On this episode of ADAPT or Die: Transformative Leadership Conversations, executive coach and former tech CEO Andreas Pettersson speaks with Marius Vygantas, founder of Soling Partners and former Project Manager in the Executive Office of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum. From Chicago to Dubai and back, Marius shares how trusting his gut—and preserving his integrity—shaped a 20-year global career spanning sovereign strategy, aerospace, and international business development.
Challenge → Marius left Goldman Sachs and the Federal Reserve to move to the Middle East at 23—with no local contacts. He faced high-stakes negotiations, geopolitical nuance, and personal moments that tested his values.
Adaptation → From cold-calling his way into Mubadala to launching Soling Partners, Marius embraced calculated risk, learned through loss, and built a career on relationships, resilience, and relentless curiosity.
Success → With $1.7B in cross-border capital raised, partnerships with global giants like Airbus and Boeing, and a reputation built on integrity, Marius now connects global businesses to opportunity in the Middle East—all while building a life that’s as intentional as his work.
🔥 60-Second Hot Seat: The surf ritual that resets his mindset, the value he never compromises on, and why international leaders should never underestimate who’s across the table.
If you’ve ever wondered whether to make the leap, this conversation will remind you: bold moves build the best stories—and character is the real currency that compounds.
Visit www.leadersadapt.com/adaptordie for show notes, free resources, and coaching programs.
Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:
https://missionmatters.com/author/andreas-pettersson
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