We sat down with the man who has built the largest and most successful boat rental marketplace in the world: Sascha Mornell.
Sascha’s story is extraordinary. From Berkeley to Japan, Harvard Business School, the NBA, and leading three multi-hundred million to billion-dollar startups, including taking one public. In this conversation, we dive into Sascha’s life and explore valuable lessons for anyone starting their career, whether it’s startups or the corporate world. Check out the episode through the link in our bio.
Here are a couple of takeaways from the conversation:
1. Embrace Uncertainty: Don’t feel pressured to have a clear career path from the start. Sometimes, what you perceive as the ultimate goal may not turn out to be what you expected - Sascha thought he had found his dream job at 28, but it ended up being far from the truth. So allow your interests to evolve, remain adaptable and be open to exploring new directions.
2. Do Hard Things Early in Your Career: Sasha's experiences—from navigating cultural and ethical dilemmas in Japan to thriving in the competitive environment at HBS—helped him develop thick skin and resilience. These qualities became essential as he faced the inevitable challenges of building startups.
3. Conviction - When the majority opposes your viewpoint, it’s crucial to trust your instincts. If you have strong conviction, dive in, commit fully, and make it happen. Sascha experienced this firsthand with his defence contracting company, Phacil. Despite venture capitalists’ hesitation to invest in defence tech or government contracting, Sascha’s unwavering belief in his vision led him to scale Phacil into a highly profitable company with $150M in ARR and over 1,000 employees.
4. It is a Great Time to Be Alive - Sascha believes we are living in the most exciting time in human history. The rapid growth and opportunities across industries are unprecedented. Embrace these possibilities and pursue whatever interests you—you’re only limited by your imagination.