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Sterling, Creator & Founder at The SHE Mark: Advize Career Interview
A pre-med biopsychology major's journey unexpectedly led to founding The SHE Mark in 2020, after navigating internships, multiple jobs, and co-founding an artist management company.
The SHE Mark founder's daily life balances dedicated departmental focus with adaptability and strong organizational skills, showcasing the multifaceted nature of building a company.
The most rewarding aspects are the flexibility to define work style and collaborate with others championing equitable workplaces, coupled with building a supportive B2B community. The biggest challenge?
Scaling the business beyond initial ideation.
Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs emphasizes the importance of internships for real-world insights, patience in navigating unforeseen delays, and the value of every past experience, however seemingly insignificant.
The founder’s undergraduate experience highlighted time management and commitment as crucial for success, a perspective shaped by navigating gender inequity within a male-dominated field, ultimately leading to the creation of a company actively promoting gender balance.
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Sterling Champion
Creator & Founder
The SHE Mark
Tufts University, 2012
N/A
Biology & Related Sciences
Entrepreneur
Entrepreneurship and Business Owner
Disabled
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Career Path of a Creator and Founder at The SHE Mark
Sterling's career path reflects a dynamic journey from a pre-med biopsychology major to a successful entrepreneur, marked by a pivot toward a passion for the music industry. After several internships and juggling multiple jobs, including "working at an ad agency," and co-founding an artist management company, the experience led to creating their own company, The SHE Mark, in 2020.
Main Responsibilities of a Creator and Founder at The SHE Mark
As founder of The SHE Mark, Sterling's main responsibilities encompass "everything," from operations and business development to social media and sales, highlighting the multifaceted nature of a founder's role. The work "starts and ends" with Sterling, showcasing the significant ownership and accountability inherent in the position.
A Day In The Life Of A Creator And Founder At The SHE Mark
Sterling, Creator & Founder at The SHE Mark, structures their week by dedicating specific days to different aspects of their business, stating, "I like to plan certain days of the week for certain departments," to avoid feeling overwhelmed. This strategic approach to time management allows for focused work on various tasks, including calls, cold outreach, and other departmental needs.
Most Important Skills For A Creator And Founder At The SHE Mark
For a founder, adaptability is key – "being able to adapt and change course as new information comes in" – combined with strong organizational skills and self-discipline to maintain momentum amidst challenges. Perseverance, "keeping on keeping on," proves crucial for long-term success in navigating the unpredictable journey of building a company.
Favorite Parts Of Being A Creator And Founder At The SHE Mark
Sterling, Creator & Founder at The SHE Mark, most enjoys the "flexibility" of their role, citing the freedom to define "when and wherever" they work and to build a company reflecting their ideal "operational and cultural" vision. This self-direction allows Sterling to integrate preferred aspects of past roles while discarding disliked elements, resulting in complete control over their daily work life.
Biggest Challenges Faced by a Founder at The SHE Mark
Sterling's biggest challenge as Creator and Founder of The SHE Mark is navigating the transition from initial ideation to scaling the business, stating "I brought my idea to reality...what do I do now?". This involves tackling unforeseen growth obstacles and learning "pieces of growing into a space that you don't realize when you're starting the company".
Favorite Parts Of Working In The Social Impact Industry As A Creator And Founder
Sterling, Creator & Founder at The SHE Mark, finds the most rewarding aspect of their niche certification industry to be "collaborating with people that care about making the world a more equitable place," further enjoying the B2B model which allows learning from "founders and business operators from all types of industries."
What Type Of Person Thrives In The Community Building Industry, According To A Creator And Founder At The SHE Mark
Sterling, Creator & Founder at The SHE Mark, identifies strong relationship-building and community formation as crucial for success in their industry, stating that "partnerships and community are extremely important." This involves "networking well and strategiz[ing] and collaborat[ing]" to cultivate a supportive network and leverage word-of-mouth marketing, demonstrating a career built on meaningful connections.
What a Creator & Founder at The SHE Mark Wishes They Had Known Before Entering the Entrepreneurship Industry
Sterling, Creator & Founder at The SHE Mark, learned that "everything would take much longer than it appears," a lesson amplified by launching during the COVID-19 pandemic. This unexpectedly extended timeline, impacting partnerships and internal projects, taught the importance of patience and trusting the process, a valuable insight for aspiring entrepreneurs.
Entry-level Positions for Aspiring Creators and Founders
For undergraduate students interested in entry-level positions at startups like The SHE Mark, Sterling, a creator and founder, recommends focusing on "internships," emphasizing that these offer "a real insight into all aspects of the company." Strong internship performance may lead to full-time employment after graduation.
Significant Career Lesson From A Creator And Founder At The SHE Mark
Sterling, a 13-year career veteran, emphasizes that every job, "no matter how small or frustrating," contributes to their current success; this cumulative experience, built by learning from each role, uniquely prepared them for their current position as Creator & Founder at The SHE Mark.
College Experiences That Helped a Creator and Founder at The SHE Mark Succeed
Balancing student athletics with internships during undergraduate studies provided Sterling, Creator & Founder at The SHE Mark, with invaluable experience in "time management, organization, flexibility, and discipline," skills directly applicable to their current career. This rigorous schedule, while demanding, honed a strong work ethic that Sterling believes is crucial for success, advising students to "fill your time and really practice that time management and commitment."
How Identity Has Influenced A Creator And Founder's Career At The SHE Mark
Sterling, a founder who identifies as a woman, unexpectedly encountered significant gender inequity in a male-dominated field, initially experiencing "setbacks and different treatment." This led to a profound shift in perspective, culminating in the creation of The SHE Mark, which champions gender equity in the workplace, highlighting the importance of researching a company's commitment to gender balance before accepting a position.
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