Failure | BrewDog's CEO on the biggest mistakes he's made in business

Being a truly innovative leader means taking chances. In a highly competitive market, staying in your lane and being satisfied with the status quo isn’t maintaining business, it’s losing ground to more driven competitors. 

Bill Gates, Elon Musk, even Apple Founder Steve Jobs – all of these leaders were known for their divisive tactics and big wins in market share. We’ve all heard of their historic products and unfathomable ability to take chances and see positive results. However, we only really hear about the wins.

Each successful leader has had their fair share of setbacks, failures and putdowns. The fact of the matter is that to win once, it probably takes the endurance to withstand 30 losses. This is something that BrewDog Founder and CEO James Watt knows only too well.

BrewDog, which started in 2007 as a simple garage-based microbrewery, has swiftly made a name for itself as a leader in its field. A regular of front-page news due to Watt’s innovative tactics and impeccable business acumen, the brand is a favourite of beer enthusiasts and eco-minded revellers alike, with a robust sustainability pledge that rivals any company currently trading.