Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in marketing but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Sofiane Morouche of Growth Connect, located in Bangkok, Thailand.

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

I represent the new generation of CMOs, called fractional CMOs (fCMOs). That means that I provide my services as a CMO to more than one company at a time. I usually work with three and up to 5 clients/companies maximum at a time. Each recruits my services on a part-time and remote basis. Other than that, I accomplish all the tasks and missions of a normal Chief Marketing Officer.

I develop the marketing strategy, systems, and operations for them, and if they do not yet have a marketing organization, I also conduct the recruitment, coaching, and mentoring of the marketing department. While I am based in Bangkok, Thailand, my clients are US-based companies in the sector of technology, legal tech, law, or healthcare.

Tell us about yourself

I started my career in marketing, most specifically in Trade Marketing, in Dubai. After learning the job for five years, I was itching to start my own business. And so, I started two companies with my brother, one web agency in France and one online travel agency in Dubai (note: I did not have any experience in the tourism industry at that time!).

After several years running these businesses, I thought that my ability to understand marketing strategy but also how to run a company could be of interest to other CEOs or company owners. So I decided to start offering my services as a fractional CMO, along with other fellow marketing strategists with whom we created a system and network of fCMOs called Growth Connect.

What motivates me each day is that I can see the direct results and implications of my work on business operations and revenues. Because I operate at a strategic (C-suite) level, I am able to make decisions that can directly generate growth and profit. That's very rewarding.

The other motivation is to be able to work with multiple business owners or CEOs, companies, and industries, which is much more exciting than being employed by just one company and always doing the same things day in and day out.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Create value out of nothing... I started all my businesses from scratch and brought them to profitability without relying on banks' or investors' money. I am proud of this achievement but also of having been an entrepreneur for so long and being able to go through different economic crises and world pandemics.

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

The roller-coaster effect. No two paychecks can be the same. If you even get a paycheck... When you start a business, you should expect not to be able to take a salary for several months, sometimes years. It's part of the game. But then, even later, you will have some months better than others. And if external factors, like the pandemic, come into play, that totally changes the rules of the game. Your primary objective is always your business survival, and as such, you will sometimes have to make sacrifices, and that means not paying yourself or having smaller paychecks for several months until things get better again. You need to be mentally prepared for that, but also make sure your finances are "roller-coaster effect" proof so you can navigate your way out of the storm when it occurs.

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

  1. Always keep a safety net: if possible, get a part-time position at the company where you are employed first, the time you set up your business, and see if it is sustainable. If it is not possible and you need to resign, make sure you get at least 2 to 3 years of savings that can sustain your current monthly expenses before venturing into entrepreneurship. Once you are in it, there's no turning back.
  2. Don't try to do everything alone. That's my biggest mistake as a young entrepreneur. I wanted to run everything alone because I did not want to bring in any other partner besides my brother. And I ended up burning myself... Alone you go faster; together, you go further.
  3. Be patient. Work always pays. Do not take shortcuts. Look for your client's satisfaction first, before profit. If clients are satisfied with your products or services, money will follow naturally.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website(Business): https://growthconnect.io/
Website(Personal): https://www.sofianemorouche.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sofiane-morouche-2a508350/

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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