Emotional Business

In this episode of Emotional Business, host Olga Skipper welcomes Chris Bittinger—executive coach, assistant professor of practice at Purdue University, president at Open Pivot, and a deep thinker on emotional dynamics at work. Together, they unpack some of the most urgent and nuanced challenges facing leaders and coaches in today’s tech-driven, always-on environment: burnout, emotional triangles, and the underestimated power of contracting and boundaries.

Chris steps in at a critical moment for executives: when stress morphs into prolonged exhaustion and effectiveness suffers, and when relationships get tangled in the Karpman drama triangle (victim, persecutor, rescuer). Fresh from writing a dissertation on burnout and researching emotional triangles for his Columbia coaching credential, Chris brings both lived experience and academic rigor to this real-world conversation.

Together, Olga Skipper and Chris move past surface-level fixes and into the structural, systemic, and deeply personal factors that fuel burnout and relational conflict. They reflect on the ways family, culture, and shifting generational expectations impact leaders—and how outdated role-models (think Steve Jobs, Travis Kalanick) might no longer serve the next wave of founders and executives.

In this episode, we explore:
• Recognizing Stress vs. Burnout — how to differentiate, measure, and understand the symptoms beneath executive overwhelm
• The Karpman Drama Triangle — what it is, why it emerges in leadership and organization, and how to recognize your own triggers
• The Burnout-Drama Link — how anxiety, avoidance, and “owning what you can’t fix” accelerates both personal exhaustion and organizational dysfunction
• Contracting & Boundaries — the overlooked keys to staying differentiated, effective, and ethical as a coach or leader
• Outgrown Leadership Ideals — why old templates for success may be holding today’s leaders back and how generational shifts, family dynamics, and societal norms are changing the game
• Coach vs. Rescuer — the tension between helping and enabling, and the importance of knowing your own responsibility (and limits) in every professional relationship
• Authenticity & Differentiated Leadership — building confidence, self-efficacy, and a truly supportive environment without masks or exhaustion
• Recovery & Resilience — practical reflections on noticing warning signs and making space for self-care, as a leader and a coach

This episode is a must-listen for executive coaches, founders, and leaders navigating high-pressure environments. If you’re grappling with anxiety, conflict avoidance, or feeling overwhelmed by responsibility, you’ll find actionable insights and encouragement here. Coaches will appreciate the candid discussion about contracting, ethical boundaries, and the emotional labor of supporting transformative change without losing yourself in the process.

Settle in for a balanced, insightful, and deeply human conversation—a guide to stepping out of the drama triangle and into differentiated, authentic leadership.

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

CHAPTERS
00:00 — Introduction to Emotional Business
00:34 — Meet Chris Bittinger: Coach, Professor & Organizational Change Agent
01:11 — Burnout & Emotional Triangles: Two Threads
02:51 — COVID, Burnout, Stress: Differentiating the Signs
04:43 — Tools & Inventories: Maslach Burnout Inventory in Practice
05:49 — Surprising Burnout Rates & Startup Environment Observations
06:08 — Has Burnout Changed Over Time?
06:35 — The Paradox of Burnout & Coaching Results
07:31 — Tough Conversations & Conflict Avoidance
09:51 — Values, Truth, and Burnout: The Deeper Layers
11:04 — Drama Triangle Unpacked: Victim, Persecutor, Rescuer
16:02 — Contract, Responsibility & Stepping into the Triangle
18:06 — Triggers, Hooks & Getting Pulled In
20:11 — Roles in the Triangle: Victim, Persecutor, Coach as Observer
21:42 — Triangles Between People & Organizations
22:07 — Coach as Pyramid: Boundaries, Beliefs & Reflection
23:13 — Outdated Versus Evolving Leadership Models
25:00 — Generational Shifts, Family Dynamics, and Organizational Change
27:08 — Masks, Authenticity & The Pressure to Perform
27:45 — What Leaders Need to Know: Burnout & Drama Triangle
29:11 — Coaches’ Responsibility: Contracting, Boundaries, and Self-Care
31:28 — Ethical Boundaries & Rescuing Your Clients (or Companies)
33:15 — Letting Clients Own Success (and Failure)
34:34 — Coaches: Start With Yourself—Burnout & Triangles in Your Own Life
35:41 — The Difference Between Helping & Rescuing

