Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Wendy Ryan, CEO of Kadabra, located in San Jose, CA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Kadabra catalyzes growth and change for emerging through C-suite leaders. We empower them to shift their mindsets, expand their skill sets, and adjust their behaviors through unique learning experiences and the Learn Lead Lift Framework™.
Tell us about yourself
After working in human resources, organizational, and leadership development for a number of years, I launched Kadabra in 2014. What motivates my team and me is our passion for co-creating the future of leadership, which looks far more inclusive, equity-minded, authentic, and trauma-informed than it does today.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Modeling an approach to doing business that consistently puts people first, whether they are employees, contractors, vendors, or clients. When times are good, it's easier for business owners to put people first, but it's challenging to sustain that approach in the face of economic and/or market volatility. I'm proud of the fact that we've remained committed to a people-first approach despite the headwinds of a global pandemic, racial and social reckoning, and a soft economy.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
The buck stops with you! You have to be willing to hold yourself accountable for your decisions and invite others to challenge you without penalty when the outcomes fall short of expectations. If you surround yourself with "yes" people, the quality of your decisions and business outcomes will suffer because you are missing vital information.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
It's easier to start and build a successful business when you are doing something aligned with your existing skill sets and subject matter expertise. It's much harder when you have to build subject matter expertise along with business expertise at the same time. Sometimes, people will launch a new business doing something they have no previous experience with. In those cases, it's important to recognize that you have two steep learning curves to climb and for you to engage support.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.wearekadabra.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wearekadabra/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/we_are_kadabra/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/wearekadabra
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendyryankadabra/
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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