Can you scale a company without losing its soul?

In this episode of CEO Reflects, Tony Wood talks with Neliya Macheva, Head of Talent and Culture at Dreamix, about the transition from a tight-knit startup to a scaling powerhouse.

Neliya pulls back the curtain on how to "architect" a culture that survives rapid growth. They discuss why culture is defined by how you treat people during the hard times—like bench periods rather than just the perks you offer during the good times.

In this 20-minute masterclass:

• Turning Points: How to spot when your "small biz" intuition is no longer enough.
• The Culture Test: Why Dreamix chose stability over layoffs to protect their values.
• Leadership Evolution: Shifting from a hands-on manager to a "leadership architect."
• Hiring Secrets: Why cultural fit always trumps technical skill.

What if one of your best employees started losing their vision… and didn’t dare to tell anyone? In this episode of CEO Reflects, Fiona Bordet is joined by Veronica Alves-Cardoso, orthoptist, to explore a topic leaders rarely address: vision impairment in the workplace.

Together, they discuss:

• Why vision loss is far more common than we think
• Why employees often hide it out of fear
• How unprepared companies really are
• What inclusive leadership actually looks like in practice
• Why inclusion isn’t about cost, but about mindset
• How AI can support — not replace — human contribution
• And how workplaces and events can become more accessible with small, concrete changes

This episode is not about disability. It’s about capability, dignity, communication, and humanity at work.

🎙 CEO Reflects is a podcast about leadership beyond titles — where business meets the human experience.

👉 Available now on Spotify and YouTube.

The Real Founder Life with Veera Amnelin-Kylämäki

Veera Amnelin-Kylämäki joins Tony Wood to share the real side of building Saaren Taika — from becoming the face of the brand to navigating vulnerability, energy, pressure, and growth.

A candid conversation on authenticity, resilience, and the unseen work behind a fast-growing D2C company. Perfect for founders and creators who want the truth behind “overnight success.”