Productivity Mastery

Stoyan Yankov

What if you had one place where you can listen to the untold stories of some of the most accomplished and inspiring leaders in the world? In this podcast, productivity & performance coach, Stoyan Yankov, welcomes: 🎙 Unicorn founders & entrepreneurs 🎙 Top-level executives from leading companies 🎙 Best-selling authors & experts 🎙 And many other extraordinary individuals! You will learn their best habits, strategies & mindsets and hear compelling conversations around #performance, #leadership, #entrepreneurship, #PersonalDevelopment & #TeamCulture. Tune in and enjoy the journey!

  1. A CEO’s Reflection: How to Thrive in Today's World of Work | Productivity Mastery #239 with Amel Gaily

    1 DAY AGO

    A CEO’s Reflection: How to Thrive in Today's World of Work | Productivity Mastery #239 with Amel Gaily

    🚀 In episode #239, our host Stoyan Yankov welcomed Amel Gaily, CEO at Cuckoo. Amel Gaily is an entrepreneur and CEO of the health technology company Cuckoo Networks. Before becoming an entrepreneur, Amel worked in management positions as CEO of the Finnish Business Angels Network (FiBAN) and at Nordea. Amel serves on the boards of several different organizations. Amel is also known as the advisor on the Finnish version of the TV show: The Apprentice. Connect with Amel Gaily on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amelgaily/ And check out the Cuckoo app: https://cuckooworkout.com/ Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Current Challenges 02:58 The Role of AI in Business 06:08 Becoming a CEO: Journey and Motivation 08:53 Navigating Workplace Complexity 12:01 Aligning Teams with Vision 15:10 Effective Communication Strategies 17:48 Creating a Culture of Breaks 21:03 The Importance of Breaks for Productivity 23:48 Implementing Effective Break Strategies 26:57 Building a Supportive Work Environment 29:58 Conclusion and Future Outlook 37:33 Designing Workplace Culture 40:27 The Importance of Breaks and Well-being 43:55 Redefining Work in the Age of AI 46:08 Creating a Fun and Productive Environment 49:41 Energy Management and Work-Life Balance 52:30 Linking Well-being and Performance 54:40 Cultural Insights from Finland 57:34 Lessons from Reality TV: Leadership Insights Enjoy listening and #KeepPERFORMing! __________ Subscribe to Productivity Mastery Podcast 👇 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3DHrGKvqCduaXrEHrHazAR?si=92e8b757ef55433b Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/productivity-mastery/id1514614289Website:https://stoyanyankov.com/podcast/

    1hr 6min
  2. HR Veteran shares 22+ years of Lessons on Culture Transformation | #238 with David Hanrahan

    2 DAYS AGO

    HR Veteran shares 22+ years of Lessons on Culture Transformation | #238 with David Hanrahan

    🚀 In episode #238, we welcomed David Hanrahan, SVP, People Success at 𝐒𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐬 David Hanrahan is coming back to the Productivity Mastery Podcast! His career includes senior roles in HR/People Management, such as 👇 𝐒𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐬 (SPV - People Success)𝐅𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐞 (Chief People Officer)𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 (CHRO) 𝐍𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐈𝐧𝐜. (People & Places)𝐙𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐤 (VP, People)𝐓𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 (Director, Human Resources)𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐜 𝐀𝐫𝐭𝐬 (Director, Human Resources) 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬 (HR Manager) Connect with David on LinkedIn:   / davidhanrahan   Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background 02:54 Understanding Company Culture 05:58 Markers of a Healthy Culture 09:56 Culture Audits and Assessments 13:10 Aligning Values Post-Acquisition 24:11 Communicating Culture and Values Effectively 30:37 Cultural Sensitivity in Communication 34:56 Empathy Across Cultures 35:25 Protecting Organizational Culture During Growth 39:26 Understanding Candidates Beyond Interviews 42:43 Learning from Leaders and Influencers 46:43 Aligning HR with Business Goals 52:02 Future Skills for HR Leaders 56:23 Staying Updated in a Tech-Driven World 01:00:23 Building Alliances for AI Adoption Enjoy listening and #KeepPERFORMing! __________ Subscribe to Productivity Mastery Podcast 👇Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3DHrGKvqCduaXrEHrHazAR?si=92e8b757ef55433bApple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/productivity-mastery/id1514614289Website:https://stoyanyankov.com/podcast/

