With a more formal background in engineering, very quickly into her career, Claudia realised she was stronger on the business side of things and as she describes it: it was more fun! Her first attempt at starting her own business wasn't necessarily a success, but she realised that there was something about business and being an entrepreneur that really intrigued her. This was followed by an opportunity to shift into the tech space where Claudia learnt to apply her big picture thinking to business.
“I did all I could to really learn about business, how to help them perform better, and I knew I had found the space where I wanted to be. Managing, overseeing, understanding performance, all in the tech space.”
Her first big successful venture started with an idea which needed her expertise to help bring it to life, to figure it out and make it real. “It sounded like a great challenge, and I love being challenged. I love to prove that something that seems impossible CAN be done”. Claudia reminds us that there are always so many problems to solve, it becomes more about which ones we choose to focus on. Today she is steering two ventures at very different stages of maturity, and requiring different types of problem solving and attention. We admire her ability to find balance and how she continues to bring impact to both businesses simultaneously. No matter what stage a business is, change is a constant, and Claudia never stops accommodating that truth. “It’s difficult to be employed once you have been a founder or so deeply involved in a business you care about and to then join someone else's dream, I think I would struggle to go back to being an employee.”
Claudia describes herself as a very curious person who tends to ask very direct questions purely because she wants to understand. This trait becomes so important when as entrepreneurs we are in the business of solving problems - a little difficult to really do without gathering as much information as possible to REALLY solve the depths of that problem. Her advice to Creative Entrepreneurs is to
“Be realistic but not too critical. It's okay not to have an answer for everything but do not go completely clueless into your venture. You do not need to have a plan for everything”.
She brings us back to reality, speaking of the many tough moments on the entrepreneurial journey (beautiful moments too), and emphasises that without tenacity and resilience it can be very difficult to get through those tough times. When things don't go well, Claudia’s immediate response is to take responsibility and start solving the problem with a formal plan of action to correct the course.
She cautions us that sometimes we have to make the decision on whether to continue pursuing our venture or not. Asking the hard questions and answering honestly as to whether this can be a successful venture or not. Claudia has had to do just that, having to make that decision for her first business. She advises Creative Entrepreneurs that one does NOT have to keep going at all costs, to take a step back and really decide whether there is a good enough solution to the problem your venture is facing. Then act accordingly.
So how does Claudia keep inspired and motivated? Simple: people. She acknowledges the immense role of the people you bring in to help you, or those you work alongside. Here she refers not only to her team but also to her clients, investors, everyone who is part of the venture’s ecosystem and reliant on it being successful. Building a business is difficult to do alone, partnering with people you trust that are aligned with your values and are pulling in the same direction is essential. When you find good fit people, it helps with motivation as well as combining strengths and perspectives. For her, business IS about these people, that without enabling them to be successful, it becomes impossible for your business to reach success. She sees letting them down as letting herself down.
“For me, it is very much about being with great people and doing great things. That's what makes me tick! Without them, it wouldn't be possible. They invested money, faith, skills into our dream and with that we have a commitment, we have responsibility and a desire to bring all we promise to the table. It always comes down to people, motivating them, assisting them, enabling them and trying to be the best help to them as possible.”
Claudia admits the hard work, the pain, the worries, that come hand in hand with entrepreneurship, yet somehow when it still just feels good, then you know you’re an entrepreneur at heart. She describes her average day as pretty messy, giving a lot of input, a lot of guidance, making little time left for productivity, yet she still finds a way to keep two ventures moving forward. Her approach to entrepreneurship seems to be working well. Thank you for sharing the lessons Claudia!
“Solving niche challenges Founders face”.
Illustrator: Lisa Williams (Instagram: @artist_llw)