Together with ScaleNL and Erasmus Enterprise, we hosted an event that brought together a diverse group of like-minded individuals from various sectors, including students, start-up founders, investors, and accelerators. The aim was to gain insights from our keynote speaker, Ryan Patel, whose experiences range from being a thought leader contributing to CNN, BBC, and The New York Times to leading international operations for companies like Pinkberry.
During the event, we delved deep into topics such as global leadership and international expansion. Moderated by Graduate Entrepreneur Julia Knoeff, they discussed strategies on how to enhance your brand and business.
A standout takeaway from the session was the emphasis on passion, a driving force highlighted by Ryan Patel. He explained that passion is one of the key values successful entrepreneurs share at the start of their entrepreneurial careers and still maintain when they are big and successful. Building on the concept of value, Ryan emphasized the importance of being around like-minded people, underscoring that aligning values is key to building a strong brand.
We also discussed leadership skills. According to Ryan, Leadership does goes beyond classrooms; it thrives in hands-on experiences, crafting a robust journey of growth and wisdom. Even for technical individuals, leadership is an essential skill, particularly when aiming to elevate your startup to the next level.
Ultimately, the discussion circled back to the pivotal role of the individual, "you." It's not only about what you do or what your product is but who you are. The mantra that resonated throughout the entire session was: 'What will prepare you for success starts with who; it starts with you.'