Masha Zvereva | Colorado | Small Steps!

www.CodingBlonde.com

I am originally from Russia, and I have worked and studied in 5 countries. It all started in 2015, when I started learning how to code. Soon after that I got a job at Google (disclaimer: not a programming job). I also run a blog called Coding Blonde. My mission is to help as many women as I can to discover their potential in the tech industry. My background is in business and marketing but I’m passionate about technology. That is why I decided to combine these two things! I am also curious about entrepreneurship and blogging - re: I stumble on a topic I was passionate about (Women in Tech). Two years later, Coding Blonde is a registered company growing and monetizing.

What were the biggest initial hurdles to building your business and how did you overcome them?

Being in charge of everything and the lack of structure. I’m still figuring things out, but I’ve built my own systems and processes at this point, which helps a lot!

What books are you currently reading? And your recommendation for entrepreneurs to read?

I’m reading the Miracle Morning and listening to Captivate, I feel like both of those would be great books for entrepreneurs! I’m working on a curated list of books for female entrepreneurs, so stay tuned at CodingBlonde.com!

Did you ever deal with contention from your family and friends concerning your entrepreneurial pursuits? How did you handle it? What would you do differently in hindsight?

Entrepreneurship is a risk, so of course, I did have people doubting me! But they always saw it as a side project..re:.proving myself and the numbers behind this project is profitable. Now they trust me enough to know what I’m doing :)

What would you say was the single most influential factor in your business success?

Not being afraid to be different and exploring how I can differentiate even further.

What do you know today that you wish you would have known when you first got started as an entrepreneur?

The learning curve never slows down and you need to get used to feeling like an impostor!

What advice would you give to an upcoming entrepreneur locally and internationally?

Believe in yourself and plan out the next steps. You can’t get from point A to point B without all of those smaller steps. And if on the way you feel like point B isn’t the right destination for you anymore, don’t be scared to reinvent!