Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in business development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Amanda Madorno, Founder of Roam Consulting, located in Redmond, WA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Executive Coaching, Leadership Development, Strategic Consulting. My Clients are executives, senior-level leaders, and leadership teams, emerging leaders.
Tell us about yourself
I represent the third generation of women entrepreneurs in my family. Starting my own business was natural to me.
I became a leadership coach because I wanted to share the lessons I've learned over the years as an interim executive. I often found myself in pressure situations where I needed to orchestrate financial and management turnarounds – as well as build my team's trust and deliver results quickly.
I learned more from these lived experiences than I could ever learn in an educational setting. I was able to observe the real mistakes leaders make and the real issues behind leadership failure. Over and over again, it was more about who that leader was than the level of their technical competency. I believe emotional intelligence is the cornerstone of leadership excellence and the thing that moves the dial for individual leaders. Helping leaders develop EQ skills and competency is the focus of my coaching and consulting.
I've been passionate about horses since I was young. Through my lifelong journey with horses, I discovered they're EQ masters My original inspiration to explore equine-guided learning is Phoxxberry, a very special horse with a crippling disease that made him unrideable at an early age. He is the co-founder of Leadership with Horses.
I felt he needed and deserved a job, even if he was no longer rideable. Finding that job for him started us both on a journey that led to Leadership with Horses. I feel fortunate and blessed to have found a way to blend my life-long passion with professional work that I truly enjoy.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Founding Leadership with Horses, an equine-guided leadership development program. Alongside horses who work with me as coaches and teachers, I help individuals and teams discover how they can be more effective in the business arena.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Working on the business while in the business.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Don't listen to anyone who tries to discourage you. My professional colleagues were actually alarmed when I told them I was starting Leadership with Horses. Not a single one thought it was a good idea. I did it anyway and now have one of the best equine-guided leadership development programs in the country.
- Stay flexible. My business is structured in a way that's easy for me to 'downsize' or grow as needed. Everyone who works with me is 1099. I also have partnerships with equine facilities that allow me to work with very large groups in Leadership with Horses.
- Be creative - sometimes, the wildest idea can bring you not only success but deep personal fulfillment.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://roamconsultingllc.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/roamconsultingllc
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Roam_Consulting
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amandamadorno/
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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