Winning Friends

Founders often default to building everything in-house because it feels safer and more controllable. David Gram’s view is that this instinct can quietly slow you down. When speed matters and capability gaps are real, partnering can beat building, even if it means sharing control.🎧 Catch the full episode on Winning Friends.Powered by e-Residency of Estonia, where entrepreneurs build and grow borderless businesses from anywhere in the world.

David Gram walks us through the five rules that help leaders introduce new ideas while keeping trust intact. From expecting resistance to understanding which rules you’re breaking, building early ownership, and making sure others shine along the way.🎧 Catch the full episode on Winning Friends.Powered by e-Residency of Estonia, where entrepreneurs build and grow borderless businesses from anywhere in the world.

Drawing on his experience at LEGO and his work today with leadership teams, David Gram argues that experiments should be evaluated close to where ideas originate, not funnelled into a central committee or “idea platform” that lacks context.🎧 Catch the full episode on Winning Friends.Powered by e-Residency of Estonia, where entrepreneurs build and grow borderless businesses from anywhere in the world.

Experimentation is rarely the hard part. Knowing what to test, when to stop, and how to bring people with you is.David Gram spent nearly a decade at LEGO, helping the company rethink how it explored new territory after its early-2000s crisis. Today, as co-founder of Diplomatic Rebels, he works with founders and leadership teams navigating change where resistance is normal and resources are limited.In this episode of Winning Friends, David shares practical lessons on making experimentation sustainable and change adoptable.In this episode, you’ll learn:🧪 how to prioritise experiments without overwhelming your team🎯 how LEGO used opportunity spaces to decide what was worth testing🧠 why organisations resist new ideas and how to plan for it🤝 how to push change without burning bridges or losing allies🧭 the five habits of diplomatic rebels who make change stick🧩 when partnering beats building everything yourselfListen and share with your friends today!Winning Friends is powered by e-Residency of Estonia, where founders around the world launch, run, and scale companies 100% digitally.

Andres Kõpper (NOËP) reflects on how predictable behaviour builds confidence – using Apple’s one-button logic as a metaphor for branding. When people know what to expect, trust follows. When signals change too often, loyalty erodes.🎧 Catch the full episode on Winning Friends.Powered by e-Residency of Estonia, where entrepreneurs build and grow borderless businesses from anywhere in the world.

NOËP is not just one person making music, but a working business: managers, agents, a band, partners, and multiple revenue streams.In this clip, Andres Kõpper shares what the business of being an artist actually looks like and why trying to handle every role yourself eventually becomes the bottleneck.🎧 Catch the full episode on Winning Friends.Powered by e-Residency of Estonia, where entrepreneurs build and grow borderless businesses from anywhere in the world.

When TikTok became the main route to discovery in music, it didn’t just change how songs were promoted – it started influencing what got made in the first place.In this clip, Andres Kõpper (NOËP) reflects on what happens when distribution channels begin shaping the product itself.🎧 Catch the full episode on Winning Friends.Powered by e-Residency of Estonia, where entrepreneurs build and grow borderless businesses from anywhere in the world.

A viral moment can open doors fast, but it won’t build a business - unless you know what to do next. Andres Kõpper, known internationally as NOËP, has lived the spike up close and learned that reach is only useful if you can turn it into loyalty. In this episode, he shares how he treats his music career like a startup: positioning, product thinking and the long game behind every “overnight” moment.In this episode, you’ll learn:🎵 why virality is luck, but longevity is designed📊 how artists (and founders) can think in products, not just moments🌍 what building a global audience actually requires behind the scenes🧠 how to balance creative freedom with commercial discipline🤝 why trust and recognition matter more than constant reinventionListen and share with your friends today!Winning Friends is powered by e-Residency of Estonia, where founders around the world launch, run, and scale companies 100% digitally.

In this clip, Jason Caldwell shares the lesson that reshaped how he thinks about leadership: stop trying to be the fastest, and focus on adding the most value. The person who earns trust through small, unglamorous acts is often the one a team performs for under pressure.🎧 Catch the full episode on Winning Friends.Powered by e-Residency of Estonia, where entrepreneurs build and grow borderless businesses from anywhere in the world.

