World-champion martial artist and CEO Aslak de Silva shares how to control stress like a pro, lead under pressure, and build systems that outperform motivation.
From 100 full-contact fights to leading companies across 20+ countries, Aslak’s “black belt in leadership” philosophy blends discipline, humility, and performance psychology for elite entrepreneurs and executives.
Guest: Aslak de Silva | LinkedIn
Host: Josh Kosnick | Spartan Leadership Podcast
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⏱️ CHAPTERS
00:00 Control under pressure
01:46 From world champion to CEO
03:03 Lessons from martial arts
05:21 Fighter mindset in business
07:41 Learning sales through rejection
10:18 Emotional intelligence in leadership
13:46 Reading people & building EQ
15:48 Adapting across industries
20:01 Interviewing Obama, Clooney & Wozniak
26:38 White-to-black belt roadmap for CEOs
30:35 Leadership lessons from failure
34:27 Training composure under stress
39:07 Becoming a scientist of yourself
40:20 Discipline vs. motivation
45:52 Avoiding burnout
48:40 Adaptability in leadership
51:04 Teams make the leader
52:24 Connect with Aslak
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