In this special bonus episode of Emotional Business, host Olga Skipper sits down with Alina Verbenchuk—co-founder of Korda, author, former Google and YouTube leader, and a passionate advocate for the creative economy.
Alina Verbenchuk joins at a defining intersection: after a non-traditional journey into tech, years of scaling teams at major platforms, and the recent leap from corporate operator to founder. Together, Olga Skipper and Alina Verbenchuk unravel what remains deeply, stubbornly human in business and leadership—even as AI and automation touch every corner of work.
This episode offers a candid, nuanced look inside the lived experience of building, leading, and selling in a world where originality and connection matter more than ever, but the landscape is shifting fast.
In this episode, we explore:
- Creativity vs. Automation — Why human ideas, energy, and fresh perspectives are more valuable than ever as audiences grow weary of automated sameness
- The Real Definition of “Human” — How genuine connection—whether in music, content, or business—is the foundation of resonance and trust
- From Non-Tech Background to Tech Founder — Alina Verbenchuk’s unique journey from studying Chinese, to business school, to building at Google, to boldly stepping into entrepreneurship
- The Messy Reality of Going Founder — The inner journeys, stumbles, and full-circle moments that rarely make it into founder stories
- Leadership in Constant Change — Why templates and “typical” teams are breaking down, and what leadership needs to look like as companies and careers become more experimental and customized
- Selling, Serving, and True Go-To-Market — Dismantling the myth of sales as a cold funnel; understanding it as a deeply human process of connection and value
- Who Belongs on the Team Now? — How high-agency, multi-talented, emotionally intelligent people are becoming the most essential hires in an AI-driven world—and why “ownership” now matters more than credentials
Alina Verbenchuk and Olga Skipper move far beyond startup clichés to speak plainly about the fears, doubts, pivots, and exhilarating new definitions of ambition, value, and community.
This episode is for any founder, builder, creative, or leader wrestling with how to stay human in a landscape being rewritten by technology. If you’re navigating the leap from secure roles to entrepreneurship, questioning where your real value lies, or curious how to build teams and markets for the future, you’ll find reassurance, clarity, and a lot of practical wisdom here.
So settle in and enjoy this expansive, grounding, and deeply human conversation.
Don’t forget to subscribe and share this episode with a founder or creative thinker in your circle!
CHAPTERS
00:00 — Introduction to Emotional Business & Meet Alina Verbenchuk
01:04 — Alina Verbenchuk’s Non-Traditional Journey into Tech
02:50 — Why Human Creativity Rises as AI Grows
06:53 — Defining “Human” in Content, Business, and Beyond
09:58 — Full-Circle Lessons: From People Skills to Founder Strengths
14:12 — Human Connection at the Heart of Go-To-Market
17:06 — Purpose, Profit, and Serving People
19:32 — The Messy, Honest Leap from Corporate to Founder
27:00 — Beyond the Shelf: Leadership Now and Next
32:07 — What Leaders Need to Learn and Unlearn
34:20 — Generational Change, Agency, and New Teams
37:05 — Coaching Q&A: Teams of the Future and Personalization
44:39 — Who Do We Want on Our Team in an AI Era?
45:59 — Bringing It Full Circle: The Non-Linear Path of Leadership
Connect with Olga:
LinkedIn: Olga Skipper
Website: www.olgaskipper.com
Connect with Alina:
LinkedIn: Alina Verbenchuk
