Interested in starting your entrepreneurial journey in business development, but not sure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Akshay Sateesh, founder and executive coach of Ziksana Consulting, based in San Diego, CA, USA.

Tell us all about your business...

We help leaders scale their company culture and strategy through the power of play. Our customers are Executives, Senior Leaders, and Managers of life science and technology companies.

What's your background and motivation to grow as a solopreneur?

Corporate culture can be overly focused on results and can burn people out quickly. I experienced this in my early career at a life science company and needed a creative outlet to practice my joy for being around people. I started an Improvisation Theater with a group of strangers in Philadelphia. I learned quickly that critical skills of listening, making others look good, and complete acceptance of others' offers, applied perfectly in my corporate life. My passion for activating people to enjoy their work and interactions with their colleagues led me to start Ziksana Consulting, a leadership development firm that activates the world of work through play.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

At first, I was everything in the company. Over the past 11 years, I have been proud to slowly scale the company so that others can learn our proprietary approach and practice it on their own to help companies achieve great things while having fun and motivating their employees.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a solopreneur?

Finding the right people to hire that can connect to our vision, innovate to evolve our brand, and execute effectively to delight our customers.

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

  1. Be honest and clear about your motivation behind the business.
  2. Find/hire the #2 person that complements your strengths and skills.
  3. Role model what you want the culture to look like three years from now.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

In this time 'post-pandemic, there is a need for re-connection to the people we work with. We need to do and try new things to rekindle the fun and vibrant workplace culture even if we remain remote.

Where can people find you?

Website: https://ziksanaconsulting.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ziksana/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share then email community@subkit.com, we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

Feel inspired to start, run or grow your own subscription business? Check out subkit.com and learn how you can turn "one day" into day one.