The Fear of Falling: How a Fear of Heights Shaped My Journey as a Startup Founder
We had the privilege of having Charles Li, Founder & Chairman of Micro Connect, on the "the yellow circle" at the Singapore FinTech Festival 2024. Charles is known as "Mr. Connect," having pioneered initiatives like “Stock Connect” and "Bond Connect" during his 11 years as CEO at HKEX, and now brings that same spirit to Micro Connect. As of September 2023, Micro Connect has raised a total of over $600 million in capital.
In his talk, Charles reflects on how his lifelong acrophobia mirrors the pressures of leading a high-growth startup. Charles shares how he transforms fear into motivation, ensuring humility and focus drive Micro Connect’s success.
Key highlights:
1. Fear as a Driver for Growth
- Harness Fear: Treat fear as a source of alertness and motivation rather than a limitation.
- Stay Humble: Fear of failure fosters humility, keeping leaders grounded and avoiding complacency.
2. Leading Through Expectations
- Natural Confidence: Leverage the trust of investors and teammates to propel growth.
- Balance Pressure: Acknowledge high expectations while maintaining a sustainable, focused approach to leadership.
3. Building Against Odds
- Remote Collaboration: Launching Micro Connect remotely during COVID demonstrated resilience and adaptability.
- Vision Amid Challenges: Regular reflection, like hikes during COVID, can clarify purpose and direction despite external constraints.
Conclusion:
Charles highlights the dual role of fear and expectation in shaping leadership. By channeling fear into motivation and balancing pressures with humility, founders can achieve sustainable growth. For Charles, transforming challenges into strengths has elevated Micro Connect’s journey, inspiring others to embrace their own entrepreneurial heights.
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Speaker:
- Charles Li, Founder & Chairman, Micro Connect