Shows
The Black Belt in LeadershipScaling at the Speed of Stillness with Lars Johan BjørkevollWhat if scaling a business at lightning speed didn’t require burnout, but balance?Lars Johan Bjørkevoll is a Nordic business leader who effectively balances scaling of businesses and organizational leadership with inner development and growth.With extensive experience scaling three global organizations and helping nearly 300 companies accelerate their growth through ScaleupXQ, Lars Johan brings practical insights on leadership, building high-performing teams, and creating resilient organizational cultures that thrive when "sprinting marathons".Over the past 25 years, Lars Johan has dedicated himself to eastern practices, founding the Nordic Taiji & Qigong Centre where he tea...2025-04-2933 min
The Black Belt in LeadershipThe Visionary Leader: Leading Beyond the Finish Line with Dr. Oleg KonovalovDr. Oleg Konovalov is a global thought leader, bestselling author, business educator, C-suite whisperer, and the world’s top expert on visionary leadership. Named one of the Top 8 Global Leadership Experts by Thinkers50 and Global Gurus, and one of the 100 most inspirational leaders on the planetIn this episode of The Black Belt in Leadership, we step into the future of leadership with one of the world’s foremost experts on visionary thinking - Dr. Oleg Konovalov. Often called the “Da Vinci of Visionary Leadership,” Dr. Oleg shares how true leaders don’t just manage the present—they build t...2025-04-1538 min
The Black Belt in LeadershipThe Power of Encounters & Training Future Leaders with Salla SeppäSalla Seppä, Chief Customer Experience Officer at Nordic Business ForumWhat does it take to create an unforgettable customer experience—and how do you train future leaders to deliver it under pressure? In this episode of The Black Belt in Leadership, host Aslak de Silva sits down with Salla Seppä, Chief Customer Experience Officer at Nordic Business Forum, to explore the power of encounters and the art of leadership training.In the first part of the conversation, Salla and Aslak dive into the impact of interactions, using Maya Angelou’s famous quote: “People will forget what you...2025-03-0454 min
The Black Belt in LeadershipBe Like Water: Natural Movement in Martial Arts & Leadership with Jori PisiläJori Pisilä, Head of Sales at Bayer Consumer Healt in Finland, 4th degree black belt in Boreal Han Moo DoWhat do martial arts and leadership have in common? Effortlessness, adaptability, and precision. In this episode of The Black Belt in Leadership, I sit down with Jori Pisilä—Head of Sales at Bayer Consumer Health and a 4th-degree black belt in Boreal Han Moo Do—to explore the concept of natural movement.We discuss how flowing with, rather than forcing, movement leads to better efficiency in combat—and how the same principle applies to leadership. From ach...2025-02-1151 min
The Black Belt in LeadershipGetting Things Done with Claus RaastedIn this episode of The Black Belt in Leadership, host Aslak de Silva sits down with Claus Raasted—a creative powerhouse who has authored 46 books, organized over 1,000 events, and delivered 100 keynotes in just 100 days. Together, they dive into the art of getting things done in a world where action is the ultimate advantage.From making tough decisions to embracing experimentation, Claus shares his philosophy on building a bias for action, overcoming perfectionism, and staying inspired in the face of uncertainty. Along the way, they explore why failure is a stepping stone to success, how leaders can balance fe...2025-01-2141 min
The Black Belt in LeadershipThe Leadership Edge: Mastering AI with Edgar PerezIn this episode of The Black Belt in Leadership, host Aslak de Silva and AI expert Edgar Perez delve into why artificial intelligence is reshaping the business landscape, much like Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu revolutionized MMA. BJJ became essential for success because it introduced a completely new dimension to the fight, forcing athletes to adapt or lose. Similarly, AI is changing the game for businesses, requiring leaders to learn and apply these new tools to remain competitive. Tune in to uncover the strategies, mindset, and techniques needed to harness the power of AI and unlock your black belt in leadership. 2024-12-3129 min
