As a part of The Startup Journal’s Feminine Founder Interview collection, we interviewed Martha Razo, writer of the e book, Enterprise Diva: Tales of Girls Main in Enterprise. Ms. Razo, CEO of Guero Pallets, Inc. and proprietor of Solix Enterprise Providers, each Chicago companies, created this e book to share the tales of ladies taking their futures and lives into their very own fingers.

As an skilled enterprise analyst and CEO, Martha can also be very keen about numbers and what they will inform a enterprise proprietor – particularly if she or he is making an attempt to develop or hold the doorways open. She does this by way of her consulting agency referred to as Solix.

We interviewed Martha to get extra perception into her different enterprise and consulting experience, her newest e book, and extra depth into her her personal thrilling entrepreneurial journey…

TSM: Are you able to inform us, in 10 phrases or much less, what’s the central message of your e book, Enterprise Diva: Tales of Girls Main in Enterprise?

Martha: To encourage all ladies to reside their function and obtain their goals.

TSM: With a bit extra element, what are the principle takeaways from the e book?

Martha: The primary takeaways are, at first, to share private tales to encourage ladies to attain success. Secondly, I need different entrepreneurs and ladies to be taught from the authors’ successes and failures of their enterprise journeys. Additionally, to offer suggestions and recommendation to budding ladies in enterprise. Lastly, to encourage ladies to reside their function.

TSM: Are you able to cite a specific success story that exemplifies the Enterprise Diva function and success, one which evokes you?

Martha: I wish to share this quote from “Enterprise Diva” writer Laura Alcantar Leon, CEO of S & L Pallets, LLC:

“Don’t really feel discouraged when you shouldn’t have a level. Life occurs, and generally, even when you wished it, it doesn’t occur. That doesn’t imply you’re a loser or that you’re destined to fail. It solely means you’ll have to work twice as arduous to make it occur. I began my enterprise and not using a diploma, expertise, or data of the business, with out loans from banks, household, or pals. The one factor I did have was an abundance of dedication and arduous work. Being my personal boss is a whole lot of stress and arduous work, but in addition it’s the finest resolution I might have made.”

TSM: As a numbers particular person, what do you assume is the significance of using enterprise numbers when main a corporation?

Martha: Enterprise homeowners measure their progress by their numbers; revenues, earnings, variety of staff, the variety of areas they personal, and so forth. Enterprise homeowners have a objective for his or her firm. Reaching the objective requires understanding enterprise numbers, and it’s important for them to know these necessary figures. Numbers and knowledge enable enterprise homeowners to grasp the place their firm is presently, the place it could possibly proceed, and to develop a strategic plan to attain enterprise objectives.

Moreover, knowledge and numbers give enterprise homeowners perception into fixing issues and posting the suitable inquiries to develop methods to be aggressive, increase, and forecasts to forestall even losses and doable errors. Each enterprise proprietor, even when they’ve somebody assigned, ought to overview their revenue and loss and steadiness sheet on a month-to-month foundation. The metrics in these experiences needs to be monitored periodically. I’ve even used them to forestall theft.

TSM:  Going again to your early profession selections, inform us what elements influenced your resolution to be an entrepreneur your self?

Martha: After I was a sophomore in highschool, I began a scholarship referred to as College students for College students Scholarship for undocumented college students. Since I used to be 14, I had a imaginative and prescient, and I took that imaginative and prescient and took step one and simply began to work on making it occur. It occurred that I shared my imaginative and prescient with others who then joined and believed in it. Then, the magic occurred once I was capable of construct a crew.

The identical method appeared to naturally happen once I collaborated with 22 ladies entrepreneurs in creating my e book referred to as “Enterprise Diva.” For instance, within the male-dominated pallet business, I’m seen as an business chief. A lot of my pallet colleagues ask me for recommendation. I’m all the time pleased to assist others develop with any small tip I might need. The important thing actually is that if they observe the recommendation I give them.

Entrepreneurship has been a difficult path. In my expertise, any great point doesn’t come simple. Being an entrepreneur has allowed me to personal and management my very own schedule. If I select to do business from home, I can work there at my leisure and luxury. I can even meet shoppers anytime and be extra versatile than the 9a.m.-5 p.m. schedule. As a mother, I can spend extra time with my son and journey. I’ve all the time been disciplined and self-motivated, so I by no means had a problem with not having a selected construction. When I’ve a piece undertaking with a deadline, it will get finished in knowledgeable method.

TSM: Utilizing your individual profession journey from mathematician to enterprise chief, why are we seeing extra profession strikes from technical positions to Administration positions?

Martha: Within the subsequent 5 years and even much less, the success charge of a enterprise can be decided by how effectively homeowners use their enterprise knowledge for resolution making.

I’m pursuing my Ph.D. in Industrial engineering. I selected to focus my analysis and research in course of and knowledge mining. I’ve realized to develop my very own algorithms, program, analyze large knowledge and processes.

I need to have the ability to take all types of knowledge, and rapidly analyze the information and have the ability to make conclusions to find out the subsequent transfer I’ll make in my enterprise technique. As an illustration, what number of staff ought to I rent this yr? What number of salespeople do I would like? What costs will I promote my wooden pallets within the subsequent six months. Can I get a one-year contract? Ought to I purchase an additional lot of property, or ought to I construct on my current pallet plant? All these selections, I exploit the information to information my solutions.

TSM: And what traits do you may have that significantly contributed to your skill to excel out of your humble beginnings to search out success as chief of a number of companies and now an writer?

Martha: I’ve three fundamental traits. The primary one is my persistence. If it wasn’t for persistence, then I might not haven’t completed my grasp’s in utilized arithmetic. I set a objective, and I cannot cease till I attain that objective, regardless of how troublesome. As an illustration, my new mission is ending my doctorate in industrial engineering.

Second, is my continuation in studying about arithmetic and knowledge analytics. The training I’ve obtained has not come simple, however it’s in excessive demand and priceless. I’ve been capable of make fast selections backed by knowledge throughout troublesome occasions, such because the pandemic. Selections similar to maintaining or promoting stock might be the turning web page for a enterprise. I’ve the blessing to make these selections quick because of the energy of my analytics expertise in large knowledge.

Lastly, my crew at Guero’s Pallets is one of the best. We’re a household that imagine in the identical mission; you’re employed arduous and don’t take any alternative with no consideration. Irrespective of how large or small, our shoppers love working with us, and so they all get the identical prime quality service. My household and I contemplate every single day a blessing that we get up and are capable of work. Additionally, we’re all consultants in our respective areas. Each member of the family is in the suitable seat of the corporate. Understanding this example means the corporate is driving in the suitable course, even throughout a storm.

TSM: As you’re employed on rising and scaling up your companies, what are your main challenges? Hiring others? High quality management? Capital?

Martha: As we proceed to develop, the first problem is discovering the suitable leaders we will belief. It has been troublesome discovering individuals with the identical work ethic and rules. We are going to discover the suitable individuals, however the search will take time.

TSM: What are crucial stuff you inform ladies to assist them on their journey as leaders and profitable entrepreneurs?

Martha: My phrase in “Enterprise Diva” is limitless. I need ladies to know that we’re limitless in what we will do in life, and there’s a galaxy of potentialities. When you have an thought, a dream or enterprise you need to begin, take step one NOW! Rise up and do it. All the pieces else will observe.

TSM: What’s one attention-grabbing truth about you that individuals could not know?

Martha: I really like performing and dancing. I wrote my very own one-hour play referred to as “My Dream Act.” I’m trying to publish it in 2023.

TSM: That’s thrilling Martha. Thanks a lot in your time, and good luck in your future successes.