The Wisdom Of... with Simon Bowen

In this episode of The Wisdom Of... Show, host Simon Bowen speaks with Ant Williams, a business psychologist and world champion freediver who bridges academic knowledge with extreme athletic experience to revolutionize performance under pressure. Ant shares how his decision to test pressure performance theories at the limits of human survival created a systematic methodology that transforms high-stakes business performance. Discover the T-minus framework for peak performance, the power of deliberate identity switching, and why "leaning into discomfort" unlocks breakthrough results when everything is on the line.Ready to master the systematic approach to capturing business wisdom? Join Simon's exclusive masterclass on The Models Method: https://thesimonbowen.com/masterclassEpisode Breakdown00:00 Introduction and Ant's unique combination of business psychology and world-class freediving 08:15 The decision to test pressure performance theories through extreme experience 16:42 From coaching risk-takers to becoming a world record holder himself 25:33 The T-minus framework and systematic approach to high-pressure situations 34:18 The deliberate identity switch: Accessing hidden mental and physical resources 43:27 How to "lean into discomfort" and transform pressure into competitive advantage 51:44 Business applications of extreme performance psychology for executive leadership 58:19 Why peak performance requires systematic preparation, not just hopeAbout Ant WilliamsAnt Williams is a business psychologist and world champion freediver who draws on his academic knowledge and elite athletic experience to teach leaders mental toughness. Ant helps leaders build courage, perform under pressure and achieve their aspirations.Wanting to understand if anyone could learn to become a risk-taker, Ant decided to take up freediving and learn firsthand how to perform under pressure. He has set a world record for being the deepest man under ice, holds his breath for over eight minutes, dives to 100m depths, and swims 240m on a single breath. Ant stars in the Apple TV documentary "Ice Dive."Ant brings these intense learnings to executive education, helping clients boost leadership capability, develop new service delivery models, innovate in mature markets, improve sales effectiveness and develop impactful consulting skills.Connect with Ant Williams: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ant-williams-leadership/ Website: https://modusleadership.com.au/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freediveguy/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/antwilliams.freediver/About Simon BowenSimon has spent over two decades working with influential leaders across complex industries. His focus is on elevating thinking in organizations, recognizing that success is directly proportional to the quality of thinking and ideas within a business. Simon leads the renaissance of thinking through his work with global leaders and organizations.Connect with SimonLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonbowen-mm/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialsimonbowen/ Website: https://thesimonbowen.com/Get Simon Bowen's Personal Newsletter for Leaders, Thinkers, and Entrepreneurs! Sign Up Now: https://thesimonbowen.com/newsletter.Join Simon's Masterclass: Unlock your leadership potential with The Models Method. Learn to articulate your unique value and create scalable impact. Watch it Now: https://thesimonbowen.com/masterclass

In this episode of The Wisdom Of... Show, host Simon Bowen speaks with Cameron Herold, founder of COO Alliance and the man known as "The CEO Whisperer."  Cameron shares profound insights on why vision alone never drives scale and how the smartest entrepreneurs systematically delegate everything except their genius. Discover the hidden taxonomy of second-in-command roles, why context matters more than concepts in delegation, and the "Jigsaw Puzzle of Business" framework that Fortune 500 companies pay millions to understand.Ready to master the systematic approach to capturing business wisdom? Join Simon's exclusive masterclass on The Models Method: https://thesimonbowen.com/masterclassEpisode Breakdown00:00 Introduction and Cameron's unconventional entrepreneurial journey 06:42 Why having 14 businesses by age 18 was actually the perfect preparation 14:28 The 1-800-GOT-JUNK transformation and what board members really need to see 22:15 Why "scale is not an extension of vision" and where most entrepreneurs break 30:36 The taxonomy of second-in-command roles and matching COOs to company stages 38:52 The Jigsaw Puzzle of Business metaphor and systematic framework for growth 45:18 The delegation trap that keeps companies stuck under $10 million52:07 Context vs concepts and why onboarding time should match recruiting time 58:44 The emotional regulation skills that matter more than technical knowledgeAbout Cameron HeroldCameron Herold is the founder of COO Alliance and host of the Second In Command podcast, known globally as "The CEO Whisperer." As the former COO of 1-800-GOT-JUNK, he engineered the company's spectacular growth from $2 million to $106 million in revenue in just six years. The publisher of Forbes magazine stated, "Cameron Herold is the best speaker I've ever