Meet Woman of Wisdom Emilia M. D’Anzica, Founder and CEO – Growth Molecules, LLC
Emilia M. D’Anzica has developed a passion for SaaS products, women in tech, and customer success starting her career in Silicon Valley. She has cultivated rich experience and knowledge after leading teams at global companies, including Jobvite, WalkMe, and BrightEdge.
Emilia has also obtained an MBA from Saint Mary’s College of California focusing on Global Competition and Strategy. She founded Growth Molecules, an emerging management consulting firm, helping companies simplify customer success and become more profitable. She is globally recognized as a top 25 leader in Customer Success, having received numerous accolades for her work, and is well-known as a customer success speaker. Emilia has also been featured in countless media, including Forbes.com, at SaaStr Annual Conference, B2B Rocks, RD Summit LATAM, and more.
Originally from Naples, Italy, Emilia is an immigrant and one of six children who grew up in Kelowna, British Columbia. She has lived and worked in Copenhagen, Denmark, and Rome, Italy, early in her career. When she isn’t working or traveling the world, Emilia spends time with her partner, three children, and multiple animals exploring Sonoma County, where she now resides. Pressing ON as a Tech Mom: How Tech Industry Mothers Set Goals, Define Boundaries & Raise the Bar for Success is Emilia’s first book.
Growth Molecules™ is a management consulting firm focused on helping companies retain and expand customers. We focus on business-to-business software as a service (SaaS) companies that are seeking to build and optimize how they ensure product adoption. We offer diagnostics, recommendations, coaching, playbooks, training, and workshops to help you and your company grow. We also have a CSA Accredited Academy that enables customer success professionals to develop essential business skills.
Please tell us what being a business owner means to you and why you became an entrepreneur in the first place?
I grew up in an entrepreneurial family. My parents have never worked for anyone but themselves. While they supported me devoting 20+ years of my career to corporate America, they are also proud that I started Sonoma Creek Ventures 5 years ago with my partner, Jason, (A company focused on luxury vacation rental experiences with over 200 5-star reviews), Growth Molecules™, a management consulting firm, and Pressing ON with Sabina Pons, a company dedicated to enabling women in technology.
What or who has been your greatest influence in business and why?
My mom and dad. My parents have never worked for anyone except when my dad was 16-year-old venturing to America to see what the new world was like in the 1950s. He worked at his uncle’s restaurant in NYC for a couple of years, served in the US army, qualified for the Olympics in cycling, and then went back to Italy to marry my mom in 1960.
Together, they migrated to NYC to open their own pizzeria. Together, over the next 30 years, they opened restaurants in New York City, USA, Kelowna and Calgary, Canada, and Naples, Italy. As well, they invested in properties they saw potential in. My dad has a grade three education. My mom was studying to be a nun when they met at a cemetery during All Saints Day at the age of 16 and 18 respectively. Their independence, and belief in each other and our family have led me to understand that investing and believing in yourself, practicing what you are passionate about, and becoming an expert in your practice.
What would you say is your greatest professional accomplishment to date?
Going for $0 to $2 million dollars in ‘closed’ opportunities in my first year going out on my own…and it all happened during covid. I did this by bringing on strong people to build Growth Molecules™ and delivering results to clients. I really opened new doors so I dislike this term but it has become the norm when you have a Statement of Work signed.
What’s the best advice you have received in business that you wish to pass on to our readers?
Focus on what matters, rise above the people who copy you, talk behind your back, and put you down. Believe in YOU!
What have been the most effective marketing initiatives or programs you have used to promote your business?
Enablement. Give away your experience, and content to enable others. Accept the LinkedIn request to chat for 15-30 minutes to help others. They will help you in the future.
What one thing have you learned as a small business owner that has served you well over the years?
Small steps fail fast. If something doesn’t work, tweak it, and try again. If you think of it, give it your all, and give it ample time to flourish, and it still doesn’t grow after a time that you are willing to invest in it, then try something new. The biggest issue I see is that too many people give up WAY too fast.
Are there any resources or tools you’d like to share with other small business owners that have helped you run your business?
-My LinkedIn is full of resources
-My Forbes articles. I publish 1 a month.
Do you have any new projects coming up (or have you just completed a big project ~ reached a milestone, etc.)? If so, please tell us about it.
Our Growth Molecules Academy is for people who want to advance their careers and help companies retain and grow their customer relationships. We offer actionable and interactive programs for:
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Foundations in customer success
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Advanced customer success training
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Leadership training
What do you do for fun/relaxation?
Anything that includes my children, animals, parents, siblings, and making the world a better place.
-Cycling (My dad is an olympian and I grew up on bikes)
-Run, walk my dad. I love doing anything that moves my body…and so does my dog! He is a 12-pound shelter super mutt that makes my life complete.
-Planting seeds, helping them grow through to harvest. Living a mainly organic vegetarian life that is connected to the earth makes me the happiest.
What is the Number One Business Goal you plan to accomplish over the next year?
2x what I closed in the first year of Growth Molecules™. Never imagined hitting the number in year one so now a stretch goal is what is keeping me up at night but also reminding me that seven hours of sleep & exercise are important for optimal performance.
You want to write a book on Enabling women who have suffered depression, eating disorders, and struggles as an immigrant.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
Invest in yourself and always pay it forward. Paying it forward, and helping others is what makes me happiest.
Seek help if you are depressed, or need help! The world needs you. Don’t give up. No matter how hard it gets, you are worth it. Don’t let anyone ever make you question your worth.
You can find continuous inspiration and resources that we update regularly here.
