Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Mandy Pravda, founder of Mane Productions, located in Saskatchewan, Canada.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Owner of Mane Productions, which I founded in 2009 focuses on community initiatives and building through event design, community space planning projects, and economic building opportunities through sales points, education, fundraising, advocacy, marketing, content creation, and resource building. I lead and create a variety of branding, marketing, business planning, media, community event, and fundraising projects on an international scale for Saskatchewan, along with other organizations, businesses, and non-profits nationwide.
Projects range from the art and music sector, community-building initiatives, and business development. Notably, with a passion for fashion and the non profit sector, cofounding Saskatoon Fashion and Design Festival in 2010, along with developing a multi-day fashion conference focused on business development, led to connecting the fashion industry of Saskatchewan in 2019 with a Canadian first Saskatchewan Fashion Association Inc. I strive to create, elevate, and impact many areas of the fashion and art industries.
Over the course of my career, I have focused on elevating and developing provincial tourism destination activities, marketing, and city community initiatives. As Marketing Director I have developed Tourism Waskesiu with Waskesiu Chamber of Commerce and Waskesiu Community Council, along with other destinations around Saskatchewan such as Manitou Beach. Designing heritage building celebrations around Saskatchewan and neighbourhood rejuvenation projects such as the Riversdale area, Meewasin Trail expansion, the building of the Saskatoon Optimist Snow Hill through private businesses and city focus collectives.
With music in my soul, I have developed festivals and events such as Freeflow Thursday by Mane Productions; a monthly entrepreneur networking mixer to foster business development. I have created and contributed to many street and music festivals with headliners such as Ludacris, Canadian beloved Fred Penner, and many more. I have the ability to advocate, connect, create through vision and prosperity which has always been a strong skill identified within my leadership.
Tell us about yourself
I am an entrepreneur and mother with a passion and drive to be the change I want to see in the world. I love to connect, create, organize, and build community. My inspiration and drive come from the passion to strengthen my community and provide various experiences to foster union. What I love about being an entrepreneur is the ability to set my own schedule, having the flexibility to decide what projects I contribute to, and being in control of my income. I am dedicated to learning and expanding my skill set, and I share my knowledge by helping communities and small businesses every day.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
It's so hard to say just one. I feel each project has an accomplishment within it that makes it unique and memorable! Notably, in 2016, I, along with an amazing group of people, organized and broke The Guinness Book of World Records for the World’s Largest Snowball Fight; clocking in at 7,681 participants (over 20,000 people showed up as spectators!) for Saskatchewan.
In 2019 connecting the fashion industry in Saskatchewan and beyond, as Founder and President, with a Canadian first, Saskatchewan Fashion Association Inc. was a major milestone in the volunteer work I have contributed over the past 12 years.
Working with Canadian Film Director, James Cameron and Actor Suzy Amis, both environmentalists; was both an honour and privilege for me as their Canadian Publicist during the Camerons venture in founding Verdient Foods in September 2017. This facility is in Saskatchewan Canada, and produces protein concentrates from peas and lentils used to make products like pasta, sauces and butters.
Through business initiatives, fundraisers, large scale community events, various community space building, branding, marketing, and business development. I have stimulated and fostered various social and financial economic impacts directly in Saskatchewan and beyond. This is what fuels my fire each day; the freedom to dream, create and make an impact to something bigger than myself.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
I would consider wearing many hats within a day the hardest part of starting and growing a business. Learning and applying how to delegate procedure and work tasks as to not work within your business, but on your business primarily, will accelerate results faster thus allowing you more time to expand and grow your business. As the business grows, you constantly have to make sure that you stay true to yourself and to your core values, ensuring you have the mental capacity to focus on each day's to-do list, and prioritizing what will grow your business rather than creating non impactful projects or focuses. Stay focused on your end result and 5-10 year goals, knowing you will need to be flexible in the road to get there.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Build a proficient business plan when starting out.
- Create a brand that is cohesive with your story, mission, and values.
- Don't be afraid to pivot, try something new, and be prepared to make mistakes. This is how you learn.
Spending time on your brand, mission statement, and values, along with the development of a proficient business plan I feel is the most important. I recommend having a 5-year plan in place that covers areas such as your mission, vision, sales, competition, industry research, marketing, strategic initiatives, partnerships, vendor management, negotiations, networking, lobbying, cost savings, and most importantly staffing and financial projection.
There can be similar business development objectives, such as the development of a new business line, new sales channel development, new product development, new partnerships in existing/new markets, and even merger and acquisition (M&A) decisions. In essence, business development involves high-level decision-making based on a realistic assessment of all potential changes and their impact. Through new ideas and initiatives, it aims to improve the overall business prospects, which drives the functioning of the different business units. It is not sales; it is not marketing; it is not partnering.
Instead, it is the eco-system encompassing the entire business and its various divisions, driving overall growth. New business development is important for generating jobs, developing key industries, efficiency within the internal business, and keeping the economy moving forward. The brightest minds in business development should be ready to accommodate a change in order to achieve the best results. Every approval or disapproval is a learning experience, better preparing these professionals for the next challenge.
Anything else you'd like to share?
It's never too late to start! Where there is a will, there is a way. It's ensuring you surround yourself with like minded people with aligned values, this will stimulate ideas, creativity, and development. Go easy on yourself and listen to your mind and body as you get on the rollercoaster of entrepreneurship, make sure to take time during the day to enjoy the things you love. This could be as little as going for a short walk or driving to your favourite nature location, having a bath, yoga, working out, or playing with your pet.
Spend time learning topics that set your soul on fire, and delegate what topics you tend to lose interest in. Team up or partner with those who are interested in those topics to make yourself a solid wheel of tools. Don't forget to stop and smell the flowers, enjoy little successes as you do the big ones, don't wallow in failures they are only there to teach you.
Where can people find you and your business?
https://www.maneproductions.ca/
https://www.instagram.com/manepravda/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mandy-pravda-4a979035/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
Feel inspired to start, run or grow your own subscription business? Check out subkit.com and learn how you can turn "one day" into day one.
