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

A. Marie, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What was the most important lesson/experience you had in a job that has helped you as a business owner?

I left one corporate job with a boss that was a micromanager and went to another job with a boss that trusted me. The second boss gave me training and then empowered me to apply that training on my own. I was able to make decisions that my boss backed me up on. I could ask questions and make suggestions. To see the glaring difference between the dehumanizing experience of being micromanaged and the liberation of being trusted and how that enhanced my manager’s work was very impactful for me. I felt like a partner and a collaborator instead of an incapable subordinate. That experience helps me now because, while I am careful not to take on clients that micromanage, I can help my clients to deal with their team on a higher level, and when I hire freelancers, I give them the freedom to work and to do what they’re good at.

A. Marie, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My business, &Marie Solutions, specializes in process optimization, task automation, and technology tool integration. Any business process, especially repeated ones, with steps can be considered a workflow and can be streamlined and/or automated in some way. My practical solutions help businesses streamline workflows, eliminate redundancies, and create day-to-day efficiencies, often leading to improved quality of life for my clients.

I am most proud of my “systems agnostic” approach. The best system need not be the most expensive or complicated one. The best system is one that a client will actually use and enjoy, and therefore I adapt my approach to each client’s specific needs. I pride myself on inclusivity and accessibility, and to that end welcome and encourage neurodivergent clients. I am also fluent in American Sign Language.

I believe in solutions for your business.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

Creating the business I have now was a hard pivot in my life for one significant reason: my health. It became clear that with my delayed sleep phase disorder (DSPD) and dysautonomia that a regular 9-5 job was no longer for me. The commute, stress, and rigid timing did not serve me; indeed, it would further undermine my health. That was a hard pill to swallow, if you’ll pardon the pun, because most of my friends had full time jobs and successful careers. The idea of striking out on my own made me very unsure of myself. But I knew I had to curate a life that I could manage as well as enjoy. With my administrative background, I started out as a virtual assistant and very quickly realized that I have a knack for seeing order where there is currently chaos. Many times I would ask myself “why are they taking 10 steps to accomplish what 5 steps would do?” So I have leaned into the workflow consulting because I’m good at it, enjoy it, and enjoy problem-solving.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

I still have only a small following on social media, but a small, engaged following will always be better than high volume with no engagement. I have found that engaging with people on apps that lean more towards text, like Threads and LinkedIn to fit my vibe more, as I can actually talk to people. The asynchronous communication helps me nurture relationships and even leads.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.andmarie.com
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/a-marie-dingwall-a752222b1/
• Other: https://www.threads.net/@andmariesolutions