Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in marketing but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Fab Giovanetti, CEO of Alt Marketing School, located in Cambridge, UK.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Alt Marketing School is a modern school for professionals who want to do marketing differently. The impact is everything I do, and I realised that something that was still missing in the marketing space was training that would focus on impact, purpose, and people. I wanted to make marketing GREAT again by bringing hearts into the equation. I wanted to make marketing more inclusive, accessible, impactful, human, and fun!
Tell us about yourself
My name is Fab, and I am Italian by origin. I have always loved learning, and in a way, I loved teaching and sharing with others. I am a quick learner too, which means marketing naturally came to me as a big passion. First, I studied to become a certified health coach and personal trainer; then, I decided to open my first company. For eight years, I ran Health Bloggers Community (later known as Creative Impact), and we ran over 30 events in the UK, six awards ceremonies, and supported over 10,000 students. I also started teaching marketing at colleges and professional schools and learned I was pretty good at it! Since then, I moved on to Alt Marketing School, combining my love for marketing, teaching, interviewing people on our podcast, and making a tangible difference in the industry and education system.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Being able to support students from all walks of life and creating new opportunities for marketers with our scholarship has to be up there. Plus, I have been shortlisted as a finalist for a Marketing for Good award, which is a huge accomplishment!
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
Well, being a business owner comes with a lot of challenges, but one of the hardest things has to be learning to be resilient and pivot when things don't go as planned. It's not always easy to bounce back from a setback or to shift gears when a strategy isn't working, but these are essential skills for any successful business owner. Sometimes it can take time to learn how to be resilient and how to pivot, but with practice and patience, it's definitely possible. The hardest yet most impactful thing you can do to overcome that is to be kinder to yourself, especially in those moments. Appreciating that leaders need to embrace being imperfect is a huge milestone!
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Build a strong network: Surround yourself with people who can support and guide you. This might include mentors, peers in your industry, or even customers who believe in what you're doing. By building a strong network, you'll have access to resources, information, and opportunities that can help you succeed.
- Start setting up systems: The sooner you start mapping repeatable systems for yourself, the sooner you'll be able to make more time for everything else around you!
- Stay agile and adaptable: The business world is constantly evolving, and it's important to be able to pivot quickly when needed. Monitor industry trends and adjust your strategy accordingly. Don't be afraid to try new things and take calculated risks - this is often what sets successful businesses apart from the rest.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://altmarketingschool.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/altmarketingschool/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/altmarkschool
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fabgiovanetti/
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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