This month, we’re spending five minutes with… MM Creative Solutions – a specialist management consultancy providing services for nuclear and other regulated sectors. We caught up with company founder, Monica Mwanje to find out how she’s adapting her business and why she chose 54 St James Street…
Tell us about your business…
I work as a consultant and I work with organisations seeking growth in nuclear and other regulated sectors. I help my clients to win new business and I do this via advising on their strategic plans and bid responses. I also coach staff on enhancing business relationships. I also deliver bid training (e.g. how to write bids, how to manage bids). My training offering has expanded, and I now also deliver inclusion training, which leverages my experience of working in and with multi-disciplinary teams in both technical and business leadership roles.
I started my business in 2015 after leaving a senior position in a growing SME. My career has taken me from working as a graduate chemical engineer, through to working in an engineering consultancy where I moved from technical work to business management / business strategy growth focused work. At present I mainly work with Engineering, Construction and Technical organisations. I’m intrigued by software development and artificial intelligence, so I’d be happy if in the future I get to work with companies that do that type of work.
Describe your typical daily routine…
I get up, then I exercise which at present is a walk or an online or DVD workout. I then will get to work. Depending on what I’ve got to deliver that day, it could be a mixture of doing research or writing a report or reviewing a client document. If I am delivering training, then I will prepare for that and get into delivery mode.
Or I may be in a couple of virtual meetings.
Why did you choose 54 St. James Street?
I was looking for a virtual office address to help me convey a ‘professional’ business image. I did some research and stumbled across 54 St James Street and The Women’s Organisation. When I saw the additional support and series of events offered, I quickly signed up.
What would be your top tips for anyone looking to start a business?
Know your market and know how to communicate with your market. Ultimately people buy from people, regardless of the sector, so nurture and invest in those relationships.
Take some time to define and clarify your business offering, it needs to solve a problem that your target clients are experiencing. If you’re not sure what issues are keeping them up at night, do some research and find out.
How have you had to adapt your business around the current pandemic?
For the advisory consultancy work I mainly work remotely with clients and have done so for the past few years; so that aspect is business as usual. Where potentially we may have had a face to face meeting, we now have a call or videoconference.
My training offering, I was delivering the bulk of this face to face and in-person. Prior to the pandemic I had planned to use this time of the year to begin moving my training packages online, so I am in the process of doing that.
What’s on your reading or watch list at the moment?
Reading – At the moment I’m reading ‘Atomic Habits’ by James Clear. I have quite a few books in my reading list; I think next, I will read ‘You are a Badass’ by Jen Sincero. I’m also a fan of podcasts. At the moment I’m working my way through episodes of Arlan Hamilton’s ‘Your First Million’.
You can contact Monica and MM Creative Solutions below…
www.mmcslimited.com
Twitter: @mmcslimited or @monicamwanje
LinkedIn
If you are a tenant and you would like to feature in the #5MinutesWith series, contact leannejohnson@thewo.org.uk for more information.
