Ep. 163 - Susan McPherson is a serial connector, seasoned communicator, and author of The Lost Art of Connecting. She’s also the founder and CEO of McPherson Strategies, a communications consultancy focused on the intersection of brands and social impact. Susan shifted from the corporate world in 2013 and started her own business without any hope of succeeding long-term. In this episode, Susan shares the wins and mistakes of her entrepreneurial journey and the lessons she has learned. Listen in to learn what it takes to start and run a successful virtual business for many years. You will also learn the power of building meaningful connections and relationships that you might leverage in many years to come.
Key Takeaways:
- The importance of overcommunicate as a business operating virtually in 2021
- How to get out of your own way in your business and hire people who can do what you can’t
- How to build meaningful connections as part of your marketing strategy
- The importance of having 6 months of saving when you’re starting a business
- How to build long-term relationships that you can leverage in the future
"Get out of your own way. Recognize where you are good at something and focus on that. Then surround yourself with people to do the things you are not good at and don't like." -Susan McPherson
In this episode you’ll discover:
Susan on how she shifted from a corporate job to start a successful business [0:41]
How McPherson Strategies helps companies use whatever communication mode available [3:21]
How they’ve expanded from a virtual business to across the country [4:29]
Tips on how to successfully run a virtual business, plus the importance of building relationships [6:44]
Susan on some of the wins and mistakes she made when first starting her business [11:58]
The different ways Susan recommends for women to seek financial support [14:06]
How she leveraged long time relationships to support her as a new entrepreneur [16:30]
Some of the business and personal obstacles she had to overcome to find success [18:00]
The meaning of B corp businesses and what makes them different [22:41]
Susan on the things she enjoys for being an entrepreneur [25:30]
CAREER
SUSAN MCPHERSON is a serial connector, angel investor, and corporate responsibility expert. She is the founder and CEO of McPherson Strategies, a communications consultancy focused on the intersection of brands and social impact, providing storytelling, partnership creation, and visibility to corporations, NGOs, and social enterprises.
Susan has 25+ years of experience in marketing, public relations, and sustainability communications, speaking regularly at industry events including Inspirefest/Dublin, BSR, Center for Corporate Citizenship's Annual Summit, DLD, and Techonomy, and contributing to the Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, and Forbes.
AUTHOR
She is the author of The Lost Art of Connecting: The Gather, Ask, Do Method for Building Meaningful Relationships. She has appeared on NPR, CNN, New York Times, USA Today, The New Yorker, New York Magazine, and the Los Angeles Times.
Currently, Susan invests in and advises women-led technology start-ups, including iFund Women, Messy.FM, Our Place, The Riveter, Park Place Payments, Hint Water, Apolitical, Arlo Skye, Giapenta, and The Muse.
She serves on the boards of USA for UNHCR, The 19th News, and the Lower Eastside Girls Club, and serves on the advisory boards of The List and Alltruists. Additionally, she is a member of the MIT Solve Women and Technology Leadership Group and serves as an adviser to several nonprofits, including Girls Who Code, She’s The First, and The OpEd Project. Susan is a Vital Voices global corporate ambassador and has received numerous accolades for her voice on social media platforms from Fortune Magazine, Fast Company, and Elle Magazine. She resides in Brooklyn.
BOARDS
She serves on the boards of USA for UNHCR, The 19th News, and the Lower Eastside Girls Club, and serves on the advisory boards of The List and Altruists. Additionally, she is a member of the MIT Solve Women and Technology Leadership Group and serves as an adviser to several nonprofits, including Girls Who Code, She’s The First, and The OpEd Project.
AWARDS
Susan is a Vital Voices global corporate ambassador and has received numerous accolades for her voice on social media platforms from Fortune Magazine, Fast Company, and Elle Magazine.
HER BOOK
