In Conversation with Tiffany Sorya of Novel Education Group

Tiffany Sorya_Blog Header

Describe your business in a few words?

Novel Education Group is a homeschooling, tutoring and academic enrichment agency that provides flexible, personalized education. #makingsmartstylishagain

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

I wanted to create something that didn’t have a limit. I felt like if I worked for another organization rather than creating my own, there was only so far I could go.

What was your background prior to starting your own business?

I moved to Los Angeles from Portland, OR when I was 22 and freshly graduated from university. I began privately tutoring when I was 23 and worked with numerous families up until I decided to start Novel Education when I was 28. I found my work to be effective with students and wanted to find a way to scale.

Did you always know you wanted to be an entrepreneur?

Not at all actually haha… I graduated with a degree in organismal biology so I always thought I’d be some sort of scientist.

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?

Honestly, my lack of marketing strategy is probably my biggest regret when I started Novel. For the first year or so we ran strictly as a word of mouth business and it managed to stay that way until year two. I began by doing as much personal outreach as possible and while people were always interested to hear about my unique position and services. I found that making connections within the demographic you service was the most effective way of doing outreach. We started gaining traction when we put our information in front of the right people.

What is the accomplishment you are the most proud of to date?

Just the fact that I started a fully functioning business that services people around the globe and employs others full time is something that I’m really proud of. Additionally, I’m the only member of my family who has ever started a business and broke a few barriers regarding gender roles.

How has your business or industry been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic?

We’re busier than ever helping out families since the school closures and making sure people know we are available to help. We have expanded on our services to include programs that encourage students to be interactive with their peers such as learning pods, book clubs, and virtual P.E. programs.

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

We are currently working on developing more fun and engaging book clubs for students of all ages as well as virtual Valentines Day lessons where students can learn about the history of Valentine’s day and engage in some fun crafts! We’d like to see our enrichment programs more easily accessible to families. It will be as easy as picking up our book and engaging in a 4-week program on their own following the lesson plan guide.

What is the biggest lesson you have learned in 2020?

Always be prepared.

What do you know now that you wish you knew when you were first starting your business?

Spend all the money you have on marketing and a publicist.

Do you believe in work/life balance? What are some of your best tips?

Of course! I’ve always worked from home so the lines between work and personal life easily get blurred. One thing I love to do to help separate them is to make separate work and personal to-do lists. When writing them, prioritize what needs to get done, and know what you can delegate to others. It’s also good to unplug, get away from the T.V. and computer and go on a walk, take a workout class or read a book!

What’s something our audience would be surprised to learn about you?

I’m actually quite silly and I’m always cracking jokes. I know an impressive amount of RnB songs from the late 90’s and early 00’s by heart lol

What are your top 3 tips to stay productive each day?

Eat breakfast – Start your day with food, tea, or your favorite smoothie so you don’t feel agitated or tired later on. Exercise daily- short lunch break or evening walk can help reduce stress and clear your mind.  Create to-do lists! You can even give your tasks a deadline so you’ll be less inclined to procrastinate or waste time on other things.

What does being an Entreprenista mean to you?

Being an Entreprenista means being a business owner who stays true to herself and genuinely believes that what your business has to offer is unique and valuable.

Share it!

Posted in
Tags

Leave a Comment





Kickstarting Your Business Success for 2024

“You’ll know when or where you can spend that money, so make a plan.” Are you ready to take your business to new heights in the upcoming year? In this episode of Startups and Stilettos, your hosts Carlyn Bushman and Stephanie Cartin reveal their keys to successful business planning and growth for the new year. Discover…

How Sallie Krawcheck Is Redefining Women’s Wealth with Ellevest

“Risk-averse means you don’t want to take a risk; risk-aware means you’re willing to take it if you understand it.” – Sallie Krawcheck Sallie Krawcheck is the visionary CEO and co-founder of Ellevest, an innovative investment platform focused on empowering women financially. Since its creation in 2014, under Sallie’s leadership, Ellevest has achieved remarkable milestones,…

Meredith LeJeune on Launching Thought Bubble Communications to Elevate Minority-Owned Businesses

Hi Meredith! Please share a brief introduction about yourself and your business: My name is Meredith LeJeune, an 18-year, award-winning public relations industry veteran, and I have developed and executed high-impact media relations campaigns. Throughout my career, I’ve served on the board of directors of journalism and public relations organizations, been recognized as one of…

Grants You Need to Apply to For Your Business!

