Entrepreneurship is filled with ups and downs, but if you have the right mindset the journey can be extremely rewarding. As people who want to grow, we often seek inspiration to navigate challenges and uncertainties to achieve our goals.
Inspiration comes from various sources – books, movies, travelling, networking or even the words from some people that inspire us. There are many famous interviews and speeches that resonate with us and inspire us – these are words from people who have guided generations with their vision and leadership.
Here are five interviews of inspirational leaders that act as powerful tools or ‘food for thought’ for entrepreneurs to learn valuable lessons:
#1 – Indra Nooyi on the Importance of Adapting to Change and Innovation
We are living in a highly volatile world and experiencing unprecedented changes driven by macroeconomic factors, advancements in technology and the rise of digitisation. The challenge for a leader or business owner is to adapt to these changes before it’s too late.
In this interview, Indra Nooyi, former CEO and Chairman of PepsiCo, emphasises the need for constant change and innovation in business models to keep pace with the evolving landscape. Leaders must adapt to changes in consumer behaviour, market trends and technologies to drive success.
Nooyi underscores that change is inevitable, therefore organisations, leaders and the DNA of companies must be prepared to embrace change at any given time.
#2 – Interview With Michelle Obama on Owning One’s Story
Entrepreneurs need to be resilient, visionary and adaptable, whether they are scaling a business or driving growth. In this interview, Michelle Obama discusses her journey of empowerment, and vulnerability, highlighting the importance of owning one’s story. Understanding one’s larger purpose in life can shift focus from personal grievances to meaningful actions. This perspective encourages entrepreneurs to consider the impact of their words and actions on others.
Some businesses thrive by connecting with their target audience through captivating stories, while others struggle to make a lasting impression. Owning your story as an entrepreneur is a powerful tool for building your brand and adds a layer of authenticity.
#3 – Interview With Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam on Leadership After Failure
The former President of India, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, is an inspiration to many. Known for his remarkable contributions to science and India’s successful space and missile development programmes, there are several life lessons every entrepreneur can learn from him. In this interview, Kalam talks about leadership and shares his experiences and life learnings from handling several strategic space and missile projects.
In this interview, he stresses the ‘importance of managing failures’. Challenges are inherent in every task or project, but a leader should know how to manage the challenge and cope with failure. Failure is a stepping stone to success. Failure is an opportunity to learn from our mistakes and create something even better.
#4 – Sir Richard Branson on Leading With a Vision and Learning the Art of Survival
In this interview, Sir Richard Branson, founder of the Virgin Group, shares his journey of starting small and eventually building over 300 companies. He highlights that learning to survive in a dynamic business environment can open many doors for an entrepreneur.
Learning the art of survival is key to success for every entrepreneur. In entrepreneurship, one opportunity often leads to another and learning how to put yourself out there will bring success. Survival is not about running a business, but it’s about developing resilience, adaptability and strategic mindset to navigate the highs and lows of starting or running a business.
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to leadership. Each QNET entrepreneur has unique strengths and faces distinct challenges. We hope that these inspirational interviews have helped you find some takeaways to carry forward and feel motivated. To read more of such inspirational stories and discover more about the QNET opportunity, visit QNET India.
