Business Chief Europe Magazine September 2019 | Page 46

PEOPLE
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A s a serial entrepreneur , what would you say are the key qualities of a successful startup ? A successful startup is willing to take risks and fail frequently . Taking big risks , learning from every failure , and making an effort to fully understand every facet of a problem before pursuing a solution are important tenants to help create a culture that embraces innovation .

Choosing the right problems to address , too , is essential . If you are merely iterating on other people ’ s ideas , you aren ’ t inventing . Look at the big unsolved problems . Break them down . Understand them . Find solutions that no one had ever thought possible . I focus on big , unsolved problems and that has led to the creation of a number of disruptive innovations .
There can be big rewards that come from innovations like Rani Therapeutics , but there are also countless risks along the way . I have been fortunate to have had many successes in my career , but I also have had my fair share of failed concepts or lacklustre results . Before I had success with the first Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator ( ICD ), I had two failed companies . I never let those failures bring me down ; rather I saw them as
SEPTEMBER 2019