SAN FRANCISCO, June 28, 2005 — Mouli Cohen recently invited respected news writer J. Stolich to join him on his Gulfstream 4SP aircraft, flying from San Francisco to Los Angeles. Just as he began to daydream inside the spacious cabin and feel like a real jet-setter, Mouli said to him, "Let's get right to it." The following is an excerpt from the interview:
1) Mouli, you have started many companies over the past decade. What is the single most important thing you have learned in doing so?
It's really all about the people. With the right people you win. I like to think about it in terms of sports. The strongest players with the most desire are the ones that you want to have on your team. The same goes for business. Getting great talent, giving them all the support in the world and letting them run. That's the secret sauce.
2) How do you attract the right talent in a start-up?
First, they need to trust you as a leader. They need to believe in a super story that can have a major impact or a paradigm shift on a given market. Usually when top talent embraces your idea, capital flies into it very quickly.
3) How do you take a big idea and develop it in a large, mature company?
Any new idea – regardless of company size – should be led by the best people. Take for example when Jack Welch of GE placed his top executive, Jim McNeary, in China and told him, "Jim, you just started GE China."
Even in big companies new ideas should not be led by who is available but by the best talent.
4) Once you have the best talent, how do you help them continue dreaming and evolving to new levels?
It is very important to encourage them to look for the stretch. Make them stretch for more. In my personal experience you need to go for it and be #1 in your field. As a true leader, get out of the way and just lead – don't manage. Trusting everyone and treating them with respect will build the necessary confidence in your team, and they will fully support you as their leader.
Today I place the best talent in the biggest opportunities. And then allocate capital into those opportunities.
5) In a recent article you talked about the idea of super leaders. What is a super leader and how many of them are actually out there at the helm of companies?
Super leaders must continually energize, excite with passion and introduce new ideas into their organization. Being a super leader is not an easy job. As a super leader you must start with a group of people that can outsmart you. These people should be able to challenge and debate you. The best people are candid by nature and actively speak their minds in meetings and continually bring ideas to the forefront of discussion.
Remember:
– Weak managers are the killers of business.
– Leaders manage by creating a vision and then get out of the way so that their people can run with that vision.
– Leaders instill confidence and respect in their people.
– Leaders ensure that people not only see the vision but that they live and breathe it, and evangelize it across the organization.
– Leaders probe and push with a curiosity that borders on skepticism, making sure their questions are answered with action.
There are a lot of great leaders out there.
6) What would you say about the leaders at Enron?
Yes, we hear the scandals about Enron, Tyco and Worldcom, etc. These are not America's leaders. These are not the examples we want to focus on. These people will always come and go throughout the times. What we do need to focus on are the majority of great men and women leaders in this country that create great economy and opportunity.
7) As a small company grows so do the politics and bureaucracy. What are some real-world tips for avoiding this?
Get rid of as many layers as you can and do not have too many titles. Create transparency. There should be a very small filter between the CEO and the company. You need to be lean, and to move fast. Don't be wasteful and move slowly. You need to get your product to market very fast. Take quick responses from your customers. This helps you grow and become profitable.
Also do not get weighed down by the idea of bigness and success. Stay lean and agile as you grow.
8) As a manager and leader what sorts of things do you do to ensure your firm has the best chance to become #1 in its respective market?
Have the best talent manage your vision. Stretch for the stars. Build growth and profitability. Be very close to your customers and your employees. That is basically the recipe for your brand and success.
9) In your opinion what is the biggest mistake leaders make?
They do not face reality. They do not act decisively. They are too much in the face of their managers. You need to embrace change and not fear it. Just go for it. When you are afraid to make changes you usually lose.
10) Who are some of the super leaders you admire and respect?
Henry Ford, Michael Dell, and Bill Gates. Three different styles of leaders but all super-effective in the companies they run that they started from scratch.
11) How complex are businesses anyway?
You know, at the end of the day business is a very simple thing. People make it too complex.
12) If you could do it all over again what would you do differently?
Balance more my personal life with my career. You can win on both fronts.
About Mouli Cohen
In his career as an entrepreneur, Mouli has been one of the few to have success in biotechnology and high technology. His start-ups have generated well over $1B in shareholder value. In recognition of his ability to generate mega-investment in the U.S. economy and the creation of thousands of U.S. jobs, Mouli was awarded the first-ever "Millionaire Residency" with full citizenship status by President George H. Bush. For press inquiries and more information, please visit http://www.moulicohen.com.