In this revealing episode of the Quantum Leadership Podcast, Dr. Stephen Sideroff welcomes Stephan Ouaknine, Founder and Managing Partner of Inerjys, for a candid conversation about entrepreneurial ego, climate innovation, resilience, breathwork, and the inner evolution required to lead through a major setback.
After three successful technology exits, Stephan set out to build a billion-dollar climate fund. He leased a 20,000-square-foot office, hired 25 people, and poured millions into the platform before investors had committed. The painful irony was impossible to ignore: he had abandoned the same lean, revenue-focused advice he gave other entrepreneurs. When the vision struggled to gain traction, Stephan says the experience was emotionally difficult because he “only knew winning.”
Rather than abandon the mission, he separated the destination from the flawed approach. Stephan restructured the fund into smaller, investment-specific vehicles, shifted his focus toward entrepreneurs and family offices, and began examining the role ego had played in his decisions. He also shares how breathwork became a meaningful personal practice during a period of anxiety and eventually led him to become a certified facilitator. The conversation closes with his case for tenacious but playful cultures, leadership that helps others shine, and keeping ego on the bus without allowing it to drive.
Topics covered:
- How three successful exits can create an entrepreneurial blind spot
- What went wrong with Stephan’s billion-dollar fund launch
- Why a failed approach does not always mean the destination is wrong
- How Stephan used breathwork and self-reflection during a difficult reset
- Why startup cultures need tenacity without burnout
Learn more about Stephan Ouaknine here: Inerjys and LinkedIn
