picture: Yomex Owo on Unsplash
New Entrepreneur (NE):
Name & surname: Anete Bertholde
Country: Latvia
Age: 32
Sector of activity: human rights NGO
Did you already start your business? No
Host Entrepreneur (HE):
Name & surname: Marco Altea
Country: Italy
Sector of activity: Apps and accessibility
Name of business/website: Whable
What is your business? Whable is a digital app that can be used to find restaurants, bars and others locations accessible for people with disabilities.
Period of exchange: 01/06/2023 – 01/08/2023 & 01/09/2023 – 19/12/2023
Duration of exchange: 6 months
10 Business Leadership Lessons that I learned from my mentor
Ciao! I’m Anete Bertholde, a 31-year-old young entrepreneur and former investigative journalist from Riga, Latvia. Presently, I’m dedicated to developing 35 Above, a non-profit Baltic research association focused on advancing human rights and delving into societal complexities within the European context. With the primary objective to bridge the gap between data and social policies, employing ethical and sustainable practices to nurture inclusive communities.
My journey led me to the Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs Exchange in Sardinia, Italy, where I had the privilege of being mentored by Marco Altea from Whable. Marco, battling multiple sclerosis, created Whable, an innovative application that effortlessly connects individuals with disabilities to accessible restaurants, bars, and entertainment venues.
Here are ten pivotal business leadership lessons I learned from Marco that I wrote down from our conversations together:
1. Mission Above All:
“Our mission isn’t just a part of Whable; it’s the very heart and soul of our existence. We founded Whable with a single, crystal-clear goal – to make social life accessible to all. I want Whable to become a standard for accessible tourism and accessible restaurants, hotels, and cities. If you are awarded a Whable badge, it will mean that you are accessible. The badge will be given by other disabled people and ambassadors who are trained to evaluate accessibility.”
2. Keep Moving, No Matter How Slow:
“Even if little, you should keep moving. You should move ideas, move your mind, and move your fingers if you have fingers. Whatever it takes, you should never stop. With this idea in mind, I developed this project. In life and business, progress is non-negotiable. Even if it’s as slow as a snail’s pace, you must keep moving forward. It took a decade from the inception of the Whable idea to its full realization. At times I put the Whable idea to rest but never give up.”
3. Share Your Idea and Ask for Help:
“Our mission revolves around ensuring that people with disabilities can enjoy social life. Thus, sharing our mission and seeking support is pivotal. During the pandemic, we reached out online and were overwhelmed by the response. We shared our mission far and wide, and people understood its importance. They provided invaluable help and support to bring Whable to life by volunteering to create the Whable logo and marketing strategies. You have to have faith in people. In 10 people, 8 out of 10 are good and willing to help. You should be optimistic. If you ask people for advice, people are willing to help.”
4. Take a Risk:
“My daily life often involves taking risks due to my disability, and the same goes for business. Making courageous decisions is paramount, in life and in business. As a disabled person in a wheelchair, every time I go out is dangerous, as roads are filled with many barriers, cars, and not-so-careful people. This winter, I fell and broke my shoulder. But I take a risk and go out anyway, just being careful, which serves as a constant reminder of the importance of calculated risks.”
5. Support System and Social Connections:
“A robust support system is indispensable. When I was younger, I was a loner and could go to the cinema and cafes alone and still be with other people. But now, I can’t go out alone and need assistance with my daily tasks. My family, supportive friends, and a caring fiancée Amelie have been unwavering sources of strength. They help me daily, accompany me on trips, and provide mental support. The power of connecting with those who share your mission is immeasurable.”
6. Previous Work Experience:
“My prior work experiences in NGOs all over the world, Paris, the Czech Republic, Africa, Florence, Rome, and London, where I studied human rights and the prevention of genocide, have armed me with the knowledge and maturity to find the right people for our project. This experience, coupled with my journey living with multiple sclerosis, equipped me with the insight needed to develop Whable.”
7. Self-Awareness and Determination:
“You have to know yourself. Understand that you are a force, both good and bad. To keep the project going, you have to be determined with killer determination, developed through living, crying, laughing, and experiencing the world.”
8. Therapy:
“Often I use therapy support to help me. With my therapist, I talk about my emotions, sick ideas, and judgment of myself. We are often our worst critics and our minds can be our biggest enemy. A therapist helps me overcome my self-judgments and guides me in a positive direction.”
9. Meditation:
“Our minds are complicated. I suggest everyone practice meditation because we need to master our minds. I practice Buddhism mantra and philosophy and the principle of creating value. Every human being has different emotions and vital states. There is hell, animality, happiness, and greediness, with transitions occurring many times during the day. You wake up an animal, during lunch you’re happy, then greedy, then depressed. It’s constantly shifting. But meditation helps you maintain focus and control your thoughts. It’s a valuable tool for keeping mental strength, especially during challenging times.”
10. Food:
“For Italians, food not only provides energy for work but has always been a way to share emotions with other people. You eat good food, and it fosters smiles and eye contact. Food is a fantastic medium, and it’s a part of how Whable was born.”
These invaluable lessons, drawn from Marco’s resilience and commitment to his mission, will accompany me when returning to Riga and continuing to shape my entrepreneurial journey at 35 Above. And remembering: I’ve got this!