In this episode of Emotional Business, host Olga Skipper sits down with Marius Hepp Kemper—serial entrepreneur, CEO of Junto, and a leader deeply invested in the real complexities of organizational change. Having launched multiple ventures, navigated high-profile VC funding, and now bootstrapping a human-centric leadership development company, Marius brings a rare, candid perspective on what leaders truly confront behind the metrics and headlines.

Together, Olga Skipper and Marius Hepp Kemper dig beneath surface-level success to examine the emotional realities, strategic pivots, and core questions that define modern leadership. This episode unpacks the evolution from VC-driven goals to intrinsic, mission-led work, the new demands on leaders as workplaces shift dramatically, and why the practice of “unlearning” may be more critical now than ever.

In this episode, we explore: • Why “Proving Yourself” Silently Drives Founders — and how letting go unlocks authenticity in hiring, market choice, and impact • Going Beyond Sexy Markets and VC Pitches — pivoting toward organic relationships, unforced growth, and mission-driven business models • What Mid-Market Companies Teach Us About Leadership Development — the unique challenges, sticky partnerships, and value of practical expertise over headlines • Human Skills vs. AI Transformation — why emotional intelligence, self-reflection, and cultural change matter more as artificial intelligence moves into organizations • The Changing Role of Coaches and Trainers — how AI is disrupting basic coaching, and why lived experience becomes the ultimate differentiator • Finding The Line Between Human & AI Value — real experimentation inside Junto, plus practical examples of measurement, personalization at scale, and next-level assessment • Unlearning as a Superpower — why the leaders who stay open, humble, and willing to start fresh are best equipped for the changing world • Entrepreneurial Thinking for All — why intrapreneurship and ownership mindsets are coming back, especially within corporates • The Secret to “Having It All”? — gratitude, grounding, and redefining happiness beyond pure entrepreneurial achievement

This episode moves beyond theory and glossy narratives—offering unvarnished insights, personal stories, and real strategies for leaders and founders facing a complex, rapidly evolving business landscape. If you’re a founder in transition, an executive wrestling with cultural change, or a people leader redefining your value in an AI-driven world, this conversation will feel both validating and practical.

Get comfortable and listen in as Olga Skipper and Marius Hepp Kemper tackle the real questions, emotional traps, and unspoken pressures shaping leaders for 2026 and beyond.

Don’t forget to hit follow and share this episode with someone navigating leadership transformation!

CHAPTERS 00:00 — Introduction to Emotional Business: Leadership in Tech & 2026 01:13 — Meet Marius: Entrepreneurial Roots, Ups & Downs, and the Junto Story 04:35 — From VC Glory to Bootstrapping: What Leadership Unlearning Looks Like 06:40 — Markets That Matter: Finding Authentic Partners Outside the Startup Bubble 10:18 — How Mid-Market Clients Changed Junto’s Approach 11:02 — What Leaders Are Really Struggling With: Human Transformation Amid AI Change 14:34 — Human-Centered Culture vs. Tech Adoption: The Emotional Core of AI Transformation 15:55 — Coaching, Training & the Rise of AI Substitution 17:11 — AI Use Cases: Personalization and Measurability in Leadership Development 19:33 — Measurement Revolution: Prototyping AI Roleplays for Real Skill Assessment 21:00 — Hybrid Teams, Analytical and Emotional Skill Integration 24:10 — Entrepreneurial Thinking: Essential for Career Value in the New Corporate World 25:46 — What Leaders Must Unlearn: Self-Reflection, Humbleness and Beginner’s Mind 28:31 — The Myth of “Having It All”: Gratitude and Grounding in Leadership 33:04 — Closing Reflections & Thank You

Connect with Olga: LinkedIn: Olga Skipper Website: www.olgaskipper.com

Connect with Marius: LinkedIn: Marius Hepp Kemper

This episode is for founders, executives, and anyone facing real, emotional turning points in leadership. Hold space for what’s changing—and what must stay deeply human—on your journey.

In this episode of Emotional Business, host Olga Skipper welcomes Dorothea von Wichert-Nick — CEO coach, former MD/COO, and a seasoned expert in helping leaders break through personal and professional growth barriers. Dorothea draws from decades of experience coaching founders and leading management teams, offering a profound look at what really holds ambitious entrepreneurs back and how to create lasting, sustainable leadership beyond the toxic hustle culture.

Dorothea steps into the conversation at a moment when many founders hit their "inner glass ceiling"—those invisible obstacles rooted in personal history, inner belief systems, and deeply held patterns. Together, Olga and Dorothea unpack the real-life struggles leaders face when their companies grow, the emotional toll of fighting, freezing, or fleeing from leadership challenges, and the transformative power of self-development.

This episode takes you inside the hidden dynamics underlying entrepreneurial growth: why most companies never scale beyond 50 people, how childhood experience shapes ambition, and why breaking through personal limits is the foundation of authentic leadership.

