In the whirlwind of juggling finances, negotiating investor demands, and making sure your startup stays afloat, taking a moment to look back at cultural landmarks like movies might not seem like a priority. Yet, as the founder of multiple startups and the creator of Fe/male Switch, I’ve found inspiration in the oddest places. Films are one of those places. They hold timeless lessons about storytelling, leadership, and even the resilience needed to survive in uncertain terrain. Today, we travel back to the year 1985 to unearth 15 films that shaped audiences back then but remain remarkably poignant for entrepreneurs today.
A Look at the Cinematic Landscape of 1985
1985 was not just a pivotal year for cinema in terms of box-office hits; it was also a year of fables and morality tales. Think about the rollercoasting ambitions in Back to the Future, the survival instincts in Witness, or the self-discovery and defiance of stereotypes in The Breakfast Club. Each of these films captures a fragment of what we, as entrepreneurs and leaders, face every day. Let's walk through some of those movies and reflect on the lessons we can draw from them.
The 15 Movie Gems and What They Teach Entrepreneurs
1. Back to the Future – Dream big, but stay flexible
This isn’t just a film about time travel. It’s about a boy who turns the impossible into reality. Entrepreneurs would do well to draw inspiration from Marty McFly’s trust in his own wits when things don’t go as planned. Sure, we don’t have a DeLorean to change our mistakes, so be prepared for twists and turns in your startup journey.
2. The Breakfast Club – Look beyond labels
Sometimes, the misfits at the table bring the most to it. Learn to embrace diversity in your team and look past internalized expectations about what role someone can play in your company’s story.
3. A View to a Kill – Strategy is everything
James Bond might have the gadgets, but it’s his strategic thinking that saves the day. Startup founders often find themselves outpaced by bigger, more resourceful competitors. Strategic thinking, not just resources, leads to survival.
4. The Color Purple – Resilience matters
This poignant story reminds us of the resilience of the human spirit in the face of hardship. Sound familiar? Building a startup is much like this – relying on hope, grit, and sticking to what you stand for.
5. Clue – Be ready to pivot
Based on a board game, the movie humorously delivers multiple outcomes. For entrepreneurs, it’s a light reminder: “Your ending isn’t written yet. Pivoting and exploring other possibilities can lead to surprising results.”
6. Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure – Stay unique
Pee-Wee’s oddball quest for his stolen bicycle is a reminder to embrace your quirks. In today’s competitive market, staying unique and true to your business ideals can stand out more than perfectly tailored ideas.
7. Blood Simple – Don’t skip the details
The Coen Brothers’ debut film is a tightly wound example of how small miscommunications can lead to disaster. Startups failing to anticipate small operational flaws sink faster than you'd think. Triple-check everything.
8. Real Genius – Work hard, but have fun
Entrepreneurs often get bogged down by relentless schedules and KPIs. Real Genius teaches you to work hard but find moments of joy in the process. Build a team that genuinely enjoys the journey.
9. Ladyhawke – Timing is everything
In this visually striking fantasy, the lovers can only be together for fleeting moments. Entrepreneurship also requires a sharp sense for when to seize opportunities and when to wait.
10. Witness – Uncover your core values
In this crime thriller, a detective finds himself in the Amish community and discovers truths beyond his world. Entrepreneurs should regularly strip back the noise and reconnect with their core mission.
11. Prizzi’s Honor – Risks are part of the ride
Mixing love and murder, this mafia movie reminds me of the paradox of startups, sometimes you have to bet big on unpredictable results. Just make sure the risks align with your larger vision.
12. The Purple Rose of Cairo – Embrace storytelling
As a business founder, you’re always telling your startup's story, whether it’s to customers or investors. This surreal Woody Allen flick about characters walking out of a movie teaches us that every story should feel alive.
13. Desperately Seeking Susan – Network where least expected
Life-changing opportunities don’t always come from the boardroom. Desperately Seeking Susan shows how even the quirkiest encounters can open doors. Don’t underestimate the power of stepping out of your comfort zone.
14. Brazil – Bureaucracy can kill creativity
Gilliam’s grim dystopia highlights the fight against paralyzing systems. As startups grow, avoid turning into your own bureaucratic nightmare and let creativity drive decisions.
15. A Private Function – Think resourcefully
A village is trying to secretly raise a pig during a food shortage. It’s a hilarious and telling commentary on how to innovate when resources are tight, which is, frankly, a constant reality for bootstrapping entrepreneurs in Europe.
Lessons for Female Entrepreneurs in Europe
As a female entrepreneur, I find there’s always an extra layer of expectation or scrutiny, even in 2023. Here’s what we can take away from some of these movies, through the lens of a woman founder:
- Impress Without Being Anyone Else (Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure) – Women shouldn’t feel the pressure to emulate male counterparts or traditional leaders. People follow authenticity.