heard...he hits grand slams."Cameron is the author of 6 bestselling books, including The Second In Command, Vivid Vision, and Double Double. He has spoken in 26 countries across all 7 continents, and his Second In Command podcast consistently ranks in the top 5% of all business podcasts with over 2 million downloads.Connect with Cameron Herold: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cameronherold/   Website: https://cameronherold.com/  COO Alliance: https://cooalliance.com/ Second In Command Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLhrkfRg9PlkvgEGJ5Xmcaw Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cameron_herold_cooalliance/About Simon BowenSimon has spent over two decades working with influential leaders across complex industries. His focus is on elevating thinking in organizations, recognizing that success is directly proportional to the quality of thinking and ideas within a business. Simon leads the renaissance of thinking through his work with global leaders and organizations.Connect with SimonLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonbowen-mm/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialsimonbowen/ Website: https://thesimonbowen.com/Get Simon Bowen's Personal Newsletter for Leaders, Thinkers, and Entrepreneurs! Sign Up Now: https://thesimonbowen.com/newsletter.Join Simon's Masterclass: Unlock your leadership potential with The Models Method. Learn to articulate your unique value and create scalable impact. Watch it Now: https://thesimonbowen.com/masterclass

In this episode of The Wisdom Of... Show, host Simon Bowen speaks with Nick Halaris, author of Profit+ newsletter and real estate entrepreneur, who discovered that the American Dream nearly destroyed his life, and how that crisis led to a revolutionary approach to building wealth while building community. From his Stanford Law background to investing in over $300 million worth of properties, Nick shares profound insights on servant leadership, the new model of citizenship, and how to profitably serve urgent needs. Discover why "success without compromise" isn't just an idealistic concept, but the most practical path to sustainable business impact.Ready to elevate your strategic thinking? Join Simon's exclusive masterclass on The Models Method. Learn how to think systemically about complex business challenges: https://thesimonbowen.com/masterclassEpisode Breakdown00:00 Introduction and the pursuit of success without compromise06:18 The American Dream infection and early entrepreneurial drive12:36 Crisis as catalyst: when businesses blow up and lawsuits fly18:52 The philosophical breakthrough that changes everything about success25:44 Why business schools teach the opposite of what works33:29 The ownership revolution: turning employees into business owners38:22 Building a new model of citizenship beyond just voting45:36 The filter that changes every business decision: serving urgent needs profitably52:12 Renaissance thinking applied to modern entrepreneurship challengesAbout Nick HalarisNick Halaris is the author of Profit+, a popular newsletter read by over 20,000 mission-driven individuals, and the host of the Nick Halaris Show, a podcast dedicated to sharing the stories of people working to make the world a better place. Every week, Nick publishes articles designed to help people pursue success without compromise and sits down with socially conscious entrepreneurs, investors, nonprofit leaders, civic activists, and political leaders.Nick has spent the last 15 years as a real estate entrepreneur and has invested in over $300 million worth of properties. He is co-founder and President of Metros Capital, a design-centric residential development firm based in West Hollywood with a track record that includes investing and developing over 2,500 multifamily units and 150 homes.With a Juris Doctor from Stanford Law School and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Michigan, Nick brings a unique perspective that combines legal training, business acumen, and philosophical depth. He believes that business should be a force for good and is committed to a vision of success that prioritizes community well-being over individual achievement.Connect with Nick HalarisLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-halaris-4a25b93/Website: https://nickhalaris.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nickhalaris/Twitter: https://x.com/nickhalaris?lang=enAbout Simon BowenSimon has spent over two decades working with influential leaders across complex industries. His focus is on elevating thinking in organizations, recognizing that success is directly proportional to the quality of thinking and ideas within a business. Simon leads the renaissance of thinking through his work with global leaders and organizations.Connect with SimonLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonbowen-mm/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialsimonbowen/ Website: https://thesimonbowen.com/Get Simon Bowen's Personal Newsletter for Leaders, Thinkers, and Entrepreneurs! Sign Up Now: https://thesimonbowen.com/newsletter.Join Simon's Masterclass: Unlock your leadership potential with The Models Method. Learn to articulate your unique value and create scalable impact. Watch it Now: https://thesimonbowen.com/masterclass.

