Professional Management - Ellenburg Consulting

Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in business services but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Daria Chernysheva, Founder and CEO of Ellenburg Consulting, located in Hamburg, Germany.

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

Ellenburg Consulting is a consulting company with a key focus on digital marketing and digital transformation. We also support our clients in expanding their business or brand to new markets in Europe and North America. The company also provides workshops for business professionals. Our clients are mostly small and medium-sized businesses but also large companies.

Tell us about yourself

After my graduation, I started working in the field of new media and advertising for the biggest German publishing house, Axel Springer Verlag SE, which was a pioneer in online subscriptions and paywalls. Back then, online marketing was still “in baby shoes.” After many years of gaining experience at different big IT and consulting companies, I decided to launch my own business because, in the first place, I wanted to be independent. But being independent means having great responsibility, not only for yourself but also for your employees and clients.

For me, the advantage of being my own boss is that I can choose the place and time to work. Also, it allows me to share my system of values with my employees and clients. I have always understood that to be successful, I need to go beyond my comfort zone and learn new things. As a consultant, I still learn every day, but I also share my knowledge and experience with my clients. A famous Canadian author and speaker, Brian Tracy, once said: “Successful people are always looking for opportunities to help others”... that’s what I do, and that is what motivates me. I like to see my clients succeed. The goal is not just to help them with one project but to support them in being successful and making the right decisions in the long term.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

2022 is dominated by the war in Ukraine. The biggest accomplishment was the organization of humanitarian aid to Ukraine and the consultation of Ukrainian refugees who fled from the war and were looking for support in Germany. In my mind, humanitarian aid and simple humaneness are bigger accomplishments than economic gains.

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

The path to success is never easy because sometimes you have to complete tasks you don’t like and overcome obstacles that haven’t occurred before. In my case, I’ve never been a fan of accounting and billing. Especially at the beginning of your entrepreneurial journey, you have to take care of things you are unfamiliar with. Occasionally, the journey can be lonely because not everyone understands your struggles and issues. Unfortunately, not everyone will support you the way you expect them to.

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

1. Build a great team around you. Having top professionals in your company is important, but they must also be able to tell you their honest opinion. Even if the truth is painful at times, have a real person next to you who isn’t afraid to tell you what they think about the state of your business. Right decisions can only be made if you have complete and accurate information about your company’s affairs.
2. There will always be people who doubt your talent, knowledge, or experience. Stay calm. Remember, you can prove them wrong! It is worse if people overrate you because they will be disappointed if you do something wrong. But those who underestimate you can be suddenly surprised in a positive way!
3. Never stop learning! Every day is a new challenge, and you must be prepared for the circumstances and obstacles business life may set up for you. In every uncertain situation, knowledge and experience will help you to stay calm and confident and make the right decision.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.ellenburg-consulting.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EllenburgConsulting
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellenburg_consulting/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/EllenburgConsul
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ellenburg-consulting/

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.

Turn your craft into recurring revenue with Subkit. Start your subscription offering in minutes and supercharge it with growth levers. Get early access here.