Mat Wylie arrived in Queenstown this week as chairman of the Entrepreneur Organisation (EO) for the group's conference.
"If you are one of those people who think they know it all, you will never fit in."
Mr Wylie began his mobile technology business, Dynamite Ideas, in Auckland 16 years ago. He now has branches in Australia, Singapore, India and is looking at the United Kingdom.
He joined the EO 10 years ago, but said it had not been a smooth ride to the top.
"I've made mistakes on the way. You learn more from them than you do anything else.
"If you are talking to someone successful and they tell you it's all been good, they're lying."
EO invites members who have excelled in business. Together, members earn a total $US138 billion ($NZ164 billion).
Mr Wylie (40) never expected to climb the business ladder. He planned to become a teacher but when he wasn't accepted in to teacher's college he became an office junior in the radio industry.
His employers recognised his potential and he was promoted to sales assistant and then to research manager.
One of his clients offered the then 23-year-old his customer services business for $250,000 and the rest is history.
"I've only had one job interview in my life."
Mr Wylietold 330 entrepreneurs from 20 different countries yesterday how he came to be the chairman of such an elite club.
There are only 8000 EO members with 50 New Zealanders part of the group. Members must earn between $US1 million and $US30 million a year to be accepted.
Mr Wylie said New Zealand was slow to acknowledge success.
"We have this tall poppy syndrome here.
"I think Kiwis misunderstand what entrepreneur means ... You have to take the risks, but they are very calculated."
New Zealand is rated one of the most entrepreneurial countries per head of population he said.
"It is the Kiwi dream to start your own business."
Giving hope to all, Mr Wylie said the right attitude will get you through in a business world and academic intelligence "has little to do with it."
" I was an average student who loved sport and cruised through school."