Most teams either don’t have a vision statement, or they inherited one from someone higher up. Either way, it rarely creates real ownership.In this clip, Jason Caldwell explains why a vision statement is not a slogan. It is a powerful commitment device that only works when the whole team has fingerprints on it.🎧 Catch the full episode on Winning Friends.Powered by e-Residency of Estonia, where entrepreneurs build and grow borderless businesses from anywhere in the world.

Most leaders say they don’t have time for the emotional side of leadership. Jason Caldwell argues you don’t need a big culture programme. You need repeatable moments that pull people back into alignment.In this clip, Caldwell shares his idea of gathering points, small, low-cost opportunities for teams to connect, reset, and move as one.🎧 Catch the full episode on Winning Friends.Powered by e-Residency of Estonia, where entrepreneurs build and grow borderless businesses from anywhere in the world.

Most leaders say they want high-performing teams. Fewer know what to do when the pressure rises, alignment slips, and the talented hire starts pulling in the wrong direction.Jason Caldwell is an endurance athlete and leadership coach who has led teams across oceans and now mentors businesses on building teams that hold under real strain. He believes talent is table stakes. What matters is value, ownership, and the small behaviours that keep a group moving as one.In this episode, Jason shares:💡 why value beats talent when teams are tested🧭 how to write a vision statement the team actually owns🖐️ why fingerprints matter more than perfect wording🧲 how gathering points create alignment without forced bonding🚦 when leaders need to make the call they keep delaying📈 how founders can scale past key person risk and stop being the bottleneckListen and share with your friends today!Winning Friends is powered by e-Residency of Estonia, where founders around the world launch, run, and scale companies 100% digitally.

Mike Southon shares why likeability matters, how to start conversations naturally and why trust is built long before business talk begins.🎧 Catch the full episode on Winning Friends.Powered by e-Residency of Estonia, where entrepreneurs build and grow borderless businesses from anywhere in the world.

Networking advice usually focuses on what to say or offer. But long before that, something quieter decides how the conversation will unfold.In this clip, Mike Southon reflects on what actually shapes first impressions, why some interactions feel natural while others feel forced, and how trust begins long before anyone talks business.🎧 Catch the full episode on Winning Friends.Powered by e-Residency of Estonia, where entrepreneurs build and grow borderless businesses from anywhere in the world.

Mike Southon has met and worked with some of the most recognisable entrepreneurs in the world. And he keeps noticing the same pattern: behind every visible success, there’s almost always someone else.Drawing on decades of experience and interviews with well-known founders, he talks about gumption, drive, and determination – but also something far less talked about: the “foil.”🎧 Catch the full episode on Winning Friends.Powered by e-Residency of Estonia, where entrepreneurs build and grow borderless businesses from anywhere in the world.

Most founders don’t have a product problem. They have a clarity problem. If you can’t explain what you do fast – you can’t sell it, fund it, or scale it.Mike Southon is the kind of guest who refuses a neat label. He’s a serial entrepreneur, best-selling author, mentor to 1,000+ founders, an e-resident of Estonia, and the Chief Editor of Startup Mafia. He’s co-written The Beermat Entrepreneur and Sales on a Beermat, built around one obsession: if your idea can’t fit in 30 seconds, it’s not ready yet.In this episode, Mike shares:📝 how to pressure-test an idea with “beermat” simplicity🤝 how to build a network without feeling salesy🎯 why every founder needs a “foil” (the partner who completes the picture)💬 how to lead with curiosity, not pitch🧠 why honesty drives repeat businessListen and share with your friends today! Winning Friends is powered by e-Residency of Estonia, where founders around the world launch, run, and scale companies 100% digitally.

Some concepts come quickly. Others take years of listening, prototyping, and refining. Veerle Donders shares how Zoku grew from a single shower thought into a human-centred “upside-down hotel” shaped by 150 interviews and a shift in how people live and work internationally.🎧 Catch the full episode to hear the full story behind the “upside-down hotel.”Winning Friends is powered by e-Residency of Estonia, where entrepreneurs build and grow borderless businesses from anywhere in the world.

