Situation: I was working as a product and project manager and marketing operations specialist at a large corporation, where I gained experience in business, design, sales and development. However, I wanted to pursue my passion for entrepreneurship and education, and to help other aspiring entrepreneurs and innovators to launch and grow their businesses.
Task: My task was to build an agency that would offer tools and education for individuals and companies to get their products and services into the market. The agency would provide services such as market research, product development, branding, marketing, sales, and customer support. The agency would also offer courses, workshops, webinars, and coaching on various topics related to entrepreneurship and innovation.
Action: To accomplish this task, I did the following:
- I defined the scope of the agency, including its vision, mission, values, goals, and target market. I conducted a thorough market analysis, identifying the needs, challenges, and opportunities of potential customers. I also researched the best practices and trends in the industry, and benchmarked the competitors.
- I aligned the agency with the relevant stakeholders, such as investors, partners, vendors, mentors, and advisors. I pitched the agency idea to potential investors, securing the necessary funding and resources. I also established strategic partnerships with vendors, such as software providers, content creators, and platform owners, to access the best tools and platforms for the agency. I also networked with mentors and advisors, who offered valuable guidance and feedback on the agency development and operations.
- I managed the stakeholder and vendor relationships, ensuring clear and frequent communication, collaboration, and coordination. I used tools such as teamwork.com and hubspot to manage the projects, tasks, and workflows. I also used tools such as zoom and slack to communicate and share information with the stakeholders and vendors. I also created and maintained contracts, agreements, and invoices with the stakeholders and vendors, ensuring transparency and accountability.
- I addressed the technical and data nuances of the agency, such as compatibility, security, scalability, and analytics. I ensured that the tools and platforms used by the agency were compatible with each other, and with the customers’ needs and preferences. I also ensured that the data collected and processed by the agency was secure, compliant, and ethical. I also ensured that the agency could scale up or down according to the demand and capacity. I also used tools such as google analytics and hubspot to measure and optimize the performance and impact of the agency.
- I hired the right people for the agency, such as designers, developers, marketers, salespeople, and educators. I used tools such as linkedin and indeed to source and screen the candidates. I also used tools such as zoom and teamwork.com to conduct interviews and assessments. I also used tools such as gusto and stripe to manage the payroll and benefits. I also provided training and development opportunities for the employees, such as courses, workshops, webinars, and coaching.
Result: The agency was a successful and profitable venture, thanks to the careful planning and execution, and the collaboration and cooperation of all the stakeholders and vendors. The agency served hundreds of customers, ranging from individuals to small businesses to large corporations, helping them to launch and grow their products and services in the market. The agency also received positive feedback and testimonials from the customers, as well as recognition and awards from the industry. The agency also created a positive social impact, by empowering and educating the entrepreneurs and innovators of the future.
This project was discontinued due to misalignment with the rest of shareholders about its future, however it was a fruitful and enjoyable project from which I learned a lot.