96. Hustle with Heart: Inside the Operational Mindset of Vaneli Martinov

In this unfiltered second half of their conversation, Dwayne Kerrigan and Vaneli Martinov dive deeper into the mindset, systems, and soul behind exceptional operations leadership.

Vaneli—EVP of Operations for the world-renowned Wellington International—opens up about what it really means to lead from the front lines: managing 500+ seasonal staff, navigating crisis in real-time, and mentoring a team while raising a family.

From hiring with heart to dealing with "energy vampires," from picking up trash alongside the CEO to gamifying motivation in a 16-week event sprint, this episode is a masterclass in human-centered leadership.

She doesn’t hold back on the pressures, pivots, and personal sacrifices that come with the job—but also shares the mindset shifts, values, and rituals that keep her grounded and inspired.

Timestamps:

00:00 – The true nature of operations: structure in chaos

01:30 – From intern to executive: building your network with humility

04:15 – Work ethic, boundaries & the generational shift in expectations

07:00 – AI, the future of education, and what’s changing fast

10:00 – Adapting to AI: how Vaneli's team is preparing

12:00 – Company counselor: when leadership means emotional availability

15:00 – Empowering your team instead of enabling dependency

17:30 – Spotting energy drainers and culture mismatches

18:30 – What it actually takes to get fired by Vanelli

20:00 – Why most problems are rooted in miscommunication, not incompetence

21:00 – Building better onboarding, systems, and structure

23:00 – Hiring 600+ people in 3 months: inside the chaos

24:30 – Culture, compensation & the shift from scrambling to stability

25:45 – How gamification, incentives & recognition drive retention

28:00 – When your CEO leads by example (and picks up trash)

30:00 – Leadership on the ground vs. from the tower

33:00 – What Saturday nights with 10,000 people look like

35:00 – Vanelli’s operational bumper sticker: Hustle, pivot, repeat

37:00 – Fear vs. courage in leadership

39:00 – How motherhood redefined her priorities and definition of fear

42:30 – Business as a gladiator sport—and a spiritual journey

44:00 – Why leadership reflection is crucial for sustainable growth

45:30 – How to get in touch with Vaneli

Key Takeaways & Resources:

1. Leadership Is Emotional Labor

Vaneli embraces the role of “company counselor,” knowing that guiding people through emotional and professional bottlenecks is part of her value—but she’s also learned to set boundaries to avoid burnout.

2. Hiring 500+ Staff? Culture Is the Glue

They’ve moved from scrambling to stability through better pay, returning managers, incentive programs, and weekly recognition rituals. Culture wins over resumes.

3. Operations = Chaos + Calm

You can plan all you want, but execution is where the real work begins. Flexibility and adaptability are key to thriving in operations.

4. Don’t Confuse Fear with Failure

Vaneli explores the difference between being fearless and being courageous. She still feels fear—but leads with action anyway.

5. Modern Leadership = On-the-Ground Leadership

Their CEO leads by example, works beside the crew, and gets real-time feedback from front-line staff. Leadership isn’t about distance—it’s about presence.

6. AI Is Coming for Admin—Not Empathy

While they’re just starting to adopt AI tools, Vaneli acknowledges its potential for operations—but believes people will always be at the core of execution.

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