The Black Belt in LeadershipResilient and Human-Centric Leadership with Gudrun SnorradottirIn this episode of The Black Belt in Leadership, we sit down with Guðrún Snorradóttir, an executive coach with a background in applied positive psychology and a passion for future-focused leadership. Drawing parallels between martial arts and leadership, we explore topics like building resilience under pressure, mastering emotional intelligence, leveraging strengths, and developing perseverance in the face of challenges. Guðrún shares actionable insights and coaching techniques to help leaders empower their teams, navigate stress, and unlock their potential. Whether you're in the boardroom or on the mat, this episode will inspire you to lead with...2024-12-1742 min
The Black Belt in LeadershipFrom White Belt to Black Belt: Mastering the Stages of Leadership with Jason ShuppIn this episode of The Black Belt in Leadership, host Aslak de Silva welcomes Jason Shupp, the experienced leader of Ferguson Roofing and host of the From There to Here podcast, for a deep dive into the journey of leadership growth. Using the martial arts belt system as a metaphor, they explore how leaders progress from the early days of the "white belt" stage, where fundamentals are formed, through to the "black belt" mastery level, where continual learning becomes key.Jason shares invaluable insights from his own leadership experiences of more 20 years and stories from nearly 70 podcast...2024-11-0559 min
The Black Belt in LeadershipMastering Leadership with Anna Kuusela: The Coach’s Guide to Progress and PrecisionIn this episode of The Black Belt in Leadership, Aslak de Silva is joined by Anna Kuusela (M.Sc. (Econ), ICF Executive Coach, Ex-Big4, and former ballerina), the founder and CEO of EDGE Leadership. Anna specializes in transforming the most influential leaders and leadership teams through creative insight, emotional intelligence, and relational mastery. Drawing on her experiences as a former ballet dancer and her deep expertise in organizational and personal change, Anna shares her insights on balancing perfectionism with progress, cultivating mental toughness, and fostering leadership agility in today’s fast-paced world.Listeners will discover the importance of...2024-10-2250 min
Deep LeadershipLeadership Lessons from Combat Sports with Aslak de SilvaToday, I’m joined by Aslak de Silva, and we're talking about Leadership Lessons from Combat Sports. Aslak has nearly 20 years of experience as a practitioner and instructor of Han Moo Do martial arts, competing in 100 full-contact fights and winning the World Championship gold medal in Michigan in 2000. Martial arts has taught him the importance of leaders being life-long learners and coaching others. Aslak is the CEO of Selfly Store, where they use the latest developments in loT, machine learning, and AI to offer intelligent vending machines that make grab-and-go food shopping as easy as using your home fridge. Ch...2024-10-1445 min
The Black Belt in LeadershipUnleashing Inner Strength: Tapping into Sisu with Dr. Elisabet LahtiIn this episode of The Black Belt in Leadership podcast, host Aslak de Silva is joined by Dr. Elisabet Lahti, an expert in inner strength and the Finnish concept of sisu. They explore how sisu—a unique blend of determination, grit, and resilience in the face of adversity—can be applied to leadership challenges. Drawing from her research and personal endurance feats, Dr. Lahti shares practical insights on how leaders can tap into their hidden reserves of strength and push through tough times. Tune in to discover how to cultivate sisu and lead with unwavering resolve.Dr. Elis...2024-10-0850 min
The Black Belt in LeadershipBreaking Through the Block: Mastering Leaders Block with Ritu G. MehrishIn this episode of The Black Belt in Leadership podcast, host Aslak de Silva sits down with executive coach and author Ritu G. Mehrish to dive deep into the concept of Leaders Block—a phenomenon where even the most seasoned leaders can feel stuck, uninspired, or disconnected from their purpose. Drawing parallels to martial arts, where practitioners often face physical and mental plateaus, Aslak and Ritu explore how leaders can break through these blockages with resilience, discipline, and self-awareness.From recognizing the signs of Leaders Block to practical strategies for regaining clarity and momentum, Ritu shares insights fr...2024-09-2439 min
The Black Belt in LeadershipFeras Alhlou: Mastering Strategic Leadership with a Black Belt MindsetIn this episode of the Black Belt in Leadership podcast, host Aslak de Silva sits down with Feras Alhlou, a seasoned entrepreneur, business strategist, and co-founder of E-Nor, a leading digital analytics consultancy that he successfully led to an acquisition by Dentsu, one of the world’s largest advertising and digital marketing agencies. With a proven track record of sparring with entrepreneurs and helping them scale their businesses to 7 and 8 figures, Feras brings a wealth of knowledge in strategic leadership and business growth.In this insightful conversation, Feras shares how the principles of martial arts—such as disc...2024-09-1037 min
