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Small Business, Big Success: Proven Strategies to Beat the Odds and Grow a Great Business by Cynthia Kay

June 2, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Cynthia Kay

Book Review

Small Business, Big Success: Proven Strategies to Beat the Odds and Grow a Great Business by Cynthia Kay offers unconventional but proven strategies to run a better small business. It also provides a road map for owners looking to expand their small businesses by doing more business with big business. It’s an essential guide for entrepreneurs at every stage of business.


In her new book, Small Business, Big Success: Proven Strategies to Beat the Odds and Grow a Great Business, author and entrepreneur Cynthia Kay provides down-in-the-trenches stories, along with those from other small-business CEOs and big business experts. She shows you how to connect with highly sought-after customers and win them over! You’ll learn how to:

  • Create an organization that is operationally efficient, creative, and entrepreneurial

  • Raise capital and find partnerships

  • Find your company’s voice

  • Attract and win contracts from much larger companies

  • Serve complex, global companies by forging strong relationships

Most importantly, you’ll learn how to find and nurture your customers. Critical decisions and points in the life cycle of a business are discussed as well: from start-up issues to growing the business, human resource concerns to strategic planning—not to mention how to attract business from larger companies. The use of real stories, along with stories of other small businesses, are included to illustrate the strategies and make them come alive. 

Author Quotes

This is a time of opportunity, but only if you get operationally efficient, creative, and pay attention.

The journey to connecting with and winning big business starts before you even open the doors and continues by running the best possible small business operation.

There are many things that big businesses like about small businesses, including responsiveness, flexibility and creativity. Big business is reaching out. Look for opportunities.

About the author

Cynthia Kay is a passionate spokesperson for small business- speaking, teaching and coaching small business owners… all while running an award-winning company. For more than 25 years, Cynthia Kay and Company has produced high-quality communications used on the national and international scene. The Company serves businesses and organizations from the Fortune Global 100 to small business and non-profits. A graduate of Michigan State University, Kay also holds a Master’s Degree in Communications. She has been honored five times as one of the 50 Most Influential Women in West Michigan. She serves on the Board of the National Small Business Association (NSBA). In her efforts to advocate for small business Cynthia testified in 2015 before Congress Subcommittee on Small Business. She has written a number of articles for the Washington Post and has been featured in Time Magazine and on NPR. In April 2016, she was featured in Entrepreneur Magazine’s Ask the Pro.

https://cynthiakaybiz.com/


Why LoA loves it…

Every entrepreneur dreams of doing business with big corporates, delivering projects at scale and with bigger budgets attached. But of course, getting your startup business into these big corporate supply chains and building relationships that last, is key to success. In her new book, Small Business, Big Success, Cynthia Kay provides her expert advice and insights to help every woman entrepreneur get their businesses geared up for growth and capable of doing successful business with big corporates. This is a really insightful read and one for all those women entrepreneurs who are working hard to break into the big business environment. — Melanie Hawken, founder & ceo, Lionesses of Africa

In Essential Tags Books
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Tech FoundHER AFRICA CHALLENGE

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CELEBRATING 10 YEARS


LATEST PODCASTS

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Dr. Phindi Cebekhulu-Msomi, an agripreneur focused on climate-smart solutions
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Retang Phaahla, a pioneer for South Africa’s indigenous teas
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IMAGE OF THE DAY. CELEBRATING WOMAN MADE IN AFRICA.

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Special Occasion Cakes…If you are anything like the sweet treat-loving team at Lionesses of Africa, you will love a slice of the great cakes on offer from Spez Catering in Kenya, founded by Esmeralda De Souza-
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Statement Accessories…We love the power of accessories to make strong fashion statements, and Taíla Carrilho, founder of Atelier Taila Carrilho in Mozambique creates the most exquisite, eye-cat
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Sustainable skincare…We love to see natural cosmetics companies with a sustainable approach to business succeeding in Africa, and Nokware Skincare, founded by Tutuwa Ahwoi in Ghana is a great example. She f
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African luxury couture…For those who want to stand out from the crowd, Dibo Ndumbe Eyoh, co-founder and co-creative Director of Eloli, an award-winning luxury African fashion brand in Cameroon, has just what you need.
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Luxury leather tote…Petrina Auino-Mwandingi is the founder and creative director of her own brand of leather products, KOVA, in Namibia. The business produces high quality leather handbags, primarily totes as well as o
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Capulana with style... If you love Capulana, then explore the new range of modern accessories from Amorambique, Mozambique, created by founder Patricia Vasco. This proudly Mozambican brand of accessories and footwear i
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Marvellous Make-up…When you need to take your make-up routine to the next level, professional Kenyan make-up brand, Suzie Beauty, founded by Suzie Wokabi, has you covered. Suzie founded her successful business
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Sophisticated sandal style…If you love design that combines traditional with modern style, then these sandals from Aya K Design, founded by Aya Keita in Cote d’Ivoire, are a must-buy. Aya is an entreprene
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Animal print pumps…These eye-catching animal print pumps from House of Cinnamon in South Africa are a great addition to any stylish wardrobe. Founded by Frances Edwards, House of Cinnamon is a proudly Afro
Image of the Day / Spez Catering

Special Occasion Cakes…If you are anything like the sweet treat-loving team at Lionesses of Africa, you will love a slice of the great cakes on offer from Spez Catering in Kenya, founded by Esmeralda De Souza- Image of the Day / Atelier Taila Carrilho

Statement Accessories…We love the power of accessories to make strong fashion statements, and Taíla Carrilho, founder of Atelier Taila Carrilho in Mozambique creates the most exquisite, eye-cat Image of the Day / Nokware Skincare

Sustainable skincare…We love to see natural cosmetics companies with a sustainable approach to business succeeding in Africa, and Nokware Skincare, founded by Tutuwa Ahwoi in Ghana is a great example. She f Image of the Day / Eloli

African luxury couture…For those who want to stand out from the crowd, Dibo Ndumbe Eyoh, co-founder and co-creative Director of Eloli, an award-winning luxury African fashion brand in Cameroon, has just what you need. Image of the Day / KOVA

Luxury leather tote…Petrina Auino-Mwandingi is the founder and creative director of her own brand of leather products, KOVA, in Namibia. The business produces high quality leather handbags, primarily totes as well as o Image of the Day / Hope Distillery

Boutique gin…If you are a gin lover, then check out Hope Distillery, a South African distillery in the heart of urban Cape Town. Established by Lucy Beard and her husband Leigh Lisk, Hope Distillery is a sma Image of the Day / Amorambique

Capulana with style... If you love Capulana, then explore the new range of modern accessories from Amorambique, Mozambique, created by founder Patricia Vasco. This proudly Mozambican brand of accessories and footwear i Image of the Day / Suzie Beauty

Marvellous Make-up…When you need to take your make-up routine to the next level, professional Kenyan make-up brand, Suzie Beauty, founded by Suzie Wokabi, has you covered. Suzie founded her successful business Image of the Day / Aya K Design

Sophisticated sandal style…If you love design that combines traditional with modern style, then these sandals from Aya K Design, founded by Aya Keita in Cote d’Ivoire, are a must-buy. Aya is an entreprene Image of the Day / House of Cinnamon

Animal print pumps…These eye-catching animal print pumps from House of Cinnamon in South Africa are a great addition to any stylish wardrobe. Founded by Frances Edwards, House of Cinnamon is a proudly Afro

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