"Ideas are easy. Implementation is hard.”
Mariam Ispahani started her entrepreneurial journey while in college in Minnesota, launching an eCommerce business selling gadgets. She has always been passionate about innovative technologies and causes for a better planet. Mariam is the co-founder of a few startups in the technology space and the founder of two startups in the renewable space. Sonali Bioplastics is a startup in the climate tech space which solves the plastic pollution problem with biobased and biodegradable products. Mariam’s first renewable company started with a simple vision to serve the community and soon expanded to add products and services on a global scale. She completed her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Minnesota and is based in California. She holds an FAA Private Pilot License and enjoys flying. Mariam is a published author of short stories and poetry, speaks multiple languages, and has traveled extensively.
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Tell us a little bit about your current projects. What exciting milestone would you like to share with our readers? (Don’t hesitate to delve into your achievements, they will inspire the audience)
Mariam Ispahani: I am currently working on a climate tech startup called, Sonali Bioplastics. We solve the plastic pollution problem with plant-based products. Our products reduce carbon emissions leading to a healthier environment. We are all about sustainable development and promoting eco-friendly farming. Despite the challenges coronavirus presented over the past 2 years, we were able to achieve several milestones. Our unique technology allowed us to file patents and attract some well-known brand names as customers. I enjoy working with our team of scientists and fellow entrepreneurs! Looking forward to expanding our customer base and product line.
Can you tell us a story about the hard times that you faced when you first started your journey? Did you ever consider giving up?
Mariam Ispahani: Being an entrepreneur is not an easy journey. I have worked on and in several startups and each taught valuable lessons. There were happy and exciting moments, but there were also a lot of challenging situations. With my first startup in mind, I recall going to the bank to open a special account to allow eCommerce transactions back when buying online was a new concept. Google wasn’t born and I had to do my research via books and internet friends who were software experts. I absorbed a lot of negativity from people around me saying, that I should drop the eCommerce website business idea and do something easier. Giving up is not in my genes so I blocked out what was necessary to move forward. Being resilient is key to survival.
What are the most common mistakes you see entrepreneurs make and what would you suggest they do?
Mariam Ispahani: One big mistake entrepreneurs make is not designing a backup plan. There should always be a Plan B and even a Plan C. One has to keep in mind that during the startup journey, plans change. An entrepreneur especially a startup founder, must be alert and flexible. Adaptability is very important for success. Often entrepreneurs grossly underestimate their burn rate and then scramble to get funds to survive. Always add extra to your financial estimates so you don’t end up wondering how the funds ran out so fast. The goal is not mere survival, but success.
Resilience is critical in critical times like the ones we are going through now. How would you define resilience?
Mariam Ispahani: Resilience is one of my favorite words. It means shutting out the negativity and focusing on the positives. It lets your creativity flow. You may fall, but you do not fall apart, you bounce back. This is resilience and it is a necessary trait for entrepreneurs.
When you think of your company, 5 years from now, what do you see?
Mariam Ispahani: Climate action is urgently needed and we are on a path to implement several of the 17 United Nations sustainable development goals. 5 years from now, we would have achieved our goals which align with the UN SDGs for a healthier planet. We will increase our customer base and rapidly expand manufacturing to serve their needs. Our plant-based products will be an excellent alternative to petroleum-based plastic products. Grateful customers and happy consumers will opt for our environmental products. We will expand our production to other countries.
What do you consider are your strengths when dealing with staff workers, colleagues, senior management, and customers?
Mariam Ispahani: Listening is very important. I listen and process what I hear with an open mind. This method works well with team members and customers alike. I am always open to new ideas and alternative ways of getting tasks achieved. Customers have to be heard because we are designing products for them to utilize. Speaking is also a strength as one has to be able to convey objectives.
Being a CEO of the company, do you think that your brand reflects your company’s values?
Mariam Ispahani: Yes, my brand reflects my company’s values. I have worked to create awareness through my brand to give the company leverage. However, the entire team’s input is incorporated into our collective value system.
What’s your favorite leadership style and why?
Mariam Ispahani: Being open to the team’s ideas and suggestions, listening to them, is a mark of good leadership. A leader cannot run a one-person show, because it takes a team to make a company work.
What advice would you give to our younger readers that want to become entrepreneurs?
Mariam Ispahani: To those who are considering becoming entrepreneurs, you must prepare for a long and challenging journey. You may succeed or you may fail, but either way, there are lessons to help you be aware and learn.
What’s your favorite “business” quote and how has it affected your business decisions?
Mariam Ispahani: “Ideas are easy. Implementation is hard.” As simple as this quote by Guy Kawasaki looks, it resonates with me on many levels. An entrepreneur has to be ready for the challenges which come with implementation. It is hard, but we have to find ways to materialize our ideas. We plan and adapt plans accordingly.
Jed Morley, VIP Contributor to ValiantCEO and the host of this interview would like to thank Mariam Ispahani for taking the time to do this interview and share her knowledge and experience with our readers.
If you would like to get in touch with Mariam Ispahani or her company, you can do it through her – Linkedin Page
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