Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in business consulting and services but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Amotz Segal, Managing Director of Altum Strategy Group, located in New York, NY, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
In 2020, I founded Edge Funder, Inc. — an online lending platform for small to medium enterprises (SMEs). Our goals were to remove suspicion from the loan application process and expedite the credit decision-making and funding processes. Following Edge's acquisition, I joined Altum Strategy Group in 2022 as a Managing Director. Altum is a business and digital advisory firm that provides strategic and tactical solutions to mid-market management teams looking to enhance, optimize, and scale their operations and catch the next technology wave. Our service offerings are Digital Transformation & Program Management, Digital Asset Management, Business Process Design & Controls Integration and Governance, Risk & Compliance. Our People, Process, and Technology methodology enable us to maximize our clients' value and deliver impactful results.
Tell us about yourself
Throughout my years in business, I have always considered myself a thoughtful entrepreneur. We live in the information era when anyone and everyone around the globe can become an expert in almost any domain without leaving the comfort of their living room — yet far too many dedicate that accrued knowledge to achieve something more significant than their own personal success. My experience in start-ups — as an employee, executive, founder, and board member — is now used to help others navigate through uncertainties and challenges they may have never experienced. I strive daily to leverage my operational experience to become a better enabler, advisor and trusted partner to the companies I advise and consult.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Starting a business through the uncertainty of the pandemic and building it to the point of a successful exit is second to none. The complexities of building a product while taking care of a team, raising capital, and responding to customers' needs require a high level of focus and patience - it's an emotional, physical, and mental roller coaster that can throw the smartest and most resilient off course. Being a founder and leader has led me to reflect on my experiences and given me the perspective to celebrate victories, learn from mistakes, and better myself day-by-day — lessons I pass down to help guide and mentor the executives I work with today.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Personally, the need and desire to be the best I can be during the day and then become an even better version of myself when with my wife and two young boys. More broadly speaking, balancing the myriad responsibilities — namely the financial and mental well-being of other individuals — places the world on your shoulders and underscores the importance of sound leadership, accountability, and ownership. So often, it may seem that the challenging days outnumber the rewarding ones in terms of absolute value, but the gratitude and happiness in those rewarding moments are unparalleled.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Solve a meaningful problem: There's very little justification for starting a business without answering a pressing problem.
- Invest in yourself and your team: Make time for your personal life, encourage and empower the team to learn more, and provide the closest conditions to your ideal.
- Hire smarter people: Surrounding yourself with intelligent people with a wealth of knowledge will keep you engaged, push you to think about new ways to solve problems, and increase your probability of success.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://altumstrategy.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amotz-segal/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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