Time to read: 8 Minutes
Today we introduce you to Maverick, Entrepreneur and Leader Sivan Baram. Sivan is the Co-Founder & CEO of radd. – an eCommerce start-up based in Israel. She previously worked as a content marketing professional with 12+ years experience with leading successful brand repositioning strategies as well as effective results-oriented marketing campaigns and content marketing projects for a broad range of global companies and start-ups.
Hi Sivan! Thanks for talking with us today! What would you say is unique about what you do?
I lead a start-up that is offering online brands a LIVE and measurable customer experience that is story-based. What is unique is not only what we do, but how we do it. We take company culture very seriously, even as a young start-up and make sure that our daily routine regularly involves mutual respect, complete trust and lots of humour.
That sounds like a nice environment to work in! What do you think makes you stand out?
I think that I am an exceptionally positive individual and that can be sensed very quickly when speaking or interacting with me.
What inspired you to found radd?
I always dreamt of managing my own start-up but I only realised that is what I wanted to do when I was about 30 when I had founded my first start-up and failed. It was an image recognition fashion app that was called MatchApp.
It took me some time to find an idea that would spark my motivation. I worked for other start-ups for a few years, I also managed an accelerator, but constantly felt that I was not fulfilling my potential nor going after my real dream. Until I did.
Last year I took a week off from life and flew to London where I participated in iDiscover Core I, and when I got back I realised that it was time to go all-in on my biggest dream.
Amazing! I’m so glad we could play a little part in inspiring you to go after your dream fully. I’m sure you must have dealt with a few challenges along the way. What would you say is the most challenging aspect of your work and how do you deal with it?
I think the biggest challenge is staying motivated no matter what comes your way. The entrepreneurial journey not only demands hard work and constantly meeting set deadlines, but also involves many many no answers on a daily basis and the only way to keep going is to stay motivated, enjoy the journey and always keep going.
Dealing with rejection is indeed very challenging, but like Friedrich Nietzsche said: “He who has a why to live can bear almost any how.” What is your Mount Everest? What would you love to create in the world?
My Mount Everest is composed of many many things all together. To run a successful company with an especially friendly environment where people can still be able to fulfil their own dreams. It doesn’t have to be big but I would like it to be powerful enough to be able to help others in need, volunteer and support causes that are close to our hearts (the elderly, troubled youth and so on). I’d also like to be able to spend enough quality time with family and friends alongside running the company and investing in my personal time. I love running, swimming and writing.
I still have many other dreams to fulfil and I think this Mount Everest shouldn’t necessarily be composed of just one element or one specific goal but for me, it’s an ongoing state of mind that is driven by a passion to achieve, build and learn something new at every point in time.
We already touched upon it briefly, but about a year ago you attended an iDiscover Core Programme in London. What is the most inspiring thing that happened to you as a result of iDiscover?
The most inspiring thing that happened to me as a result is the understanding that I absolutely must go after my biggest dream to found a start-up. I literally quit my job the day I returned.
Moreover, the inspiration I had that following year was so intense that not only did I found my own start-up, but alongside my amazing two co-founders raised two investments and participated in two start-up acceleration and scale-up programs, I also ran in four different running events and regularly woke up at 5 am so that I could have enough time to do everything I wanted to.
What do iDiscover and its community mean to you?
iDiscover is an exceptional experience I am never going to forget. Some of the things I was told about myself, by either the amazing team of coaches or the participants, will echo in my head forever. I am very proud to be a part of this amazing community of people who took a break from life to invest in their most precious asset, themselves.
What is your most sacred daily/weekly/monthly ritual or performance hack that really works for you?
Swimming in summertime and running in wintertime. I also love writing from time to time.
I have an evening habit of dancing with my kids right before shower time. It’s one of my favourite all-time rituals. I also like playing chess with them but they are starting to get too good…
What was your best adventure ever?
My wedding day was just the most perfect day, with the most perfect guy, (my husband Guy, the love of my life), in the most beautiful place (on the beach of Atlit, near Haifa), and with all of my favourite people – my family and my friends. Our celebration of love was the happiest party. Since that day we have created 3 amazing kids together, that provide endless adventures on a daily basis :)
What is your guilty pleasure?
CHOCOLATE
Oh yes, chocolate, simply irresistible, isn’t it? Last but not least… What is your favourite quote that you want to leave us with?
“If you can dream it, you can do it.” – Walt Disney
Beautiful! Thanks for the interview Sivan. We wish you all the best with radd and hope all your dreams will come true!