Founder & CEO
 at 
Ventura Labs
   

What personal habit or behavior helped you accelerate your personal growth?

Embracing the principles of "carpe diem" driven by the perception that time is finite. This mindset encourages me to seize every moment, view challenges from different perspectives, and pursue the bigger goals with determination. By aligning my actions with my core values, I ensure that my efforts are meaningful and impactful, fostering continuous personal and professional development.

What book do you recommend the most?

"The Hard Thing About Hard Things: Building a Business When There Are No Easy Answers" by Ben Horowitz is a revelation, highlighting the excitement of starting a business and, in contrast, how hard it is to keep it running. Reading it made me realize that I could have managed many situations more effectively if I had discovered this book years earlier.

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

It centers on trust and candor, effective communication, regular feedback routines, and assembling A-players who motivate each other. Trust and honesty create a supportive environment where everyone feels safe to share and collaborate. Clear communication and consistent feedback ensure alignment and continuous improvement, while having A-players who inspire and challenge each other drives the team to achieve excellence.

What motivated you to become an entrepreneur / leader?

I love exploring new opportunities and the freedom to innovate without constraints. The autonomy to choose the people I work with, and witness their growth, is incredibly rewarding. This journey allows me to continuously learn, build, and see the people around me thrive, which is deeply fulfilling.

We’re building the largest library of insights and wisdom by and for founders and entrepreneurs.

Once a month we'll send you the latest interviews straight to your inbox. No fluff, just value. For free.

Here’s More, From Other Founders Around the World

What do you wish you had known 10 years ago?

I always thought that my life can be balanced between personal, business, health, family, finances and love. In that sense how much energy I put in and get back. But with the years, I learned that ​​life is imbalanced by nature. It's still a goal for me and I believe if all parts are some kind of balanced, this speaks of a highly valuable life, but accepting that there will always be a certain imbalance, helped me a lot.

  
from
 
Henrik
 
Roth
Co-CEO & Founder
 at 
neuroflash

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