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

Connect with Chris:
LinkedIn: Chris Bittinger
Website: openpivot.com

Article Burnout Pandemic https://www.td.org/content/atd-blog/the-burnout-pandemic-hiring-a-coach-could-be-your-lifesaver

 

If this episode sparked something for you, share it with someone navigating leadership or burnout. And hit follow or leave a review to help more people find this conversation!

In this episode of Emotional Business, host Olga Skipper welcomes Inara Joanethis—a seasoned people and HR leader dedicated to helping founders navigate the complex human landscape of startups, from “Lego brick” beginnings to organizational scale. With a career spanning FMCG, business services, and years deep in the VC/startup ecosystem, Inara Joanethis brings a practical and deeply nuanced understanding of what truly defines a successful company: the right people, structure, and a willingness to disrupt old patterns.

Together, Olga Skipper and Inara Joanethis unravel the critical questions that shape a company’s long-term health—questions early-stage and first-time founders rarely pause to ask. The conversation demystifies the evolving titles and expectations around “people roles” (from HR to Head of People, to Chief People Officer), exposes the most common founder mistakes in hiring and culture-building, and explores how even the most product-obsessed startups can avoid the trap of the “mini-me” team.

This episode goes far beyond compliance, recruitment, and the mechanics of the early-stage hiring. It examines how culture emerges—often by accident—and what it takes to intentionally “clean up” and course-correct before hitting the stages of hypergrowth or expansion. You’ll learn why the founder-to-CEO journey requires a shift from control to partnership, and why building trust with your people leader is not about “being pleasant,” but about creating true strategic space for honest, disruptive conversations.

In this episode, we explore:

• What Founders Get Wrong About HR — why “HR = recruiter” is an expensive myth that makes scale and culture so much harder

• The Evolution of People Roles — from compliance and payroll to strategic partners who shape the very DNA of a business

• Avoiding the “Mini-Me” Trap — how homogeneous teams build hidden risk, and why discomfort and difference are necessary for high growth

• The Critical Questions for Each Stage — a checklist for founders to audit their responsibilities, values, and culture as the company grows

• Building True Founder-People Partnerships — why trust, radical honesty, and saying “no” matter more than credentials, and how to craft a working relationship with your first HR lead

• Cleaning Up and Leveling Up — how to “clean house” during hypergrowth and expansion, and why this makes or breaks your future

• The Emotional Art of Leadership — how HR navigates crisis, culture, and complexity in a world where AI, remote work, and generational shifts make “people business” more challenging than ever

Olga Skipper and Inara Joanethis also reflect on the founder’s personal journey—from the loneliness of leadership and temptation to carry it all, to the gradual (sometimes crisis-driven) willingness to let people function into the C-suite. With concrete stories, candid advice, and a “no pleasant lunch break chatter” approach, this episode grounds listeners in both the realities and the potential of building a genuinely resilient, people-driven business.

If you’re a startup founder, people leader, or advisor—and especially if you’ve wondered when to bring in HR, or struggled to move beyond founder-led culture—this conversation is an essential guide. It’s also a powerful listen for any leader facing scale, wanting to avoid burnout and build a team strong enough to carry the company forward.

Settle in for an honest, strategic, and deeply practical episode that will help you reimagine both your team and your company’s future.

Don’t forget to subscribe and share this episode with a founder, people leader, or anyone building organizations that work—for humans.

