Inner Power Particles

Kā zināt un iet savu ceļu darbā vai biznesā? Vai jēdziens "sirds ceļš darbā” vispār eksistē, vai tas ir tikai skaists mīts?Ja darbā / biznesā piedzīvo praktisku vai emocionālu iestrēgumu - šī epizode ir Tev.Ilze Švarcbaha, Signe Robinsone, Nauris Skride un Farhads Niyoz atklāti sarunājas par to, kā iziet no iestrēgumiem, atrast savu aicinājumu un nepazaudēt sevi darbā. Arī kā atšķirt īslaicīgu apnikumu no nepareizā ceļa.Mēs runājam par praktiskiem soļiem - ko darīt, ja svētdienas vakarā pārņem šausmas par pirmdienu? Vai palikt un "ciesties" vai riskēt un iet prom?Šajā epizodē uzzināsi: ✅ Sirds ceļš - mīts vai reāla iespēja?✅ Signes, Naura un Ilzes personīgos stāstus par "melnajām bedrēm" un izeju no tām. ✅ Kāpēc mēs baidāmies mainīt vidi, kas mums nepatīk. ✅ Praktiskus padomus par deleģēšanu un savas vērtības celšanu. ✅ Kā dzīves satricinājumi kļūst par pagrieziena punktiem.00:00 Ievads: Kāpēc mēs sanācām uz šo sarunu?06:29 Vai "sirds ceļš" darbā vispār eksistē? 07:10 Signes stāsts: Krīze un atklāsme 15:35 Naura stāsts: Kad darbs kļūst par hobiju 17:03 Ilzes stāsts: Īstā ceļa atrašana caur eksperimentiem un izslēgšanu 24:50 Kad ar saviem spēkiem nepietiek: Kad meklēt palīdzību? 31:46 Praktiskie šķēršļi: Pārslodze, cenu celšana un deleģēšana 37:22 Ko darīt, ja darbs vairs nepatīk? 50:43 Uzņēmēja strupceļš: Ko darīt, ja nesanāk? 59:52 Dvēseles "trenažieru zāle": Skats uz grūtībām no malas 1:12:07 Vīzija: Kā iegūt skatu nākotnē 1:22:54 Kas Tev ir iekšējā motivācija tajā, ko dari?1:26:38 Kā pārdzīvot "melnās bedres" un krīzes brīžus? 1:34:43 Noslēguma ceļavārdi un ieteikumiFarhads Niyoz palīdz veidot veiksmīgu uzņēmumu vai karjeru atbilstoši personīgajām vērtībām. Atziņas, meistarklases un individuālas sesijas. Klienti - privātpersonas un uzņēmumu dibinātāji un vadītāji, tsk. Shen.ai (Polija), Unosol (Lietuva), Monetizr (Latvija) un 100+ citu uzņēmumu vadītāji. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/farhadniyoz/Ātrā info: https://taplink.cc/farhadniyozMājas lapa: https://www.cocoonprogram.com/

