Nicole Verkindt, CEO and Founder of OMX

I think it’s good to follow a lot of people you talk to but not limit yourself to that.

Suppose someone reads an interesting article. Do you believe they should contact that executive or apply to work in the company?

It’s really tough. I think the best relationships are organic, so go to these conferences [like NBTC’13], meet people and chat with them. Convince them that you are passionate and hungry, and start a relationship that way. Just get out there more. The email method is a bit tough. The classic sales rule is that you have to just try a hundred different things. You have to keep trying and be that annoying pest by constantly following up.

Many people are scared to fail, and others think people who have achieved something have always succeeded. Have you ever failed?

Great question. I have failed a million times. The number of meetings that I went into thinking I would close and didn’t, or the money I have lost on certain endeavours, I try not to count. In my most recent start-up, we have already failed multiple times on the business model and kept pivoting until we felt that we had gotten a lot closer to a strong value proposition. What is most important, though, is that a lot of people will predict your failure for you. I won’t count how many people have told me, “The old model is working. You will never convince these huge companies on your hypothesis.” They were trying to convince me I would fail, and if you are like me, hopefully that just motivates you more.

Looking back, is there any advice you would now give yourself when you felt like you failed?

It’s a critical part of the process.

Quick Bites

Best advice someone else gave you: “Act as if”
The one app your phone must have: Nike Plus
Late-night picker-upper: Candy. I know that is bad. If it isn’t candy, it is wine.
Besides your field of work, what are you passionate about? Travel. Like wild travel to developing countries — mountains, back roads, drinking the local Kool-Aid, no cell service. That’s the good stuff in life. I also love skiing, animals and running.
Your deadly sin: Definitely lust, and not in the sexual way, necessarily. I find myself desirous of everything, all at the exact same time. I need to learn to be more patient and happy with what I have, but then again, maybe that is what drives me.
People are surprised to know that you: Can be extremely emotional and doubtful of my capabilities at times. Everyone sees me as super-confident, but that’s not really the case.

Six months after 48 hours of intensive labour, I (@suchetashankar) started to communicate, and I haven’t stopped since. I enjoy channelling that passion towards writing, whether it is the creative or journalistic kind. If I’ve got you curious, feel free to check me out at www.suchetashankar.com.