Marion Chamberlain's Consultancy Helps Businesses Build a Better World

Please share a brief introduction about yourself and your business:

I'm the Founder of Chamberlain Leadership, a boutique business consultancy, focused on driving entrepreneurial growth, social entrepreneurship and vendor inclusion. Our mission is to build better businesses to build a better world.

It is a privately-held DBE, SBE, WBE and WOSB-certified business consulting firm for corporate social responsibility, sustainability/ESG initiatives, as well as social and public sector small business and supplier inclusion programs. 

We also consult woman-owned small businesses and social enterprises in the development of business and marketing strategies, business analysis, organizational structuring, operational processes, leadership development programs and social enterprise frameworks. CL coaches WBE and social enterprise founders on organizational capacity building, goal-setting and implementation of business goals. We facilitate leadership development and entrepreneurial growth training programs, continually generating high ratings from client participants and contributing towards the growth of the organization.

Who are your customers?

Our customers are both organizations supporting social entrepreneurship and supplier inclusion initiatives, as well as female founders of social enterprises.

What was your background prior to starting your own business?

I started my business in 2003 as a side business and eventually transitioned into the business full-time in 2013.  My last position in corporate was as a strategic planning & sustainability manager for the nation's 6th largest transit system.  I have also held positions in marketing, operations and compliance administration throughout my corporate career.

What made you take the leap to start your own business?

My drive to help reshape the way we do business and to use business to do good.

Did you always know you wanted to be an entrepreneur?

Yes!  I was bitten by the entrepreneurial bug after taking an entrepreneurship class in college.

Take us back to when you first launched your business; what was your marketing strategy to get the word out and did it go as planned?

My marketing strategy was to network and make in-person connections.  It provided some learning lessons as to my needing to refine my target market and join in networks where my ideal customers were.

What is the biggest challenge you have encountered along the way so far and what have you learned from it?

The biggest challenge was to realize as Michael Beckwith says: "You can't be the light in the world if you can't pay your light bill."  I've needed to balance out my service focus and understand that my business isn't a charity.

What accomplishment are the most proud of to date in your business?

Securing a multi-year contract with an organization that supports growing small businesses owned by women and minorities.

Do you have any recent wins from the last year that you'd like to celebrate with our community?

More from a personal perspective.  I got divorced nearly 2 years ago at age 51.  It has taught me that entrepreneurship is truly the path to financial resiliency and independence for women.

What's next for your business? What can we expect to see over the next few years?

The business will even more so focus on helping women founders and organizations supporting them to use business as a force for good in the world.

What is your top productivity tip? 

Using an automated task scheduler and automation technology as much as I can to focus on what matters most for my business.

On the flip side, how do you avoid burnout?

Spending time in nature, eating well and putting at least one yoga class a week on my schedule.

What is your approach to work-life balance / integration?

I prefer integration. Scheduling downtime and solitude are non-negotiables for me.  My business suffers if I don't recharge as an introvert.

What is one thing you wish you had known when you started your Entreprenista journey?

That you truly have to be comfortable with being visible to build your business and need to build a personal brand.

When hiring, what is your go-to interview question?

What is your personal mission in life?

What's the one app on your phone you absolutely cannot live without and why?

Calendly.  It handles all my scheduling.

What is your favorite business tool or solution and why?

MS Teams for my government clients.  It allows for full integration of file-sharing, VTCs, phone calls and scheduling.

What advice do you have for aspiring Entreprenistas?

Entrepreneurship is the only way to bring about system change.

Learn more about the Entreprenista League and join today!