Business In:Brief with Adrian Przelozny (Independent Reserve)
Adrian Przelozny
Adrian PrzeloznyCEO and founder of Independent Reserve, 2013–present
Adrian Przelozny is the CEO and founder of Independent Reserve, an Australian cryptocurrency exchange founded in 2013.
Adrian is also the board director of the Australian Digital Commerce Association, the country's leading digital currency council, and was previously the managing director of Asia-Australia Technology.
What was your first job?
My first job was a paper run when I was 12 years old. It was a great way to learn the value of hard work at a young age and I've been working continuously since that time.
What's your proudest achievement?
I've always been a builder and taken pride in creating new things from scratch. The more complex and difficult the better.
One of my fondest memories is the day we launched Independent Reserve to the public, back in 2014. Over two years of blood, sweat and tears had finally yielded a result. Little did I know that it was only the beginning.
What's the biggest lesson you've learned?
Perseverance is key and value is cumulative. Although it sometimes may not seem that way, every little thing that a founder does early on in the life of a business adds up and ultimately creates value which may only be realised years later.
Starting a business is hard and requires a lot of patience and commitment to do what often seem like thankless tasks. It's easy to get lost in the day-to-day operational activities when a founder needs to wear many different hats, but it is important to step back periodically, relax and try to see the bigger picture.
What other business leader do you most admire and why?
Not strictly business, but I've always admired Angela Merkel for her persistent strength and steely resolve. She is never afraid to make an unpopular decision in order to do what she feels is right. Opening her country to refugees and people in need was an incredible example of this.
What's the best piece of business advice you've ever received?
The key to success is not giving up and keeping things in perspective. Building a business is a difficult and long process. The path from A to B is often not a straight line and there will be hiccups along the way. The trick is to stay calm, trust in your vision and carry on.
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