Smile and Let Smile

A Humble Visionary

This afternoon, I had the privilege of attending a Spark Chat at Maldives National University’s Main Auditorium, hosted by MNU and SparkHub. The guest was Nattu Adnan, co-founder and CTO of LottieFiles, a global platform revolutionizing animation with over 14 million users.

What struck me most was Nattu’s simplicity. With no trace of ego, he sat straight-backed, exuding calm and respect, his flawless, unhurried words flowing naturally. His journey from the Maldives to Kuala Lumpur to Seoul was a testament to what’s possible, and his insights left a lasting impact on me and even my 8-year-old granddaughter, who joined me this afternoon.

Takeaways: Lessons for Startups and Beyond

The session, stretching over two hours, offered profound lessons for aspiring entrepreneurs, especially in a place like the Maldives, where building a global startup feels like a distant dream. One key takeaway was the power of a founder’s mindset.

I learned that humility, active listening, and trusting teams to navigate their own paths: even when they hit dead ends; are critical for success. This approach fosters growth and innovation, allowing teams to learn through experience rather than top-down control.

Another lesson was that where you start doesn’t define you. Success hinges on faith, persistence, crafting a compelling pitch, and mastering your numbers, all while embracing failure as part of the journey. This resonated deeply, as it leveled the playing field for dreamers from smaller markets like ours.

The session also highlighted the need for a supportive ecosystem: a network that provides resources at critical moments, prioritizing meaningful outcomes over flashy outputs. For the Maldives, building such an ecosystem requires significant effort to turn local startups into global players, a challenge that feels both daunting and inspiring.

The discussion touched on cultural nuances, too. I learned that South and Southeast Asians, including Maldivians, tend to challenge themselves internally rather than ask questions, unlike Western teams. Drawing from his experience with teams across over 20 countries, Nattu showed how understanding these differences can strengthen global collaboration.

Another standout insight was the importance of a people and culture mindset over a traditional HR approach. By focusing on empowering individuals and fostering a collaborative culture, startups can build teams that thrive.

Transparency was a recurring theme. I was struck by a story about addressing a major gossip about LottieFiles that was dealt by a townhall where anonymous questions were allowed. With a smile, Nattu reflected that he might not do it again, though his humor suggested he valued the openness it created.

This candor carried into a discussion on ethics, sparked by my own question. The session emphasized that startups often disrupt by bending or breaking rules: sometimes many, but there’s a clear line. For example, engaging in something like selling pirated movies on pen drives crosses that line and isn’t right. This balance of disruption and integrity was a powerful reminder for any entrepreneur.

A Personal Touch: My Granddaughter’s Spark

I attended the session with my 8-year-old granddaughter, whom I’d picked up from school with no time to drop her off. She sat beside me, and when boredom crept in during the session, she dove into designing with Copilot on my phone, a favorite pastime from our ferry rides.

Her presence made the evening special, blending my passion for learning with her curiosity. When question time arrived, she whispered that she wanted to ask Nattu, “What would the world have been without technology?” I planned to take her to him, as an 8-year-old’s question might not fit the forum’s formal vibe. But with the session running long, we had to leave after two hours. I’m determined to find a way to ask Nattu her question someday, as her spark of curiosity lit up the experience and echoed the session’s spirit of inspiration.

Startup Future for Maldives

Nattu’s insights, delivered with humility and clarity, are a blueprint for building startups that matter. His journey from the Maldives to global impact shows that dreamers from anywhere can succeed with the right mindset, resilience, and ecosystem.

For the Maldives, the session was a wake-up call: we have much to do to nurture startups that can compete globally. By fostering networks, embracing a people-first culture, and balancing disruption with ethics, we can empower the next generation of innovators.

Nattu’s wisdom inspired not just me but also my granddaughter, whose question about technology’s role reminds us to keep curiosity alive.

Thank you, MNU and SparkHub, for igniting this spark and showing us what’s possible. Let’s build a Maldives where startups thrive and dreamers soar.