This is the Leadership Journey series on the Choosing Leadership Podcast.
I believe we all have a lot to learn from each other’s stories – of where we started, where we are now, and our successes and struggles on the way. With this series of interviews, my attempt is to give leaders an opportunity to share their stories and for all of us to learn from their generous sharing. If you know a leader whom you would like to see celebrated on the show, please send me a message on LinkedIn with their name.
Get ready for an insightful journey into the dynamic world of startup leadership! In this episode, we sit down with Sufiyan, a trailblazing entrepreneur and head of people, partnerships, and community at the innovative product-led growth startup, Toplyne.
Join us as Sufiyan shares his captivating story of transitioning from a thriving consulting career to becoming an integral part of a game-changing startup.
Discover the secrets behind nurturing a vibrant company culture, scaling teams with finesse, and unleashing the power of authentic leadership.
If you’re seeking inspiration to navigate the challenges of building and leading a startup, tune in and absorb Sufiyan’s valuable insights that will leave you motivated and armed with practical strategies for your leadership journey.
You can find Sufiyan at the below links
In the interview, Sufiyan shares
- “I wanted to be a large part of something too small. I wanted to see visible impact in front of my eyes.”
- “I thrive in uncertainty. I like having no structure. I can play around, and it just makes more sense for me to be in that setup.”
- “The delta between your expectations and reality is inversely proportional to happiness.”
- “I’m at a stage of life where I want to experiment as much as possible. I want to do all it takes and then figure out my niche.”
- “Performance is a byproduct of culture. Can you create a culture where people can come and be their true selves?”
- “Growing in the right way is the biggest challenge. Can you walk into the office and say, ‘I gave my true self today’?”
- “Leadership 101: You walk the talk. You cannot expect your team to be there if you are not available.”
- “A leader is also human. Show your true side to your team. Admit when you’ve gone wrong. The buck stops at you.”
- “Everyone should be great at sales. It’s not just for your job; it’s a great life skill.”
- “Give more as much as you can. Be a great listener. Help people in every small way you can, and you’ll compound more than you can even imagine.”