    1hr 3min
  3. 3x Exits & Millions in ARR: Entrepreneurial Lessons by the Startup Warrior: Productivity Mastery #236 with Mikael da Costa

    24 MAR

    3x Exits & Millions in ARR: Entrepreneurial Lessons by the Startup Warrior: Productivity Mastery #236 with Mikael da Costa

    🚀 In episode #236, we welcomed Mikael da Costa, the founder and CEO of WP SEO AI, an AI-powered SEO platform that has scaled to 180 employees and serves over 1,500 companies across Finland, the Netherlands, and Germany. Prior to that, he scaled several companies to EUR millions in annual recurring revenue (ARR), raising funding to fuel their growth, and successfully leading 3 businesses to exits. Throughout his journey, he has been recognized as a finalist for both Entrepreneur of the Year and Young Leader of the Year. He has also been featured on the cover of Myynti & Markkinointi magazine for his work in sales and marketing innovation. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background of Entrepreneurship 03:02 The Reality of Entrepreneurship 06:00 Challenges and Sacrifices in Entrepreneurship 08:48 Building a Business Blueprint 11:49 Sales and Market Validation 14:33 Productivity and Prioritization Strategies 17:40 Books and Lessons Learned 30:49 Prioritization and Daily Practices 33:13 Building a Core Team 35:42 Values and Leadership Principles 38:19 Creating a Supportive Culture 42:40 Nurturing Relationships and Team Practices 48:30 Mindset and Resilience in Entrepreneurship 53:40 Navigating Challenges and Maintaining Focus Enjoy listening and #KeepPERFORMing! __________ Subscribe to the Productivity Mastery Podcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3DHrGKvqCduaXrEHrHazAR?si=92e8b757ef55433b Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/productivity-mastery/id1514614289Website:https://stoyanyankov.com/podcast/

    1hr 1min
  4. 17 MAR

    Navigating Change: From Sailing to HR Leadership | Productivity Mastery #235 with Marina Takacs

    🚀 In episode #235, we welcomed Marina Takacs, who is a forward-thinking and innovation-driven HR leader with over ten years of experience in the pharmaceutical and IT industries, helping organizations turn transformation into opportunity. She is known for her sensible and human-centered approach to people, focusing on building high-performing teams and shaping cultures where leadership, creativity, and people-centric thinking drive real business impact. In 2026, navigating change effectively is becoming more crucial than ever. - AI Integration and Ethics - Talent Retention and Recruitment - Declining Engagement and Burnout - Hybrid Culture and Communication - Management effectiveness in times of change - Compliance and regulations... These are just some of the topics HR leaders need to deal with. And it requires one to develop an entirely new mindset to succeed. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background 02:46 Sailing and Leadership: Navigating Change 05:49 The Evolving Role of HR in Uncertain Times 08:48 Building Resilience and Adaptability in Teams 12:06 Calm Leadership in Crisis Situations 15:09 The Importance of Preparation 18:00 Communication and Trust in Organizations 20:59 Developing Wartime Leaders 23:56 Creating Ownership and Purpose in Teams 33:24 Rethinking Job Descriptions 35:03 Core Values for Team Success 38:42 Embedding Culture in Recruitment 42:08 Navigating Burnout and Self-Care 45:29 The Role of Ego in Leadership 48:03 Sailing as a Leadership Tool 52:32 Leading Through Sustained Crisis 58:44 Prioritizing in Changing Times Enjoy listening and #KeepPERFORMing! __________ Subscribe to Productivity Mastery Podcast :point_down: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3DHrGKvqCduaXrEHrHazAR?si=92e8b757ef55433b Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/productivity-mastery/id1514614289 Website: https://stoyanyankov.com/podcast/

    1hr 4min
  5. Toxic Culture at Work? Been There, Done That | Productivity Mastery #234 with Martina Georgieva

