In this episode, we go behind the scenes of one of the world’s most international language events — the Polyglot Conference — and talk about something most people never see: the business reality behind it.

My guest is Richard Simcott — known for speaking dozens of languages, but in this episode, we focus on something deeper. What does it actually take to carry a global event on your shoulders for more than 13 years? The pressure, the pivots, the financial risks, the emotional weight — and the resilience to keep going.

LINKS

Survey (and the chance of winning a free business mentoring session with Anja)

https://forms.gle/936nzZwq58BNeG3F6

More Real Talk about Life as an entrepreneur on Instagram and LinkedIn

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stories/anja_from_alemania/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anja-from-alemania/

Connect with Richard & The Polyglot Conference

Richard Simcott: https://speakingfluently.com/

Connect with Richard on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/speakingfluently

Polyglot Conference: https://polyglotconference.com/

Most New Year’s resolutions don’t fail because of a lack of discipline — they fail because change is often approached in the wrong way.

In this episode, I reflect on a deeply honest New Year’s Eve dinner with entrepreneur friends in Barcelona, where we had the kind of conversations founders rarely have out loud. Instead of talking about goals and resolutions, we asked each other better questions — questions that create clarity, alignment, and sustainable success.

I’m bringing those questions into today’s episode so you can reflect on your own direction, decisions, and priorities for 2026. If you’re tired of setting goals that don’t stick and want a more intentional, grounded way to shape the year ahead, this episode is for you.

Grab a notebook, take a breath, and let’s mentor up for a successful 2026.

LINKS

Survey (and the chance of winning a free business mentoring session with Anja)

https://forms.gle/936nzZwq58BNeG3F6

More Real Talk about Life as an entrepreneur on Instagram and LinkedIn

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stories/anja_from_alemania/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anja-from-alemania/

In this episode of Mentor Up, I sit down with Hyunwoo Sun, one of the most respected entrepreneurs in the global language-learning industry.

Hyunwoo has spent over 16 years building a brand that became #1 in its niche worldwide, publishing 50+ books and 80+ courses, all while staying deeply present as a father and leader. But this conversation isn’t about hustle, shortcuts, or overnight success.

We talk about what it really takes to build something that lasts: calm leadership, long-term thinking, knowing when to step back as a founder, and why impact matters more than metrics. Hyunwoo shares why he never started with a traditional business plan, how his definition of success has evolved, and what most founders misunderstand about growth, business models, and freedom.

We also explore the future of language learning, the role of AI, and what will remain deeply human no matter how advanced technology becomes.

This episode was recorded in Taiwan, right after our first Language Business Retreat, making it both a strategic deep dive and a reflection on what happens when experienced entrepreneurs come together to mentor, learn, and zoom out from day-to-day operations.

Interested in joining the next Language Business Retreat in November 2026 in Italy? Add your name to the waitlist, and we’ll let you know as soon as spots open: https://tally.so/r/ob6LxN

OTHER LINKS

Follow me on Instagram and LinkedIn for more Real Talk about Life as an entrepreneur.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anja-from-alemania/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stories/anja_from_alemania/

Connect with Hyunwoo and his brand Talk to me in Korean

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hyunwoosun/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hyunwoosun_ttmik/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@talktomeinkorean

REAL TALK: After 10 years of building ZALOA, I’m sharing 10 things I would actually do differently if I had to start over. From thinking bigger and raising capital earlier to hiring smarter, avoiding shiny-object syndrome, setting clearer expectations, and finally listening to my body — this is the real talk I wish I had heard a decade ago.

Number 10 is a special one: It's the only thing I wouldn’t change. I would choose it again, exactly the same way, every single time.

LINKS

Follow me on Instagram and LinkedIn for more Real Talk about Life as an entrepreneur.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stories/anja_from_alemania/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anja-from-alemania/

In this episode of Mentor Up, international investor and AI expert Herby Marchetti joins us for a candid conversation about what truly makes a business successful. From the wild early days of Germany’s startup scene to global mergers and acquisitions, Herby shares insights from 17 years of investing, advising, and building startups — and how trust, clarity, and courage remain the most valuable capital of all.

LINKS

Follow me on Instagram and LinkedIn for more Real Talk about Life as an entrepreneur.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stories/anja_from_alemania/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anja-from-alemania/

Connect with Herby:

https://herbertmarchetti.com/

What happens when everything you’ve built is taken from you? In this raw and powerful episode, serial entrepreneurs Laura and Ray Blakney open up about losing their company, facing betrayal, and navigating the darkness of depression.

They share the unfiltered truth of hitting rock bottom — and the hard but transformative journey of finding resilience, rebuilding trust, and redefining success. For entrepreneurs and leaders, this is more than a story: it’s a reminder that failure only happens when you stop trying.

✨ Whether you’re in the middle of your own struggle or preparing for the challenges ahead, the lessons in this conversation will stay with you.

LINKS

Follow me on Instagram and LinkedIn for more Real Talk about Life as an entrepreneur.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stories/anja_from_alemania/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anja-from-alemania/

Connect with Laura and Ray on LinkedIn

Laura: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laublakney/

Ray: https://www.linkedin.com/in/raymondblakney/

In this episode of Mentor Up, I’m sharing the recording of a live talk I gave at the SIBB Female Founder Event in Berlin.

It’s not a how-to guide or a glorified success story. It’s real talk about what it actually means to be a nomadic founder: 9 years of bootstrapping my company ZALOA Languages — until forming a strategic partnership with one of our biggest clients who later became our investor.

I also reflect on my own path — from being born in Germany to living in different countries since 2007 — and what it feels like to come full circle, speaking as a founder in my home country again.

📝 Don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review — it really helps others discover Mentor Up.

LINKS

Follow me on Instagram and LinkedIn for more Real Talk about Life as an entrepreneur.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stories/anja_from_alemania/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anja-from-alemania/

Come to a Female Founder Talk in Berlin at the SIBB:

https://sibb.de/en/sibb-eventseries/

What does it take to scale a business to $100 million — and what if the biggest thing holding you back is you?

In this episode, I sit down with Dan Roitman, the entrepreneur who turned Pimsleur into a $100 million product and the #2 language learning brand in the U.S.

We talk about the mindset shifts needed to grow past $1M, why most founders never manage to scale, and what it really takes to build a business in the era of AI. Dan shares practical insights, bold decisions, and the unfiltered truth about what drives companies to high growth.

And at the end of the episode, in the Real Talk segment, I open up about why I believe I’m currently the bottleneck in my own company — and why I’ve decided to take time this summer to go deep and work on that.

LINKS

Follow me on Instagram and LinkedIn for more Real Talk about Life as an entrepreneur.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stories/anja_from_alemania/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anja-from-alemania/

More about Dan:

Follow Dan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danroitman/

Dan's company to empower human innovation creating a brighter future for kids: https://mindfinity.com/