Inner Power Particles

Hosted by Cocoon Program

Business Entrepreneurship

Website RSS feed

Episodes

Latest episode

Dec 2025

Language

EN-US

About the show

At Inner Power Particles we talk with entrepreneurs and leaders about their challenges and lessons learned to improve their inner strength. We do this to share their journey and knowledge with you so that you can improve as a leader and a person. Your host is Farhad Niyoz, CEO of Cocoon and mentor for soul-aligned leadership - a way of leading that’s true to your core, not driven by pressure or appearances. Follow him on: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/farhadniyoz/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/farhadniyoz/

Listen to episodes

30 recent

December 19, 20251 hr 37 min

Sirds ceļš darbā - reāla iespēja vai mīts? Kā atrast savu aicinājumu un nepazaudēt sevi

Kā zināt un iet savu ceļu darbā vai biznesā? Vai jēdziens "sirds ceļš darbā” vispār eksistē, vai tas ir tikai skaists mīts?Ja darbā / biznesā piedzīvo praktisku vai emocionālu iestrēgumu - šī epizode ir Tev.Ilze Švarcbaha, Signe Robinsone, Nauris Skride un Farhads Niyoz atklāti sarunājas par to, kā iziet no iestrēgumiem, atrast savu aicinājumu un nepazaudēt sevi darbā. Arī kā atšķirt īslaicīgu apnikumu no nepareizā ceļa.Mēs runājam par praktiskiem soļiem - ko darīt, ja svētdienas vakarā pārņem šausmas par pirmdienu? Vai palikt un "ciesties" vai riskēt un iet prom?Šajā epizodē uzzināsi: ✅ Sirds ceļš - mīts vai reāla iespēja?✅ Signes, Naura un Ilzes personīgos stāstus par "melnajām bedrēm" un izeju no tām. ✅ Kāpēc mēs baidāmies mainīt vidi, kas mums nepatīk. ✅ Praktiskus padomus par deleģēšanu un savas vērtības celšanu. ✅ Kā dzīves satricinājumi kļūst par pagrieziena punktiem.00:00 Ievads: Kāpēc mēs sanācām uz šo sarunu?06:29 Vai "sirds ceļš" darbā vispār eksistē? 07:10 Signes stāsts: Krīze un atklāsme 15:35 Naura stāsts: Kad darbs kļūst par hobiju 17:03 Ilzes stāsts: Īstā ceļa atrašana caur eksperimentiem un izslēgšanu 24:50 Kad ar saviem spēkiem nepietiek: Kad meklēt palīdzību? 31:46 Praktiskie šķēršļi: Pārslodze, cenu celšana un deleģēšana 37:22 Ko darīt, ja darbs vairs nepatīk? 50:43 Uzņēmēja strupceļš: Ko darīt, ja nesanāk? 59:52 Dvēseles "trenažieru zāle": Skats uz grūtībām no malas 1:12:07 Vīzija: Kā iegūt skatu nākotnē 1:22:54 Kas Tev ir iekšējā motivācija tajā, ko dari?1:26:38 Kā pārdzīvot "melnās bedres" un krīzes brīžus? 1:34:43 Noslēguma ceļavārdi un ieteikumiFarhads Niyoz palīdz veidot veiksmīgu uzņēmumu vai karjeru atbilstoši personīgajām vērtībām. Atziņas, meistarklases un individuālas sesijas. Klienti - privātpersonas un uzņēmumu dibinātāji un vadītāji, tsk. Shen.ai (Polija), Unosol (Lietuva), Monetizr (Latvija) un 100+ citu uzņēmumu vadītāji. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/farhadniyoz/Ātrā info: https://taplink.cc/farhadniyozMājas lapa: https://www.cocoonprogram.com/

December 15, 20251 hr 18 min

Scalability Masterclass: Grow Revenue & Profitability with Less Friction

Is your company’s growth capped by your own capacity? At a certain stage, scaling stops being about "what" you do and becomes entirely about "how" you set up your internal engine.If you feel like you're constantly putting out fires instead of executing your strategy, this Scalability Masterclass is for you. Farhad Niyoz (CEO of Cocoon) and Martins Bicevskis (Professional Board Member) break down the "Scalability Puzzle" - the specific disconnects between Strategy, Execution, and Team that create friction and kill profitability.In this video, you will learn: • The Strategy Trap: Why most strategic plans detach from reality and how to fix the "buy-in" problem. • Escaping Firefighting: How to move from reactive problem-solving to a steady execution rhythm. • The Team Equation: How to spot C-level mis-hires and why "nice" CEOs often fail to scale. • Practical Tools: A core team exercise you can run immediately to spot blockers.Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction and goals02:06 Meet the speakers: Farhad and Martins04:58 Understanding company scalability08:37 The role of strategy in scaling09:08 Strategy content 21:08 Strategy process: staying realistic25:47 Strategy buy-in: alignment and accountability29:43 Navigating investor disagreements 34:37 The role of execution in scaling38:47 CEO responsibilities: firefighting vs. planning39:56 Financial hygiene for CEOs 42:54 Delegating responsibility and decisions47:58 Building a steady execution system54:20 The role of the team in scaling58:38 Team setup: placement, structure, and collaboration 59:59 Team journey 1:04:50 Leadership principles 1:07:19 Leading by example vs. motivating1:11:55 Action step: the growth blockers assessment1:13:46 How to get individual support1:11:09 Creating a sense of ownership 1:14:11 Closing thoughts and open discussion1:15:04 Love what you do vs. Do what you love 1:16:44 The Nvidia lesson: starting small Resources & Next Steps: 🔹 Free Growth Blockers Assessment: https://www.cocoonprogram.com/assessment 🔹 Learn more about Cocoon: https://www.cocoonprogram.com/ 🔹 Request an individual session: https://www.cocoonprogram.com/grow-with-us 🔹 Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/farhadniyoz/About the Speakers: Farhad Niyoz is the CEO of Cocoon, a mentor, and a former tech founder. He helps growth-stage CEOs build strong, aligned teams that execute autonomously, preventing the founder from becoming the bottleneck.Martins Bicevskis is a professional supervisory board member and C-Suite advisor. He advises CEOs on scaling, org design, and high-stakes transitions pre- and post-IPO, drawing on experience leading teams in the hundreds.

