Careers & Character Podcast

#26 - Alfonso “Poncho” Martínez - The Subtle Art of Networking

From working and studying simultaneously from the age of 17, to helping build IKEA Mexico as employee number 51, and now graduating as the class speaker of the IMD MBA Class of 2025, this is the story of Alfonso “Poncho” Martínez [https://www.linkedin.com/in/alfonsomtz/]. In this episode, we sit down with Poncho to explore what it means to build a life anchored in relationships, humility, and courage. We talk about learning to “care and dare,” why networking only works when it’s not transactional, how becoming a father shifted his identity forever, and how to stay true to your strengths while still confronting your past with honesty. Key Takeaways & Highlights 1. Connection Is Energy. Poncho is fuelled by people. He doesn’t network to extract opportunity; he connects because it gives him energy and expands his world. His earliest influences, parents and grandparents, shaped an instinct to approach others with curiosity, generosity, and joy. 2. Add Value First. His career breakthroughs all began with offering something of value with no expectation in return: a cycling buddy for a country manager, an invitation to lunch for an executive who always wanted to visit IMD, a book recommendation, an introduction, a kindness. “You plant the seed and you never know when it grows.” 3. Secure-Base Leadership: 100% Care, 100% Dare. Poncho discovered that while he excelled at caring, he often fell short on daring: pushing people, holding boundaries, or asking for tough feedback. Learning that both are required to unlock potential (in others and himself) was a transformative insight of the MBA year. 4. Parenting as the Ultimate Leadership Role. From device-free “family board meetings” to the radical importance of presence, Poncho sees parenthood as a daily mirror: your child absorbs everything you do. And the biggest lesson? “Once you are a father, you will always be a father.” 5. Scars Don’t Have to Close You Off. A failed business partnership hurt him deeply, but instead of turning cynical, he reflected on what he could have done better: diligence, boundaries, structure. The insight: you can still trust people, but with different levels of trust for different contexts. Not everyone is meant for business, but they can still be a friend. 6. Humility, Stability, and the Simple Life. His grandfather, who lived to 102, modelled a life of high aspirations, moderate expectations, and low needs. A few white shirts, a few shoes, strong values. It shaped Poncho’s definition of success: fulfilment over accumulation. What We Learned John: The secret to networking (and to life) is generosity. Poncho never approaches people to get. He approaches to give, and somehow, opportunity finds him anyway. He is proof that nice guys do finish first. Konsti: That connection doesn’t have to be binary. You don’t need to limit who you engage with; every person can be a future story, a future lesson, a future friend. And Poncho shows what it looks like to approach people without fear of “too many relationships.” Poncho: To trust himself more. To keep being who he is. And to continue caring and daring, with friends, classmates, colleagues, and his family. “The life is now.” This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit careersandcharacter.substack.com [https://careersandcharacter.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

