Amy Valach is an Antarctic Atmospheric Scientist and one of the few women ever to winter at the Halley 6 Research Station in Antarctica. In today’s interview, Amy and I talk about the path that led her to accept a once-in-a-lifetime offer to do scientific research under the auspice of the British Antarctic Survey (BAS). She discusses life and landscapes on the Brunt Ice Shelf on the Weddell Sea, including her daily routine and mealtime escapades. 

Is there life after Antarctica? After a harsh readjustment period “returning to earth”, she goes on to discuss her post-doc plans in the USA and other recent projects such as her support for Inspiring Girls  http://www.inspiringgirls.org/, a charity run by women in science to offer young girls wilderness expeditions exploring science, art, and the outdoors. 

Find out more about Amy on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-valach-4a119951/ . Thank you for listening to the show. 

Credits:
Music: Barge, Gunnar Larson on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19QFSQ6JcuM
Image courtesy of Amy Valach
Post-Production by Florian Lussi in Stans, Switzerland
Lead by Sibylle Landolt, Steinhausen, Switzerland

[006] Amy Valach, Antarctic Atmospheric Scientist

Florian Wieser is a digital enthusiast and transformer. He created his first start-up at the age of 19 and has now moved on to owning his own consultancy, the Relevent Collective. Instead of applying a range of digital and social tools to every problem he sees, he draws on his experience with communication and community to help companies focus on their content. Digital is simply the extension of this. 

The root of the problem, Florian says, is organization and change. Many companies try to solve the problem with technology, but Florian insists that the true transformation lies in finding organizational stories and building purpose around them. Florian is also a huge proponent of the economy of enough (the ‘eleven’ in his company’s name): Scaling is not the only way to be successful.

His goal? To re-orient organizations around their own reference points, not abstract visions and strategy papers. This enables employees to engage in Digital Creation – with a capital ‘C’. Being connected means bringing value to and networking with your community, or as he says: “Connecting with everything is freedom”. 

For more information on Florian, check out the Relevent Collective (https://therelevent.com/) and his profile on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/flowieser/). Thanks for listening to the show. 

Credits:
Music: Barge, Gunnar Larson on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19QFSQ6JcuM
Image courtesy of Florian Wieser
Post-Production by Florian Lussi in Stans, Switzerland
Lead by Sibylle Landolt, Steinhausen, Switzerland

[009] Florian Wieser, Digital Transformer

Steven Loepfe is founder and Head of Sales for Storylead (https://www.storylead.ch/), a digital marketing consultancy devoted to helping companies achieve their growth potential through marketing and sales automatization.  In today’s interview, he talks about his beginnings running “wandering discos” in the 1980s and using the money to finance his business studies. After his early days writing for his own pirate radio station, he founded a classic PR firm producing content. 

Over the course of our talk, he discusses the importance of “doing the work” (a tip of the hat to Steven Pressfield's book "Do the Work", why following your passion is overrated, and why getting out of your head is the most important professional and personal move you can make. 

Throughout his 25+ year career, he has seen one or two things crash and burn, but also still fights with what he calls the “fog of complexity”, or companies constantly chasing after the next best business fad or flashy tech objects to solve their problems. The Martech 5000 https://binged.it/2HGSAMV clearly shows why “getting on top” of digital will never be feasible.

His goal? To help companies tap their potential and create more opportunities and jobs. Find out more about Steven on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevenloepfe/) or visit him at storylead (https://www.storylead.ch/ueber-storylead#das-storylead-a-team). Thank you for listening to the show. 

Credits:
Music: Barge, Gunnar Larson on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19QFSQ6JcuM
Image courtesy of Steven Loepfe
Post-Production by Florian Lussi in Stans, Switzerland
Lead by Sibylle Landolt, Steinhausen, Switzerland

[010] Steven Loepfe, Storylead

Patrik Berisha is a former MMA-athlete and current online entrepreneur. In this podcast, he talks about his beginnings in business – including several failures – to his current success with Keyforge, an online platform that provides real-estate owners a way to offer affordable apartments for rental. 

