

Anatomy of a Leader with Maria Hvorostovsky
Maria Hvorostovsky
Welcome to Anatomy of a Leader - a video podcast that shows you there are many faces of leadership, that perfection doesn’t and shouldn’t exist and that making mistakes (or taking detours) can often lead to deep insights about your superpowers.
My name is Maria Hvorostovsky. I’m a headhunter and Founder of HVO Search. I help ambitious leaders hire the most hard to find, high potential C-Suite talent.
Each week let me take you on a journey to discover what leadership really
🖋🕊
LinkedIn/ Insta: @mariahvo
WORK WITH ME: www.hirewithmaria.com
My name is Maria Hvorostovsky. I’m a headhunter and Founder of HVO Search. I help ambitious leaders hire the most hard to find, high potential C-Suite talent.
Each week let me take you on a journey to discover what leadership really
🖋🕊
LinkedIn/ Insta: @mariahvo
WORK WITH ME: www.hirewithmaria.com
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jul 19, 2021 • 1h 11min
#9 On Just Listening w/ Dr. Mark Goulston, Coach, Psychiatrist, Author of "Just Listen"
Dr. Mark Goulston is a storyteller with a psychic ability to read minds. He coaches many women (including me) and he is a master of scripts for life - there’s several in this episode but many more in his book "Just Listen".
In this episode, I had a huge honour of speaking with Dr. Mark Goulston, psychiatrist for over 40 years, Marshall Goldsmith 100 top coaches and author of many books including "Just Listen", "Get Out of Your Own Way", "Trauma to Triumph" and many others.
We talked about becoming a first-class noticer, how to tune in to what other people are Listening FOR and how to turn tables when pitching to investors.
We talked a lot about mistakes and failure with some great examples and whether Steve Jobs (who was an abusive boss) was actually a good leader.
WE DISCUSS:
07:00 - Early experience, importance of listening into people’s eyes
14:43 - Conference with Daniel Kahneman, Mark’s talk on Change Everything you Know about Communication
20:00 - What Mark is listening for in this podcast
22:32 - Be a first class noticer
23:25 - Be a big sister, like Mark is like a big brother to the women he coaches
26:28 - What to do when you are afraid to empathise with people as a woman
34:13 - How to win friends and influence bosses / team members
38:54 - How to turn tables when pitching to investors script
47:18 - What is leadership?
54:20 - Was Steve Jobs a good leader?
58:27 - Failure and how to fail better
01:02:55 - Mark’s mission
01:05:04 - ‘What happened to you’ script
DR. MARK GOULSTON:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markgoulston/
Instagram: @MarkGoulston - https://www.instagram.com/markgoulston/?hl=en
Twitter: @MarkGoulston - https://twitter.com/MarkGoulston?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor
Facebook: https://facebook.com/drmarkgoulston/
RESOURCES:
Mark's website - https://markgoulston.com/
Defeating Self Defeat Audiocourse - https://www.himalaya.com/defeat
My Wake Up Call Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/my-wakeup-call-with-dr-mark-goulston/id1439752757
BOOKS:
"Just Listen" by Dr. Mark Goulston - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Just-Listen-Discover-Getting-Absolutely/dp/0814436471
"Get Out of Your Own Way" by Dr. Mark Goulston - https://amzn.to/3etUItF
"Noise" by Daniel Kahneman - https://amzn.to/3wG3n2l
“What Happened to You” by Oprah Winfrey - https://amzn.to/3rj6TPo
EPISODE #9:
You can also 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!

