Challenging the Status Quo

Join us for an enlightening episode where we explore the dynamic intersections between music and leadership. Our insightful guests, Amir Sabirović, Rik Spann, and Simon Martin, draw parallels between jazz bands, rock bands, and symphony orchestras to delve into the diverse structures of organizations and their unique approaches to innovation, communication, and change. Throughout this episode, our guests share valuable insights on the importance of clear communication, building trust, and fostering an environment where ideas can flourish. They illustrate how metaphors can provide a fresh perspective on leadership, encouraging leaders to step back, reassess, and create space for others to shine. Tune in to discover how you can apply these musical metaphors to enhance your leadership style, embrace innovation, and lead your organization with a harmonious blend of structure and creativity. Key Quotes:

• “A jazz band is like a startup – flexible, innovative, and always improvising. A rock band is a scale-up, needing some structure but still retaining its creative edge. A symphony orchestra represents a corporate entity – highly organized, with every note carefully planned.” - Amir Sabirović “In jazz, when something unexpected happens, it’s not seen as a mistake but as an opportunity. It’s about embracing the disruption and finding new ways to create harmony.” - Rik Spann

• “Conversations are the vehicles for change. They are where ideas are born and evolve. Much like jazz, where each musician listens and responds to the others, effective leadership is about listening and responding to the needs and ideas of the team.” - Simon Martin
• “It’s about being comfortable with the uncomfortable. Leaders need to adapt and continue, much like jazz musicians do when they encounter unexpected changes.” - Amir Sabirović
• “We assume others understand our intentions without clear communication, leading to misunderstandings and missed opportunities.” - Amir Sabirović
• “Using analogies like the jazz band can create a safe space for discussion. It allows leaders to step back and view their roles and the organization’s dynamics differently, fostering innovation and collaboration.” - Simon Martin
• “That’s leadership: knowing when to intervene and when to step back, creating space for others to shine.” - Rik Spann
• “Innovation comes from challenging the status quo and being open to new ideas, even if it means failing along the way.” - Amir Sabirović

Don’t miss this unique blend of music and management that inspires you to lead creatively and confidently.

• In this episode of the Challenging the Status Quo podcast, host Amir Sabirović sits down with Darko Mareš, a professional photographer who transitioned from a 20-year career in audio engineering. Darko shares his journey from turning a hobby into a full-time profession, highlighting the challenges and triumphs of becoming a solopreneur. Listeners will hear about Darko's initial passion for audio engineering and how his love for photography gradually took over, leading him to create his own business. The conversation delves into the nuances of running a photography business, including pricing strategies, the importance of professional photos for business profiles, and the unexpected administrative tasks that come with entrepreneurship. Darko also discusses the distinction between having a job and being a solopreneur, emphasizing the freedom and responsibilities that come with working for oneself. The episode explores the evolving nature of photography in the digital age, the impact of AI and technology on the profession, and the importance of authenticity in business images. Towards the end, Darko offers insightful advice on staying true to oneself and the importance of enjoying one's work. He reflects on personal challenges and the continuous journey of self-improvement. Tune in to gain valuable insights from Darko's experiences and be inspired by his dedication to his craft and entrepreneurial spirit. Key Topics: - Transitioning from audio engineering to photography - Challenges of starting and running a photography business - The significance of professional headshots and business portraits - Balancing freedom and responsibility as a solopreneur - The role of authenticity in professional photography - The impact of AI and technology on the photography industry - Personal growth and the importance of enjoying your work

Join Amir and Darko for an engaging conversation that explores the highs and lows of pursuing one's passion and turning it into a successful business.

Hey everyone! Welcome to another episode of the Challenging the Status Quo podcast, brought to you by Digital Savages. Today, I’ve got an amazing guest with me—Kemal Arslantaş. Kemal and I dive into his fascinating journey from growing up in the Netherlands with Turkish roots to becoming a key figure in crisis management, innovation, and health. He’s got some incredible stories about handling crises both locally and internationally, and we chat about the unique challenges and surprising opportunities that pop up in these situations. We also get into a deep conversation about how crises bring out the best in human values, contrasting that with the often superficial achievements we chase daily. Kemal’s scientific approach to handling crises, using hypotheses and thoughtful analysis, shines through in our talk. We touch on cultural differences in long-term thinking, the importance of introspection in challenging personal judgments, and the real motivations behind helping others. Kemal shares his thoughts on balancing ego and empathy, positively impacting society, and finding true purpose in both professional and personal life. As we wrap up, Kemal tells me who he’d love to spend a day with from any period, and he leaves a great question for my next guest: “What’s the defining experience that has shaped who you are or who you aspire to be?” So, grab your headphones and join us for this engaging chat. Kemal’s insights will inspire you to think differently about crises and innovation and find deeper meaning in your own actions and contributions.

