Akmal is a full-time MBA candidate at the International Institute for Management Development (IMD) in Switzerland, with notable achievements in corporate finance, investment analysis, and management consulting. Originally from Indonesia, Akmal has held roles at PwC and successfully founded multiple startups, including a fintech peer-to-peer lending company and Jakarta Business Partner, a consultancy supporting SMEs. He is particularly passionate about ethical business, community impact, and the future of climate investing. Akmal embodies resilience and adaptability, continuously leveraging his experiences to create meaningful change within the entrepreneurial ecosystem.

💡 What You’ll Learn from Akmal's Journey:

🔸 The Power of Resilience: Learn why perseverance and the ability to bounce back from setbacks, like navigating bankruptcy and starting anew, are essential traits for founders.

🔸 Scaling Challenges & Leadership Evolution: Hear Akmal’s hard-won lessons about the unique difficulties that arise when scaling companies, from misalignment and communication breakdowns to shifting from top-down to democratic leadership styles.

🔸 Reinventing Yourself Through Education & Networks: See how strategic pauses, such as pursuing an MBA at IMD, building new networks, and embracing ongoing learning, are vital to sustaining growth and preparing for future opportunities, including the next frontier of climate-focused finance.

You can connect with Akmal on ⁠LinkedIn⁠ to follow his journey.

🎥 Big thanks to VidOps for supporting Founders Voyage. Use code voyage at ⁠vidops.io⁠ for 10% off expert audio, video, animation, and photography services.

👏 Props to the stellar crew: Nancy Nash, Daniel M. Melo, Carlos Javier Chacón Sánchez, Matthew Ray, and host Spencer Walker-Fooks. You bring this show to life.

🥂 Want to support the journey? Join us on ⁠Patreon⁠ and help amplify more voices like Akmal.

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Ximena Hernandez Buffa is the co-founder and New Business Director at MTI, a certified social selling specialist, digital marketing educator in Uruguay, and an acclaimed conference speaker across Latin America. With over 15 years of experience in the IT and consultancy sector, Ximena is passionate about empowering others and championing multiculturalism. She has built her business on democratic values, flexibility, and a relentless focus on both personal and professional growth, making her a sought-after thought leader in digital transformation and work culture.

💡 What You’ll Learn from Ximena's Journey:

🔸 Defining Success on Your Own Terms: Ximena emphasizes the importance of regularly redefining personal and professional success based on your values and current stage of life, rather than traditional metrics like financial gain or company size.

🔸 Building a Democratic & Flexible Work Culture: Discover practical insights into cultivating a trust-based, democratic work environment where flexibility enables both employee happiness and company resilience, particularly vital for women balancing family and career.

🔸 The Power of Continuous Learning & Networking: Ximena credits her growth to a commitment to ongoing learning, travel, and building meaningful connections, advising entrepreneurs to focus on accumulating knowledge and relationships early in their careers.

🔸 Navigating Change & Leveraging Technology Thoughtfully: Learn how Ximena adapts to rapid technological shifts (like AI) by staying people-centered, personalizing services, and centering trust, rather than relying solely on automation.

You can connect with Ximena on ⁠LinkedIn⁠ to follow her journey.

🎥 Big thanks to VidOps for supporting Founders Voyage. Use code voyage at ⁠vidops.io⁠ for 10% off expert audio, video, animation, and photography services.

👏 Props to the stellar crew: Nancy Nash, Daniel M. Melo, Carlos Javier Chacón Sánchez, Matthew Ray, and host Spencer Walker-Fooks. You bring this show to life.

🥂 Want to support the journey? Join us on ⁠Patreon⁠ and help amplify more voices like Sabina.

#FoundersVoyage #Entrepreneurship #Podcast

Selen is the Brand Manager at Sanofi for the Turkey, Iran, and Levant markets, specializing in rare diseases. She is a 2021 graduate of the MIT Leadership and Innovation Bootcamp and has built a dynamic career in the pharmaceutical industry, drawing from global experiences in France, the US, and Spain. Selen’s passion for innovation, cross-cultural understanding, and patient advocacy is evident in her approach to brand management and her ongoing commitment to professional and personal development.

💡 What You’ll Learn from Selen's Journey:

🔸Embracing Cross-Cultural Experiences: Selen underscores the value of engaging with multiple cultures, both for personal growth and for developing empathy and adaptability in business.

🔸Focusing on Real Needs: She advocates always keeping the underlying need or problem at the center of any project or entrepreneurial endeavor, rather than being blinded by solutions or routines.

🔸Strategic Adaptability & Prioritization: Selen shares how proper prioritization, staying flexible, and being willing to pivot, both professionally and personally, are crucial for sustained impact and work-life balance.

🔸Leadership through Inclusivity & Humility: She believes that effective leaders practice inclusivity, genuinely care for their teams, and lead with humility, always striving for continuous learning and authentic connection.

You can connect with Selen on ⁠LinkedIn⁠ to follow her journey.

🎥 Big thanks to VidOps for supporting Founders Voyage. Use code voyage at ⁠vidops.io⁠ for 10% off expert audio, video, animation, and photography services.

👏 Props to the stellar crew: Nancy Nash, Daniel M. Melo, Carlos Javier Chacón Sánchez, Matthew Ray, and host Spencer Walker-Fooks. You bring this show to life.

🥂 Want to support the journey? Join us on ⁠Patreon⁠ and help amplify more voices like Selen.

#FoundersVoyage #Entrepreneurship #Podcast