Emotional Business

About Emotional Business

Emotional Business is a podcast for founders, creators, and change-makers who believe there’s more to business than spreadsheets and strategy. Hosted by Olga Skipper, this show explores the often-overlooked emotional undercurrent of entrepreneurship—highlighting how gut instinct, heart-centered decisions, and so-called ”illogical” paths can lead to powerful and profitable ventures. Through candid conversations with a wide range of guests—from top executives and tech leaders to unconventional entrepreneurs—Olga dives deep into what it really takes to build a business that not only makes money but feels meaningful. Listeners will walk away with a deeper understanding of how to: - Embrace emotions as a strength, not a liability, in business. - Make bold decisions based on inner truth, not external pressure. - Create a business model that truly fits who they are—and make good money doing it. This podcast is for anyone tired of cookie-cutter formulas and ready to explore success on their own terms.

Publisher

Olga Skipper

Category

business · education

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

27 Jul 2025

Latest episode

31 Aug 2026

Latest episodes

38 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   31 Aug 2026

   Trailer Season 3 - Why Most Business Problems Are Relationship Problems

   Season 3 of Emotional Business centers around the following idea that many of the hardest business problems are really relationship problems. Executive coach Olga Skipper explores why founders become bottlenecks, why leadership teams struggle to function as real teams, and why so many CEOs feel isolated at the top. She breaks down the trust, conflict, control, and support dynamics that shape whether a company can truly grow. If you lead, build, or advise companies, this episode is a powerful reset on what it really takes to scale.

2. 

   25 May 2026

   Human-First in an AI World: Leadership, Creativity, and Making the Leap with Alina Verbenchuk

   In this special bonus episode of Emotional Business, host Olga Skipper sits down with Alina Verbenchuk—co-founder of Korda, author, former Google and YouTube leader, and a passionate advocate for the creative economy. Alina Verbenchuk joins at a defining intersection: after a non-traditional journey into tech, years of scaling teams at major platforms, and the recent leap from corporate operator to founder. Together, Olga Skipper and Alina Verbenchuk unravel what remains deeply, stubbornly human in business and leadership—even as AI and automation touch every corner of work. This episode offers a candid, nuanced look inside the lived experience of building, leading, and selling in a world where originality and connection matter more than ever, but the landscape is shifting fast. In this episode, we explore: Creativity vs. Automation — Why human ideas, energy, and fresh perspectives are more valuable than ever as audiences grow weary of automated sameness The Real Definition of “Human” — How genuine connection—whether in music, content, or business—is the foundation of resonance and trust From Non-Tech Background to Tech Founder — Alina Verbenchuk’s unique journey from studying Chinese, to business school, to building at Google, to boldly stepping into entrepreneurship The Messy Reality of Going Founder — The inner journeys, stumbles, and full-circle moments that rarely make it into founder stories Leadership in Constant Change — Why templates and “typical” teams are breaking down, and what leadership needs to look like as companies and careers become more experimental and customized Selling, Serving, and True Go-To-Market — Dismantling the myth of sales as a cold funnel; understanding it as a deeply human process of connection and value Who Belongs on the Team Now? — How high-agency, multi-talented, emotionally intelligent people are becoming the most essential hires in an AI-driven world—and why “ownership” now matters more than credentials Alina Verbenchuk and Olga Skipper move far beyond startup clichés to speak plainly about the fears, doubts, pivots, and exhilarating new definitions of ambition, value, and community. This episode is for any founder, builder, creative, or leader wrestling with how to stay human in a landscape being rewritten by technology. If you’re navigating the leap from secure roles to entrepreneurship, questioning where your real value lies, or curious how to build teams and markets for the future, you’ll find reassurance, clarity, and a lot of practical wisdom here. So settle in and enjoy this expansive, grounding, and deeply human conversation. Don’t forget to subscribe and share this episode with a founder or creative thinker in your circle! CHAPTERS 00:00 — Introduction to Emotional Business & Meet Alina Verbenchuk01:04 — Alina Verbenchuk’s Non-Traditional Journey into Tech02:50 — Why Human Creativity Rises as AI Grows06:53 — Defining “Human” in Content, Business, and Beyond09:58 — Full-Circle Lessons: From People Skills to Founder Strengths14:12 — Human Connection at the Heart of Go-To-Market17:06 — Purpose, Profit, and Serving People19:32 — The Messy, Honest Leap from Corporate to Founder27:00 — Beyond the Shelf: Leadership Now and Next32:07 — What Leaders Need to Learn and Unlearn34:20 — Generational Change, Agency, and New Teams37:05 — Coaching Q&A: Teams of the Future and Personalization44:39 — Who Do We Want on Our Team in an AI Era?45:59 — Bringing It Full Circle: The Non-Linear Path of Leadership Connect with Olga:LinkedIn: Olga SkipperWebsite: www.olgaskipper.com Connect with Alina:LinkedIn: Alina Verbenchuk

