Connecting and Stuff - A #podcast where we explore a topic from our professional lives through personal conversations.

In this episode, we have the pleasure of hosting Ishaan Shakunt, the founder of SpearGrowth Marketing Agency. Join us as we delve into Ishaan's remarkable journey, from being a full-time employee to a consultant, and finally to the helm of a successful marketing agency.

Timestamps:

3:15 - Why did we make the switch from full-time to solopreneurship?

7:40 - Our first experience with a high-value client, contract, and invoice.

14:40 - Discovering the secret to finding 'good' clients.

19:30 - Uncovering the true motivations behind starting an agency.

22:50 - Exploring the unexpected effects of the pandemic and recession on our business.

26:00 - Identifying some common client red flags.

30:50 - The debate between hourly vs. project-based pricing.

Please tune in to this insightful episode where we discuss the challenges, triumphs, and lessons learned from Ishaan's transformational journey. Don't miss out on valuable advice and takeaways for anyone venturing into the world of entrepreneurship and agency ownership.

You can find us on LinkedIn:

Ishaan - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ishaan-shakunt/

And me - https://www.linkedin.com/in/rashmita-behera/

And find me on Instagram here:

https://www.instagram.com/connectingandstuff/

https://www.instagram.com/b.rashmita/

Connecting and Stuff - A #podcast where we take a topic from our professional life and have a personal conversation about it.

In this episode, I invited Sadhana Jha, a really old friend and health insurance claim expert. Since we didn’t have anything in common professionally, we decided to discuss what’s it like to work with Indian companies and non-Indian companies.

00:00 - Introduction

01:34 - Connecting with colleagues

02:30 - Cultural differences

06:23 - Leaves and time-off

09:18 - HR and people culture

12:26 - Employee benefits

13:25 - Some random insurance gyaan

17:50 - Discrimination OR racism

20:23 - Language barrier - accents and stuff

24:32 - Working hours and timing

31:26 - Roles and Responsibilities

34:58 - Team building activities

35:57 - More health care gyaan

You can find us on LinkedIn:

Sadhana - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-sadhana-jha-pt/

And me - https://www.linkedin.com/in/rashmita-behera/

And find me on Instagram here:

https://www.instagram.com/connectingandstuff/

https://www.instagram.com/b.rashmita/

Connecting and Stuff - A podcast where we take a topic from our professional life and have a personal conversation about it.

In this episode, Naseef and I delve into the gritty realities of being a marketer in a startup amidst recession and uncertainty.

00:00 - Introduction

01:46 - Why is marketing important for startups, especially those that are just 1-2 years old?

07:14 - How to set realistic expectations for your first marketing hire? 

18:43 - How to decide on your marketing budget, including hiring, tools, ads, and more?

23:40 - B2B marketing budget template by Naseef

29:30 - B2B marketing plan template for startup by Naseef

31:50 - Who should be your first marketing hire - CMO / Director / individual specialist / something else?

43:00 - What are the key marketing collaterals (or content) that you need to build when you're new to the business?

54:30 - How to be patient with your marketers and marketing efforts?

Resources we talked about:

B2B marketing budget template by Naseef - https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-create-annual-b2b-marketing-budget-template-naseef-kpo/?trackingId=PxQwG7iBTumvFQuOW86nHg%3D%3D

B2B marketing plan template for startup by Naseef - https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-create-marketing-plan-b2b-startup-template-naseef-kpo/?trackingId=eF9vSD2JT1qqVKaroUpGnA%3D%3D

You can find us on LinkedIn:

Naseef - https://www.linkedin.com/in/naseef-kpo-25602493/

And me - https://www.linkedin.com/in/rashmita-behera/

Join me in this episode as I welcome Nikhil Kumar to discuss the startup culture in India. With firsthand experience as a founder of two companies, Nikhil shares personal insights and stories. We also examine why certain cities have become thriving startup hubs and explore the role of government support in the growth of startups. Tune in for our perspectives on these important topics.

In this episode, I invited Richa Agarwal, my friend, ex-colleague, and very knowledgeable B2B marketer, to talk about corporate life. She has been a source of motivation and a go-to mentor for me. And this episode we explore things we have experienced and what are the things we could have done better!

Richa's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/richaagarwal3/

My LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/rashmita-behera/

Watch this episode on YouTube - https://youtu.be/qZVmzlm9Chg

In this episode, we invited Sunpreet Kaur and Rajat Taneja to talk about Office Romance and answer some questions about ethical dilemmas.

Sunpreet's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sunpreetkaur/

Rajat's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rajattaneja/

In this episode, we invited Pooja Agrawal, an aspiring doctor turned entrepreneur. She and her fellow co-founder (Nikhil Kumar) started In Making to help students and professionals find the best web3 jobs and meet relevant people to build a strong network. 

Why should you listen to this episode?

If you wonder how web3 is going to change our lives, then this episode might give you some clarity. Pooja also talked about some examples of current web3 platforms and how they are benefiting users, and more.

You can find us on LinkedIn:

Pooja Agrawal: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pooja1812/

Nikhil Kumar: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikhonit/

And me!!!: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rashmita-behera/

In this episode, we invited Rajat Taneja to talk about similarities (and differences) between jobs and relationships. About Rajat, he is the content lead at a popular crypto brand and has "8 years of experience switching jobs".

Rajat's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rajattaneja/

In this episode, we invited Rajat Taneja to talk about similarities (and differences) between jobs and relationships. About Rajat, he is the content lead at a popular crypto brand and has "8 years of experience switching jobs".

Rajat's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rajattaneja/

In this episode, we invited Naseed KPO. He is a Marketing Director at E-con Systems. He is a marketing influencer on LinkedIn and publishes really insightful posts there. You can check his LinkedIn newsletter called Elevate your Marketing. Apart from that, Naseef is a speaker and marketing leader.

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Episode notes:

00:00 Introduction

2:10 Why do sales hate marketing?

8:40 How do deal with unrealistic targets?

13:30 How to ask for a MORE budget?

17:10 Why do marketers switch from full-time jobs to consultations?

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Naseef's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/naseef-kpo-25602493/