Business Athletes: Nele Wessels

Hello and welcome to Business Athletes everyone 👋 

Each week, we’ll explore the athlete-like habits behind a different business leader. In less than 5-minutes, we aim to provide you with practical tactics that you can quickly apply in your day-to-day.⚡️

In the 10th edition of Business Athletes, we poke to Nele Wessels, the founder and CEO of Næo, a pioneering sustainable gummy supplement brand. 

Motivated by her own health struggles, Nele set out to revolutionise nutrition solutions through Næo’s personalised gummies to combat supplement fatigue. Committed to sustainability and ethical practices, Næo aims to transform the $230 billion supplement industry. 

Here’s a snapshot of what Nele shared with us:

• The strategic preparation she undertakes before key business meetings

• Her approach to maintaining high energy and focus during work

• How she thinks about tailoring pitch decks to different types of investors

• And much more!

Read time: 2 minutes 32 seconds

Routines That Shape Performance

Morning Protocol

My day usually kicks off between 6:30 and 7 AM. I always start my day with a warm cup of tea, followed by a 30-minute Pilates session.

This routine is not just about physical fitness; it’s my own form of meditation, preparing both my body and mind for the day ahead.

My mornings are quite strict, and they never change; even during the weekend I don’t usually wake up past 8am. Specifically, working out in the morning gets those endorphins going and you feel like you've achieved your first goal. It’s similar to how Navy SEALs religiously make their beds to perfection every morning. 

Deep Into The Game

Strategic Preparation To Win

In the past, I used to be someone who rehearsed things very strictly, rehearsing pitches in front of a mirror and everything.

But recently, I have found that I perform my best when I’m relaxed. When I’m that strict on myself with rehearsing, I find I get more nervous, and then it comes across as maybe I’m not as experienced.

I prefer to be more strategic with my preparation instead of just putting in the reps. This balanced approach keeps me poised and confident, ready to tackle the big day.

The more relaxed I am, the better the pitches usually go. So, this has sort of become my mantra when it comes to preparing for these big days.

Tailoring Investor Decks

An example of this strategic preparation is my approach to deck creation and iteration. 

In the beginning of my founder journey, I definitely asked a lot of people for feedback. I have gone through 17 different versions trying to perfect my pitch deck for every audience. But now, I’ve taken a different approach where I have a different deck for different types of investors. So, I’ll have a different deck for corporate venture capitalists (CVCs), a different one for angels, a different one for friends & family investors, and so on. 

The core of the deck remains the same - our why, our how, our use of funds, etc - but the angle at which we frame our problem, our solution and our market opportunity changes based on the type of investor we are trying to attract with that respective deck. 

For example, now I'm going to Geneva in three weeks to present our product at a trade show, so we tailored our deck for that event to be more focused on our supplements product range. 

Lessons From The Field

A Game Of Stamina

A year ago, I would wake up at 5am and get to work for about an hour straight away, since there was no distraction at that time. 

But now, during a typical day, I pace myself by focusing on targeted goals and maintaining flexibility based on the day’s demands. 

I liken this to playing in a crucial match where every move is calculated and deliberate. Startups are a game of longevity and you need to make sure you’re being consistent. This is a game of decades.

How To Build Confidence

In terms of confidence building, I believe you have to ask yourself - what is there to lose? If you don't try, there's nothing really to lose. Especially us, being young and not having serious responsibilities, we don't have much to lose, so why not take a risk?

And when it comes to pitching to VCs, I think the best thing to do is to remember that everyone is human and be more easygoing. The more you feel impressed by these people, the less likely you are to be authentic, and as a result, the less likely they are to connect with you and like you. 

At the end of the day, that’s what matters. You have to be authentic when selling yourself. In the very early stages, you're selling a dream, you're selling a vision and the better you sell that, the more likely you're going to get investments.

Post-Game Rest

Unwinding After The Match

I often go on long walks to clear my mind, especially after challenging days. These walks are my cool-down phase, allowing me to reflect and recharge, and see things from different angles, which helps me solve problems that I might have been stuck on during the day. 

Obviously there are some things you can influence and some things you can't. I think it's important to take time to reflect, but if something is out of our control, accepting them and letting go is the best solution.

In the evenings, I try to debrief and reflex on my day. This helps me plan for the next day with a clear mind, making sure I’m working on the things that will move the needle. 

The Business Athlete Mindset

Values-Based Ambition

I became a founder because I want to look back at my life when I'm like 80 or 90, and say, “Okay, I’ve really created some value for people.” 

I read this book called The Big Five for Life, and it talks about looking at your life like a museum, where you walk through the museum of life at the end, and asks you the question - what pictures do you want to see on the walls? This is how I think about my life. 

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