Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival (SEF) 2024 hosted the entrepreneurial visionary, podcast legend and digital don, Steven Bartlett and revealed the role of a founder is to hire the best people and every founder is a head of recruitment, as he claimed that he spends four hours a day reading applications in his inbox.
The author of The Diary of a CEO, Steven Bartlett is was giving his business tips and tricks at a discussion titled ‘The Power of Authenticity: Steven Bartlett’s Approach to Personal Branding’ with Lou Lou Khazen Baz, Founder and Managing Director, Spade Ventures and a podcaster herself.
“The hiring process is a product in itself and the job of hiring is for the recruits to tell you what to do,” said the young podcaster who cited the late Apple CEO’s mantra for job success, “if you want brilliant products, build a brilliant team”.
Bartlett, a school dropout who made it big in digital media before he turned 25, said he does not get carried away by admiration or the highs and lows that come with fame and success. “Distraction doesn’t sway me off course and I haven’t searched my name on the Internet in the past three years,” said the British-Nigerian who chronicled his family’s struggles through poverty and his rise to wealth and fame. He added that he considered the feedback from his girlfriend, family, and best friends as most valuable.
Pointing out that “our generation has a tendency to mistake admiration for aspiration”, Bartlett underlined that he could only be the very best version of himself. He added that although he did not go to university or could not sustain interest in school education, he was the biggest fan of education. “I self-educate through podcasts and journalling,” said the young millionaire who helms numerous business ventures.
He reminded his audience that filling the “five buckets” determines an individual’s professional potential – knowledge, skills, resources, network and reputation. “If you fill these five buckets, the world becomes an oyster.” While the last three buckets are optional, the first two cannot be unfilled, which was why he felt education was important.
Curiosity is the most important principle in his career as a podcaster, Bartlett emphasised, adding that he learns from each guest on his show citing in particular, sleep expert Professor Matthew Walker, and his tips for sleep hygiene.
Back by popular demand, Steven Bartlett, founder of ‘Social Chain’ and host of Europe’s biggest podcast, ‘The Diary of a CEO,’ brings a dynamic entrepreneurial spirit to SEF 2024. As the youngest-ever Dragon on BBC’s ‘Dragon Den’ and an influential social media personality, Bartlett’s multifaceted approach reflects his commitment to shaping the future of digital innovation and creating positive impact through his channels.
