Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in business development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Charlotte Fuller, Founder of Your Digital Transformation Consultant Ltd., located in London, UK.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

My business is a coaching and advisory company supporting ambitious women in tech to build the confidence and mindset skills they need to thrive in their careers. My company also specialises in advising corporate organisations in attracting and retaining female tech talent so that they can innovate, drive revenue and service their customers effectively.

Tell us about yourself

As a specialist in helping industry-leading organisations strategically adopt emerging technologies, I have experienced the many challenges that so often come with being an ambitious woman in a typically male-dominated environment.

After personally experiencing burnout whilst working within a toxic work culture in 2019, I was forced to step off the treadmill, re-examine my future and come back fighting! After a journey of self-healing and a moment of great clarity, I launched my own company in 2020 to support women in tech to build the confidence, mindset, and resilience they need to ensure their well-being and create long-lasting careers within the industry and to reach their full potential. I am motivated every day to help women in tech to become the very best version of themselves at work so that they can truly thrive in what is ultimately an incredibly exciting industry full of wonderful opportunities. It is my ultimate desire that through this work, we can one day close the gender gap in tech.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My biggest accomplishment as a business owner is seeing the tangible impact I am able to make on the lives of incredible women in tech. The genuine satisfaction that comes from this is incredibly rewarding and beats any feeling that I ever got from working for someone else. As a business owner, you have the ability to make a significant difference in the lives of other people. It sounds corny, but it’s true. It really is the best thing about running my own business.

What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?

Let’s be honest; being a business owner is not for the faint of heart. You need to be able to keep faith even when it looks like things aren’t going your way, and you need to be able to hold your nerve in challenging times.

One of the hardest but also the greatest things as a business owner is the reality that, at the end of the day, you are responsible for the success of your business. It’s on you to make things happen. You will inevitably face difficult periods in business, and you will need to figure complicated things out. My advice is that you take on the mindset of “I have the ability to figure things out.” and that you ask yourself empowering questions when you face a challenge. Don’t focus on the problem, but instead, focus on looking for a solution.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Consider the bigger picture and think about how you ultimately want scale from the start. Consider this as you select the software and systems that support your operations. You don’t want to end up in a position where you are stacking tech solutions on top of each other or where you end up creating unnecessary complications that could have been avoided from the outset.
  2. Cash flow, cash flow, cash flow! - Put yourself in a position to generate immediate cash flow. Create products and services that allow you to generate revenue quickly and avoid, where possible, 30+ day payment terms. Otherwise, you will be unnecessarily chasing your tail and feeling stressed about paying operating expenses.
  3. As the old adage goes, hire slowly, fire quickly. Even if you aren’t hiring in-house employees but instead chose to leverage contractors to support your business in the early stages, ensure that you vet them thoroughly. It’s important to have the right people on the bus!

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.charlottefuller.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charlottefullertech/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlottefullertech/

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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