In a recent interview with Nellie Akalp, CEO of CorpNet, we delved into her journey as an entrepreneur and the core values that have guided her to success. From a passion for helping others to a pivotal moment during the pandemic that led to significant growth, Nellie shared valuable insights for aspiring leaders and entrepreneurs. Join us as we explore her inspiring story and the advice she offers for those looking to make an impact in their industries.
Interviewee Name: Nellie Akalp
Company: CorpNet
Nellie’s favourite quote: When I need some extra motivation, I always find great advice from Arianna Huffington. In particular:
“Failure is not the opposite of success; it’s part of success.”
– Arianna Huffington
The Interview
Before we dive into the future, let’s rewind a bit! Tell us a story: what sparked your passion for your industry and led you to where you are today?
Nellie Akalp : I’ve always had a passion for helping people. From working retail to working in my grandparents antique shop, assisting customers was something I thrived on and was good at. While working with my grandparents and seeing them run their own business, it sparked the entrepreneurial fire within me to do the same. I always knew I wanted to own by own business and also do something helping others. It wasn’t until law school that both of those passions aligned and the idea came to fruition.
What core values and leadership principles have guided you in your journey as a CEO, and how have they shaped your approach to leading your company?
Nellie Akalp : I am a mother of four. This means that I have a tremendous amount of patience, have a keen sense of intuition, excellent communication skills and can multi-task like no other! All of these traits have guided me in my journey as CEO of CorpNet.com enabling me to grow my business from a team of 15 people to almost 200 employees in just a matter of a few years.
Can you share a pivotal moment or challenge you faced as a CEO, and the strategies you employed to overcome it while maintaining your leadership vision and guiding your team?
Nellie Akalp : A pivotal moment came actually during the pandemic. Like many other CEOs we were very worried about the future of our company and if/how we were to survive, especially when most of the state agencies were shuttered. We quickly brainstormed and found an opportunity of a service offering that was lacking in the industry – sales and payroll tax registration. So we went full force in launching and automating the product in 2021. Doing this catapulted CorpNet into a 259% growth in just two years and has taken our company into the success it is today.
What advice would you offer to aspiring leaders and entrepreneurs who are looking to make an impact in their industries and lead their companies to success, based on your own experiences and insights?
Nellie Akalp : My advice to other aspiring entrepreneurs is to follow your passion. I know this advice has been told a lot, but it is the truth. Embarking on the journey to run a business is no easy task. There will be many times you will want to give up and go back to a 9-5 job and if you have that passion for the product or service you are launching, you will withstand any obstacle, no matter what, and you’ll conquer the bad times and flourish. Just remember that failure is part of success and those failures are the lessons you learn along the way to become a true success.
We hope you enjoyed this insightful conversation with Nellie Akalp. At Featured Leaders, we are committed to bringing you closer to the minds shaping our world. Stay tuned for more exclusive interviews and stories that inspire, inform, and ignite your passion for leadership. To keep up with our latest features, subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on social media. Thank you for reading!
