1. What does becoming a certified Women Business Enterprise mean to you personally and professionally?
Personally, becoming a certified Women Business Enterprise is both validating and empowering. As a woman who built a business from the ground up, it represents years of perseverance and commitment to creating something meaningful. Professionally, it reinforces our credibility and opens doors for new opportunities, partnerships, and conversations with organizations that value supplier diversity.
2. Why was pursuing WBE certification important for lotus823 at this stage of growth?
After 16 years in business, lotus823 has built a strong reputation for delivering results and cultivating long-term client partnerships. Pursuing WBE certification was a natural next step in our growth. It allows us to expand our reach, connect with organizations that prioritize diverse suppliers, and create new opportunities while doing what we do best: helping brands grow through integrated marketing and communications.
3. How do you think women-led businesses bring a unique perspective to marketing and communications?
Every business is different, but I think many women leaders naturally bring a strong focus on building relationships, working in collaboration, and understanding people. That’s especially valuable in marketing and communications, as success depends on connecting with audiences in meaningful ways. When you take the time to listen, understand different perspectives, and communicate genuinely, you build trust that drives lasting results.
4. What advice would you give to other women looking to build and grow their own businesses?
Believe in your vision, but be willing to evolve. Change is constant, and the market and best practices are continuously changing. Building a business requires perseverance, adaptability, and a willingness to learn from both successes and setbacks, and there will be setbacks you didn’t see coming! Often, the greatest growth comes from navigating through difficult times and remaining open to new ideas and opportunities.
Success is rarely achieved alone. It is important to surround yourself with people who challenge, support, and inspire you. Invest in relationships and build a strong team that shares your values and commitment to excellence.
I’ve also benefited tremendously from networking with other women-owned and minority-owned agency leaders. While we may technically be competitors, there is a spirit of collaboration, knowledge sharing, and mutual support within these communities. Some of my best insights, ideas, and encouragement have come from conversations with women business owners who understand the unique challenges and opportunities of entrepreneurship and running an agency. Those relationships have been invaluable throughout my journey and continue to help me grow as a leader.
5. What does authentic leadership look like to you?
Authentic leadership means leading with integrity, communicating openly, and creating an environment where people feel valued and heard. For me, leadership is about serving others, helping people grow, and making decisions that align with both business goals and core values.
6. lotus823 is known for its integrated marketing approach. What does “integrated marketing” really mean today?
Integrated marketing is about creating one connected strategy that reaches people wherever they’re discovering and engaging with your brand. It’s no longer just about making sure your messaging is consistent across PR, social, paid media, content, email, events, and influencers. It’s about making sure every channel works together to create a seamless customer experience to support measurable business goals.
With the rise of AI, integrated marketing is even more important. The majority of customers are asking AI platforms for recommendations and answers. Brands need to think beyond traditional SEO and embrace Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) to ensure their content is credible, authoritative, and structured in ways that AI can easily understand and reference. At lotus823, our marketing strategies today integrate earned media, owned content, SEO, GEO, and paid efforts. Brands must remain visible wherever their audiences are searching and making decisions.
7. What value can smaller, women-owned agencies bring to larger organizations and public sector partnerships?
One of the advantages a smaller agency brings is the ability to be agile, responsive, and truly invested in the success of our clients. Our clients work directly with experienced strategists and senior leaders, versus other larger agencies that turn accounts over to more entry-level people. Being small allows us to make decisions quickly, adapt as needs change, and provide a highly personalized level of service.
As a women-owned business, we bring diverse perspectives and a collaborative mindset. We understand that successful relationships are built on trust, solid communication, and shared goals. Whether we’re working with an established brand or a rising one, we act as a partner and focus on being an extension of their team, delivering solutions that are strategic and results-driven.
8. What excites you most about building new partnerships through the WBE certification?
I’m excited about connecting with organizations that recognize the value of diverse businesses and share our commitment to innovation, collaboration, and growth. WBE certification creates opportunities to build new relationships, expand our impact, and bring our expertise to organizations that may not have discovered us otherwise.
9. What originally inspired you to start lotus823?
I’m an entrepreneur at heart. My background is in human resources, operations, and change management, where I spent more than 20 years helping organizations navigate growth and transformation. I wanted to build a company that utilized my experience to start and grow a business. I was also passionate about creating a workplace where talented people could thrive and do meaningful work. That vision became lotus823.
10. What motivates you most as a leader?
Helping people succeed. Whether it’s a team member achieving professional growth, a client reaching a business goal, or seeing our agency grow and evolve, I find the greatest fulfillment in creating opportunities for others to excel.
11. What’s something people may not know about you?
Outside of work, you’ll usually find me in the kitchen trying a new recipe. I love cooking, entertaining, and bringing people together. It’s my creative outlet and one of my favorite ways to relax.
I’m also the proud mom of three amazing sons who have grown into kind, caring, and hardworking men. As much as I’ve enjoyed building lotus823 over the last 16 years, my greatest accomplishment will always be my family.
As an entrepreneur, I’m not sure I’ll ever stop looking for ways to build and contribute. If and when I find the time, likely in retirement, I’d love to create a non-profit focused on supporting women who have experienced domestic violence, helping raise awareness, connecting women with resources, and creating opportunities for healing and growth. It’s a mission that has been close to my heart for many years.
12. Favorite podcast, book, or newsletter right now?
My favorite book is “Tuesdays with Morrie” by Mitch Albom, and it’s on permanent rotation. It’s a beautiful collection of life lessons about love, family, work, aging, and finding meaning in life. What resonates with me most is the reminder that success isn’t just about achievements, it’s about the relationships built along the way, the people we impact, and the legacy we leave behind. Those lessons have influenced both how I lead and how I try to live my life.
The podcast I am currently paying close attention to is “Build a Better Agency” with Drew McLellan. The focus is specifically on running an agency. Guest speakers are agency owners and offer practical advice.
13. What’s one piece of career advice that has always stayed with you?
Focus on relationships as much as results. Skills and accomplishments matter, but long-term success is built on trust, credibility, and the way you treat people. The relationships you invest in throughout your career and life in general often become your greatest source of opportunity, support, and growth.
