Building a Brand Bigger Than You: Embracing Community-Centered Leadership with Emma Tessler
In the dynamic world of entrepreneurship, success stories often start with an unexpected twist of fate. Maddy Reeves welcomes Emma Tessler, founder and CEO of Ninety Five Media, to the podcast to discuss her journey and insights into building a thriving virtual team. Emma's agency specializes in digital marketing strategies for scaling brands, helping them connect with ideal clients, build communities, and convert audiences into loyal customers. With eight years of marketing experience, Emma is on a mission to disrupt the digital marketing space.
Listen in as we speak about:
Quitting a Dream Job to Pursue Entrepreneurship
The Art of Leadership: Navigating Challenges in Team Building
Balancing Creativity and Accountability in the Hiring Process
Streamlining Onboarding and Team Processes
Cultivating Relationships: The Heart of a Virtual Team
And much, much, more!
Quitting a Dream Job to Pursue Entrepreneurship
Graduating from college, Emma faced a pivotal moment. She had a dream job in interior design lined up, but her side hustle in digital marketing was growing steadily. Emma grappled with the fear of taking the leap into entrepreneurship, wondering if she was truly ready. Then, the COVID-19 pandemic hit, changing the landscape of her world.
The pandemic disrupted the interior design industry, leading to layoffs and supply chain issues. Simultaneously, businesses began to realize the importance of digital marketing, creating a surge in demand. Emma saw an opportunity and took a leap of faith, quitting her corporate job and dedicating herself full-time to Ninety Five Media by the end of 2020.
The Art of Leadership: Navigating Challenges in Team Building
One of the most significant challenges Emma encountered in her entrepreneurial journey was building and leading a virtual team. In the agency model, the team is the heart of the business, but it also presents unique hurdles. Emma discovered that identifying the right team members and developing her leadership skills were crucial for success.
The process of finding the perfect team members involves more than just assessing their skill sets. Emma prioritizes personality and cultural fit within the team. She seeks individuals who not only possess the required skills but also showcase the potential to grow into leadership roles. Emma believes in nurturing a collaborative and friendly work environment, fostering connections among team members.
Balancing Creativity and Accountability: The Hiring Process
One of the distinctive challenges in a creative environment is finding team members who strike a balance between creativity and accountability. Creatives often resist standardized processes, but processes are vital for scaling a business. Emma shared her experience of hiring someone who couldn't embrace the established processes and opted to leave the company.
Emma looks for team members who fit well within the company culture and showcase the potential to grow into leadership roles. Skillset, although essential, takes a backseat to personality fit and cultural alignment. Emma believes that skills can be taught, but the intrinsic qualities of a team member are harder to change. The agency values collaboration, and each team member contributes to the overall success of the brand.
Streamlining Onboarding and Team Processes
Streamlining processes and onboarding has been crucial for Ninety Five Media's growth. Emma shares her innovative approach to making onboarding more efficient. She developed a "Team Dashboard," an online course that teaches team members about the company's processes, templates, tools, and even the finer details like invoicing and time tracking.
This innovative approach enables Emma to remain less involved in the onboarding process while still ensuring that team members receive comprehensive training. By empowering senior team members to mentor new hires, Emma fosters relationships and teamwork from day one.
Cultivating Relationships: The Heart of a Virtual Team
Emma's emphasis on building relationships within her virtual team has yielded remarkable results. She recounted a heartwarming story of two team members who developed a close bond online, leading to one of them traveling across the country to meet the other in person. This level of camaraderie speaks volumes about the vibrant team culture Emma has cultivated.
In the ever-evolving landscape of entrepreneurship and virtual team leadership, Emma Tessler's journey serves as a beacon of inspiration. Her ability to navigate challenges, prioritize team fit, and establish streamlined processes provides invaluable lessons for aspiring entrepreneurs and leaders. As she continues to disrupt the digital marketing space, Emma remains committed to fostering a dynamic and interconnected team that thrives in the virtual world.
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