Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in business development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Amy Van De Klippe, Founder of EGI, Inc., located in London, ON, Canada.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
We are a team of Business Analysts who come up with creative ways to solve complex problems. We work with software engineering teams to produce better products more efficiently and with business teams who want to update old processes or build new, innovative ones.
Our customers all have one thing in common - they have a vision they want to achieve and need help removing the barriers. That's where we come in.
Tell us about yourself.
I founded EGI Inc. because I felt stifled by the corporate environment and its limits to how things get done. I am a change junkie - I love mixing things up, trying to solve problems in a new way, and learning from the results.
I'm motivated to keep going when our clients are liberated from the status quo, the same way I was when I founded EGI Inc. What was stopping them is now in the rearview mirror, and the path forward is clear.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My team is small, but they are most certainly mighty. Our core values are centered around our team, pulling creative, innovative ideas out of them and using them to solve real-world problems.
They come from diverse backgrounds, and all have different perspectives to share. My biggest accomplishment is that they are as bought-in into our company vision as I am.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Being a founder is a tremendous responsibility. I sometimes feel pressured to push my team and the business forward while balancing realistic expectations and financial obligations. The company is me. I am the business.
That is not the case for the rest of my team, so I need to communicate well and often, have a level head about bringing everyone along for the ride, and set a clear and intentioned course for our continued success.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Do it now, even though you aren't ready.
- Balance business development with delivery so don't run out of money.
- Set operational foundations early so you can scale efficiently.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://egiinc.ca/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-vande-klippe/
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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