In this episode of The Wisdom Of... Show, host Simon Bowen speaks with Trevor Yager, founder and chairman of TrendyMinds, who built a 30-year digital marketing empire by systematically doing the opposite of what every other agency owner does.  Drawing on his background in psychology and decades-long relationships, Trevor offers powerful insights into values-driven leadership, transparent business practices, and what it really takes to build sustainable competitive advantages . Discover how prioritizing relationships over revenue creates the strongest foundation for long-term business success.Ready to elevate your strategic thinking? Join Simon's exclusive masterclass on The Models Method. Learn how to think systemically about complex business challenges: https://thesimonbowen.com/masterclassEpisode Breakdown00:00 Introduction and the unconventional path from psychology to digital marketing empire05:28 The college decision and why human behavior became a business advantage12:43 Early mistakes and how owning them became a competitive strategy18:47 Building TrendyMinds from screenprinting to digital transformation25:19 The transparency strategy that "shouldn't have worked" during acquisition discussions32:14 How to avoid becoming a dinosaur while staying true to core principles38:56 The ideation advantage and why creativity matters more than tools in the AI era45:23 Long-term relationship building versus short-term revenue optimization52:37 Values-driven decision making and the State of the Union invitation58:44 The anti-agency playbook and systematic disruption through principled leadershipAbout Trevor YagerTrevor Yager is the founder and chairman of TrendyMinds, a leading digital marketing agency he started as a college student in 1995. Under his leadership, TrendyMinds has grown from a small startup into a full-service agency trusted by global enterprise clients, including Salesforce, Eli Lilly, Indiana University Health, and Cummins.Now serving as Chairman, Trevor guides the strategic vision and growth of the company while investing in startups, commercial real estate, and new ventures. His work has earned multiple Inc. 5000 listings and industry recognition for campaigns that genuinely improve lives.With a background in psychology, history, and political science, Trevor brings a unique human-centered perspective to business strategy and relationship building. He represents a values-driven approach to entrepreneurship that prioritizes long-term sustainable growth over short-term profits.Based in Indianapolis, Indiana, Trevor continues to mentor emerging entrepreneurs while overseeing strategic acquisitions and investments across multiple industries.Connect with Trevor YagerLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trevoryager/Website: https://trendyminds.com/aboutInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/trendyminds/p/C02YU0jvGEi/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TrevorYager/Twitter: https://x.com/i/flow/login?redirect_after_login=%2FtrevoryagerAbout Simon BowenSimon has spent over two decades working with influential leaders across complex industries. His focus is on elevating thinking in organizations, recognizing that success is directly proportional to the quality of thinking and ideas within a business. Simon leads the renaissance of thinking through his work with global leaders and organizations.Connect with SimonLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonbowen-mm/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialsimonbowen/ Website: https://thesimonbowen.com/Get Simon Bowen's Personal Newsletter for Leaders, Thinkers, and Entrepreneurs! Sign Up Now: https://thesimonbowen.com/newsletter.Join Simon's Masterclass: Unlock your leadership potential with The Models Method. Learn to articulate your unique value and create scalable impact. Watch it Now: https://thesimonbowen.com/masterclass

In this episode of The Wisdom Of... Show, host Simon Bowen speaks with Lauren Flanagan, CEO and co-founder of Sesame Solar, a company that's redefining emergency response through renewable mobile nanogrids. From her near-death experiences that shaped her mission to building technology that deploys clean power in disaster zones within 15 minutes, Lauren shares profound insights on first-principles thinking, testing breakthrough solutions in existential scenarios, and the wisdom of challenging incumbents through evolution rather than revolution. Discover how thinking systemically about urgent problems creates the foundation for global impact and why sometimes the hardest test cases produce the most scalable solutions.Ready to elevate your strategic thinking? Join Simon's exclusive masterclass on The Models Method. Learn how to think systemically about complex business challenges: https://thesimonbowen.com/masterclassEpisode Breakdown00:00 Introduction and the intersection of innovation, sustainability, and bold leadership 05:30 From SaaS pioneer to climate innovator - Lauren's journey to Sesame Solar 12:15 The Dominica test case - when Hurricane Maria became an existential business challenge 18:45 First principles thinking - how to make complex technology radically simple 25:20 The urgent need vs early adopter framework for market entry 32:10 Why "test case thinking" beats venture capital in the early stages 38:40 Challenging deeply