We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Monica Roca-Quesada a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Monica thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.
The inception of our business, Agile Planners, was truly a journey fueled by a desire for change and innovation in an industry ripe for transformation. It all began during my tenure as a corporate accountant, where I found myself increasingly frustrated by the inefficiencies and limitations of traditional accounting processes. Day in and day out, I witnessed the repetitive nature of manual tasks, the bottlenecks in communication, and the lack of scalability inherent in the system. It was clear to me that there had to be a better way.
The turning point came like a lightbulb moment – the realization that we could bring the principles of adaptability, collaboration, and continuous improvement into the realm of accounting and finance. This revelation sparked a fire within me, igniting a passion to revolutionize how businesses approached their financial operations.
As I delved deeper, I became increasingly convinced of its potential to transform the accounting industry. The logic behind it was undeniable – by streamlining processes, fostering collaboration, and leveraging technology, we could not only enhance efficiency but also drive meaningful growth and innovation.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
At Agile, we specialize in providing tech-focused solutions for process optimization, particularly in the realm of finance and accounting. Our services range from streamlining financial processes to developing custom software solutions tailored to our clients’ unique needs.
One of the key problems we solve for our clients is the challenge of navigating the complexities of modern finance and accounting while staying competitive in an ever-evolving landscape.
What sets us apart from others in the industry is our unwavering commitment to innovation, collaboration, and client success. We don’t just provide a service; we partner with our clients to co-create solutions that deliver tangible results. Our focus on continuous improvement ensures that we stay ahead of the curve, constantly adapting and evolving to meet the changing needs of our clients and the market.
I am most proud of the transformative impact we’ve had on our clients’ businesses. From small startups to large corporations, we’ve helped countless organizations overcome challenges, streamline operations, and achieve their goals. Knowing that we’ve made a positive difference in the lives of our clients is incredibly rewarding and fuels our passion for what we do.
In summary, what I want potential clients, and followers to know about Agile Planners is that we are more than just a service provider—we are a partner in innovation, a catalyst for change, and a relentless advocate for our clients’ success.
How’d you meet your business partner?
The story of how I met my co-founder is deeply intertwined with the story of our relationship. You see, my co-founder isn’t just a business partner – he’s also my husband, and our journey together spans back to our teenage years. He always says, “Our first successful venture is our marriage.” and that is indeed true.
It was clear that we shared a vision for making a difference in the world and a passion to drive positive change. As we grow older, our relationship blossomed, and so too did our shared dreams of building something meaningful together.
It wasn’t long before we realized that our respective skill sets were incredibly complementary – my background in accounting complemented his expertise in software development and automation perfectly. Together, we saw an opportunity to combine our strengths and revolutionize the finance and accounting industry.
Our journey together has been filled with highs and lows, triumphs and challenges, but through it all, our bond has only grown stronger. Together, we weather the storms of entrepreneurship, celebrating victories and learning from setbacks along the way.
What sets our partnership apart is the deep trust, mutual respect, and unwavering support in everything we do. Together, we’re not just building a business – we’re building a legacy, one that we hope will inspire others to chase their dreams and never give up on what they believe in.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
In the early stages of our business development, we were primarily engaged in providing digital solutions for businesses, including website development and commercial printing services. While these ventures were successful, we began to recognize the limitations of this business model and the potential for greater impact elsewhere.
The pivot came as a result of a series of reflections on our core strengths, passions, and the evolving needs of the market. We realized that our expertise in technology and our desire to drive meaningful change could be better aligned with the field of financial technology (fintech) and because it was a field we are already experts in.
The pivot wasn’t without its challenges, of course. We had to navigate unfamiliar territory, adapt to a new industry landscape, and reposition our brand to reflect our newfound focus. However, what ultimately drove us forward was a sense of purpose and a belief in the transformative potential of our vision. We were determined to carve out a niche for ourselves in the fintech space, leveraging our expertise and passion to make a meaningful impact.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.agileplanners.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/agileplanners_
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/agileplanners
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/agile-planners
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/AgilePlanners