1. Tell us more about your company and your journey.
BEYOUROWN is a full-service digital media and advertising company that was first launched in 2016 off the back of the first business I created which was as a result of learning through trial and error whilst building a business.
The overall vision over BEYOUROWN is to help other entrepreneurs flourish and grow their own business by helping them access the right tools and provide the relevant resources that are often hard to find. It aims to champion and connect women from all industries to come together and support each other in the development of their plan or their initiative.
2. How did you come up with this idea and go about executing it?
Although I launched my first start-up- Critics Clothing in late 2012, it wasn’t really until 2014 that it became popularised and became a Private Equity backed start-up. From that, I built my second company BEYOUROWN in 2016, a digital media and content company with the aim to help entrepreneurs navigate their way through their business journeys.
I think supporting other women in business is paramount as when I started my own business journey a lot of the mistakes I made could have been avoided had I of surrounded myself around champions within my industry and being involved with a support network of other like-minded ambitious women in business.
3. What has been your biggest challenge that you faced and how did you overcome that?
Some of the professional challenges most recently have been trying to grow a team during the lockdown. Recruiting new team members without ever meeting them can be quite scary because it's almost impossible to sense someone's energy over a screen monitor. Adding new members to the team is never easy regardless of any situation, but during lockdown I had to trust my intuition in a different way when attracting new talent and remote hiring.
4. What do you think are the most important qualities of a successful entrepreneur?
Perseverance, tenacity and resilience.
5. What are some of the most important factors for running a successful business?
Staying educated on your subject and investing in the right tools and resources that will make you stay ahead of the game.
6. What are your tips for first time and aspiring entrepreneurs?
I believe it is important that you surround yourself with the people you admire to feel inspired by. If there is a particular founder or leader you aspire to be like then head down to one of their workshops, seminars or networking events.
7. How can one overcome a hurdle of lack of funds when starting up?
Question yourself as an entrepreneur on whether you really need funding, because you can still grow a business on a shoe-string budget. It just really depends on how much sweat equity you are prepared to put in.
Samanah Duran - Founder & CEO of BEYOUROWN, Forbes 30 under 30 nominee
Interview by - Priyanka
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