Genius Leadership: Overcoming Everything Podcast

If you as a leader are feeling like your business is a bullet train going full speed on tracks you have no control over, stop. Take a breath. And let's talk about what it means to lead teams and organizations in 2024. Bill Dickinson, a former Roman Catholic priest who left the priesthood to be more authentic as a leader and show up as a whole self which included coming out as a gay man. Through hi...

Being a leader is very hard. Managers need to navigate the constantly changing business context with new strategic directives, employee turnover, new technology, etc. Outdated one-size-fits-all approaches to leading, irrespective of the team members' background, group dynamic, and leaders' personal needs and preferences. Conflicting priorities of different stakeholder groups that have to be juggle...

Boundaries seems to be a cringy topic for many clients and connections of mine. But it doesn't have to be! Instead of seeing yourself as a harsh, selfish (in a negative way) person if you set and protect your boundaries, you can see them as the way to live the life you desire and deserve. So let's dive into a mindshift that will help you see the boundaries in a new, beautiful light. Stay safe and...

Are online games for losers only? Is it where sociopaths go to hide from real world? You can think what you want of gaming but it is here to stay. I know brilliant and successful entrepreneurs and leaders (including some of my clients) who are gamers in their free time. And today's guest of mine is a fantastic example of a gamer who is successful and valuable in the real world. Dana Sydorenko, Co-...

For years, we have been discussing that mysterious work-life balance. Some manage to find it, often through a major crisis or burnout. Others don't resonate with the term and think it is counterintuitive. Yet if this term is so unhelpful, why is it so sticky? I am a nerd for definitions. And not the dictionary ones, but the ones each of us carry in our subconsciousness, defining the ways we think,...

How do we get more women into leadership positions? How can we improve capital distribution in the startup space? We have been asking ourselves these questions for a while now, and many initiatives have been undertaken globally. Yet, since the global pandemic, the gender equality gap has increased again. What are we missing? Where has it gone wrong? My today's guest, Viroslava Novosylna, has many...

You've heard this phrase, "Fill your cup first, before you pour into others." While it points out an essential aspect of well-being, it also does us a disservice. In this episode, I am suggesting an alternative visual to make your self-care practice more sustainable and impactful. Stay safe and #standwithukraine, Anna Resources: Join the free yoga classes I teach every Monday and Thursday: https:/...

Imagine eating only burgers for the rest of your life. And not only when you are hungry but also when you are thirsty, tired, excited, sleepy, sad, angry, etc. Just. Burgers.  No matter how much you love this dish, you will eventually get fed up with it. Even the juiciest patties and the freshest buns will not bring you joy or satisfaction anymore. This is what many of us do with our self-care. Wh...

Imagine stepping into the hustle of startup life, where the balance between work, self-care, and the pressing need for sustainability forms the bedrock of every decision. In this electric atmosphere, Tuomo Laine, CEO of Twice Commerce, joins me for a profound exploration of how businesses can thrive by embedding sustainability into their core, without sacrificing profitability. You will hear Tuomo...

Ever feel like a fraud? Or like being in a place/position you don't deserve? Imposter thoughts visit most of us. Some people live with them regularly, others might get them occasionally. Often, these thoughts limit us and force us to decline fantastic opportunities that might be life-changing. So I am sharing a simple hack you can use whenever imposter thoughts occur so that you can say "yes" to t...

In this episode, I am sharing my personal mission statement. The first part of the statement might seem counterintuitive, so I explain why I chose to include it. And the second part is controversial and gets me into trouble sometimes, but it is important to share it because I firmly believe it to be true. Stay safe and #standwithukraine, Anna Resources: Join the free yoga classes I teach every Mon...

In this episode, I am going in full-on transparency mode and showing you all the habits I track, the ways I track them, and explain why these habits. In this episode, you will learn about: four ways I track my habits which one habit I feel awkward sharing three habits I have committed to for 100 days how come I track so much stuff why habits matter and what you can learn from my journey Stay safe...

