What happens when the biggest barrier to growth is no longer the market — but the leader?

In this episode of Emotional Business, Olga Skipper speaks with Dorothea von Wichert-Nick — CEO coach, former MD/COO, and experienced advisor to founders and leadership teams.

Dorothea works with what she calls the “inner glass ceiling”: the invisible limits shaped by personal history, beliefs, and recurring patterns that can become especially visible as a company grows.

Together, Olga and Dorothea explore what happens when founders outgrow the leadership approaches that got them this far — and why sustainable growth often requires personal development, not just better strategy.

In this episode:

• How fight, flight, and freeze can show up when leaders hit their limits
• Why personal growth often becomes a business issue as companies scale
• How early experiences and belief systems can shape ambition and leadership
• How founders can start recognizing their own “inner glass ceiling”
• Why self-development becomes increasingly important as responsibility grows
• Dorothea’s “power within, power with, and power to” model for sustainable leadership
• Moving away from pressure, isolation, and toxic hustle toward healthier growth
• Why strong relationships and eye-level connection matter in leadership
• The difference between personal agency and leading through others
• What founders should understand before starting a deeper coaching process
• Why personal and collective transformation are connected

Olga and Dorothea move beyond surface-level business advice to examine the internal dynamics behind entrepreneurial growth: the beliefs we carry, the ways we respond to pressure, and the leadership shifts required when organizations become bigger than the founder.

This is a conversation about growing without simply pushing harder — and about building organizations that can thrive beyond one person’s energy, personality, or capacity.

For founders, executives, and coaches interested in leadership development, scaling, and sustainable growth, this episode offers a thoughtful perspective on what it means to break through your own limits.

CHAPTERS

00:00 — Introduction to Emotional Business
00:02 — Ambition, Limits & Leadership
00:06 — The Inner Glass Ceiling
00:08 — Scaling Companies & Ambitious Leadership
00:10 — Recognizing Your Own Limits
00:13 — What Makes a Great Coaching Client
00:15 — Hurdles & Resistance
00:17 — Preparing for the Coaching Process
00:20 — Power Within, Power With & Power To
00:24 — Dorothea’s Vision as a Coach
00:25 — Advice for the Coaching Community
00:28 — Recommended Resources & Models
00:29 — Closing Reflections

Connect with Dorothea von Wichert-Nick:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wichertnick/
Blog: https://www.volate.de/blog

Connect with Olga Skipper:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/olgasteidlskipper/
Website: https://www.olgaskipper.com/

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