The Best Leadership Advice I Ever Received

Is there a secret to becoming a successful business leader at a young age? We asked seven YPO members from around the world for their best piece of leadership advice. Read their answers.

“My very first boss at the age of 22 told me, ‘Write down your values. Know your values. Never compromise your values.’ At that age, I wasn’t quite sure what I was going to do with that advice, but I followed it and it has served me well.”
– Kelly Mooney, chief executive officer of Resource and a YPO member in Ohio since 1998.


“Focus on one project and give it a 100 percent.”
– Shahzad Ali, founder of Zeus Capital Holdings and a YPO member in London since 2010.


“Take chips off the table along the way. Most entrepreneurs roll the dice and, if they don’t win, have nothing to fall back on. I learned this the hard way.”
– James Donnelly, founder and CEO of Castle Group and a YPO member in Florida since 1998.


“The sky is the limit. Nothing is impossible!”
– Christine Sfeir, CEO of Meeting Point (Dunkin’ Donuts) and Treats Holding (Semsom, Green Falafel), and a YPO member in Lebanon since 2011.

“The most valued advice that I have received is not to be afraid of asking questions whenever something is unclear. It may not seem essential, but people in high positions are usually too proud to show their weaknesses or lack of knowledge, which can lead to many misunderstandings.”
– Mateusz Switalski, president of Malpka S.A. and a YPO member in Poland since July 2013.


“Respect everyone in your organization and be open to learning from them.”
– Cynthia Cleveland, CEO and founder of BroadThink and a YPO member in California since 1989.


“You can’t be a leader and make tough decisions without upsetting some people. If you are going to make improvements or initiate change or do anything at all unique or innovative, it’s going to be disruptive for people. Some people will appreciate you for it, but there are just as many that will want to blame you for it. Once I realized that I can’t be the leader I need to be and be everyone’s friend, things got a little easier.”
– Michael Sanderson, CEO of Sanderson Stewart and a YPO member in Montana since 2007.

(The author of this article is Jovie Baclayon, YPO Director of Social Media)

(YPO (Young Presidents’ Organization) is a not-for-profit, global network of young chief executives connected through the shared mission of becoming Better Leaders Through Education and Idea Exchange™. For more information, visit www.ypo.org.)

(Cover Image: Thinkstock)