entrenched incumbents without declaring war 44:25 The philosophy of coexistence vs disruption in breakthrough innovation 50:15 How near-death experiences shape business mission and long-term thinking 52:30 The negotiation Lauren would most want to observe - Ukraine and World War III preventionAbout Lauren FlanaganLauren Flanagan is the co-founder, chair and CEO of Sesame Solar, which manufactures the world's first 100% renewably-powered Mobile Nanogrids. She is also Managing Director of Belle Capital USA, an early stage venture fund that invests in high growth tech companies in underserved capital markets around the US.Lauren has more than 25 years experience in founding and operating technology companies, and has invested in 32 companies in the past 8 years. Before founding Sesame Solar, Lauren co-founded WebWare Corporation, one of the first Software as a Service (SaaS) companies, which was acquired by a publicly traded company in 2003. She has consulted for technology leaders including Apple, IBM, Microsoft, and Xerox.Lauren received Trailblazer Awards in 2000 and 2001 from the Forum for Women Entrepreneurs and was awarded IT Software CEO of the Year for 2002 by Frost and Sullivan. BusinessWeek selected her as one of the Top 25 Angels in Tech in 2010. She was recognized on the 2024 Grist 50 list for driving fresh solutions to our planet's biggest problems.Sesame Solar's customers include the Army Corps of Engineers, US Marine Corps, US Air Force, cities and counties, major telecommunications companies, and NGOs. The company is backed by Morgan Stanley, VSC Ventures, PAX Angels and high-net-worth investors.Connect with Lauren FlanaganLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laflanagan/ Website: https://www.sesame.solar/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sesame.solarAbout Simon BowenSimon has spent over two decades working with influential leaders across complex industries. His focus is on elevating thinking in organizations, recognizing that success is directly proportional to the quality of thinking and ideas within a business. Simon leads the renaissance of thinking through his work with global leaders and organizations.Connect with SimonLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonbowen-mm/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialsimonbowen/ Website: https://thesimonbowen.com/Get Simon Bowen's Personal Newsletter for Leaders, Thinkers, and Entrepreneurs! Sign Up Now: https://thesimonbowen.com/newsletterJoin Simon's Masterclass: Unlock your leadership potential with The Models Method. Learn to articulate your unique value and create scalable impact. Watch it Now: https://thesimonbowen.com/masterclass

In this episode of The Wisdom Of ... Show, host Simon Bowen speaks with Sam Thevanayagam, Founder and CEO of Parts Life, Inc., a defense industry leader who has revolutionized how we think about servant leadership in high-stakes environments. From his journey as an immigrant entrepreneur to building a family of companies serving critical F-35 program components, Sam shares profound insights on faith-driven leadership, systematic human development, and turning adversity into competitive advantage. Discover how cricket lessons from his father became a business philosophy that consistently outperforms traditional command-and-control management.Ready to elevate your leadership thinking? Join Simon's exclusive masterclass on The Models Method. Learn how to think systematically about complex leadership challenges: https://thesimonbowen.com/masterclassEpisode Breakdown00:00  Introduction and the challenge of integrating faith with business leadership 05:18  Building people through companies versus building companies through people12:36   The First 10 Runs in Singles: why patience beats aggression in competitive markets 18:52   Cricket wisdom applied to defense manufacturing and high-stakes decision making 25:44 Creating environments where people achieve their God-given potential 33:29  The bankruptcy acquisition that became an F-35 program success story 38:22  Servant leadership in practice: moving from head to heart to action 45:36  The infinite loop model of sustainable leadership impact 52:12  Faith as competitive strategy in secular business environments58:30  Legacy wisdom: focus on little things and big things take care of themselvesAbout Sam ThevanayagamSam Thevanayagam is a Sri Lankan-born, American entrepreneur, author, and thought leader in defense and aviation sustainment. As Founder and CEO of Parts Life, Inc. (parent company of DeVal Lifecycle Support and LC Engineers, Inc.), he leads a family of companies specializing in obsolescence management and supply chain solutions for military assets across all five domains: land, sea, undersea, air, and space.Sam brings 30 years of executive leadership experience, specializing in quality assurance, operations management, supplier development, and strategic sourcing. In addition to his bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Sam’s commitment to continuous learning spans certifications and continued education programs in areas such as servant leadership, product and inventory management, supply chain reengineering and AI’s implications on business strategy.Sam is the author of "The First 10 Runs in Singles: Life Lessons from the Game of Cricket," translated across seven languages. His book examines strategies taught by his father and how cricket principles apply to business and life..Connect with Sam ThevanayagamLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samthevanayagam Website: https://www.samtnetwork.