CHAPTERS
00:00 — Introduction: Building a Business is More Than Product
01:29 — Inara’s Journey: From Soviet Lego to Leading People in Complex Markets
04:10 — “Who’s the People Person, Anyway?”—Demystifying HR Titles and Functions
09:04 — Early-Stage Founder Pitfalls and the “Mini-Me” Trap
12:55 — The Hard Questions Every Founder Must Ask
18:31 — Culture Emerges—With or Without You
20:17 — Founder-to-CEO: How to Build a Real Partnership with Your People Lead
26:03 — How Founding Teams (and HR) Are Evolving in the Age of Uncertainty
29:10 — Emotions, Crisis, and the Strategic Need for People Leadership
31:14 — Final Questions: Disrupt, Balance, or Both?
36:39 — Closing, Final Thoughts, and How to Connect

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

Connect with Inara:
LinkedIn: Inara Joanethis

Presentation for the episode - HR in VC-Backed Ecosystems

In this episode of Emotional Business, host Olga Skipper sits down with Oliver Wyrsch, CEO of Inficon—a global technology company navigating fast-changing markets, shifting geopolitical realities, and rapid industry transformation.

This thought-provoking conversation opens a window into the authentic, everyday work of global leadership: from steering an organization through pandemic-induced volatility to orchestrating high-performing teams across continents, Oliver Wyrsch shares how his focus on culture and coaching have become steady anchors in a sea of uncertainty.

Together, Olga Skipper and Oliver Wyrsch unravel what it really means to prioritize people over strategy, to empower leaders as coaches (not just task managers), and to build a company DNA that sustains growth—without losing sight of well-being, energy, and purpose.

In this episode, we explore:

• Why Culture Outranks Strategy — Oliver Wyrsch reveals why building strong teams and a genuine coaching culture outweighs rigid strategic plans, especially in a decentralized, high-change tech environment.

• Coaching as a Leadership Model — Inside Inficon’s approach: from training internal coaches and cultivating talent density to bringing coaching mindsets into every offsite, meeting, and 1:1.

• The Myth of Vision Statements — Why Inficon chose not to have a corporate “mission” and instead prioritized a living, evolving organizational identity rooted in curiosity, care, innovation, and growth.

• Navigating Chaos, Success, and Accountability — How to maintain alignment, empower bottom-up ideas, and manage financial pressures while resisting the urge for excessive control.

• Embracing Feedback and Continual Learning — Oliver Wyrsch gets candid about his own leadership evolution, from perfectionism to embracing mistakes, and how instant, specific feedback cycles drive development at every level.

• Curiosity as the Secret Ingredient — From executive coaching to people leadership, the conversation turns towards the essential role of curiosity and empathy in sustaining motivation—for both leaders and coaches.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone leading teams in fast-moving industries, global environments, or organizations balancing performance with people-first values. Founders, executives, middle managers, and HR leaders will all find practical wisdom and refreshing honesty on the real mechanics of modern leadership—beyond the glossy slogans.

So settle in for a nuanced, energizing, and deeply human conversation about what it takes to lead, grow, and thrive in today’s business world.

Don’t forget to subscribe and share this episode with fellow leaders or anyone rethinking what leadership can—and should—look like!

CHAPTERS
00:00 — Introduction to Emotional Business
00:28 — Meet Oliver Wyrsch: The Global CEO’s Journey
03:08 — Leading Through Uncertainty and Change
05:04 — Choosing Culture Over Strategy
08:54 — Inficon’s Coaching Model and Cultural DNA
15:35 — Connecting Vision, Culture, and Outcomes
20:26 — Embracing Financial Reality and Accountability
23:10 — Oliver Wyrsch’s Leadership Evolution
25:23 — Lifelong Learning and Making Coaches
26:22 — The Heart of Coaching: Curiosity and Impact
30:16 — Closing Reflections

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

Connect with Oliver
LinkedIn: Oliver Wyrsch

In this episode of Emotional Business, host Olga Skipper sits down with Alisa Reznik—executive coach, fractional COO, Tomorrow University lecturer, and advocate for authentic leadership. As we step into 2026, Olga and Alisa dive deep into the evolving landscape of leadership, from the emotional complexities of leading in uncertain times to the boundary-setting required for self-growth and healthy teams.