January 7, 20251 hr 4 min

When VCs Say Yes: Buildit CEO Matīss Neimanis on Investing Choices, Founder Mistakes & Life Balance

Running a startup but can't get VCs interested? Struggling to keep co-founders aligned? Build IT's Matiss Neimanis breaks down why he's rejected promising startups, what happens when founders fight, and why sitting on two chairs (keeping your day job too long) usually kills the company. Managing 50+ early-stage investments taught him when to trust data versus gut feeling. Plus, he shares how getting seriously ill forced him to rethink managing both a VC fund and his personal life - without sacrificing either. This is real talk for founders dealing with co-founder tensions, struggling with investor rejections, or trying to figure out when to quit their day jobs. Welcome to the Inner Power Particles podcast. We talk with entrepreneurs and leaders about their challenges and lessons learned to grow their inner power. We do this to share their journey and knowledge with you so that you can grow as a leader and a person. Resources: Inner growth and business growth guidance for founders and leaders: ❇️ https://www.cocoonprogram.com/resources Follow Farhad Niyoz, authentic growth guide and CEO of Cocoon Program ❇️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/farhadniyoz/ ❇️ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/farhadniyoz/

December 22, 202452 min

From 70-Hour Zombie to High-Energy CEO: Solutions That Actually Work

When one founder went from 70-hour work weeks to spending days in bed, and another switched from intense corporate life to running a health tech startup, they learned energy management is as important as business management. An honest conversation about what actually drains leaders' energy (hint: it's rarely the workload), why some team dynamics are literally exhausting, and practical ways to spot energy vampires in your organization. For leaders who want to stop confusing being tired with being effective. 🔔Welcome to Inner Power Particles. We talk with entrepreneurs and leaders about their challenges and lessons learned to grow their inner power. We do this to share their journey and knowledge with you so that you can grow as a leader and a person. Inner growth and business growth guidance for founders and leaders: ❇️ https://www.cocoonprogram.com/resources Uncover how to scale your business fast with clarity ❇️ https://www.cocoonprogram.com/scale Follow Remi Koscielny, Co-founder, CEO @ Shen.AI | Healthcare Innovator ❇️ Linkedin: https://bit.ly/3P8UsSY Follow Farhad Niyoz, authentic growth guide and CEO of Cocoon Program ❇️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/farhadniyoz/ ❇️ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/farhadniyoz/

December 4, 202452 min

Bootstrapping experience: Building a Harmonious Localization Business

In this episode, Kristaps, CEO of Language Inspired, reveals how he bootstrapped a thriving localization company, overcame co-founder challenges, and built a remote-first team driven by values. Discover practical insights on scaling sustainably and creating a business you love. 🔔Welcome to Inner Power Particles. We talk with entrepreneurs and leaders about their challenges and lessons learned to grow their inner power. We do this to share their journey and knowledge with you so that you can grow as a leader and a person. Inner growth and business growth guidance for founders and leaders: ❇️ https://www.cocoonprogram.com/resources Uncover how to scale your business fast with clarity ❇️ https://www.cocoonprogram.com/scale Follow Kristaps Lapins, CEO of Language Inspired ❇️ Linkedin: https://bit.ly/3VnKW1U Follow Farhad Niyoz, authentic growth guide and CEO of Cocoon Program ❇️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/farhadniyoz/ ❇️ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/farhadniyoz/

November 22, 20241 hr 9 min

Beyond Growth: Lessons on Building Teams, Scaling Up, and Preparing for Acquisition with Tõnu Vahtra

