“Sapiens is an idea, first of all, that we can perform at a high level and at the same time work in harmony with our biology.” - Jan Philipp Martini

Have you noticed some people seem to thrive under pressure while others slowly burn out? What if stress isn’t the enemy but the secret ingredient to lasting performance? In this episode, I sit down with Jan-Philipp Martini, founder and CEO of Sapiens, to explore what really happens when ambition collides with biology. Jan shares how his own health crisis became the turning point that led him to rethink everything he knew about high performance. Together, we unpack the science behind stress, why it’s not the villain we’ve made it out to be, and how tuning into your body’s signals can transform the way you lead and live.

You’ll hear us discuss:

Jan’s journey from high-pressure management consulting to creating a company that helps leaders measure and manage stress through data
What his diagnosis with type 1 diabetes taught him about the hidden cost of “pushing through”
Why stress itself isn’t bad and how understanding your body’s natural rhythms can actually unlock better performance
The difference between restlessness and fatigue, and what those states reveal about your biology
How stress shows up in the body - long before burnout hits - and the early signs we tend to ignore
The three stress archetypes (green, yellow, orange) and what they say about where you are on the stress spectrum
How leaders can catch weak signals - like irritability, gut issues, or sleeplessness - before they turn into full-blown problems
Simple ways to sync your daily habits with your body’s natural rhythm so you can sustain excellence without exhaustion

Resources

JanPhilipp Martini on Sapiens | LinkedIn

Book a 15-minute free demo consultation - Link

Research: How We Measure Stress Using Body Data and Self-Assessments: Read here

Learn More About Sapiens

• Overview of Sapiens: A short video introduction to Sapiens and their mission to help people in intense jobs manage stress and sustain performance.

• Video: The Diagnostics Journey: See what it’s like to go through the full Sapiens Stress & Resilience Diagnostic and Human Performance Journey.

• Sneak Peek: Sapiens Workshop: Get a behind-the-scenes look at a real Sapiens workshop with a CFO team.

Mentioned Studies

• Impact of long exhales on down-regulating the nervous system and improving mood

• Impact of microbiome composition on social decision making

• The connection between stress and empathy

• Link between empathy and inflammation

Special Offer for Listeners: Jan-Philipp Martini, founder and CEO of Sapiens, is offering Transformative Leadership Conversations listeners a 20% discount on the Sapiens Stress & Resilience Diagnostic and Habit-Change Program by using the code TLC at www.be-sapiens.com, valid through the end of 2025.

Winnie da Silva on LinkedIn | On the Web | Substack | YouTube | Email - winnie@winnifred.org

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