As part of the Morning Lazziness series about empowering women who encourage and do incredible things with their ideas in society, I had the pleasure of interviewing Nellie Akalp.
Nellie Akalp is a passionate entrepreneur, business expert and mother of four. She is the CEO of CorpNet, the smartest way to start a business, register for payroll taxes, and maintain business compliance across the United States.
Here’s what we found out about Nellie‘s daily routine, followed by an exclusive Q+A.
1. Can you share the story behind your journey as an entrepreneur and what inspired you to start your own business?
I have always looked up to my grandparents, who were business owners and started an antique shop. I loved working in their shop and seeing them turn a hobby into a thriving business. While in law school, I knew that the typical path of becoming a lawyer was just not in my future. When my then boyfriend (now husband) and I thought of a business idea in law school, we both had the passion and drive to jump at the idea and make it happen. That was in 1997 with our first company. We’ve never looked back since!
2. What challenges have you faced as a woman in the business world, and how have you overcome them?
As a woman, I’ve found the most challenging thing is for people to expect me to say ‘yes’ to everything and go with their vision instead of mine. It has taken years of experience working tirelessly as a dedicated entrepreneur to learn how to stand my ground. Once I gained that trait, I became a more confident CEO and helped take my company into the success it is today.
3. How do you balance your professional and personal life as an entrepreneur?
Since I am married to my business partner, this gets challenging. We also have four children, some of whom now work for my company. So our personal and professional lives often intertwine. Over the years though I have learned its just not for me to completely separate the two and I’ve accepted them as one. My business, my kids, my husband, my business partner, while all separate, are all key parts of my life and they all make me who I am. I try not to worry about a perfect balance of everything, because that can add to the stress.
4. What strategies have you found most effective for networking and building connections in your industry?
I really enjoy getting out there and having a presence at tradeshows. While it is a lot of work and can be exhausting, in the end getting face to face interaction with our many partners is so motivating. I get to learn how my company has helped their businesses grow and expand and it gives me the boost I need to get back into the office and hit the ground running with new ideas!
5. How do you approach mentorship and seek guidance in your entrepreneurial journey?
My biggest mentor is my husband/business partner. We both motivate one another and have been the main drivers of our entrepreneurial journey. Where I lack, he thrives and vice versa. So when I feel I need guidance or am stuck, I go to my husband and we figure out the path forward together.
6. Can you talk about a specific setback or failure you’ve experienced in your business and how you bounced back from it?
Absolutely. Starting a business and growing it from the ground up is no easy feat. Our first business was a huge success and it was relatively painless. Our second company CorpNet, however, has had challenges that we never faced the first time around. Specifically I would say our biggest challenge has been trying to complete with our big-name competitors. We thought we had to stay on a certain path and do what they are doing, but in the end that only kept us in the red. It wasn’t until we identified an opportunity, focused there while also extending our service offerings that we blossomed into what seemed an overnight success. Going from possibly having to shut our doors to then growing 200% within just a few years was really an amazing thing to be a part of and lead!
7. In what ways do you prioritize diversity and inclusion within your company or startup?
Embracing diverse perspectives is what enriches company culture and fuels innovation at my company. I am committed to lead a team and company that creates a sense of community where everyone feels valued, respected and empowered to contribute their unique talents.
8. How do you stay motivated and resilient during tough times in your business?
My team motivates me to keep going when the times are tough. I have a lot of people who depend on me to provide them with a stable income to support their families. As a parent, I know the important of providing stability in a household for growing children. So when times are tough at business, I never give up and walk away. I regroup and think of a better way, a new idea or a new approach to get us back on track.
9. What advice would you give to other aspiring women entrepreneurs who are just starting out?
My advice to other women starting out is to stick to your plan and do not derail no matter what. I think its easy, especially for women, to take other people’s opinions to heart and that can easily distract us from our true vision. You have to be motivated within to find success and get through those tough times. So staying with your goals and visions will help you push through, even when others may say otherwise.
10. What is one quote you live by that has guided you in your entrepreneurial journey?
When I need some extra motivation, I always find great advice from Arianna Huffington. In particular:
“Failure is not the opposite of success; it’s part of success.” –Arianna Huffington
11. Can you share a memorable success or milestone that you’ve achieved in your entrepreneurial career?
Yes, to date, my greatest accomplishment as an entrepreneur is growing my current company from our small 10-person team in Westlake Village to what it is today. Now we have close to 200 employees that are located all across the United States. I am so proud that both my husband and I have created something that has now given support and stability to so many people. And my hope is to grow CorpNet even more in the years to come!
