This is the Leadership Journey series on the Choosing Leadership Podcast.
In this episode, Jonathan Brun—Founder and CEO of mnemonic—shares what it really takes to build a company that lasts.
Far from the glamorized startup hustle, Jonathan’s journey is a masterclass in patience, consistency, and values-driven leadership.
He opens up about competing with giants as a bootstrapped founder, navigating compliance in a changing world, and why true impact means thinking beyond profits.
Whether you’re scaling a business or leading a team, this conversation will challenge you to rethink your definition of success.
Tune in to discover why playing the long game might just be your greatest leadership advantage.
You can find Jonathan Brun at the below links
In the interview, Jonathan shares
- "Success isn’t always fast or flashy—sometimes, it’s about quietly showing up for years and playing the long game."
- "We didn’t start mnemonic with a grand plan for compliance—it grew out of curiosity, grit, and a willingness to learn."
- "Real growth comes from consistency. Like Arctic explorers, we set goals every two months and march forward, no matter the weather."
- "Being bootstrapped means being bold—we’ve built a business that competes with giants, one smart decision at a time."
- "Leadership isn’t about ego or titles—it’s about serving something bigger than yourself, even when no one’s watching."
- "I’m more inspired by Gandhi than billionaires. Building something meaningful matters more than building wealth."
- "AI may be the future, but values, process, and human insight will always be part of smart compliance."
- "We turned an old consulting database into a thriving B2B SaaS company. Not magic—just patience, mistakes, and iteration."
- "Business is a long game. If you want to create impact, build like you’ll be around for 50 years."
- "Compliance may sound boring—but done right, it saves lives, prevents disasters, and protects what matters."
