When first setting up a company, I believe that it is the entrepreneur’s responsibility to hire the best people for their business. All too often, however, mistakes are made during the hiring process, proving that talent-spotting is in itself a talent that can be difficult to master.
In this special post, we interviewed EO Switzerland – Zurich member David Vidal about joining the Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO) and the value of his membership.
What do you do for funwhen you’re not working on your business? “When I’m not running my business, I love spending time with my friends. I also enjoy cooking, playing golf and participating in activities that let me talk!”
Seth Goldman, the CEO of Honest Tea, recently spoke with EO at the Global Student Entrepreneur Awards (GSEA) Global Finals in Washington, D.C. As an entrepreneur, Seth has many passions, but it was his pursuit to see a more honest business environment that fueled the creation of Honest Tea, a bottled organic tea company. Quality products, sustainability, trust and honesty are just some of the company’s objectives to its ever-growing customer base that includes U.S. President Barack Obama. EO sat down with Seth to learn more about why he chose honesty to drive his company.
Natalia Matveeva, an EO Russia member, is the head of business development for Realore Studios. A passionate EO member, Natalia has been developing, publishing and distributing casual and mobile games since 2002. Her company has published more than 60 titles on numerous portals, including Yahoo! Games and AOL.
1. Do you have a nickname?
“My nickname is ‘Dolerona.’ I came up with it myself, and it stuck. It’s named after a French island: Ile D’Oleron.”
2. How would you describe Russia’s business landscape?
“Opportunistic. Fun. Risky. You wake up in the morning and don’t know what new administrative, bureaucratic or legal obstacle/opportunity the Russian government has come up with this time.”
In this special post, we interview EO Nigeria member Dele Agekameh, CEO of Quicklink International Network. Dele talks about the business landscape in his home country, the benefits of entrepreneurship and what he does in his free time.
When did you know you wanted to be an entrepreneur? DA: I’ve always been engaged in some form of ‘buying and selling,’ especially in my early years. In middle school, I started designing and producing seasonal greeting cards for sale— that was rare among my peers at the time. This was the starting point for me.
What do you do for fun when you’re not running a business? DA: I like to engage in intellectual discussions, importing and exporting ideas. I also play lawn tennis, badminton and go clubbing to let off steam.
When it comes to branding, no one understands the magic of marketing quite like Ido Leffler, co-founder and “chief carrot lover” of Yes To, Inc., a health and beauty company. In just four years, Ido and his team built their business into one of the leading natural beauty brands in the world, securing their foothold in the competitive industry. Octane sat down with Ido to talk about tenacious marketing, how to build your brand and the secret to great customer service.
When running your own business starts to feel like more than a full-time job, one of the first things to take a hit is sleep. While sacrificing a good night’s rest might seem to be par for the course for entrepreneurs, too little shuteye could soon hurt your business.
You may believe you can function on less sleep than you need, catch up on the weekends or compensate by drinking more coffee. If only it was so simple. Here are five common beliefs about sleep and why they aren’t really so:
A special interview with EO Calgary’s Zahra Al-harazi, founder of Foundry Communications
To be successful in business, you need to stand out. That best practice is especially true when it comes to entrepreneurship. No one understands the power of uniqueness more than Zahra Al-harazi, an EO Calgary member who’s making her voice heard in business and beyond.
In many ways, Zahra’s entrepreneurial journey is like most others— it’s filled with a thousand and one stories, memories and lessons learned that have helped shape her into one of today’s most innovative entrepreneurs. And yet it’s remarkably different, a journey colored by challenges and cultural experiences: She’s a Yemeni woman born in Uganda. She was raised in places that tourists rarely visit. She grew up during two civil wars. She married at age 17. She had three children by age 25, and later immigrated to Canada, a land as foreign as she was. From being a stay-at-home mom with no degree or career to finding an entrepreneurial spirit she never knew she had, Zahra is a perfect example of what can be achieved when passion meets purpose.
In this special interview, Octane sat down with Zahra to talk about finding her entrepreneurial voice, the magic of marketing and defining her future.
By Lisa Nirell, a strategic growth and marketing expert, and the Chief Energy Officer of EnergizeGrowth®.
“Here, have an oatmeal cookie.”
That is the disarming way in which my first interview with Stephen Covey began in 2004. In light of Dr. Covey’s passing this week, his lessons are more alive than they have ever been. I’m certain that my experiences with Covey were consistent with many others. This is my attempt to summarize those life lessons.
A lot can happen in 12 years. Just ask EO Atlanta member Sara Blakely, who with US$5,000 in life savings and an innovative idea, changed the face of business and the lives of women everywhere.
Recently recognized by Forbesas the youngest female self-made billionaire in the world—she was also listed in Time’s “100 Most Influential People in the World” list in April 2012—the inventor of revolutionary shapewear, SPANX, has given new meaning to EO’s core value, “Make a Mark.”
In this special interview, Sara sits down with Octane to talk about starting a business from scratch, the magic of marketing and the importance of trusting your gut.