Imagine having a usual skiing holiday with your family being interrupted by your 9-year-old son disappearing and later being found in the forest, lifeless. How can you process this incomprehensible loss and continue living a meaningful life?  This raw, open, deeply moving, and hopeful conversation with Nick Shaw, co-founder of Mirrorbox Leadership Lab and author of My Teacher, My Son, guides you t...

How does the voice of your inner critic sound? How about your inner cheerleader team? Are you as familiar with the latter as with the former? Many high performers have no clue they can build an inner cheerleading team, to counterweight the critical voice that keeps telling them they are not worthy enough, good enough, quick enough, whatever-enough. But you can actually work on that, and in this ep...

We live in the times of epidemics - of loneliness, lack of purpose, unmattering... How can we deal with these issues, to help ourselves, our dear ones, and broader communities? John Miles, a Navy Veteran and Fortune-50 C-level Executive, has done extensive field research to guide your journey to becoming Passion Struck. In this episode, you will hear about: John's explanation as to why we are livi...

How does a 7-figure business owner get to lose everything, including their house? What do you make out of that experience if it is based on decisions made, and you had little control over them? How do you turn such adversity into a valuable experience for yourself? Ciara Stockeland had to answer these questions to herself. From building a successful yet energetically and financially draining busin...

The term "lifestyle business" has gotten a bad reputation recently, with many picturing a lazy/unambitious person who does not really want to put much effort into their work, yet still expecting wealth. But what if we look at the original meaning of this term? How do people build businesses that fit well into their lifestyles? Does "lifestyle" have to mean lying on the beach and drinking pina coll...

What is common between a banker, a film producer, and a performance coach? The answer is my today's guest, Stoyan Yankov. Stoyan has lived all these roles, and the learnings from his journey are profound. I invited Stoyan to talk about his book PERFORM - The Unsexy Truth about (Startup) Success, but I had no clue I would want to dive so deep into his personal journey.  In this episode, you will he...

I know, I know, everyone is talking about their goals for the year and all that. Maybe you are done with your planning. Or perhaps you don't want to do that at all. If you are curious about this process but don't know where to start, this episode will help. If you decide not to go for any goals (I have been there last year as I entered the year with a mild depression), try this one practice. Decid...

Did you know what is the next stage after burnout? I didn't until this conversation. Pétur Gudjónsson joined the globally known Marel in the company's first years, helping it grow by entering new markets and disrupting industries. A fascinating journey with wonderful people as colleagues, yet the cost of growth and passion was high for Pètur. In this episode, you will hear about: doing internation...

Replay #9 out of 9 to help you finish off 2023 strong and prepare for the new year intentionally and proactively. In this episode you will hear about: The good, the bad, and the ugly of the habit of reflecting on the year and setting goals for the coming one. Factors that will make it or break it with your success with the New Year resolutions. What is common between yearly goals and your career p...

Replay #8 out of 9 to help you finish off 2023 strong and prepare for the new year intentionally and proactively. Back from a month-long vacation, I am sharing some of my reflections and insights about life, relationships, and personal development. This piece felt like reading my diary out loud, so I hope you will enjoy joining me in this cherished moment of sharing. In this episode, you will lear...

Replay #7 out of 9 to help you finish off 2023 strong and prepare for the new year intentionally and proactively. In this solo episode, I’m sharing an example of walking my talk when it comes to discipline, self-leadership and productivity. While the tools and techniques I mention are by no means a complete guide, they are a suggestion on how to explore your way to staying focused and productive....

Replay #6 out of 9 to help you finish off 2023 strong and prepare for the new year intentionally and proactively. Let's get raw and real here about a trend of sprinting at the end of every year. I'm explaining what I dislike about this trend so much and how we can shift things for to better. In this episode, you will learn about: what will help you make tomorrow better, next month - more spacious,...

Replay #5 out of 9 to help you finish off 2023 strong and prepare for the new year intentionally and proactively. This habit is so ingrained in me that I somehow assumed we don't need to discuss it. But some recent conversations reminded me that going back to basics is always a good idea. So let's talk journaling. In this episode, you will hear about: the do's and don'ts of journaling when to jour...