#114 Jeanelle Teves: Unshakeable Self-Confidence

We're joined by Jeanelle Teves, Chief Commercial Officer of North America at Bugaboo, the premium Dutch stroller company known for its innovative design and engineering excellence.

Jeanelle's career journey is a masterclass in turning uncertainty into opportunity—from answering phones at her parents' dental practice at age nine to scaling global brands at Nike across Europe and New York, and now leading growth for one of the world's most recognizable parenting brands. As a first-generation Filipino American who lived in the Netherlands for nearly a decade before becoming a new mother herself, she brings a unique perspective on building careers, leading teams, and creating products that truly solve problems for parents worldwide. 

In this conversation, you'll learn:

-The "Why Not You?" mindset that her immigrant parents instilled and how it shaped every major career decision

-Her 5 AM routine and "3-3-3 exercise" for starting each day with intention and gratitude -Why being "consistently good beats being occasionally great" and how small, compound actions build extraordinary careers

-The art of "praising in public and criticizing in private" to build psychological safety and high-performing teams

-How she identified the perfect career opportunity at the intersection of personal experience and professional growth

-Bugaboo's obsessive approach to solving real parental problems and why their durability standards are seven times higher than industry minimums

-The power of treating your network like a bank account and making relationship deposits before you need to make withdrawals

Whether you're early in your career or leading teams of your own, Jeanelle's insights on communication, consistency, and finding green shoots of optimism even in challenging times will change how you think about building both professional success and personal resilience.

Time-Stamped Show Notes

[00:00 - 02:30] Introduction & Early Life

• Host introduction and guest background

• Growing up in an entrepreneurial Filipino American family in Sacramento

• Parents building a dental practice from scratch as immigrants

• First job at age 9: answering phones in the family business

[02:30 - 07:15] The Foundation: "Why Not You?" Philosophy

• How immigrant parents instilled an unshakeable belief in possibility

• Learning that "the world will tell you so many reasons you can't do it"

• Watching parents design a completely new life in America

• The power of family as your "first team"

[07:15 - 12:45] Early Career Lessons: Communication & Confidence

• Overcoming anxiety about answering phones as a child

• "If you are confident, the other person won't doubt you"

• Learning to ask: "What is the problem you're looking to solve?"

• How childhood experiences shaped boardroom confidence today

[12:45 - 19:30] The International Journey: Education as Adventure

• Childhood dream of traveling and getting on airplanes

• Buying a one-way ticket to Barcelona for graduate school

• Meeting future husband and moving to Amsterdam

• Landing at Nike European headquarters

[19:30 - 26:00] Nike Years: Building Global Brand Experience

• Nearly a decade at Nike across Europe and New York

• Traveling all around Europe for work, "living childhood dreams"

• Becoming General Manager of Nike Women's in New York

• Learning to focus on "the athlete" and customer-centric thinking

[26:00 - 33:15] The Bugaboo Opportunity: Perfect Timing

• Why she was happy at Nike but open to change

• "Perfect intersection" of new motherhood and professional opportunity

• Being the target customer: "I had a newborn son at home"

• Leveraging 10 years of Netherlands experience where "Bugaboo is a household name"

[33:15 - 39:45] Understanding Bugaboo: More Than Celebrity Appeal

• The misconception about being just a "celebrity brand"

• "It drives like butter" - focus on quality and precision engineering

• Design standards "as if sending a rocket into space"

• Durability tests 7x higher than industry standards

• 25-year history as category creator founded by Max as college project

[39:45 - 46:30] Product Innovation: The Bugaboo Kangaroo Story

• First stroller designed specifically for American parents

• Solving the "second child" dilemma with modular design

• "Push it like a minivan down the streets of New York"

• Filling missing piece in product puzzle for North American market

[46:30 - 52:00] Leadership Philosophy: Psychological Safety & Team Building

• Best leadership advice: "Praise in public and criticize in private"

• "Your whispers become shouts" as a leader

• Managers impact mental health more than spouses or friends

• Creating psychological safety for innovative thinking

• "I am only one brain, but there are several other brains around the room"

[52:00 - 58:15] Daily Excellence: The 5 AM Routine

• Morning routine starting at 5 AM

• The "3-3-3 exercise": 3 wins, 3 gratitudes, 3 daily priorities

• Sleeping with notebook next to bed

• "Filling your cup" as executive responsibility

• Focus on "green shoots" - finding positive signals in challenges

[58:15 - 64:30] Learning from Failures: The Communication Thread

• Common denominator of career setbacks: miscommunication

• "Foundation of all my wins" - clear, concise communication

• "Feedback is a gift - give it and move on"

• Learning from both great and terrible managers

[64:30 - 69:45] The Gratitude Practice That Changes Everything

• Running "gratitude note" on phone since 2020

• Using it during tough times: "I have the wind at my back"

• "Impossible to have a bad mood if you feel grateful"

• Building abundance mindset through systematic gratitude

[69:45 - 75:00] Customer Impact: More Than Just a Stroller

• Stories from dinner parties: "I was a Bugaboo mom"

• Products lasting through multiple children and generations

• Emotional attachment: "It's where they take their naps, their grocery wagon"

• Personal experience giving away own son's stroller recently

[75:00 - 80:15] Policy Changes: Empowering Parents Beyond Products

• Extending maternity leave to 16 weeks

• Flexible return-to-work plans (part-time pay, full-time benefits)

• CEO Adrian Theory's commitment to "doing the right thing"

• Sustainability efforts that may hurt profitability but serve long-term mission

[80:15 - 85:30] Career Advice: Consistency Over Brilliance

• "Don't underestimate the power of relationships and mentors"

• Network as bank account: "constantly putting in deposits"

• "Be consistently good" vs. "occasionally great"

• "Your boss asks for it Friday? Deliver it Thursday afternoon"

• Compound 1% gains from "Atomic Habits" philosophy

[85:30 - 89:00] Recommended Reading & Final Thoughts

• "Atomic Habits" by James Clear

• "Career Forward" by Grace Puma and Christiana Shi

• "Simple Act of Gratitude" (host recommendation)

• Why small things matter and compound over time

[89:00 - 90:00] Closing & Contact Information

• How to connect with Jeanelle and Bugaboo

• Final thoughts on "Why Not You?" mindset

• Host wrap-up and episode conclusion

Key Quotes

• "Why not you? The world will tell you so many reasons you can't do it, but why not you?"

• "Your whispers become shouts when you're a leader"

• "Be consistently good - that will take you much farther than being occasionally great"

• "Feedback is a gift - give it and move on"

• "I am only one brain, but there are several other brains around the room"

Resources Mentioned

• Books: "Atomic Habits" by James Clear, "Career Forward" by Grace Puma and Christiana Shi

• Company: Bugaboo strollers and baby products

• Concepts: 3-3-3 morning exercise, psychological safety, compound 1% gains

Connect with Jeanelle Teves

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