Welcome to "Morgan Entrepreneur Spotlight," our monthly-ish showcase where we shine a light on Northeast Ohio's entrepreneurial superstars. Each feature delves into the journeys of individuals who have participated in our programs and are harnessing their learnings to fuel impressive growth and innovation.
Angie Dianetti graduated from the fifth cohort of Scalerator NEO. She also participated in a number of programs offered through a partnership between Burton D. Morgan Foundation and the Edward Lowe Foundation (ELF), including the Big Rock Valley Leadership Retreat, Peerspectives, Entrepreneur-in-Residence program (EIR), and System for Integrated Growth (SIG).
Tell us about your business.
“Radcom is a performance consulting firm dedicated to enhancing organizational effectiveness by focusing on human performance. We specialize in helping businesses improve by ensuring their people thrive, offering services such as instructional design, technical documentation, process documentation, and performance improvement consulting. By effectively conveying information - whether it's for adopting new technology, introducing products, onboarding employees, or implementing new processes - Radcom aims to create a culture where employees are engaged and empowered, leading to improved business outcomes. Our approach is centered on the belief that improving business performance starts with improving its people.”
Can you share your thoughts and key takeaways about the foundation-sponsored entrepreneurship programming you have participated in?
“With all of the programs, the biggest value is in the relationships with other entrepreneurs and the time away from the business to get perspective and think clearly. I like that we’ve been able to continue to nurture those relationships over time.”
Please tell us about any benefits, growth, or key wins you've experienced since participating in these programs.
“Scalerator exposed the rest of my leadership team to core business concepts. This has enabled me to build out succession plans that improve the value of the business.
The Leadership Retreat and PeerSpectives helped build relationships that have provided guidance, including help with better defining our performance improvement service offerings.
The Entrepreneur-in-Residence program gave me needed time away to make better decisions and the SIG program helped us to redefine our sales processes and marketing messaging.”
What are your goals for the next twelve months?
“My goals for the next year are to finalize branding and IP protection on Performance Improvement assets, pick up 5-10 new clients to reduce reliance on our largest client, and increase profitability by 50%.”
What is your favorite quote?
“Infinite-minded leaders understand that ‘best’ is not a permanent state. Instead, they strive to be ‘better.’ ‘Better’ suggests a journey of constant improvement and makes us feel like we are being invited to contribute our talents and energies to make progress in that journey.”
― Simon Sinek, The Infinite Game
What is the last book you read?
“I read so many! I’ve recently finished From Strength to Strength: Finding Success, Happiness, and Deep Purpose in the Second Half of Life, by Arthur C. Brooks, and several historical fiction novels.
I am currently reading The Success Case Method: Find Out Quickly What's Working and What's Not, by Robert O. Brinkerhoff, Success Case Method, Everyday Business Storytelling: Create, Simplify, and Adapt A Visual Narrative for Any Audience, by Janine Kurnoff and Lee Lazarus, and a fantasy novel.
What advice do you have for budding entrepreneurs?
“Business isn’t easy or for the lighthearted. It’s lonely and risky and you need to put in all of your heart and soul. It’s also rewarding to see something you’ve built grow and change the world. I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Surround yourself with other business owners, keep learning, have courage, take risks and pick yourself up when you fail and keep going.”
Is there anything else you’d like to share?
“One of the most important lessons I’ve learned over the years is to separate the ownership of a business from your job. When you start thinking as a shareholder rather than a founder, the decisions you must make become clearer and less about your emotional attachment. Sometimes you still go with the emotional solution, but taking the time to look at problems through multiple lenses is powerful. This is easier when you’ve built a community of other entrepreneurs to help you with your thinking.”
To learn more about Morgan Foundation sponsored programs and opportunities for second stage entrepreneurs, contact Michal Marcus.
If you have participated in Morgan Foundation sponsored programs and are interested in being featured in the Spotlight, contact Gina Dotson.