Jean Freeman is at the helm of one of the largest certified female-owned advertising agencies AND one of the biggest female-owned businesses in Los Angeles.
Jean has turned Zambezi into a thriving advertising agency with a revenue of projected 75 million dollars. She’s also become a leading advocate for the advancement of women in business.
On today’s show, Jean is going to share what being a CEO in a busy city like LA really means, her best productivity tips, how she manages a growing business while being a mom to two children under the age of 13, the importance of creating a sustainable business, and her criteria for decision-making in her business. She also talks about her business experience with NBA legend Kobe Bryant and the moment she was named a “Working Mother of the Year” by She Runs It!
You can Subscribe and Listen to the Podcast on Apple Podcasts. And be sure to leave me a Rating and Review!
In women's entrepreneurship, we get to rewrite the rules of entrepreneurs.” – Jean Freeman
Show Notes:
- Her business partnership with NBA legend Kobe Bryant
- Why Corporate America does not support the needs of women in the workforce
- How entrepreneurship runs in Jean's family and what she has learned
- The moment she recognized she was on to something with Zambezi
- The benefits that come about when kids see their parents working
- Tips on creating a sustainable business
- The BEST strategy is always Actionable
- Her advice on decision-making
- Why Alignment is important in all aspects of business
- And much, much moree
You are going to make some wrong calls, but that is ok, I think it’s more about how you respond to wrong calls.” – Jean Freeman
Connect with Jean Freeman:
Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Zambezi
Align yourself properly with the types of businesses that will be long-term partners.” – Jean Freeman
This week, I'm having Gail Schenbaum, Founder & CEO of Umergency, back on the show as one of my encore interviews!
I was feeling a bit out of sorts. My creative self felt like it was moving at a crawl and my decision-making at a snails pace. Something was off but I couldn't put my finger on it until I started to reflect over the last eight weeks. I had traveled two times in 30 days to the East Coast to see my father who's ailing and followed that with a week-long business trip. I realized that our home never fully recovered from the holidays. There were “loose ends” in many places which left me feeling unsettled. Even though I have a housekeeper (I highly recommend for all women!) there are some tasks that she can't do – like clearing clutter from desks and drawers.
One of the biggest challenges I see people struggle with is making decisions. There's this burning need inside of us to avoid making a mistake when it comes to choosing one over the other. They key is to know when a decision really matters (“should I marry this guy?”) or is it a mere blip on the screen of your life (“What should I have for dinner?”). I, too, have had my share of sleepless nights over the “yes or no” of life, however over the years, I've developed a process that I take myself through when it's time to ground myself in a decision:
a few days ago, I thought about a conversation I had earlier that morning with a friend about how difficult it is for some people to make a decision. This process can be a challenge and create a lot of anxiety. I'm not sure if people are aware that “sitting on the fence” when it comes to making decisions takes a serious toll on their energy levels and their lives.