    15 MAR

    Toxic Culture at Work? Been There, Done That | Productivity Mastery #234 with Martina Georgieva

    🚀 In episode #234, we welcomed Dr. Martina Georgieva. Martina Georgieva is a senior HR executive and organizational design specialist. Serving as HR Director for a corporate group comprising over 1,400 employees across more than 20 entities, she has successfully driven enterprise-wide people strategies.Her executive focus centres on change management, Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) compliance, and corporate ethics. Dr. Georgieva holds a degree in European and International Law from the University of Trento (Italy) and a PhD examining anti-corruption measures and the role of human resources in building corporate internal control systems. She is a recognized thought leader and regular contributor on executive leadership and comparative labour law for prominent business publications, including Forbes Bulgaria and Manager magazine. In today’s fast-paced corporate world, the term "toxic culture" is often thrown around, but what does it really mean? Many employees find themselves in environments where they feel excluded, undervalued, and demoralized. In this episode, we explore the concept of toxic workplace culture, its implications, and actionable strategies for creating a healthier work environment. Chapters 00:00 Cultural Transition: From Italy to Australia 01:53 Understanding Toxic Culture 08:32 Signs of Toxic Culture 13:44 Origins of Toxic Culture 18:24 Leadership and Toxicity 22:44 The Duality of Leadership 25:46 Hidden Toxicity in Organizations 27:08 The Reality of Toxic Work Cultures 31:58 Empowerment and Responsibility in the Workplace 34:46 Cultural Change Starts with Individuals 40:33 Creating a Nurturing Work Environment 48:43 Defining Values and Behaviors in Organizations 56:01 The Importance of Continuous Care in Leadership Enjoy listening and #KeepPERFORMing! __________ Subscribe to Productivity Mastery Podcast 👇Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3DHrGKvqCduaXrEHrHazAR?si=92e8b757ef55433b Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/productivity-mastery/id1514614289Website:https://stoyanyankov.com/podcast/

    1hr 13min
  6. Becoming a Bookable Speaker | Productivity Mastery #233 with Rajjan El Alaoui

    23 FEB

    Becoming a Bookable Speaker | Productivity Mastery #233 with Rajjan El Alaoui

    🚀 In episode #233, we welcomed Rajjan El Alaoui Rajjan El Alaoui is the Director of Speakers at Athenas NL and the founder of The Speakers & The AI Agency. His job is to recommend and book speakers for events and to manage the whole process. He entered the speakers industry at just 17 years old and has since built more than seven years of hands-on experience as an entrepreneur in the world of talks, live events, and talent development. Listen to this episode and learn: - How Rajjan joined the speaking industry 17 - What is a speaker bureau and how it operates - Effective strategies to increase your visibility as a speaker - What makes a speaker bookable over and over again - How to increase your chances of being booked at the most relevant events- What would Rajjan do if he were starting his speaking career today And a lot more. Connect with Rajjan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rajjanelalaoui/ Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the Speaking Industry 03:08 The Role of a Speaker Bureau 05:56 What Makes a Speaker Bookable? 09:58 Evaluating Speakers for Events 14:42 The Importance of Storytelling 20:51 Building a Speaker Profile 29:46 Strategies for Finding Speaking Opportunities 33:37 Keys to Consistent Bookability Enjoy listening and #KeepPERFORMing! __________ Subscribe to Productivity Mastery Podcast 👇 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3DHrGKvqCduaXrEHrHazAR?si=92e8b757ef55433b Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/productivity-mastery/id1514614289 Website:https://stoyanyankov.com/podcast/

    38 min

About

What if you had one place where you can listen to the untold stories of some of the most accomplished and inspiring leaders in the world? In this podcast, productivity & performance coach, Stoyan Yankov, welcomes: 🎙 Unicorn founders & entrepreneurs 🎙 Top-level executives from leading companies 🎙 Best-selling authors & experts 🎙 And many other extraordinary individuals! You will learn their best habits, strategies & mindsets and hear compelling conversations around #performance, #leadership, #entrepreneurship, #PersonalDevelopment & #TeamCulture. Tune in and enjoy the journey!