Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in personal development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Molly Rodau, founder of Collectively, located in Maplewood, NJ, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Collectively is a holistic change management and leadership development practice. We partner with organizations and teams to fulfill their visions for change by helping them identify core challenges and design the right interventions to create positive momentum.
We are driven by four core beliefs:
- We believe that change is a constant and that leading change is a skill that is developed and honed through self-exploration, co-creation, experimentation, and accountability;
- We believe that change processes are most successful and impactful when grounded in purpose, and mindful clarity
- We believe in the transformational power of community - that our collective wisdom is unparalleled, and that mutual accountability is imperative
and - We believe in principled struggle - that through acknowledging and working through conflict and difference, we arrive at better outcomes.
Working from these core beliefs, we help individuals, teams, organizations, and movements hone their visions for change and learn how to exercise leadership more strategically and with greater impact. We work with seasoned and emerging leaders from many fields who come to Collectively with a desire to increase their capacity to collaborate across differences, build culture and community, and progress on critical challenges.
Tell us about yourself
As a queer, Jewish woman raised in both traditional and radical spaces in the midwest, northeast, and south, my work is most directly informed by the reality that "no one sees the world as it is; rather, we see it as we are" (unknown origin). I've spent the last 15 years serving across industries as a leader, facilitator, consultant, coach, convener, and strategist with the goal of helping people, teams, and movements own their stories, build intentional community, center humanity, and tackle their most pressing challenges. And I do this work from a particular lens informed by various frameworks and bodies of research, including but not limited to Adaptive Leadership, complex team management, human behavior, somatics, systems theory, organizational development, and design thinking.
I have had the privilege of supporting dozens of cross-sector organizations, including New York University, Wellspring Philanthropic Fund, The New York Community Trust, The New York City Mayor’s Office, Google, Vimeo, Sephora, Brooklyn Public Library, and The New York City Criminal Justice Agency.
What keeps me in the work? My profound belief that Maya Angelou was 100% correct when she said, "You do the best you can with what you have, and, and when you know better, do better." I am motivated by our collective desire to do good in the world and our collective struggle to find a clear path to that good. My job is to stand next to people and organizations and support them in knowing more, doing better, and hopefully, transforming our future.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Growing from $0 to $500,000 earned revenue in 2 years while maintaining alignment with my values and doing work I believe in.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Saying no! There is so much I want to do and create in the world, but I can't do it all. We are at an inflection point right now where we need to grow, but there are a lot of different paths we could follow. My job is to remember that we can't follow them all and that innovation and failure go hand in hand, so all I can do is make the next right decision for me, my team, and the clients we serve.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
Starting a business is often a solo endeavor, but make no mistake - you cannot do this alone. Find other business owners, find people who inspire you, find people who are willing to be honest about their struggles and vulnerable about their dreams, and walk this path together.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://becollectively.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mollyrodau
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/__collectively/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/be-collectively/
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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