Heather Cox is a dynamic speaker, business owner, wife, and mother of 5. Her personable, highly-engaging and fun style, paired with her strategic business acumen make her an ideal choice to educate and entertain entrepreneurs and corporate audiences.
As President and Co-Founder of Certify My Company, Heather teaches entrepreneurs how to strategically choose and attract clients, make more money, save time and resources, and accelerate their success so they have the freedom to do exactly what they want.
Heather highly values relationships and is a matchmaker at heart, giving her an edge and the knowhow to boost her customers’ bottom line, company culture, and team morale.
Her clients consistently rave that she simplifies seemingly complex systems and processes that get results quickly.
Heather serves on the national and regional forums for Women’s Business Enterprise Council – West as well as the chair of Disability: IN Nevada, and has held leadership roles with the Women Presidents’ Educational Organization, Women’s Business Enterprise National Council, the Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Nevada, the National Association of Women Business Owners, and the Advisory Board for Super Bowl XLVIII.
When she’s not working, Heather enjoys not relaxing with her husband and 5 small, active children. This former acro-gymnast, tightrope walker and juggler knows how to balance her hectic life – with weight lifting, wine tasting, and baking cookies and cheesecakes.
A seasoned traveler and student of the world, Heather earned her BA in Spanish Language from the University of Texas at Austin, and still remembers most if it!
Please tell us a little bit about your company – what is Certify My Company all about?
Certify My Company is a Small Woman Owned business that champions diverse businesses and the corporations working with them. CMC is the national leader in transforming Fortune 1000 supplier diversity programs into profit centers, and in empowering diverse businesses to meet their full potential through certification and increased market visibility.
Our purpose is to elevate diverse suppliers! To help make the business world more closely resemble the real world!
Certify My Company is dedicated to the supplier diversity community as a whole as it works with companies and corporations to raise the bar.
Please tell us a little bit about your background and how you started your company?
It just kind of happened. I was trying to figure out what I wanted to do next in my career. I was pregnant with my first child and I knew corporate America wasn’t always so mommy friendly. After “interviewing” female executives, business owners, team leaders, etc. A few of the entrepreneurs mentioned this certification that their clients wanted but that they couldn’t get it done. I could not understand how these successful people couldn’t complete an application, So, I went home, did some research, and discovered that the process is detail-oriented, time-consuming, and overwhelming. So I offered to do it for them. And Certify My Company was born!
Quickly describe what an average working day is like for you?
Average?
Well usually goes something like this: 420 am wake up. COFFEE! Go to gym. Be home by 630 to get myself ready by 7. Say good morning to kids (5 of them age 3-12). Make everyone breakfast… More COFFEE. Make sure everyone is fully dressed, teeth brushed, lunch in hands. We head out the door to take everyone to school. Head to the office. Chat with entrepreneurs about diversity certification or with Fortune 1000 representatives about how we can support their diversity goals. Pick up kids about 4 pm, head home. Serve snacks. Say hi to hubs if he is home. Make dinner. Do laundry. Put kids to bed. Then by 10 at the absolute latest I pass out.
What would you say are the top 3 skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur, and why?
Resilience, perseverance, resourcefulness.
What are your plans for the future, how do you plan to grow this company?
We are growing every year! Yay! Year after year we engage new suppliers, speak for new entrepreneurial groups. Education is the key and we are always looking for new groups that want to find out how to grow their business through new channels and find a committed community!
How are you funded? What is your best advice to entrepreneurs when it comes to raising funds?
WE ARE SELF FUNDED.
What were the top 3 mistakes you made starting your business and what did you learn from it?
- Not outsourcing enough!
- Not delegating enough!
- You cannot grow if you are doing all the nitty gritty!
- You have to outsource everything that does not require YOU doing it.
How do you go about marketing your business and what has been the most successful form of marketing for you?
Until now it has been word of mouth, speaking at conferences, and attending conferences. Next year we are going to do a big push through social media, LinkedIn ads, Facebook ads, and other marketing platforms.
What was the best business advice you have ever received and who gave you this advice?
I have 2!
Allison Maslan always says “hire slow, fire fast” and the other is Julie Auslander who reminds me often to keep employee’s spouses and significant others just as in love with your company as the employee is. Maybe more!
What is your definition of success?
Balance.
When I have nailed the ability to give to my kids and my business without feeling torn by the other.
What are three books or business courses you recommend for entrepreneurs?
Simon Sinek’s “Start with Why”.
Tom Rath’s “Strength Finder”
and a mentorship course or program! I am in Pinnacle Global Network,
If you had the chance to start your career over again what would you do differently?
I would have outsourced and/or hired earlier!
What is your favorite entrepreneurship quote?
“Entrepreneurs are the only people who will work 80 hours a week to avoid working 40 hours a week” – Lori Greiner
How can our community get in touch with you?
www.certifymycompany.com or any of our social media platforms.
Twitter: @certifymyco
Instagram: @certifymyco
