Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in training and development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Sima Kumar, Co-Founder and CEO of The Other Box®, located in London, UK.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I'm the co-founder and CEO of The Other Box, an award-winning UK-based media company creating courses and content to help people learn how to make space for difference, be more inclusive, and create a sense of belonging towards a future where everyone is inspired to lead with love. All our work is created with diversity, equity, and inclusion as the foundation of our offering.
Tell us about yourself
Before The Other Box, I worked as a fashion stylist and creative director for 25 years. Being part of the creative industries before social media, there was even a whisper of conversations around diversity and inclusion and extending opportunities to those from marginalised backgrounds. All of this experience did the work I do. Now a natural next step in my career evolution. I am educating businesses on the value of transforming traditional mindsets and the very well-documented value to companies and businesses when we open up opportunities to those who are traditionally left out. It's satisfying being one link in a long chain that is part of long overdue and much-needed systemic change.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Not getting caught up in what other people are doing. I think constantly comparing yourself or your business to others in the same or similar space can be counterintuitive. It's good to stay informed, but ultimately a leader has to commit to a strategy and course of action. The joy comes in sharing the success, and the burden is, ultimately, I'm responsible for any failure. It's a great way to build resilience and self-confidence. The more I do it, the easier it becomes, but the stakes are also higher each time too, so humility is a must.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
Building a scaleable and sustainable business in the noise of gimmicky start-ups. For example, once you start scaling, a flat hierarchy (something that is popular in the start-up world) isn't sustainable. There needs to be a north star, and someone must be responsible for guiding the ship. This can come with a lot of pressure, expectations, and the knowledge I will disappoint everyone at some point because not everything can be done at once.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Get yourself a mentor who is much more experienced and smarter than you.
- Transform your mindset to an abundance mindset. Most businesses fail, and your mindset will be your greatest ally to keep you on track and motivated to negotiate the highs and lows.
- Never underestimate giving yourself time to think and have fun. This space will feed your entrepreneurial side and can be invaluable to your business growth. Grinding in the weeds of work 24/7 is outdated and will only lead to burnout.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.theotherbox.org/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_theotherbox/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/_TheOtherBox
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/theotherbox/
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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