Most candidates focus on showcasing their technical skills and professional experience. Yet, after speaking with a successful entrepreneur who recently exited his tech company, I was reminded that what truly sets top talent apart isn’t necessarily what’s on their résumé—it’s the passions they pursue outside of work.
This entrepreneur told me something unexpected: when interviewing top talent, he often gravitates toward candidates who demonstrate a passion for something completely unrelated to their field, like photography, horseback riding or knitting for that matter.
“Skills are teachable,” he said. “But hobbies reveal curiosity, creativity, and the ability to find flow—qualities that can’t be easily trained.”
This line of thinking makes a lot of sense when you consider how dynamic and unpredictable the world of business has become. Adaptability, creativity, and the ability to navigate ambiguity are now as essential as hard skills. And often, it’s through hobbies that people practice these traits most intensively.
At this entrepreneur’s company, they even built a culture around leveraging employees’ hidden talents. Several times a year, they’d send out an email asking, “Who knows how to fix a coffee machine?” or “Who has experience with image collections in this specific software version?”
Time and again, someone would step up with a surprising skill, thanks to a seemingly unrelated hobby. These impromptu moments would spark deeper connections across teams, reminding us that expertise and passion often lie in unexpected places. This resonates with my own experience.
For over ten years, horses were my entire world. Every morning, I woke up before 5:30 to muck out stables and care for these massive animals.
What I learned during that time wasn’t just how to ride—it was how to manage responsibility, develop discipline, and respect the power of something larger than myself. Horses teach you a lot about leadership. Studies even show that young people who spend time around horses are more likely to develop strong leadership skills. That’s because horses require you to be decisive, calm under pressure, and highly attuned to non-verbal communication. Horses are wired to be hyper-aware of their surroundings. Any small shift can trigger a reaction. It’s the same in the workplace. When change happens, not everyone reacts the same way—some might take it in stride, while others feel threatened. Great leaders know this and take the time to guide their teams through change with empathy.
Horses are herd animals, and they rely on clear social order to function well. Teams are no different. Recognizing who the natural leaders are and understanding the group dynamics makes a huge difference in team performance. It’s about creating a sense of belonging and structure.
You can’t force a horse to do anything—just like you can’t lead a team through intimidation. Horses (and people) respond best to leaders who are calm, confident, and trustworthy. Leadership based on trust and mutual respect always beats fear-based tactics.
Horses need consistent training to stay sharp, and humans are the same. To keep teams adaptable and open to new ideas, leaders need to foster a culture of continuous learning. The more people are encouraged to grow, the less resistance they’ll have to change.
It’s no wonder equine-assisted programs are now being used to train leaders in high-pressure environments like healthcare, where Stanford doctors learn empathy and non-verbal cues by interacting with horses.
Think about Napoli Matfia, one of the Black Spoon Chefs, in” Culinary Class Wars” who recently won a top culinary competition.
One of the curveball challenges? Create a great meal using only ingredients from a convenience store. Most chefs were paralyzed—completely out of their element. But not Napoli. Why? Because, for years, his quirky hobby has been casually exploring convenience stores. No strategic reason behind it—he just loves it. So when this challenge came up, he wasn’t fazed. His random, seemingly unrelated interest gave him an edge and allowed him to outthink his competitors. It’s a perfect example of how unconventional passions can drive creative problem-solving in unexpected ways.
Take knitting, for example. It might seem like a quiet hobby, but it cultivates focus, patience, and creative problem-solving—core skills that are just as valuable in fast-paced industries like tech
I’ve seen coders pick up knitting, refining their attention to detail and problem-solving abilities in ways that directly translate to writing efficient code. As the saying goes, “If you can knit, you can code.”
In an age where everyone’s technical skills start to blur together, your hobby might be the most powerful differentiator you bring to the table. It reflects how you approach learning, how you manage your energy, and how you engage with the world beyond the day-to-day grind.
So, what’s your hobby? It might just be the thing that sets you apart in your next interview.
When it comes to showcasing who you are, don’t shy away from highlighting your hobbies on your resume and LinkedIn profile—but go deeper than just “biking” or “reading.” Be specific and creative. Instead of “biking,” say “exploring remote mountain trails on weekends,” or instead of “cooking,” try “experimenting with global cuisines to perfect my own fusion recipes.” These details not only make you stand out but also show your personality, discipline, and creativity.
Your hobbies tell a story. They reveal your passions, your curiosity, and how you approach challenges outside of work. Embrace them as a way to connect, build trust, and offer insights into the person behind the professional. After all, who wouldn’t want to hire someone who brings that kind of passion and depth to everything they do?