Choosing Leadership with Sumit Gupta

This is the Leadership Journey series on the Choosing Leadership Podcast.I believe we all have a lot to learn from each other's stories - of where we started, where we are now, and our successes and struggles on the way. With this series of interviews, I attempt to give leaders an opportunity to share their stories and for all of us to learn from their generous sharing. If you know a leader whom you would like to see celebrated on the show, please send me a message on LinkedIn with their name.What happens when someone walks away from a successful academic career to build something completely different? In this episode, Gerrit Sarens shares his journey from becoming the youngest professor at university to stepping into the uncertainty and excitement of entrepreneurship. Together, we explore what it takes to embrace risk, develop deep self-awareness, and lead beyond the limits of your comfort zone. Gerrit offers powerful insights on mentoring, personal growth, and why the best leaders are committed to understanding both their strengths and their blind spots. If you're facing a big leadership decision or wondering whether you're capable of more than your current path, this conversation will challenge you to think bigger and choose courage over certainty. You can find Gerrit Sarens at the links belowhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/gerritsarens/https://www.ambits.eu/In the interview, Gerrit shares"Leadership is not a position you hold; it's a choice you make every day.""Growth begins the moment you step beyond the comfort of what you've already mastered.""Academia taught me how to think deeply; entrepreneurship taught me how to act boldly.""The transition from individual achievement to collective success is one of the most important leadership journeys.""The best leaders know their strengths, understand their blind spots, and stay curious enough to keep learning.""Entrepreneurship has a way of revealing who you really are when certainty disappears.""A great mentor doesn't give you answers; they help you see what you couldn't see on your own.""Every meaningful transformation starts with personal growth before it ever shows up in business results.""Big visions often feel uncomfortable to say out loud, but that's usually a sign they're worth pursuing.""When leaders become better human beings, they create better businesses, stronger communities, and a better society."

This is the Leadership Journey series on the Choosing Leadership Podcast.I believe we all have a lot to learn from each other's stories - of where we started, where we are now, and our successes and struggles on the way. With this series of interviews, my attempt is to give leaders an opportunity to share their stories and for all of us to learn from their generous sharing. If you know a leader whom you would like to see celebrated on the show, please send me a message on LinkedIn with their name.In this episode of Choosing Leadership, Fredrik Meurling—CEO of Yazen Health—shares what it really takes to lead a fast-growing healthcare startup without losing your soul (or your sanity). We talk about the tension between passion and metrics, why sustainable results matter more than vanity numbers, and what happens when leadership shifts from “doing everything” to building leaders around you. Fredrik offers an honest look at scaling in a heavily regulated industry, navigating uncertainty, and staying mission-driven when the pressure is on. If you’re a founder or leader wrestling with growth, energy, and impact, this conversation will feel uncomfortably familiar—in the best way.You can find Fredrik Meurling at the links belowhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/fredrik-meurling-2477421/https://www.yazen.com/In the interview, Fredrik shares“I’ve always been drawn to early- and mid-stage companies—the energy, the uncertainty, and the challenge of finding real product–market fit.”“What hooked me about startups wasn’t the title or the metrics; it was the adrenaline of building something that didn’t exist yet.”“Healthcare isn’t just another industry—you’re dealing with regulation, culture, and real human lives, all at the same time.”“At Yazen, we don’t see obesity as a simple calorie problem; it’s a complex disease that requires a holistic solution.”“Medication alone isn’t the answer—sustainable weight loss only happens when lifestyle change and coaching are part of the journey.”“Our North Star metric is sustained weight loss, because if we get that right, the revenue follows.”“Leadership, especially as a CEO, is a constant exercise in knowing when to lean in and when to let go.”“As the company grows, my job shifts from doing the work to creating the conditions where others can lead.”“Scaling across Europe forces you to balance speed with responsibility—especially in a regulated healthcare environment.”“Great leadership isn’t about being ‘on’ all the time; it’s about managing your energy so you don’t burn out while building something meaningful.”