Jul 19, 2021 • 2min
TRAILER for #9 w/ Dr. Mark Goulston, Psychiatrist, Coach, Author, "Just Listen"
"Here is what you need to know. Investors when they smile, it's not a 'yes'"
In this episode, I had a huge honour of speaking with Dr. Mark Goulston, psychiatrist for over 40 years, Marshall Goldsmith 100 top coaches and author of many books including "Just Listen", "Get Out of Your Own Way", and "Trauma to Triumph".
We talked about becoming a first-class noticer, how to tune in to what other people are Listening FOR and how to turn tables when pitching to investors.
DR. MARK GOULSTON:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markgoulston/
Instagram: @MarkGoulston - https://www.instagram.com/markgoulston/?hl=en
Twitter: @MarkGoulston - https://twitter.com/MarkGoulston?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor
Facebook: https://facebook.com/drmarkgoulston/
RESOURCES:
Mark's website: https://markgoulston.com/
Defeating Self Defeat Audiocourse: https://www.himalaya.com/defeat
My Wake Up Call Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/my-wakeup-call-with-dr-mark-goulston/id1439752757
"Just Listen" by Dr. Mark Goulston - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Just-Listen-Discover-Getting-Absolutely/dp/0814436471
Newsweek Expert Forum: https://forum.newsweek.com/profile/Mark-Goulston-Design-Thinking-Leadership-inventor-Surgical-Empathy-Mark-Goulston-M-D-Inc/fae96fe0-6bca-46e1-a351-0c5954f60f2d
Mark's TEDx: What Made You Smile Today? https://www.ted.com/talks/mark_goulston_what_made_you_smile_today
DOCUMENTARIES:
Stay Alive: An Intimate Conversation about Suicide Prevention - https://www.stayalivevideo.com/
Tell My Story - https://www.chooselife.org/film
Teen Mental Health Webinar - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqZmDLTFntI
EPISODE #9:
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!

Jul 19, 2021 • 38min
#8 On Failing Fast w/ Whitney Hawkings, Founder & CEO, FLOWERBX
Whitney Hawkings is determined, head strong and laser focused. After spending 18 years working with Tom Ford at Gucci, Whitney took the plunge and founded FLOWERBX, growing it to become the first global flower brand.
Working with (and shopping from) luxury brands online she observed that everything was branded except for flowers and this became her mission: to deliver fresh, quality flowers with the same consistent service as any top luxury brand.
With Whitney’s Pink Avalanche Roses as the backdrop, we talk about her lacking confidence but discovering that he is the best CEO of her company, what it’s like to be a woman in business, her role models and what she learnt from Tom Ford.
WE DISCUSS:
04:43 - What is leadership?
06:38 - Doubting yourself as a leader
10:18 - Growing up in Dallas, Texas, drive to succeed
13:12 - Working with Tom Ford
14:36 - Why Whitney founded FLOWERBX
17:45 - Hard work, drive, not being able to stop
19:02 - Switching off, family time
21:39 - Having a great partner and people that have your back
22:44 - What she is most proud of
23:47 - 2 most important things Whitney wished she knew, which would have saved her a lot of hassle
25:53 - Hiring great people
28:12 - Hardest thing about being a CEO
30:33 - Biggest failures
31:56 - Covid giving a clean slate
33:00 - What’s next for FLOWERBX, closing series A funding
34:16 - 3 pieces of advice to younger self
WHITNEY HAWKINGS:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/whitney-hawkings-643a3317/
FLOWERBX Instagram: @TheFLOWERBX - https://www.instagram.com/theflowerbx/?hl=en
Whitney on Instagram: @TheFlowerBMB - https://www.instagram.com/theflowerbmb/?hl=en
Pink Sweet Avalanche Roses: https://bit.ly/3imwd2E
EPISODE #8:
You can also 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!

Jul 19, 2021 • 2min
TRAILER for #8 w/ Whitney Hawkings, Founder & CEO, FLOWERBX
"Fail fast is advice I would give my former self"
Whitney Hawkings founded FLOWERBX with the mission to to deliver fresh, quality flowers with the same consistent service as a top luxury brand. Whitney is determined, head strong and laser focused.
We talk about her lacking confidence but discovering that he is the best CEO of her company, what it’s like to be a woman in business, her role models and what she learnt from working with Tom Ford for 18 years.
WHITNEY HAWKINGS:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/whitney-hawkings-643a3317/
FLOWERBX Instagram: @TheFLOWERBX - https://www.instagram.com/theflowerbx/?hl=en
Whitney on Instagram: @TheFlowerBMB - https://www.instagram.com/theflowerbmb/?hl=en
Pink Sweet Avalanche Roses: https://bit.ly/3imwd2E
EPISODE #8:
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!