In this episode, we explore: • The Three Modes of Hitting Limits — fight, flight, and freeze, and their impact on growth and well-being • The Reality of Small Companies — why 97% of German businesses never scale up and what it means for economic change • How Childhood Drives Leadership — the connection between ambition, early experiences, and belief systems • Practical Steps for Founders — recognizing your personal glass ceiling and starting self-development work • The Bridge to Real Leadership — Dorothea’s power within, power with, and power to model for sustainable growth • Overcoming Burnout and Isolation — shifting from toxic pressure to healthy, organic growth • Building Strong Relationships — moving from agency to true leadership, and cultivating eye-level connection • Dorothea’s Vision and Mission — why personal and collective transformation matter now more than ever

Olga and Dorothea move beyond surface-level business advice and dive deep into what it means to lead, grow, and reimagine entrepreneurial success—especially for founders determined to create something enduring and meaningful. This conversation is essential for leaders, founders, and executive coaches eager to break through their own limits, foster self-agency, and build powerful organizations that thrive beyond the founder's personality.

If you’re an ambitious entrepreneur, coach, or executive longing to lead with greater clarity, depth, and real impact, this episode will resonate deeply.

So settle in for this grounded, heartfelt, and game-changing exploration of emotional business.

Don’t forget to subscribe and share this episode with a founder or leader in your network!

CHAPTERS 00:00 — Introduction to Emotional Business 00:02 — Dorothea’s Personal Story: Ambition, Limits, and Leadership 00:06 — Why Break Through Your Glass Ceiling? 00:08 — The Scale Problem: Small Companies and the Need for Ambitious Leadership 00:10 — Recognizing Your Own Glass Ceiling 00:13 — What Makes a Great Coaching Client 00:15 — Managing Hurdles and Resistance on the Growth Journey 00:17 — Getting Ready for the Experience: What Clients Should Know 00:20 — Building the Bridge: 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 Olga: LinkedIn: Olga Skipper Website: www.olgaskipper.com

Connect with Dorothea: LinkedIn: Dorothea von Wichert-Nick Blog: www.dorothea-nick.com (for articles and further resources)

Enjoy the conversation and start breaking your own inner glass ceiling—one insight at a time.

In this episode of Emotional Business, host Olga Skipper sits down with Zamina Ahmad — CEO of Shades and Contrast, co-founder at ZAC, and a global thought leader on technology ethics, AI adoption, and the deeply human dimensions of innovation.

As the world moves through the rapid shifts of the “AI era,” leaders are challenged to navigate responsibility, fear, and uncertainty at a pace that often outstrips established norms and institutions. Olga Skipper and Zamina Ahmad peel back the layers on what it means to lead right now—where there are no more blueprints and where clarity often feels out of reach.

Together, they explore the emotional core and leadership complexities of driving AI adoption, staying competitive, and—and perhaps most importantly—staying connected to team, purpose, and the human side of business.

In this episode, we explore:

• Bridging the Gap Between Hype and Reality — why leaders must navigate the space between technological optimism and legitimate fear, and how to align diverse teams in an AI-driven world

• The Invisible Side of AI Change — how process automation alters not just workflows, but the very roles and identities of the people within organizations

• From Expert to Explorer — letting go of the “leader with all the answers” mindset and embracing uncertainty, curiosity, and emotional resilience as core leadership traits

• AI and Human Contribution — redefining where people find meaning and value amidst the outputs (not always outcomes) generated by AI

• Culture, Bias, and Inclusion — how Zamina Ahmad’s experiences as a woman and a person of color fuel her advocacy for more socially-responsible, inclusive data practices

• The Real Fears Leaders Face — from market competition to the personal anxiety of losing relevance, plus the challenge of “shadow IT” and maintaining control in a fast-moving ecosystem

• AI for Good — examples of AI deployed for social impact, including mental health support chatbots and life-saving communication across languages in moments of crisis

• Self-Awareness, Social Awareness, and Hybrid Leadership — finding the balance between using AI as a tool and ensuring genuine human connection, both in organizations and our personal lives

• Parenting and Digital Literacy — how leaders (and parents) can shape the next generation’s relationship with technology by modeling thoughtful, ethical, and responsible use

This conversation will resonate with any leader, manager, or professional navigating the real emotional weight of technological change. If you’re wrestling with team alignment, personal adaptation, or the tension between innovation and humanity—the wisdom here will ground you. You’ll also find practical perspective on AI’s risks, ethical guardrails, and the evolving role of human strengths in a world full of “outputs.”

Get ready for a refreshingly candid, highly relevant discussion that brings intellect, empathy, and purpose to one of the biggest topics in business today.

Don’t forget to subscribe and share this episode with a fellow leader or technologist!

CHAPTERS 00:00 — Welcome to Emotional Business 00:29 — Meet Zamina Ahmad: Data, AI Ethics, and Purpose 02:37 — The Complexity of AI Leadership 03:33 — Aligning Teams and Navigating AI Hype 05:58 — Changing Roles, Hidden Dynamics 07:16 — Skills for the AI Era: Human Contribution & Happiness 09:37 — Leadership Without All the Answers 12:07 — Culture, Communication, Emotional Intelligence 13:31 — Customizing Change: Context Matters 15:28 — Mistakes, Fears, and the Drive for Control 18:03 — Motivation & ‘AI for Good’ 19:55 — From Fear to Curiosity: Reframing Possibility 21:06 — Input, Output, and the Power of Human Connection 23:58 — Mindset Shifts and the Role of Context 25:07 — Self-Awareness in a Technological Age 26:24 — AI in Coaching, Mental Health & the Human Touch 34:24 — Parenting, Responsibility, and Digital Literacy 36:15 — The Future of Hybrid Leadership

Connect with Olga: LinkedIn: Olga Skipper Website: www.olgaskipper.com

Connect with Zamina: LinkedIn: Zamina Ahmad Website: Shades and Contrast