Why do some executives keep growing and others plateau?
How do you balance the short-term objectives with the long-term plan?
In this podcast episode, host Filiberto interviews Rafal Walendzik about his 30+ year career across FMCG/CPG, food and beverages, and spirits, spanning Unilever, Kraft Heinz, and roles in Poland, the Czech Republic, and Southeast Asia, leading multicultural teams. Rafal says continued growth depends more on mindset than title, emphasising learning through failure, leaving the comfort zone, and taking calculated risks rather than plateauing. He explains that leading across markets and company sizes requires co-creating a strategy with teams, understanding what motivates people and owners, and focusing limited resources in smaller firms while staying agile as conditions change. Rafal connects cycling to goal-setting, self-talk, and the rewarding experience of progress.
00:00 Podcast Welcome and Guest Intro
02:58 Career Growth Mindset and Risk
14:34 Leading Change Focus and Motivation
29:47 Building the Next Chapter
33:04 Influence Without Authority
45:00 Three Questions to Move Forward