During the interview, he talks about the importance of focusing your energies to the point of obsession; why we are free to do what we want but still have to face the consequences; and the importance of learning from failures and constantly educating yourself.  

With the success of Keyforge, he has followed his passion of creating new companies, including his current interest in Blockchain, allowing a more efficient processing of contracts. Find out more about Patrik on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrik-berisha-4b090983/) or visit him at KeyForge (https://www.keyforge.ch/about-us/). Thank you for listening to the show. 

Credits:
Music: Barge, Gunnar Larson on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19QFSQ6JcuM
Image courtesy of Patrik Berisha
Post-Production by Florian Lussi in Stans, Switzerland
Lead by Sibylle Landolt, Steinhausen, Switzerland

[011] Patrik Berisha, Keyforge

In today’s interview, Adriano Kuster of Adriano’s Attire talks about his passion for tailored men’s clothing and his dual role working part-time and running his own company. He discusses his interest in fashion from his youth and the current interest in made-to-measure suits and shirts for a younger generation. In the current retail crisis in Central Switzerland, he shows that made-to-measure can be affordable while offering a product and service that the competition do not or cannot. 

Along the way, Adriano has learned a lesson or two about running his own business. Online means that cheaper prices can be found everywhere, but also that the demand for quality is a niche that will continue to grow in the future. His business shows that this is possible.  

His future plans? Expanding his customer base, and implementing online services that can enhance his core business while guaranteeing quality. His advice in the end? Take your business idea and go for it. Whether you go all-in or work part-time as he does, will depend on your personality – but nothing can beat the experience gained from trial and error. 

Find out more about Adriano at http://www.adrianosattire.ch/. Thank you for listening to the show.

Credits:
Music: Barge, Gunnar Larson on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19QFSQ6JcuM
Images courtesy of Adriano Kuster
Post-Production by Florian Lussi in Stans, Switzerland
Lead by Sibylle Landolt, Steinhausen, Switzerland

[012] Adriano's Attire

From his beginnings in the 1990s in proving that digital distribution channels work to being one of the first companies to offer software-as-a-service, Axel Schultze has placed his considerable energies and talents into re-creating marketplaces. In today’s interview, he discusses the tenets of Advanced Entrepreneurship, arising from his observation that up to 90% of start-ups fail – and he wants to improve those chances. 

More recently, he has created an accelerator program which focuses on developing disruptive business models with the right vision and mindset. Rather than being a mere buzzword, however, Axel has defined disruption as being a business that fundamentally shifts a marketplace, so that the incumbents have to catch up with the newcomer. He goes on to discuss the five tenets of Advanced Entrepreneurship and why speed is more important than perfect execution. 

His advice to future graduates? Wait for it… study math – the AI revolution is based on algorithms.

Check out Yamo - https://www.yamo.ch/ - one of the companies that Axel mentions, and find out more about Axel on his website: http://axelschultze.com/ . Thanks for listening to the show. 

Credits:
Music: Barge, Gunnar Larson on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19QFSQ6JcuM
Image courtesy of Axel Schultze
Post-Production by Florian Lussi in Stans, Switzerland
Lead by Sibylle Landolt, Steinhausen, Switzerland

[014] Axel Schultze on Advanced Entreneurship

In this interview with Michael Lewrick, author of Design Your Future, he talks about the importance of innovation in today’s workplace and the absolute necessity of constant training. To this end, he has released a new book, Design Your Future, using design-thinking principles to help individuals determine their own paths and interests. During the podcast, he explains why design thinking applies not only to business practices, but also to planning your own career. In the end, he suggests that, for a university graduate, not listening to advice might be your best way forward.

Michael is also the author of the bestselling "The Design Thinking Playbook" in which he describes the mindful transformation of people, teams and organizations. In addition, he collaborates intensively with colleges, universities and companies and focuses on the self-efficacy of people in personal and organizational change. Michael has been involved in various other projects throughout his career, including the use of blockchain technology and numerous growth initiatives.

Find out more about Michael Lewrick on LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com/in/michael-lewrick/) and more about Design Your Future on Amazon: amzn.to/2DSwpUK. Thank you for listening to the show.

