Bilal Kola
Bilal Kola is a Business Coach. He tells us that, “I hold a Bachelor Degree in Law and Master’s Degree in International Business Law from London University. Among other academic achievements, I hold a PhD Degree in Strategic Leadership. I’ve held various leadership positions over the last 20 years, including the CEO of Corporate Governance Institute, running my own law firm since 2009, CEO of FocalPoint Brian Tracy for Western Balkans, etc. Recently I published my book “12 Mindsets to improve life radically”, a best seller on Amazon.com. My true passion is to empower people through coaching, training and keynote presentations.”
What were your initial years of growing up like? Tell us about your life before starting your corporate journey/venture/initiative.
I was born in an Albanian communist concentration camp where I lived until the age of 18, when communism collapsed. My father was sent to political prison when I was 2 years old. I was deprived of all minimalistic liberties and when I was 14, I was not allowed to go to school and instead was forced to work in heavy labor work in agriculture by the communist authorities. Most of the time I went hungry and I was wearing ravaged clothes. Thankfully I found some solace in reading various books. Those books inspired me and kept me going. When I was 15 years old I read a biography about President Kennedy. Out of many impressive stories I read in this book, one thing really struck me because it resonated with my own circumstances. In one of his speeches in Western Germany President Kennedy said: “In Chinese language the word challenge is made of two hieroglyphs. One means danger, the other means opportunity. It’s up to each one of us to choose between seeing the danger and withering away or seeing the opportunity and trying to grow in personality and confidence”. Since that day I chose to see every challenge as an opportunity to grow.
Every industry that is now a large-scale, top-notch business once started as a small idea in the minds of entrepreneurs. What was that idea or motivation that made you start your business /initiative? What motivated you within to say YES, go for it!”
When I started my own law firm, my motivation behind it was to be independent at both dimensions: financially and professionally. Now that I’m working as an executive and entrepreneur coach, my motivation is to empower others in being the best possible version of themselves both in their professional/business and personal dimension.
Would you like to share with our young budding women entrepreneurs the change you would like to see in the world if given an opportunity?
I love this quote by Rumi: “Yesterday, because I was smart, I tried to change the world. Today, because I am wise, I try to change myself”.
My tip is simple and straightforward: try to make small changes for yourself every day aspiring to be just a better person in your business and personal life. If you do that, you’ll be amazed how many people you can impact and how successful you will become.
Women are a growing force in the workplaces worldwide, standing shoulder to shoulder with their male counterparts. There are cracks in glass ceilings everywhere, with many women breaking through to carve out a space right at the top of the pyramid. What are your thoughts about women leadership today?
In my opinion, women are better leaders than men, simply because they are more empathetic than men. ABC, now stands for “always be connecting”, and women excel at connecting.
What’s the most important thing you have learned in your personal life and professional journey? What is your personal motto in life?
Ultimate self realization comes from experiencing the “giver’s high”. So, each one of us is the very best version of ourselves if we ‘sell’ our cleverness and in so doing we ‘buy’ our happiness. Therefore, I’ve decided to use my knowledge, experience, energy, talent and passion to empower others and in so doing gain for myself the “giver’s high”.
With your grit and determination, you are making a considerable impact, breaking through, and serving as role models for many budding entrepreneurs. What would you want to say to our young women leaders/audience reading this?
Change everything you can change if it doesn’t resonate with your values, passion and talent.
Use your past to improve your present and future.
Be inspired by your every single achievement in life no matter if you think is big or small.