Is your company’s growth capped by your own capacity? At a certain stage, scaling stops being about "what" you do and becomes entirely about "how" you set up your internal engine.If you feel like you're constantly putting out fires instead of executing your strategy, this Scalability Masterclass is for you. Farhad Niyoz (CEO of Cocoon) and Martins Bicevskis (Professional Board Member) break down the "Scalability Puzzle" - the specific disconnects between Strategy, Execution, and Team that create friction and kill profitability.In this video, you will learn: • The Strategy Trap: Why most strategic plans detach from reality and how to fix the "buy-in" problem. • Escaping Firefighting: How to move from reactive problem-solving to a steady execution rhythm. • The Team Equation: How to spot C-level mis-hires and why "nice" CEOs often fail to scale. • Practical Tools: A core team exercise you can run immediately to spot blockers.Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction and goals02:06 Meet the speakers: Farhad and Martins04:58 Understanding company scalability08:37 The role of strategy in scaling09:08 Strategy content 21:08 Strategy process: staying realistic25:47 Strategy buy-in: alignment and accountability29:43 Navigating investor disagreements 34:37 The role of execution in scaling38:47 CEO responsibilities: firefighting vs. planning39:56 Financial hygiene for CEOs 42:54 Delegating responsibility and decisions47:58 Building a steady execution system54:20 The role of the team in scaling58:38 Team setup: placement, structure, and collaboration 59:59 Team journey 1:04:50 Leadership principles 1:07:19 Leading by example vs. motivating1:11:55 Action step: the growth blockers assessment1:13:46 How to get individual support1:11:09 Creating a sense of ownership 1:14:11 Closing thoughts and open discussion1:15:04 Love what you do vs. Do what you love 1:16:44 The Nvidia lesson: starting small Resources & Next Steps: 🔹 Free Growth Blockers Assessment: https://www.cocoonprogram.com/assessment 🔹 Learn more about Cocoon: https://www.cocoonprogram.com/ 🔹 Request an individual session: https://www.cocoonprogram.com/grow-with-us 🔹 Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/farhadniyoz/About the Speakers: Farhad Niyoz is the CEO of Cocoon, a mentor, and a former tech founder. He helps growth-stage CEOs build strong, aligned teams that execute autonomously, preventing the founder from becoming the bottleneck.Martins Bicevskis is a professional supervisory board member and C-Suite advisor.​ He advises CEOs on scaling, org design, and high-stakes transitions pre- and post-IPO, drawing on experience leading teams in the hundreds.

Running a startup but can't get VCs interested? Struggling to keep co-founders aligned? Build IT's Matiss Neimanis breaks down why he's rejected promising startups, what happens when founders fight, and why sitting on two chairs (keeping your day job too long) usually kills the company. Managing 50+ early-stage investments taught him when to trust data versus gut feeling. Plus, he shares how getting seriously ill forced him to rethink managing both a VC fund and his personal life - without sacrificing either. This is real talk for founders dealing with co-founder tensions, struggling with investor rejections, or trying to figure out when to quit their day jobs.  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 Farhad Niyoz, authentic growth guide and CEO of Cocoon Program  ❇️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/farhadniyoz/ ❇️  Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/farhadniyoz/ 

When one founder went from 70-hour work weeks to spending days in bed, and another switched from intense corporate life to running a health tech startup, they learned energy management is as important as business management. An honest conversation about what actually drains leaders' energy (hint: it's rarely the workload), why some team dynamics are literally exhausting, and practical ways to spot energy vampires in your organization. For leaders who want to stop confusing being tired with being effective. 🔔Welcome to Inner Power Particles. 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. Inner growth and business growth guidance for founders and leaders: ❇️ https://www.cocoonprogram.com/resources Uncover how to scale your business fast with clarity ❇️ https://www.cocoonprogram.com/scale Follow Remi Koscielny, Co-founder, CEO @ Shen.AI | Healthcare Innovator ❇️ Linkedin: https://bit.ly/3P8UsSY Follow Farhad Niyoz, authentic growth guide and CEO of Cocoon Program ❇️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/farhadniyoz/ ❇️ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/farhadniyoz/

In this episode, Kristaps, CEO of Language Inspired, reveals how he bootstrapped a thriving localization company, overcame co-founder challenges, and built a remote-first team driven by values. Discover practical insights on scaling sustainably and creating a business you love. 🔔Welcome to Inner Power Particles. 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. Inner growth and business growth guidance for founders and leaders: ❇️ https://www.cocoonprogram.com/resources Uncover how to scale your business fast with clarity ❇️ https://www.cocoonprogram.com/scale Follow Kristaps Lapins, CEO of Language Inspired ❇️ Linkedin: https://bit.ly/3VnKW1U Follow Farhad Niyoz, authentic growth guide and CEO of Cocoon Program ❇️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/farhadniyoz/ ❇️ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/farhadniyoz/

