What's your secret sauce for building a great team?
A great vision – for a really pressing problem of humanity. This appeals to great people and keeps them.
What’s your favorite ritual or meeting in your team?
Our bi-weekly 1 on 1’s – because that is deep talk and really connects us.
What motivates you to work as a leader / entrepreneur?
The experience that "Just do it." really gets me ahead - whatever I start doing teaches me in this area how I can change the world and inspires others to join. And knowing that is also a responsibility.
When times are tough, who or what is an anchor for you?
Always knowing what is most important to me: building a social enterprise is pure purpose and passion. But I feel the deepest feelings when I am simply allowed to be with the people I love.
What quote or saying has stuck with you?
Forgiveness, gratitude and giving make you happy. Because I experience it over and over again.
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Here’s More, From Other Founders Around the World
What should leaders understand about their own role and responsibility?
Your own time and energy is the most precious resource you have. Use it wisely, and learn what gives you energy, and what saps you. In the early years of building something, you need to throw a huge amount of time at it - and do many things you perhaps don’t like doing. But as you scale, it’s vital to take a step back and build a business that can grow rapidly beyond the time you put into it.
What shift in perspective has allowed you to see things differently?
It may sound simple, but realizing and truly understanding that we are all different and driven by different things has made a significant impact on me. This insight has changed the way I approach relationships and leadership.
What’s a guiding principle that informs the way you build and run your business?
One of our core values at Cozero is radical candor. It is the idea that the willingness to repeatedly enter uncomfortable situations to speak the truth benefits everyone in the long run. We believe that in order to grow and improve as an organization, we need to create an environment where our team is not afraid to challenge processes and decisions. Making this a core value guides us in difficult situations when it’s not clear which road to take.
What's a mistake that you're happy you've made?
I'm happy I chose a highly regulated market, even though it was tough. It taught me a lot about patience, attention to detail, and the importance of doing things right. These lessons have made me better at what I do.