Success is often described as a result of talent or luck. But after speaking with three professionals working in completely different fields, I began to question that idea. A politician, an entrepreneur, and a DJ may seem to have nothing in common, yet their experiences reveal something deeper. Leadership is not simply about skill—it is about mindset, purpose, and the ability to persist over time.
Gregorio Restrepo, who is currently developing a platform that helps international investors better understand Colombia, emphasizes the importance of long-term thinking. “En este momento estoy trabajando en una plataforma que ayuda a inversionistas de afuera a entender mejor la situación política y económica de Colombia,” he explains. His work goes beyond providing information and focuses on influencing real decisions. As he puts it, “lo más importante ha sido poder conectar esa información con gente que realmente está tomando decisiones de inversión.”
What stands out in Gregorio’s experience is not just his professional work, but how he understands leadership itself. Reflecting on his time in school, he says, “cuando fui presidente del consejo estudiantil aprendí mucho sobre liderazgo y responsabilidad.” More importantly, he defines leadership in a way that challenges common assumptions: “al final uno aprende que liderar es escuchar a la gente y tomar decisiones pensando en el largo plazo.” His perspective shows that leadership is not about authority, but about responsibility and vision.
While Gregorio focuses on large-scale decision-making, Lucas Thiriez approaches leadership from an entrepreneurial and community-driven perspective. As the founder of Amoramar, he connects fishermen from Bahía Solano with larger markets. “Amoramar es una empresa que conecta pescadores de Bahía Solano con mercados en ciudades grandes,” he explains. However, his goal is not limited to business success. “La idea es traer pescado de muy buena calidad pero al mismo tiempo promover pesca sostenible,” he adds.
Lucas’s definition of impact reflects a deeper sense of purpose. He explains that his project is meant to “ayudar a que la gente valore de dónde viene el pescado que consume.” By supporting local communities and promoting sustainability, his work goes beyond profit. At the same time, his experience reveals an important challenge. When asked about the most difficult part of his project, he responds simply: “la logística.” He explains further that “llevar producto fresco desde un lugar tan remoto hasta las ciudades requiere mucha coordinación.”
This moment complicates the idea that purpose alone leads to success. While vision is essential, Lucas’s experience shows that execution is equally important. Leadership, in this case, requires not only strong values but also the ability to solve complex, real-world problems.
In a completely different field, Martin Jaramillo, known as MRTN, offers a creative perspective on leadership. His journey began in a simple way: “todo empezó produciendo música por gusto.” What started as a personal interest gradually evolved into an international career. As he explains, “me fui metiendo mucho en el afro house y poco a poco la gente empezó a escuchar mis tracks.”
For Martin, success is closely tied to authenticity. One of his most meaningful experiences has been “viajar y tocar en otros países,” where, as he describes, “ver que gente de diferentes culturas conecta con la música es muy especial.” However, his growth as an artist did not come from following trends. Instead, he emphasizes the importance of originality: “ser auténtico con el sonido… no tratar de copiar a otros sino construir algo propio.”
His perspective reinforces a key pattern seen across all three interviews. Despite working in different industries, none of these individuals followed a fixed formula for success. Instead, they built something personal and meaningful in their own way.
Across all three conversations, their advice for students is also surprisingly consistent. Gregorio highlights the importance of patience and understanding, stating that “muchas veces el éxito viene de entender muy bien los problemas y trabajar en ellos durante años.” Lucas focuses on purpose, advising students to “empiecen con algo que realmente les importe.” Meanwhile, Martin emphasizes discipline, explaining that “al principio todo es aprendizaje, pero si uno es constante las oportunidades llegan.”
Together, these perspectives suggest that leadership is not defined by a single characteristic. Instead, it is shaped by a combination of long-term thinking, purpose, authenticity, and discipline. Each of these qualities plays a role in how individuals overcome challenges and create impact in their fields.
Ultimately, success across different professions follows a similar foundation. It is not about immediate results or external recognition, but about the ability to remain committed, adapt to challenges, and build something meaningful over time. These stories demonstrate that leadership is not limited to a specific career path—it is a way of thinking and acting that can be applied anywhere.
For students looking toward the future, the message is clear. Success is not something that happens instantly, nor is it something reserved for a select few. It is something that is built step by step, through choices, effort, and persistence. In the end, what separates leaders from the rest is not what they do, but how they choose to do it.