Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in training and development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Heather Mason, Founder, and CEO of Caspian Agency, located in Los Angeles, CA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
We create strategy and business plans for conferences, and we also produce them from start to finish. Our customers are mainly globally known large foundations, but we also work with large corporations in sustainability and ESG work, as well as other types of convenings.
Tell us about yourself
I wanted to be a movie producer and spent my first five years working in the film industry. But when that didn't pan out, I realized that producing conferences was the same skill set and had the chance to really impact the world for good. What motivates me to do this is that all our clients are trying to create positive change and work on the world's most pressing problems. We get to be near that work and help them in our small way to do. Even though it's one of the top five stressful job occupations you can have, producing events makes it all worth it.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Besides staying in business! It's always pivoting, staying relevant, and learning about how to make our offerings better. Building a team that likes and enjoys each other is an accomplishment in and of itself. And building a clientele that includes some of the most well-known foundations in the US is a great feeling too.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
There is always something to be done, always something to fix, to address, to do better. You can never rest. A business is a living, growing thing that can never be taken for granted or left on the shelf. It's a constant in your life, and you'll always be working and thinking about it non-stop.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Understand and focus your market. Make it small at first, don't try to swallow the ocean.
- Craft a very clear value proposition. What do you offer and why is it different, and why is it valuable?
- Have more than one revenue stream. Yes, you'll have your primary product, but what are your secondary offerings that can add to the revenue so you have other ways to bring in the river of money you'll need to keep going?
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: http://www.caspianagency.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathermasonla/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/heatherlmason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heathermason/
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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