The Black Belt in LeadershipAlf Rehn and the Yin-Yang and contradictions of LeadershipIn this episode of "The Black Belt in Leadership," we sit down with Alf Rehn, a professor of innovation, design, and management, to explore the paradoxes and complexities of modern leadership. We delve into how leaders can effectively balance being both strong visionaries and supportive team players, how to navigate the fine line between decisiveness and empathy, and the importance of embracing contradictions in leadership. Alf shares his unique insights on failure, success, and the critical traits that leaders must cultivate to thrive in today's fast-paced world. This episode offers practical wisdom for leaders seeking to lead with both...2024-08-2838 min
From There to HereAslak de Silva: The Dojo is Always With YouAslak de Silva is a CEO and leadership expert. On this episode, he shares the values and challenges of a multi-cultural background, how martial arts became a perpetual foundation, trying out new techniques, the connection with your team, finding alignment, we have a comprehensive discussion about feedback, and the advantages of entrepreneurial knowledge of the business.Aslak has nearly 20 years of experience as a practitioner and instructor of Han Moo Do martial arts, competing in about 100 full-contact fights and winning the World Championship gold medal in Michigan, USA, in 2000. Martial arts has taught him the importance of l...2024-08-141h 03
Strategy and Leadership Podcast279-Aslak De Silva, CEO of Selfly Store, on AI in retailAslak De Silva, CEO of Selfly Store, discusses the innovative business model of intelligent vending machines and the use of AI in retail. The conversation covers topics such as the unique features of Selfly Store, the role of innovation in business, the impact of dynamic pricing, and the experience of being a board member. Aslak also emphasizes the importance of communication, transparency, and lifelong learning in leadership.
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SME Strategy is a m...2024-08-0221 minThe Black Belt in Leadership4 Core Lessons from Martial ArtsIn this episode I will tell my own background and how did I get into martial arts. Sharing 4 core lessons I have learned and wrote about as a co-authoer of the book Winner's Mindset: Peak Performance Strategies for Success. Starting from doing things right and finding your do and purpose. Sharing a real-life examples about using feedback from my daughter to be better as a webinar presenter and in the end I am sharing two different ways to find your zen. To learn more, visit:https://www.selflystore.com/Listen t...2024-07-2323 min
The Guiding VoiceMastering the Art of Leadership: From World Champion Fighter to Innovative CEO | Aslak de Silva | #TGV509Tune into #TGV509 to get clarity on the above topic. Here are the pointers from Dr. Aslak’s conversation with Naveen Samala on The Guiding VoiceContext Setting, TGV Introduction, and First rapid-fire round of random wordsAslak’s success mantraThroughout his diverse career journey, what have been some of the most impactful lessons he has learned, either through successes or failures, that have shaped his approach to leadership and life?Aslak, had an extensive career in martial arts, winning the World Championship gold medal in 2000. How does he apply the principles and mindset cultivated in martial arts to his...2024-07-0431 min
Master LeadershipML316: Aslak De Silva (CEO of Selfly Store)Aslak De Silva has nearly 20 years of experience as a practitioner and instructor of Han Moo Do martial arts, competing in about 100 full-contact fights and winning the World Championship gold medal in Michigan, USA, in 2000. Martial arts has taught him the importance of leaders being life-long learners and coaching others.Aslak is the CEO of Selfly Store, where they use the latest developments in loT, machine learning, and AI to offer smart vending machines that make grab-and-go food shopping as easy as using your home fridge.He was recognized by Chief's Digest as one of...2024-06-1928 min
The Business Storytelling Podcast667: How AI-powered vending machines are changing grab-n-go shoppingAslak de Silva, CEO of Selfly Store, joins me on Episode 667 of "The Business Storytelling Show" to share how AI is even evolving the vending machine space.
