Can a single moment in public space change how millions of people feel? Outdoor strategist Michel Robles reveals how brands build emotional connection, cultural relevance and lasting impact through public space, large scale murals and unforgettable real world experiences.

Michel Robles is a marketing leader working at the intersection of culture, creativity and public space. With over 10 years of experience across agencies, global brands and media, he now helps companies create campaigns that don’t just generate attention but become part of the city itself. Through Nordic Murals, Splash Media and international partnerships, he has helped some of the region’s most influential brands create landmark campaigns that shape how people experience their environment.

He explains:

• Why digital reach alone will never create real brand loyalty
• How physical experiences build emotional connection faster than online ads
• The psychology behind moments people remember for the rest of their lives
• Why the strongest brands earn cultural presence instead of buying attention
• How growing up between two worlds shaped his vision and creative path

Timestamps

• 00:00 Intro
• 01:02 “I Create Brand Emotions in Public Places”
• 01:54 How Growing Up Between Two Worlds Shaped My Perspective
• 03:25 What Husby Taught Me About Opportunity and Identity
• 06:02 The Hidden Skill You Learn When You Don’t Belong in One World
• 08:49 Code Switching: The Survival Skill No One Talks About
• 10:56 Why I Quit Law School After Just Two Weeks
• 11:48 The Decision That Changed My Entire Career Path
• 13:18 How Traveling the World Changed My Ambition Forever
• 14:52 The Billboard Moment That Changed My Life
• 16:36 What Most People Don’t Understand About Equity and Ownership
• 17:15 What Privilege Really Means and Why It Matters
• 19:15 Why Most Marketing Is Forgotten Instantly
• 20:47 How Great Brands Earn Cultural Status Not Just Attention
• 23:17 Why Physical Experiences Are More Powerful Than Digital Ads
• 25:13 The Hidden Role of Artists Behind Iconic Campaigns
• 28:38 Why Rejection Is a Daily Part of Building Something Great
• 30:34 Why I Choose to Do Fewer Campaigns and Why They Matter More
• 30:58 The PlayStation Campaign That Created Lifelong Memories
• 32:16 How One Public Campaign Changed a Kid’s Life Forever
• 33:35 Why Emotional Impact Matters More Than Reach
• 35:02 Why the Best Art Is Temporary
• 36:02 What Artists Understand That Most Businesses Don’t
• 37:03 What I Learned After Interviewing Dozens of Founders
• 39:04 Why Entrepreneurship Isn’t the Only Path to Success
• 41:04 Why Knowing When to Quit Is a Superpower
• 43:39 The Advice I Wish I Could Give My Younger Self
• 45:23 How Fatherhood Changed My Definition of Success
• 46:05 The Hardest Lesson Every Founder Learns Too Late
• 47:53 Final Thoughts

Connect with Michel:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/michel-robles-18299b91/
https://www.nordicmurals.com/

Subscribe for more content here:
https://www.youtube.com/@Tavasolian

Connect with Sara Tavasolian on social media:
https://www.instagram.com/saratavasolian/
https://linkedin.com/in/sara-tavasolian/

Startup boards explained: Why most founders get governance wrong — and how great board work actually scales companies.

In this episode, Sara Almgren, co-founder of Deb (Diverse Executive Boards), breaks down how corporate governance really works in Sweden — and why many startups build a board of directors too early. Founders often create unnecessary complexity, blurred roles, and decision-making friction without realizing it.

Drawing on her experience recruiting boards, training future board members, and building Deb into a leading board education platform, Sara shares a clear and practical guide to effective board work — from early-stage advisory boards to fully structured governance.

In this conversation, we cover:

• ◆ When a startup actually needs a board of directors — and when it doesn’t
• ◆ Advisory board vs statutory board: key differences founders must understand
• ◆ The “three hats” governance problem in founder-led companies
• ◆ Why strong boards focus 80% on strategy and 20% on control
• ◆ How to design your first board intentionally
• ◆ The role of an independent chair in scaling companies
• ◆ AI in the boardroom: how technology is reshaping oversight and strategy
• ◆ Diversity and representation in Swedish boardrooms
• ◆ Why CEO–chair transparency is critical for growth

If you're a founder, CEO, operator, investor, or aspiring board member, this episode offers practical insights into startup governance, board structure, and how high-performing boards actually create long-term company value.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Intro
07:14 How Deb was founded
13:15 When founders should think about a board
14:06 Starting with an advisory board
15:02 Advisory board vs board of directors explained
16:10 The 80/20 strategy principle for boards
17:06 Designing your first board
17:48 Why an independent chair matters
20:22 Common founder board mistakes
21:10 The “three hats” governance problem
24:56 Defining roles: board vs management
28:01 AI and the future of board work
32:00 How CEOs should prepare for board meetings
33:13 CEO–chair transparency in practice
34:47 Burnout as a governance risk
35:47 What founders should expect from their board
38:01 Using advisors in early-stage companies
42:52 How to become a board member in Sweden
46:40 Swedish vs US governance models
58:40 Why board work is actually rewarding

Links

Sara Almgren on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sara-almgren-90068290/
Deb: https://diverseexecutiveboards.com/

What happens when your generosity runs into a broken system?

We talk a lot about donating...giving back and doing good. But most of us don't really know where our money goes, how it moves, or what actually changes because of it.

Behind every donation is a whole world of nonprofits, governments, technology, trust and human behavior.

And a lot of that world is complex, outdated and hard to see from the outside.

Old tools, fragmented systems and shaky funding quietly shape how help reaches people who need it most.

My guest today is someone I've known for several years. We worked together in Stockholm, and I've watched his path move deeper into a space many founders would probably avoid.

Philip Börjesson is the CEO and co-founder of Samfora, where he's building what he describes as an operating system for nonprofit organizations.

His work sits at the intersection of data, donor psychology and social impact. basically fixing the complicated plumbing behind charities and donations.

Philip didn’t take a straight route to get here.

He grew up in Stockholm, studied literature and philosophy, worked for the Red Cross in Copenhagen, spent time in the Alps and later trained as a mechanical engineer with a masters in innovation and product realization.

Along the way, he built things, failed, pivoted and learned firsthand how nonprofits actually work from the inside.

In this episode we talked about:

→ why nonprofits often struggle with outdated technology
→ how government funding cuts are changing the sector
→ why trust between donors and charities is so fragile
→ how behavior and social norms shape generosity
→ what it really means to build slowly

If you've ever wondered how real change happens inside nonprofits, this conversation will give you a clear window into that world.

Organisations
* Samfora: ⁠samfora.org
* Red Cross: ⁠icrc.org⁠
* WaterAid: ⁠wateraid.org⁠
* World Food Programme: ⁠wfp.org⁠
* UNICEF: ⁠unicef.org⁠
* Founders Pledge: ⁠founderspledge.com⁠
* Giving What We Can: ⁠givingwhatwecan.org⁠

Tools
* Salesforce
* HubSpot
* Microsoft Dynamics

Books
* The Passion According to G.H. — Clarice Lispector
* The Melancholy of Resistance — László Krasznahorkai
* Gravity’s Rainbow — Thomas Pynchon
* Ulysses — James Joyce
* Of Mice and Men — John Steinbeck
* Bird by Bird — Anne Lamott
* The Brain That Changes Itself — Norman Doidge
* Scripts People Live — Claude Steiner