What makes someone stand out in a crowded workplace? Six business leaders tell us what they look for.
By Nexvoro Tech Wire
PUBLISHED THU, SEP 10, 2026 12:45 AM UTC • 6 MIN READ
Primary Journalistic Dispatch & Direct Reporting
For some bosses, it's less about having the perfect CV and more about the way you think, the questions you ask and whether you're prepared to take a chance.
Six business founders and leaders share the qualities they notice most and the advice they would give to people trying to get ahead.
"Nothing is impossible in life - it's only your own limitations you give yourself."
In-Depth Developments & Factual Context
The beauty mogul says there will always be naysayers, and there were plenty of people who told her she was "mad" or that her ideas would not work but it's important to ignore them.
Tilbury recommends trying not to think of setbacks as mistakes, but as opportunities to rethink and improve.
"I don't think about mistakes, I think mistakes are opportunities," she says.
Industry Impact & Strategic Analysis
Many of the biggest challenges she faced ultimately made her a stronger business leader and "challenge is opportunity and it leads you to greater places".
Charlie Bowes-Lyon, co-founder of deodorant brand Wild, says attitude matters far more than having the perfect set of skills.
"For me, it's 90% attitude and 10% skills, as skills can be taught, attitude can't."
Forward Outlook & Market Perspective
One thing he wishes he had realised earlier is that even successful people do not always feel as confident as they appear and "everyone is faking it until they're making it".
If you find yourself at a job interview, Bowes-Lyon says it's really important to have a few questions at the end as "candidates who say they have no questions rarely get the job".
One question he recommends asking the interviewer is what success in the job looks like.
Image source, Marcia Kilgore Marcia Kilgore, the serial entrepreneur behind brands including Beauty Pie and Soap and Glory, says curiosity is one of the main qualities she looks for when hiring.
She values people who will "roll their sleeves up, ask lots of questions and think about how they can be useful".
Kilgore also says good communication is crucial as she realised early on in her career that a lack of communication is often the reason things break down.
Reporting synthesized and verified under Nexvoro.tech editorial guidelines. Full primary records referenced via BBC Business.
Reporting synthesized under Nexvoro.tech Editorial Standards • Referenced via BBC Business
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