Veerle Donders reveals why loneliness drives failed assignments, how the rise of short-term placements changed everything, and why community is becoming a business essential.🎧 Catch the full episode to learn how connection shapes global work.Winning Friends is powered by e-Residency of Estonia, where entrepreneurs build and grow borderless businesses from anywhere in the world.

Veerle Donders shares how Zoku looks beyond skills and hires people you’d proudly introduce to your friends: curious, warm, community-minded people who elevate the entire environment. It’s a simple shift, but one that turns teams into real communities.🎧 Catch the full episode on Winning Friends.Powered by e-Residency of Estonia, where entrepreneurs build and grow borderless businesses from anywhere in the world.

Most companies track budgets and KPIs, but they rarely track loneliness. Yet it’s one of the biggest reasons international work assignments fail.Veerle Donders, Director of Concept & Brand at Zoku, has spent nearly a decade trying to fix that. Together with the Zoku team, she helped build the “upside-down hotel”: a home-office hybrid designed to make business travel human again. Based on 150 interviews, seven prototypes, and countless small design decisions, Zoku flips the traditional hotel model by putting community front and centre.In this episode, Veerle shares:💸 how loneliness became a billion-dollar problem hiding in plain sight🏠 why Zoku redesigned the hotel around human connection🧠 what 150 interviews taught them about what people truly need🪜 how design cues and rituals make belonging feel effortless🌍 why community is becoming a competitive advantage in global businessListen and share with your friends today!Winning Friends is powered by e-Residency of Estonia, where founders around the world launch, run, and scale companies 100% digitally.

After losing everything, FuN co-founder Pepe Villatoro realised that true success isn’t about money or titles but about living the life you’d choose every day. 🎧 Catch the full episode to hear how Pepe redefined success through purpose, balance, and saying no to what doesn’t matter.Winning Friends is powered by e-Residency of Estonia, where entrepreneurs build and grow borderless businesses from anywhere in the world.

For FuN co-founder Pepe Villatoro, failure isn’t the end of the story. It’s where the real work begins. In this clip, he shares how self-awareness, values, and honesty help founders rebuild stronger and protect what matters most.🎧 Catch the full episode to hear how to turn difficult moments into lasting growth.Winning Friends is powered by e-Residency of Estonia, where entrepreneurs build and grow borderless businesses from anywhere in the world.

For FuN co-founder Pepe Villatoro, it starts with a cause worth believing in and people who genuinely care. From Mexico to 300+ cities worldwide, he’s helping entrepreneurs turn failure into connection.🎧 Catch the full episode to hear how purpose, storytelling, and vulnerability can turn any network into a true community.Winning Friends is powered by e-Residency of Estonia, where entrepreneurs build and grow borderless businesses from anywhere in the world.

Founders talk about competition and cashflow, but it’s failure they fear most. Pepe Villatoro built a global community to face it. As co-founder of FuN, he turned the taboo of failure into a worldwide conversation. What began as a small gathering in Mexico has grown into a community spanning 90+ countries and trusted by companies from Google to the World Bank.In this episode, Pepe shares:💥 why fear is a mile wide and an inch deep💭 what it means to “fail well” and turn mistakes into momentum🌍 how FuN built community around honesty🧭 why resisting hustle culture is key to long-term successListen and share with your friends today!Winning Friends is powered by e-Residency of Estonia, where founders around the world launch, run, and scale companies 100% digitally.

John Rush has seen search results shift from a six-month grind to just weeks. But with AI and generative search reshaping discovery, only fresh, niche content may thrive.🎧 Catch the full story in John’s episode of Winning Friends.Winning Friends is powered by e-Residency of Estonia, where entrepreneurs go to do business 100% digitally, from anywhere in the world.

John Rush shows why reach comes before personal brand and how one sharp message can change everything.🎧 Catch the full story in John’s episode of Winning Friends.Winning Friends is powered by e-Residency of Estonia, where entrepreneurs go to do business 100% digitally, from anywhere in the world.