Jul 19, 2021 • 52min
#7 On Being Indistractable w/ Nir Eyal, Bestselling Author of “Hooked” and “Indistractable”
Nir Eyal the bestselling author of “Hooked” and “Indistractable” is a force, with incredible insights and practical tips on how to get into flow and break bad habits. After some technical difficulties we managed to sit down and talk. We discussed email management, time-boxing, most toxic work environments, and the 3 things that make organisations productive.
I discovered that time management is pain management, that technology isn’t to blame and that everything comes down to CULTURE which filters down from the top.
Make sure to listen to the parts where Nir talks about what leadership means to him and what he himself slips up on.
WE DISCUSS:
06:49 - Being a robot, inbox 0 and why Nir wrote the book
11:02 - Definition of Distraction and if there a benefit to being distracted
13:11 - Internal & External triggers, avoidance of pain
17:10 - Impact of distraction on companies and management, Toxic Company Cultures
20:50 - 3 things for making workplaces Indistractable
23:29 - Skills we need in our leaders
25:00 - Time-boxing
26:06 - Saying ‘no’ is the worst advice
27:52 - What saved his marriage (4 strategies to become Indistractable)
32:46 - More on time-boxing, the feedback loop
36:35 - Difference between an Indistractable and a distracted person
39:54 - What Nir himself slips up on
44:27 - What Nir left out of the book
45:30 - What is leadership?
47:54 - Leaders’ most important job
NIR EYAL:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nireyal/
Instagram: @Neyal99 - https://instagram.com/neyal99?utm_medium=copy_link
Twitter: @NirEyal - https://twitter.com/nireyal?s=21
RESOURCES:
Indistractable Book: http://geni.us/Indistractable
The schedule maker tool: https://nirandfar.com/schedule-maker/
Why schedules are better than to-do lists: https://www.nirandfar.com/todo-vs-schedule-builder/
Indistractable summary article: https://www.nirandfar.com/skill-of-the-future/
Distraction guide here: https://www.nirandfar.com/distractions/ Habits vs routines article here: https://www.nirandfar.com/habits/
EPISODE #7:
You can also 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!

Jul 19, 2021 • 2min
TRAILER for #7 w/ Nir Eyal, Author of “Hooked” and “Indistractable”
"One of the biggest problems we have in management and leadership is leaders almost no have no idea what their staff is doing. And they're too afraid to ask because they don't want to micromanage them."
Nir Eyal the bestselling author of “Hooked” and “Indistractable” is a force, with incredible insights and practical tips on how to get into flow and break bad habits.
We discussed email management, time-boxing, most toxic work environments, and the 3 things that make organisations productive.
NIR EYAL:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nireyal/
Instagram: @Neyal99 - https://instagram.com/neyal99?utm_medium=copy_link
Twitter: @NirEyal - https://twitter.com/nireyal?s=21
Indistractable Book: http://geni.us/Indistractable
EPISODE #7:
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!