In this engaging episode of "Challenging the Status Quo," host Amir Sabirovic sits down with Pal Chidambaram, founder of the Relyo Capital. Pal shares his unique journey through the realms of finance and investment. With his dual venture comprising an investment advisory and a tech development firm, Pal discusses his passion for addressing fundamental financial questions and his solutions to modern investment challenges. Learn about the hurdles he anticipates in his newly founded group and his philosophical approach to money, society, and technology.

Digital Savages proudly presents the new episode of 'Challenging the Status Quo' podcast season two with Natalia Bielczyk; she is Helping Professionals & Teams Self-Navigate, Build Value & Subvert All Expectations! It is best to solve your problem in business because this is most motivating! After finishing her PhD., she felt lost and embarked on a journey which led her to develop a method to discover yourself and help you choose the right career path that fits your skills and talents!

'Your social capital is the only appreciating asset that will grow during your lifetime, which is recession proof! 

Digital Savages presenteert met trots de nieuwe aflevering van 'Challenging the Status Quo' podcast seizoen twee met Wendelijn van der Leest, specialist vrouwelijk leiderschap en persoonlijke ontwikkeling! Ze belicht het heden door te kijken naar verleden!

‘Wees geïnteresseerd in wie je bent en waar je vandaan komt en gebruik dat om te ontdekken wat de toekomst voor jou in petto heeft!’

Digital Savages proudly presents the new episode of 'Challenging the Status Quo' podcast season two with Marcel Bamberg, Presentor and TV Show maker! He does not wait for things to occur magically but takes his faith into his own hands. Caught by the pandemic and performance cancellation, he started making satirical videos and shows, which led to his success. 

'Don't wait for the things to happen; do it yourself instead!'

Digital Savages proudly presents the new episode of 'Challenging the Status Quo' podcast season two with Jennifer Dennison, director at Challenge Day! She believes success is found in every aspect of daily life as long as you reflect! 

'Where you are, makes who you are, although you should never forget your roots!'

Digital Savages proudly presents the new episode of 'Challenging the Status Quo' podcast season two with Marie-Liz de Jongh, director at EQfit KIDDS! She believes we are here for a reason, and we all are important! And if you don't do something you love, you are missing a big part of your life! Stay with yourself, be yourself, believe in yourself and don't let anybody's opinion get you down! 

Try it and when you fall, pick yourself up and do it again! 

Digital Savages proudly presents the new episode of 'Challenging the Status Quo' podcast season two with Peter Smith, the litter philosopher! He believes you need challenges and misfits to develop and evolve! Challengers of the status quo, the misfits, are a necessity! To prove the reality to the mass media, who had no attention for the existing challenge, he created a trojan horse from litter, a globe sculpture made of plastic bottles. He is never certain but always suspicious; this is how he kickstarts his research and knowledge-gathering! 

Do something, however small; the individual action can spark the greater force and make a real difference in the world!

Digital Savages proudly presents the new episode of 'Challenging the Status Quo' podcast season two with Chris Blokland, a word artist to the fullest!  Listen more to what your body and tools you get from nature tell! Nature is always right; tune in with yourself! You have all the answers if you are really open to the process, but enjoy the process! It is good to fail one hundred thousand times before you get it because when you succeed, it will have meaning to you! 

Don't compare yourself to others, and tune in with yourself!  

Digital Savages proudly presents the new episode of 'Challenging the Status Quo' podcast season two with Justin Goldston, Professor and Coordinator of Project & Supply-chain Management Penn State University. He believes that if you have fun, you will be able to innovate and collaborate! If you want to be recognizable in the market, you have to look at the discipline you are in from a holistic point of view and find your niche within your discipline! You can never stop learning; the world is changing too fast for you to become complacent.

If you find your hobby, be the best at that hobby that you can possibly be! That is going to be your differentiator!

Digital Savages proudly presents the new episode of 'Challenging the Status Quo' podcast season two with Gideon Beeftink, Educational Strategist and Director of Effortless Learning & Omega Education. Gideon challenges the status quo of the way we educate our children. As a young student, the school gave Gideon the impression that he did not have to offer that much. After taking a personality test, he found out he had much more potential than school made him believe. Keeping this in mind, Gideon is on a path to change youngsters' world, enabling them to reach their full potential! He has learned to be vulnerable, to show people that he is not perfect, owning his mistakes! This way, people can be the authentic version of themselves! 

You are never going to be as you should be, so love yourself as you are!

