Leading with Emotional Intelligence
CEO & leadership coach Andreas Pettersson shares his transformative approach to leadership that prioritizes emotional intelligence, self-awareness, & sustainable success over relentles hustle culture.
Audio Quality Note
Please note: Due to technical difficulties with my microphone during recording, the audio quality is below its usual standard. I’ve talked to my team and chosen to release this episode despite these challenges because I think the conversation offers valuable insights that we believe are too important to delay. I really appreciate your understanding and patience
I’ll be following up in the newsletter this week with a more indepth discussion of my conversation with Andreas.
Episode Overview
Drawing from his experience leading tech companies to successful exits and his work coaching executives across the globe, leadership coach Andreas Pettersson challenges conventional wisdom about what it takes to be an effective leader in today’s business environment.
Key Topics Discussed
Work-Life Harmony vs. Work-Life Balance
Why the traditional 9-to-5 model no longer reflects modern work reality
The concept of “work-life harmony” and flowing in and out of work naturally
Breaking free from guilt about checking emails after hours
Compartmentalizing effectively to reduce stress
Cultural Perspectives on Leadership
Differences between European and American work cultures
Why Europeans often achieve more in fewer hours
The role of social safety nets in reducing fear-based motivation
Adapting leadership styles across different cultural contexts
From Fear-Based to Abundance Mindset
Moving beyond the “insecure overachiever” mentality
Why imposter syndrome might be the wrong label
The importance of recognizing your daily achievements
Building genuine confidence through self-awareness
The Power of Emotional Intelligence
Why growing people creates growing organizations
Understanding your inner child’s influence on leadership decisions
The role of vulnerability as a leadership strength
Developing curiosity about your own behavioral patterns
Sustainable High Performance
Setting realistic daily expectations based on your unique strengths
The practice of journaling wins to build momentum
Why working harder isn’t the same as working effectively
Recognizing when you’ve “crushed it” and celebrating those moments
Key Insights from Andreas
“If you’re not growing your people, you are not going to grow your organization.”
“I think so many people let that insecure part be the narrative of who they were as a child. Instead, when you recognize that’s what you’re doing to yourself, you can change it.”
“Vulnerability is a power. Once you can admit these things and you can talk about them, you are able to control yourself.”
“It’s not about the number of hours you put in. Europeans are more effective—it’s a little bit less fluff and a little bit more ‘let’s get shit done.’”
More about Andreas Pettersson
Andreas is a Swedish entrepreneur and leadership coach based in California. After a successful career as a tech CEO, including a lucrative exit where he was asked to stay on for two years, Andreas chose to follow his passion for developing other leaders. Through his company, Leaders Adapt, he works with entrepreneurs and executives to help them build the emotional intelligence and self-awareness needed to lead effectively without burning out.
Andreas’s approach combines his international business experience across Europe, Asia, and the United States with deep personal work on overcoming fear-based leadership patterns. His mission is to help leaders transition from insecure overachievers to confident, emotionally intelligent executives who achieve sustainable success.
Takeaways for Business Executives
Reframe your definition of productivity – Focus on delivering your unique value rather than maximizing hours worked
Develop your emotional intelligence – True leadership effectiveness comes from understanding yourself and adapting to others
Identify your inner narratives – Recognize when childhood conditioning or others’ voices are driving your decisions
Celebrate your wins daily – Build momentum and confidence by acknowledging when you’ve “crushed it”
Embrace work-life harmony – Stop feeling guilty about natural work flow and focus on compartmentalizing effectively
Get curious about yourself – Self-awareness and vulnerability are strengths, not weaknesses
Shift from fear to abundance – Let your achievements build confidence rather than letting insecurity drive overwork
Connect with Andreas
Instagram: @andreas.the.ceo (Andreas personally responds to all messages)
Website: Leaders Adapt
LinkedIn: Andreas Pettersson
Andreas welcomes questions and often responds with personalized voice memos on Instagram. He also publishes leadership insights and solutions to common executive challenges on his blog.
