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Global Business people team silhouettes rendered by computer graphic. As a young professional, I was inspired by Profiles in Courage, a book outlining eight courageous acts that helped shape America; it was written in 1956 by the 35th President of the United States, John F. Kennedy. Today, I am taking literary license and calling this short manifesto: Profiles in Entrepreneurship where I share perspective from who I call the magnificent seven … seven leaders whose contributions have helped shape the face – and codify the core principles -- of entrepreneurship today. Why entrepreneurship? Entrepreneurs drive about 44% of the GDP and employ roughly half of the workers in America. And yet, the Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that about 20% of new businesses fail within just two years, and some studies suggest that 90% fail within their first five years. So, this article is to share with you, after interviewing over 1,000 of the top CEOs in America, core principles of successful entrepreneurship. 1. Have a Mindset of Courage Stasia Mitchell is in a unique position. As EY Global Entrepreneurship Leader, she oversees the prestigious EY Entrepreneur Of The Year(TM) award program, which recognizes purpose-driven leaders in over 90 countries. Engaging with visionaries from around the world has enabled her to pinpoint a characteristic that great entrepreneurs share: “Entrepreneurship isn’t just starting a business. It’s a mindset. It’s saying 'we can do better', asking the questions no one else is asking, and running toward complexity to find solutions. Great entrepreneurs embed this mindset in their culture, experiment boldly, learn from wins and failures, and seek fresh perspectives everywhere. They shape the future by unlocking curiosity, agility and a bias for action in their teams, and leading them to a shared vision. At its core, entrepreneurship is about having a mindset of courage and confidence to create real value and a better working world.” 2. Use Challenges as Fuel to Reach the Masses Dr. John Simon built SimonMed to almost 4,000 employees as a leader in outpatient radiology; today SimonMed is positioned to transform the entire concept of preventative healthcare though super-advanced AI-driven diagnosis of areas like heart, brain and cancer and other challenges. Dr. Simon explains his philosophy, “Passion and perseverance are the true secrets of entrepreneurship. I’m passionate about innovation—not for its own sake, but because AI and advanced technology can change lives. What drives me is making world-class imaging affordable and accessible so more people can benefit. Being an entrepreneur in healthcare isn’t the easiest path, but when you’re guided by purpose, challenges become fuel. Every breakthrough, every improvement, moves us closer to a future where early detection and prevention are available to everyone." 3. Own Your Supply Chain What happens if an entrepreneur is entering a highly competitive space where long established companies control market? That’s precisely where Bill Shufelt was when he launched Athletic Brewing Company in 2018. Shufelt explains how within just a few years they became the number one non-alcoholic beer brand in America, with over 19% market share, and also a top 20 U.S. brewing company, “Every entrepreneurial journey is unique, and lasting success comes from knowing where you can build a true competitive advantage. At Athletic Brewing, we’ve taken the long view from day one, investing deeply in people, technology, quality, and aspirational marketing to build an enduring global brand. MORE FOR YOU Early on, we made a pivotal decision to build our own manufacturing instead of outsourcing production to a co-packer — an unconventional, capital-intensive move in a CPG industry where most brands look to scale quickly while keeping startup costs low. Over the past eight years, we’ve invested more than $130 million into brewing facilities on both coasts, which give us full control over production and quality. This has allowed us to completely reimagine non-alcoholic beer, set a new industry standard for taste, clearly differentiate our product from stigmatized legacy brands, scale intentionally, and create hundreds of meaningful, long-term jobs along the way. Our commitment to connection is just as hands-on: in 2025, we’ll share over one million samples at more than 3,000 events — from local road races to large-scale sports and music partnerships — expanding access to award-winning alcohol alternatives for all.” 4. Establish your Niche Model Maureen Ryan Fable, built FIRST to a team of over 850 and a leading global brand experience agency handling the events for many of the most iconic companies globally. She explains their model and her thoughts on what it takes to be a leading entrepreneur, “At its core, entrepreneurship begins with building trust and a firm commitment to a vision. At FIRST, that principle shaped how we built the business: carving out a niche in the B2B events and experiences space, focusing on core sectors such as finance and technology, and serving clients who value high-touch service and long-term partnership. Building on that foundation, we established operating models that include project-based work, partially or fully embedded teams, and on-premise campus solutions. Today, we continue to adapt with foresight, integrating AI and technology alongside our people to scale with both creativity and consistency.” 5. Know Your Vision Shirin Behzadi speaking on entrepreneurship Brittany Abdool Shirin Behzadi advanced from an immigrant on her own with little money to becoming CEO of the billion-dollar HFC and author of The Unexpected CEO. She shares her story and belief, “As I sat at my cashier’s desk inside a bulletproof booth at the gas station, I felt hopeless. I was 18 and had arrived in the United States without parents or much money. My prospects felt dire. Then, I found hope-and a vision: someday I’ll run a big company. And I declared it to anyone. I knew I would; I just had to take the steps to get there. That knowing guided me and led to my unexpected rise to CEO, growing our billion-dollar Company. Of all the principles in my journey from gas station cashier to the unexpected billion-dollar CEO, the most important is this: hopes and dreams matter; but nothing is as powerful as knowing.” 6. Lead With Integrity Christy Page, as COO and CFO of The International Association of Better Business Bureaus, has a unique vantage point as its members are over 360,000 local and global businesses. She shares what BBB has found makes for successful entrepreneurs, “At BBB, we’ve learned that entrepreneurship thrives where trust and purpose meet. True innovation comes from building credibility and creating value that last. Entrepreneurs who lead with integrity don't just build companies - they strengthen the marketplace itself. At BBB, we've seen that doing good in business isn't a trend or tactic; it is the most sustainable foundation for entrepreneurial success.” 7. Be a Calculated Risk-Taker Len Green, CPA, is the top professor of entrepreneurship at Babson College, an investor/owner of over 30 companies and author of best-selling book The Entrepreneur’s Playbook. “When facing the unknown, you don’t think your way into it, you act. Planning is important, but execution and doing are what really move things forward. Big new ideas rarely make great businesses. It’s not necessarily the breakthrough idea that wins—it’s the execution, positioning, timing and market fit. Successful entrepreneurs are not risk-takers; they are calculated risk-takers.” I hope these insights inspire you. I will summarize with something the iconic race car driver Mario Andretti once told me -- which to me sums up the voyage of a true entrepreneur, “If you are not a little out of control, you’re not going fast enough”. Editorial StandardsReprints & Permissions
