Interview with Founder and CEO, Wendy Glavin
The founder series explores the minds of business owners and their journey to make a difference in their industry. We interview these business founders to understand the life lessons that mold them into who they are today. We also learn more about their company, their products or services, how they are different from their competitors, and the problems that they are trying to solve for their customers. The information that these business owners provide to us helps inform other entrepreneurs who are looking to make an impact in the business world. We all can take these lessons and apply them to our entrepreneurial journey. We want to thank every business owner who volunteered their time to participate in these interviews and share their knowledge with the community.
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Great to meet you. Thank you for doing the interview. We want to know more about your journey, early struggles, success, and some wisdom that we can pass on to others who are interested in walking your footsteps toward becoming an entrepreneur. We know that being an entrepreneur is not all glory and fame, but there are hard times too. We believe that others who are interested in being a business owner can gain insight from other business founders like yourself. Again, we want to thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule. Let’s get this interview started!
Let us start off with some basic questions to learn more about who you are as a person.
Can you tell everyone your name, please?
Wendy Glavin
Tell me about your education?
I majored in Acting, but my professors said I was too dramatic. I switched to Speech Communications because I felt that my innate skills and passion would help me standout. I graduated with a BA from Penn State University.
Can you give an example of an early lesson in life that helped shaped who you are today?
My dad, an attorney, died young at 68. He asked me to shoot a video of my three young boys asking him questions. My oldest son was 9 ½ years old and asked, “How do you know if you’ve done your best?” My dad said, “At the end of the day if you know you’ve given 100% then that’s all that matters. Only you can know if you’ve done your best, no one else can judge you.” This has stayed with me and is how I live my life.
We all have entrepreneurs whom we look up to in our industry. These business leaders help influence, shape, and drive our ambition to succeed. These entrepreneurs could be someone that we have worked with on a project or could be someone that we look up too from a distance. For example, Bill Gates is a big inspiration to me not only because of his work in Microsoft but his outstanding contributions to society.
Who would you consider to be a significant influence on you professionally and can you explain why?
There have been many people who’ve influenced me, but they’re not famous. They include my father, my three boys, close friends, and business colleagues.
I do follow Adam Grant, the Wharton professor who taught the founders of Warby Parker and chose not to invest. He describes his story in a TED talk, “The Surprising Habits of Original Thinkers” which continues with his inspirational book, “Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World.”
In an interview with Fast Company, Grant says, “Some people are more naturally disposed to originality, but everyone has the propensity. Being original is simply about coming up with ideas for how the world can become better. Whether it’s from frustration or righteous indignation, everybody has those insights. Then it’s having the courage to act on it.”
Also, I follow Simon Sinek. His Ted talk, ”How Great Leaders Inspire Action” is the third-most watched of all time. In it, he describes the “Golden Circle.” Like a bullseye, why is the center, how is the next circle and what is the outer circle. Sinek goes on to explain, “Most organizations start from the outside in, from the tangible what, to the intangible, why. However, inspired leaders and companies think, act and communicate from the inside out. People don’t buy what you do, they buy why you do it. Start with why.”
Another powerful leader is Carla Harris, Vice Chairman, Managing Director and Senior Client Advisor at Morgan Stanley. In, “How to Own Your Own Power Presentation: Take the Lead,” Harris discusses how to influence your success equation using the power of authenticity, fear, the importance of taking risks, and how perception is the co-pilot to reality.
Thank you for providing a background on who you are as a person. I always find it fascinating to learn who a person is and their early life lessons. Let us move forward with the interview and discuss what you are doing now and how you are making a difference in your industry.
What is the name of your company?
Wendy Glavin Agency
Where is your company located?
New York City
What services or products does your organization provide?
Marketing, public relations, and social media
What problem is your business trying to solve?
Helping B2B and B2C companies stand-out in a commoditized landscape.
How is your business unique against your competitors?
As a 30-year veteran of corporate, agency, and consulting, my brand insights originate from my work in diverse industries spanning technology, financial services, artificial intelligence, and software; to media, retail, and consumer goods; to publishing, education, and transportation, among others.
We’re agile, passionate, proactive, and driven. We continuously learn and adapt to changing industry and market trends. We work with our clients as full-on marketing partners, becoming an extension of the company and team.
We ensure B2B and B2C companies’ online and offline presence are consistent. Most importantly, their value to the customer. Our motto is, “Don’t just create a product or service, deliver a brand experience.”
How did the idea for your business come to fruition?
I was working remotely for an agency full-time. One of my clients questioned what I charged to manage Twitter. When I told him, he was shocked, since he was being billed three times more than what I charge. He fired the agency head and asked if he could hire me. At the time, I was a consultant. We don’t double or triple-net bill. We want to invest in our clients.
Where can people go on the web to learn more about your business?
They can visit Wendy Glavin Agency and find me on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest. They can also email me at wendy@wendyglavin.com
Final question. We want to thank you for the interview. We have one last question to ask you about imparting some wisdom to future entrepreneurs.
What three tips would you give to other entrepreneurs who are starting out on their journey?
- Build on your strengths
- Be comfortable in your own skin because people will trust you
- Take risks, learn from your mistakes, and be fearless in your pursuits
