#41. Cornelius Schmahl, Coach & Angel Investor (Ex-Uber)

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.Chapters02:32 Introduction to Cornelius Schmahl05:27 Early Life and Spiritual Journey08:45 First Steps in E-commerce with Lazada11:58 Transition to Uber and Operational Challenges15:12 Lessons from Uber's Growth Strategy18:23 War Stories from Africa and Russia25:14 Managing a $100 Million P&L at 2726:21 Transitioning from Uber to Coaching29:36 The Importance of Well-Being in Entrepreneurship35:12 Characteristics of Successful Operators38:30 Common Mistakes of Early-Stage Founders40:35 Lessons from Angel Investing44:35 Misconceptions About Startup SuccessConnect with Cornelius on LinkedIn: Cornelius SchmahlConnect with me on LinkedIn & reach out: Tobias Stalmann keywordsCornelius 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