Alisa Reznik shares her journey as both a leader and a "student of herself," drawing from decades managing high-stakes trading teams, consulting for ambitious tech companies, and supporting current CEOs through transformation and turbulence. Together, they unravel what’s shifting in leadership styles, the importance of psychological safety, and how leaders can develop a more compassionate, reflective approach without losing conviction or hope.

This episode offers an honest look at the internal and external realities tech leaders face—the fight for clarity amid geopolitical shifts, the loneliness of entrepreneurship, and the value of vulnerability in executive coaching. Olga Skipperand Alisa Reznik move beyond theory, sharing lived lessons from the trenches and practical strategies for reshaping leadership in a world where certainty is rare and adaptability is essential.

In this episode, we explore:
• The Evolving Nature of Leadership — redefining effectiveness as “always learning,” moving past fixed mentalities
• Discovering Strengths and Building Confidence — the importance of external feedback, especially for women and those stepping into authority
• Managing Ego and Vulnerability — how to lead strong personalities, and why the best CEOs don’t need to be the loudest in the room
• The Real Impact of Geopolitical Instability — managing stress, anxiety, and the urge to overwork in a shifting tech and business landscape
• The Inner Voice and Limits — how high achievers cope with self-doubt, traumas, and the drive to “change the world”
• Loneliness and Motivation in Coaching — the transition from leading teams to being a solo entrepreneur & coach, and finding meaning in client results
• ADHD in Leadership and Coaching — how neurodiversity shapes energy, creativity, and the entrepreneurial journey
• Vulnerability as a Superpower — advice for new executive coaches stepping into the arena with high achievers

This conversation is for anyone navigating leadership transitions, wrestling with self-doubt, or seeking new ways to set boundaries and build resilience. It will resonate especially with coaches, executives, and founders looking for honest, practical wisdom about leadership’s emotional side—and how to keep growing when the ground keeps shifting.

So settle in and enjoy this candid, vibrant, and deeply relevant conversation.

Don’t forget to follow and share this episode with a leader or executive coach in your network!

CHAPTERS
00:00 — Welcoming Alisa: Leadership Roots & Self-Exploration
01:33 — From Trader to Leader: Lessons from Managing Big Egos
04:20 — How Leadership Keeps Evolving
07:00 — Building Confidence & Spotting Strengths
10:14 — Empathy for Every CEO: The Pressure and the Privilege
13:27 — Leadership in Times of Instability
17:30 — Mindset, Hope, and Conviction Amid Uncertainty
18:42 — The Inner Voice: Doubt and Limits for High Achievers
20:38 — Becoming a Coach: Surprises and Realities
24:43 — Staying Motivated in Solitude
28:57 — ADHD, Creativity, and Resilience
32:51 — Real Advice for New Executive Coaches

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

Connect with Alisa:
LinkedIn: Alisa Reznik

In this season opener of Emotional Business, host Olga Skipper welcomes Gülşah Wilke—partner and head of Germany at DN Capital, co-founder of 2hearts and executive, investor, and mother. Gülşah brings a rare perspective shaped by migration, entrepreneurship, and motherhood, and this episode dives deep into what it truly means to lead—and live—with authenticity in the rapidly evolving landscape of tech and business.

At a pivotal moment, as leaders confront one of the toughest years in recent history and brace for a more complex 2026, Olga and Gülşah explore the emotional, strategic, and personal dimensions at play for founders, investors, and operators. This conversation moves well beyond theory, surfacing the realities of identity, diversity, executive presence, and resilience.

