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

Hi Sarah, thanks for joining us today. Is your team able to work remotely? If so, how have you made it work? What, if any, have been the pitfalls? What have been the non-obvious benefits?

From inception, my vision for my creative marketing agency was for it to be a remote agency. Tapping into talent across borders and not having to be held back by a local talent pool appealed to me. I was leveraging online technologies to set up a virtual agency without a brick-and-mortar office. I used communication tools and other cloud software to create an infrastructure with processes, procedures, and policies in a place as any other company would. It was important for me to offer my clients value and not a fancy office experience whereby the high cost of overhead would be passed on to them in my rates. Top-tier service and deliverables without compromising quality have been my competitive advantage. I attract small to mid-size businesses that needs digital l marketing services but cannot hire a big advertising agency or PR firm. As result, we hold Zoom meetings online and collaborate with one another through workflow management tools. Working remotely allows for flexibility in schedules and facilitates employees to carve out for themselves the best times during the day for them to work for peak performance. Some people prefer the early morning for more challenging tasks because their level of concentration is high, and memory and focus are optimal compared to the afternoon. As a result of a remote environment workers are more efficient and content. Trust is everything :)

Sarah, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I started off in marketing and sales early in my career. Everyone always praised me for persuading others and influencing their buying habits. I found that marketing and sales go hand-in-hand, and came very easily to me and quickly rose the sale ranks across different industries. Also being raised in an entrepreneurial household gave me a leg up in taking ownership of my own success. It was no surprise that I ended up owning my own cut flower business at the young age of 23. While my friends were fresh out of college and getting their feet wet in their first corporate job, I was running my own business. However, despite my early business success, there was inside of me a creative person that was dormant. Exposure to the arts while growing up between the states, Europe, and the Middle East made a lasting impact on me. After working in publishing as an advertising consultant and running ad campaigns and digital marketing initiatives, I noticed that little ad money was spent on social media channels like Instagram and Facebook. Eight years ago, they were few businesses using their Facebook business page as a legitimate way to reach new customers let alone run ads on Instagram or Facebook. Everyone seemed to have gotten it wrong when it came to social media. Either you are an influencer with a large fan base or you’re a movie star like Kim Kardashian selling make-up and the like on Instagram. Businesses failed to understand how to use social media in a way that was authentic, trustworthy, and helpful while at the same time, being able to gain fans who can later convert into potential clients. Another obstacle businesses encountered with social media was time management, keeping up with the demand of posting content, and understanding ROI. I tacked all these problems faced by businesses that sincerely want to do well but lack time, knowledge, and resources. These social media companies are advertising giants that are run on algorithms that exploit users’ social media habits. I take out all the guesswork and danger of social media to create conversations where brands and followers can connect with one another and form their own unique communities. The goal is not to get or buy followers but to earn them just like you do in real life. You want to establish relationships with your fan base and make new ones. The business part is a byproduct of the first. You do business with people you like and trust. Saniia is a new-generation creative agency. We tailor in areas of design, branding, marketing, e-commerce, and lifestyle for startups, cultural movements, and established global players.

Any advice for managing a team?

The importance of prioritizing employee satisfaction has never been more important. Here are five bullets that I have used to make my employees love working:

1. Promote work-life balance among employees
2. Invest in trust building
3. Go beyond “My door is always open”
4. Support employee-led initiatives
5. Don’t ignore the power of small gestures

Creating a healthy and positive culture goes beyond free merch or a booming social calendar. Ultimately, morale is cultivated by the big stuff (like policies, career growth, learning, and development) as well as the small stuff (like social events, regular recognition, and swag).

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

I’ve actually been on a major reading kick since the start of the pandemic! Quite obviously as a result of greater solitude engendered by the pandemic, I’ve kept up a habit of leaping from one book to the next in an unbroken chain since the coronavirus first reared its ugly head. With topics ranging from psychology to philosophy to biography to classical literature, the simple act of ravenously seeking out books on topics of great personal interest is an activity I waited too long to so raptly adopt. And the selected titles have certainly influenced me in many respects. ​
Among the books I’ve read as part of said journey, I will say that Solitude: A Return to the Self by Anthony Storr revealed to me the scientifically-backed value of alone time and its critical importance in the lives of creative individuals. How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie exposed me to a series of great interpersonal habits to cultivate based on timeless moral principles. And lastly, Creativity, Inc. by Dr. Ed Catmull presents an unsparingly candid look at the unique workplace culture and management style of Pixar Animation Studios.
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What I’ve said about these particular books is of course just the tip of the iceberg in terms of the sheer quantity of knowledge and wisdom they have to offer. More important than any book or encapsulated description of them is the value of simply opening oneself to the experiences and teachings of others who’ve made the uncommon effort to gather their thoughts clearly and cogently in the form of a book. It’s a constantly rewarding gift that not only continues to shape my artistic work but also my general experiences in life.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://saniia.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saniiamade/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahamrou/
• Other: https://www.instagram.com/sarahamrou_/