John Rush uses an AI agent inside Discord to manage tasks, track feedback, and even support his co-makers – helping him run 24 startups with zero employees.🎧 Catch the full episode to learn how automation is changing the way founders build and scale.Winning Friends is powered by e-Residency of Estonia, where entrepreneurs go to do business 100% digitally, from anywhere in the world.

Whilst most founders consider headcount a measure of success, John Rush measures freedom. From a forest near Istanbul, he runs 24 profitable startups without a single employee, using AI tools, automation, and lean partnerships.Known as the most automated entrepreneur on Earth, John reveals how he makes it work:
⚡ validate ideas through stories before writing code
🤖 use prompts and “don’ts” to build with AI
📈 scale marketing through automation and personal brand
🌍 design for freedom instead of headcountDiscover his story on Winning Friends and share it with your network today.Winning Friends is powered by e-Residency of Estonia, where founders around the world launch, run, and scale companies 100% digitally.

Scammers are already using AI to their advantage – but what if we could flip the script?In Episode 4 of Winning Friends, Cecilie Fjellhøy – founder of LoveSaid and known from The Tinder Swindler and Love Con Revenge on Netflix – shares how AI could become a powerful force for good: 🔍 Helping financial institutions spot when a customer might be getting scammed 📱 Answering calls on your behalf, wasting fraudsters’ time and flagging suspicious activity 🗣️ Giving victims a safe, non-judgmental space to seek helpFrom practical steps you can take today to bold visions of the future, this conversation is packed with insights for entrepreneurs and business leaders who want to stay one step ahead of fraud.🎧 Watch the full episode today!🎙️ Winning Friends is the podcast where community meets smart business thinking – powered by e-Residency of Estonia.👉 For global entrepreneurs, this topic hits close to home. Programmes like e-Residency of Estonia are showing how digital identities, secure authentication, and trusted e-signatures can help businesses thrive online – while staying protected in the world’s most digital country.

Not every business opportunity is what it seems. Fraud advisor Cecilie Fjellhøy shares three simple but powerful tips every entrepreneur should know before entering a business partnership: ❓ Ask the uncomfortable questions – friction fights fraud ⭐️ Get third-person verification from a trusted source ⏳ Take your time: don’t be rushed into a decisionCecilie's trailblazing anti-fraud movement is exactly the kind of innovative, forward-thinking business that e-Residency is designed to support. When not advising companies and large institutions, Cecilie is a speaker to audiences around the globe, an NGO founder, a co-author of a book on fraud, and a host of Love Con Revenge on Netflix.Don’t miss the full episode with Cecilie!Winning Friends is your monthly podcast where community meets smart business thinking. Powered by e-Residency of Estonia.

Cecilie Fjellhøy knows the cost of not listening to her gut. She became a fraud advisor, NGO founder, and co-author after her experience of being defrauded – a story she shared in The Tinder Swindler, a Netflix documentary. A guest with plenty to share with the Estonian e-Residency community.As part of her advocacy work and our conversation, she shares the red flags of a scammer:🏃 Pressure to rush through important decisions (like signing a contract)📋 Making unverified claims (either of identity or experience)🔍 That feeling in your gut – if something feels off, your body will tell youFor more of Cecilie’s story and tips on preventing fraud in your business, watch Episode 4 of Winning Friends.🎙️ Winning Friends is our monthly podcast for real stories of how connections and strategic moves build global businesses. Powered by e-Residency of Estonia.

Cecilie Fjellhøy is a fraud advisor who uses her personal experience to teach founders and organisations how to avoid scams. Since sharing her story in a documentary, The Tinder Swindler, she’s founded an NGO, co-authored a book on the topic, and launched a new Netflix show. Now she’s stopping by our e-Residency “cafe” to share her insights with the e-Residency community.Learn from her in Episode 4 of Winning Friends – out now 👉 Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube!🎙️Winning Friends is your podcast for real stories of how friendly intros and smart moves build businesses. Powered by e-Residency of Estonia.