#25 - Katharina Lange - Chase Excellence, Not Perfection

From completing a PhD in pharmacology and toxicology to consulting across industries and ultimately teaching leaders on three continents, this is the story of Katharina Lange [https://www.linkedin.com/in/leadershipimdkatharinalange/], IMD Professor of Leadership, whose work blends strategy, psychology, and character. In this episode, we sit down with Katharina to explore what true leadership demands of us: courage, humility, self-awareness, and the discipline to make choices that honour the person we want to become. We discuss why vulnerability only works when grounded in competence (with a dash of humour), why hard work has no substitutes, and why “a good life” is really about creating stories worth telling when you’re 80. Key Takeaways & Highlights 1. Leadership Begins With Self-Honesty. “You can pull the wool over somebody’s eyes for a while. Don’t pull it over your own.” Ask for honest feedback. Invite people who love you enough to tell you the truth. And don’t wait until it’s too late to look in the mirror. 2. Excellence Over Perfection. Perfection doesn’t exist, not in leadership, not in organisations, not even in ourselves. But excellence sets a dynamic direction: trying to be better tomorrow than you were yesterday. 3. Hard Work Always Pays Off… Eventually We live in a culture of instant gratification, yet leadership is slow-cooked. “Hard work always pays off — sooner or later. Usually later,” she laughs. There are no shortcuts, and if you think you’ve found one, you probably haven’t. But the work is worth it, because mastery builds conviction, and conviction builds character. 4. Parenting Is the Hardest Leadership Laboratory Boundaries. Standards. Humility. Consistency. Many of the lessons Katharina teaches in the classroom began at home.And one of her strongest convictions is this: “parents shouldn’t try to be friends with their children.” 5. Careers Are Not Ladders — They’re Portfolios. Katharina challenges the upward-only obsession of “career.” Real careers are collections of experiences: some paid, some unpaid, all meaningful if you extract the learning. Eventually, leadership roles find those who are ready, not those who chase. 6. Lead Your Life Future-Back. One of Katharina’s most profound ideas: Think from your 80th birthday backwards. Who is in the room? What stories do you tell? What choices did you make that allowed you to live a full life? What We Learned Konsti: That the real substance of leadership doesn’t come from frameworks or corporate templates, it comes from stories, humour, art, failure, courage, and lived experience. John: That serving others, not chasing titles, is what leads to meaningful careers. And that the challenges we face today are not unique - it has always been hard. Katharina: That I love doing this. And that I need to think more about the truths I hold that others might not share. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit careersandcharacter.substack.com [https://careersandcharacter.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

#24 - Kevin Martelli - On the Importance of Trust-Based Relationships in the Early Days of Ambitious Companies

From building a successful career in investment banking in London and Italy to helping deep-tech founders turn groundbreaking science into world-changing companies, this is the story of Kevin Martelli [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-martelli-956558/] - investor, advisor, and founder behind Delta Plus Ventures [https://dplus.ventures/]. In this episode, John and Konsti sit down with Kevin to explore how character and conviction shape great ventures, why trust compounds faster than capital, and what makes a founder truly exceptional. They unpack lessons Kevin has picked up from over 500 conversations with founders, discuss how to build skills that give you optionality in your career, and how to build a life that keeps your curiosity alive. Key Takeaways and Highlights 1. Character Over Plans. Kevin never pays much attention to business plans – he focuses on people. “Staring at numbers on Excel for too long can easily fool you into believing projections. Observing the character of a founder can be more insightful when assessing the chances of success of a bold dream.” 2. Conviction and Curiosity. The best founders hold strong beliefs combined with an unusual ability to listen. “You need both conviction and humility to learn in the same person – that’s rare.” 3. Care Deeply and Outlast Indifference. The job of a founder is to care deeply about the challenge/solution they are focusing on and to outlast others' initial indifference to their view of the world. 4. Trust Compounds Faster Than Capital. Kevin’s work is built on trust-based relationships: “I might be the first to believe in you, and the last to stop believing.” 5. Build Your Tribe Early. Build Your Tribe Early. Careers are shaped by mentors, not titles. Be intentional about the people you surround yourself with and how you build your “personal board of directors”. 6. Delta Plus Philosophy. Named after Sergio Marchionne’s quote: “What matters at the end of the day is to have made a positive difference.” In your interactions with others, it is both important and challenging to add real value and find win-win situations. What We Learned Konsti: Good careers are built by following energy – talking to people who make you want to do more. John: Filtering is everything. The quality of your life = the quality of the people you choose to believe in. Kevin: Your career and character are interlinked. You are the average of the founders and friends you spend time with – so choose wisely. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit careersandcharacter.substack.com [https://careersandcharacter.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

