Anatomy of a Leader with Maria Hvorostovsky

In Episode #14, I spoke with Nicolai Chen Nielsen, Co-author of Return on Ambition about what ambition is, how to be intentional with your ambition, how to see yourself as an investment, the dark side of our strengths (in his book he calls them the 7 Frenemies) and how wellbeing and growth are inextricably linked to achievement. Nicolai is the director of transformation services at Peakon/Workday, where he provides cutting-edge talent analytics and employee engagement tools to empower employees. He is also a Partner at the Supertrends Institute, where he focuses on the intersection of the latest trends and their implications on leaders and organisations. He is also a co-author of Leadership At Scale. WE DISCUSS: 04:08 - What led Nicolai to write his book 08:30 - The analogy of the tripod (Achievement, Growth, Well-being) 13:04 - The disconnect between ambition and struggle 19:10 - 7 frenemies that need our attention 27:36 - Nicolai’s best return on investment 29:21 - Key leadership qualities 34:32 - The changing nature of organisations 38:36 - What Nicolai learned from writing his book 40:41 - What Nicolai thinks of failure 45:30 - What advice would Nicolai give his younger self? NICOLAI CHEN NIELSEN LinkedIn: https://it.linkedin.com/in/nicolaicn Instagram: @Nicolaicn - https://www.instagram.com/nicolaicn Twitter: @NicolaiOne - https://twitter.com/nicolaione RETURN ON AMBITION Website: https://returnonambition.com/ Instagram: @Returnonambition - https://www.instagram.com/returnonambition/ EPISODE #14: You can listen to the full episode here OR WATCH it on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCC-YIz5pEMM9vigbYOxK2Kw MARIA HVOROSTOVSKY: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariahvo/ Instagram: @MariaHvo - https://www.instagram.com/mariahvo/?hl=en Clubhouse: @MariaHvo - https://www.clubhouse.com/@mariahvo Get in touch if you need help HIRING your senior leadership team LEAVE A REVIEW: If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts make sure to Subscribe, Rate, and leave a REVIEW. The best review will get a mention in the next episode!

“Ambition is a desire and drive to reach a future state that's different from today, challenging to get to, and personally meaningful.” In Episode #14 I spoke with Nicolai, Co-author of Return on Ambition about what ambition is, how to see yourself as an investment, how to work out your return on ambition, the dark side of our strengths (in his book he calls them the 7 Frenemies) and how wellbeing and growth are inextricably linked to achievement. Nicolai is the director of transformation services at Peakon/Workday, where he provides cutting-edge talent analytics and employee engagement tools to empower employees. He is also a Partner at the Supertrends Institute, where he focuses on the intersection of the latest trends and their implications on leaders and organisations. He is also a co-author of Leadership At Scale. NICOLAI CHEN NIELSEN LinkedIn: https://it.linkedin.com/in/nicolaicn Instagram: @Nicolaicn - https://www.instagram.com/nicolaicn Twitter: @NicolaiOne - https://twitter.com/nicolaione RETURN ON AMBITION Website: https://returnonambition.com/ Instagram: @Returnonambition - https://www.instagram.com/returnonambition/ EPISODE #14: You can listen to the full episode here OR WATCH it on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCC-YIz5pEMM9vigbYOxK2Kw MARIA HVOROSTOVSKY: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariahvo/ Instagram: @MariaHvo - https://www.instagram.com/mariahvo/?hl=en Clubhouse: @MariaHvo - https://www.clubhouse.com/@mariahvo Get in touch if you need help HIRING your senior leadership team LEAVE A REVIEW: If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts make sure to Subscribe, Rate, and leave a REVIEW. The best review will get a mention in the next episode!