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SamTNetwork/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samtnetwork/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCv0xOLVIPw4P9Abp-6lwGIQ About Simon BowenSimon has spent over two decades working with influential leaders across complex industries. His focus is on elevating thinking in organizations, recognizing that success is directly proportional to the quality of thinking and ideas within a business. Simon leads the renaissance of thinking through his work with global leaders and organizations.Connect with SimonLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonbowen-mm/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialsimonbowen/ Website: https://thesimonbowen.com/Get Simon Bowen's Personal Newsletter for Leaders, Thinkers, and Entrepreneurs! Sign Up Now: https://thesimonbowen.com/newsletterJoin Simon's Masterclass: Unlock your leadership potential with The Models Method. Learn to articulate your unique value and create scalable impact. Watch it Now: https://thesimonbowen.com/masterclass

Most people spend their lives trying to eliminate struggle. Marine Corps veteran Akshay Nanavati spent four years and $1.1 million preparing to drag a 420-pound sled across Antarctica alone - on what experts call "the world's first attempt at an impossible expedition."His greatest breakthrough didn't happen on the ice. It happened when doctors told him he had PTSD and he responded: "I reject that label." Instead of accepting victim status, he created Fearvana. a philosophy that transforms fear into fuel and suffering into strength.In this conversation, Simon builds a live visual model that captures Akshay's entire transformation methodology: the spiral framework that shows how humans evolve from basic fear/desire programming to the ultimate sacred edge of void and creation.Ready to systematically extract and codify your own breakthrough thinking? Join Simon's Masterclass on The Models Method: https://thesimonbowen.com/masterclassEpisode Breakdown00:00 Introduction and Akshay's journey from Marine to polar explorer 04:32 The moment he rejected his PTSD diagnosis and created Fearvana 08:47 What Marines learn about performing under pressure that business leaders don't 14:23 Building the sacred edge framework and the spiral model of human development 22:15 The three levels of transformation: fear/desire, suffering/joy, void/creation 28:41 Why choosing your suffering gives you power over your experience 35:18 The Antarctica expedition: four years of preparation for the impossible 42:05 Dragging a 420-pound sled and why getting there was harder than being there 47:29 The inner war philosophy and the path to peace through worthy struggle 53:47 The mantras that carry you through when you want to quit 56:12 Why stillness might be humanity's greatest fear and confronting the void 58:15 Final thoughts on finding your spiral and living with dualitiesAbout Akshay NanavatiAkshay Nanavati is a Marine veteran who has overcome PTSD, depression and addiction that pushed him to the brink of suicide. He’s since built a global business, run ultramarathons, spent 17 days in darkness, survived 100 days alone in the polar regions, and dragged a 420-pound sled for 500 miles, alone in Antarctica for 60 days, on what experts call “the boldest Antarctic expedition in modern times.”Combining lived experience with neuroscience, psychology and spirituality, he wrote the book “Fearvana,” which was endorsed by the Dalai Lama. Akshay is an international speaker who helps leaders and teams break through limits, explore new edges and perform at their peak.Connect with Akshay Nanavati:Website: https://fearvana.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fearvana/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fearvana/About Simon BowenSimon has spent over two decades working with influential leaders across complex industries. His focus is on elevating thinking in organizations, recognizing that success is directly proportional to the quality of thinking and ideas within a business. Simon leads the renaissance of thinking through his work with global leaders and organizations.Connect with SimonLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonbowen-mm/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialsimonbowen/ Website: https://thesimonbowen.com/Get Simon Bowen's Personal Newsletter for Leaders, Thinkers, and Entrepreneurs! Sign Up Now: https://thesimonbowen.com/newsletterJoin Simon's Masterclass: Unlock your leadership potential with The Models Method. Learn to articulate your unique value and create scalable impact. Watch it Now: https://thesimonbowen.com/masterclass

