Description

Summary

Laura Hicks shares her journey from a challenging childhood in Colombia to becoming a successful entrepreneur. She discusses the limited opportunities for entrepreneurs in Colombia and the determination she developed from a young age.

Laura recounts how she secured a scholarship to study abroad and the support she received from her mentor, Juan Luis. She also shares her experience starting a vending machine business and later transitioning to Ewoki, a marketplace for suppliers. 

Throughout her journey, Laura reflects on the importance of determination and knowing when to quit. Laura shares her experiences as a startup founder and offers valuable insights on finding balance, reviving a failing business, creating opportunities, and learning from failure.

She emphasises the importance of sharing personal stories and understanding others through their life stories. Laura also highlights the role of mentors and support in the entrepreneurial journey.

LINKS

Laura's LinkedIn profile https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurahicks44/ Women Leading Tech by Atlassian https://womenleadingtech.com.au/finally-women-leading-tech-finalists-revealed/

Takeaways

• Limited opportunities can fuel determination and drive individuals to overcome challenges.
• Mentorship and support from others can play a crucial role in achieving success.
• Entrepreneurs often face obstacles and must be willing to adapt and pivot.
• Knowing when to quit and pursue new opportunities is an important aspect of entrepreneurship. Finding a balance between work and personal life is crucial to avoid burnout.
• When reviving a failing business, it is important to understand the competitive advantages of successful competitors and find ways to differentiate.
• Creating opportunities and making your own luck requires determination, hard work, and the ability to seize the right moments.
• Sharing personal stories helps foster understanding and connection with others.
• Learning from failure is an essential part of the entrepreneurial journey, and perseverance is key to success.
• Having mentors and a support network can provide valuable guidance and help navigate challenges.

Chapters

00:00

Introduction and Background

01:26

Childhood and Determination

06:11

Limited Opportunities for Entrepreneurs in Colombia

10:42

Overcoming Challenges to Pursue Education

18:43

Securing a Scholarship and Studying Abroad

23:29

Support and Mentorship from Juan Luis

27:52

Starting a Vending Machine Business

39:26

Transition to Iwaki and Bytes Company

45:11

Iwaki: Building a Marketplace for Suppliers

47:18

Reflections on Determination and Quitting

48:58

Finding Balance and Avoiding Burnout

52:59

Reviving a Failing Business

58:18

Creating Opportunities and Making Your Own Luck

01:00:32

The Power of Sharing Personal Stories

01:02:09

Understanding Others through Their Life Stories

01:03:48

Learning from Failure and Persevering

01:04:18

The Importance of Mentors and Support