Outlive • Outlast • Outperform

Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in business development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Stephanie Angelo, a company culture consultant, speaker and trainer based in Chandler, AZ, USA.

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

As a company culture consultant, speaker, and trainer, I work with organizations that want to create Built to Thrive™ cultures to outlive, outlast, and outperform the competition.

I'm honored to help clients develop strong cultures by establishing customized in-house programs that allow employees to do better in their jobs, decrease turnover, and create high-engagement organizations. Clients include companies like Scottsdale Healthcare, Doubletree Hotels, CopperPoint Mutual, Faist GreenTec, Intel, and Raytheon. I've had opportunities to speak at numerous conferences and associations, such as IFMA, BPAA, ASIS, and SHRM. I have said this all across the U.S., Canada, and Europe.

I'm an eSpeakers Certified Virtual Presenter, a professional member of the National Speakers Association, and a member of the Society for Human Resource Management. In 2014, I co-created the first-ever board game to address domestic violence – OUTrage™ – A Game to Recognize and Change Abusive Behavior. I co-wrote the true-crime memoir, Serrated. I'm grateful to have won several awards for my work.

Tell us about yourself

My human resources career started somewhat by accident over 30 years ago. I worked in hospitality and then in health care in increasingly responsible roles.

After I left the hospital system, I worked for. I worked as an adjunct trainer for a variety of organizations. The events of 9/11 put the kibosh on my job because the company had to turn a new direction in terms of its client offerings.

I focused on intimate partner violence for the first 16 or so years of my work as an independent consultant and speaker. I helped organizations, particularly human resources and organization leaders, learn the dynamics of abuse so they could understand from both the survivor and the offender sides because, of course, both are employed by your organizations. I also help them with State and Federal compliance and safety issues.

After 16 years, including writing a true crime memoir, "Serrated-a True Story of Survival, Recovery, and The Pursuit of Justice," and inventing the game OUTrage, I found myself burnt out and needing a change.

Organizations began to ask me for help with company culture. I realized that I have an excellent skill set with it because of experiencing extraordinary and extremely toxic cultures from both the human resources administrative side and as an employee through my personal experiences.

I have a healthy arsenal of stories and resources that accompany my work. I've built my career on helping organizations be Built to Thrive™ #builtothrive by what I call "slaying the villain of cultural stagnation."

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I invented the popular board game Company Culture - a Game of Workplace Traction, not Transaction® which is an exclusive element in one of my company culture workshops and can be experienced in-person or virtually.

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

Occasionally, I find two things challenging. One is choosing what software and resources to purchase because so many options are available. Secondly, as an independent consultant, other than assistants I hire by project, it can be isolating from time to time.

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

Be very selective about what you purchase because everybody will want to sell you something (and theirs is "the best").
Think strategically about which networking groups are worth your time and money.
Ask yourself if it's something that you love and "have to do" because it isn't for the faint of heart or thin-skinned. Then enjoy, and lots of luck to you!

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://stephanieangelo.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TractionnotTransaction
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hello.stephanieangelo/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/StephanieHSMmG
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanieangelosphr/

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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