We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Zohaib Patoli. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Zohaib below.
Alright, Zohaib thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Do you have any thoughts about how to create a more inclusive workplace?
Creating a more inclusive workplace is a critical step in fostering a positive and productive work environment for all employees. At the heart of this effort is top-down leadership that sets the tone and establishes a culture of inclusivity.
One of the key ways that top-down leadership can create a more inclusive workplace is by actively promoting diversity and inclusion. This means not only hiring a diverse workforce but also creating opportunities for employees from underrepresented groups to advance and succeed. This can be achieved by offering training and development programs, mentoring and sponsorship, and creating a culture of open communication and mutual respect.
Leadership also needs to be able to practice what they preach and be a role model for the rest of the organization. This means that they need to be aware of their own biases and actively work to overcome them. They should also be willing to listen to the perspectives and experiences of employees from underrepresented groups and actively work to address any issues that they may be facing.
Another important aspect of creating a more inclusive workplace is by creating a sense of belonging for all employees. This means ensuring that all employees feel valued and respected, regardless of their background or identity. This can be achieved by creating a culture of open communication, mutual respect, and zero tolerance for discrimination and harassment.
Leadership should also be able to provide flexible working arrangements, supportive policies and procedures, as well as a safe and respectful working environment. This is important as it enables employees to bring their authentic selves to work, which allows them to be more productive, engaged and fulfilled.
In addition, leadership should have clear policies and procedures in place to address discrimination, harassment, and other forms of bias. They should also ensure that these policies are communicated effectively and that employees are aware of the procedures for reporting and addressing any issues that may arise.
In conclusion, creating a more inclusive workplace is a crucial step in fostering a positive and productive work environment for all employees. It starts with top-down leadership that sets the tone and establishes a culture of inclusivity, promotes diversity and inclusion, practices what they preach, creates a sense of belonging, and have clear policies and procedures in place to address discrimination, harassment, and other forms of bias. It is important for leadership to be able to lead by example and to be committed to creating a workplace where all employees feel valued, and respected and can perform at their best.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers
At the young age of 13, I embarked on my entrepreneurial journey by launching my first business, an e-commerce platform specializing in niche and affordable denim clothing. Despite my age, I was able to generate over $100,000 in sales within the first year of operation. From there, I continued to explore various business opportunities, ranging from buying and selling in-demand sneakers to providing iPhone repair services. My teenage years were spent honing my skills in the automotive and real estate industries, through car flipping and real estate investments.
In partnership with my younger brother, I founded Withport, a venture studio that specializes in e-commerce. In the first year, we generated $1.8 million in combined revenue across our various brands, which included apparel, grooming supplies, and credit repair services, among others. Despite not all ventures being successful, we launched over 30 e-commerce businesses.
At the age of 17, I co-founded SnapWeb Services, a full-service marketing agency that caters to small and medium-sized businesses. Along with my brother, we were able to grow the company from a small startup to a multi-million dollar agency with multiple offices around the globe and a team of 258 employees. During my tenure, I also launched Atmos CBD, a premium CBD brand that quickly expanded to 15 brick-and-mortar locations within 18 months.
In 2020, I sold SnapWeb Services due to partnership issues and founded LeadOrigin, a digital marketing, and data intelligence agency. Today, I am proud to have established multiple businesses, and have several other ventures in various stages of development. My journey as an entrepreneur has been driven by a passion for innovation and a relentless pursuit of success. I am excited to continue exploring new opportunities and to inspire others to do the same.
How’d you meet your business partner?
I met my co-founder and business partner, my cousin, on the day of his birth. We grew up together and as we got older, we became close friends and confidants. We both shared a passion for business and entrepreneurship, so it was only natural that we would eventually team up to start a business together.
We had always talked about starting a business together but never had a concrete idea. One day, we were discussing about the challenges and opportunities in the market and we stumbled upon the idea of starting an e-commerce business. We both saw the potential and immediately knew that we wanted to pursue it together. We spent many hours discussing the concept, researching the market, and creating a business plan.
We knew that working together as family members would come with its own set of challenges, but we were both confident that our strong relationship and shared vision would help us overcome any obstacles. And we were right, our strong family bond helped us to build trust and communicate effectively and our shared passion for business helped us to stay motivated and focused on our goals.
We launched the business and it was a success, we were able to generate good revenue in the first year. From there, we continued to explore various business opportunities, ranging from buying and selling in-demand products to providing services.
Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?
Managing a team and maintaining high morale is an essential part of leading a successful organization. Here are some tips that can help you to effectively manage your team and keep morale high:
Communicate effectively: Clear and frequent communication is key to keeping everyone on the same page and addressing any issues that may arise. Encourage open communication among team members and make sure everyone knows what is expected of them.
Show appreciation: Show your team that you value their contributions and hard work. Acknowledge their efforts and give them credit for their achievements. Showing appreciation can boost morale and increase motivation.
Set goals and provide direction: Set clear and achievable goals for your team and provide the necessary resources and support to help them reach those goals. Provide direction and guidance, but also give your team members the autonomy to take ownership of their work.
Encourage teamwork: Foster a culture of teamwork and collaboration. Encourage team members to work together and support each other, and recognize the importance of teamwork in achieving success.
Develop a positive culture: Create a positive and supportive work environment. Encourage positive attitudes and behaviors, and take steps to address negative behaviors or attitudes that may be detrimental to the team’s morale.
Provide opportunities for growth and development: Provide opportunities for team members to learn new skills and take on new responsibilities. This can help to keep them engaged and motivated, and also helps to prepare them for future leadership roles.
Lead by example: Lead by example and demonstrate the behavior and attitude you expect from your team members. Be a role model and set the standard for how others should conduct themselves.
Be adaptable: Be open to feedback and willing to make changes as needed. Be responsive to the changing needs and concerns of your team members, and be willing to adapt your management style and approach as necessary to meet those needs.
Managing a team and maintaining high morale is not always easy, but by following these tips, you can create a positive and productive work environment that will help your team to thrive.
Contact Info:
- Website: LeadOrigin.com Leapify.com Patoli.co
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zopatoli/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zohaibpatoli/