#89: Gerald Coniel – The Adventurer and Chocolate Maker

10X Finland is back after a three-month hiatus due to the presidential election. And for a change, in English. From December to February, I conducted fourteen podcast episodes with presidential candidates for Mediatalo Keskisuomalainen. These podcasts, produced by Ville Paija, can be found online by searching for "Haluat siis presidentiksi." My two main takeaways from the interviews were how educational it was to set aside my personal politics and prejudices and approach each candidate with curiosity and an eagerness to understand. The other takeaway was that, when conducting research for the podcasts, I stared into the abyss that is Finland's economic performance. All I can say is that it takes an insane amount of entrepreneurial drive to lift this nation back to its feet. With this in mind, I took my microphones and visited one of my favorite individuals and an incredible entrepreneur, Gerald Coniel, who operates a chocolate factory in Billnäs, Raasepori. In this episode, we fast-forward through his life in France, Finland, and South Africa, covering his adventurous bike rides across the African continent, his experiences renovating castles in France, and finally, his journey to mastering the art of fine chocolate making in just two years. We discuss all aspects of building a business, pursuing what you love, and transforming it into a story that people are eager to buy into. Please enjoy the passion, drive, and style of Gerald Coniel.