In this episode of The Wisdom Of... Show, host Simon Bowen speaks with Klement Kralj, founder and CEO of Remea, a pioneering company revolutionizing EV charging infrastructure through destination-based solutions. From his engineering background to building a bootstrapped company that challenges industry giants, Klement shares profound insights on innovation, systems thinking, and the realities of disrupting established markets. Discover how thinking differently about fundamental assumptions can create breakthrough opportunities and why sometimes being small becomes your greatest competitive advantage.Ready to elevate your strategic thinking? Join Simon's exclusive masterclass on The Models Method. Learn how to think systemically about complex business challenges: https://thesimonbowen.com/masterclassEpisode Breakdown00:00 Introduction and the challenge of innovating in established markets 05:18 Early signals and why destination charging made sense when fast charging was slow 12:36 The bootstrap advantage of agility versus resources in competitive markets 18:52 Beyond products and why market education becomes the hardest challenge25:44 Systematic resistance when industry giants try to stop innovation 33:29 The unexpected advantage of regulatory constraints on competitors 38:22 Physics versus AI and when fundamental principles outperform algorithms 45:36 The entrepreneurial reality of building products versus bringing them to market 52:12 AI as competitive advantage for small, agile companiesAbout Klement KraljKlement Kralj is the founder and CEO of Remea, where he drives innovation in smart EV charging solutions for hospitality and destination businesses. With over a decade of experience in systems engineering and business development, Klement brings a unique perspective to the intersection of engineering precision and commercial strategy.Passionate about disrupting the status quo, he leads a dedicated team focused on delivering seamless SaaS offerings that align with industry transformation and sustainability goals. His approach combines deep technical expertise with systems-level thinking to create solutions that don't just compete within existing markets but redefine how entire industries think about their fundamental models.Based in Ljubljana, Slovenia, Klement represents a new generation of European entrepreneurs who are leveraging technological agility and innovative thinking to challenge established global markets.Connect with Klement KraljLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/klementkralj/  Personal Website: https://theklement.com/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/klement.kralj.3  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clementcharged/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@remeacharging About Simon BowenSimon has spent over two decades working with influential leaders across complex industries. His focus is on elevating thinking in organizations, recognizing that success is directly proportional to the quality of thinking and ideas within a business. Simon leads the renaissance of thinking through his work with global leaders and organizations.Connect with SimonLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonbowen-mm/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialsimonbowen/ Website: https://thesimonbowen.com/Get Simon Bowen's Personal Newsletter for Leaders, Thinkers, and Entrepreneurs! Sign Up Now: https://thesimonbowen.com/newsletterJoin Simon's Masterclass: Unlock your leadership potential with The Models Method. Learn to articulate your unique value and create scalable impact. Watch it Now: https://thesimonbowen.com/masterclass

In this episode of 'The Wisdom Of... Show', host Simon Bowen speaks with Radek Sali, the visionary entrepreneur who transformed Swisse Wellness from a $15 million company into a $2.7 billion empire in under a decade. Now Chairman of Light Warrior Group, Radek shares his insights on conscious capitalism, the value of failure, and how to build businesses that serve both shareholders and humanity. Discover his revolutionary approach to scaling culture-first organizations and his philosophy of creating shared value through investment.Ready to elevate your leadership approach? Join Simon's exclusive masterclass on The Strategic Play Method. Learn how to navigate complex business challenges with clarity and purpose: https://thesimonbowen.com/masterclassEpisode Breakdown00:00 Introduction and Radek's remarkable journey from Swisse to Light Warrior 05:30 The transformative power of failure: Why setbacks are education, not defeat 12:45 Culture as competitive advantage: Building Australia's "Best Place to Work" 18:20 The billion-dollar mindset: How to scale without sacrificing your soul 25:15 Conscious capitalism in action: The Light Warrior Group philosophy 32:40 Creating shared value: Investment strategies that serve humanity 38:50 The 50% rule: Why half of Radek's time is dedicated to philanthropy 44:10 Environmental consciousness and business: The climate imperative50:25 Future of wellness industry: Trends and opportunities ahead 56:40 Advice for aspiring conscious capitalistsAbout Radek SaliRadek Sali is a visionary entrepreneur and conscious capitalist who revolutionized the health and wellness industry through his leadership of Swisse Wellness. Under his guidance, Swisse grew from a $15 million company with 30 employees to a $2.7 billion enterprise with over 7,000 employees, becoming Australia's largest global wellness company and the number one natural health brand in Australia and China.After selling Swisse for $1.7 billion in 2015—one of Australia's largest private transactions—Radek founded Light Warrior Group with ex-Goldman Sachs banker Adam Gregory. Light Warrior is an