Post on 07-May-2015
description
Global Leader Camp
We want to build a company that matters, that have a meaningful impact on the world
We want to democratize business
Create transparency, growth and new jobs
We want to be able to IPO that company in 3 years
Here is what we need to
§ The world's largest b2b network measured in active users
§ Realize USD XXXm in revenue in 2016
§ Build the world’s largest platform for networked business apps
It’s not really possible
Here is where we were three years ago
Today we are a 150 people, with offices in San Francisco, Copenhagen, London, Suzhou and
Paris with more than $100m in funding and double digit revenues and plenty of Fortune
500 Customers
That’s not really possible either
Leadership in a startup is the job of making the impossible reality
What do that mean in Tradeshift?
Leadership is shaped by your personal values, courage to act on your beliefs and
your ability to execute
A leaders ability to execute depends on the personal beliefs, the courage to act and the ability to execute of anyone who follows him
What leadership feels like in a startup
You
My personal beliefs
Start-ups are factories of make-believe
We only fly because everyone closes their eyes and believe we can
Flying requires bold and visionary ambition
Nobody want to take a leap on faith on something that is not meaningful
Vision without execution is just hallucination (it feels good, but don’t do shit)
The difference between being a liar or a visionary is
razor thin, execution is the difference
Lead from the front
Be the first to shovel shit, and carry your weight
Fight for your vision, always
Quitting is for pussies
Challenge conventional wisdom
If most people agree, they are probably wrong – selection bias is deadly
Be the the first to change direction when needed
The past is only context, not direction (history don’t repeat itself)
Radical Trust
Trust everyone, absolutely and if they fuck-up, help them and keep trusting them
Vulnerability is a strength not a weakness
I’m an insecure overachiever
Empathy
Don’t be an asshole
This is what I believe, but what I believe won’t matter unless those who lead and follow with
me don’t share the vision, the beliefs and have the courage to act
At the end of the day it will not be about what I believe or do, it will be about what we believe
and do
As a Tradeshift Global Leader I expect you to be out there every day, leading from the front, using your own personal beliefs and courage
to create the results we all need.
Making the impossible reality