Unicorn founder Naren Shaam discusses turning 'no' into 'yes', building a global brand like Omio, overcoming rejection, rebranding from GoEuro, fundraising during Covid, and anchoring diversity in business from the start. Insights on global transport challenges, fostering diversity, and CEO communication strategy.
Persistence and active listening are key to scaling a global tech company.
Diversity and inclusivity drive success in the travel tech industry.
Deep dives
Narendra Sharma's Journey to Building Omio: From Rejection to Success
Narendra Sharma, CEO of Glomattak and travel company Omio, shares his unique journey from being rejected as a call center agent to leading a successful global brand. He discusses the challenges of rebranding Omio from Go Euro, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a global brand and overcoming obstacles in the travel tech industry. Sharma's story highlights the significance of continuous learning and perseverance in achieving success.
Omio's Mission: Simplifying Global Ground Transport
Omio aims to unify global ground transport services, including trains, buses, car sharing, and ferries into a single product. Faced with the challenge of booking non-airline travel, Sharma's personal experience of struggling to purchase a train ticket inspired the idea behind Omio. The company seeks to streamline travel experiences globally, ensuring seamless journeys across various modes of transport.
Overcoming Language Barriers and Cultural Differences in Berlin
Sharma's decision to establish Omio's headquarters in Berlin showcased his adaptability to new environments despite language barriers and cultural differences. The move to Berlin, with its growing startup ecosystem and central European location, enabled Omio to navigate European ground transport challenges effectively. While language barriers initially posed challenges in securing early investments, the diverse and international nature of Berlin provided a unique perspective for addressing European travel complexities.
Building a Diverse and Inclusive Team at Omio
Omio's commitment to diversity is reflected in its workforce composition, with a 50-50 split between male and female team members. Sharma emphasizes the importance of creating a diverse and inclusive culture within the tech industry, showcasing Omio's international team comprising individuals from over 50 nationalities. The organization's dedication to diversity aligns with its customer-centric approach, ensuring a broad representation of perspectives and experiences within the company.
Based in Berlin, born in India, and educated at Harvard – Naren Shaam is a unicorn founder once rejected as a call center agent.
The CEO of global tech & travel company Omio has two superpowers: patience, and not recognizing a 'no' for a 'no'.
He moved to Berlin after graduating from Harvard, not knowing anyone, and without speaking the language, determined to pursue his mission to make world travel seamless for everyone.
Naren has a talent for active listening and understanding the needs of his audience. These skills have enabled his company to scale and grow from a small startup to 300 employees hailing from more than 50 countries based in Berlin, Prague, London and New York.
That’s despite the fact that the Covid pandemic brought the travel industry to a halt during Omio’s growth phase.
Listen to the episode for more advice from Naren on how to build and maintain a global brand, how to approach rebranding (Omio was originally called GoEuro), and how to anchor diversity in a business from the start.
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