In this episode, Tõnu Vahtra, Head of Service Operations at Playtech, shares hard-won insights on scaling and preparing for acquisition from a buyer's perspective. We discuss the challenges of maintaining team morale and alignment through rapid growth, designing scalable decision-making processes, and why burnout prevention is crucial for high-performing teams. Tõnu also dives into what acquirers look for, common startup pitfalls, and key strategies to increase a company’s attractiveness for acquisition. For founders and leaders, this episode offers actionable advice on creating lasting value and preparing for the demands of scaling up. 🔔Welcome to Inner Power Particles. 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. Inner growth and business growth guidance for founders and leaders: ❇️ https://www.cocoonprogram.com/resources Uncover how to scale your business fast with clarity ❇️ https://www.cocoonprogram.com/scale Follow Tõnu Vahtra, Head of Service Operations at Playtech ❇️ Linkedin: https://bit.ly/3YYA8It Follow Farhad Niyoz, authentic growth guide and CEO of Cocoon Program ❇️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/farhadniyoz/ ❇️ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/farhadniyoz/

When studying to be a dentist, Sergejs parallelly became a sales person at a dental supplies company, which was way out of his comfort zone. This approach of leaving his comfort zone, coupled with seeing and taking the low-hanging fruit, has led him to find and grow multiple successful dental clinics and start investing in tech companies. In this episode, we unpack and analyse his journey to extract actionable insights for others who want to improve their career and business. 🔔Welcome to Inner Power Particles. 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. Inner growth and business growth guidance for founders and leaders: ❇️ https://www.cocoonprogram.com/resources Uncover how to scale your business fast with clarity ❇️ https://www.cocoonprogram.com/scale Follow Sergejs Andrijevskis, Owner, CEO at Dental Art Implant Clinic Ltd ❇️ Linkedin: https://bit.ly/3Y19kYO Follow Farhad Niyoz, authentic growth guide and CEO of Cocoon Program ❇️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/farhadniyoz/ ❇️ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/farhadniyoz/

In this episode, I sit down with Madis, a former scaleup CEO who made the tough decision to step away from his company and take a sabbatical. We discussed what pushed him to leave a growing business with 400 paying customers and how he dealt with the following identity crisis.  Madis opens up about the challenges of managing expectations—his own and those of others—and how he's finding new meaning in work and life.  If you're a founder considering a significant change, this one's for you. 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 Madis Lehtmets, Designer & Entrepreneur ❇️ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/madis-lehtmets   Follow Farhad Niyoz, authentic growth guide and CEO of Cocoon Program  ❇️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/farhadniyoz/ ❇️  Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/farhadniyoz/ 

Discover how Nauris Skride transitioned from a software engineer to the CEO of Adaptive Media. What challenges did he face? How did he manage team dynamics and set realistic goals?  Hear about his approach to decision-making and long-term planning. There are insights on leadership and growth in a startup environment that are not to be missed. Tune in to uncover valuable lessons and inspiring stories from his journey. 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 Farhad Niyoz, authentic growth guide and CEO of Cocoon Program  ❇️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/farhadniyoz/ ❇️  Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/farhadniyoz/

In this episode, Indrek and Farhad explore balancing hands-on management with effective delegation while avoiding micromanagement.  Indrek talks about his transition to empowering his team and the strategic decision to bring on a COO. Indrek opens up about dealing with betrayals, navigating team dynamics, and keeping work-life balance in check.  Learn about his real-world insights on tackling CEO challenges and building a collaborative company culture. 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 Indrek Jaal, Founder&CEO at GlobalReader ❇️ Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/indrek-jaal-48107178   Follow Farhad Niyoz, authentic growth guide and CEO of Cocoon Program  ❇️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/farhadniyoz/ ❇️  Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/farhadniyoz/ 

In this episode, we explore the art and best practices of running effective meetings tailored for C-level management and founders. Martins Bicevskis, a seasoned professional with extensive experience in both governmental and private sectors, and Farhad Niyoz, an experienced entrepreneur and business mentor, share their expertise on optimizing meetings to extract maximum potential. Learn the critical steps for preparing, conducting, and concluding meetings, understand the importance of clear responsibilities, and discover strategies for leading productive discussions. Whether you want to improve decision-making, have a better team alignment, or improve the overall value of your meetings, this episode offers valuable insights and practical advice.  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 Mārtiņš Bičevskis, Non-Executive Director ❇️ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martinsbicevskis/   Follow Farhad Niyoz, authentic growth guide and CEO of Cocoon Program  ❇️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/farhadniyoz/ ❇️  Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/farhadniyoz/ 

