In this conversation, Tobi interviews Cornelius Schmahl, a seasoned operator with a rich background in scaling businesses like Lazada and Uber. Cornelius shares insights from his early life, his spiritual journey, and the lessons learned from his experiences in e-commerce and ride-sharing. He emphasizes the importance of focus, data-driven decision-making, and the challenges faced while managing operations across different continents. The discussion also touches on personal anecdotes that highlight the highs and lows of his career, providing valuable takeaways for aspiring entrepreneurs and operators. In this conversation, Cornelius shares his journey from being a high-performing operator at Uber to becoming a coach and entrepreneur. He discusses the importance of well-being in entrepreneurship, the characteristics of successful operators, common mistakes made by early-stage founders, and valuable lessons learned from angel investing. Cornelius emphasizes the need for balance in life and work, the significance of mental health support, and the misconceptions surrounding startup success.

Chapters

02:32 Introduction to Cornelius Schmahl

05:27 Early Life and Spiritual Journey

08:45 First Steps in E-commerce with Lazada

11:58 Transition to Uber and Operational Challenges

15:12 Lessons from Uber's Growth Strategy

18:23 War Stories from Africa and Russia

25:14 Managing a $100 Million P&L at 27

26:21 Transitioning from Uber to Coaching

29:36 The Importance of Well-Being in Entrepreneurship

35:12 Characteristics of Successful Operators

38:30 Common Mistakes of Early-Stage Founders

40:35 Lessons from Angel Investing

44:35 Misconceptions About Startup Success

Connect with Cornelius on LinkedIn: Cornelius Schmahl

Connect with me on LinkedIn & reach out: Tobias Stalmann

keywords

Cornelius Schmahl, Lazada, Uber, entrepreneurship, scaling businesses, e-commerce, operational excellence, coaching, personal development, spirituality entrepreneurship, coaching, well-being, startup success, angel investing, founders, personal development, business operations, mental health