You may recognise Cecilie Fjellhøy from the global hit documentary The Tinder Swindler. That recognition is fueling her efforts as an advocate for fraud awareness and prevention. She’s used her drive for justice to co-author a book and host a new @Netflix series, Love Con Revenge. With her professional background in UX design, she’s also helping large-scale institutions with how to design fraud-preventing friction and thinking about AI as a fraud-prevention tool.Cecilie joined us to talk about her personal story and to share how founders can protect themselves in their business relationships, starting with...🙋Verifying any individuals you plan to do business with⏸️ Creating friction to build in pauses around major decisions💡Trusting yourself when something doesn’t feel right👀 Catch the full episode to hear more of Cecilie’s story and to learn fraud prevention tips for your personal and business relationships.Winning Friends is a monthly podcast for real stories of how connections and strategic moves build global businesses. Powered by e-Residency of Estonia.

Jeff Pan, co-founder and CEO of Belli, knows conferences CAN bring value to a business. But that requires planning and effort – just showing up won’t cut it. His favourite conference hacks?🔹 Build your list of must-meets🔹 Host a side event (Bonus: Get it sponsored.)🔹 Set up meetings ahead of time (Not enough meetings? Skip it!)Winning Friends is real talk from real founders – designed for digital entrepreneurs building sustainable businesses from anywhere in the world. Powered by e-Residency of Estonia.Catch the full episode, out now.

There are lucky breaks, and there’s luck you make happen. Jeff Pan, co-founder and CEO of Belli, knows that when SpaceX came calling, it was a combination of both.Watch the full episode to hear more things Jeff has made happen as an entrepreneur AND corporate employee.Winning Friends is powered by e-Residency of Estonia, where entrepreneurs go to do business – 100% digitally, from anywhere in the world.

That’s how Jeff Pan, co-founder and CEO of Belli, uses Upwork – and spent 1M doing so. 🎧 Watch the full episode for more business hacksWinning Friends is powered by e-Residency of Estonia, where entrepreneurs go to do business – 100% digitally, from anywhere in the world.

Jeff Pan, co-founder and CEO of Belli, optimises for frequency of failure – the more wrong approaches you cross off quickly, the faster you’ll find the right ones.Winning Friends is powered by e-Residency of Estonia, where entrepreneurs go to do business – 100% digitally, from anywhere in the world.🎦 Watch the full episode now!

Get real tips on how to grow your network and business 👉 https://www.winningfriendspodcast.com/ --- --- ------Fear of failure stops many people from trying… just about anything. Entrepreneurs can’t afford that. Instead, Jeff Pan, co-founder and CEO of Belli, suggests optimising for failure – failing often and quickly to figure out what actually works.Jeff was an early entrepreneur who then made his way into globally known giants like Booking, McKinsey, and SpaceX. On this episode, he shares what those experiences taught him (sometimes through failure) – including the hacks entrepreneurs can use to:💎 hone in on their niche🤝 hire talent🌟 execute through their valuesWatch and share with your friends today!Winning Friends is powered by e-Residency of Estonia, where entrepreneurs go to do business – 100% digitally, from anywhere in the world.

Your CV might get you in the door, but it won’t get you the job. Maarja Pärt helped to scale YOLO Group from 10 people to 1000 – and was part of the interviews for most of those hires.She saw how the attitude and energy a person displayed in the first few minutes were usually a great guide on whether they’d fit into the startup-culture mindset of the company.Get more scaling advice in the full episode (out now).Winning Friends is powered by e-Residency of Estonia, where entrepreneurs go to do business – 100% digitally, from anywhere in the world.

Maarja Pärt became YOLO Group’s COO in her mid-20s and quickly got used to being outside her comfort zone. Moments of self-doubt are your chances to grow – especially if you can share them with someone you trust. Winning Friends is powered by e-Residency of Estonia, where entrepreneurs go to do business – 100% digitally, from anywhere in the world.

In Maarja Pärt’s experience leading YOLO Group, a great team is made up of balanced strengths. So forget the male vs. female debate and focus on filling your leadership team with people’s individual strengths that make your company a success.Winning Friends is powered by e-Residency of Estonia, where entrepreneurs go to do business – 100% digitally, from anywhere in the world.

