Being at the forefront of marketing and social media, Tina Powell is a prominent leader in the digital marketing industry for financial services. Tina brings 20 years of experience in hands-on digital marketing campaign and strategy to the table. Her commitment to service excellence is known throughout her team and impressive client roster. What sets her apart is her intense desire to support the growth and evolution of her team and the brands they represent.
Currently, Tina is steering the ship of C-Suite Social Media, a digital marketing and social media agency for privately held companies in financial services, as CEO.
In an interview conducted between Tina and Insights Success, Tina sheds light on her entrepreneurial journey and how C-Suite is empowering its clients to build strong brands and achieve their most important business goals by leveraging the power of digital marketing and social media.
Below are the highlights of the interview:
What were the challenges and experiences you came across prior and after becoming Chief Executive Officer at C-Suite Social Media?
When I first became CEO of C-Suite Social Media, it was just me. Naturally, I was doing everything myself in all departments and doing you-name-it while running all aspects of day-to-day operations. So, the challenge initially was taking on too many roles and responsibilities myself. If you try to do everything and spread yourself too thin, you’ll soon discover it is a recipe for failure and not for success. Shortly after getting our first few clients, I started adding to the team. I hired a part-time marketing assistant and engaged with a knowledgeable and reputable CPA firm so I could build the business and focus on sales. I paid close attention to my financials and put everything back into the business to build a strong enough cash position for reserves and new talent.
Today, my primary focus is on our people and our clients, in that order. One of my many gifts is developing other people and helping every team member reach their potential.
What people, what books, what life factors have influenced and impacted you?
I have been influenced by so many people throughout my career, but it was the example of my mother, who raised two children as a single parent that is the most profound. She would go on to put herself through college to earn a bachelor’s degree and later become an entrepreneur herself by starting a bookkeeping business and then working at an International cosmetics company where she traveled to Vietnam.
To this day, books continue to consume my time and attention, both audio and hardcover. Napoleon Hill’s “Think and Grow Rich” shaped my belief that anything is possible when you apply hard work, action, and a singularity of focus on your goals. On the personal side, American neurosurgeon Paul Kalanathi and his memoir, “When Breath Becomes Air” remind me that life is finite, fragile, and can be taken away at any time. It also helps me to appreciate how blessed I am to be alive and do work I love each day.
Being a recognized digital leader, what is your opinion regarding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Marketing & Advertising Industry? And how has CTina Powell CEO C-Suite Social Media managed to overcome this significant challenge?
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Marketing & Advertising was felt immediately. Companies that were once bearish about their marketing became bullish about building a brand and a strong, visible digital presence. The importance of social media and communications on social networks like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram, was all of a sudden, now a priority for c-suite leaders. As a result, C-Suite Social Media first doubled, then tripled the business so we could serve more clients and handle all of their marketing.
What is your thought on the necessity of a positive work culture? In what ways do you implement it at your organization?
Positive work culture is a non-negotiable aspect of leadership. At C-Suite Social Media, we use technology and collaboration tools to bring us closer together and form strong bonds. For example, Basecamp provides our team with the ability to high-five, praise, and leave comments for each other while Zoom allows us to play games, celebrate team birthdays and virtually meet with open office hours as much as possible. We also have certain rituals like custom Zoom backgrounds and sending giant birthday cakes and candles from Insomnia Cookies to show how much we care.
In what ways have you or C-Suite Social Media contributed to the community? If given a chance, what change would you bring in Marketing services with Digital innovation & Technologies?
C-Suite Social Media has contributed to the community in a number of ways. During the pandemic, we hired the nextgen talent who had been laid off of work and had no jobs. Our company is still providing economic stability, professional development, and a positive work environment that has improved their lives, professionally and personally. We also started a podcast “In The Suite” a year ago, aimed at raising the profiles of mid-level and senior women in financial services and wealth management. In The Suite Podcast is listened in 35 countries and 576 cities and growing!!! We are empowering women with insights, knowledge, tools, and tips to help them reach that next level of leadership.
What is your vision for C-Suite Social Media for the next five years?
My vision for C-Suite Social Media is to be the top marketing and social media agency in financial services so that we may develop the next-gen talent and help them to reach their fullest potential.
At the heart of C-Suite Social Media is a professional development company that offers its employees and clients, the opportunity to learn, grow and expand personally and professionally. Marketing and social media are constantly changing and because of that, innovation, digital tools, and bold new ways of thinking are emerging.
All of this change provides a gateway to experiment, as well as the ability to develop new, core-competencies based on passion and interest—while collaborating and learning from others. We give people the chance to try while acknowledging that not everything works out as planned…and that’s ok too.