American Dream Grant Who can apply? All for-profit businesses operating in the United States. What you could receive: $1,000 Deadline: April 30, 2024 HerRise MicroGrant Who can apply? Women of Color creating innovative solutions that impact their community and that are often unable to secure funding for their small business. What you could receive: $1,000…

The Art of Education Through Performance with Meirav Zur

“It’s not to learn one thing, it’s try to learn as much as you can, so you can see what works for you.” – Meirav Zur In this episode of Startups in Stilettos, we delve into the remarkable journey of Meirav Zur, a multi-talented creative – actor, producer, and writer who is particularly passionate about improvisation,…

Samonee K., Founder of Argos Vibes, on Providing Strategic Mentorship to Other Entreprenistas Around the World

Hello Samonee! Please share a brief introduction about yourself and your business: Hello I’m Samonee K., and my lifelong passion has always been business strategy and development. I find joy in helping individuals uncover their path to building purpose-driven enterprises, doing what they love, and making a meaningful impact. Through Argo Vibes, my platform, I…

Lessons and Insights from Dr. Bre Hayward: Founder of Baby Hair™

Hello Bre! Please share a brief introduction about yourself and your business: Greetings! I am Dr. Bre Hayward, an entrepreneurial spirit, strategist, and mentor with a passion for innovation and positive impact. At the helm of Baby Hair™, a luxury hair care brand, I am dedicated to redefining excellence in the industry through a commitment…

Using Customer Feedback To Fuel Product Innovation with Jordan Engelhardt

“The power of e-commerce and the power of the small businesses is now, and not just in the hands of the bigger companies, so go for it and make it happen.” – Jordan Engelhardt In this episode of Entreprenista, we are joined by Jordan Engelhardt, the Founder and President of Skinny Mixes LLC, the brand…

Moving Forward From Major Milestones In Business with Carlyn Bushman

“I cannot stress enough the importance of networking, and really go narrow and deep. I think we get to the point where we sign up for so many things when you go wide and shallow. It’s really hard to measure what you’re getting out of that particular networking group.” – Carlyn Bushman Before she was your…

The Entreprenista Holiday Gift Guide: Inspirational, Functional, and Splurge-Worthy Gifts for the Women in Your Life

Our Entreprenistas are all about celebrating strong women. Come holiday time, we want to help you shop for the amazing women in your life—the businesswomen, the mothers, the sisters, the daughters, the caregivers, and the friends—with gift options that will leave them feeling empowered, inspired, pampered, or relaxed (or maybe all of the above!). We…

The Best (and Most Thoughtful) Gifts for Kids in 2023

Shopping for kids can be fun, but it can also be overwhelming. With so many toys, games, and cute children’s clothes on the market, how do you pick the perfect present? Something that is quality-made? Something that they’ll actually use? Perhaps something that will stimulate their minds and help them grow? Well, we can help…

The Future of Healthcare with Ellen DaSilva Founder of Summer Health

“Get honest and direct feedback. So if something is not working, something’s not landing, you’re getting no’s from people, and you’re trying to understand why, absorb what the feedback is, but be true to yourself because people want to invest in honesty. People want to invest in authenticity.” – Ellen DaSilva Ellen DaSilva is the…

BONUS EPISODE: Entreprenistas IN Fertility- Navigating Infertility during the holidays

“This is no small thing. It’s okay to not be okay. Talk to your team about it.” Hey, everyone, it’s Stephanie here! Whether you’re simply family planning, or you’re experiencing infertility challenges, something that I learned firsthand through my battle with infertility, is how important it is to have the knowledge and information needed to…

Building Credibility Around Your Business with Adria Marshall

“I really didn’t want to start my own brand. I just wanted products that worked…So it’s just solving this puzzle, which is great as an entrepreneur, because that’s what it is every day – solving a new mystery.” – Adria Marshall Adria Marshall is the founder of Ecoslay, a plant-based hair-care product brand for textured hair…

Kate Isler on Directing Online Shoppers Towards Women Owned Business Through WMarketplace

Hi Kate! Please share a brief introduction about yourself and your business: I Co-founded a non-profit organization, Be Bold for Change, several years ago to celebrate and support women and girls several years ago. I was hosting the 2020 International Women’s Celebration in Seattle, just a few days before the world shut down for Covid-19.…