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In that hospital room, amidst all the emotions, I realized the fragility of life and the importance of living with purpose and passion. I decided that night to channel all my energy and focus into becoming the best version of myself — not just for me, but for my family and the community around me. This decision marked a turning point, where my aspirations shifted from just achieving personal success to making a lasting impact in the real estate industry through innovative digital marketing solutions.

Post-recovery, I threw myself into Fortum Digital Services with a renewed vigor. My vision expanded from providing standard marketing services to pioneering digital solutions that would redefine how real estate marketing was done. This shift in mindset and approach was instrumental in propelling Fortum Digital Services to new heights. We began exploring uncharted territories in digital marketing, integrating advanced technologies like AI and analytics to offer unparalleled services to our clients.

The lesson I learned from that unfortunate night was invaluable — embracing life’s adversities as opportunities for growth and transformation can lead to extraordinary outcomes. It’s about finding the strength to rise from the ashes and turn challenges into catalysts for success. This experience has not only shaped my career but also defined the ethos of Fortum Digital Services — a company built on resilience, innovation, and a commitment to excellence.

The real estate industry was hit hard by the pandemic, with traditional marketing methods becoming obsolete overnight. Recognizing the urgent need for a shift in strategy, we spearheaded a digital revolution in real estate marketing. This initiative involved harnessing the power of virtual tours, AI-driven analytics, and online engagement tools to bridge the gap between real estate businesses and their clients in a socially distant world.

We innovated virtual property showcases, enabling clients to explore properties remotely, ensuring business continuity for our partners in the real estate sector. Additionally, we leveraged data analytics to provide insights on shifting market trends, helping our clients adapt their strategies in real-time to the evolving market conditions.

The success of this pivot not only solidified our position as a leader in the industry but also reinforced our commitment to being at the forefront of digital transformation. The pride I feel in leading this initiative stems from the positive impact it had on our clients and the industry, proving that in times of adversity, innovation and resilience can drive remarkable change.

This relentless pursuit led to moments of burnout and missed opportunities to appreciate the small victories along the way. I was so focused on the destination that I overlooked the journey. It was a mindset that not only affected me personally but also the company culture.

The lesson I learned from this was profound: success is not just about reaching your goals but also about the journey you undertake to get there. Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither are successful companies. It’s crucial to savor each step, learn from every challenge, and celebrate the small milestones. This shift in perspective has led me to approach business with a more balanced outlook, prioritizing sustainable growth and personal well-being along with professional achievements. It has made the journey of building Fortum Digital Services not just a professional pursuit but a rewarding life experience.

My leadership style is about balancing firmness with empathy, setting high standards while providing support and encouragement. It’s about recognizing that everyone’s contribution is vital and ensuring they feel valued and understood. This balance has helped cultivate a culture of mutual respect and continuous improvement within our company, driving us toward collective success.

I. Clear Vision and Scalable Systems: Early in our journey, we realized the importance of having a clear vision and scalable systems. When we first ventured into expanding our services, we faced operational hiccups due to inadequate systems. Learning from this, we invested in scalable infrastructure that could grow with us.

II. Train, Train, Train, and Train: This goes along with #1. It is just as important to invest in your own culture. Training is just as much, if not more, important than investing in scalable infrastructure. Your infrastructure will not be able to function and operate at 110% if they are not being utilized correctly. Create an open and welcoming environment to voice concerns, learn, and teamwork.

III. Customer-Centric Approach: Scaling isn’t just about expanding; it’s about deepening relationships with customers. A pivotal moment was when we decided to tailor our services to align closely with client needs, leading to increased loyalty and referrals.

IV. Financial Prudence: One of our early challenges was managing finances during rapid expansion. We learned to balance between investing in growth and maintaining financial health, crucial for sustainable scaling.

V. Embracing Change and Innovation: The real estate market is dynamic, and our willingness to adapt and innovate has been key. We’ve continually evolved our strategies to stay ahead, such as integrating AI technologies to enhance our service offerings.

I. Overextending Resources: Often, companies scale too rapidly, stretching their resources thin. We experienced this in our early days when we ambitiously expanded our service offerings without a proportional increase in manpower or systems. The key is to scale in tandem with your capacity to deliver consistently high-quality services. It’s crucial to have a strategic plan that aligns growth with resources.

II. Diluting Company Culture: As you scale, maintaining the core ethos that defined your startup phase can be challenging. We tackled this by ingraining our core values into every aspect of our operations, from recruitment to onboarding, and by regularly engaging in team-building activities. It’s about creating a culture where new members feel aligned with your company’s ethos from day one.

III. Neglecting Existing Customers: In pursuit of new markets or clients, there’s a risk of overlooking existing customers. We learned early on to balance our focus between nurturing current relationships and exploring new ones. Regular feedback and personalized attention have helped us maintain strong bonds with our existing clients while scaling.

IV. Underestimating the Importance of Scalable Systems: Initially, we underestimated the need for systems that could grow with us. We rectified this by investing in scalable technologies and processes. Companies should audit their systems regularly and upgrade them in anticipation of growth.

V. Inadequate Employee Training: As you grow, ensuring that your team’s skills and knowledge keep pace is vital. As stated in the last question, implementing continuous learning and development programs, ensuring your team is equipped to handle the evolving demands of our expanding business.

Cultural Fit in Recruitment: During recruitment, we assess cultural fit as rigorously as we do technical skills. This ensures new members resonate with our ethos from day one.

Regular Cultural Reinforcement: You can hold regular team meetings and workshops where you reiterate your core values and discuss how they translate into your daily work. This keeps the culture alive and evolving constantly.

Feedback Mechanisms: Have open channels for feedback where employees can express concerns or suggestions regarding company culture. This helps identify and address any cultural drift early on.

Leadership Modeling: Our leadership team exemplifies the company culture in their actions and decisions, setting a precedent for the rest of the team.

There’s a few tools and techniques that have helped in scaling internally:

Creating an Internal Knowledge Base: We’ve developed a comprehensive internal knowledge base that’s regularly updated. This includes process documents, best practices, and case studies, which serve as a valuable resource for both new and existing team members.

Regular Training and Development: We invest in regular training sessions, workshops, and courses to ensure our team’s skills are up-to-date and aligned with industry standards.

Project Management Tools: Utilizing robust project management tools like Asana and Trello has streamlined our workflows and improved team coordination, especially important as we take on more complex projects.

Cross-Departmental Collaboration: Encouraging cross-departmental collaboration has been key. This not only broadens your team’s understanding of different facets of your business but also fosters a spirit of unity and shared purpose.

Feedback and Adaptation: We maintain an agile approach, regularly seeking feedback from our team on internal processes and making adjustments as needed.

We rely on several tools to streamline this process:

Human Resource Information System (HRIS): Platforms like BambooHR or Workday are excellent for managing employee data and streamlining administrative tasks. They provide new hires with easy access to essential documents and company policies.

Learning Management Systems (LMS): Tools like LinkedIn Learning or Coursera for Business offer a range of courses that help new hires acquire necessary skills and knowledge. We curate specific learning paths tailored to their roles.

Project Management Tools: Asana and Trello are invaluable for introducing new hires to ongoing projects and workflows. They can easily understand their tasks, deadlines, and how their work fits into the larger picture.

Communication Tools: Slack or Microsoft Teams facilitate smooth communication with new team members, allowing them to quickly feel part of the team and seek help when needed.

Feedback Tools: Platforms like Officevibe or Culture Amp help us gather regular feedback from new hires, ensuring their onboarding experience is continually improving.