Growing For It!

Episode 15 of Growing For It with Carsten Vestermark

*Full disclosure: Carsten is one of the main sponsors of the podcast through his business Vestermark Consult*

Carsten Vestermark discusses his career journey, emphasizing the importance of accepting responsibility and adapting to new roles. He has conducted around 1500 interviews and hired over 100 people, highlighting the significance of identifying "A players" through their past experiences and reflective abilities. Vestermark shared insights on handling firings, stressing the need for preparation, clear communication, and managing emotions. He also underscored the value of gratitude and continuous improvement, advocating for a mindset that seeks to make a positive impact rather than complain. His approach to leadership involves fostering a supportive environment and encouraging employees to take initiative. The discussion focused on effective management and feedback techniques, emphasizing the importance of timely, honest, and respectful communication. Key points included the necessity of immediate feedback to prevent escalation of emotions, the significance of having a bench of potential hires, and the impact of cultural fit on team performance. The conversation also highlighted the challenges of scaling a team without compromising standards, the importance of clear communication in recruiting, and the need for long-term planning in HR. Additionally, the conversation touched on the ethical considerations of firing employees and the benefits of a positive work culture.

Key take-aways

1. Embrace an Unconventional Career Path: Carsten's journey shows that a lack of a clear plan can lead to unexpected opportunities for growth and development. Being open to new experiences can be a strength.
2. Cultivate Emotional Intelligence: Carsten's personal loss early in his career sparked a deep interest in understanding people and their motivations. Developing self-awareness and empathy are crucial leadership skills.
3. Focus on Hiring for Cultural Fit: Carsten emphasizes the importance of not compromising on cultural fit when scaling a team, even if it means being more selective with hires. Building the right team culture is critical.
4. Provide Honest, Timely Feedback: Carsten believes in giving feedback immediately, both positive and negative. This helps maintain clear expectations and empowers employees to improve.
5. Approach Difficult Decisions with Empathy: When it comes to letting people go, Carsten stresses the importance of having a structured process while also treating departing employees with respect and care.

If you wanna learn more about our "Elite Founders Fundraising" program, DM us on our socials listed here:

Mikkel on LinkedIn: https://growing-for-it.captivate.fm/mili

Travis on LinkedIn: https://growing-for-it.captivate.fm/trali

Mikkel on Insta: https://growing-for-it.captivate.fm/mikkel

Travis on Insta: https://growing-for-it.captivate.fm/travis

Also be sure to check out Carsten on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/carsten-vestermark-76a9001/

Thanks to our sponsors:

Shaping New Tomorrow

State Energy

Vestermark Consult

Chapters:

1- [00:00 - 10:00] An Unconventional Career Journey

2- [10:00 - 20:00] The Pivotal Moment That Shaped a Leader

3- [20:00 - 30:00] Developing Emotional Intelligence and Self-Awareness

4- [30:00 - 40:00] Hiring and Retaining Top Talent

5- [40:00 - 50:00] The Art of Providing Honest Feedback

6- [50:00 - 1:00:00] Navigating Difficult Personnel Decisions

7- [1:00:00 - 1:10:00] Building a Strong Company Culture

8- [1:10:00 - 1:20:00] The Value of Adaptability and Continuous Learning

9- [1:20:00 - 1:30:00] Putting the Team Before the Individual

10- [1:30:00 - 1:40:00] Lessons in Leadership and Legacy

11- [1:40:00 - 1:50:00] Closing Thoughts and Advice

Episode 10 of Growing For It with Anne-Louise Thon

In this episode, we welcome Anne-Louise Thon, a seasoned investor and VC partner. Anne-Louise shares her insights on what makes or breaks a startup's chances of getting funded by her VC firm, Vår Ventures (Vaar Ventures). She also reflects on her adventures experiencing different cultures around the world, and how those experiences have shaped her approach to investing.

One of the key highlights includes Anna's pivotal moment working in Zimbabwe for 2 years, which shifted her perspective on the importance of supporting entrepreneurs and building businesses over traditional aid. She also discusses the challenges she faced implementing Western-style working conditions in Chinese factories, as workers preferred higher pay over improved facilities.

Anna goes on to share how she and her partners built one of the first sustainable investment funds in Europe, and the skepticism they faced initially before proving the financial viability of sustainable investing. The criteria Anna looks for when evaluating startup pitches includes authentic, ambitious founders with a clear vision for impact.

In terms of advice for founders on effective fundraising, Anna emphasizes the importance of having a strong storyteller on the team and being transparent about both financial and impact metrics. She also shares her personal experiences with failure and conflict in her entrepreneurial journey, underscoring the importance of having a supportive network to get through tough times.

Overall, this episode provides valuable insights from an experienced investor who has seen entrepreneurship from multiple angles - as a founder, consultant, and now VC. Anna's global perspective and focus on sustainable, impactful investing offer inspiration for founders and aspiring entrepreneurs.

