In a captivating conversation, Oliver Brunschwiler, a former pro snowboarder turned purpose-driven entrepreneur, and Enrique Molina of Chi Impact Capital dive into the transformative power of circularity in business. They discuss leading with purpose and how organizations can ditch rigid hierarchies for adaptive, role-based systems. The duo shares insights on the intersection of sustainability and investor perspectives, addressing the evolving landscape of impact capital and the importance of trust in self-organizing teams while navigating market fluctuations.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
Early Entrepreneurial Roots
Oliver Brunschwiler's entrepreneurial spirit began early through BMX, surfing, and skateboarding, symbolizing freedom from his environment.
This passion for new challenges parallels his business career chasing innovation and first tracks.
insights INSIGHT
Role-Based Organizations Thrive
Role-based organizations allow people to adapt and change roles as their skills evolve.
This flexible approach avoids static job descriptions and fosters innovation and engagement.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Purpose-Led Leadership Crucial
Do not eliminate leadership; it provides orientation, safety, and inspiration.
Purpose must lead organizations, with leadership roles assigned to those who inspire and create trust.
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Welcome to a new episode of the EUVC Podcast, where we bring you the people and perspectives shaping European venture.
This week, Andreas is joined by Oliver Brunschwiler, purpose-driven entrepreneur, former pro snowboarder, and longtime systems thinker, along with Enrique Molina from Chi Impact Capital, co-hosting this deep dive into what it means to lead with purpose, design for circularity, and build organizations that reinvent themselves from the inside out.
Oliver’s journey goes from first tracks on fresh powder to first tracks in organizational design—helping companies ditch rigid hierarchies for role-based, purpose-led systems. Enrique brings the investor lens, showing how these principles translate into impact capital and portfolio building today.
In this episode, they break down how circularity is moving from hype to hard reality, why trust and leadership still matter in the most “self-organizing” teams, and how the best founders navigate the tension between market dips and mission-driven staying power.
This Episode’s Themes:
Holacracy, role-based teams & why leadership still matters
Circularity’s gap phase—and what’s quietly thriving
Industrial impact: batteries, PET, and supply chains redesigned
Policy tailwinds: how the EU is making circular the new norm
First tracks mindset: from snowboarding to systems change
Here’s what’s covered:
00:00 | From pro snowboarding to purpose-driven business
02:00 | Sports, freedom & the roots of Oliver’s entrepreneurial DNA
04:30 | The value of pushing limits—on boards and in boardrooms
08:00 | Holacracy & new work: why “no boss” usually fails
12:00 | Purpose is boss: role-based systems done right
15:00 | AI, agents & managing the unmanageable—what changes, what doesn’t
19:00 | When people don’t want ownership—why clear leadership stays vital
20:00 | Circularity: beyond the hype cycle and into tough reality
24:00 | Surviving the stock dip: founders reconciling mission and market
28:00 | Industrial scale impact: batteries, chemical recycling & what’s next
32:00 | Where Oliver sees big opportunities now (food, upcycling, building)
36:00 | Corporates, supply chains & Fairphone as a case in point
40:00 | The EU Green Deal, Right to Repair & why policy matters
44:00 | Final thoughts: trust the purpose, ride the dip, build the system
EUVC