Entrepreneurship

Growth is like an elixir. It's exciting, it creates more and more growth, and it's a helluva lot of fun. Business is fun, it's a game. You're playing against others, and you want to win!

Former CEO of General Electric; Pioneered "Jack Welch Management" Techniques

If you care enough about something, as opposed to writing a cheque and letting someone else do it, or bitching about the problem, I say… 'you know what? If I care enough about something? I'm going to go out and do it…' that means I'm giving one of the most valuable things I have… my time. In life, you can always make more money and get more of everything- but one thing you can never get back is the time you give.

Entrepreneur & Founder of Moon Express, Infosys Technologies Co-Founder

Most people think of entrepreneurs as someone who starts a company, but to me? Entrepreneurship is really about problem solving. People can (roughly) be divided into three categories. The first category are people who can tell you all the problems in the world! The second group of people are those who invent, innovate and find solutions to these problems. The third group, entrepreneurs, are those people who don't talk about the problem or solution but go out and solve it.

Entrepreneur & Founder of Moon Express, Infosys Technologies Co-Founder

We had intended to build a media network but what we were really building was a people network. The same idea of reaching out, opening up and asking for help has been invaluable to me since- especially in the world of diplomacy.

U.S. Ambassador to Sweden, France, and the United Kingdom

Too often I feel there is also a search for 'the next' Steve Jobs or Joanna Shields. These are extraordinary people and yet I believe we should not treat entrepreneurialism as requiring a narrow checklist of certain characteristics. The key both in the US and the UK is to have hand-raisers – people who want to take a chance, and get involved.

U.S. Ambassador to Sweden, France, and the United Kingdom

One of the ideas you hear often is that in America there is a culture where not only is it ok to fail, but it's almost expected – like a badge of honor. This is true to a point but that implies a cut-throat culture that is more legend than reality and is actually bad for innovation.

U.S. Ambassador to Sweden, France, and the United Kingdom

I wasn't thinking about success or being 'big' or creating a huge business. I was thinking about answering a need, a void, creating something that wasn't there before.

Renowned Fashion Designer & Founder of DKNY Brand

When I was 15, I rearranged the sales floor in the boutique I was working in and was the best salesperson in the store. At 25, when my boss Anne Klein died, I took over designing and changed the look of the collection to make it younger and sexier, and also changed how it was shown and sold in the showroom – not to mention just having had a baby while all this was happening.

Renowned Fashion Designer & Founder of DKNY Brand

Stay undefined and stay curious. Our world is changing so rapidly that the only way to survive, thrive and adjust is to have a deep and constant level of curiosity.

Music executive and manager, founder of Meadows and Q&A platform

Entrepreneurship is a way of life. For me, entrepreneurship has always been about being a builder. Whether it's about undiscovered artists or working with companies pre-launch, the build process is what attracts me.

Music executive and manager, founder of Meadows and Q&A platform

I'm always searching for that black-swan, what is that project, or who is that artist that feels specials, and feels counter-culture. Who is that artist that feels interesting and has a bold, unapologetic point of view? That's what pulls me in- and you know what, if you find that and put the right strategy around it? You can disrupt culture.

Music executive and manager, founder of Meadows and Q&A platform

Passion matters… It's rarely a straight-line to success, usually it's a roller-coaster.

Co-Founder of America Online (AOL) & Venture Capitalist

Great entrepreneurs are people with tremendous passion. Without passion you cannot go on a journey that requires such huge personal sacrifices, looks bleak, risky and impossible in the beginning…

Founder and Chairman of Infosys, Indian IT Pioneer

It's a combination of passion, vision, creativity and a sense of adventure.

Founder of Virgin Group & British Billionaire Entrepreneur

I guess like any other entrepreneur, but Brown? – this may seem inconsequential, but sometimes, the 'them and us' in society only becomes apparent when pointed out.

I believe many of our new generation of entrepreneurs put too much significance on money, and not enough on ideas. If you have a great idea, and the skills to execute that idea, the money will come.