This is the Leadership Journey series on the Choosing Leadership Podcast.I believe we all have a lot to learn from each other's stories - of where we started, where we are now, and our successes and struggles on the way. With this series of interviews, my attempt is to give leaders an opportunity to share their stories and for all of us to learn from their generous sharing. If you know a leader whom you would like to see celebrated on the show, please send me a message on LinkedIn with their name.In this episode, Mark Rampolla pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to leave the comfort of corporate life and build a business—and a life—on your own terms. He shares the unfiltered truth about dancing with bankruptcy, rediscovering purpose, and learning that freedom isn’t a future milestone but a present-moment choice. Together, we explore how self-awareness, curiosity, and intentional living can transform not just your work, but your entire relationship with leadership. Mark’s journey from Zico Coconut Water to becoming an investor reveals the mindset shifts that separate leaders who feel trapped from those who feel truly liberated. If you’re ready to rethink success and design a life you don’t need an escape from, this conversation is exactly what you’ve been needing.You can find Mark Rampolla at the links belowhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/marksrampolla/https://www.markrampolla.co/In the interview, Mark shares“Freedom doesn’t show up after the exit—it begins the moment you choose differently.”“Leaving corporate wasn’t a leap of logic for me; it was a leap of self-respect.”“Entrepreneurship isn’t about a perfect idea—it’s about a relentless desire for autonomy.”“Everything changed when I stopped filling my calendar and started aligning it with who I wanted to become.”“Success without self-awareness is just another form of imprisonment.”“You don’t build freedom in the future—you build it in the choices you make right now.”“Corporate life taught me efficiency; entrepreneurship taught me who I really am.”“If you’re not curious, you’re not growing—and if you’re not growing, you’re not free.”“The biggest risk I took wasn’t leaving my job—it was learning to trust myself.”“Leadership is simply choosing—again and again—to live aligned with your values, not your fears.”

This is the Leadership Journey series on the Choosing Leadership Podcast.I believe we all have a lot to learn from each other's stories - of where we started, where we are now, and our successes and struggles on the way. With this series of interviews, my attempt is to give leaders an opportunity to share their stories and for all of us to learn from their generous sharing. If you know a leader whom you would like to see celebrated on the show, please send me a message on LinkedIn with their name.In this episode, Tom Alexander flips the script on what modern leadership really demands, showing why the old “command-and-control” playbook keeps failing today’s workforce. We dive into the mindset shift leaders must make if they want to build organizations where people feel energized, purposeful, and proud of the work they do. Tom shares hard-earned wisdom from moving between government, entrepreneurship, and fatherhood—and how those experiences shaped his belief that action beats perfection every time. You’ll hear why optimism is a practical leadership tool, not a fluffy one, and how embracing uncertainty can actually unlock your team’s potential. If you’re ready to lead with more courage, clarity, and heart, this conversation will give you the spark you’ve been looking for.You can find Tom Alexander at the links belowhttps://www.holisticindex.com/ tom@holisticindex.com. In the interview, Tom shares“Leadership isn’t a title—it’s a choice we make every single day.”“Environments change, industries change, but the heart of great leadership never does.”“People don’t just want a job anymore—they want their work to matter.”“Uncertainty isn’t an excuse for inaction. Leaders move even when the path isn’t crystal clear.”“Sustainable cultures are built when leaders balance organizational goals with genuine care for people.”“Optimism isn’t fluffy—it’s a strategic advantage in a world that won’t stop shifting.”“Adaptability is no longer optional. The faster the world moves, the calmer leaders must become.”“Remote work proved something big: when you trust people, they almost always rise to the occasion.”“Sometimes leadership is as simple as seeing right and wrong with the clarity of a child—and acting on it.”“Human potential is the greatest asset in any organization; the boldest leaders design everything around it.”

