After years of hard work, Sagi Gidali, founder of Perimeter 81, achieved his dream of building a unicorn startup. He secured $100 million in funding and increased his company’s valuation to $1 billion. However, this achievement was not the end goal for Gidali. Instead, it was just the beginning of the hard work that would follow.
Gidali realized that with each milestone comes increased pressure and responsibility to lead his team to the next great achievement. The perception of a unicorn is that growth never stops, so Gidali had to make sure the collective foot stayed firmly on the gas pedal. His next goal wasn’t monetary; it was to disrupt the cybersecurity industry by simplifying the way we consume cybersecurity.
To achieve such a significant accomplishment, Gidali has learned several helpful tips. The first tip is to take risks and be bold. To make better tactical and strategic decisions, one must compile data points from market landscapes, individual assumptions, customer needs, feedback, industry analysis, and competitor research.
Another tip Gidali suggests is to build strong management. It entails surrounding oneself with people who are experts in their field and letting them help. Delegation is essential, and as a leader, one must trust their employees to do what they were hired to do thoroughly.
The third essential tip is to stay humble. Success can change a person or a company culture, but Gidali emphasizes that humble leadership is required for growth. Remaining steadfast in behavior sets the course for future growth and keeps the focus on the task at hand.
Gidali’s journey was a long nine-year process, and as he dreams of disrupting the cybersecurity industry, he has learned that the real work is not in achieving the startling milestones. Instead, the long and challenging path to greatness is where the most significant growth occurs. Gidali encourages entrepreneurs to take risks, build strong management, and stay humble in their quest to build a unicorn startup – the path to success may be long, but it’s worth it.
