Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Sujeetha Baktha. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Sujeetha, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you tell us a story about a time you failed?

Moving to the US as an adult with a B2B sales background and a master’s degree, I quickly realized securing a full-time corporate role wasn’t as straightforward as I anticipated. It didn’t help that my accent stood out a bit, and being a military spouse often placed us in cities with more limited opportunities.

Starting in retail for minimum wage was initially a blow to my confidence, especially after managing teams as a manager myself. However, it wasn’t all negative. It made me rethink my options.

That’s when I decided to leverage my corporate experience by freelancing as a CRM manager and Operations assistant for startups and small businesses. The initial challenge was worth it. I helped them streamline both their client-facing and internal processes, bridging the gap between the two. Seeing the success of these smaller businesses ignited a passion in me – to empower other entrepreneurs and military spouses who felt overwhelmed managing their businesses while their partners were deployed or in training.

This passion fueled the creation of Scale and Thrive LLC. Here, I combine my business development and operational expertise to help service providers like myself achieve “operational freedom.” by identifying areas for improvement, automation, and systematizing their business.

Looking back, the initial difficulty in landing a corporate role, though a setback, ultimately pushed me to get creative and explore new avenues. Today, at Scale and Thrive, my mission is to help other entrepreneurs avoid feeling overwhelmed and achieve that perfect balance between growth and work-life balance.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’m Sujeetha, and I help service providers achieve “operational freedom by systematizing their business” through Scale and Thrive LLC.

My journey to this point wasn’t entirely straightforward. After relocating to the US in the late 2020s, my background in B2B sales and a master’s degree didn’t translate as smoothly into a corporate role as I’d hoped. Being a military spouse also meant frequent moves to smaller cities with fewer opportunities, and let’s be honest, my accent probably didn’t help either!

However, a setback can sometimes be a stepping stone. Starting in retail for minimum wage wasn’t what I envisioned, but it made me re-evaluate my options. That’s when I decided to leverage my corporate experience by freelancing as a CRM manager, project manager, and operations assistant for small businesses.

I quickly saw the transformative power of streamlined systems. By helping these entrepreneurs implement CRMs, automation tools, and project management solutions they were able to find information easily, save time on repetitive tasks, and ultimately reduce their overall workload. Seeing their businesses thrive fueled a passion in me to empower others – especially fellow entrepreneurs and military spouses who often feel overwhelmed managing their businesses while their partners are deployed or in training.

That passion became Scale and Thrive LLC. Here, I combine my business development and operational expertise to bridge the gap between client-facing and internal processes. We help service providers like myself achieve “operational freedom” by systematizing their businesses through improved workflows, strategic tech stack implementation, and automation.

Looking back, the initial difficulty in landing a corporate role pushed me to get creative and explore new avenues. Today, I’m most proud of the impact I have on my clients. They gain back precious time, reduce stress, and achieve that sweet spot of growth and work-life balance.

The biggest takeaway I want you to remember is this: you don’t have to be overwhelmed by your business. With the right systems in place, you can achieve both success and a healthy work-life balance.

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

A large portion of my new clients come from referrals from existing clients and networking with other service providers.

How do you keep your team’s morale high?

In my experience, building a strong team with high morale starts with clear systems and a shared vision. As a business owner, it’s crucial to set a clear direction and ensure everyone understands how their role contributes to the bigger picture. Think of it like a roadmap – if everyone knows the destination and the route, they can navigate more efficiently and feel motivated to reach the goal together.

That’s where systematizing your business comes in. Having well-defined processes for tasks, clear communication channels, and established goals for each role helps everyone stay focused and avoid confusion. When employees understand the “what” and “how” behind their work, they can take ownership and contribute their best.

Beyond systems, open communication is key. Regularly check in with your team members, encourage feedback, and celebrate successes together. Recognizing individual and team achievements fosters a sense of accomplishment and keeps morale high.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://scaleandthrive.co/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scaleandthrive
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sujeetha-baktha/