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Zack Oates of Ovation on Building Business Connections through Digital Storytelling
Soliciting feedback from customers often seems like a daunting task. However, Zack Oates and his team at Ovation have cracked the code with a proven strategy that not only encourages guest feedback, but also establishes a personal connection for exceptional results.Zack Oates and the guest feedback platform Ovation have taken a radically different approach to hearing from customers, which stems…
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Why Emotional Branding Is Out and Functional Loyalty Is In.
32% of customers say they would walk away from a brand they love after just one bad experience, no matter how long they've been loyalBrand loyalty isn't dead, but it is evolving. At Digital Silk, we've worked with hundreds of growing brands across industries, and the pattern is clear: emotionally…
How 2 Stanford Grads Turned an Idea Into a WNBA Partnership
The tampon hasn't changed much since it was invented over 80 years ago by a male doctor named Earle Haas. That might suggest the design was flawless — but ask the people who use them, and you'll hear a different story."Period products are unreliable in critical moments," says athlete and…
I Took My Side Hustle Full-Time and Earned $222,000 Last Year
This as-told-to story is based on an interview with Seattle, Washington-based tutor Carter Osborne, who owns college essay consulting business Carter Osborne Tutoring. Osborne started tutoring as a side hustle in 2017 to help with tuition payments while in graduate school. In 2024, Osborne quit his job as a PR…
Here’s the Strategy Smart Leaders Use to Outpace Disruption
Nothing tests a leader like turbulence. Just ask the thousands of executives watching AI disrupt their industries. ChatGPT was released just two years ago; OpenAI reports it now sees over 400 million weekly users, with more than 90% of Fortune 500 companies integrating its tools. By comparison, the internet didn't…
The PR Playbook Every Startup Needs — But No One Talks About
Emerging brands often misunderstand public relations (PR). Many assume PR is just about press releases or hiring a big agency to land major media coverage. In reality, PR is one of the most effective tools for shaping a brand's reputation, building trust and standing out in a crowded market.The challenge?…
Franchise Success Starts at The Local Level — Here’s Why
A franchise is only as strong as the people running it and the best ones don't just manage a location, they own the neighborhood. At Boardroom, we've seen firsthand how local entrepreneurship makes or breaks the client experience. Our most successful franchisees aren't just following a playbook, they're building relationships,…
How The NBPA and a Top African University Are Building Player Legacies Off the Court
The bridge between the African continent and the NBA was first built by legends like Hakeem Olajuwon and the late Dikembe Mutombo — trailblazers who not only dominated on the court but gave back to the communities that shaped them.Today, that legacy is expanding. Earlier this summer, the National Basketball…
How to Know If Your Business Is Ready for an In-House Hire
Every business owner hits a point where they think, I just need someone dedicated to me. Someone who gets it. Someone who's all in on this business. And the natural next thought? It's time to hire someone in-house.The logic makes sense. When you're deep in the weeds, wearing every hat,…
I Had Customers, Revenue and Momentum — And Still No Cash. This Is the Fix I Wish I’d Known Sooner
When I started my first business, I had everything going for me — or so I thought. I was young, confident and raised on grit. Growing up on a farm in Idaho taught me how to work hard from the time I could walk. By college, I already had industry…
Siblings With Self-Funded 8-Figure Brand Share Business Tips
Rae and David Liu, the brother-sister co-founders behind luxury leather accessories brand Leatherology, "had the entrepreneurial bug" from a young age — but they didn't make the leap to business ownership right away.Image Credit: Courtesy of Leatherology. David and Rae Liu. Originally from Dallas, Texas, the siblings' early work experiences…
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Creative Ways Startups Can Earn Funding in Tough Economic Times
In a declining economy, startups face an uphill battle when it comes to securing funding.…
I Asked AI to Create a Plan for a Fake Company — The Results Blew Me Away, But Not in the Way You Might Think
With all of the recent news about artificial intelligence (AI), it got me thinking about…
Ideas To Transform You From Good To Better To Best
A while back, I took a couple of my grandchildren on a tour of the…
5 Crucial Challenges Startups Must Overcome
Startups face numerous challenges on their journey to success, and failing to overcome any one…