Feb 26: Building a Business on Workplace Trends

On February 26, 2019, Kasie & Shennice welcomed Tamika Washington of ConverSpace into the studio. Here are the show notes:

Introductions:

Kasie Whitener, Clemson Road Consulting, DMSB

Shennice Cleckley, Smart Cookie Coaching

Tamika Washington, ConverSpace

Theme for the day:

Building a Business on Workplace Trends

Agenda review:

• Learn more about Tamika Washington and her entrepreneurial journey
• Flex Locations as a trend and a business

Segment 1:

Tamika is a Benedict College alumna. Walk us through your professional journey — what did you major in? What did you want to do? Where did you work early in your career?

What are some of the advantages of building a career in Columbia? Disadvantages?

Segment 2

Flex Locations? What’s the industry terminology for ConverSpace and your competitors? What trends in the American workforce are driving adoption of these spaces?

How does the business model work? What are your primary risks?

How does this business grow? Where do you see it in five years?

Segment 3

What are some other workplace trends that are begging for businesses to be built around them?

• Security in an active shooter scenario (Ronk Security Solutions)
• Malware and ransomware (Turtle Creek Concepts)
• Rising healthcare costs
• Online education models
• Flex scheduling (Clemson Road)
• User-driven marketing
• Niche retailers
• City-living for empty nesters
• #metoo and other social awareness campaigns

This article has 5 trends to watch:

• Corporate and startup collaborations
• Working via mobile devices
• “Phygital” or the intersection of the physical and digital, particularly in retail
• Using renewable materials

This article offers 10 workplace trends:

• Leaders encourage human interaction
• More credentials and certifications than ever
• Companies focus on upskilling existing employees (rather than hiring new ones)
• Employee burnout causes turnover
• Financial and mental wellness takes priority
• Take diversity more seriously
• The aging workforce

If you can build a business that alleviates challenges for another business, would you?

Ready to support Start Something, Columbia! Call 803-569-8200 to talk about becoming a patron.

Start Something, Columbia! thanks the City of Columbia’s Office of Business Opportunities for its support.