In this episode, we explore:
• Roots and Resilience — how Gülşah’s family migration story shaped her drive, outlook, and commitment to “success has no borders”
• The Immigrant Advantage — why hardship and diversity unlock strength for founders and leaders
• Evolving Leadership Styles — moving from structured, theory-driven leadership to authenticity, intuition, and empathy
• Motherhood and Grounding — how becoming a parent recalibrates priorities, focus, and emotional bandwidth
• Navigating Fast-Moving Environments — why flexibility, boundaries, and acceptance are core tools for modern leaders
• Cultural Identity and Humor — how Gülşah reframes and celebrates her Turkish identity, from childhood lessons to boardroom resilience
• Supporting the Next Generation — intentional actions to instill cultural roots and perspective in her children

Together, Olga Skipper and Gülşah Wilke unpack the pressures facing leaders now—from the fallout of layoffs and geopolitical instability to the unique struggles of founders with “two hearts.” They discuss actionable tools for grounding, acceptance, and boundary-setting, and offer hope for building meaning and community through tough times.

This episode is essential listening for leaders, founders, and anyone navigating identity, diversity, or the emotional weight of rapid change. If you seek honest insights into leadership, resilience, and the power of roots, tune in for this thoughtful, challenging, and genuinely uplifting dialogue.

So settle in and experience an episode that challenges, supports, and inspires.

Don’t forget to subscribe and share this episode with someone leading—or aspiring to lead—in business and beyond!

CHAPTERS
00:00 — Introduction to Emotional Business
00:28 — Meet Gülşah Wilke: Migration, Hardship, and Entrepreneurship
01:58 — Roots, Motivation, and Building 2hearts
04:49 — Coaching, Leadership Evolution, and 2026 Reflections
06:11 — The Shift from Structured Leadership to Authentic Presence
09:20 — Essential Traits for Leaders Today: Flexibility, Authenticity, Empathy
12:47 — Empathy and Hope Amid Industry and Global Challenges
13:41 — Staying Grounded: Family, Perspective, and Gratitude
16:12 — Culture, Identity, and Strategic Vision
18:37 — Immigration Background and Building Resilience
22:42 — Raising Multicultural Children and Honoring Roots
26:10 — Recognition, Pride, and Two Hearts
27:04 — Coaching, Boundaries, and Community
30:32 — The Importance of Networks, Boundaries, and Saying No
31:31 — Wrap Up and Reflections

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

Connect with Gülşah:
LinkedIn: Gülşah Wilke
Community: 2hearts

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Enjoy this rich, refreshing, and authentic conversation. Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with a fellow founder or leader who needs a dose of perspective and hope for the journey ahead!

Season 2 of Emotional Business Podcast, hosted by executive coach and advisor Olga Skipper, dives into the realities of modern leadership.

After a uniquely challenging year in 2025, this season zooms out to examine the big shifts and patterns that leaders need to unlearn as the business world becomes faster, more complex, and emotionally demanding. Olga Skipper brings on guests including tech founders and executive thinkers to discuss what leadership truly requires now, emphasizing that emotional intelligence is no longer just a “nice to have” but essential for survival.

New episodes drop every Tuesday, with the season launching on March 3, 2026. Tune in and join the conversation.

In the 2025 season finale of the Emotional Business Podcast, host Olga Skipper welcomes Daria Saharova, founding partner at World Fund—a €300M venture capital powerhouse tackling climate, tech, and decarbonization. Known for her vision and grounded humanity, Daria Saharova brings over 15 years in tech, investment banking, and entrepreneurship to a profound conversation about belonging, risk, and the relentless pursuit of meaningful innovation.

Together, Olga Skipper and Daria Saharova chart the journey from Riga to Munich, exploring the emotional landscape of immigration, integration, and finding home. The episode pulls back the curtain on Daria’s path: navigating cultural difference, language barriers, building bridges outside her comfort zone, and manifesting resilience that fueled a career spanning multiple disciplines, culminating in the birth of World Fund in the heart of Europe.