Aviv Shalgi Challenges the Status Quo of Geniuinly Listening! 

Genuinely care about listening and hearing unspoken words!

Digital Savages proudly presents the new episode of 'Challenging the Status Quo' podcast season two with Aviv Shalgi, Co-Founder & CEO at Solar Simplified! In love with technology but not so much with coding, Avid went soul searching, which led him to grow multiple startups. He believes you have to play with the hand you have been dealt, keeping in mind that the house always wins! Successful is when you feel accomplished in life if you enjoy being on this planet and not wasting your time! 

'Genuinely care about listening, and what people have to say, and what they are not saying, hear the unspoken words, then you can actually respond!'

Arjan Erkel Challenges the Status Quo of Personal Freedom! 

Don't let your past ruin your future!

Digital Savages proudly presents the new episode of 'Challenging the Status Quo' podcast season two with Arjan Erkel, founder and partner at Walking Tree, Co-Owner at Generatie YEP, Founder at Stichting Free a Girl and owner at Arjan Erkel Advies. 

Don't let your past ruin your future! Try to eliminate the negativity that has happened; otherwise, those negative experience will take you hostage. Instead, look within yourself and find your freedom! Take time to reflect and figure out what you should do more and what you should do less! 

Benjamin is Challenging the Status Quo of the information industry! 

Truth usually is straightforward, and it is fascinating how some people try to overcomplicate it! 

Digital Savages proudly presents the new episode of 'Challenging the Status Quo' podcast season two with Benjamin Talin, CEO of More Than Digital! He never fitted into boxes people and organisations tried to put him in. If someone would say something is impossible, he would regularly go and do it! Truth usually is very simple, and it is fascinating how people tend to overcomplicate it. It is easy; you just have to understand what it is! 

Benjamins believes that we should get a system thinking mindset in our heads and be challenging what is going on! 

#BeTheChange

Don't hold yourself back and share! Become the hero of your own story!

Digital Savages proudly presents the new episode of 'Challenging the Status Quo' podcast season two with Lexia Emerenciana, Keynote Speaker at Hero of Your Own Story! People love to connect with energized and happy people! Lexia focuses on changing people's lives by sharing her own story and helping them heal to become a better version of themselves! 

Let's make sure we daily connect the human dots. Let's listen, learn, share and grow so we can heal the world together! 

Digital Savages proudly presents the new episode of 'Challenging the Status Quo' podcast season two with Vicky Poole, Ancestral Healer and Coach at Vicky Poole Coaching and Director at ConnectReading. Vicky believes you have to challenge what you think you know. You need to be in true alignment with yourself to push yourself forward as a person and human being.

Challenge everything you know about yourself, so you know that what you are doing is right for you! 

Digital Savages proudly presents the new episode of 'Challenging the Status Quo' podcast season two with Maarten Hoekstra. Maarten looks for a different angle in everything he does while framing it positively. Instead of being a man of success, he is a man of value. He brings value through learning while being curious about the curiosity itself! 

Train yourself to wonder, and do not take life too seriously! 

Digital Savages proudly presents the new episode of 'Challenging the Status Quo' podcast season two with Oluwafisayo (Fisayo) Olajide, CEO at  Le Relief Enterprise. 

Since he was seven years old, Fisayo had to adapt to different places and different times. For him, success is being who you decide to be, following the beat of your heart—living beyond yourself!

The journey is crooked, but the dream is possible as long as you keep at it!

Digital Savages proudly presents the new episode of 'Challenging the Status Quo' podcast season two with Mark Wesselink, Venturebuilder who is re-inventing Venture Capital at Venturerock. Mark believes you have to make your own mistakes as an entrepreneur; otherwise, you won't learn anything. It is essential to carefully choose your market, develop a scalable business model, have a complementary management team, and find the right momentum. Momentum is key! The number one reason companies fail is that there is no market need! If you want to be successful, your customers and your employees need to be happy, and with that, the founders will be as well!

Just keep on swimming, as Dory from Finding Nemo, and find people that complement you. If you stop, you will sink. 

Digital Savages proudly presents the new episode of 'Challenging the Status Quo' podcast season two with Saskia Harkema, CEO at Faces of Change. Life in the western world is perfectly organised, and this does not resemble reality. In most parts of the world, life is not perfect because it is messy. The messier life is, the more people are in touch with their true nature! They are more humane! We have to take charge as human beings and join hands. We all can become peacebuilders if we only commit to it on an individual level. Commit to peace, and the world will become a better place. 

Success is if you can make a difference in someone's life! 

