What book do you recommend the most?
My most recommended book is "7.5 Lessons about the Brain" by Lisa Feldman Barrett. It’s the most important book I’ve read on psychology in the last decade, and uncovers, in a simple way, the neuroscience behind how our brain works and what we can do to make it work for us more often.
What podcast do you listen to?
I regularly listen to "Rethinking" by Adam Grant. The guests often have great insight into peak performance or high-level accomplishment, are thoughtful, and with Adam deliver science-backed insights.
What's your secret sauce for building a great team?
Too many people spend time on things like values to drive the team forward. The most important thing you can do to build a great team is set high expectations. Expectations drive behavior as well or better than goals and values.
What's a skill / attitude / perspective that we should pay more attention to in the workplace?
I think we should pay less attention to who’s loudest and more attention to who’s intentional. As cliche as that may sound, the number of smart leaders I’ve coached who still listen to the loudest person is astonishing - and it’s hurting their business and team morale.
What personal habit or behavior has shaped you as a leader / entrepreneur?
I’m a big believer that you can’t perform if you’re not well - and there’s data to back this up for leaders. Leaders who engage in recovery have higher performing teams. So for me, that means: exercising regularly, meditating often, reading, writing, and deliberately taking time off.
What motivates you to work as a leader / entrepreneur?
I’m a competitor. What motivates me is the chance to build the best team, organization, or business I can build, and the chance to be better than the last version of myself.
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Here’s More, From Other Founders Around the World
What's the biggest insight you learned in recent years?
It’s always a good idea to be connected to your product – even if you have to deal with high-level topics, always remember the things you offer.
What personal habit helped you accelerate your personal growth?
In one of the hardest times of my life so far, I started journaling for 1-2h on Sundays. Not digital, but with paper and pen. Always answering the same questions related to self, social life and work. This brutally honest and regular reflection once a week helped me identify problems early and iterate fast.
When times are tough, who or what is an anchor for you?
My co-founders are my anchor in work-related topics. Having an environment where failure is welcomed with a helping hand and where weakness is valued as openness, once you are down those people will drag you up.
What's a mistake that you're happy you've made?
When I was 16 (way before the internet) I founded a travel-partner agency to connect people from different backgrounds seeking travel companions. After a year, I had to close the agency due to a lack of customers and the confusion some callers had regarding the nature of the “service.” Despite this setback, I gained invaluable insights into sales, communication and people’s needs, solidifying my desire to run a business that helps people.