Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in personal and business development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Whitney Buchmann, Founder of Illustra Impact LLC., located in St. Petersburg, FL, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Illustra Impact LLC is a social enterprise consulting firm that supports leaders in developing purposeful strategies, systems, and cultures to foster sustainable social impact. Our clients are purpose-driven leaders within local, national, and international non-profits or small-to-medium-sized businesses.
Tell us about yourself
I'm a coffee-loving social entrepreneur who is currently living as a digital nomad (responding from Medellin, Colombia). After a decade in community organizing and engagement strategy and graduating with a Global MBA, I was ready to scale my impact. I wanted a new challenge. As I considered what that would look like, I realized that I loved how the consulting process mirrored that of community organizing and allowed me to work on a variety of projects in different industries. There was also a real opportunity to be a bridge builder, or translator if you will, between non-profits and for-profits. All companies
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Honestly, one of the things that I'm most proud of is that Illustra Impact has not only been able to bring in revenue that allowed me to live in places around the world while learning from various communities (which inspires new ideas and connections for my clients), but it has also generated revenue that was shared with local non-profits in each of the cities I lived and learned with.
I'm a big believer that we all can learn from the experience and expertise of each other. I also believe that those who can afford to be in spaces and have time to invest in learning specific skills/ideas have a responsibility to share what we have. If knowledge is power, I believe in power-building through sharing knowledge (among other things).
Therefore, I'm also proud that Illustra Impact has donated my services to a small coffee export business in Colombia focused on advancing sustainable development goals and impacting the lives of local farmers. From the beginning, my intention was to be a social enterprise. How that looks will evolve as my business does, but I'm proud to say Illustra Impact has prioritized it from the beginning.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
This was a hard question to answer for me, but I think it would be narrowing your focus so that you can get clear on the services you offer and tell the story of the business in a way that attracts the kind of clients and work you designed it to for.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Know and revisit you're why. Being your own boss means a lot of flexibility and self-directed work. Getting out of bed each morning and being disciplined about your days can be tough when you lose sight of it.
- Have a lean start-up mindset. Don't wait until you have everything in place and are able to execute your entire vision before starting. Take your first client. Pilot some ideas. Test your market. Refine your value proposition and continue to evolve.
- Find and connect with people who have done it before you. Then invite others to learn from what you learned. I wouldn't be where I am today without my peer network of Solopreneurs.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.illustraimpact.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/illustraimpact/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/illustra-impact-llc/
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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