Featured Guest of IRC Wealth on Midtown Business Radio

Last week, I was a featured guest of IRC Wealth on Midtown Business Radio. Together with Sara Huie Coleman (Huie Design), Candice Alger (Giant Studios), Joe Schum (IRC Wealth) and CW Hall (Midtown Business Radio) we talked about the unique challenges of entrepreneurship, the advantages and disadvantages of being a woman-owned business, how we launched and have grown our businesses as well as our future plans.

I was very flattered to be included in such accomplished company:

Sarah Huie Coleman is the founder of Huie Design. Specializing in environmental graphic design, Huie Design works with municipalities, architects, developers, to create wayfinding systems that create a sense of place — infusing public spaces with distinct energy and character. I found Sara’s story particularly interesting as I began my career in Miami working for the environmental graphic design firm Tom Graboski Associates.

Candice Alger, has been the CEO of Giant Studios up until it’s recent sale to Jim Cameron’s Lightstorm Entertainment. Giant Studios has been the recognized leader in motion capture and virtual environments for the film and gaming industries. You’ve likely seen their work in films such as The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, The Polar Express, The Lion the Witch and The Wardrobe, Iron Man, Real Steel, Avatar, The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret Unicorn, and Jack the Giant Slayer. Video Game credits include Halo 4, Call of Duty 3, Devil May Cry, Fable II, and Jade Empire.

Joe Schum is the Vice President of Business Development for IRC Wealth and co-hosted this episode. Joe has spent his career working with small and medium sized companies assisting in strengthening sales and/or marketing efforts.

I am know as a designer and a creative thinker. It’s a not often I get to talk about the art of business. As a designer, most everything I create for clients has a business purpose. I often find myself helping clients to define business goals, create strategies to achieve them, as well as executing the plans themselves. It’s a given that a designer needs to deliver great creative and aesthetics. But there is more to it than that. A good designer is one part business consultant/strategist, one part designer, one part technologist, one part programmer, one part therapist, one part business person…

Compared to Huie Design and Giant Studios, my Orange Star Design is a different animal. I have intentionally remained a soloepreneur, resisting several opportunities to expand. It’s a lifestyle choice that works well for me. As a business owner, I have been able to increase revenue and build my personal wealth over the years without the need for employees. While I still love working with clients, I have also begun launching additional revenue streams through things such as Live Love Dogs with plans for even more in the near future.