Notes on becoming a creative founder and measuring growth beyond just the numbers
With over a decade of experience
as a creative, Valentina was ready to explore a new life as a creative founder.
Throughout the years of working
at startups, agencies and corporate,
she spotted what’s missing for founder-led teams and service providers. She knew exactly who she wanted to work with, but she didn’t have a plan to do it on her own terms, sustainably.
“I came to Veronica with no knowledge
of running a business, marketing my services,
or even clarity on my own offer.
I left with a clear perspective on how to make things work, without burnout as the price of entry.
I didn’t just sign up for someone’s transactional support. Veronica was my strategic partner
in building since the beginning.”
We sat down for an interview with Valentina on our work together, and here’s what she said:
For me growth was never about growth at all cost. It’s about having clarity -
both in my plan and in the way I talk about my offer.
What completely changed is my confidence: by working with Veronica, I invested
not just in my business but my life as an entrepreneur, who still has time to spend under trees, but also has a grip on their sales. It’s what made me understand how
my clients say yes in whatever season (of building their own business) they are in.
What was your idea of growth prior to working together,
and then after?
1
Everything felt confusing, especially how to reach the people I want to help through my services. I knew a lot about what my clients needed, but at the same time, it was unclear how to connect with them.
What was the focus of the work?
2
Limited time, lack of clarity and overall constantly feeling behind my to-do list.
What kept you up at night?
3
What did we decide to focus on, and what did we drop?
4
We focused on many things, but everything made sense. The process felt like
putting a puzzle together. In the end, it all made sense, and I didn’t feel torn between too many tasks or ways to convert people into paid clients.
What did Veronica do hands-on?
5
Veronica was great at shifting my focus to what actually makes sense for me and
my business goals. She helped me empathise with the people behind the business, reflect on my strengths and weaknesses, and use them to my advantage.
What’s the one lesson for other founders?
6
If you’re a (creative) founder starting from scratch, you need a strategic partner to build things that last. When you are sitting at the kitchen table at 2 AM, worrying about where the next client is coming from because times have changed and the way people buy has changed, remember this: it doesn’t have to be this way, and you don’t have to do this alone.
I hope more people learn to build with intuition, but also to ask for help from those whose values align with theirs. That’s what my experience was with Veronica.