Welcome to the very first episode of the Leadership and Wellbeing podcast. I’m excited to begin sharing the stories, interviews and research that I’ve gathered over the years to help support your journey in leadership, performance and wellbeing.
In today's fast-paced and competitive business world, effective leadership and personal wellbeing are crucial for success. But what does it take to be a great leader and maintain a healthy work-life balance? Today, I’m joined by Oliver Horn, CEO and Managing Director of Nutra Organics, who shares his insights on optimising mind and body wellbeing to become the best version of yourself as a leader.
Hailing from Germany with more than 25 years of global experience in premium FMCG businesses, Oliver has lived and worked in many parts of the world, including various parts of Europe, USA, New Zealand and Australia. Prior to his current role, Oliver was the CEO of Swiss Wellness, Australia's most recognised brand for wellness products.
With vast experience in leadership roles throughout the years, Oliver’s broad thinking and innovative ideas on work and wellbeing lead him to create purpose-led businesses that stand out through their high performance cultures.
As a coaching client of mine since 2018, Oliver shares his initial realisation that the more traditional coaching styles were not quite as effective for him. Finding the more formal settings hindering his ability to be open and authentic, he instead discovered the power of combining movement and conversation, such as exercising or sharing a meal together. This unique approach speaks to his leadership style of embracing vulnerability and fostering deeper connections with others.
For high-level leaders, there is often an expectation to be the expert with all the answers in any given situation. Oliver shares how this pressure negatively impacted not only his work, but the quality of his personal life. He discusses the process he underwent to let go of his need for complete control, and how developing self-awareness was crucial in the transformation of his leadership style.
We discuss the challenges of navigating globally diverse cultures, where the behaviour of others can often be misconstrued, difficult to understand or come across as offensive. Oliver shares how his experiences taught him the importance of suspending judgement and relinquishing the idea that your culture is the right culture. By approaching cultural differences with curiosity and respect, leaders can bridge the gap and foster greater collaboration.
Oliver’s inspiring story is a testament to the power vulnerability has to create safe and inclusive workplaces, where individuals thrive and leaders build trust within their teams. The incredible insights Oliver shares in our conversation are truly enlightening and serve as a guiding light for leaders seeking to make a positive impact in their organisations and lives.
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