Digital Savages proudly presents the new episode of 'Challenging the Status Quo' podcast season two with Emin Kececi, the Alchemist at Masters with Dreams and motivational speaker, author and educator at Emin Kececi Life and Education Strategist. His dream and vision are to open a school that will be an educational candy shop, where every student can enjoy the educational sweets that fit their talents. Emin's mission is to help others grow, and by doing that, he grows himself. 

"You have to get comfortable with the uncomfortable!

Digital Savages proudly presents the new episode of 'Challenging the Status Quo' podcast season two with Barbera Schouten, transformation & empowerment coach for Ambitious Aliens, Sensitive Leaders and Intuitive Empaths at HSP Coach Barbera. Most people live on autopilot without really ever discovering who they indeed are. While trying to be someone else leads to more loneliness than actual loneliness. People should be proud of who they are and stop conforming to fit the societal conditioned behaviour. Living life on your own term is a success! 

''If you want to be free, you need to be you!

Digital Savages proudly presents the new episode of 'Challenging the Status Quo' podcast season two with Ron Immink entrepreneur, intrapreneur, writer, author and public speaker at RonImmink, Founder at Book in 8 days, partner at Strategy Crowd and Intrapreneur in residence at Sustainable Nation Ireland. He has always followed his heart, and it guided him to fantastic places. The future is not linear, and entrepreneurship is about predicting the future. Realise it is not so much about what you have but how much you need—distracting yourself from societal greed. And don't worry too much because, in the end, everything works out. There is always much more going on in your head than there present in reality. The minute you become an author, everything changes because people start to take you seriously. 

'Success is never in money; it is waking up every day and enjoying what you are doing!'

Digital Savages proudly presents the new episode of 'Challenging the Status Quo' podcast season two with Mark de Bruijn, Director of Global Customer Experience Marketing at Smartly.io. He is happy with small things in life and doing what he loves! 

'Make sure the family is more important than your job!' 

Digital Savages proudly presents the new episode of 'Challenging the Status Quo' podcast season two with Mathijs Pontier, party leader at Dutch Pirate Party, Co-founder and Commercial Director at Idea Synergy and active in Amsterdam Department at Citizens Foundation Iceland. He challenges the status quo in everything he does, living by the philosophy 'don't doubt it, just do it'! 

'If you have an idea and want to achieve something, seek help from people who can help you accomplish your goals.' 

Digital Savages proudly presents the new episode of 'Challenging the Status Quo' podcast season two with Dzeneta Schitton, Founder at D-Darks and Glowhuntersmedia, digitalisation & Branding. She believes that all professionals should brand themselves and pour all things they are passionate about in that process using available tools. 

'Your limit is where you see yourself end up! So don't limit yourself that is how you will set yourself free!'  

Digital Savages proudly presents the new episode of 'Challenging the Status Quo' podcast season two with Milan Kusmuk, co-founder and CEO at Cintellicon, a representative at FasterCapital and Treasurer Board of Directors at Bosnia & Herzegovina Futures Foundation. His curiosity led him to a journey from Bosnia & Herzegovina to Norway, where he challenged an organisation's status quo as an internee. Now he challenges the status quo of the Manufacturing Industry! 

Success is all about being surrounded by amazing people, recognising and taking opportunities and focussing on being rather than having!

Digital Savages proudly presents the new episode of 'Challenging the Status Quo' podcast season two with Mike Vacanti, Catalyst for Positive Change, Speaker, Consultant and CEO Advisor at MJ Vacanti, author of Believership and Founder at HumansFirst. The believership is born from the belief in the team, the mission and people leading the initiative. 

'The greatest gifts happen because I was willing to change my mind! Rigidity is our enemy of enjoyment in life. And the possibilities are growing; through time, we create our unnecessary barriers. If we open our mind and our hearts, we can allow great things to happen within our lives!'

'Do things you want to do and try to do them with your soul and passion! And keep in mind it shouldn't be something extraordinary, that is not a must!'

Digital Savages proudly presents the new episode of 'Challenging the Status Quo' podcast season two with Njord Pattiasina, director at Nudge, the platform for sustainability and senior advisor healthcare & social enterprises! 

'Accept yourself as a whole!'

'Sometimes we should think more everyone and everything than just about ourselves!'

'Life is tough, business is tough, and you have to reinvent yourself all the time, the only thing that is going to get you through is perseverance and building the right relationships!'

'Be human, practice vulnerability and run headlong into difference, and get support where you need it, don't try to do it on your own!'

Keep it real, and whilst doing that, own it!

'Don't fear and fail anyway; it doesn't matter!'

'Embrace the scars of your life!'

'Your opinion matters!'

'Your definition of success evolves as you mature!'

'Use the wrong tools, ask the right questions and meet the right people!'