This is the Leadership Journey series on the Choosing Leadership Podcast.I believe we all have a lot to learn from each other's stories - of where we started, where we are now, and our successes and struggles on the way. With this series of interviews, my attempt is to give leaders an opportunity to share their stories and for all of us to learn from their generous sharing. If you know a leader whom you would like to see celebrated on the show, please send me a message on LinkedIn with their name.In this episode, Mallika Kapur pulls back the curtain on what leadership actually looks like when you stop chasing approval and start focusing on impact. She shares her unexpected leap from medicine into health tech and how that shift forced her to think bigger, lead bolder, and reinvent herself at every stage. Mallika talks openly about the loneliness of being a woman leader, the pressure of carrying an entire organization through COVID, and the courage required to keep choosing effectiveness over comfort. Her insights on prioritization, delegation, and building a team that thinks beyond the small stuff will hit home for anyone feeling stretched thin. If you’re navigating growth, battling overwhelm, or figuring out how to lead without losing yourself, this conversation will give you a refreshing dose of clarity and fire. You can find Mallika Kapur at the links belowhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mallika-kapur-7665107/mallika@aimil.comIn the interview, Mallika shares“Leadership isn’t about approval — it’s about effectiveness, even when you’re the only woman in the room.”“I loved my patients, but I realized I couldn’t serve them if I was burning myself out.”“Shifting from medicine to health tech opened my eyes to how much bigger the impact could be.”“Technology isn’t a luxury in healthcare — it’s the only way to close the massive demand-supply gap.”“As a leader, your superpower is knowing what’s non-negotiable and what must be delegated.”“My MBA humbled me — regression nearly killed me — but it expanded my world.”“During COVID, my biggest responsibility wasn’t just survival — it was protecting every livelihood in my organization.”“Leadership gets lonely, especially for women, but loneliness isn’t a reason to shrink.”“If your team keeps obsessing over the small things, your company stays small too.”“Every stage of growth demands that you reinvent yourself — leadership is never a finished journey.”

This is the Leadership Journey series on the Choosing Leadership Podcast.I believe we all have a lot to learn from each other's stories - of where we started, where we are now, and our successes and struggles on the way. With this series of interviews, my attempt is to give leaders an opportunity to share their stories and for all of us to learn from their generous sharing. If you know a leader whom you would like to see celebrated on the show, please send me a message on LinkedIn with their name.In this episode, Sam Sykes takes us far beyond boardrooms and into the wilderness, where real leadership is tested—not theorized. He shares how adventure, risk, and discomfort shaped his journey to building one of the most impactful outdoor education companies in the world. You’ll hear why he believes mandatory outdoor education could radically transform the next generation of leaders—and what today’s executives can learn from climbing mountains, navigating storms, and leading scared teenagers through tough terrain. Sam opens up about resilience, conviction, and the routines that keep him grounded when life and business get loud. If you’re craving a fresh, honest perspective on leadership, this conversation will hit you exactly where you need it. You can find Sam Sykes at the links belowhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/samsykes/https://samsykesltd.co.uk/sykes-groupIn the interview, Sam shares“Leadership is the courage to step into uncertainty with conviction, not the comfort of staying where it’s safe.”“Adventure teaches you what classrooms can’t: resilience, honesty, and who you really are under pressure.”“Great leaders don’t just manage resources—they galvanize belief.”“Your mission has to matter more than your fear, or you’ll quit long before the magic happens.”“Outdoor challenges reveal the truth: you can do far more than you think when comfort is no longer an option.”“Entrepreneurship often starts accidentally, but staying in the game requires obsession and resilience.”“If we want confident leaders tomorrow, we need outdoor education today.”“Real leadership is less about titles and more about the legacy you leave in people’s lives.”“Balance isn’t found—it’s created through routines that ground you and adventures that wake you up.”“When life feels heavy, step outside your world. Perspective lives in the places you don’t normally go.”