Empathy-led Marketing - grio agency

Team Subkit -

Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in business services but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Junior Nyemb, Founder of grio agency, located in Matthews, NC, USA.

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

grio is a brand consultancy in Charlotte, NC, that specializes in business transformation. ‍Whether a company is trying to find a market fit, scale up, or reinvent itself, our empathy-led approach to branding and marketing helps them transition from one phase of their business to the next.

Tell us about yourself

I'm originally from Douala, Cameroon. I came to the US in 2006 on a full soccer scholarship from a small liberal arts college in North Carolina called Wingate University. I had no family here, and I could barely speak the language. 16 years later, I can't believe what an adventure it's been. During my time at Wingate, I earned a Bachelor's degree in Modern Languages and Communications, two Master's Degrees (MBA and Master in Sports Management), and an induction into the Sports Hall of Fame. I had the privilege to work for my alma mater in multiple roles. My last role was Director of Brand and Content Strategy, which I held for five years, making my contribution to turn the University into one of the fastest-growing Universities in North Carolina. Two years ago, I left that role to start grio, my brand consultancy.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I am super proud of the leap of faith I took to start this company. It's been a terrific engine for personal and professional growth. We're proud of the work we do, helping all of our clients achieve their respective goals. But I remember being especially proud to land our first big client, an international procurement and supply chain company with offices in the UK and the US. It felt like a great recognition of the work we had put in up to that point.

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

The hardest and most exciting thing about being a business owner is having to shoulder the burden of multiple responsibilities. It means that there's plenty of variety each day or week, but it's also super challenging at the same time. Unlike having different tasks on your to-do list where you can prioritize what's most important, it's harder to do with job functions because they are all necessary and important for the survival and success of the business.

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

  1. START
    Plan if you will; be pragmatic as you must, but don't mistake fear for preparation. In the end, it's a leap of faith because the map only unfolds once you're on the road.
  2. TAKE AN ITERATIVE APPROACH
    Understand that there are only two goals at the beginning: finding product-market fit and finding the right business model to support your company's growth. Keep iterating until you find it. Conventional wisdom would have you believe that you're failing every time you pivot. But when it comes to building a business, that's the assignment— to pivot and iterate as many times as possible until you find product-market fit and the right business model.
  3. POUR INTO YOURSELF
    Success, in life and in your business, comes from your ability to think clearly and make the right decisions. Clarity and perspective come from investing in yourself. Feed your mind, body, and soul daily. Be relentless about continuous education. Surround yourself with people that contribute to this personal growth: family, friends, mentors, and other business owners. Be curious and have the courage to ask for help.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.grioagency.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/juniorLnyemb
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/junior_nyemb/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/njlandry11
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juniornyemb/

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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