Join us.
This episode is supported by OscarHamilton.com, your podcast support team.2024-06-1222 min
Breakfast Leadership ShowInterview with Aslak de SilvaAslak has nearly 20 years of experience as a practitioner and instructor of Han Moo Do martial arts, competing in about 100 full-contact fights and winning the World Championship gold medal in Michigan, USA, in 2000. Martial arts has taught him the importance of leaders being life-long learners and coaching others.
Aslak is also the CEO of Selfly Store, where they use the latest developments in loT, machine learning, and AI to offer smart vending machines that make grab-and-go food shopping as easy as using your home fridge.
Selfly Stores are used by 100+ companies in 22 countries across Europe...2024-05-2022 min
Tech Talks Daily"Transforming Grab-and-Go: The Role of AI and IoT in Modern Retail How can smart vending machines change the way we shop for food on the go? In this episode of Tech Talks Daily, I sit down with Aslak de Silva, CEO of Selfly Store, to explore how his company is leveraging IoT, AI, and intelligent vending machines to transform the grab-and-go food shopping experience. Selfly Store is at the forefront of innovative retail technology, using real-time data and AI to predict demand, optimize operations, and enhance customer convenience. De Silva shares insights into how these smart vending machines provide merchants with invaluable data on inventory, sales, and customer...2024-05-1927 min
That Tech PodRevolutionizing Self-service: A Peek into Smart Vending with Aslak de SilvaToday Laura and Kevin speak with Aslak de Silva, the CEO of Selfly Store, where they're using the latest developments in loT, machine learning, and AI to offer smart vending machines that make grab-and-go food shopping as easy as using your home fridge. We talk about intelligent vending machines, how AI comes into play, demand-predicting machines, dynamic pricing, new solutions in the ever-evolving landscape of technological innovation. We also hear about Laura's history with office coffee and Kevin's gas station days. Aslak de Silva has 15+ years business executive experience, specializing in future trends in unmanned retail, disrupting...2024-05-0729 min
Strap on your BootsFuture Tech: How AI-powered vending machines disrupt shopping with Aslak de SilvaJoin me on this episode of Future Tech where we dive into the transformative world of AI-powered vending machines with business leader and martial artist, Aslak de Silva, CEO of Selfly Store. Discover how these intelligent devices are revolutionizing grab-and-go shopping by making consumer interactions quicker and more convenient, significantly increasing sales. We’ll explore how advancements in AI, IoT, and machine learning are not just reshaping how consumers shop but are also providing merchants with unprecedented real-time insights into sales, inventory, and customer behaviors. Aslak will share his expert perspective on how business leaders can harness these new te...2024-05-0615 min
Mission Matters Business Podcast with Adam TorresLeading Diverse and Remote Teams EffectivelyIn this episode, Adam Torres interviewed Aslak de Silva, CEO of Selfly Store. Explore leadership and some of the common pitfalls that should be avoided.Follow Adam on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/askadamtorres/ for up to date information on book releases and tour schedule.Apply to be a guest on our podcast:https://missionmatters.lpages.co/podcastguest/Visit our website:https://missionmatters.com/More FREE content from Mission Matters here:https...2024-04-2619 min
DIGIMARKKINOINTI2. Digimarkkinoinnin teknologiat, kilpailukenttä ja muutokset asiakaskäyttäytymisessä (osa 2)Miksi sinun pitäisi olla kiinnostunut siitä, miten muutokset asiakaskäyttäytymisessä vaikuttavat yrityksesi kilpailukenttään? Mitä sinun pitää tietää, jotta et vahingossa luovuta asiakkaitasi kilpailijoille puutteellisen asiakastuntemuksen kautta? Jaksoissa saat konkreettisia vinkkejä siihen, miten voit seurata ja analysoida näitä muutoksia.
