Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in business services but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Julie Gareleck, Founder and Managing Partner of Junction Creative Solutions, located in Atlanta, GA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Powering start-ups and global brands. Junction has worked with more than 350 brands, whether small to mid-size or enterprise-level clients in Atlanta, GA, and beyond. Our marketing agency combines the intellectual capital of a business consulting firm with the creative execution of an advertising agency. We are just as competent in the boardroom as we are in front of a whiteboard. The results are smart, results-driven solutions. Don't believe us? Just ask our clients!
Junction serves B2B and B2C clients across industries, including financial services, education, professional services, home services, real estate, developers, non-profits, healthcare, among others. As a full-service agency, we can assist clients with a range of service offerings, from building a logo to developing a comprehensive digital strategy.
Tell us about yourself
Born into an entrepreneurial family, I was convinced that business was not my passion and that becoming a reporter was more intriguing. At age 21, I punched my international card in Paris, working for Angela de Bona, the top PR Agent, representing the top fashion photographers in the world. A venture to Philadelphia after Paris directed me to work for a leading entrepreneurship institute.
In a few short years, I was recruited to join a venture capital organization focused on early-stage companies in Technology and Biotechnology, among other industries, as its Executive Director. I earned my place in the boardroom at the age of 25. On paper, the journey was glamorous, but in reality, I was fetching my own coffee and often for my peers.
A transition to Atlanta over 10 years ago enabled me to take my strategy experience and work as a senior strategist for interactive advertising agencies. It was here that I realized there was a gap between business-based strategy and what was defined as a strategy at agencies. Junction Creative Solutions was born out of the need for strategies that intersect key business segments and the need for a firm that can manage the implementation. For over 12 years, Junction has worked with nearly 250 companies, helping do just that.
I have created an environment that empowers my team and my clients to be the very best they can be, and success follows naturally. I have earned the respect of my peers not just for my shining personality but for my authenticity, integrity, and drive as a business leader.
My portfolio includes measurable integrated strategies for prominent brands across various industries, including Yahoo!, Mailboxes Etc., National City Corporation (PNC Bank), GE Energy, Mohawk Industries, Schweitzer-Mauduit International, Inc. (SWM), and Alcatel-Lucent. Early-stage companies in the portfolio include AcuteCare Telemedicine, 85 Broads, Intelaplay, Competitive Sports Analysis, XIOSS, Infinite Resource Solutions, Guardian Watch, Pro Diligence, Cost Management Group, the National Tennis Foundation, Saffire Vapor, among others.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
I am most proud of my team and the incredible results that we drive for our clients!
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
Being a business owner requires passion and hard work to navigate the highs and lows of business. The accountability and responsibility ultimately rest on the shoulders of the business owner. I sometimes find it lonely at the top when shouldering a heavy weight. But it's in those moments that I evolve as a business owner.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
If I had to choose just three tips for anyone looking to start a business, I would say:
- If it were easy, everyone would do it. Be prepared to work harder than you have ever worked before.
- Have a plan. Develop a business plan that outlines the core components of the business, that includes the day-to-day operations, marketing, financials, and products/services. Don't underestimate the value of having this plan.
- Invest in the right people. Build a team of people with the talents and skillsets you need to make the business successful. Treat them with respect. Reward performance.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://junction-creative.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JunctionCreative
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/junction_creative/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/junctioncreativ
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/junction-creative-solutions/
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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