CTO & Co-Founder
 at 
AccessOwl
   

What quote or saying has stuck with you?

"Love the problem, not the solution." - Too often, we become enamored with our ideas and solutions, losing sight of the user's problem. Always return to the user - engage, understand, and address their pain points.

What's your secret sauce for building a great team?

Empower people with purpose and the right amount of freedom to pursue a meaningful mission. Support them on their way. Everything else is a bonus. Why? Smart individuals thrive on challenges and aspire to contribute to something greater than themselves. The more responsibility they hold, the more dedicated they become.

What should leaders understand about their own role and responsibility?

Trust is foundational. Onboard the right people, have trust in their skills to do the right things. Align them with the mission & support them on their journey. As you lead more people, operational task is not your job anymore. Learn to delegate early.

What motivates you to work as a leader / entrepreneur?

I love solving problems. Seeing people use my solutions, saving significant time with a sparkle in their eyes, is my life's elixir.

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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.

  
from
 
Peter
 
Sänger
CEO + Co-Founder
 at 
Green City Solutions GmbH

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.

  
from
 
Florian
 
Dostert
Co-Founder & CEO
 at 
Syntinels

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.

  
from
 
Robin
 
Römer
CEO
 at 
Pelicad

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.

  
from
 
Tobias
 
Forster
Founder / CEO
 at 
GOstralia!-GOmerica!