Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Michelle Czarnik, Founder of BoxMedia, located in Danville, CA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
We are a global company scaling the single most effective tool in learning: storytelling. We use innovative research and design thinking, technology, and multimedia production to expand possibilities, inspire curiosity, and drive progress. Accredited, binge-able edutainment & tools that empower the digital generation.
BoxMedia is a tech-enabled media company focused on rebuilding digital content by respecting the convergence of advancing technologies and required training. Our product division, BoxPlay, is replacing legacy web1 compliance content + critical employability accredited skills with high-quality modular web2 products and designing practice modules in web3 + metaverse environments.
A B2B focus on supporting organizations looking for talent and needing to retain and up-skill talent with both compliance content and career advancement content, and for all of us with ‘squiggly’ careers who need to acquire whatever is the most relevant skills for employability along the journey.
Our customers are individuals looking to fine-tune or increase their own personal soft skills and resumes to large organizations looking to increase retention, lower onboarding costs, and continue to educate and help their internal team grow.
Tell us about yourself
I am a mom of two kids ages 10 and 6, so education, in general, is important to me, so to be a part of a company that is disrupting the way we learn for the better is exciting.
We do not absorb content the way we once did. We have become accustomed to entertaining on-demand access to just about anything we want... so why can't education and learning also be entertaining and available on demand? Now it can be, and to me, that is something pretty special.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
I think seeing the internal culture we have built is my biggest accomplishment. My three co-founders and I have worked really hard on creating a box-family environment where we focus on inclusion and collaboration with zero tolerance for gossip and bullshit. It creates a safe workspace for people to be creative, open, and continue to grow.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
I think the hardest part of owning a business of any size is the fact that you own a business, and regardless if you have one employee or 1,000 employees working for you, the pressure of keeping that going and running is a lot. As much as we depend on them to work hard and keep the wheels turning, they depend on us as founders to make good decisions and run a successful company.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
I think in startup mode and beyond, you carry the stress of wanting everything to be perfect all the time, realizing things won't always be perfect, and that's ok!
Set smaller goals under the big ones, a weekly goal, and a monthly goal. Being able to accomplish goals of any size keeps you motivated towards the larger target goals.
Technology is great, but I will never get rid of my notebook and highlighters. I write everything down and cross it off. I can't blame the cloud for losing your list ;)
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
Whether life has held you back or pushed you forward – our learning experiences help you discover something transformative. BoxPlay provides real-world and professional skills to advance your career, your business, or personal enrichment. We’re here for everyone’s journey.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.boxplay.io/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BoxPlay.io
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/boxplay.io/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BoxPlay_io
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/boxplayio/
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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