MEET OUR MENTOR: LONA ALIA @ SAFETY WING
Lona is the Head of Revenue at SafetyWing, a Y Combinator founder of StyleLend, Advisor at EU for Innovation, and remote work advocate and nomad who’s been to 80 countries and learned 7 languages. Lona recently built a sales team of 14 for SafetyWing and raised $2M in revenue in a year, all while working remotely.
SafetyWing is the first truly global health insurance company that equips distributed companies and digital nomads with benefits wherever they go, so companies can build a great team from anywhere in the world.
Our mission is to remove geographical borders as a barrier to equal opportunities and freedom for everyone, by creating a global social safety net for remote workers and nomads worldwide. It’s your home country on the internet.
What does impact entrepreneurship mean to you? Is it different from being a “regular” entrepreneur? How so?
An impact entrepreneur’s motivation is what sets them apart from a normal entrepreneur. An impact entrepreneur is driven by more than profit; they feel called to challenge the status quo, make an impact that changes their community for the better, and to solve what they see as a problem in society.
From your experience, what is the biggest obstacle young entrepreneurs face? Any advice for them?
Young entrepreneurs face many challenges, from ageism to fewer funding sources to perhaps mindset limitations. My advice is to reframe your age as an advantage, because that means you are more likely to be creative and less tied to conventional ideas. Knowledge and lessons will come through time, so be patient and try not to be too bogged down by mistakes. They are bound to happen, even when you’re at the top level, so get comfortable with discomfort early on and see every error as an opportunity and a lesson. Finally, don’t be afraid to ask for help. You don’t have to do everything on your own — in fact collaborating with people who are good at their jobs not only builds good relationships and gives other people a chance to shine, but it allows you to discover new ways of doing things that you couldn’t have come up with on your own. Working with others is also good for your ego, which will face many rejections if you’re in it for the long-term. Keep in mind that it’s a good thing, because ego is the enemy of creativity. Don’t get too hung up on the naysayers. Remember it’s a marathon, not a sprint.
CONNECT WITH LONA:
Website: www.safetywing.com / Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/lonaalia / IG: www.instagram.com/nomadcities