Vladimirs Remi

Vladimirs Remi was born in Riga, Latvia, which is in the Nordic Europe. Vladimirs studied in Latvian and the United Kingdom as an e-commerce specialist. Later he worked as the lecturer in University reading the lectures to the students about FinTech. Mr. Remi has a very long work history. Starting as a call support specialist in the world’s leading FinTech company, Vladimirs moved around to become a software engineer, project manager, and later the Head of E-commerce Department in a bank and now is a very successful Chief Executive Officer in FinTech firms. Now Vladimirs is the owner and CEO of his own FinTech company.

For the last 14 years working to build his own business, even while being employed by other companies, he worked hard to become successful at achieving his dream of owning his own business. For Mr. Remi to own his own business meant “to have the freedom to live, freedom to decide who you are and take the responsibility”.

Currently Vladimirs is a business owner of a group of companies with the goal to leave the European region and expand to the United States and Asian. Vladimirs comments “From my own business vision, I do not see in European market and significant opportunities to earn with high margins and to grow.”

Where did the idea for your career come from?

The idea came from such companies like Google, Deloitte, KPMG and Apple, I was trying to make something special, that is not like anything else. But what I have managed to achieve is not what I want anyway, I am working on a new brand and a new business that hopefully would be my heritage and that is one of the reasons to move the business to the states.

What does your typical day look like and how do you make it productive?

I have recently changed my working schedule and my biological hours. Now I wake up usually at 8:00-8:30. Before Covid-19 crisis I would drive to work and I liked going to an office and liked that process to be surrounded by people but with the COVID-19 crisis I have understood that I like more to be alone, rather than to be in the office chaos. So, I drive to my restaurant where I go to the second floor and work in the private cigar room until lunchtime and after lunch I leave for meetings. That gives me the feeling that I am not working as the employed person in the office but have a freedom to choose and decide for my own life, that inspires me and gives me the motivation to work. I like to work in fancy restaurants and hotels, where I am the most productive, or even from my car in the back where I have everything, even the printer for some needs. At the end of the day I usually come to the office to see my team and business partners. I am productive when I am moving, so for me the worst thing is to sit and work from one place.

How do you bring ideas to life?

Just dream and then do. I have a lot of dreams that I want to complete, so if I want something I just start moving to that direction and to make at least something in this direction and after everything just starts happening.

What’s one trend that excites you?

I can think of a negative trend that I am disappointed about. That would be the compliance issues that are happening in the world that are becoming paranoiac without any logic, and that people even in the managing positions are afraid of the responsibility. That destroys the progress.

The positive trend that excites me, is that everything is moving to online and online support, as well as green energy.

What is one habit of yours that makes you more productive as an entrepreneur?

I have the bad one that moves me forwards, I do not listen to anyone and always try to accomplish what I think is right. Don’t get me wrong, I listen to advice, but always make decisions for myself and what is best for myself, my family and my company.

What advice would you give your younger self?

To slow-down and finally start to enjoy your life. For the last 14 years I was on vacation only once for 8 days.

Tell us something that’s true that almost nobody agrees with you on.

Everyone can build the bank! That is not space science and is easy to build and I can help with this. People always listen carefully to my ideas, but then when I start making them and seeing how they followed my advice and changes in their opinion I think they just wonder how I did that.

As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?

I fight. I fight with myself, with life obstacles, I fight for my freedom to live and to do what I want. The business is not a joy, it is hard work and it doesn’t matter if you are a flower store owner or a CEO of a huge corporation. Each entrepreneur fights for his freedom to exist. So I would say, stay strong and do not step back even in front of the very scary things. As King Solomon said “This too shall pass”.

What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business?

I have no strategy, I have just a strong will to get what I want and need and move forward.

What is one failure you had as an entrepreneur, and how did you overcome it?

Trying to please everyone forgetting about my personal interests. I am still working to overcome this.

What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?

Move your business/work to online, do not concentrate on the ground business, the future will destroy a lot of professions and we will see a huge transformation soon.

What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?

A bottle of good wine from Napa Valley, California. Why? It would cost $150 dollars in the next half a year, or a year.

What is one piece of software or a web service that helps you be productive?

Google, Gmail is my everything.

What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?

Code of laws of the country in which you live and, in the area, where you work.

What is your favorite quote?

“This too shall pass” from King Solomon.

Key Learnings:

• Always move forwards.
• Stay strong and never step back.
• Everything is moving to online
• “This too shall pass”