From leading Unilever’s ice cream brands across Latin America to leading with calm and purpose in the IMD MBA, this is the story of marketer, musician, and father of twin daughters, Rodrigo Sarzosa.
In this episode, John and Konsti sit down with Rod to explore what it means to stay true to yourself while serving others, to balance “caring and daring,” and to find humour and lightness even in 12-hour power outages. They discuss the lessons of fatherhood, the purpose of brands, the beauty of Hermann Hesse’s writing, and why good leadership sometimes means being the third to speak.
Key Takeaways and Highlights
Be True and Be Kind: Rod describes his life philosophy simply: “Be true to yourself and be kind to others.” That means not postponing dreams, following passions like music and photography, and remembering that the real purpose of leadership is service.
The Calm Leader:
In high-pressure settings, Rod’s leadership is defined by humour and composure. “Stressed spelled backwards is ‘desserts,’” he laughs. “Whenever you feel stressed, just get an ice cream.” His greatest impact comes from empathy, calmness, and creating confidence in others.Tough Love: Rod believes growth requires honesty wrapped in compassion. “You have to teach your kids to do dangerous things carefully,” he says. The same principle applies to feedback and leadership: challenge people, but from a place of care.
Speak Third: His favourite feedback he received this year: “Try to be the third person to speak.” Not the first to rush into action, nor the last to fade away, but the thoughtful voice that connects others’ ideas.
Brands, Brains, and Bees: A childhood story about a bee sting and his mother’s comforting ice cream shaped his love for brands. For Rod, the best brands (and the best people) create emotional memory. “Brands compete for real estate in your brain,” he says, “but the great ones live in your heart.”
Music and Meaning: To Rod, music is the “language of the soul.” He and the IMD band went on to win gold at the MBA Olympics, an experience he calls a masterclass in teamwork, humility, and joy.
What We Learned
Konsti: The best leaders don’t always go first - sometimes leadership means listening, connecting, and letting others shine.
John: Many of the achievements you achieve in life are thanks to other people who enabled you.
Rod: “You can’t separate career and character. Your career shapes your character, and your character shapes your career.”
