Inner Power Particles Cocoon Program

In this episode,

we discuss how Anna switched from running startups to founding two purposeful NGOs - Riga Tech Girls and StartSchool. We explored what each organisation does for its members and the broader society.

But then we went deeper into personal topics and looked at what motivated Anna to venture into this path and how she approached the downturn that followed a fast growth period.

We looked into the organisational topics - what decisions were made and how they were made to ensure the organisation survives the downturn and thrives. And also at the personal topics - how Anna experienced that period and how her insights can support other founders navigating downturns. 



Welcome to the Inner Power Particles podcast.

We talk with entrepreneurs and leaders about their challenges and lessons learned to grow their inner power. We do this to share their journey and knowledge with you so that you can grow as a leader and a person.



Resources: 

Inner growth and business growth guidance for founders and leaders: 

❇️ https://www.cocoonprogram.com/resources



Follow Anna Andersone, Co-founder & CEO, Chair of the Board at Riga TechGirls

❇️ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annalebedoka/

 

Follow Farhad Niyoz, authentic growth guide and CEO of Cocoon Program 

❇️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/farhadniyoz/

❇️  Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/farhadniyoz/ 

Unresolved personal conflicts impact or even block our success and well-being, especially, with the closest ones. When we have inner tension with our father, it limits our ability to achieve our goals, to know who we are and what we genuinely desire.



In this episode, we explore reconciling with fathers:

1. when does it matter

2. what have been our journeys and takeaways

3. and how it has impacted our lives.



Welcome to the Inner Power Particles podcast.

We talk with entrepreneurs and leaders about their challenges and lessons learned to grow their inner power. We do this to share their journey and knowledge with you so that you can grow as a leader and a person.



Resources: 

Inner growth and business growth guidance for founders and leaders: 

❇️ https://www.cocoonprogram.com/resources



Follow Ingmar Elm, mentor and teambuilding event organiser

❇️ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ingmar-elm-4a62099/

 

Follow Farhad Niyoz, authentic growth guide and CEO of Cocoon Program 

❇️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/farhadniyoz/

❇️  Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/farhadniyoz/ 

Behind every great leader and CEO stands a team. It is high high-performing, efficient, open-minded, and united team of professionals following a common mission and vision. It is a team with the highest-class company culture where everyone feels safe and can express themselves. Culture always comes first. Nothing is personal. There is a problem - there must be a solution.

In this episode, Cocoon Program CEO Farhad Niyoz talks with a mentor at Cocoon Program and a partner of Aruma Ventures and Globus International - Jin Han. They talk about key aspects that define culture in the company; how to scale relationships within your team and also different stakeholders; and why the most important thing you might be missing is understanding what your employees believe about you and their workplace. Expect to learn lots of practical ideas and tips not only on building better relationships with team and stakeholders but also with your partner and within yourself on this journey of entrepreneurial path.

Jump into the topics:
00:00 Switching continents to pursue new roles
1:35 How three simple values can guide your every choice
3:44 Consulting Fortune 500 companies: Sharing the most important scaling lesson for startups
11:17 Key to success - understanding, accepting, and mastering different business cultures
16:27 How to build a safe space for employees so that everyone can yell and scream
19:47 The problems are in the situations, not in the people
23:13 Advice for CEOs: How to deal with a situation that has escalated to become personal
27:15 Executing demotion/role change without burning relationships
30:36 Get rid of toxic employees or sacrifice your company culture
35:49 Defining “ safety in work culture” and how to build it
40:14 How employee beliefs affect their behavior
44:18 The connection between relationships and defensive mechanisms
46:25 Finding self-acceptance before seeking love
50:33 How to evaluate your self-acceptance
51:54 Advice on relationships and how to find the right partner
56:38 Difference between character and personality
57:52 Importance of living up to your values


Welcome to Inner Power Particles.
We talk with entrepreneurs and leaders about their challenges and lessons learned to improve their inner strength. We do this to share their journey and knowledge with you so that you can improve as a leader and a person.


Resources:
To learn more useful tools for CEOs and C-level managers,
➡️ https://www.cocoonprogram.com/resources

Uncover how to scale your business fast with clarity,
➡️ https://www.cocoonprogram.com/scale

Follow Jin Han's mentor at the Cocoon Program
➡️ https://www.linkedin.com/in/hanjinw/

Follow Farhad Niyoz CEO of the Cocoon Program
➡️ https://www.cocoonprogram.com/Mentors/Farhad-Niyoz

Should I pivot or keep searching for the right business model? For many founders, this dilemma feels like the final decision to make. Do we keep going or is this the end of our journey?

In this episode, Cocoon Program CEO Farhad Niyoz talks with COO & Co-Founder of Monetizr Martins Bratuskins. Martins tells his experience of what happens in the founder's mind when the passion for an idea is so powerful that even after several near-bankruptcies there is a fire to keep going. Both entrepreneurs share their different perspectives on what it means to be your authentic self and how meaningful connections bring honest conversations and have transformed their business into a more open and efficient work environment.

