Episode 79

079 Melissa Kwan - Driving Success In The Digital Era

In our SaaS Fuel™ Founder Episode this week, Jeff is joined by Melissa Kwan, co-founder and CEO of eWebinar.

Melissa shares her experiences as a founder, highlighting the challenges of balancing board meetings, investors, financial predictions, and economic uncertainty while finding personal time off. She emphasizes the importance of not neglecting personal fulfillment and urges fellow founders to prioritize their own happiness.

Jeff delves into a range of topics with Melissa, including personal branding, bootstrapping, and the significance of pursuing experiences outside of the office.

Whether you're a founder or an aspiring entrepreneur, SaaS Fuel goes beyond business strategies, featuring interviews with professionals, and serves as a valuable resource in your journey.

Key Takeaways

00:00:00 SaaS Fuel Podcast: Tips And Strategies For SaaS Founders To Scale Their Business

00:02:07 The Importance Of Vacation For Founders.

00:03:41 Finding Joy And Relaxation In Unconventional Ways For Team Building And Productivity

00:07:07 Interview With Melissa Kwan, co-founder And CEO Of eWebinar

00:10:46 Starting A Webinar After Selling A Company: A Personal Account

00:13:24 Breaking Out Of The Mold: The Risks Of Sticking To What You Know

00:14:52 The Freedom Of Customer Service Workers And Work-life Balance

00:16:21 Balancing Work And Life As A Founder

00:20:30 Use Cases For Automation In Sales And Training

00:22:14 A Dedicated Product For Evergreen Webinars: The Challenges Of Finding A Genuine Solution

00:27:18 Benefits Of Prerecorded Tech Presentations Over Live Ones

00:29:33 Asynchronous Communication In Webinars.

00:32:00 Lessons Learned In Growing A Product Company

00:34:11 Building A Community Based On Mission-driven Company Founders

00:36:22 The Power Of Branding: The Influence Of Marketing And Company Values In Consumer Choices

00:37:48 Reflection On Startups And Learning

00:41:19 Success Doesn't Necessarily Mean Fulfillment

00:45:00 Building Tech Companies, Fulfillment, And The Digital Nomad Lifestyle

00:47:00 Success In Business Without Sacrificing Personal Life

Tweetable Quotes

Vacation can be hard for founders, but it's important to break up the routine and embrace life, even if it's just for a day." - Jeff Mains (02:32)

Summer isn't just about the escape. It's a mindset and finding joy in the little things." - Jeff Mains (04:04)

As founders, we always tell ourselves, 'Once I become successful, then I can do all these things.' But life goes on, and we need to remember to live." - Jeff Mains (16:21)

Building a personal brand is more important to me now than rallying people around a product." - Melissa Kwan (35:43)

"We're not just building a product, we're building a community." - Melissa Kwan (39:40)

"Success in life and business are not mutually exclusive propositions." - Melissa Kwan (47:22)

SaaS Leadership Lessons

1. Focus on your team: Your team is the backbone of your company, and it's important to invest in their growth and development. Provide opportunities for training and mentorship, and create a culture of transparency and open communication.

2. Embrace change: The SaaS industry is constantly evolving, and it's important to be adaptable and open to new ideas. Don't be afraid to pivot your strategy or try new things in order to stay ahead of the curve.

3. Prioritize customer success: Your customers are the lifeblood of your business, and it's important to prioritize their success above all else. Listen to their feedback, address their concerns, and constantly strive to improve their experience with your product.

4. Stay focused on your mission: It's easy to get distracted by shiny new opportunities or trends, but it's important to stay focused on your core mission and values. This will help you stay true to your vision and build a strong, sustainable business over the long term.

5. Lead by example: As a leader, your actions speak louder than words. Model the behavior you want to see in your team, and be willing to roll up your sleeves and get your hands dirty when necessary.

Guest Resources

Melissa Kwan (Linkedin):https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissakwan/

eWebinar (Website): https://eWebinar.com

Melissa Kwan (Twitter): https://twitter.com/msskwan

Resources Mentioned

eWebinar (Website):https://ewebinar.com/

Ascent Conference: https://www.ascentconf.com/

Fred Rockwell (Linkedin): https://www.linkedin.com/in/fredmrockwell

Jason Hasenberg (Linkedin): https://www.linkedin.com/in/hasenbergjason

Tunnel to Towers: https://t2t.org/

Spacio: https://spac.io/

CBS: https://www.cbs.com/

Episode Sponsor

One last spot today I want to spotlight 2 non-profits that I’m a fan of and we support as a company. The first is Tunnel to Towers. They began out of 9/11 and provide mortgage-free homes to Gold Star and fallen first responder families with young children. They also build specially-adapted smart homes for catastrophically injured veterans and first responders. Learn more and donate at T2T.org.

And the 2nd is NovaUkraine which has its hands full, providing food, water, necessities, and basic resources to the people of Ukraine. These guys are the real deal, in the country, on the ground, and have the logistical capabilities to get things where they are needed the most. Learn more and donate at novaukraine.org Links to both are on our site at SaaSFuel.com Support at home and/or abroad. Consider making a donation to one or both in honor of Memorial Day.

Small Fish, Big Pond – https://smallfishbigpond.com/ Use the promo code ‘SaaSFuel’

Champion Leadership Group – https://championleadership.com/