for global clients such as Google, IBM, and Deutsche Telekom.

In this episode of The Black Belt in Leadership, host and leadership strategist Aslak de Silva talks with Stefan Gogoll, a former professional cyclist who transformed his career to become a leading tech entrepreneur. Stefan is the founder of andagon Holding and the creator of aqua cloud, a quality assurance and compliance platform used by global companies such as Google, IBM, and Deutsche Telekom.

But this conversation is not about code or corporate strategy. It is about identity, personal transformation, and the discipline it takes to start again.

Stefan shares his journey from national-level athlete to founder of seven companies. He opens up about what it felt like to walk away from the sport he dedicated his life to, how he found purpose in the business world, and why pushing too hard can sometimes backfire in leadership.

In this episode, you will learn:

- What Stefan learned from elite cycling that still guides him today
- Why letting go of overachieving helped him grow as a leader
- How to lead high-performing teams that stay for decades
- The difference between physical and emotional endurance
- How meditation, deep focus, and “thinking time” shape his day
- What it means to fight for something beyond winning

This is a powerful story about resilience, leadership, and evolving with purpose. If you are a founder, athlete, or leader in any field, Stefan’s insights will challenge and inspire you.

Tune in and discover what it really takes to unlock the black belt in leadership.

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In this episode of The Black Belt in Leadership podcast, leadership coach and focus expert Katie Stoddart shares practical strategies for improving focus, boosting productivity, and leading with clarity. As the founder of The Focus Bee and author of The Magic of Focus, Katie outlines her three pillars of focus: short-term, long-term, and selective. She explains how they help leaders perform at their best.

We explore the connection between focus and flow, why energy management beats time management, and how resilient leadership builds high-performing teams. Katie also shares real-world coaching examples from working with CEOs and entrepreneurs, showing how focused leadership drives results, improves culture, and reduces burnout.

If you're a CEO, founder, or executive looking to improve mental clarity, lead with more intention and presence, and build a sustainable path to success, this episode is a must-listen.

To learn more, visit:

https://www.selflystore.com/

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https://missionmatters.com/author/aslak-de-silva/

In this episode of The Black Belt in Leadership, Aslak sits down with Glenn Mathijssen, CEO and co-founder of Alberts, the world’s first smoothie-making food robotics company. From building a wooden prototype to scaling operations across six countries, Glenn shares how he’s blended vision, discipline, and patience to lead through the toughest rounds of entrepreneurship. This conversation explores how martial arts principles, like focus, resilience, and adaptability, can guide leaders through setbacks, pivots, and high-pressure moments. Whether you're building hardware, leading a team, or facing your own round of challenges.

Glenn Mathijssen is the CEO and co-founder of Alberts, the world’s first smoothie-making food robotics company. With a PhD in robotics and a deep passion for turning ideas into real-world impact, Glenn has led Alberts from a wooden prototype to commercial operations across six countries. His journey blends engineering precision, entrepreneurial grit, and a relentless focus on creating healthier, smarter food solutions.

To learn more, visit:

https://www.selflystore.com/

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https://missionmatters.com/author/aslak-de-silva/

Lars Sundmann is an advisor, keynote speaker and executive trainer on leadership, strategy, innovation and communication for global corporations and their leaders.
He is the owner of Sudmann & Company, a consulting and management training network. Lars is drawing on his business experience (e.g. as CFO Belgium of Procter & Gamble) as well as consulting expertise with Fortune500 companies to help companies achieve better business and organizational results.

Before you lead others, you must first lead yourself. In this episode of The Black Belt in Leadership, host Aslak de Silva is joined by executive advisor, keynote speaker, and TEDx veteran Lars Sudmann to dive deep into the art and discipline of self-leadership.

Drawing on his experience as CFO of Procter & Gamble Belgium, advisor to global giants like Microsoft and Siemens, and as a martial arts competitor, Lars shares powerful tools and stories to help leaders navigate pressure, overcome self-doubt, and stay balanced in the chaos.

You’ll learn:

• Why leadership often doesn’t match your expectations
• How to run a “character traits check” to uncover blind spots
• What daily reflection and reframing can do for your clarity and composure
• How to handle imposter syndrome with perspective and courage
• Whether you’re an executive, entrepreneur, or just stepping into your first leadership role, this conversation is packed with practical wisdom.

Find more from Lars at www.lars-sudmann.com

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What if the secret to building great companies wasn’t about chasing unicorns, but solving your own problems first?

Mikael da Costa, a serial entrepreneur, CEO of WPSEOAI, with a passion for building and scaling businesses that solve real problems. Over the years, he founded and grown multiple companies across different industries, focusing on creating impact and driving sustainable growth.

In this episode of The Black Belt in Leadership, I sit down with serial entrepreneur and Startup Warrior author Mikael da Costa. From recruitment tech to SEO tools, Mikael has built companies not by following trends, but by fixing real problems he faced as a founder.

We talk about:

- Why he believes the best leaders often don’t start with a title
- How promoting from within creates stronger culture and trust
- The five core pillars every startup must master
- What changes when you lead for the people, not the ego
- And the brutal leadership lesson that shaped his current approach

This is a raw, honest conversation about leadership, culture, resilience—and why execution without energy is like a plane with no fuel.

Whether you’re building your first business or scaling your fifth, Mikael’s insights will challenge how you think about entrepreneurship and leadership.

