Mladen Rangelov is a product leader and team builder at Shopify, and he self-describes as a life-learner who’s energized by building environments in which teams can thrive. Born in what was then Yugoslavia, and growing up in the middle of a war—Mladen holds a unique perspective on making the most of being alive and leaning into vulnerable and tough conversations, from a place of empathy and positive intent. Throughout this conversation we discuss prioritizing self-care in a leadership role, creating an environment for healthy feedback and debate, reframing deadlines, discerning when to be assertive and when to allow, holding non-judgmental space for differing motivations, leadership as unlocking the potential in others, and care as mutual growth. In the tech space where burnout and turnover rates have been high, Mladen is forging a thoughtful path toward thriving and longevity. Whatever line of work you’re in, there’s a lot here that can be applied to all of life—so we’re thrilled to share this conversation with you.