What's your secret sauce for building a great team?
Serves two: 10ml trust, 5ml respect, 20ml clear communication & 20ml SMART goals.
All of that combined with a clear vision and fair bit of gut feeling. Add constructive feedback if it doesn’t work the first time.
What's a skill that we should pay more attention to in the workplace?
Emotional Intelligence is one of the most crucial skills that deserves more attention in the workplace. It encompasses the ability to recognize, understand, and manage our own emotions as well as the emotions of others.
What do you wish you had known 10 years ago?
I totally enjoyed the first time on vacation without getting called all the time, because I handed over responsibilities to my team. Also, my son taught me a lot in terms of seeing things more easy and handling work-life balance.
What shift in mindset has allowed you to see things differently?
To clearly see that I can’t do everything on my own and have to empower others to achieve more.
What book do you recommend the most?
"Rules For a Knight" by Ethan Hawke. I guess because it's so short and yet full of powerful quotes packed into a lovely, short family story.
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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.
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.
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.