Name: Mr. Naseef KPO
Job title & Company: Founder & CEO, “Skalegrow”
Linkedin Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/naseef-kpo/
I started my professional journey back in 2016 by working at Hexaware Technologies as a Performance marketing and analytics manager. My responsibilities there included managing performance marketing campaigns, evaluating and maintaining marketing tools, defining marketing compliance processes, and analyzing various kinds of marketing data. After my stint of 4.5 years at Hexaware, I joined e-con Systems where I led a 15-member marketing team to take care of all its marketing activities – from content and SEO to video marketing and social media.
Post my tenure at e-con Systems, I founded Skalegrow in early 2023. Skalegrow is a B2B marketing agency that helps companies in the SaaS, IT, tech, and embedded systems space grow with marketing. Skalegrow’s services include content marketing, video marketing, email marketing, LinkedIn marketing, performance marketing, etc. Naseef is currently focusing on growing Skalegrow into a multi-million dollar business.
From Dream to Impact: How B2B Experience Shaped Skalegrow
Entrepreneurship has always been my dream. And I wanted to do something that I loved with the ability to make a difference in customer lives. I leveraged my extensive experience in B2B marketing to start Skalegrow to address the following challenges:
- The lack of quality of services offered by marketing agencies today
- The misalignment of marketing activities with organizational-level goals
With this focus, I intend to build a company that stands true to its values and provides a great work environment for its people.
Who has inspired you?
It’s hard to pick one person. All those who made it big in their life by working hard despite the challenges they faced is an inspiration to me. I also look up to people who rose their way up from very ordinary backgrounds and adverse circumstances to become successful. Helen Keller in that respect is someone I greatly admire. I also try to take inspiration from friends and colleagues who have done things differently in their lives.
My professional journey has not been a smooth ride
- I went through many challenges – including workplace politics, backbiting, and mental harassment, just to name a few.
- I overcame some of them by focusing purely on performance and delivering positive business outcomes.
- I also sought help from my friends and family to guide me through the tough times.
Currently, the biggest challenges I am facing are related to Skalegrow. Just like any other business, some of the key challenges I face include customer acquisition, setting up business processes, hiring, etc. I am navigating this challenging phase through tactics like operating lean, gradual expansion, and zero-cost marketing.
Your professional career experiences
There are many. But if I were to pick 3, I would go with the below:
- The corporate world is not fair. So you need to prepare your mind to face a harsh and unfair environment before you start working.
- Whatever happens, you always need to perform at your job. Even if everything else goes wrong, delivering results could just be the savior for you.
- Amidst all the negativity, learn to be content with what you have. You need to remember that there are thousands or even millions of people who aspire to be where you are today. So take a moment once in a while to feel proud about what you have achieved.
In your opinion what is the biggest challenge for brands in the digital space?
The biggest challenge today in the digital space is cutting through the noise. Digital media and platforms have become so affordable and accessible today that anybody can become a creator in a day. Standing out among the hundreds of others is a tough thing to do.
What do you do in your free time?
I watch movies, listen to music, and step out to breathe some fresh air during my free time.
Your services/solution
Most marketing agencies think about marketing in a very transactional manner. They start their conversation by talking about what campaigns to run, which tools to use, and how much money to spend. While all these are required, the very first step to being successful with marketing is to design marketing activities that align with your business goals. And that’s exactly what Skalegrow helps its customers with.
During the discovery call, we deeply understood their business objectives and came up with a custom marketing plan tailored to them. This makes sure that we give our customers just what they want – nothing more, nothing less.
We also approach marketing with a long-term mindset. Marketing efforts compound over time. And it requires focused efforts with the right growth metrics to get where you want your business to be in the long run.
Your Tips for those who want to be an entrepreneur/chief officer?
Entrepreneurship involves risk. If you are looking for a stable life with a salary in the first week of every month, it is not for you. However, the long-term results of entrepreneurship can be very rewarding. It’s all about your priorities and interests. Think about what you would cherish after 40 years of working and make a choice accordingly.