“There is a knowing in me that beneath that cultural layer, we’re the same. It sounds so obvious, but it has made me show up in different ways.” - Anna Gudmundson

What does it really take to lead with purpose when you’re building a life - and a business - in a country that’s not your own?

In this episode, I sit down with Anna Gudmundson, CEO of Sensate and a global tech entrepreneur whose story spans six countries and countless transformative lessons. We explore what it means to lead as an immigrant, how to build a business without losing yourself, and why cultivating nervous system resilience might be the most overlooked leadership strategy today. Anna’s clarity, humility, and global lens make this conversation both grounding and expansive.

You'll hear us discuss:

How Anna's early childhood in rural Africa shaped her core belief that "beneath that cultural layer, we're the same"
Her journey from Sweden to France, Spain, London, and eventually Los Angeles - and how each culture revealed something new about leadership and herself
What it means to create a startup culture rooted in presence, intention, and human connection, not just productivity
Why self-awareness and adaptability are non-negotiables for leading diverse, high-performing teams
The emotional cost of immigration and how Anna deliberately builds belonging in new environments
How Sensate helps people calm their nervous systems through infrasonic sound - and why Anna believes calming the body is foundational to leadership
The challenge of building company culture while fundraising, and how she uses values to guide everyday decisions
A refreshing take on feedback, safety, and why we don’t need to be liked to be effective leaders

Resources

Anna Gudmundson on Sensate | Sensate Instagram | LinkedIn

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

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