How a Near-Death Experience Changed Andreas Pettersson’s View on Fear

Life After Flatline: Andreas Pettersson’s Approach to Transformative Leadership

Episode 38

In this episode, we talk with Andreas Pettersson about how his personal challenges radically reshaped his approach to leadership, resilience, and curiosity. He shares the story of a near-death experience that forced him to rethink everything—from how he shows up as a leader to how he lives each day. This isn’t just a story about survival; it’s about clarity, reinvention, and how intense personal events can become the foundation for meaningful leadership.

Andreas opens up about what happened the day his heart flatlined in the ER, how years of ignoring physical warning signs led to the event, and why he now lives with a calm sense of gratitude most people never find. He explains how that moment redefined his relationship with fear and urgency, and how it taught him to listen to his body in a way he never had before.

We also dive into what it was like to become a CEO and, on the very same day, receive his son’s autism diagnosis. Andreas breaks down how he and his wife navigated two life-altering changes at once, the decision to divide and conquer, and the mental toll of having a child with severe needs while also stepping into the pressure of executive leadership. He reflects on the guilt, the denial, the trials, and eventually the breakthroughs that came from being immersed in both roles. These moments didn’t just change his outlook—they completely reshaped how he leads, listens, and helps others grow.

This conversation also explores the idea of insecure overachievers, the hidden potential in overlooked employees, and how Andreas has developed a framework for identifying and mentoring rising leaders. He shares the probing questions he uses to understand someone’s mindset and potential, and why curiosity, integrity, and self-awareness are the top traits he looks for. We talk about building emotional resilience, learning how to stay grounded in chaos, and the difference between leaders who give answers and those who ask the right questions.

Andreas also shares his vision for a mentorship matchmaking community, the tools he recommends for better self-awareness, and how personality assessments can strengthen relationships—both professionally and personally. He offers clear examples of how leaders can use curiosity and deep questioning to unlock people’s potential and build stronger organizations from the inside out.

This episode is a raw, thoughtful look at leadership through the lens of life’s hardest moments, and how turning inward can lead to real, lasting growth.

To learn more about Andreas Pettersson and his work, please visit:

Website: https://www.leadersadapt.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andreastheceo/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreaspettersson1/

0:00 Facing Mortality: A Unique Conversation
6:05 Life's Fragility and Maximizing Moments
10:21 "Leadership Begins with Self-Awareness"
11:27 Early Life Challenges Transform Perspective
16:51 Parental Denial of Child's Issues
20:04 Community Support Builds Resilience
22:41 Developing Supportive Parenting Strategies
27:44 Integrity and Curiosity in Organizations
30:39 "Unlocking Potential Through Curiosity"
31:50 Collecting Questions & Personality Assessments
38:08 AI Matchmaking for Financial Advisers
41:01 Kolbe: Instinct vs. Personality
45:13 "Effective Walking Meeting Strategy"
47:00 Adapting to Phone Meeting Challenges
49:18 "Life Is Long: Embrace Positivity"

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