Andrea Beaulieu is the Co-Owner of Studio Linear. Andrea is a thought leader, influencer, visionary, and successful entrepreneur. Andrea provides the leadership and energy that has inspired the creation of Studio Linear. Andrea Beaulieu joins other leading CEOs and Founders taking part in our Leader Roundtable Interview Series. The DotCom Magazine editorial team is delighted to have Andrea join us for our Leader Roundtable Interview.
Andrea, thank you so much for taking the time out of your busy day for this interview about your company, leadership, and entrepreneurship.
1. Andrea, please tell us about Studio Linear. What is the elevator pitch?
Studio Linear is a sister owned, female operated design firm. We are based in Maine and Minneapolis and have clients that span all over the globe. We work with start-ups and established businesses in their: branding, package/product design, marketing, web design, and print materials.
2. What is the one thing that makes Studio Linear great?
We are a family owned business and run by a group of very talented women. We are a small yet mighty team and our clients love the fact that they work directly with the owners and aren’t shuffled around from account manager to designers etc.
3. Please tell us what is the key to being a great entrepreneur?
I am certainly no expert on what makes someone a great entrepreneur but for me, it was finding something that I loved so much, I wanted to make it my career. Finding something that you are so passionate about that putting in those extra hours, that extra effort, doesn’t ever feel like work, it is so rewarding.
4. What is the best advice can you give to a young entrepreneur just starting out with a new venture?
Reach out to others in the field you are interested in. Most business owners will share with you their tips of the trade and that is incredible info to have in the beginning stages. Be willing to work for free when you are starting out, you aren’t going to jump into your new businesses rolling in the big bucks in fact, it takes years before there is even a profit so my recommendation is, do not hesitate to create work for free in the beginning, it helps build your portfolio and gets your name out there. We also made sure to keep our community in mind and give back when we could. We volunteer our time to give back to the community that supports us and our business.
5. What is the one thing that you, as a person, want to be known for?
How gracious I am. I know that the world is full of incredibly talented designers and when someone selects us as their design team, I can’t even tell you how grateful I am that they trusted their business with us.
6. When building a business, what is the one most important thing to keep in mind at all times?
That you are never too important to be kind. Take time to reply to all your emails, thank people as often as you can, and remember that you also started at ground zero and grew your business, expect great things from your clients in return.
7. When hiring employees, what is the one most important thing you look for?
Someone who shares an equal passion for our business. We put trust in our employees to translate our love for design to our clients. We look for creative and eager minds, we do not look at individuals who think they know all the in’s and out’s and we actually prefer people who have less experience so that they can learn how we operate vs someone who would be too headstrong to work with.
8. What is your “Why”? Why do you get up in the morning?
I get up for many reasons. For my family, I am the sole provider as my husband is an amazing stay at home dad. It is important for me to provide for my family a life where we can travel and experience as much as possible. I also get up because I truly LOVE what we do for a living. When my son was younger, he asked me “What do you do at work all day” and I told him “I get to draw all day”, who wouldn’t love to get up to do that as a job!
9. What is the one thing that makes a great company?
I think it takes great leaders that a company can then model their behavior around. Leaders who feel that no client is too small or too large, everyone is equal and it is so important to treat people with respect.
10. What is the one thing that makes a great leader?
To be and remain ambitious.
Andrea Beaulieu, thank you so much for participating in the DotCom Magazine Leader Roundtable Interview Series. We very much appreciate the time you spent helping our readers learn more about what it takes to build a great company and become a great leader. We wish you, your family, and of course Studio Linear, nothing but the best.
Thanks again!