To learn more, visit:

https://www.selflystore.com/

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Dr. James Hewitt, Human Performance Scientist, speaker, and author.James combines first-hand experience as a full-time racing cyclist with ground-breaking work and research, proven on Formula 1 tracks and with Fortune 500 companies, to provide actionable, inspiring, science-backed insights at the intersection of leadership, wellbeing, peak performance, and the future of work. 

In this episode of The Black Belt in Leadership, Aslak de Silva is joined by Dr. James Hewitt - a renowned human performance scientist who has coached Fortune 500 leaders, F1 drivers, and elite athletes. Together, they explore what it takes to perform at a high level without burning out.

James shares why rest is a discipline, how our daily rhythms influence productivity, and why leaders should optimize rather than maximize. From microbreaks and chrono-working to the neuroscience behind recovery and performance, this episode offers a compelling mix of science, martial arts wisdom, and actionable insights for anyone navigating the demands of modern leadership.

Key themes:

- The timing principle in cognitive performance
- Microbreaks, circadian rhythms, and recovery cycles
- Why working smarter starts with self-awareness and rest
- How leaders can model sustainable performance habits
- The long-term power of “minimum effective dose”

Whether you're leading a company, a team, or just yourself, this episode offers a blueprint to unlock your black belt in leadership through sustainable high performance.

To learn more, visit:

https://www.selflystore.com/

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https://missionmatters.com/author/aslak-de-silva/

What if scaling a business at lightning speed didn’t require burnout, but balance?

Lars Johan Bjørkevoll is a Nordic business leader who effectively balances scaling of businesses and organizational leadership with inner development and growth.

With extensive experience scaling three global organizations and helping nearly 300 companies accelerate their growth through ScaleupXQ, Lars Johan brings practical insights on leadership, building high-performing teams, and creating resilient organizational cultures that thrive when "sprinting marathons".

Over the past 25 years, Lars Johan has dedicated himself to eastern practices, founding the Nordic Taiji & Qigong Centre where he teaches classes, workshops, and retreats within Qigong and meditation practices. His philosophy that "ultimate freedom is established on the inside, in order to fully experience life on the outside" informs both his leadership approach and teaching practice.

LJ exemplifies how scaling businesses, conscious leadership, and cultivating inner wisdom can harmoniously support one another in today's complex business landscape.

In this episode of The Black Belt in Leadership, host Aslak de Silva sits down with Nordic business leader and ScaleupXQ founder Lars Johan Bjørkevoll, a man who has helped nearly 300 companies grow fast without losing their soul. LJ brings a rare blend of high-performance leadership and deep inner wisdom, shaped by decades of practice in Qigong, Tai Chi, and eastern philosophies.

Together, they unpack what it takes to scale a company when it feels like “sprinting a marathon,” how inner clarity creates external velocity, and why the secret to sustained leadership might just lie in the minutes between your meetings.

You'll hear about:

The mindset needed to thrive during hypergrowth

How inner “cleaning” routines fuel outward performance

Why confidence isn’t shouting but navigating uncertainty with calm

How to train like you’ll bleed, so you’re ready when it counts

If you're a leader chasing growth, but also searching for balance, this episode will resonate deeply.

Take a stance. Bow. And unlock the Black Belt in Leadership within you.

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https://www.selflystore.com/

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Dr. Oleg Konovalov is a global thought leader, bestselling author, business educator, C-suite whisperer, and the world’s top expert on visionary leadership. Named one of the Top 8 Global Leadership Experts by Thinkers50 and Global Gurus, and one of the 100 most inspirational leaders on the planet

In this episode of The Black Belt in Leadership, we step into the future of leadership with one of the world’s foremost experts on visionary thinking - Dr. Oleg Konovalov. Often called the “Da Vinci of Visionary Leadership,” Dr. Oleg shares how true leaders don’t just manage the present—they build the future.

Together, we explore the CAVIAR framework for crafting and sustaining a compelling vision: Clarity, Ability, Viability, Influence, Acting, and Revitalizing. Through stories from martial arts and business alike, we uncover the mindset required to break free from past success and avoid the trap of ego-driven leadership.

We talk about:

Why less than 0.1% of leaders have a real vision

How previous success can be your next failure

Vision as legacy: Why great leaders think in generations

Parallels between preparing for a fight and preparing for the future

Real-world examples from WD-40, The North Face, and beyond

To learn more, visit:

https://www.selflystore.com/

Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:

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Salla Seppä, Chief Customer Experience Officer at Nordic Business Forum

What does it take to create an unforgettable customer experience—and how do you train future leaders to deliver it under pressure? In this episode of The Black Belt in Leadership, host Aslak de Silva sits down with Salla Seppä, Chief Customer Experience Officer at Nordic Business Forum, to explore the power of encounters and the art of leadership training.

In the first part of the conversation, Salla and Aslak dive into the impact of interactions, using Maya Angelou’s famous quote: “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but they will never forget how you made them feel.” Just like in a martial arts fight, every moment matters—mental preparation, presence, and skill shape the experience.

The second half of the episode shifts to training future leaders. Salla shares her insights on developing 14 team leaders each year to manage an event organization of 250–300 students. What makes a great leader? What red flags should you watch for in leadership selection? And can you spot leadership potential early—just like identifying who will earn a black belt in martial arts?

Packed with real-world examples and insights from one of the world’s top business events, this episode is a must-listen for leaders, entrepreneurs, and anyone passionate about customer experience and leadership development.

Tune in now and unlock the Black Belt in Leadership!

To learn more, visit:

https://www.selflystore.com/

Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:

https://missionmatters.com/author/aslak-de-silva/