You're striving for success in business innovation. What traits do you need to stand out as an entrepreneur?

None. Being an entrepreneurs doesn't need "special traits"! There's no DNA that separates non entrepreneurs from those who start an idea! We have been researching this field for over a centaury, and admittedly know just a little bit. Entrepreneurs are people who choose to try an idea. So every household has one. They are you and me, and we choose to act as one or we don't. Dr Bahare Afrahi

Acredito muito que a curiosidade, a criação de um repertório multidisciplinar e a visão de longo prazo sejam características fundamentais para um empreendedor.

Visionary zeal is a powerful force for any entrepreneur, but to truly stand out in business innovation, you'll need to complement that with a specific set of traits. These qualities are like having a strong vision that turns into reality and inspiring/ motivational that shares the passion for the team to contribute with their talents.

O futuro vem do futuro, não do passado. É essa mentalidade que impulsiona os visionários a se destacarem na inovação empresarial. Combinar o design driven innovation com a metodologia jobs to be done cria uma química poderosa para a inovação. Antecipar tendências de mercado e entender as necessidades dos clientes, muitas vezes antes mesmo que eles as percebam, permite a concepção de produtos e serviços que abrem novos nichos. Sonhar grande é essencial, mas é igualmente importante traçar um caminho prático para alcançar esses sonhos. A capacidade de vislumbrar o futuro e trabalhar de forma sistemática para torná-lo realidade é o que diferencia os verdadeiros inovadores no cenário empresarial.

Without taking risks, no one can move ahead in the space of business innovation. Remember, innovation is a journey, not a destination. Embracing the challenges, so can learn from setbacks, and use your unique strengths to turn your vision into a reality. While embracing risks, be a calculated risk-taker. Analysing these potential outcomes and develop mitigation strategies to minimize downside risks.

Creative thinking empowers entrepreneurs to stand out by fostering innovative solutions, identifying unique opportunities, and differentiating their offerings. It involves challenging conventional wisdom, embracing diverse perspectives, and leveraging multidisciplinary approaches. For practical application, entrepreneurs can use brainstorming, design thinking, TRIZ, and biomimicry to drive business success. Creative thinking promotes sustainable practices aligned with the SDGs and circular economy, incorporates advanced technologies like AI, and adapts to market dynamics. By continuously learning, teaching, and navigating uncertainties, creative thinking ensures a compelling and impactful business strategy.

This trait involves the ability to quickly adapt strategies and tactics in response to changing market dynamics, customer feedback, and competitive pressures. It requires a proactive approach to identifying opportunities and threats, and a willingness to pivot when necessary. Strategic agility also means being able to think critically about long-term goals while remaining flexible in execution. By continuously evaluating and adjusting our business strategies, we can stay ahead of the curve and capitalize on emerging trends effectively.

In my experience, being willing to collaborate with others to accomplish shared goals acts as a spring board to get you to your desired career goals faster. It not only presents you with the opportunity to learn and showcase value but also gives you access to a community and network of individuals who have gone ahead of you. A collaborative spirit helps to scale through obstacles. Things that would have been seemingly difficult to accomplish alone become so much easier when you collaborate. Finally, collaboration is key in the innovation ecosystem. Operating in silos hinders growth and innovation.

Persistence is key. Being a founder teaches you how to fail often and how to fail correctly. This isn’t taught in school which makes this so much harder to do. After all, who likes failing? I feel that the more fails I encounter, the more I learn and the more I grow. At the end of the day being persistent is good, but you also need to be able to adapt, learn and move quickly.

One of my favorites is Thomas Edison. His many attempts at the light bulb is legendary! Persistent and committed attempts lit our world!