Amber Payden knows what small businesses need and is vested in their survival and ability to thrive. Amber knows the important role they play and wants to see them win and take some of the headaches out of starting and owning a small business. Her company is helping entrepreneurs find direction, navigate and focus on their goals and discover what they need to get there. Let’s meet her.
Tell our readers what you do and what problem you’re tackling with SMARK?
Well, first – my name is Amber. Hi Everyone, I am the Founder and CEO of ThinkSMARK INC., we are an integrated business and creative services marketplace that focuses on 10 Key Areas of Business, that help small-mid size businesses learn, grow, scale, and sustain at whatever stage of business they are in.
One of the biggest problems that we see in the entrepreneurship/gig economist space is a lack of understanding of basic business principles, but more importantly how that pertains to their business and the growth and sustainability of it. What is interesting about this statement is that it’s not just small companies under a million dollars. You see mid-size companies facing similar issues – even larger corporations. But large companies have the financial resources to fix the problem sooner. Which is where SMARK comes in.
What SMARK does is cut out the noise and helps companies bring clarity to their business efforts, through an integrated business platform, education, and other services.
Tell us about the most popular Workshop that you offer?
We currently have around 20 workshops that will be available for customers going into the 2021 Fall/Winter Semesters. But prior to that, we offered the Social Media Basics as well as the Go To Market Strategy Workshop. People loved it. But I do believe customers will be very excited about some of the new workshops, such as our SMARK Idea to Strategy 3 Day Workshop. This workshop is specifically geared at novice and small businesses looking to structure an idea all the way through developing a strategy to begin building out their business. In addition, we are bundling a 3-hour Session called SMARK Components, which teaches small business owners the basics around all 10 Key Areas of Business and how they integrate together. Very exciting!
What expertise and skillsets do you look for in consultants?
We look for consultants and subject matter experts that have the time and flexibility to teach their knowledge and have a clear understanding and experience based on what they are speaking about. Once Consultants have been certified. They will then be ranked by the customers, similar to an uber model. At that point, it is out of our hands – the customer becomes the judge or advocate of the consultant! If a consultant receives multiple poor reviews or ratings – they are disciplined or removed from the marketplace.
Where did you go to school and what was your major? Are you doing (work) that you thought you would be doing?
I went to The University of Akron, GO ZIPS! My major was Interpersonal and Public Relations, with a focus in rhetoric and a minor in piano performance and consumer marketing/sales management.
I am working in my field! I was one of those kids that really wanted to be a non-verbal, verbal communication pro and learn the ends and outs of speaking; – which allowed me to do very well in sales, sales management, and marketing while in corporate. I also took a lot of courses in business, but ultimately I am on a similar path to what I wanted to do. Albeit, in my alternate life I always wanted to have a Masters in Organizational Leadership and a Doctorate in Rhetoric lol that is really a thing. Maybe.. one day …
How did you end up in Chicago?
It’s been 15 years. I took a job right out of college, actually before I graduated. I looked
everywhere – all over the country and globe. I just wanted to get out of Ohio. One of my friends suggested Chicago, and I had never really thought about going there – my dad always wanted us to go to Moody Bible Institute, but I wasn’t interested lol. So, when a professor told me it would be a good fit, I should try professional sales. I did! And I took a position with a startup that was going IPO. I was on their B2B sales team, selling T1 services to small businesses … That’s how fast technology has grown… and I haven’t looked back, Chicago grew me up.
How do you plan to evolve yourself and your business over the next 10 years?
That’s an amazing question…. I honestly never planned for life after 30. And I always thought everything would just naturally fall into place. Husband, Children, Career, and friends. But that is not the reality … and now headed into my 40’s. I’ve realized, life has to be set with intentions and being clear on what you want. So, stepping off my soapbox – the next 10 years for me, looks like 40 under 40 (I have 3 years left); The goal for SMARK is to become a Unicorn Company; building out the marketplace to have multiple verticals and products, partnerships and a foundation that works to educate kids on entrepreneurship and creativity! We also are working to have our own VC that funds marginalized groups to receive funding and support to grow their businesses. On the personal side, my desire is to be married and have some kiddos and live on a modern farm, with a loft still in the city (duh) lol. And spend time with friends and giving back and supporting my friends that do missions work all over the world.
Who is Amber at her core? Hobbies?
Amber at her core is someone that is honest to a default, resilient, a thinker – humor has been one of my best qualities .. I care about people and the world a lot. I’m very sensitive to how people treat others and how my impact is felt. Sometimes it hasn’t been the greatest and it’s caused me to self-reflect and fight harder to be a person of integrity and wisdom.
Hobbies. I’m a doodler, explorer, pseudo socialite. I love Architectural Digest, a good steak, and red wine. Documentaries, sharpies, post it … really anything office supply geared. I read a lot and audible has become my best friend on my morning walks. I window shop and drink at the bar alone. Like I really like being by myself. Not sure if that’s a hobby. LOL I also love my bible study time, I have a couple of pastors I listen to on YouTube weekly, and it’s a really nice balance for me, and keeps me connected to my faith outside of Sunday church.
What keeps you busy in your downtime?
My friends. Gift and Curse. I have a lot of friends that are amazing, but they accommodate all different sides of me, so I often feel pulled in so many directions when going out. But I can always count on my friends. They really have become family and we get into a lot of different things. Which I love. I’m also a huge Marvel fan, so I will order in and binge movies and shows. It’s my escape.
Tell our readers how to reach you and gain more information?
You can reach me on my website, social media @whoisapayden and the company at www.thinksmark.com and social media @thinksmark and Twitter @think_smark, you can also google us at THINKSMARK for all things SMARK
Fall/ Winter Semesters Start Sept.27th,2021, and pre-registration starts August 2, 2021