Key Take-Aways:

1. Anna's pivotal experience working in Zimbabwe for 2 years shifted her perspective on the importance of supporting entrepreneurs and building businesses over traditional aid.
2. Anna and her partners built one of the first sustainable investment funds in Europe, overcoming initial skepticism by proving the financial viability of sustainable investing.
3. When evaluating startup pitches, Anna looks for authentic, ambitious founders with a clear vision for creating positive impact.
4. For effective fundraising, Anna advises founders to have a strong storyteller on the team and be transparent about both financial and impact metrics.
5. Anna's personal experiences with failure and conflict in her entrepreneurial journey highlight the importance of having a supportive network to navigate tough times.

If you wanna learn more about our "Elite Founders Fundraising" program, DM us on our socials listed here:

Mikkel on LinkedIn: https://growing-for-it.captivate.fm/mili

Travis on LinkedIn: https://growing-for-it.captivate.fm/trali

Mikkel on Insta: https://growing-for-it.captivate.fm/mikkel

Travis on Insta: https://growing-for-it.captivate.fm/travis

Be sure to check out Anne-Louise Thon on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/annelouisethonjensen/

Thanks to our sponsors:

Shaping New Tomorrow

State Energy

Vestermark Consult

Chapters:

[00:00 - 08:00] Chapter 1: From Advertising to a Life-Changing Experience

[08:00 - 12:00] Chapter 2: Lessons Learned in Zimbabwe

[12:00 - 16:00] Chapter 3: Implementing Change in China

[16:00 - 21:30] Chapter 4: Building a Sustainable Investment Fund

[21:30 - 24:30] Chapter 5: Evaluating Startup Pitches

[24:30 - 28:00] Chapter 6: Memorable Investments and Due Diligence

[28:00 - 30:30] Chapter 7: Fundraising Advice for Founders

[30:30 - 33:00] Chapter 8: Encouraging More Female Entrepreneurs

[33:00 - 38:30] Chapter 9: Navigating Failure and Conflict

[38:30 - 42:00] Chapter 10: Balancing Work and Personal Life

[42:00 - 45:00] Chapter 11: Directness and Authenticity in Leadership

[45:00 - 50:00] Chapter 12: The Importance of Values in Investing

[50:00 - 55:00]...

In this episode, Simone discusses her entrepreneurial journey and the importance of building a personal brand while also maintaining the company brand. She shares her thoughts on using personal stories as part of the funding strategy and the potential challenges of separating personal and company brands.

Simone also provides insights on starting a personal brand journey, including the importance of failing quickly, finding content inspiration everywhere, and structuring content around specific pillars. She emphasizes the power of vulnerability and authenticity in attracting a community and being the person that others need. Sharing her experiences with chronic migraines and how she uses them as fuel to push herself further.

Discussing the importance of embracing pain and struggle as a means of personal growth and her experiences with self-inflicted stress and how it has made her more resilient. Simone talks about the power of positive self-talk and the importance of surrounding oneself with uplifting people and the need to prioritize relationships with those who uplift and support us, while shunning negativity. The conversation also touches on the role of humor in content creation and the importance of being authentic and relatable. Sharing her personal journey of self-discovery and how she uses her experiences to inspire others.

Takeaways

• Building a personal brand can help in establishing thought leadership and becoming a go-to resource in a niche market.
• When building a personal brand, it's important to have a clear strategy and define the goals you want to achieve.
• Authenticity and vulnerability are key in attracting a community and being the person that others need.
• Content inspiration can be found everywhere, and it's important to provide value and focus on one message per post.
• Chronic illnesses and obstacles can be used as fuel and lessons to inspire others and create meaningful connections.
• Separating personal and company brands can be challenging, and it's important to consider the long-term implications.
• Being an entrepreneur means being innovative and constantly striving for success.
• Starting a personal brand journey requires taking the first step, failing quickly, and being open to learning and growth.
• Having a supportive network and a strong mindset are crucial in overcoming challenges and maintaining a positive mindset.
• Being a parent can also be seen as being an entrepreneur, as it requires time management, project management, and innovation. Embracing pain and struggle can lead to personal growth and resilience.
• Surrounding oneself with uplifting and supportive people is crucial for success.
• Authenticity and relatability are key in content creation.
• Sharing personal stories can inspire and connect with others.
• The pursuit of excellence involves continuous self-improvement and embracing one's uniqueness.
• Storytelling is a powerful tool for conveying messages and creating connections.

