Enterprise skills

It’s a dog-eat-dog world out there - at least, that's what they say. But when it comes leading a team, is a brutal, take-no-prisoners attitude really necessary to be taken seriously in business?To answer this question think about the role models in your own life… Who have you respected and wanted to do a great job for? Who has inspired you to push yourself? Whether a parent, boss, teacher, friend or mentor - no doubt, these people will have supported you as much as they challenged you.The days of needing to play to stereotypes, like a bully in the boardroom or ‘Wolf of Wall Street’ on a work social, are finally over!Watch successful entrepreneurs explain how they strike the balance between being a boss and BFF at work.

With people in the UK working some of the longest hours in the world, striking the right work/life balance is a constantly evolving battle. If you’re about to start work for the first time and are looking for places to apply, a company’s workplace culture could become a huge part of your decision process. Perhaps a flexi-Friday policy might appeal, whilst the thought of a company picnic would have you running for the door – but what about when you are the boss?How do you have a life outside of work when your business is your life’s work?It is still really important to look after your mental health and wellbeing by having interests and activities outside of work even when you are your own boss. If you’re self-employed, or looking to start up your own business, our entrepreneurs are here to show you how it’s possible to have a successful business AND a life! While sacrifices are to be expected, watch here to see how they have found balance:

Failure - getting things wrong, botching the job, messing up, bungling it… There is literally nothing worse. Right?Well, maybe not… Your failures could be seen as embarrassing evidence of your inability to do things right, but if you change the way you think about failure – if you reframe failure – you might just be onto a winner.Failure can be a tool (even if it’s not always a pleasant one!) that helps you better understand a situation, and allows you to learn so you can make more informed decisions in the future.Watch and listen as our entrepreneurs explain how they reframe failure into something positive.

Speaking in public is often cited as being one of the most common fears we face as humans. It usually ranks higher than death, heights, shark attacks, spiders or being pulled limb-from-limb by flesh-eating zombies! But it doesn't have to be that frightening.In business, speaking in front of people is an unavoidable part of the job description. Whether addressing a panel in an interview, a group of colleagues in a meeting, or a conference room full of investors, there’s little room for stage fright. No matter how uncomfortable you feel at first, you need to be able to deliver your ideas in a compelling and convincing way to ensure you seal the deal you’re looking for.But how can you do that when you’re quaking in your shoes? We asked some successful entrepreneurs to share their tips on how to pitch like a pro.

What do successful entrepreneurs have in common? Undoubtably a passion for their unique idea, a growth mind-set, sharp pitching skills and the ability to keep a work/life balance are all really important characteristics to have.But are there any other tricks of the trade? What insightful gems can those who have 'made it' offer about the experience of starting up a business? What other knowledge has helped their businesses not only survive, but thrive?Watch young entrepreneurs give us the inside wire on what has worked for them.

Tom, Olivia and Kurt have known each other since they were 16 years old. Now business partners and co-developers of the successful travel app NAVA, their relationship has had to evolve with their company - and together they’ve gone from strength to strength!Tom and Olivia first had the idea to develop an app to help people explore international cities, and discover hidden gems away from the usual tourist tracks, when they were enjoying a year abroad in Munich. Starting with a problem - wanting to find cool and unique places to visit, they imagined the perfect solution – an easy-to-use app! Kurt later joined them, and the team of friends made the app a reality.Now a team of eight, and bringing in revenue in the hundreds of thousands, NAVA is due to expand into even more cities with global partners across the world.So how have the group of mates managed the transition from inventors to managers?Each of them has always had an entrepreneurial streak, it seems, with (Chief Executive Officer) Tom selling sweets at school, (Chief Operating Officer) Olivia working in hospitality after growing up in different European countries and (Chief Product Officer) Kurt setting up his own record label. And they had a great idea!If you are thinking of creating a start-up with your mates, here are some tips from the NAVA team to help keep your business AND friendships afloat!