Miriam is an entrepreneur, NED, and advisor to early stage companies.  She has spent her career growing companies such as eBay, Figleaves, navabi, TJX and NET-A-PORTER. In Episode 13 we talk about how behavioural science can help create lasting positive change within companies, the importance of psychological safety and thinking about who is not at the table. It was fascinating to hear Miriam’s perspective of being a woman in business and a female CEO at that, the role models that showed her the power of leading with the heart and how you should never take a job you know you can do. WE DISCUSS: 03:07 - Why Miriam founded Aequip. Behavioural science and behavioural nudges 10:10 - Key leadership qualities (Vision, Clarity, Collaboration) 11:39 - Great leaders Miriam worked with and learnt from 14:22 - What is Psychological Safety and how do you know when you have it? 15:51 - CEO is the loneliest job 19:11 - Making mistakes and moving past fear of failure 21:07 - What Miriam is most proud of 21:45 - Miriam’s early years 28:49 - Being a woman in business, Anna Wintour as caricature 34:14 - What can be done to address gender equality 35:30 - How the pandemic shaped Miriam as a leader 41:03 - 3 pieces of advice to younger self 44:10 - The Impossible Question MIRIAM LAHAGE: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lahage/ Twitter: @MLahage - https://twitter.com/mlahage Aequip: https://www.aequip.co.uk/ EPISODE #13: You can listen to the full episode here OR WATCH it on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCC-YIz5pEMM9vigbYOxK2Kw MARIA HVOROSTOVSKY: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariahvo/ Instagram: @MariaHvo - https://www.instagram.com/mariahvo/ Clubhouse: @MariaHvo - https://www.clubhouse.com/@mariahvo Get in touch if you need help HIRING your senior leadership team LEAVE A REVIEW: If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts make sure to Subscribe, Rate, and leave a REVIEW. The best review will get a mention in the next episode!

“Never take a job you know you can do.“ In Episode #13 I spoke with Miriam Lahage, who is an entrepreneur, advisor to early stage companies and co-Founder of Aequip (previously at eBay, Figleaves, navabi, TJX and NET-A-PORTER). It was fascinating to hear Miriam’s perspective of being a woman in business and a female CEO at that, the role models that showed her the power of leading with the heart and how you should never take a job you know you can do. MIRIAM LAHAGE: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lahage/ Twitter: @MLahage - https://twitter.com/mlahage/  Aequip: https://www.aequip.co.uk/ EPISODE #13: You can listen to the full episode here OR WATCH it on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCC-YIz5pEMM9vigbYOxK2Kw MARIA HVOROSTOVSKY: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariahvo/ Instagram: @MariaHvo - https://www.instagram.com/mariahvo/ Clubhouse: @MariaHvo - https://www.clubhouse.com/@mariahvo Get in touch if you need help HIRING your senior leadership team LEAVE A REVIEW: If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts make sure to Subscribe, Rate, and leave a REVIEW. The best review will get a mention in the next episode!

Millie Kendall MBE, is the CEO of the British Beauty Council, founder of a PR agency Brandstand Communications and Millie of the beauty Brand Ruby & Millie. Millie is humble, but a true risk-taker, someone who thinks nothing is impossible. In Episode 12 we talk about her frustrations with the beauty industry, about her inspiring survivor grandmother and the fun stories about her life - including receiving an MBE from Her Majesty The Queen. WE DISCUSS 00:00 - Intro 09:59 - Patriarchal superiority in the beauty industry 12:38 - Challenges of being a woman in business 15:56 - Story of Millie’s grandmother, a Russian immigrant 24:21 - What inspired Millie to start her brand Ruby & Millie 30:18 - Receiving and MBE 33:25 - Self-doubt, Imposter Syndrome and confidence 37:05 - The effect of the pandemic 42:35 - What the beauty industry needs now 46:28 - Leadership - taking risks and owning it 51:30 - Launching Aveda in the UK and being exposed 59:18 - Advice to beauty brands on their launch 01:00:11 - Advice to Millie’s younger self 01:04:30 - The “Impossible” question MILLIE KENDALL MBE: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/millie-kendall-mbe-4b205613/ Instagram: @MillieKendall - https://www.instagram.com/milliekendall Brandstand Communications: https://brandstandcomms.com/ BRITISH BEAUTY COUNCIL: Website: https://britishbeautycouncil.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/britishbeautycouncil Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/BritishBeautyCouncil/ SUSTAINABLE BEAUTY COALITION:  https://www.instagram.com/sustainablebeautycoalition/?hl=en-gb https://britishbeautycouncil.com/sustainable-beauty-coalition/ EPISODE #12: You can listen to the full episode here OR WATCH it on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCC-YIz5pEMM9vigbYOxK2Kw MARIA HVOROSTOVSKY: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariahvo/ Instagram: @MariaHvo - https://www.instagram.com/mariahvo/?hl=en Clubhouse: @MariaHvo - https://www.clubhouse.com/@mariahvo Get in touch if you need help HIRING your senior leadership team LEAVE A REVIEW: If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts make sure to Subscribe, Rate, and leave a REVIEW. The best review will get a mention in the next episode!