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

It is no secret that trust is the key aspect of human connection whether we talk about business or personal relationships. It is the vulnerable nature of breaking trust and honesty that often leads to many hurtful and unnecessary arguments. In this episode, Cocoon Program CEO Farhad Niyoz talks with Cocoon Program mentor and professional board member Martins Bicevskis. They discuss how to build trust within an organization, and how to reduce fear and tension between different levels of team members. Martins tells his story of how fast he grew as a professional working in a fast-paced, straightforward environment as well as his experience working with 30 to 40 years older professionals in government and leading them with courage, riks, and ambition mindset. He opens up about his inner work toward mid-life crisis and becoming a more honest and authentic version of himself while making tough but necessary sacrifices. Overview of the topics: 2:21 Welcome Cocoon Program mentor, professional board member Martins Bicevskis 5:26 What value a professional board member brings to business organizations 6:45 Experiencing fast growth in a straightforward problem-solving environment 9:48 Martins journey of becoming a professional board member and startup mentor 13:22 Key differences between advising as a board member and advising as a mentor 16:06 Leading with courage, risk, and ambition 20:40 Turning biggest defeats and midlife crisis into life long lessons 24:16 Most dangerous lies people tell themselves 28:43 Feelings, emotions and conflicts in workplace 30:45 Undervalued importance of trust and how to build it within organization 37:24 How to reduce fear with mutual and clear agreements 42:24 The most powerful tool of a mentor: Understanding relationships 45:35 What are the main principles of organization from mentor perspective 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 Bicevskis mentor at Cocoon Program ➡️ https://www.linkedin.com/in/martinsbicevskis/ Follow Farhad Niyoz CEO of Cocoon Program ➡️ https://www.cocoonprogram.com/Mentors/Farhad-Niyoz

To be an entrepreneur - parent means to constantly search for a  balance between your work, your life and your wife. You know that you are in trouble when your daughter says: “Dad is spending more time with colleagues than us” but often the passion and drive for career development is so big that you miss out on learning how to be a part of the family.  In this episode, Cocoon Program CEO Farhad Niyoz talks with the COO of Stebby Roman Gnibida. Roman begins the conversation by telling a story of turning his vision from becoming a Russian language teacher to finding himself in the COO position of a startup and eventually buying it out from its founder. Their conversation explores the differences between the roles of COO and CEO, bringing up Roman’s insights into effectively dividing responsibilities and tasks within Stebby’s organizational framework.  He opens up about the topic of being a passionate entrepreneur and eventually losing energy when it comes to family life. Roman tells his experience and key moments that opened his eyes to becoming a better parent as well as shares practical advice on how to approach work-life balance and bring colors back to the relationship without letting work dominate personal space.  00:30 Welcome COO of Stebby Roman Gnibida  1:58 Dealing with unknown -  buying out Stebby  8:10 Explaining the process of Stebby MBO experience  10:43 Growing confidence by gaining knowledge as a startupper  11:54 Importance of startup environment  13:30 Key differences between COO and CEO purpose  19:20 Moving to Tartu with no language and culture understanding  22:55 Balancing work - sports - startup - family  25:31 Importance of dividing focus in relationships   28:12 Lessons from three-year growth as a father and partner  32:23 Entrepreneurs advice on relationship and parenthood 34:44 How to manage your negative thoughts and inner pressure  38:28 Constant learning how to be a part of the family 41:18 How to bringing back colors to relationship 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 Roman Gnibida COO of Stebby ➡️ https://www.linkedin.com/in/roman-gnibida/ Follow Farhad Niyoz CEO of Cocoon Program  ➡️ https://www.cocoonprogram.com/Mentors/Farhad-Niyoz