investment firm committed to creating shared value by investing in businesses that are socially responsible and environmentally conscious.Radek dedicates 50% of his time to not-for-profit work, serving as Chairman of Igniting Change and Founder of Lightfolk Foundation. He's also a Founding Member of the Climate Leaders Coalition and serves on the boards of multiple organizations focused on positive change.In February 2024, Radek released "How to Build a Billion-Dollar Business," sharing his insights for aspiring entrepreneurs and business leaders who want to create companies that matter.Connect with Radek SaliLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/radeksali/ Light Warrior Group: https://lightwarrior.com/ Wanderlust: https://wanderlust.com.au/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wanderlustausnz/About Simon BowenSimon has spent over two decades working with influential leaders across complex industries. His focus is on elevating thinking in organizations, recognizing that success is directly proportional to the quality of thinking and ideas within a business. Simon leads the renaissance of thinking through his work with global leaders and organizations.Connect with SimonLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonbowen-mm/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialsimonbowen/Website: https://thesimonbowen.com/Get Simon Bowen's Personal Newsletter for Leaders, Thinkers, and Entrepreneurs! 👉 Sign Up Now: https://thesimonbowen.com/newsletterJoin Simon's Masterclass: Unlock your leadership potential with The Models Method. Learn to articulate your unique value and create scalable impact. 👉 Watch it Now: https://thesimonbowen.com/masterclass

In this episode of The Wisdom Of… Show, host Simon Bowen speaks with Shawn Nelson, founder and CEO of Lovesac, who has revolutionized the furniture industry through modular design and a "Designed for Life" philosophy. From starting in his mother's basement at age 20 to building a billion-dollar public company, Shawn shares profound insights on purposeful innovation, the responsibility of leadership, and creating products that evolve with human needs rather than forcing replacement cycles.Ready to transform your innovation approach? Join Simon's exclusive masterclass on The Models Method. Learn how to articulate your unique value and create scalable impact: https://thesimonbowen.com/masterclassEpisode Breakdown00:00 Introduction and Shawn's journey from basement startup to billion-dollar company05:18 The "Designed for Life" philosophy and questioning industry assumptions12:36 Modular thinking: How reconfigurable products reflect business strategy18:52 Winning Richard Branson's "The Rebel Billionaire" and lessons in authentic leadership25:44 Sustainability as business principle, not marketing initiative33:29 The responsibility of innovation and serving deeper human needs38:22 Building products that solve problems customers didn't know they had45:36 Scaling purpose-driven companies without compromising core values52:12 The future of ownership and consumer relationships58:43 Creating lasting impact through evolutionary design thinkingAbout Shawn NelsonShawn Nelson is the founder and CEO of Lovesac, a direct-to-consumer specialty furniture brand that has fundamentally reimagined how furniture serves human lives. Founded in 1998 from his mother's basement, Lovesac has grown into one of the fastest-growing furniture companies in the United States, known for its patented Sactionals modular seating system.Beyond business success, Shawn is recognized for his commitment to sustainability and the "Buy It For Life" movement. In 2005, he won Richard Branson's "The Rebel Billionaire" on Fox, demonstrating the entrepreneurial spirit that continues to drive his leadership approach.With a Master's Degree in Strategic Design and Management, Shawn serves as a graduate-level instructor at Parsons, The New School for Design in New York City. His "Designed for Life" philosophy emphasizes sustainable products built to last a lifetime and designed to evolve with customer needs, providing long-term utility while reducing furniture waste.Connect with Shawn NelsonWebsite: https://shawndnelson.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawndnelson/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ShawnOfLovesac/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shawnoflovesac/?hl=en YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/shawnydlovesacAbout Simon BowenSimon has spent over two decades working with influential leaders across complex industries. His focus is on elevating thinking in organizations, recognizing that success is directly proportional to the quality of thinking and ideas within a business. Simon leads the renaissance of thinking through his work with global leaders and organizations.Connect with SimonLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonbowen-mm/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialsimonbowen/Website: https://thesimonbowen.com/Get Simon Bowen's Personal Newsletter for Leaders, Thinkers, and Entrepreneurs! 👉 Sign Up Now: https://thesimonbowen.com/newsletterJoin Simon's Masterclass: Unlock your leadership potential with The Models Method. Learn to articulate your unique value and create scalable impact. 👉 Watch it Now: https://thesimonbowen.com/masterclass