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

Hiring talents

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

I wanted to solve a big problem that no one wanted to pick up in the market when i started back in 2016 (users being excluded from the value generated online via their qualified engagement and their data being predated by companies in total disrespect of their rights) with a simple solution (a mobile app with a frictionless UX) so to enable any user, also with limited technical skills, to take back control of his personal and non personal data in one click. This app is now in the market. It's called ErnieAPP, the Privacy Knowledge Manager.

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

7/7 day week, 52 weeks on a rwa, no stop from 8h30 to 8h30pm if not later. It's been like that for the last 4 years. Min 5-6 conf calls per day (if not more). Rest of time review of doc, draft of presentations, social media management and other correspondence and lots of numbers reviewing (budget, forecast, accruals, projections, anything to get clarity and optimise the cash flow of the company). Lots of time is dedicated to searching for talents to hire. and manage investors. Time left for the family is little but quality time can always be found.

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

A leader must learn to say no, even if it carries a price.

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?

I don't have one to share. I'm afraid.

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

It's a mix of managing, mentoring and arbitrating key decisions. To build a 'do minded' culture in a microcosme like an SME the biggest effort is maintaining high quality standards across the organization.

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

Hiring company first talent. (via skype, us from Europe and him in the US).