Credits:
Music: Barge, Gunnar Larson on YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=19QFSQ6JcuM
Image courtesy of Michael Lewrick
Post-Production by Florian Lussi in Stans, Switzerland
Lead by Sibylle Landolt, Steinhausen, Switzerland

[016] Michael Lewrick Design Your Future

Viktor Meier is the Lucerne-based co-founder and CEO of Glice, a company that produces high-quality synthetic ice.  In today’s interview, he talks about how he moved from his original path in international diplomacy and the corporate world to found a start-up with eco-friendly ice. Now with customers in more than 80 countries, Viktor discusses why both venue rink operators and hockey players are moving towards Glice. 

Viktor innovates not only in the rink but also in the workplace, as Glice has no offices for 24 full-time employees who are free to work and take vacation as they see fit. This leads to Glice employees meeting potential customers at rinks they have already installed and showcasing their product. 

In the end, Viktor balances his busy life with meditation and being physically active while enjoying the outdoors. To his 25-year old self, he recommends continuous learning and focusing on marketable skills. 

Find out more about Viktor Meier on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/viktormeier/ ) and more about Glice on their website (https://www.glicerink.com/). Thank you for listening to the show. 

Credits:
Music: Barge, Gunnar Larson on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19QFSQ6JcuM
Image courtesy of Viktor Meier
Post-Production by Florian Lussi in Stans, Switzerland
Lead by Sibylle Landolt, Steinhausen, Switzerland

[015] Viktor Meier Glice

For this podcast, I am interviewing my colleague at the Lucerne School of Business, Matthes Fleck. Matthes is originally from Germany and is now Director of the Institute for Communication and Marketing. If you ever meet him in the hallway, however, a conversation with him will soon turn to his great passion: Doing research. But what, exactly, does a researcher do?  

With the rise of evidence-based research and the proliferation of studies in the media, we all recognize the importance of scientific data. But are there ways of thinking in research that spill over into everyday life? In this interview, Matthes talks about the difference between researching a topic and doing research; about the importance of interpreting datasets; and about the two common problems that the media and general public have when interpreting research results. 

For those interested in pursuing a career in research, he discusses the personal traits and professional skills needed. Hint: Curiosity scores high, as does the ability to persevere over the long haul. In contrast to the lone scholar in the ivory tower, today’s researchers need a wide range of people skills to get their job done. 

Find out more about Matthes Fleck on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthes-fleck-92a8b5119/ and at the Lucerne School of Business: https://www.hslu.ch/en/lucerne-school-of-business/institute/ikm/. Thank you for listening to the show. 

Credits
Music: Barge, Gunnar Larson on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19QFSQ6JcuM
Image courtesy of Matthes Fleck and the Hochschule Luzern Wirtschaft
Post-Production by Florian Lussi in Stans, Switzerland
Lead by Sibylle Landolt, Steinhausen, Switzerland

[017] Matthes Fleck, Inside the Mind of a Researcher

In today’s interview, Simon Horrocks, independent filmmaker and co-founder of the Mobile Motion Film Festival in Zurich, discusses his path to becoming a filmmaker. After an initial setback at art school, he began to pursue music until streaming services undermined his business model. He then started script-writing and embracing social media wholeheartedly for his film-making projects. Soon after that, he joined forces with Andrea Holle and co-founded the Mobile Motion Film Festival in Zurich, now in its fifth year, which screens films created entirely on smartphone: https://momofilmfest.com/

During the podcast, he discusses why Twitter is a full-time job and why Kick-Starter is great for creating suspense and drama. He also discusses how the internet has disrupted the film industry, and how he uses blogging to provide content for MOMO’s community of roughly 20,000 members.

Find out more about Simon at MOMO (https://momofilmfest.com/user/simonmomo/). Thank you for listening to the show. 

Credits
Music: Barge, Gunnar Larson on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19QFSQ6JcuM
Image courtesy of Simon Horrocks
Post-Production by Florian Lussi in Stans, Switzerland
Lead by Sibylle Landolt, Steinhausen, Switzerland

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