298. Leadership Lessons from the Mat - Benjamin Chen

298. Leadership Lessons from the Mat - Benjamin Chen

From IDEAS+LEADERS by Dr Elena Paweta

May 18, 2026 · 28 min · Episode 298

About this episode

Benjamin Chen discusses how martial arts principles can inform leadership and business strategies.

In the episode 298 of the IDEAS+LEADERS Podcast, I’m joined by entrepreneur, investor, and martial artist Benjamin Chen, author of Lessons from the Mat . Benjamin has raised more than $500 million in investment capital, helped lead multiple companies to successful exits, and spent decades training in martial arts — including Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Tae Kwon Do, and Hapkido. We talk about what martial arts can teach leaders about resilience, discipline, decision-making, efficiency, and staying calm under pressure. Benjamin shares how principles from the mat helped him navigate high-stakes negotiations, business growth, setbacks, and leadership challenges across industries. A fascinating conversation about leadership, awareness, and building long-term success - both in business and in life. You can connect with Benjamin here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjaminchen88 Thank you for joining me on this episode of IDEAS+LEADERS. If you enjoyed this episode, please share, subscribe and review so that more people can enjoy the podcast on Apple https://apple.co/3fKv9IH or Spotify https://sptfy.com/Nrtq .

People in this episode

Host: Dr Elena Paweta

Guest: Benjamin Chen

Topics covered

  • leadership
  • martial arts
  • resilience
  • decision-making
  • business growth

Keywords

  • leadership lessons
  • martial arts
  • resilience
  • discipline
  • business success

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Lessons from the Mat

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