“Surround yourself with experts. You'll never be an expert in everything.” In Episode #12 I spoke with Millie Kendall MBE, CEO British Beauty Council, founder of a PR agency Brandstand Communications and Millie of the beauty Brand Ruby & Millie. We talked about her frustrations with the beauty industry, her inspiring survivor grandmother and the fun stories about her life - including receiving an MBE from Her Majesty The Queen. MILLIE KENDALL MBE: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/millie-kendall-mbe-4b205613/ Instagram: @MillieKendall - https://www.instagram.com/milliekendall Brandstand Communications: https://brandstandcomms.com/ BRITISH BEAUTY COUNCIL: Website: https://britishbeautycouncil.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/britishbeautycouncil Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/BritishBeautyCouncil/ SUSTAINABLE BEAUTY COALITION: https://www.instagram.com/sustainablebeautycoalition/?hl=en-gb https://britishbeautycouncil.com/sustainable-beauty-coalition/ EPISODE #12: You can listen to the full episode here OR WATCH it on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCC-YIz5pEMM9vigbYOxK2Kw MARIA HVOROSTOVSKY: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariahvo/ Instagram: @MariaHvo - https://www.instagram.com/mariahvo/?hl=en Clubhouse: @MariaHvo - https://www.clubhouse.com/@mariahvo Get in touch if you need help HIRING your senior leadership team LEAVE A REVIEW: If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts make sure to Subscribe, Rate, and leave a REVIEW. The best review will get a mention in the next episode!

Ceanne Fernandes-Wong, the CEO & co-founder of Cocoon, a luxury handbag subscription service, is smart, unassuming and so humble. In this episode, we talked about doing impossible things like leading the way in creating circularity in fashion, starting a business just before a pandemic and yet securing a powerful investor like Kering - a global luxury giant. We talked about vulnerability in leadership, having great advisors that open your mind and the differences in hiring between established companies like Net-a-Porter and startups. We also discussed balancing motherhood and running a business and how it’s only women that get asked this. WE DISCUSS: 00:00 - Intro 03:25 - Why Ceanne founded Cocoon 08:42 - Concept of ownership and circularity in fashion 14:05 - Investment from Kering and impact of great advisors 24:31 - Vulnerability in leadership, gender penality & balancing motherhood and career 39:25 - Relentless working culture, time off and modelling the right culture 44:59 - Hiring for a startup 52:44 - Startups and dealing with uncertainty 58:50 - The hardest decision Ceanne had to make 01:03:48 - Ceanne’s biggest fear 01:06:58 - Biggest failure 01:09:04 - Three pieces of advice to younger self 01:13:02 - The Impossible question CEANNE FERNANDES-WONG: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ceannefernandes/ Instagram: @ceanne https://www.instagram.com/ceanne/?hl=en Cocoon: https://www.cocoon.club/ EPISODE #11: You can also WATCH the episode on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCC-YIz5pEMM9vigbYOxK2Kw MARIA HVOROSTOVSKY: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariahvo/ Instagram: @MariaHvo - https://www.instagram.com/mariahvo/?hl=en Clubhouse: @MariaHvo - https://www.clubhouse.com/@mariahvo Get in touch if you need help HIRING your senior leadership team LEAVE A REVIEW: If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts make sure to Subscribe, Rate, and leave a REVIEW. The best review will get a mention in the next episode!

