THE TRAILBLAZER:
Women Leaders
2021
Suzanne Huber
Digital marketing should be a crucial component of any businesses’ strategic growth plan. But for many small and medium-sized enterprises, it is challenging to implement the necessary strategies to succeed without causing budgetary shortfalls. A lack of resources such as capital, time, and a team to implement the plan can lead to inconsistent execution of marketing activities. This eventually causes the brand to suffer due to limited visibility and insufficient lead generation to attract new clients. Operating a business around these challenges can make it impossible to keep up with the industry trends and the new technologies which can lead to setbacks on the journey of growing a business
Suzanne Huber, the expert digital marketing strategist, and CEO at Suzanne Huber Inc. has made it her mission to fill this gap for businesses by helping SMEs boost their visibility to attract new opportunities and accelerate client acquisition by growing a relationship with an audience. She works with talented entrepreneurial organizations’ that are ready to scale but need assistance lining up their marketing and sales strategies to do so.
To shed some more light on her individual and entrepreneurial growth, and how her venture helps SMEs compete with the big companies using innovative strategies and technologies, Suzanne shares:
“When the entrepreneurs and business leaders we work with put in the strategic investment and have demand in market they often start experiencing rapid client acquisition. It is exciting when a company grows exponentially over a short period of time. We like to work with speed. We live for watching our clients experience the success they deserve for developing their strategy and execution in the marketplace.”
Driven by performance and providing value
“We thrive at building and launching campaigns, amplifying messages, and initiating movements to accelerate client acquisition for the organizations we work with. We help brands become more visible online and grow relationships with their audience. Digital channels and tactics, are the way forward for connecting with clients. By showing up consistently with engaging content while advertising to attract new prospects in parallel, our clients in most cases, experience exponential revenue growth over time. We stay focused on producing impactful results and providing exceptional value for our clients. We have helped many organizations double in size over short periods of time. Both in the profit and not-for-profit sectors. Their success is ours too. We have loyal relationships that stand the test of time as our mandate is to serve our clients.”
The making of a passionate results-oriented marketer
“When I was a teenager, I got my first taste for entrepreneurship while babysitting to earn my own income. Through customer referrals, I was able to grow my client base until I started working part-time jobs in commission sales around going to school. I have always really enjoyed being able to create my own income opportunities. Throughout my 20’s, I launched different start-ups that were both funded by investors and bootstrapped, which has led to where I am now. There have been different people along my career-path that have been very generous about sharing their experiences and wisdomto help me grow. Mentors can really help you manage your mindset and vision. Asking questions helps gain useful insights you can apply to your own journey from those that are where you want to be. Paying it forward today, I volunteer as a mentor to new entrepreneurs and learn a lot about leadership from those I work with as well.”
How networking plays a key role
“When I first relocated to Toronto from Saskatchewan, I launched a SaaS company with an investment banker in the hospitality industry. In parallel, I was receiving requests for consulting projects after being a partner in an agency for a few years prior. There has always been a demand for digital marketing strategy and implementation assistance. This only seems to be increasing as the world we live in evolves. Our passion for driving results, paired with referrals from our customers and network, has allowed us to be where we are today. Providing value is good business and develops loyal relationships and new opportunities.”
Targeting exponential growth
“When the entrepreneurs and business leaders we work with put in the strategic investment and have demand in market they often start experiencing rapid client acquisition. It is exciting when a company grows exponentially over a short period of time. We like to work with speed. We live for watching our clients experience the success they deserve for developing their strategy and execution in the marketplace.”
“Confidence is everything. Too many women cut themselves short in this regard even when they are smart and talented. Aim to contribute value to your endeavors and as you experience some success in your career, the confidence and presence will eventually take care of itself ”
#WomeninLeadership
“After I had my daughter, I thought I would be going back to a company I was doing on-site work with. Unfortunately, they were not into a flexible back-to-work arrangement which was critical to an earlier return. I went on to sign new agreements with both existing and new clients and ramped up my own company as you see it today. My husband took a paternity leave, so we were able to balance raising our daughter together the first year she was born, allowing me to maintain our accounts. At the time I was disappointed with how the onsite project turned out, however it was a blessing in disguise as it led me to where I am today. Becoming a mom does not hinder your ability to produce and those that knew me longer were well aware of that already. Overall, I have had more opportunities than impediments as a woman in business. I now view any perceived setbacks as detours (there have been a few) that took me back to where I needed to be. If there are any challenges, working with the right teams that are supportive of your growth and evolution in line with their own goals helps. No one is perfect and we all need a little help to get where we are going.”
Building trust before expecting success
“Serving clients and always putting your best foot forward with good intentions and radical transparency is the foundation of a solid relationship. Do what you say you will do. Results and consistency create trust. Reading and professional development training are catalysts to growing as an individual and can help to manage a growth mindset. This helps you evolve to be the person that does whatever it takes to succeed.”
Giving a hand for Future-entrepreneurs
“I volunteer as a mentor and participate in events as a digital and sales expert facilitator for a non-profit called Futurepreneur. The organization promotes economic empowerment in Canada by giving young entrepreneurs loans to grow their businesses and create new jobs. Small businesses enable economic empowerment and it is an important cause that I support.”
Advice to the aspiring women leaders
“One of the biggest challenges for women is the ongoing lack of presence in the C-suite. There are still systemic barriers that women face when trying to advance in most corporate structures. Until there is a real change in representation, women will continue to opt-out and choose paths (often entrepreneurship) that will allow them to have the flexibility they need to live balanced lives. Corporate entities that do not develop and advance their up-and-coming female leaders in the earlier stages of their careers, will continue to lose talented contributors. Entrepreneurship is the great equalizer when it comes to removing bias.”
“Confidence is everything. Too many women cut themselves short in this regard even when they are smart and talented. Aim to contribute value to your endeavors and as you experience some success in your career, the confidence and presence will eventually take care of itself. On the way there, never forget how you present yourself while speaking to others, be aware of how you are perceived. Always be conscious of how you “show up”. Especially when speaking and using the tone in your voice. Be bold when you demonstrate your competence, you have earned it.”