Expect to hear learned lessons and practical advice on topics such as:
➡️ How to train your intuition
➡️ Why it is important to hire fast and fire fast
➡️ When to know it is time to part ways with a co-founder
➡️ What mistakes to avoid when dealing with investor money
➡️ How being your authentic self will boost your team dynamics and trust
➡️ The difference between business-oriented and personal growth-oriented mentorship


Jump into the topics:
00:30 Welcome COO & Co-Founder of Monetizr Martins Bratuskins
1:19 Creating meaningful experiences inside a network of mobile games
4:41 Three steps for validating your idea
6:05 Finding a co-founder with similar problems
8:52 How to recognize the moment to pivot instead of quitting
14:42 Saving business with the right connection at the right time
17:44 Finding the perfect customer fit for one last try
20:03 Reshaping the team's mindset for the company's final push
22:39 Learning from near-bankruptcy experiences to maintain a positive mindset
25:19 Bringing innovation to one of the biggest industries in the world
27:02 Most valuable lessons from breaking up with a co-founder
29:00 How to recognize when to split with your founder
31:50 Mastering feedback for more efficient relationships
38:17 Building with passion not a goal to exit
40:29 Avoid this mistake when spending investor money
44:39 What to focus on when onboarding new team members
50:03 Balancing data with intuition driven decision making
51:17 How to train and use your intuition
53:38 Why strong relationships will scale your startup to the next level
55:29 Importance of inner growth oriented mentorship for a founder
56:45 Most impactful changes for Martins in past years


Welcome to Inner Power Particles.
We talk with entrepreneurs and leaders about their challenges and lessons learned to improve their inner strength. We do this to share their journey and knowledge with you so that you can improve as a leader and a person.


Resources:
To learn more useful tools for CEOs and C-level managers,
➡️ https://www.cocoonprogram.com/resources

Uncover how to scale your business fast with clarity,
➡️ https://www.cocoonprogram.com/scale

Follow Martins Bratuskins, COO & Co-Founder of Monetizr
➡️ https://www.linkedin.com/in/martins-bratuskins/

Follow Farhad Niyoz CEO of Cocoon Program
➡️ https://www.cocoonprogram.com/Mentors/Farhad-Niyoz

Want to transform the way you approach and resolve conflicts in both personal and professional life? In this video, we present a collection of valuable insights and experiences shared by our special guest Hristo Neiland, a Conflict Resolution Mentor.

See more information on our platform:
⁠⁠https://www.cocoonprogram.com

Welcome to the Inner Power Particles podcast.

We talk with entrepreneurs and leaders about their challenges and lessons learned to grow their inner power. We do this to share their journey and knowledge with you so that you can grow as a leader and a person.

Resources: 

Inner growth and business growth guidance for founders and leaders: 

❇️ https://www.cocoonprogram.com/resources

 

Follow Hristo Neiland

❇️  Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hristoneiland/


Follow Farhad Niyoz, authentic growth guide and CEO of Cocoon Program 

❇️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/farhadniyoz/

❇️  Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/farhadniyoz/ 

Transitioning from a corporate job to a startup world comes with a price to pay and lessons to learn. This transition might be even more challenging for a female founder entering this world of entrepreneurship dominated by masculine energy and approaches to how things should be. Less emotions, more expectations, and more pressure on yourself as a leader paying your salary and being responsible for a team of people. But should it be that way? Is this approach working also towards inner balance and healthier work-life relationships?



In this episode, Cocoon Program CEO Farhad Niyoz talks with Kadi Saadlo, CEO & Co-Founder of HotelBuddy. Kadi tells her story of moving from Estonia to Latvia, quitting her corporate career to pursue an entrepreneurial path, and chasing smart money instead of every accessible investment. She shares her lessons learned from switching career paths and gives many valuable insights on how to take care of yourself as a founder while all the media is talking about is success stories and startup unicorns. They discuss the importance of realizing that you are not your business and where this misconception might lead entrepreneurs to health problems, relationship struggles, and negative self-talk.



Overview of the topic:

00:01 Moving to Riga for better relationships and change

2:41 Differences between two neighbors Latvians and Estonians

5:26 Kadi Saadlo, CEO & Co-Founder at HotelBuddy

11:46 Prioritising smart money: customers not investors

14:59 Balancing feminine self with masculine nature of leadership

19.35 Conquering the fear of stage and public speaking

27:51 Misleading culture of startup success stories

32:29 Switching financial mindset: From corporate employee to Co-Founder

39:01 The dark side of founders path and how to take care of yourself

43:30 How and Why to improve positive self-talk

47:29 Dealing with “founders sleep” and how to improve it

54:04 Kadi's key entrepreneurial lessons from the past 12 months

57:14 Describing the perfect investor for HotelBuddy

1:01:35 Advice for female founders

1:03:25 Importance of realising: You are not your company!



Welcome to Inner Power Particles.

We talk with entrepreneurs and leaders about their challenges and lessons learned to improve their inner strength. We do this to share their journey and knowledge with you so that you can improve as a leader and a person.





Resources:

To learn more useful tools for CEOs and C-level managers,

➡️ https://www.cocoonprogram.com/resources



Uncover how to scale your business fast with clarity,

➡️ https://www.cocoonprogram.com/scale



Follow Kadi Saadlo CEO & Co-Founder of HotelBuddy

➡️ https://www.linkedin.com/in/kadisaadlo/



Follow Farhad Niyoz CEO of Cocoon Program

➡️ https://www.cocoonprogram.com/Mentors/Farhad-Niyoz