In this episode, Tõnu Vahtra, Head of Service Operations at Playtech, shares hard-won insights on scaling and preparing for acquisition from a buyer's perspective. We discuss the challenges of maintaining team morale and alignment through rapid growth, designing scalable decision-making processes, and why burnout prevention is crucial for high-performing teams. Tõnu also dives into what acquirers look for, common startup pitfalls, and key strategies to increase a company’s attractiveness for acquisition. For founders and leaders, this episode offers actionable advice on creating lasting value and preparing for the demands of scaling up. 🔔Welcome to Inner Power Particles. We talk with entrepreneurs and leaders about their challenges and lessons learned to grow their inner power. We do this to share their journey and knowledge with you so that you can grow as a leader and a person. Inner growth and business growth guidance for founders and leaders: ❇️ https://www.cocoonprogram.com/resources Uncover how to scale your business fast with clarity ❇️ https://www.cocoonprogram.com/scale Follow Tõnu Vahtra, Head of Service Operations at Playtech ❇️ Linkedin: https://bit.ly/3YYA8It Follow Farhad Niyoz, authentic growth guide and CEO of Cocoon Program ❇️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/farhadniyoz/ ❇️ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/farhadniyoz/

September 29, 202457 min

Leave your comfort zone, but aim for low-hanging fruit - Sergejs Andrijevskis and Farhad Niyoz

When studying to be a dentist, Sergejs parallelly became a sales person at a dental supplies company, which was way out of his comfort zone. This approach of leaving his comfort zone, coupled with seeing and taking the low-hanging fruit, has led him to find and grow multiple successful dental clinics and start investing in tech companies. In this episode, we unpack and analyse his journey to extract actionable insights for others who want to improve their career and business. 🔔Welcome to Inner Power Particles. We talk with entrepreneurs and leaders about their challenges and lessons learned to grow their inner power. We do this to share their journey and knowledge with you so that you can grow as a leader and a person. Inner growth and business growth guidance for founders and leaders: ❇️ https://www.cocoonprogram.com/resources Uncover how to scale your business fast with clarity ❇️ https://www.cocoonprogram.com/scale Follow Sergejs Andrijevskis, Owner, CEO at Dental Art Implant Clinic Ltd ❇️ Linkedin: https://bit.ly/3Y19kYO Follow Farhad Niyoz, authentic growth guide and CEO of Cocoon Program ❇️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/farhadniyoz/ ❇️ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/farhadniyoz/

August 29, 202457 min

From scaleup CEO to a Sabbatical for Self-Discovery - Madis Lehtmets

In this episode, I sit down with Madis, a former scaleup CEO who made the tough decision to step away from his company and take a sabbatical. We discussed what pushed him to leave a growing business with 400 paying customers and how he dealt with the following identity crisis. Madis opens up about the challenges of managing expectations—his own and those of others—and how he's finding new meaning in work and life. If you're a founder considering a significant change, this one's for you. Welcome to the Inner Power Particles podcast. We talk with entrepreneurs and leaders about their challenges and lessons learned to grow their inner power. We do this to share their journey and knowledge with you so that you can grow as a leader and a person. Resources: Inner growth and business growth guidance for founders and leaders: ❇️ https://www.cocoonprogram.com/resources Follow Madis Lehtmets, Designer & Entrepreneur ❇️ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/madis-lehtmets Follow Farhad Niyoz, authentic growth guide and CEO of Cocoon Program ❇️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/farhadniyoz/ ❇️ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/farhadniyoz/

August 5, 20241 hr 4 min

From Developer to CEO: Nauris Skride's Journey & Lessons on Becoming a Leader

Discover how Nauris Skride transitioned from a software engineer to the CEO of Adaptive Media. What challenges did he face? How did he manage team dynamics and set realistic goals? Hear about his approach to decision-making and long-term planning. There are insights on leadership and growth in a startup environment that are not to be missed. Tune in to uncover valuable lessons and inspiring stories from his journey. Welcome to the Inner Power Particles podcast. We talk with entrepreneurs and leaders about their challenges and lessons learned to grow their inner power. We do this to share their journey and knowledge with you so that you can grow as a leader and a person. Resources: Inner growth and business growth guidance for founders and leaders: ❇️ https://www.cocoonprogram.com/resources Follow Farhad Niyoz, authentic growth guide and CEO of Cocoon Program ❇️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/farhadniyoz/ ❇️ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/farhadniyoz/

July 17, 202443 min

The Story Of Global Reader‘s CEO w/ Indrek Jaal and Farhad Niyoz

In this episode, Indrek and Farhad explore balancing hands-on management with effective delegation while avoiding micromanagement. Indrek talks about his transition to empowering his team and the strategic decision to bring on a COO. Indrek opens up about dealing with betrayals, navigating team dynamics, and keeping work-life balance in check. Learn about his real-world insights on tackling CEO challenges and building a collaborative company culture. Welcome to the Inner Power Particles podcast. We talk with entrepreneurs and leaders about their challenges and lessons learned to grow their inner power. We do this to share their journey and knowledge with you so that you can grow as a leader and a person. Resources: Inner growth and business growth guidance for founders and leaders: ❇️ https://www.cocoonprogram.com/resources Follow Indrek Jaal, Founder&CEO at GlobalReader ❇️ Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/indrek-jaal-48107178 Follow Farhad Niyoz, authentic growth guide and CEO of Cocoon Program ❇️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/farhadniyoz/ ❇️ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/farhadniyoz/