We tend to hear two kinds of start-up stories: ether someone just made a deal of their lifetime or scammed people to grab as much money as possible. But what happens in the middle of this ocean? What are the struggles of founders that may damage not only the company but even lead to a heart attack of years 40-year-old entrepreneur? And what about small wins - do we even know how to see and appreciate them? In this episode, Cocoon Program CEO Farhad Niyoz talks with the Co-Founder at Baltic Software Factory Rems Grinsteins. Listen to Rems' experience and inner struggles with merging his company with his best friend's business and how he is overcoming power struggles within himself after being the only boss for many years. Rems opens up about what happens when you ignore your authenticity as a human being. He talks about his heart attack at the age of 40 and how he committed to soul-searching and taking care of his mind before anything else. He talks about the benefits of meditation, key loopholes of making a change within oneself, and balancing the so-called “robot, perfect entrepreneur” life with being more human every day. Listen to hear an honest, vulnerable, and brave conversation between two founders searching for their inner power particles. Overview of the topic: 1:11 Welcome Co-Founder at Baltic Software Factory Rems Grinsteins 2:26 Merging a business 4:50 Transforming from sole CEO to multiple decision-makers 6:44 Small company reality check: dividing roles and becoming a sales lead 11:10 Power of clearly defined motivation for leader 13:45 Selling your team, attitude and work ethic instead of uniqueness 17:44 Constant push to make money 21:18 Overcoming the pressure of being half million in debt to friends 23:12 Rems story of having a medically unreasonable heart attack at the age 40 29:02 Turning inner lessons from near-death experience into action as a founder 34:50 Changing inner approach: benefits of practicing daily meditation 37:41 Difference between being ready to change and just wanting to 41:47 The most honest and important question to ask yourself 45:23 Breaking stereotype of being “entrepreneur - emotionless robot” 51:47 Complicity of balancing “robot” lifestyle with simply being a human 54:09 Beauty of being a human: Accepting the past and fearing the future 1:01:50 Farhads key takeaway from conversation with Rems 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 Rems Grinsteins Co-Founder at Baltic Software Factory ➡️ https://www.linkedin.com/in/rems-grinsteins/ Follow Farhad Niyoz CEO of Cocoon Program ➡️ https://www.cocoonprogram.com/Mentors/Farhad-Niyoz

What if burnout leads you to ego death and lack of clarity on your purpose? Will other stakeholders understand you? Is your new idea of how things work is the right one and others are missing out on it? Or maybe it opens up an opportunity for inner growth and lessons that need to be learned so that you can share them afterward with people around you… In this episode, Cocoon Program CEO Farhad Niyoz talks with Cocoon Program mentor and co-founder of ATRA Innovations Tommi Ullgren. Expect to hear a bit different conversation than the usual entrepreneurship talk between two wise minds. Tommi shares his experience with burnout and mental crisis and how it has been the second-best thing that has happened in his life. He opens up about different principles and ideas on how to redefine inner purpose while keeping up with the entrepreneurial path of life, what are the two most common paths of entrepreneurs, and what loopholes to avoid when committing to them. He also gives many practical ideas on how to balance inner peace with company growth and expectations from investors. While listening be ready to reflect on your journey and take some notes on the important but undervalued topics of emotions, passion, and reality you have defined for yourself. Overview of the topics: 0:30 Welcome Cocoon Program mentor, Co-Founder of ATRA Innovations Tommi Ullgren 2:10 What is ATRA - Advanced Technology Research Alliance 4:03 Turning burnout into a self-awareness journey 5:50 Tommi key principles as a mentor 7:37 Being a mentor - being there for others 9:26 Fulfiling inner IKIGAI with mentorship 10:44 Exploring two paths of being an entrepreneur 12:05 Path one: Impact entrepreneurship - juggling between purpose and opportunities 13:22 Finding your WHY with inner growth 15:47 Redefining startupper success and failure 18:43 Path two: The main loophole with a profit-oriented mindset 20:59 Finding a balance between inner purpose, company growth, and investor expectations 23:48 How to experience support and funding without giving away the company at the end 26:32 The undervalued importance of emotions, passion, joy, and love 30:35 Exploring the tricky human nature of fear of confrontation 33:10 Key difference between psychotherapy and mentorship 34:29 Practical advice on how to grow your self-awareness 36:39 Sharing different concepts of inner wisdom 38:15 What is synchronicity and the purpose of it? 39:50 Tommi's experience with cooperating with different belief systems 41:27 Advice on self-development - how to appreciate the crisis you are going through 45:43 Talking with your inner elves: Healing practice of sauna Welcome to the Inner Power Particles podcast.Here 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 Tommi Ullgren Co-Founder of ATRA Innovations, Cocoon Program mentor ➡️ https://www.linkedin.com/in/ullgren/overlay/contact-info/ Follow Farhad Niyoz CEO of Cocoon Program ➡️ https://www.cocoonprogram.com/Mentors/Farhad-Niyoz

