Founders of the Future
Having an idea is NOT the first step of the entrepreneurial journey.
What does it take to be a Founder?
At the Innovation & Entrepreneurship day hosted by Akbank Youth Academy & Microfon, I had the pleasure of talking about a topic dear to my heart: FOUNDERS OF THE FUTURE. It was an engaged audience of 900+ attendees who asked thoughtful questions about the entrepreneurial journey.
Below are some of the key points I shared with these younglings, on the role of founders for our future and what awaits them on this entrepreneurial journey.
❤️ Founders play a critical role because they are shaping the way we live, work and socialize. They are building the organizations that will employ the majority of the people in the future. These organizations will not be just a place of work but a place where we all find meaning, belonging and a purpose for our passion and capabilities.
💪 It is essential for founders to embrace a purposeful, peaceful and energized approach as they build and scale their companies. Not only will this ensure sustainable growth but it is the only way to foster individual and organizational resilience so they can endure and thrive even in this ever-changing world.
🌎 Having an idea is not the first step of the entrepreneurial journey. Finding a problem is. Founders of the future should focus on identifying problems and global challenges and then leverage emerging technologies to solve these problems efficiently to benefit all of society.
👩🚀 The most important decision for founders of the future is who to go on this entrepreneurial journey with. Meet people and build relationships with those who share the same values, and perhaps different skills, people who care about the problems you care about and are ready to fail as they try to solve these problems. People you love! Build trust, honesty and psychological safety with these people so you have a solid foundation to try, fail and evolve together.
The entrepreneurial journey is not the easiest. It’s filled with uncertainties and transformative experiences. It is a great opportunity to have a positive impact in the world, grow and evolve personally and professionally. You also get to work on things you care about and have a lot of fun in the process—if you’re doing it right, and sharing it with the right people.
We support founders to build and lead their startups beyond the initial idea and product. Find out more about our work at BEYOND42.