- Do More with Less (Brazil and A Private Function) – Working with limited resources builds resilience. European grants and initiatives often favor frugal yet impactful businesses. Use your constraints creatively.
- Become a master of the pivot (Clue) – Something will go wrong. It always does. When it does, keep going with Plan B. In uncertain economies, being adaptable is your greatest strength.
- Find your community (The Breakfast Club) – Women entrepreneurs need the support of a robust network. Platforms like Fe/male Switch are designed as spaces where women can collaborate and learn.
A Startup "Watchlist" Plan
Movies are stories, and great storytelling matters in business. Make time to watch at least five of these classics in the next month. Set specific themes to explore while watching, such as adaptability, diversity, resourcefulness, or overcoming adversity. Ask yourself, "What would success look like if I told my startup's story through this lens?"
Common Missteps to Learn From
- Failure to embrace diversity: Like the characters in The Breakfast Club, cohesion in a team doesn’t come from uniformity but from diverse people who bring unmatched perspectives. Diversity is proven to accelerate growth.
- Ignoring opportunities in discomfort: Many founders stick with the known. Movies like Desperately Seeking Susan teach us to embrace surprises and go off-script.
- Overlooking moments of joy: Watching films like Real Genius is refreshing because they remind us to take a breather. Consider laughter your secret productivity weapon.
Closing Thoughts
1985 brought us unforgettable films that age better than fine wine. They feature timeless human struggles: daring to be different, persevering in the face of defeat, navigating the wilderness of initial failure, or just finding the courage to crack an untold story. Entrepreneurs, especially women in Europe, can find more than entertainment in these narratives. They can find lessons in leadership, resilience, and creativity, the foundations of impactful businesses. Who would have thought that yesterday's cinema could fuel tomorrow's successes? For me, the power of revisiting these "old friends" lies in their enduring message: no matter the odds, your one-of-a-kind story is always worth telling.
FAQ
1. What makes 1985 a significant year for movies?
1985 was notable for innovative, genre-defying films, debuting legendary directors like the Coen Brothers and Tim Burton, and producing cult classics like Back to the Future and Brazil. Explore the 1985 Cinema Landscape
2. Why is Back to the Future important for entrepreneurs?
Back to the Future inspires entrepreneurs to dream big while adapting to twists and turns, showcasing the importance of being flexible in times of uncertainty. Check out Domestic Box Office Rankings for 1985
3. How does The Breakfast Club connect to team building?
The movie demonstrates the value of embracing diversity within teams and recognizing the untapped potential in unconventional individuals. Dive into The Breakfast Club Themes
4. What entrepreneurial lesson does Clue offer?
Clue reminds entrepreneurs that their journey is not linear, and they should always prepare for pivots and alternate outcomes. Learn About Clue’s Multiple Endings
5. What leadership qualities can be learned from A View to a Kill?
The James Bond film emphasizes the importance of combining strategy with resourcefulness to outmaneuver larger competitors in business.
6. Why is Brazil relevant to startup creativity?
Terry Gilliam's Brazil illustrates how bureaucracy can stifle creativity, urging startups to prioritize innovation and adaptability as they scale. Explore Brazil’s Cult Legacy
7. What unique lesson does Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure teach?
Pee-Wee’s commitment to staying true to his quirks highlights the importance of authenticity in building a standout brand. Read About Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure
8. How does Real Genius balance hard work and fun?
The film encourages entrepreneurs to work diligently while fostering an enjoyable and engaging work environment for their teams. Learn More About Real Genius
9. What’s the key entrepreneurial lesson from Desperately Seeking Susan?
This film advises entrepreneurs to explore unexpected networking opportunities, reminding them that serendipity often leads to innovation. Dive Into Desperately Seeking Susan
10. How can women entrepreneurs apply lessons from these movies?
Women founders can learn resilience, adaptability, and networking from films like The Breakfast Club and Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure, empowering them to overcome challenges and thrive authentically.
About the Author
Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur. Throughout her startup experience she has applied for multiple startup grants at the EU level, in the Netherlands and Malta, and her startups received quite a few of those. She’s been living, studying and working in many countries around the globe and her extensive multicultural experience has influenced her immensely.
Violetta Bonenkamp's expertise in CAD sector, IP protection and blockchain
Violetta Bonenkamp is recognized as a multidisciplinary expert with significant achievements in the CAD sector, intellectual property (IP) protection, and blockchain technology.
CAD Sector:
- Violetta is the CEO and co-founder of CADChain, a deep tech startup focused on developing IP management software specifically for CAD (Computer-Aided Design) data. CADChain addresses the lack of industry standards for CAD data protection and sharing, using innovative technology to secure and manage design data.