Imagine one morning waking up on the military campus and seeing 160 people laughing at you - their supposed leader. Should you run away and pretend nothing ever happened? Should you tell yourself that this is not for you and it is time to move on? Or maybe sit down for a moment, admit the brutal truth, and turn it into the most valuable leadership journey of your life?  In this episode, Cocoon Program CEO Farhad Niyoz talks with Tommi Siro, Co-Founder and CGO of Jobilla. Tommi opens up about making a historical embarrassment of himself while serving in the mandatory military and how many lessons he took from it to his entrepreneurship journey as a co-founder. Learn about The Stockdale Paradox and the key steps to becoming a leader that others want to follow. Tommi also shares his experience with mentorship and advice for CEOs facing a crisis or as Tommi sees them - brutal facts.  Overview of the topic: 01:10 Welcome Co-Founder and CGO of Jobilla Tommi Siro 2:35 Turning embarrassment around: Tommi's story of messing up badly in the military 9:42 How to approach major mistakes and turn them around 13:06 Key steps to becoming a leader that others want to follow 18:57 Undeniable impact of loving parenthood 22:29 Why and How: Transforming shortcomings into strength 27:51 How honesty and carelessness might be the key to building self-awareness 32:13 Desensitizing confrontation: Seeking WHY behind every argument 35:26 The Stockdale Paradox: Leadership growth with honesty and gratitude 40:26 Advice for crises: Face the brutal facts, take action accordingly 43:04 Using mentorship to expand your bubbles and views 47:58 Correlation between mental resilience, simplicity, and happiness 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 Tommi Siro CGO and Co-Founder of Jobilla ➡️ https://www.linkedin.com/in/tommi-siro-88684260/ Follow Farhad Niyoz CEO of Cocoon Program  ➡️ https://www.cocoonprogram.com/Mentors/Farhad-Niyoz

What happens when three founders cannot divide the company for 18 months? How to let go of 70% of the company to survive in the toughest times. What needs to be sacrificed before changing your vision that you cherish like your own child? How incredible is the impact a mentor can bring to you and your business?  Prepare yourself for it all!  In this episode, Cocoon Program CEO Farhad Niyoz talks with Maido Janke, CEO of Eziil Production Intelligence. Maido shares his honest thoughts and lessons on everything that he has survived from burning all the money from first fundraising and being forced to let go 70% of the company to finding answers for Eziil’s problems and sacrificing even more to solve them. Expect to learn many practical but harsh lessons, reflect on yourself a lot, and find some answers to your inner struggles while enjoying this brutally honest and pure conversation. Topic overview: 00:30 How marriage will change you as a person  3:23 How to deal with conflict when dividing a company with co founders 9:03 Challenge, Problem, Bliss, and Hell at the same time: Having 3 co-founders  11:05 Number one lesson from the process of spin-off 13:33 Why you might need a business mentor?   15:57 Secret ingredient of negotiation  18:02 Maido’s brave way of approaching raising money for the company  20:22 How investing your own money will completely switch your  “founders mindset”  22:27 What struggles first fundraising bring to you and what to learn from that 27:37 Maido’s best advice on onboarding a new team for early startup 29:26 What failing multiple times taught about the reality of sales  31:19 Difference between having a vision and hallucination as a founder 33:07 How mentor broke Maido right  before Maido almost broke the company  37:42 Firing 70% of the company 38:57 How trading team for time to think will pull you out of the hole  42:51 Getting brutally exposed by mentor once again 45:00 Two crucial mistakes that almost killed Maidos’ company “Eziil” and what to learn from them  46:48 Lessons on customer segments: How to get customers to use your product  50:51 Why must you change yourself before changing your vision?  55:18 Experience in Cocoon Program: Prioritizing people over business 57:05 “Burn!” and “Beautiful Maturity” 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. 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/scaling…⁠ Get real-time actionable insights from your steel fabrication process ➡️ https://eziil.com/

