In this episode of Emotional Business, host Olga Skipper welcomes Dorothea von Wichert-Nick — CEO coach, former MD/COO, and a seasoned expert in helping leaders break through personal and professional growth barriers. Dorothea draws from decades of experience coaching founders and leading management teams, offering a profound look at what really holds ambitious entrepreneurs back and how to create lasting, sustainable leadership beyond the toxic hustle culture.
Dorothea steps into the conversation at a moment when many founders hit their “inner glass ceiling”—those invisible obstacles rooted in personal history, inner belief systems, and deeply held patterns. Together, Olga and Dorothea unpack the real-life struggles leaders face when their companies grow, the emotional toll of fighting, freezing, or fleeing from leadership challenges, and the transformative power of self-development.
This episode takes you inside the hidden dynamics underlying entrepreneurial growth: why most companies never scale beyond 50 people, how childhood experience shapes ambition, and why breaking through personal limits is the foundation of authentic leadership.
In this episode, we explore:
• The Three Modes of Hitting Limits — fight, flight, and freeze, and their impact on growth and well-being
• The Reality of Small Companies — why 97% of German businesses never scale up and what it means for economic change
• How Childhood Drives Leadership — the connection between ambition, early experiences, and belief systems
• Practical Steps for Founders — recognizing your personal glass ceiling and starting self-development work
• The Bridge to Real Leadership — Dorothea’s power within, power with, and power to model for sustainable growth
• Overcoming Burnout and Isolation — shifting from toxic pressure to healthy, organic growth
• Building Strong Relationships — moving from agency to true leadership, and cultivating eye-level connection
• Dorothea’s Vision and Mission — why personal and collective transformation matter now more than ever
Olga and Dorothea move beyond surface-level business advice and dive deep into what it means to lead, grow, and reimagine entrepreneurial success—especially for founders determined to create something enduring and meaningful. This conversation is essential for leaders, founders, and executive coaches eager to break through their own limits, foster self-agency, and build powerful organizations that thrive beyond the founder’s personality.
If you’re an ambitious entrepreneur, coach, or executive longing to lead with greater clarity, depth, and real impact, this episode will resonate deeply.
So settle in for this grounded, heartfelt, and game-changing exploration of emotional business.
Don’t forget to subscribe and share this episode with a founder or leader in your network!
CHAPTERS
00:00 — Introduction to Emotional Business
00:02 — Dorothea’s Personal Story: Ambition, Limits, and Leadership
00:06 — Why Break Through Your Glass Ceiling?
00:08 — The Scale Problem: Small Companies and the Need for Ambitious Leadership
00:10 — Recognizing Your Own Glass Ceiling
00:13 — What Makes a Great Coaching Client
00:15 — Managing Hurdles and Resistance on the Growth Journey
00:17 — Getting Ready for the Experience: What Clients Should Know
00:20 — Building the Bridge: Power Within, Power With, Power To
00:24 — Dorothea’s Vision as a Coach
00:25 — Advice for the Coaching Community
00:28 — Recommended Resources & Models
00:29 — Closing Reflections
Connect with Olga:
LinkedIn: Olga Skipper
Website: www.olgaskipper.com
Connect with Dorothea:
LinkedIn: Dorothea von Wichert-Nick
Blog: www.dorothea-nick.com (for articles and further resources)
Enjoy the conversation and start breaking your own inner glass ceiling—one insight at a time.
