"Never give up – no matter the challenge, no matter how impossible it may seem, no matter what anyone tries to tell you, never ever give up. Persistence & determination is a key factor to success. "
Meet Marianna Boguslavsky – The Founder of Boguslavsky & Co, a digital strategy agency in London aimed at growing tech startups. She’s a digital strategy & marketing specialist (with a degree in consumer psychology) with a decade of international marketing experience working at companies in Dubai, London, South Africa and Slovenia.
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Table of Contents
Thank you for joining us today. Please introduce yourself to our readers. They want to know you, some of the background story to bring some context to your interview.
Marianna Boguslavsky: I have a passion for mission-driven startups, marketing, digital, learning & innovation. My absolutely favorite projects involve working with early-stage startups. I’ve led multi-cultural teams, speak fluent Russian, hold a psychology degree & have successful experience in managing global marketing campaigns. Worked at small companies, startups, and large global agencies. I founded my own digital marketing agency and built exceptional relationships with international clients at all levels.
You are a successful entrepreneur, so we’d like your view point, do you believe entrepreneurs are born or made? Explain.
Marianna Boguslavsky: Made. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. You can be working for someone for 50 years and yet still go on to be a successful entrepreneur. It’s about following your passion and ambitions.
If you were asked to describe yourself as an entrepreneur in a few words, what would you say?
Marianna Boguslavsky: Passionate. Dedicated. Obsessed with innovating. Hustling. Focused on building relationships.
Tell us about what your company does and how did it change over the years?
Marianna Boguslavsky: Our key focus is on researching, conceptualizing, developing, and implementing digital strategies focusing on increasing omnichannel customer acquisition. We are always thinking (obsessing) about not only getting the foundational blocks right but also a long-term strategy for growth for clients.
We started off as a digital marketing & social media agency and slowly evolved into focusing more & more on strategies for tech startups.
Thank you for all that. Now for the main focus of this interview. With close to 11.000 new businesses registered daily in the US, what must an entrepreneur assume when starting a business?
Marianna Boguslavsky: We all know the stats – 80% of new businesses don’t make it. Yet you have to believe, with your entire being, that you are in the other 20%. If you have the knowledge, skills, experience, and the much-coveted product-market fit, don’t give up.
Did you make any wrong assumptions before starting a business that you ended up paying dearly for?
Marianna Boguslavsky: Yes, in the early days, I did not pay enough attention to managing client expectations from the get-go – there was a need for clear, in-depth contracts to ensure the scope of work was well defined.
If you could go back in time to when you first started your business, what advice would you give yourself and why? Explain
Marianna Boguslavsky: Focus on growth & outsource the rest to specialists who know more than you!
What is the worst advice you received regarding running a business and what lesson would you like others to learn from your experience?
Marianna Boguslavsky: To say yes to any project – I’ve found over the years that it’s crucial to understand the kind of client my agency works best with and where we can add the most value.
In your opinion, how has COVID-19 changed what entrepreneurs should assume before starting a business? What hasn’t changed?
Marianna Boguslavsky: I believe some industries (hospitality, travel, etc) thought they were invincible before Covid changed the entire landscape. Entrepreneurs should not only have their original plan but also plan B, C, D in case things go wrong.
What is a common myth about entrepreneurship that aspiring entrepreneurs and would-be business owners believe in? What advice would you give them?
Marianna Boguslavsky: That you’ll be working with your laptop on the beach sipping a cocktail. Instead, you will be hustling, hustling, and then hustling some more. Longer hours than working for someone else but so worth it!
What traits, qualities, and assumptions do you believe are most important to have before starting a business?
Marianna Boguslavsky: Never give up – no matter the challenge, no matter how impossible it may seem, no matter what anyone tries to tell you, never ever give up. Persistence & determination is a key factor to success.
Never stop building relationships – Some bridges might be toxic & you do need to burn them but for most relationships, try to build on them.
Show up with enthusiasm – If you have a passion for what you do, share this passion!
How can aspiring leaders prepare themselves for the future challenges of entrepreneurship? Are there any books, websites, or even movies to learn from?
Marianna Boguslavsky: Yes, I recommend reading Jim Collins (Good to Great) and Verne Harnish (Scaling Up).
You have shared quite a bit of your wisdom and our readers thank you for your generosity but would also love to know: If you could choose any job other than being an entrepreneur, what would it be?
Marianna Boguslavsky: Sushi restaurant owner.
Thank you so much for your time, I believe I speak for all of our readers when I say that this has been incredibly insightful. We do have one more question: If you could add anyone to Mount Rushmore, but not a politician, who would it be; why?
Marianna Boguslavsky: Gosh no idea!
Larry Yatch, VIP Contributor to ValiantCEO and the host of this interview would like to thank Marianna Boguslavsky 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 Marianna Boguslavsky or her company, you can do it through her – Linkedin Page
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