Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Danielle Krakora, Co-Founder and CEO of Ibility, LLC., located in Gaithersburg, MD, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Ibility is a one-stop shop for comprehensive healthcare modernization design and implementation for the federal government. By keeping our finger on the pulse of trends sweeping the industry, we translate knowledge into action for our clients. Ibility is organized into three unique and exciting divisions - Health, Digital Transformation, and Design. Our divisions complement each other to give us a true 360-view of the healthcare industry at large. We embrace human-centered design in every interaction and are wildly impassioned by technology and its endless applications within healthcare. We help our clients reimagine their processes and challenge the status quo to improve healthcare outcomes for the good of all.
Tell us about yourself
After ten years serving as a combat medic and medical officer in the U.S. Army and another ten years serving in various positions at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), I was ready to support the government and its constituents in a new way. More times than not, the government is stretched thin with traditional employees and seeks partnerships with external contractors to deliver high-quality products and services. Ibility was founded out of a passion for innovation and dedication to our country, making us an ideal partner to the government.
Back in 2018, I was fortunate to participate in a global Veteran challenge competition in Tel Aviv, Israel. There, I saw talented and passionate innovators come together in service to disabled Veterans from around the world. Within 72 hours, teams of volunteers built incredible prototypes to help improve the quality of life for their disabled Veteran teammates. The enthusiasm and passion were contagious and have fueled me ever since. I came back to the U.S. and successfully delivered several challenge competitions in 2019 and 2020 while working for the VA.
During the pandemic, I saw an incredible opportunity to do more with the challenge competition model to assist the government with its strategic planning, and out of that idea, Ibility was born. My partner, Ken Beecher, and I have continued to refine and expand our service offerings but remain true to our core of innovation. Seeing the world in a different way and pairing unlike people, ideas, and products together is my superpower - it motivates me each and every day.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment as a business owner is making it past the first year during a pandemic while raising three kids and having a fourth. It is extremely tough for working moms, and managing the work-life balance while being a successful business owner is a tough gig - and I am still smiling ear to ear! I am extremely proud of the example I am setting for my children, especially for my girls - showing them that women can do hard things is such a vital and important lesson for young girls to learn. #girlpower
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Two things keep me up at night - making sure we are delivering quality products and services to our clients and supporting our employees in the unique and individual ways they need to be supported. I have gone to great lengths to find the best teaming partners and talent in the industry while creating a brand people are excited to work with and for. It is an evolutionary process, but I feel like we are well on our way!
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Federal contracting is not for the faint of heart. It is a very difficult industry to be successful in and is always predicated on relationships. This brings me to the second tip...
- Relationships are king. Be kind, be responsive, listen, and don't be afraid to give more than you get. It will always come back around.
- Treat your employees how you would like to be treated. Understand they are all unique and come to the workforce with different strengths and motivations.
- Always, always, always celebrate your wins - big or small! With the rollercoaster of entrepreneurship, we all need a little celebration to make it through.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.ibility.io/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielle-krakora/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGbXTGeMyVGPA9l7zSwJKqQ
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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