Jul 19, 2021 • 1h 6min
#6 On Nurturing Creativity w/ Andrea Baldo, CEO Ganni
Andrea Baldo, the CEO of Ganni, is one of the most incredible CEOs I know in fashion. He truly understands the most important aspect of being a partner to a creative - Nurturing Creativity.
In this Episode, we talk (whilst freezing in my back garden) about going against popular opinion, failure (as in don’t fail twice on the same thing) and the importance of family in your success.
We talk about building creative ecosystems, safeguarding creatives and what he learnt from Renzo Rosso - founder of Diesel.
WE DISCUSS:
04:20 - Andrea’s early years growing up in Italy
07:05 - How Andrea ended up in fashion
11:30 - The conditions to join Diesel
14:20 - Values and discovering what leadership is
17:20 - Process of reflection
20:28 - Andrea’s North Star - helping creatives and what he learnt from Renzo Rosso - Founder of Diesel
25:30 - Supporting / creating creative ecosystems
32:14 - Being lonely at the top, being bold
34:50 - Risky move, mistakes, hiring the wrong person
37:16 - Hardest thing about being a CEO
43:00 - Dealing with pressure
47:14 - What leadership means
52:27 - 3 pieces of advice to younger self
55:14 - Mentors and role models, Renzo Rosso and Marina Tosin
59:43 - Making an impact
01:00:50 - Behind the scenes
ANDREA BALDO:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abaldo/
University Andrea teaches at: https://www.iese.edu/
Ganni: https://www.ganni.com/
EPISODE #6:
You can also 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!

Jul 18, 2021 • 2min
TRAILER for #6 w/ Andrea Baldo, CEO, Ganni
"Creativity and innovation doesn't come based on how much money you put in"
Andrea Baldo, the CEO of Ganni, is one of the most incredible CEOs I know in fashion. He truly understands the most important aspect of being a partner to a creative - Nurturing Creativity.
In this Episode, we talk (whilst freezing in my back garden) about going against popular opinion, failure (as in don’t fail twice on the same thing) and the importance of family in your success.
We talk about building creative ecosystems, safeguarding creatives and what he learnt from Renzo Rosso - founder of Diesel.
ANDREA BALDO:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abaldo/
University Andrea teaches at: https://www.iese.edu/
Ganni: https://www.ganni.com/
EPISODE #6:
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!

Jul 16, 2021 • 50min
#5 On Wearing Confidence w/ Lucy Aylen - Founder, Never Fully Dressed
"We still keep our ethos that confidence is the best thing a woman can wear."
In episode 5, Maria chats with Lucy Aylen, Founder of Never Fully Dressed.
They chat about Lucy's upbringing and how working on the markets influenced the Never Fully Dressed we see today.
Key topics of this conversation are organic growth, the hardships of running your own business and the virtues of family.
Anatomy of a Leader is a leadership series, where our Founder & CEO, Maria Hvorostovsky interviews CEOs, Investors, Chairmen and women in Fashion, Beauty, Luxury and Lifestyle and asks them about their journey to the top.
EPISODE #5:
You can also WATCH it on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCC-YIz5pEMM9vigbYOxK2Kw
MARIA HVOROSTOVSKY:
Reach out to Maria Hvorostovsky on LinkedIn to find out more about our work with innovative leaders.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariahvo/
Instagram: @MariaHvo - https://www.instagram.com/mariahvo/?hl=en
Clubhouse: @MariaHvo - https://www.clubhouse.com/@mariahvo
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!

Aug 25, 2020 • 50min
#4 On Personal Growth w/ Sarah Curran-Usher, MBE - Founder, My-Wardrobe
"It's the negative experiences - if you take the lessons from them, that drive personal growth."
In episode 4, Maria speaks with Sarah Curran-Usher MBE - MD EMEA, True Fit.
They chat about Sarah's leadership journey from being raised by entrepreneurs, to founding My Wardrobe and thinking innovatively about data in her new role at True Fit.
A key topic of this conversation is learning the lessons from your experiences and mistakes as well as embedding leadership vision into your daily routine.
EPISODE #4:
You can also WATCH it on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCC-YIz5pEMM9vigbYOxK2Kw
MARIA HVOROSTOVSKY:
Reach out to Maria Hvorostovsky on LinkedIn to find out more about our work with innovative leaders.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariahvo/
Instagram: @MariaHvo - https://www.instagram.com/mariahvo/?hl=en
Clubhouse: @MariaHvo - https://www.clubhouse.com/@mariahvo
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!