For three years focusing only on work and preparing for an Ironman race. Then spending a year searching for what’s wrong and overcoming overtraining syndrome. What lessons can physical burnout teach about selfcare, leadership and priorities? How putting yourself and your feelings first will benefit everything around you and the way you show up every day?   In this episode Cocoon Program CEO Farhad Niyoz talks with Ex-CEO of Maria01 Ville Simola. They talk about Ville’s journey of becoming an Ironman, sacrifices and lessons from his four year journey. Ville shares his practical advice on becoming a better leader, opens up about how leaders should approach fear of vulnerability and how he did it. What challenges him when talking about feedback and how to approach such a sensitive and important topic as well as gives his younger self advice about patience and the importance of truly trusting people around you.  Topic overview: 1:09 Welcome CEO of Maria01 Ville Simola (At the time of recording) 3:07 What it feels like to finish Ironman race 5:21 What brought Ville to becoming an Ironman 7:32 Combining work with training for a race 8:47 How does it feel after investing 3 years for 12 hours of your life 10:02 What is overtraining and why it might feel scary 13:19 Difficulties to be the best version while lacking health 14:28 Dealing with burnout: Lessons from overtraining 16:28 What to focus on during tough times? 17:58 What sacrifices are expected when focusing on big goals? 18:58 Burnout: Lesson for CEOs 21:30 3 practical advices on leadership growth 23:57 How leaders should approach fear of vulnerability 26:26 Should all your business problems be solved?  28:11 Leading Maria01 - involving team in decision making 30:25 Struggle with feedback and how to give it more efficiently  34:25 What to expect from mentorship and why look for it  36:17 The key of good collaboration with many different stakeholders 39:15 What inner insights lead Ville to step away from Maria01?  41:09 Advice for younger self 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. 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/scaling… The leading startup campus in the Nordics ➡️ ⁠https://maria.io/

Having $87 in bank account while being in San Francisco with one mission - figure out overnight how to get money and survive. Years later, Monetizr has raised $4M from “Change Venture”, “Ludus Ventures”, "Techstars,” and multiple angel investors. This is a story of fighting for survival as a unique startup, finally seeing some signals and taking over the US In-Game advertising market, life changing leadership lessons, and the meaning of work-life balance for CEO of Monetizr, Andris Merkulovs. Overview of the topics: 00:31 Welcome CEO of Monetizr Andris Merkulovs  01:07 What is Monetizr?  2:30 Figuring out how to survive 5:19 Figuring out why to survive 7:18 Co-founder dynamics  9:10 Back to basics - talk with customers! 9:51 It is okay to feel tired   10:28 Pushing up the hill, vision 12:18 Using investors to open the doors  15:16 Importance of using your resources efficiently   18:37 How to make decisions that lead you to your goal 22:00 Communication, Collaboration and Leadership  27:57 Changing leadership within the company  29:36 Growing as a leader - Smartest person in the room 35:56 Sharing experience: Startups and potential of accelerators  38:46 Importance of mentorship and Cocoon Program  40:25 Being a better husband  41:26 Work-life balance  44:18 Why choose Monetizr?  46:15 Having a heart in what you are doing Welcome to Inner Power Particles podcast. Here 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 Follow Andris Merkulovs CEO of Monetizr ➡️ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrismerkulovs/ Follow Farhad Niyoz CEO of Cocoon Program ➡️ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/farhadniyoz/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/farhadniyoz/ X: https://twitter.com/FarhadNiyoz

