Mo Katibeh , founder and CEO of the mobile technology company Neon, talks about how she found success through a deliberate focus on innovation. Come hear her story and how she manages to balance her work as a leader in tech, while also creating opportunities for others.
“I always knew I was going to be an entrepreneur,” Katibeh says, “but that was just an afterthought.” She discovered an innovative way of thinking early in life when playing around with Legos. “I became obsessed with lego blocks,” Katibeh recalls. “I loved how you could build something so complex, but you could do it with just a few pieces.”
From there, Katibeh started to see every problem as something that she could potentially solve. “I always thought about how things are made and how you can make them better,” Katibeh says. This focus is what led her to study mechanical engineering at Cornell. At that time, the rise of mobile devices was transforming how we live and work.His innovation and creativity attracted the attention of Maxim, a technology and gadget magazine.
Katibeh quickly moved into a part-time role, where she “tried to find creative solutions” to improve the technology industry. She says, “I think it’s very important for young people to find their passion early on in life. At that age, you have the capacity to explore and take risks, while still being willing to listen to your instincts. That’s how I was able to discover what I wanted to do.”
After years of working in the industry, she took a summer off from school and bought a lap top. She then quickly realized that she needed to take the leap and start her own company. Katibeh says, “I was very fortunate to be given the opportunity to drive my own company and work for a mentor who really helped me grow as an entrepreneur. My challenge now is helping others find their passion. I’m trying to help them channel their creativity into something concrete while they’re young.”
Mo Katibeh saw a huge opportunity in the mobile space and harnessed it to build her company. Mo Katibeh says, “I love how mobile is moving us toward a world without borders. The technology is the key factor in how we can cross those borders. The world is becoming more globalized, and we’re seeing people come together and be part of a single community.