Their conversation illuminates the internal calculus behind risk-taking, the mindset required to start—and stay—the course as a founder, and the discipline of seeking impact without succumbing to market skepticism or the turbulence of global politics. Daria Saharova discusses breaking ground as a woman VC, her “capitalistic” drive, building a team and portfolio with integrity, and investing in companies whose products thrive—even in the hands of climate skeptics.

In this episode, we explore:

• The Immigration Journey—how open-mindedness, resilience, and language fluency fuel personal and professional integration
• The Art of Building Social Bridges—proactively stepping out of cultural enclaves to create genuine local connections
• Choosing Entrepreneurship (and Venture Capital)—decoding the pivotal career dots that led from startup founder to investment partner
• Facing Down External Forces—navigating COVID, geopolitical strife, and unsupportive market climates while closing a landmark fund
• VC as a Platform for Change—investing in deep tech and climate solutions, and the necessity of optimism in the face of systemic inertia
• Resilience & Competitive Speed—the “immigrant advantage” of spotting and seizing opportunity, building without a backup plan, and outpacing the market
• Multiplying Impact—how mobilizing communities and teams expands a founder’s reach beyond the constraints of time and resources
• Looking Forward—how Germany and Europe must shift from preservation to radical innovation, and why technological sovereignty is essential for future growth

This episode is essential listening for immigrants, VCs, operators, and executives wrestling with commitment, self-doubt, and the desire to create radical impact in shifting, sometimes hostile environments. Founders and fund managers—especially women and those building in deep tech—will find Daria’s deeply honest journey particularly resonant.

Settle in for this candid, energizing, and unfiltered year-end conversation that moves far beyond investment returns to the emotional reality of pioneering a new future.

Don’t forget to subscribe and share with a founder, investor, or anyone craving courage for bold moves!

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

Connect with Daria:

LinkedIn: Daria Saharova

Website: https://www.worldfund.vc/

Share your reflections on this episode or reach out with your own emotional business story—Olga loves hearing from you!

In this episode of Emotional Business, host Olga Skipper is joined by Jennifer Cabala — seasoned journalist, longtime tech storyteller, and now a communications coach helping founders and CEOs articulate the narratives behind who they are and what they build.

Jennifer enters this conversation with years spent on both sides of the story: crafting them as a journalist, and now guiding leaders as they shape the stories that define their companies, their leadership, and their public presence.

Together, Olga and Jennifer explore what it really means to build a narrative from the inside out — not as a branding exercise, but as a deeply emotional and strategic process rooted in identity, origin, and intention. This conversation goes far beyond messaging frameworks and dives into the internal dialogues, motivations, and self-perceptions that shape how founders show up in the world.

It’s a grounded, transparent look at the craft of storytelling as an emotional skill — iterative, vulnerable, and profoundly connected to how we see ourselves.

In this episode, we explore:

• Understanding Your Origin Story — how childhood, environment, and early experiences form the emotional foundation of your narrative

• Personal Storytelling vs. Personal Branding — the crucial difference founders often miss

• Letting Your Story Evolve — why storytelling is iterative and changes as you change

• Communication as a Trainable Skill — not a talent you’re born with

• The Founder–Company Identity Loop — how to separate yourself from your company without disconnecting emotionally

• The Power of Self-Talk — how your internal voice shapes public confidence

• What a Storytelling Coach Actually Does — from shaping clarity to reducing narrative overwhelm

• Navigating Visibility and Public Persona — how to build a persona that feels authentic to you

• Balancing Personal and Professional Narratives — what belongs in the business story and what stays yours

 

Together, Olga and Jennifer go beneath the surface of “telling your story” and into the deeper emotional architecture founders rarely discuss publicly — identity, fear, motivation, upbringing, and the lifelong relationship we have with our own voice.

This episode is for founders, executives, and leaders who want to communicate with more clarity, presence, and authenticity — especially those navigating visibility, identity, and the vulnerable work of telling the world who they are.

So get comfortable and enjoy this reflective, warm, and insight-filled conversation. 

 

Connect to Jennifer here

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifercabala/

https://jennifercabala.com/