Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in personal and business development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Meena Anand, Founder, and CEO of The Careers Company, located in London, Essex, UK.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
The sole purpose of The Careers Company is to drive the career success of diverse employee groups. That could be women, those that are ethnically diverse, neuro-divergent, older workers, a combination of some of these, or simply a different way of thinking. We are a disruptor in the career development space - we know it's no longer just about who gets into organisations but also about who achieves career success and how. We know what works.
Our customers typically fall into three categories:
- Organisations, address specific career management issues, e.g., the lack of advancement of women, retention of their neuro-divergent talent, or indeed creating career paths for their older workers.
- Membership organizations and HR consulting firms that are looking to expand their product offering to their clients, e.g., careers training or career coaching.
- Individuals that need support in making career-related decisions or solving career-related issues.
Tell us about yourself
As a former FTSE 100 HR Director, I realised that there are so many employees unhappy with their level of career success (we know that this varies from employee to employee). Diverse employee groups, in particular, are often under-employed, have greater barriers to advancement, don't have access to the same networks, or just "opt-out" of the workforce altogether. They face glass ceilings, glass ceilings, glass cliffs, and more! As a result, organisations often fail to retain or fully leverage their very best talent. That's a lot of disappointment.
What motivates me on a daily basis is the belief that it really doesn't have to be that way. It's time to change how career development happens in organisations.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
I am not sure there is a single accomplishment that I would call out. Running a business often means a lot of small (seemingly insignificant at the time) accomplishments every day. For example: finding a social media provider, getting a logo sorted for a new product, writing a blog, and of course, always looking for ways to develop new leads for your business. There is a new challenge every day, but I love the journey!
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
For me, the hardest thing has definitely been the shift from being "the client" as an HR Director to being the "seller." Business development certainly doesn't come naturally to me, but it's a skill that I need to hone continually!
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
I am not sure I have tips, but I have certainly learned a ton of stuff along the way. Here are my three biggest learnings:
- Stop working for free. However tempting it may be to do this to build brand awareness, it's so important for you and others to know your worth. I often "bartered" things at the beginning with fellow business owners.
- Be super clear on your audience. The lure of keeping things broad is super tempting, but carving out a clear niche for yourself not only builds your own brand but makes referral so much easier!
- Have a growth mindset. Resilience is key. You are going to have setbacks on a weekly (if not daily!) basis; getting through these is your superpower.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.thecareerscompany.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-careers-company/
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.
Turn your craft into recurring revenue with Subkit. Start your subscription offering in minutes and supercharge it with growth levers. Get early access here.
