A Discussion with Vladimirs Remi About Being a Successful Leader and Overcoming Obstacles

Vladimirs Remi was born in Riga, Latvia. He is an accomplished serial entrepreneur in the fintech sector.

Vladimirs Remi holds a Professional Bachelor’s Degree in E-Commerce from the Riga International School of Economics and Business Administration. He is a certified high-risk underwriter and successfully completed the International English Language Testing System Exam in 2010.

After studying e-commerce in Latvia and the United Kingdom, Vladimirs Remi worked as a call support specialist for a leading fintech enterprise and later pursued career opportunities as a software engineer, project manager, and e-commerce executive.

Today, Vladimirs Remi is the owner and CEO of a highly successful fintech firm. He possesses a variety of technical skills and expertise and is a member of several professional organisations. He is also multilingual, with his native tongue being Russian and possessing advanced skills in English and Latvian and basic skills in German. While his business currently focuses on the European market, he is looking to expand to the U.S. and Asia in the future.

Why did you decide to create your own business?

 Creating my business gives me the freedom to choose my own career path and pursue my unique vision. At the same time, I have always believed that freedom comes with responsibility. You cannot have one without the other. For some people, the idea of being responsible is intimidating and unsettling. But for me, it is inspiring and energizing.

What traits do you possess that make you a successful leader?

 As a leader, I am very focused, clear, and decisive about where my company is headed. I also have a very strong work ethic and a tremendous amount of willpower. I am committed to consistently doing what is in the best long-term interests of my company and my family. I am a dreamer as well as a doer, and I am always moving forward.

What keeps you motivated?

 Fear keeps me motivated. Specifically, the fear of not having the freedom to control my future and evolve my business. This fear motivates me to work very hard each day and never take success for granted. When situations become difficult or problems occur, I draw strength and inspiration from my favourite quote by King Solomon: “This too shall pass”.

What has been the hardest obstacle you’ve overcome?

 There are two obstacles that I have had to overcome in my professional and personal life so far. The first obstacle is the desire to please everyone and fulfil their goals, which has at times caused me to neglect my personal interests. The second obstacle is a tendency towards working too much. To be honest, in the last 14 years I have only taken one vacation and that only lasted for eight days. In the future, I will strive to achieve more work-life balance.

What is one piece of advice that you have never forgotten?

 The best advice I have ever received, and which I share with anyone who is wise enough to listen, is that the future is online and not on the ground. In fact, we are already seeing this transformation in many sectors and industries. The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly accelerated this shift, as more people work remotely and more companies leverage the internet and mobile to connect with customers and clients.

What would you tell others looking to get into your industry?

Many people who want to enter the fintech space become obsessed with strategy. While it is important to have a robust plan, it is even more important to take action and move forward. Strategy without progress leads to stagnation. I would also warn anyone who wants to get into this industry that they should be prepared to work very hard. This is not a field for anyone looking for a job where they only have to work a few hours a day and spend the rest of their time chatting with friends or watching YouTube videos. Each day is busy and filled with new challenges and possibilities.

What trends in your industry excite you?

 I am excited about the fact that everything is moving online because that is clearly the future for fintech. I am also energized by innovations and developments in green energy, which are transforming everything from supply chains to product engineering, and much more. There is also a great deal of convergence between fintech and green energy right now, which is exciting.

What is the biggest life lesson you have learned?

Dreaming is important. But turning dreams into reality is even more important. There are many smart and visionary people who never make an impact because they were reluctant to make progress and move forward. Yes, sometimes it can be scary and risky. But it is also exciting and the best way to learn something is by actually doing it.

What is one thing you would change in your industry today if you could?

In my opinion, there are too many illogical compliance policies that are blocking progress and innovation in the fintech space. It is important to be prudent, but not to become paranoid.

What do you love most about the industry you are in?

What I love most about the fintech industry is that there is so much potential ahead; especially in the U.S. and Asia, where profit margins and growth opportunities are strong compared to European markets.