- She has led the company since its inception in 2018, overseeing R&D, PR, and business development, and driving the creation of products for platforms such as Autodesk Inventor, Blender, and SolidWorks.
- Her leadership has been instrumental in scaling CADChain from a small team to a significant player in the deeptech space, with a diverse, international team.
IP Protection:
- Violetta has built deep expertise in intellectual property, combining academic training with practical startup experience. She has taken specialized courses in IP from institutions like WIPO and the EU IPO.
- She is known for sharing actionable strategies for startup IP protection, leveraging both legal and technological approaches, and has published guides and content on this topic for the entrepreneurial community.
- Her work at CADChain directly addresses the need for robust IP protection in the engineering and design industries, integrating cybersecurity and compliance measures to safeguard digital assets.
Blockchain:
- Violetta’s entry into the blockchain sector began with the founding of CADChain, which uses blockchain as a core technology for securing and managing CAD data.
- She holds several certifications in blockchain and has participated in major hackathons and policy forums, such as the OECD Global Blockchain Policy Forum.
- Her expertise extends to applying blockchain for IP management, ensuring data integrity, traceability, and secure sharing in the CAD industry.
Violetta is a true multiple specialist who has built expertise in Linguistics, Education, Business Management, Blockchain, Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property, Game Design, AI, SEO, Digital Marketing, cyber security and zero code automations. Her extensive educational journey includes a Master of Arts in Linguistics and Education, an Advanced Master in Linguistics from Belgium (2006-2007), an MBA from Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden (2006-2008), and an Erasmus Mundus joint program European Master of Higher Education from universities in Norway, Finland, and Portugal (2009).
She is the founder of Fe/male Switch, a startup game that encourages women to enter STEM fields, and also leads CADChain, and multiple other projects like the Directory of 1,000 Startup Cities with a proprietary MeanCEO Index that ranks cities for female entrepreneurs. Violetta created the "gamepreneurship" methodology, which forms the scientific basis of her startup game. She also builds a lot of SEO tools for startups. Her achievements include being named one of the top 100 women in Europe by EU Startups in 2022 and being nominated for Impact Person of the year at the Dutch Blockchain Week. She is an author with Sifted and a speaker at different Universities. Recently she published a book on Startup Idea Validation the right way: from zero to first customers and beyond, launched a Directory of 1,500+ websites for startups to list themselves in order to gain traction and build backlinks and is building MELA AI to help local restaurants in Malta get more visibility online.
For the past several years Violetta has been living between the Netherlands and Malta, while also regularly traveling to different destinations around the globe, usually due to her entrepreneurial activities. This has led her to start writing about different locations and amenities from the POV of an entrepreneur. Here’s her recent article about the best hotels in Italy to work from.
About the Publication
Fe/male Switch is an innovative startup platform designed to empower women entrepreneurs through an immersive, game-like experience. Founded in 2020 during the pandemic "without any funding and without any code," this non-profit initiative has evolved into a comprehensive educational tool for aspiring female entrepreneurs.The platform was co-founded by Violetta Shishkina-Bonenkamp, who serves as CEO and one of the lead authors of the Startup News branch.
Mission and Purpose
Fe/male Switch Foundation was created to address the gender gap in the tech and entrepreneurship space. The platform aims to skill-up future female tech leaders and empower them to create resilient and innovative tech startups through what they call "gamepreneurship". By putting players in a virtual startup village where they must survive and thrive, the startup game allows women to test their entrepreneurial abilities without financial risk.
Key Features
The platform offers a unique blend of news, resources,learning, networking, and practical application within a supportive, female-focused environment:
- Skill Lab: Micro-modules covering essential startup skills
- Virtual Startup Building: Create or join startups and tackle real-world challenges
- AI Co-founder (PlayPal): Guides users through the startup process
- SANDBOX: A testing environment for idea validation before launch
- Wellness Integration: Virtual activities to balance work and self-care
- Marketplace: Buy or sell expert sessions and tutorials
Impact and Growth
Since its inception, Fe/male Switch has shown impressive growth:
- 5,000+ female entrepreneurs in the community
- 100+ startup tools built
- 5,000+ pieces of articles and news written
- 1,000 unique business ideas for women created
Partnerships
Fe/male Switch has formed strategic partnerships to enhance its offerings. In January 2022, it teamed up with global website builder Tilda to provide free access to website building tools and mentorship services for Fe/male Switch participants.
Recognition
Fe/male Switch has received media attention for its innovative approach to closing the gender gap in tech entrepreneurship. The platform has been featured in various publications highlighting its unique "play to learn and earn" model.