Jakson vieraina markkinoinnin professori Heikki Karjaluoto, kokenut yritysjohtaja Aslak De Silva sekä Suomen Digimarkkinoinnin strategi Kimmo Pulkka.2022-02-0919 min
DIGIMARKKINOINTI2. Digimarkkinoinnin teknologiat, kilpailukenttä ja muutokset asiakaskäyttäytymisessä (osa 1)Miksi sinun pitäisi olla kiinnostunut siitä, miten muutokset asiakaskäyttäytymisessä vaikuttavat yrityksesi kilpailukenttään? Mitä sinun pitää tietää, jotta et vahingossa luovuta asiakkaitasi kilpailijoille puutteellisen asiakastuntemuksen kautta? Jaksoissa saat konkreettisia vinkkejä siihen, miten voit seurata ja analysoida näitä muutoksia.
Jakson vieraina markkinoinnin professori Heikki Karjaluoto, kokenut yritysjohtaja Aslak De Silva sekä Suomen Digimarkkinoinnin strategi Kimmo Pulkka.2022-02-0919 min
Success is a State of Being™ by Gilad KarniAslak de Silva - Martial Arts Lessons for Business and LifeGilad talks with Aslak de Silva about the connections between Zenn, leadership, business, and martial arts, as well as: How he fell in love with martial arts and how he trained to become a professional The principles he learned for training the body and mind How to overcome the paralysis that comes from fear How feedback is crucial to changing your future How to prepare your mind for the best performance The importance of being the best version of yourself at all times The importance of thinking about mistakes even with your successes Aslak de Silva is...2022-01-311h 01
Method in MadnessEpisode 4 with Aslak de SilvaLet's welcome our next guest, Aslak de Silva. He is the CEO of Nordic Business Forum, a speaker, an author and also a martial art instructor. In 2020 Covid-19 derailed all the planning and ideas of many organisations, especially the event makers. Nordic Business Forum which hosted one of the largest business events in Europe in the past had to quickly adapt, adjust and withstand this unforseen crisis. Even now the situations are unclear and unpredictable. Let us hear from Aslak how he and his team handled this situation with some methods and some madness. 2021-10-0620 min
MarkkinointipodcastMarkkinointipodcast - Aslak de Silva | Tapahtumien järjestäminen poikkeusoloissaMarkkinointipodcast – tapahtumamarkkinointi poikkeusoloissa Miten korona vaikutti tapahtumajärjestäjien elämään, kun livetapahtumia ei enää saanutkaan järjestää? Markkinointipodcastin vieraana Nordic Business Forumin toimitusjohtaja Aslak de Silva, joka joutui jo keväällä tekemään päätöksiä siitä, mitä 7000 suomalaisen ja kansainvälisen vieraan suurtapahtumalle tehdään. Vaihtoehtoina olivat peruuttaminen, siirtyminen verkkoon tai ehkä joku hybridi näistä molemmista. Miten tästä selvittiin ja mitä vinkkejä Aslakilla on muille tapahtumajärjestäjille, jotka ehkä miettivät ensi syksyn tai jopa tämän kevään tapahtumien järjestämistä? Miten livetapahtumasta tehdään elämyksellinen ja miten verkossa verkostoidutaan? Mistä löydetään osallistujat j...2021-02-2235 min
LivetoTips for Producers - How To Build Superior Customer Experience - NBF / Aslak De SilvaIn this episode of Tips for Producers, Nordic Business Forum’s CEO Aslak De Silva tells his story of building superior customer experience. The other topics of the episode are culture of volunteerism, the impact of customer experience and collecting feedback.2020-05-2926 min
The Successful Pitch with John LivesayMartial Arts Leadership Skills with Aslak de SilvaWanna Host Your Own Podcast?Click here to see how my friends at Podetize can helpPurchase John's new bookThe Sale Is in the TaleJohn Livesay, The Pitch WhispererShare The ShowDid you enjoy the show? I'd love it if you subscribed today and left us a 5-star review!Click this linkClick on the 'Subscribe' button below the artworkGo to the 'Ratings and Reviews' sectionClick on 'Write a Review'Love...2019-07-2429 min