The Empowering Partner Success blog series highlights the positive impact channel partners and individuals are making on the communities they serve.
At Cisco, we are committed to partnering with the people and organizations that help us realize our purpose of achieving an inclusive future for all. That’s why we’re excited to tap into the experience and expertise of Rasheeda Frazier, founder and CEO of Empowering Greatness Inc., and share insights from the work the organization is doing to help small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) digitally transform. .
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Empowering Greatness Inc. is a consulting firm dedicated to helping small businesses, non-profits, and other organizations navigate and overcome complex operational challenges. Rasheeda founded the organization to fill the gap she felt working with people who choose entrepreneurship as their path to success. “Many of the people I met had great ideas for businesses. But they didn’t necessarily understand the basics of building and maintaining a business. Through education, experience and relationships, I have built expertise in this field,” says Rasheeda. “I believe that if you have the knowledge to live a sustainable life, you should help others do the same. This is the essence of Empowering Greatness.” Rasheeda is grateful to work with the Cisco partner ecosystem. “I am part of a community where I can learn and help more people.”
Rasheeda’s passion for supporting small businesses stems from her belief that small businesses are the backbone of the economy. “It’s small corner stores and neighborhood pizza places that help our neighborhood prosper.” “Members of the same community often need support as they integrate technology or undertake digital transformation to help their business grow,” she says.
Research shows that more than 60% of small and medium-sized businesses are actively investing in digital transformation. However, less than 30% of these companies said they were successful in their transformation. To define her path to success, Rasheeda shared several strategies she uses to help her clients. Click on each video segment below to learn more.
Definition of Digital Transformation
Rasheeda explains that digital transformation means integrating digital technologies in all areas of the business. It’s also about rethinking operating models and experimenting with new strategic approaches. “These days, businesses of all sizes are embracing AI, adopting cloud services for increased accessibility and flexibility, and leveraging data analytics to improve strategic decisions,” says Rasheeda. “These are all examples of digital transformation and are fundamentally changing the way companies operate and deliver value to customers.” Rasheeda points out that digital transformation is critical for SMBs because it “levels the playing field for them and allows them to compete.” She also shares that innovation and agility are key paths to successful change.
Creating an innovative and agile culture
Digital transformation is most successful and sustainable in innovative and agile environments. Rasheeda shared valuable insights on how to create such an environment. Check out the video segment for more details on these highlights.
The best actions to enable an innovative, agile culture and successful change
- a leader with a vision Understand that change starts from the top. Leaders must recognize the need and benefits of change and set a clear and compelling direction for their organization.
- communicate Present your vision in a business context so employees understand its importance and how their work contributes to success.
- authorization your team Makes decisions and pursues creative solutions. Frontline employees who deliver products and services to customers know what works and what doesn’t.
- Foster Collaboration wasLeverage networks within your organization and across industries. The more mental energy you can direct towards a solution, the better.
- Take advantage of technology Streamline processes and free up time for creative thinking and strategic planning.
- continuously evaluate by Evaluate your processes and strategies to determine what adjustments are needed to ensure continued success.
Key actions that can hinder an innovative and agile culture and hinder successful change
- micromanagement It stifles creativity.
- punishment for failure It’s counterproductive and failure is a key part of the iterative process. Instead, leave room to try new things and learn from the experience.
- Ignoring feedback hinders progress. Instead, listen to see if there are any areas that can be improved.
- maintain a rigid posture limit growth. Instead, be adaptable.
- delayed innovation Potential is halted. Don’t let your ideas captivate you. Share it instead. You never know how your idea could be improved when someone else offers input.
Continue your learning journey
Rasheeda highlighted some compelling insights based on her experience. We also recognize that there are other perspectives to share. In the spirit of fostering collaboration, we encourage SMBs to join Cisco’s SMB Empowerment Network. Here you can connect with other organizations, learn about upcoming SMB-focused events, and discover resources available from Cisco.
Learn more about Rasheeda and her offerings and connect with her on LinkedIn.
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