Chapters

00:00 Building a Personal Brand and Maintaining the Company Brand

06:08 Starting a Personal Brand Journey: Failing Quickly and Finding Content Inspiration

09:47 The Power of Vulnerability and Authenticity in Attracting a Community

13:33 Using Chronic Illnesses and Obstacles as Fuel and Lessons

20:30 Being an Entrepreneur: Innovation and Striving for Success

21:57 The Importance of Taking the First Step in a Personal Brand Journey

26:27 Creating a Supportive Network and Maintaining a Positive Mindset

28:20 Being a Parent as an Entrepreneur: Time Management and Innovation

29:12 Embracing Pain and Struggle

31:35 Surrounding Yourself with Uplifting Relationships

36:52 The Power of Authenticity and Relatability in Content Creation

43:02 Inspiring Others Through Personal Stories

48:12 The Pursuit of Excellence and Uniqueness

53:49 The Power of Storytelling

Simone Ingbo Hansen, founder of Epos Communication, discusses her entrepreneurial journey and the importance of authentic communication and branding. She emphasizes the power of relatability and storytelling, using memes as a way to connect with and engage audiences. Simone also highlights the value of giving back and serving others through social media, rather than focusing solely on self-promotion. She shares her personal experiences and challenges, and how they have shaped her creative and humorous approach to communication.

Discussing the importance of being mindful of one's platform and the need for authenticity and personal connection. She emphasizes the value of learning from failure and the importance of trusting one's gut instincts. Simone also shares her process for working with clients, which includes conducting interviews, creating brand guides, and developing content strategies. She highlights the significance of storytelling in marketing and the power of building a community around a brand. Finally, she discusses the role of founders in brand strategy and the potential benefits of user-generated content and testimonials.

Takeaways

• Authentic communication and branding are key to connecting with audiences and building a loyal community.
• Memes are powerful tools for relatability and evoking emotion, making them effective in marketing.
• Giving back and serving others through social media can create a positive impact and build trust and loyalty.
• Being vulnerable and sharing personal experiences can resonate with audiences and foster genuine connections.
• A holistic communications strategy considers every touchpoint of the customer journey and ties it into brand positioning. Be mindful of your platform and the impact of your content on others
• Authenticity and personal connection are key in building a strong brand
• Failure is a valuable learning experience
• Trust your gut instincts when making decisions
• Develop a clear brand strategy and content plan
• Storytelling is essential in marketing and building a brand
• Building a community around your brand can lead to user-generated content and testimonials
• Founders should consider stepping back and letting the brand speak for itself

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Overview

03:05 Brand Positioning and Holistic Communications

06:33 Translating Memes to Professional Platforms

09:44 The Relatability and Power of Memes

11:32 Memes as a Form of Community and Branding

13:21 Using Humor to Address Mental Health and Illness

14:43 The Positive Impact of Social Media

19:25 The Value of Authenticity and Impactful Posts

21:41 Building Trust and Loyalty through Holistic Communications

23:09 The Success of Giving Value and Serving Others

24:45 Embracing Vulnerability and Authenticity

25:14 Being Mindful of Your Platform

26:11 Learning from Failure and Trusting Your Gut

28:29 The Process of Working with Clients

30:51 The Importance of Doing Work You're Proud Of

31:44 Building a Connection with Clients

38:28 The Power of Storytelling in Marketing

44:53 Building a Community Around Your Brand

48:44 The Benefits of User-Generated Content

In this episode of The Growing For It Podcast, hosts Travis and Mikkel sit down with Christoffer Bak, co-founder of the innovative clothing brand Shaping New Tomorrow. Christoffer shares the incredible journey of scaling their business and emphasizes the critical role of a strong company culture in their success.

They initially faced scalability problems and had to manually handle everything. They relied on friends and family to help with packaging and sales. As they automated processes and implemented new technologies, they were able to overcome the challenges of scaling. They expanded to multiple stores in Denmark and then ventured into Germany and Sweden. The key to their success was creating a strong culture and providing an exceptional customer experience. Bak emphasizes the importance of mindset when hiring and the need to believe in oneself throughout the entrepreneurial journey.

Takeaways

• Scaling a business requires overcoming scalability problems and finding ways to automate processes.
• Building a strong culture and providing an exceptional customer experience are crucial for success.
• When hiring, prioritize mindset over experience.
• Believing in oneself is essential throughout the entrepreneurial journey.
• Creating a sticky product and asking for feedback early on are important for growth.
• Asking friends for help can be valuable in the early stages of a business.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Shaping New Tomorrow

02:14 Overcoming Scalability Problems and Automating Processes

05:14 Building a Strong Culture and Providing an Exceptional Customer Experience

09:01 Prioritizing Mindset When Hiring

12:06 The Importance of Believing in Oneself

29:50 Asking Friends for Help in the Early Stages

41:25 The Best Quote to Live By

44:06 Instilling Advice in a Newborn

Stay connected with The Growing For It Podcast and follow us on social media for more insightful episodes:

Connect with us and stay updated with the latest episodes:

Travis James Mathers www.linkedin.com/in/travis-james-mathers/

Mikkel Karsgaard www.linkedin.com/in/10xmks/

Christoffer Bak www.linkedin.com/in/christoffer-bak-813134102/