Maarja Pärt of YOLO Group doesn’t believe there’s a magic recipe, but thinks finding the right partner makes a difference.Winning Friends is powered by e-Residency of Estonia, where entrepreneurs go to do business – 100% digitally, from anywhere in the world.🎧 Hit play on episode 2 with Maarja today!

Maarja Pärt of YOLO Group knows what it’s like to start a career in customer success – helping the people whose feedback really matters – and taking what she learned to scale once her title had “Chief” in front of it.Winning Friends is a new monthly podcast where community meets smart business thinking.Winning Friends is powered by e-Residency of Estonia, where entrepreneurs go to do business – 100% digitally, from anywhere in the world.Watch the full episode now!

Get real tips on how to grow your network and business 👉 https://www.winningfriendspodcast.com/--- --- ---Maarja Pärt might drink flat whites, but she’s spilling the tea on what it’s really like to grow a company from 10 to 1000 people – that’s after a toxic partner leaves the company in financial stress.Logan and Dylan take a deep dive with Maarja on her 10 years at YOLO Group that have aligned with massive growth for the company and her own rise from a role in customer success straight to the C-suite.Maarja shares her lived-and-learned experiences of:- bouncing back from near failure- building a team from scratch (on a budget)- planning in fast-paced, highly-regulated markets- making imposter syndrome your friendFriends don’t let friends miss an episode – listen and share today.Winning Friends is powered by e-Residency of Estonia, where entrepreneurs go to do business – 100% digitally, from anywhere in the world.

Avery Schrader, Modash founder, thinks you should find ways to do more of what you love. (AI could help, but maybe not how you think.)Listen to the full episode of Winning Friends – out now!Winning Friends is powered by e-Residency of Estonia, where entrepreneurs go to do business – 100% digitally, from anywhere in the world.

⚖️ On the brand side, it’s all about balance. To succeed, companies take the pressure off performance and focus on driving content that gets their audience to connect the brand to the problem they're facing.Expect more insight and honest conversations from global founders on Winning Friends – our new podcast where community meets smart business thinking.🎧 Listen to the full episode today.Winning Friends is powered by e-Residency of Estonia, where entrepreneurs go to do business – 100% digitally, from anywhere in the world.

Are you getting your customers addicted to discount codes?You’re destroying your margins over time and making it harder to get into retail in the future.Avery Schrader, founder of Modash, an influencer marketing platform, sees this problem all 👏 the 👏 time 👏. Can’t go cold turkey? (BTW Avery thinks you should)🔚 make codes expire quickly🤝 give exclusive codes to code distributorsGet more practical advice in the full episode (out now).Winning Friends is powered by e-Residency of Estonia, where entrepreneurs go to do business – 100% digitally, from anywhere in the world.

Avery Schrader drops gems from founders of Bolt, Pipedrive & more – and shares how he’s building Modash.io into a global brand.Winning Friends is powered by e-Residency of Estonia, where entrepreneurs go to do business – 100% digitally, from anywhere in the world.👉 Hit play to get inspired and grow your own global brand.

Meet your new Winning Friend – Avery Schrader, who’s helping creators make a living and over 1,500 brands build loyal customers through influencer marketing at Modash.Winning Friends is a new monthly podcast about authentic connections, networking hacks, and strategic moves that lead to global opportunities – made for entrepreneurs everywhere. Winning Friends is powered by e-Residency of Estonia, where entrepreneurs go to do business – 100% digitally, from anywhere in the world.Watch the full episode now!

Grab your favourite drink, get ready for business truth-bombs, and meet your new friends on our first-ever Winning Friends episode. Logan Merrick and Dylan Hey are your connection makers, introducing you to new friends – and their ideas – on every episode.First up is Avery Schrader, founder of Modash, an influencer marketing platform with a fresh $12M in funding that’s trusted by heavy-hitting brands like Stanley, Birkenstock, and Mont Blanc. Avery shares his behind-the-scenes experiences of:- making brands succeed with creator campaigns- building brand love- how AI is shaping the creator and marketing spaces- the biggest mistakes he sees in e-commerce.Friends don’t let friends miss an episode – watch and share today.Winning Friends is powered by e-Residency of Estonia, where entrepreneurs go to do business – 100% digitally, from anywhere in the world.