Selma Prodanovic🎤

The most important is your mindset - your readiness to learn & adapt. As the world is changing at exponential speed, no matter if you stay in the same career path or move, you need to learn new things, new skills, new technologies - anyways. So you might as well change careers, hopefully pursuing something you‘re passionate about, and learn on the go. That where „midlife“ is an advantage: you have a lot of experience and can use it to make your next step easier and more enjoyable.

In my experience, top experienced speaker can put their ego aside and are mostly very grateful for honest feedback. The fame & top position are often the problem as no one dares to give straight forward honest feeback. So I’ m known for sharing my expertise very directly & to the point. Fortunately, The feeback is always received as relevant and with gratitude. I’ve coached speaker in the middle of their panel… wonderful times😉

A business angel is not just an ATM! Business angels are individuals who invest their own money. They provide 'smart money' and invest three types of capital: Financial Capital: The money Human Capital: In-depth industry knowledge and hands-on experience. Social Capital: Access to networks of potential partners, clients, suppliers, or co-investors. Their engagement extends far beyond financial support; they are genuinely committed to your success. Embodying the entrepreneurial spirit, business angels often take an active role in guiding and nurturing your business's growth

Choose your investor board wisely - prioritize gender diversity! 1. Accelerate Innovation: Boards with diverse gender representation bring a wealth of perspectives, sparking innovation and well-rounded decision-making. 2. Leverage Varied Insights: Gender-diverse boards are better equipped to address market needs and challenges creatively, leading to faster and more sustainable success. 3. Embody Modern Leadership: A diverse board not only drives better outcomes but also demonstrates a commitment to future-oriented, inclusive leadership

In my 20 years of experience with startups and investors, I've seen that alignment of expectations, principles, and values "before" investment is pivotal for success. To ensure this, founders must: 1. Clearly define their own values & expectations 2. Specify desired traits in investors beyond funds 3. Diligently research potential investors! This step is crucial. Often, founders are swayed by an investor's popularity, neglecting the critical importance of finding the right 'match' in terms of goals, values, and vision. Example: founders aiming for long-term sustainability will clash with investors seeking a quick exit. Thorough due diligence on investors & and matchmaking 'before' any commitment are essential for success!

As an investor, I look for two founding cases: 1. Ideally, you start by solving a real-life problem, something you are confronted with and you deeply care about. 2. Or you are creating a solution to achieve one of the 17 SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals). The SDGs are the greatest market research ever done and they represent a $12 trillion opportunity.