Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in business development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Tina Caye, Founder and CEO of Clover Collective, located in Alexandria, VA, USA.

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

Clover is a branding and creative agency that's here to see empathy, storytelling, and emotion brought to life. In an industry full of tired clichés and rhetoric, we strive to get to the authenticity that drives human experience and build brands that resonate.

Tell us about yourself

I am a person that values connection over chit-chat and believes that the combination of strategy, empathy, and psychology is where marketing and creative magic happens. I love solving problems, digging into behavioral economics, and helping businesses thrive while leading a team with heart and vision.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Building relationships with my team and our clients that is open, honest, and full of empathy and understanding. We have something special at Clover where the values of integrity, honesty, and candor are upheld at every level, and cultivating that is something I'm very proud of.

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

The rollercoaster of entrepreneurship isn't always fun. I've had to work to find joy in the moments of learning and pivoting, which can be stressful. Growing during a pandemic didn't help with the "feast or famine" nature of the business, but it's been a journey of learning that brought valuable insights and opportunities for growth. It can also be lonely and make you question your talents and knowledge, so having a foundation of confidence and knowing that you can learn and pivot and continue to be tenacious in your approach is something I will always hold dear as the biggest growth for me personally.

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

  1. Have a vision for what you want to build, but we are willing to compromise on how you build it. As the market and consumer shift, you need to be able to sway and pivot as needed to meet them where they are.
  2. Know that the road will be rocky and less certain than you hope it will be. Don't lose your confidence in yourself, and learn to enjoy the journey and learn along the way.
  3. Know when to quit. Not necessarily on your business but on an idea, a product, or a strategy. Know when to say, "That didn't work. On to the next." Otherwise, you will spin your wheels on things that aren't driving your business forward. See #1.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://clovercollective.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/createdbyclover/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clovercollective/

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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