What do you do to maintain balance in your life?
I don't separate my life into distinct categories like job, personal life, hobbies, or family. I see my life as a whole and focus on the aspects I truly want to pursue in various contexts. Continuously challenging myself to reflect on my inner balance allows me to make ongoing adjustments. This is a continuous process that will never be complete.
What do you wish you had known 10 years ago?
Relax and follow my own path without worrying too much about others. During my first job as a business consultant at Bain & Company, I constantly questioned everything. I became obsessed with whether I would get promoted a few months early or if my reviews were perfect. None of those thoughts benefited me in the long run. Focusing on what I believed in helped me more in achieving my goals. Understanding this earlier would have greatly benefited me during my early years.
What’s an important belief / a guiding principle that informs the way you build and run your business?
When all team members share a common vision, communicate effectively, handle setbacks constructively, and treat each other with respect, the team can achieve extraordinary results. This collective harmony not only fosters a deep sense of personal happiness but also leads to business success.
What's your secret sauce for building a great team?
I only want to work with team members who are proactive, enthusiastic about their job and tasks, and genuinely want to collaborate. Trust, commitment, and mutual conviction in the working relationship between employer and employee is the secret sauce for a great team. If either the employer or employee feels they are not in the right place in their life, I believe it is best to part ways.
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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.