“The adoption of circular business models, widespread by the industry, has to happen.” In Episode #11, I spoke with Ceanne Fernandes-Wong, the CEO & co-founder of Cocoon, a luxury handbag subscription service. We talked about doing impossible things like leading the way in creating circularity in fashion, starting a business just before a pandemic and yet securing a powerful investor like Kering - a global luxury giant. We talked about vulnerability in leadership, having great advisors that open your mind and the differences in hiring between established companies like Net-a-Porter and startups. CEANNE FERNANDES-WONG: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ceannefernandes/ Instagram: @ceanne https://www.instagram.com/ceanne/?hl=en Cocoon: https://www.cocoon.club/ EPISODE #11: You can also WATCH the episode on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCC-YIz5pEMM9vigbYOxK2Kw MARIA HVOROSTOVSKY: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariahvo/ Instagram: @MariaHvo - https://www.instagram.com/mariahvo/?hl=en Clubhouse: @MariaHvo - https://www.clubhouse.com/@mariahvo Get in touch if you need help HIRING your senior leadership team LEAVE A REVIEW: If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts make sure to Subscribe, Rate, and leave a REVIEW. The best review will get a mention in the next episode!

Riccardo Sciutto, the CEO of Sergio Rossi, which has recently been acquired by Fosun Fashion Group, is bold and unwavering and has managed to balance traditional shoe maker values with modernity by embracing technology and digital. We talked about how to act in a crisis, how to surround yourself with intrapreneurs even in big organisations, and the secret sauce to making a heritage brand modern. We discussed Audacity, making big moves as well as big mistakes and the double job of securing investment whilst running a company. WE DISCUSS: 00:00 - Intro 04:12 - What is Leadership? 05:22 - How to make vision a reality 07:09 - How to be ready for so many possibilities 10:45 - Riccardo’s early years 16:24 - Secret sauce to making heritage brand modern 19:30 - Biggest challenge 22:38 - How to surround yourself with great people, startup mindset 25:55 - Biggest mistake 28:24 - On having Audacity 34:31 - Purpose of the office now and use of technology 38:43 - Hardest thing about looking for investment 41:55 - 3 pieces of advice to others embarking on the same path 44:38 - Building a great team RICCARDO SCIUTTO: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/riccardosciutto/ Instagram: @riccardosciutto - https://www.instagram.com/riccardosciutto/ Sergio Rossi: https://www.sergiorossi.com EPISODE #10: You can listen to the full episode here OR WATCH it on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCC-YIz5pEMM9vigbYOxK2Kw MARIA HVOROSTOVSKY: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariahvo/ Instagram: @MariaHvo - https://www.instagram.com/mariahvo/?hl=en Clubhouse: @MariaHvo - https://www.clubhouse.com/@mariahvo Get in touch if you need help HIRING your senior leadership team LEAVE A REVIEW: If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts make sure to Subscribe, Rate, and leave a REVIEW. The best review will get a mention in the next episode!

“Think Heritage, Play Digital” In Episode #10 I spoke with Riccardo Sciutto, the CEO of Sergio Rossi, which has recently been acquired by Fosun Fashion Group. We talked about how to act in a crisis, how to surround yourself with intrapreneurs even in big organisations, and the secret sauce to making a heritage brand modern. We discussed Audacity, making big moves as well as big mistakes and the double job of securing investment whilst running a company. RICCARDO SCIUTTO: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/riccardosciutto/ Instagram: @riccardosciutto - https://www.instagram.com/riccardosciutto/ Sergio Rossi: https://www.sergiorossi.com EPISODE #10: You can listen to the full episode here OR WATCH it on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCC-YIz5pEMM9vigbYOxK2Kw MARIA HVOROSTOVSKY: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariahvo/ Instagram: @MariaHvo - https://www.instagram.com/mariahvo/?hl=en Clubhouse: @MariaHvo - https://www.clubhouse.com/@mariahvo Get in touch if you need help HIRING your senior leadership team LEAVE A REVIEW: If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts make sure to Subscribe, Rate, and leave a REVIEW. The best review will get a mention in the next episode!