Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in consultancy but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Kim Jursa, Founder of Kim Jursa Brand Strategy, located in Chicago, IL, USA.

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

I'm a strategy consultant who evolves brands into powerful forces with strategic brand identities so businesses can grow. My customers are diverse and include growth-oriented startups, visionary mid-market companies, and Fortune 500 corporations.

Tell us about yourself

The first ten years of my career were a deep dive into the world of marketing, where I honed my skills working on globally recognized brands at Fortune 500 companies. The experience was invaluable, but on a sabbatical trekking through Africa's mountains, I had a moment of clarity that refined my professional path. I realized what truly invigorated me was the strategic aspect of branding—solving business problems with branding. So, I spent the next ten years leading Strategy at some of NYC's top branding agencies before starting my own consultancy. Every day, I am motivated by the opportunity to transform brand potential into business success.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Helping bold ideas take flight for 100s of startups, mid-markets, incubators, and corporate teams.

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

Learning to say "no" to potential opportunities that don't align with my core business goals. It's hard because I love to listen and help, but it's vital to keeping my business growth on track.

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

  1. Don't do too many weird things at once – don't try to take on a new customer segment, offer new services, or change your messaging all at once. There are too many variables and too many unknowns, instead have a clear strategic focus.
  2. Get over your weaknesses - If something is really broken, yes, fix it. But lean into your strengths vs fixating on your weaknesses - because that's your superpower! If you were born a cheetah, enjoy running fast and don't worry about the inability to swing from trees. This is known as a brand differentiator.
  3. Pivoting or conceding are options - You believe everything is possible – cheers to the growth mindset. However, 'persistence' is one way to go after what you want in life and sometimes it doesn't work even though you keep trying and trying…Embrace the 'pivot' to redirect energies or 'concede' (gasp!) to take the needed pause to figure out your next move. This is known as brand strategy.

You can connect with Kim Jursa:

Website: https://www.kimjursa.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimjursa/

Collab with brands and creators. Request your invite at collabs.io