In the high-pressure world of executive leadership, performance, clarity, and presence are everything. Yet, behind the closed doors of boardrooms and business travel suites, many leaders silently wrestle with a growing disconnect—a nagging sense that something isn’t aligned. For some, that disconnection is tethered to alcohol use.

From Burnout to Breakthrough: Nick Jonsson Inspires Founders in Amsterdam with a New Model of Leadership

On July 8th, the Amsterdam Founders Club welcomed a powerful and timely message from international speaker and Holistic Leadership advocate, Nick Jonsson. In his transformative 50-minute workshop, titled “From Burnout to Breakthrough: 5 Founder Habits to Scale Without Losing Yourself,” Nick shared hard-earned lessons from the edge of burnout — and the five foundational habits that helped him rise stronger, more purpose-driven, and deeply connected.

Mental health isn’t just something leaders should think about—it’s something we need to take seriously, both for our work and our lives. I’ve been through burnout myself. I know what it feels like to hit that wall, even when everything looks fine on the outside.

In a world obsessed with output and "always-on" culture, burnout has become a silent epidemic among professionals—and especially among those at the top. Burnout quietly erodes creativity, energy, and leadership presence. But resilient, self-aware leaders outperform their peers—some dramatically.

Leadership, for me, wasn’t about titles or achievements—it’s been shaped by the toughest moments. From dealing with executive loneliness and burnout to grappling with addiction and alcoholism, each experience has challenged my resilience and redefined what authentic leadership truly means. Today, through my keynotes, I don’t share these stories to revisit the past—but to look to the future and highlight the route in front of you. 

Life’s greatest lessons often emerge from its toughest challenges. For me, the journey to becoming a keynote speaker has been shaped by personal struggles that transformed into powerful stories of resilience, connection, and growth. These experiences are the foundation of the messages I now share with audiences around the world, helping them navigate their own challenges with courage and determination.