Katja Fjellström
Katja Fjellström tells us that, “It’s always a struggle of course but with age and experience you learn what is important, how you can set boundaries for yourself to find the balance, which is really about time management, habits and structure in your calendar. You decide what hours you have for certain tasks and divide the week accordingly. The habit comes with practice!”
When faced with unexpected hurdles in your business, how do you stay strong?
I think you need to build up a mindset that alone is not strong, you need to ask for help and not find prestige in being a strong independent woman all the time. You need your network and they need you!
How do you determine the success of your business beyond financial metrics, focusing on factors like customer satisfaction and community impact?
The greatest success you can get is customer validation, if you know and are willing to know more about the customer and their needs you are in it to win.
Can you recount a pivotal moment in your business journey where you saw remarkable growth or witnessed a transformative change, showcasing the impact of your products or services?
Since I coach other entrepreneurs with their idea development I see this all the time and it’s the best part of my job, those moments when I see them and their business grow.
In your view, how crucial is mentorship for the success of small businesses, and how have mentors influenced your own entrepreneurial path?
I would say that it is essential for both personal growth and the development of your business. Both to have a mentor and a mentee for the continuous learning that needs to happen and also to see other perspectives.
What is your business focused on, and how does it contribute to making a positive difference in the world?
I focus on the coaching of that earliest stage of the startup journey, the idea stage. The positive impact after going through the program I run at Minc is the change of mindset, the knowledge and tools, the personal development and the possibility grow your network
What special ability do you wish you had to make your job easier?
I don’t wish for a certain ability, if I need it I learn how to and that keeps me curious and constantly growing.
If you could invite three fictional characters to help you plan your next project, who would you choose, and why?
I would like to have Katniss Everdeen, R2-D2 and Eleven from “Stranger Things” on my team