3. 

   18 May 2026

   Leading into the Unknown: Season 2 Reflections with Olga Skipper and Lana Khimka

   In this special finale of Emotional Business, Speaker A sits down with Lana Khimka — fractional product leader for early-stage startups, organizer of ProductTank Berlin, and host of the Healthy Hedonism podcast. Rather than a standard interview, this episode invites Lana to take the host’s chair and guide Olga Skipper through a deep debrief on the defining questions, insights, and patterns from Season 2: “What does it take to lead in 2026?” Together, Olga and Lana step back from the noise of leadership advice and trends to probe the lived reality behind the past months’ conversations with founders, executives, investors, and coaches. What, if anything, is truly changing about leadership as we race toward 2026? Which emotional and practical demands loom largest for today’s leaders? And how can leaders ground themselves when the only certainty is uncertainty? This episode pulls together a rich weave of practical wisdom, lived vulnerability, and actionable advice for leaders at every level. In this episode, you’ll uncover: What’s (Surprisingly) Stayed the Same About Leadership — why the emotional core of leadership persists despite massive change Stress and the Scale of the Unknown — managing amplified anxiety, fear of the unseen, and the psychological weight of guiding others From Performance to Resilience — the end of “always-on” and the pivot toward grounding, steadiness, and maintaining well-being Essential Inner Shifts — why grounding, self-reflection, and body-based practices are now non-negotiable for leaders Pragmatism over Hype — how robust cash flow management and challenging unsustainable models is returning to center stage The Changing People Function — why people leadership and AI-driven cultural transformation must be CEO-level priorities The New Model of Thriving Leadership — the protective power of life outside work, the humility to experiment, and letting go of Doomsday decision-making Navigating Decision-Making Without Playbooks — why asking better questions now matters more than having all the answers How Tech Is Transforming Coaching — and why human connection, not just tools, remains at the heart of deep developmental work Practical Tools for Grounding — from alone time and journaling to cautious social media use and in-person connection What We All Need to Unlearn — releasing obsolete long-term planning, letting go of old self-evaluative frameworks, and abandoning non-essential image-building This is not a conversation about perfect answers or five-step frameworks. It’s a resonant, honest pause — a chance to feel into what it means to lead, live, and stay present when the future feels anything but predictable. This episode is for leaders, coaches, founders, and emerging executives who feel both the pressure to keep up and the invitation to slow down. You’ll find reassurance, clarity, and actionable strategies for building your own resilience — and leading others through whatever comes next. Settle in for this grounded, wise, and utterly relatable conversation. Don’t forget to subscribe and share this episode with leaders who might need a new perspective. CHAPTERS 00:00 — Welcome & Season 2 Reflections01:28 — The Intention Behind “Leading into 2026”03:31 — What’s Actually Changed for Leaders (and What Hasn’t)06:01 — The Psychological & Emotional Pressures on Today’s Leaders08:37 — Essential Inner Shifts for Modern Leadership10:58 — Pragmatism & Cash Flow: The New Non-Negotiable13:08 — Elevating the People Function in the Age of AI17:08 — Who Thrives? Identity, Support, and the Myth of Doomsday Decisions21:49 — The Tools Leaders Need Now: Somatic Practice, Communication, Reality Checks28:25 — What We All Need to Unlearn Moving Forward34:41 — Reframing Long-Term vs. Short-Term Planning38:46 — Practical Grounding Habits Every Leader Can Start42:52 — The Future of Coaching in a Tech-Driven World47:36 — What’s Next for Emotional Business (Season 3 Teaser) Connect with Lana Khimka:LinkedIn

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Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.