1. What have you found most challenging as a leader of a small or medium enterprise?

As the leader of a start-up, you have to react very quickly to changes. You have to be open to trying new things and you have to be very agile. Nevertheless, it is extremely important not to lose sight of the big picture. This can be challenging at times, because it is important to use resources properly and to focus on the important things.

2. How did you become a leader of an SME? Can you please briefly tell the story?

My co-founder and I have heard about and partly experienced the problems that often exist in companies. We then got together and developed wespond together with strategic partners and built up a small team.

3. How do you structure your work days from waking up to going to sleep?

I usually start my day at 6 am with an espresso and some oatmeal. I try to do the most important tasks right in the morning and keep my mornings free as much as possible. This is the most creative time for me. In the afternoon, I usually have video meetings. In the evening, I usually work on tasks that have accumulated during the day and prepare for the next day.

4. What's the most recent significant leadership lesson you've learned?

The most important lesson I have learned is that it is crucial to focus on the right things and not get lost in micromanaging. At wespond we try to continuously question our priorities in order to focus on what matters the most. Furthermore, it is vital to work with a team with which you enjoy working with.

5. What's one book that has had a profound impact on your leadership so far? Can you please briefly tell the story of how that book impacted your leadership?

"Who moved my cheese?" by Spencer Johnson is a book which impacted my leadership and mindest significantly.

It emphasises the importance of adapting to new environments and circumstances. It is essential to try new things (e.g. ways of work) continuously.

6. How do you build leadership capacity in an SME?

It is very important to create transparency in the team and to empower everyone. At wespond, we try to communicate very openly within the team and to be constantly open to feedback and ideas. For example, we gather feedback from the team every week to get an overview of the team's satisfaction & motivation.

7. What is one meaningful story that comes to mind from your time as a leader of an SME so far?

It is more of a learning than a story. I have learned that the people in the company are the most important thing. With the right team, you can achieve a lot. That's why you should always make sure that the team gets along well and that you share similar values and believe in the same vision.