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Michael, Co-Founder at SolarGroup & FleekSleek: Advize Career Interview
This interview with Michael, Co-Founder at SolarGroup & FleekSleek, charts a compelling path from college football to digital marketing leadership.
A knack for camera work and social media blossomed into FleekSleek, a marketing agency that continues to thrive.
Day-to-day involves driving sales, leading a team of 30, and collaborating with Meta and Google to constantly refine marketing strategies. Key skills include stress management, communication, and problem-solving.
The role's appeal lies in the freedom to innovate, with time management being a significant challenge addressed through AI-powered solutions. The dynamic marketing industry, requiring constant adaptation, is a source of enjoyment.
Success hinges on self-motivation, resilience under pressure, and a passion for client success. Aspiring marketers should prioritize sales roles to hone crucial skills and embrace the long, iterative journey of building a business.
Execution trumps ideas, and college serves as a launchpad for networking and learning from others' mistakes, particularly through connecting with professors who offer invaluable advice and opportunities.
This is a story of continuous growth, adaptation, and the power of connections in shaping a dynamic career.
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Michael Gombert
Co-Founder
SolarGroup & FleekSleek
Arizona State University (ASU) - W. P. Carey
Business Management & Admin
Technology
Communication and Marketing
Worked 20+ Hours in School, Student Athlete
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Career Path Of A Co-Founder At FleekSleek
The career professional, Michael, initially went to college to play football, but transitioned into camera work and social media by junior year, gaining experience at a marketing agency. Before co-founding SolarGroup, they established FleekSleek, "Mitchell Digital Marketing Agency" which "still run[s] today".
Main Responsibilities of a Co-Founder at SolarGroup and FleekSleek
As a Co-Founder at SolarGroup & FleekSleek, Michael's main responsibilities are to "drive sales" and lead a team of 30, which involves working with performance managers and the creative team to set up marketing plans for clients, as well as forging partnerships with other agencies for white-labeling services to help them grow.
A Day In The Life Of A Co-Founder At SolarGroup And FleekSleek
A co-founder's day involves very early meetings due to team members being located on the East coast, sometimes even while at the gym, as the career professional "works more on the front end with the organic social media, paid advertising and all the content" while collaborating with partners like Meta and Google to consistently adapt marketing strategies based on client data and market insights. This adaptation is critical, since "marketing's not a turn on and forget it is a consistent like adaption".
Most Important Skills For A Co-Founder At SolarGroup And FleekSleek
For a co-founder role at SolarGroup & FleekSleek, the ability to handle high stress without faltering is key, as "everything that they do is your responsibility." Ultimately, strong communication, leadership through collaboration rather than authority, and adept problem-solving are crucial for guiding the team and serving clientele.
Favorite Parts Of Being A Co-Founder At SolarGroup And FleekSleek
Michael, a Co-Founder at SolarGroup & FleekSleek, most enjoys the "freedom to kind of take risks and to innovate," leveraging a visionary role to set the company's direction and growth plans, while a partner focuses on implementation. In this dynamic, Michael can focus on the big picture without getting bogged down in tasks.
Biggest Challenges Faced By A Co-Founder At SolarGroup And FleekSleek
The biggest challenge for the co-founder is time management, juggling responsibilities across multiple companies like FleekSleek while also prioritizing personal life, requiring consistent adaptation and calendar reviews to fit everything in. They are actively implementing systems and SOPs, including utilizing an AI-powered calendar that integrates tasks from emails to better allocate free time and "start busting out tasks."
Favorite Parts Of Working In The Social Media Marketing Industry As A Co-Founder
Michael enjoys the constant evolution of the social media marketing industry because, as someone who dislikes repetition, they find the need to continuously adapt to new trends and technologies "keeps it fun" and challenging. This drive to adapt is evident in the focus on metrics like average duration, using tools like Hotjar to improve website funnels, and the pursuit of better CPAs and lead forms, illustrating a commitment to "riding that wave" of change.
What Type Of Person Thrives In Marketing, According To A Co-Founder At SolarGroup And FleekSleek
Michael, a Co-Founder at SolarGroup & FleekSleek, believes people who thrive in the marketing industry are "very self-motivated" and "really good under pressure," given the ever-changing landscape and responsibility of managing client funds; being logical, strategic, and passionate about clients' success is also crucial.
What A Co-Founder At SolarGroup And FleekSleek Wishes They Had Known Before Entering The Startup Industry
Michael from SolarGroup & FleekSleek wishes someone would have told him that success in the role takes significantly more time than initially anticipated, cautioning to expect a six-month journey instead of a two-month sprint and to not "talk down yourself." Embracing the "process" and finding joy in "walking towards it and problem solving" becomes more important than the destination itself.
Entry-Level Positions for Aspiring Co-Founders
Michael, Co-Founder at SolarGroup & FleekSleek, recommends that undergraduates or graduates seeking entry-level positions in the field should start with sales roles to develop crucial skills, as "sales is everything" and integral to various aspects of life. Michael emphasizes the importance of learning to handle rejection, suggesting aspiring sales professionals practice by asking for discounts to become comfortable with being told "no over and over again."
Significant Career Lesson From a Co-Founder at SolarGroup and FleekSleek
Michael, Co-Founder at SolarGroup & FleekSleek, emphasizes that "ideas do not matter unless you have execution," highlighting the importance of testing ideas, even if they fail, because everyone has "an unknown expiration date". Michael's career has shown them that the ability "to see what sticks and what doesn't stick" is invaluable, encouraging others to simply try their ideas and learn from the outcomes.
How College Helped a Co-Founder of SolarGroup and FleekSleek Succeed
Michael leveraged college as a "launchpad" to connect and network with others, prioritizing learning from other's mistakes to accelerate growth; this approach led to unexpected client acquisition, with a simple compliment on a shirt at the campus gym sparking connections that fueled their entry into the fitness-related website and content creation space. College enabled opportunities to meet a wide range of people that ultimately shaped Michael's current career trajectory as a Co-Founder at SolarGroup & FleekSleek.
Co Founder Career Advice From SolarGroup And FleekSleek
Michael from SolarGroup & FleekSleek found that the most impactful experience at WP Carey was connecting with professors, emphasizing that many "actually did what they teach" and were eager to help students like themselves who had clear goals, such as breaking into e-commerce. Michael encourages students to leverage these professor connections for advice, internships, and jobs, because "connections are gonna get you a lot farther than just a resume."
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