#23 - Rodrigo Sarzosa - Real Leaders Speak Third

From leading Unilever’s ice cream brands across Latin America to leading with calm and purpose in the IMD MBA, this is the story of marketer, musician, and father of twin daughters, Rodrigo Sarzosa [https://www.linkedin.com/in/rodrigosarzosa/]. In this episode, John and Konsti sit down with Rod to explore what it means to stay true to yourself while serving others, to balance “caring and daring,” and to find humour and lightness even in 12-hour power outages. They discuss the lessons of fatherhood, the purpose of brands, the beauty of Hermann Hesse’s writing, and why good leadership sometimes means being the third to speak. Key Takeaways and Highlights * Be True and Be Kind: Rod describes his life philosophy simply: “Be true to yourself and be kind to others.” That means not postponing dreams, following passions like music and photography, and remembering that the real purpose of leadership is service. * The Calm Leader:In high-pressure settings, Rod’s leadership is defined by humour and composure. “Stressed spelled backwards is ‘desserts,’” he laughs. “Whenever you feel stressed, just get an ice cream.” His greatest impact comes from empathy, calmness, and creating confidence in others. * Tough Love: Rod believes growth requires honesty wrapped in compassion. “You have to teach your kids to do dangerous things carefully,” he says. The same principle applies to feedback and leadership: challenge people, but from a place of care. * Speak Third: His favourite feedback he received this year: “Try to be the third person to speak.” Not the first to rush into action, nor the last to fade away, but the thoughtful voice that connects others’ ideas. * Brands, Brains, and Bees: A childhood story about a bee sting and his mother’s comforting ice cream shaped his love for brands. For Rod, the best brands (and the best people) create emotional memory. “Brands compete for real estate in your brain,” he says, “but the great ones live in your heart.” * Music and Meaning: To Rod, music is the “language of the soul.” He and the IMD band went on to win gold at the MBA Olympics, an experience he calls a masterclass in teamwork, humility, and joy. What We Learned Konsti: The best leaders don’t always go first - sometimes leadership means listening, connecting, and letting others shine. John: Many of the achievements you achieve in life are thanks to other people who enabled you. Rod: “You can’t separate career and character. Your career shapes your character, and your character shapes your career.” This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit careersandcharacter.substack.com [https://careersandcharacter.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

#22 - Jens Marczinski - Trusting Your Gut

From landing in startups accidentally to scaling companies and leading 120+ teams, to now pursuing an MBA at IMD, this is the story of Jens Marczinski [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jens-marczinski/overlay/photo/]. In this episode, John and Konsti sit down with Jens to explore his path from accidental entry into the startup world to becoming a leader who thrives in chaos. They discuss his philosophy on meaningful work, the lessons of managing fast-growing teams, why gut feeling is underrated, and how he is now channelling his energy into building digital health ventures. Key Takeaways and Highlights * Accidental Entrepreneur: Jens never planned a startup career; consulting was the goal. But one internship turned into seven years, multiple ventures, and eventually leading over 100 people: “All of a sudden I was Managing Director… and there’s no big training for it. You just grow with the chaos.” * Living a Life Your Kids Respect: Inspired by his parents and grandparents, Jens frames integrity simply: “Do work and take actions your children can be proud of.” * On Meaningful Work: Jens measures purpose by impact: “If I didn’t do this job, would society be poorer for it?” Even in cosmetic dentistry, handwritten letters from patients who smiled again gave him the conviction that impact comes in unexpected forms. * Sport as a Teacher: Triathlon legend Jan Frodeno inspires Jens: “You can’t fake performance in sport. Business you can b******t, sport you can’t. Jan’s determination to just do the schedule every single day, without knowing the outcome, that’s what endurance really is.” * Hiring and Character: Jens is clear about team culture: “A star who destroys the team is always out. Character and humility beat flashy CVs. Look at how people treat the receptionist—it tells you a lot.” * Lessons from IMD: Beyond frameworks, IMD gave Jens the value of explicit agreements: “Norming early matters. Write things down in smooth waters so you can survive the storm.” He also emphasises the role of honest feedback and learning from peers’ different approaches. What We Learned * Konsti: Entrepreneurship is chaos, but in chaos lies the adventure. The key is to find energy and joy in the constant change. * John: Jens reminded me that character is what you do when no one is watching. * Jens: Surround yourself with smart, driven people. Their energy and ideas are the best way to keep growing. Enjoy the show! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit careersandcharacter.substack.com [https://careersandcharacter.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]