What's the biggest insight you learned recently?
You’ll get better results from leaning into strengths rather than shoring up weaknesses. This goes for your team. If someone isn’t great at something, stop trying to make them do it. Instead, figure out what they’re amazing at, and double down on that.
What motivated you to become an entrepreneur / leader?
I love learning by doing. Being an entrepreneur forces you to do things outside your comfort zone and grow. Being a leader means you need to be human and vulnerable to connect with team members and grow together.
What should leaders understand about their own role and responsibility?
You don’t need to know everything, but you do need to instill confidence and trust in your team. Be honest and follow through on your commitments. You set the tone for your organization, be thoughtful about it and consider the whole team when you say things and do things.
What do you wish you had known 10 years ago?
There’s no such thing as an overnight success. Most things of value take 5+ years to build and to generate value. Maybe 10+ years. Keep that in mind when you’re choosing your next endeavor or partner(s) to work with.
What personal habit or behavior helped you accelerate your personal growth?
Genuine curiosity. Following a thread based on your own curiosity will help you learn about any topic and build meaningful relationships with the people around you. Don’t be too busy to take the time to dive into a topic and feed your curiosity so you truly understand it (the 5-why’s is a great methodology for this).
What’s a guiding principle that informs the way you build and run your business?
Be generous, set high expectations. Make yourself available to your team, pay them as much as you (responsibly) can, and let them thrive. Provide the guardrails and set clear goals and expectations. But don’t burn people out; if you add more to their plate, then something else needs to come off.
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Here’s More, From Other Founders Around the World
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.
What motivated you to become an entrepreneur?
After graduating, I worked for an extremely well-paying automotive company. But I always had the feeling that there was more out there. So I quit and went into research with the aim of becoming a founder.
What should leaders understand about their own role and responsibility?
There are no overnight miracles, it's very hard work: both physically and emotionally. Requires resilience, grit, strategic approach and grind.