Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Vanessa Van Edwards, Founder of Science of People, located in Austin, TX, USA.

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

We teach high-achieving professionals how to communicate with confidence. Our customers are professionals, entrepreneurs, and those who want to be more authentically memorable, likable, and impactful. We do this with our two bestselling books and online courses.

Tell us about yourself

I am the Lead Investigator at Science of People. I am a multi-time bestselling author of "Captivate: The Science of Succeeding with People" and "Cues: Master the Secret Language of Charismatic Communication." Captivate has been translated into 16 different languages, and more than 50 million people have watched me on YouTube.

I regularly speak to innovative companies, including Google, Intel, Facebook, Comcast, Miller-Coors, Microsoft, and Penguin Random-House. I have been a spokesperson for Dove, American Express, Clean and Clear, and Symantec. I share tangible skills—including my insights on how people work—to improve interpersonal communication and leadership. I have developed a science-based framework for understanding different personalities to improve our EQ and help us communicate with colleagues, clients, and customers. My TEDx London Talk on the science of charisma has been seen over 2,000,000 times.

I've worked with entrepreneurs, growing businesses, and trillion-dollar companies and have been featured on CNN, BBC, CBS, Fast Company, Inc., Entrepreneur magazine, USA Today, the Today Show, and many more. Millions visit my website, ScienceofPeople.com, every month for my methods which turn "soft skills" into actionable, masterable frameworks that can be applied in daily life. Hundreds of thousands of students have taken my communication courses on LinkedIn Learning, Udemy and CreativeLive. I am the creator of People School, an advanced online communication skills training for high-achieving professionals.

I am renowned for teaching science-backed people skills to audiences around the world, including SXSW, MIT, and CES, to name a few. My groundbreaking and engaging workshops and courses teach individuals how to succeed in business and life by understanding the hidden dynamics of people. I am also a keynote speaker in Austin, Texas, and have spoken at SXSW as well as for local Austin groups.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I am a recovering awkward person. I write about communication from a very different perspective, and I had no idea there were other recovering awkward people like me. When I came out with my book Captivate, I hoped it would be well-received, but I had no idea how big it would be! It is now in 17 languages and reaches other awkward professionals around the world.

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

Finding the right people for the right job. I believe everyone should be able to do their "A" work--work they love in a role they love. It has been hard to find the exact right person for the right role, but once we find it, it's magic!

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

  1. Try to work with people smarter than you.
  2. Don't do things just for the money.
  3. Relationships are more important than anything else.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.scienceofpeople.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vvanedwards/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/vvanedwards
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vanessavanedwards/

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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