What happens when the meaning of the term CEO changes from waiting for promotion to becoming one by stepping up yourself? What if you feel that you should lead the people, and turning annual revenue into a monthly number is right there in your vision? In today's episode, Farhad Niyoz talks with the founder and CEO of Jobilla Henri Nordström. They talk about Henris' journey of taking an important step and becoming the CEO. Misconceptions about the startup's purpose and why creating value is more important than exiting the company. Henri also shares his key lessons as a CEO who focuses on self-development and practical ideas for CEOs to transform their inner power. Overview of the topics: 00:45 Welcome CEO of Jobilla Henri Nordström 01:01 Becoming a Co-founder for already existing company  03:10 Breaking misconception about early startup exit 04:23 Changing focus from exiting to building 05:28 Why "creating value” is not just a beautiful wording 06:28 Becoming a CEO by speaking up in a meeting 10:13 Self-reflection: Past 8 years 12:27 Decision making: Consensus vs Final Word 14:20 How to build self-belief 16:13 Finding balance between gut feeling and market signals  19:01 Inner work  22:06 Supporting your personal growth with business 23:20 Value and potential  24:48 Henri's suggestions for self-development  27:07 Creating business with purpose to help people  29:43 Jobilla success story  30:58 Jobilla - changing the world of recruiting  32:46 Message to strugling CEOs  36:22 Talking revenue growth 36:54 The journey is not finished 37:34 Inner Power Particles Welcome to Inner Power Particles podcast. Here 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 Follow Henri Nordström CEO of Jobilla ➡️ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/henri-nordstrom/ Follow Farhad Niyoz CEO of Cocoon Program ➡️ LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/farhadniyoz/⁠ Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/farhadniyoz/⁠ X: ⁠https://twitter.com/FarhadNiyoz⁠

Fast growing agency, high profitable revenue, powerful team, but missing key player... happiness. Should you keep working and ignore your inner feelings, or should you drop everything you have built to switch runaway and go for your dream? In today's episode, we talk with Gatis Zvejnieks, a co-founder and CTO of the augmented reality startup Overlyapp.com. Learn about how Gatis traded money for two years of his life. How he lost all his happiness while driving a successful and fast-growing agency. Importance of listening to the inner voice. How Gatis overcame his fear of confrontation and what he learned from it. And why sometimes being unprepared can be good, whether it is going to India or selling all the furniture from your house? Overview of the topics: 00:32 Welcome Co-Founder & CTO of Overly Gatis Zvejnieks 00:54 Building a dream 10 years ahead of its time 02:01 Trusting the process: Overly’s decade 05:18 Growing agency to support product 06:00 What is Overly? 07:16 Fast growth, lost balance, missing happiness 08:22 Seeking support for redirection 09:16 Giving away profitable agency for free 13:04 Do you regret what you have done? 15:20 Feelings, emotions and entrepreneurship 16:57 What is Inner voice? 19:04 Self-searching in India 22:23 Building a good relationship with the co-founder 24:31 Imperceptible but dangerous: fear of confrontation 31:22 Back to basics with fresh mindset 32:26 How you can support Overly 33:47 Why bootstrapping might be the right way for your startup 36:59 How finding a mentor means finding time for yourself 38:41 Accelerator versus self-development program 40:10 Gatis secret of keeping momentum 43:56 Getting rid of everything to find yourself Welcome to Inner Power Particles podcast. Here 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 Follow Gatis Zvejnkies CTO & Co-Founder of Overly ➡️ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gatis-zvejnieks-79797917/ Follow Farhad Niyoz CEO of Cocoon Program ➡️ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/farhadniyoz/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/farhadniyoz/ X: https://twitter.com/FarhadNiyoz

Uku Püttsepp is the CEO of Degritter. They have been in .Cocoon Program for many years and it has been a journey. In this interview, we talked with Uku about their business, how he sees his personal growth and what he has learned - both about himself and leading a business. If you felt connected with this topic and you'd like to learn more let's have a call and see if .Cocoon Program could be something for you. https://www.cocoonprogram.com

Aleksander Tõnnisson has invested in about 100 startups in his life. Working hard brought him multiple challenges that led him to find his path with heart. Now he shared his story and know-how about making decisions that include also listening to your feelings. "How it happened with me was that during the busiest time at work and things not working with my wife, we were sued by somebody who bought our apartment and that was a very nasty court case as they froze our assets. So the volume went very loud like the world was saying “If you are not listening, I’m going to talk louder.” The volume became so loud it was impossible not to hear."

Ansis Farhad Līpenītis, the CEO of .Cocoon interviewed Hristo Neiland, the COO of .Cocoon. Hristo talks about his childhood and journey of becoming the person he is today. He wanted to become a professional basketball player but after surgery for his ankle he couldn't fulfil his dream. After finding another passion - disc golf - a similar situation happened. This led him to mentoring athletes and from there becoming an entrepreneur and mentoring entrepreneurs.