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

Heather, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Your ability to build a team is often a key determinant of your success as a business owner and so we’d love to get a conversation going with successful entrepreneurs like yourself around what your recruiting process was like -especially early on. How did you build your team?

When I started my business, it was just me. As a solo entrepreneur, I had to wear many hats and handle all aspects of the business myself. As the business grew, I realized the need to bring on team members to help scale operations and deliver better services to our clients. That took learning how to delegate and getting honest with where my blindspots were. I built my team and team processes slowly.

Recruiting the first few team members was both exciting and challenging. In the beginning, I’d offer internships to students from my alma mater, Temple University, then, at the end, and if they did a good job, I would offer them a job. We benefited from a 10-week long structured program to onboard them and help build processes that worked for both of us.

Internships are valuable for student professional development, especially when they are being poured back into. I wanted to find individuals who shared my passion for the business and had the skills and dedication to help it succeed. 10 weeks was a great time to assess. The interview process was thorough, focusing not just on technical skills but also on cultural fit and alignment with our values. Now, I am working with a domestic and outsourced team for things like business administration, client facing and marketing.

Looking back, if I were starting again today, I would have invested more time in creating a structured onboarding and training program for new hires using Notion, our current project management software. While we did provide training, it was more informal, and I believe a more structured approach would have helped new team members acclimate faster and perform better.

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?

Hello! I’m Heather Qader, the Managing Director of The Qader Group, a Strategy and Consulting firm. My journey into this industry began with my undergraduate studies at The Pennsylvania State University and culminated in an MBA in Strategic Management from the Fox School of Business at Temple University. I am a Palestinian and Black woman that believes in justice and peace. My diverse perspective has allowed me to offer a unique perspective to every business and organization I’ve had the pleasure of working with. What sets me apart is my passion for making a positive impact on people’s lives and helping businesses grow. I take pride in my ability to connect the dots between creativity, business strategy, and human experience, crafting personalized solutions that drive tangible results for my clients.

I specialize in helping individuals and brands expand their reach through strategic planning, operational efficiency, and the development of key partnerships. My expertise lies in consumer packaged goods, investment sourcing, brand marketing, and digital channels.

I want potential clients and followers to know that I am committed to their success and dedicated to helping them achieve their goals. Whether it’s navigating the complexities of the business world or leveraging the power of digital marketing, I am here to support and guide them every step of the way.

Can you open up about a time when you had a really close call with the business?

As a business owner, my learning often comes from my experiences. While others may advise you on how to budget ahead for projects, it’s often not until you face challenges firsthand that you truly understand the importance of proactive planning. In the beginning of January of 2023 I was late on payroll, and I’ve found clear communication with my staff about any delays to be crucial. I had miscalculated how much I was spending on labor and that pushed back the deadline for me to pay my contractors.

It can be uncomfortable to discuss financial incidents, but I’ve been fortunate to have understanding and patient staff members who have diverse income streams.You find that your team will respect you when you can communicate difficult things to them. It’s far better than being left in the dark and having your organizational trust eroded. I would have never learned these things if someone described this as a theoretical rule or abstract concept. Learning to budget for projects, for me, came from doing, failing and learning.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

Our most effective method for acquiring new clients is through word of mouth. When a client has a positive experience working with us, they become our best advocates, often leading to new contracts from other organizations. We love maintaining relationships after the projects are done and building a rapport for future work with people in our industry and business community.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.theqadergroup.com
• Instagram: @theqadergroup
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heatherqadermba/

Image Credits
Photographer and Creative Director, Alexei Mansour