Take time to reflect on the progress you’ve made at the close of each day, week, month, and year with the goal of evaluating the path you’re on and determining whether it will take you where you want to go.
Krystal Perkins, a strategic business leader and digital marketing expert, is devoted to the principle of digital inclusion and is currently working with telkomtelstra, a collaborative endeavor based out of Jakarta, Indonesia. In addition to mentoring and coaching the telkomtelstra marketing team, Perkins has continued to focus on a wide range of projects revolving around future innovations, products, and solutions relevant to the field of digital marketing.
Prior to her current professional undertakings, Perkins, in the role of national brand and marketing manager, was responsible for overseeing the launch and branding of NITV Ltd., the first Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander TV service offered in Australia. Perkins also has a wealth of experience working in several different divisions with Telstra, including the business marketing, enterprise, government, and corporate affairs divisions.
A graduate of the University of Melbourne, Perkins holds an undergraduate degree in communications and media studies. The longtime strategic business leader and startup investor is also currently enrolled at the University of New South Wales, where she is working on an MBA in technology management. A passionate supporter of human rights and social justice issues, Perkins eventually plans on pursuing a position in politics with the goal of offering further advocacy and support for the most pressing societal issues.
Where did the idea for telkomtelstra come from?
The idea grew out of an opportunity to collaborate on a project to assist enterprises as well as customers in keeping pace with the rapid changes associated with our increasingly digital economy. We believe that the work we are doing through this project will address a wealth of critical issues in a society that is only becoming more reliant on digital technology.
What does your typical day look like and how do you make it productive?
I’m currently juggling several projects while also working on finishing up my MBA, so every day begins with a brief planning session in which I optimize my schedule in the most productive way possible. This takes no more than 15 to 20 minutes each morning, but I estimate that it saves me three to four hours — and perhaps even more than that — every day.
How do you bring ideas to life?
It depends on the project, but most of my work is inherently collaborative and thus involves regular meetings and discussions about any new ideas potentially worth exploring as well as the best approach for bringing a specific idea to life.
What’s one trend that really excites you?
There is a lot of public discussion regarding the importance of digital inclusion, and I’m heartened by the fact that these inclusion efforts are being vocally supported by those who wouldn’t be subject to exclusion in the first place. It’s made our work that much easier as a result.
What is one habit of yours that makes you more productive as an entrepreneur?
Strategy — whether it is strategic planning, digital strategy, creative strategy or any similar endeavor — has always been one of my greatest strengths. As a result, I’ve developed several strategic habits designed to ensure I am always working at peak productivity.
What was the worst job you ever had and what did you learn from it?
Since I’ve always understood the professional path I wished to pursue, I chose to work in jobs I knew would help prepare me for my future career. I obviously learned a great deal from those jobs, and I consider myself fortunate for the fact that I did not have to endure any unnecessary hardships in exchange for the practical education I received.
If you were to start again, what would you do differently?
I was excited to begin my career right after completing my undergraduate work at the University of Melbourne, so I put off pursuing my master’s degree until recently. If I could start over, I would have started working on my MBA immediately after earning my bachelor’s degree.
As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?
Take time to reflect on the progress you’ve made at the close of each day, week, month, and year with the goal of evaluating the path you’re on and determining whether it will take you where you want to go. Regularly reflecting on your progress will ensure you never stray too far from your goals.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business? Please explain how.
Developing a business model designed to address a pressing societal need is probably the most effective growth strategy we’ve utilized thus far, as we’ve benefited from the widespread support of a large number of like-minded people from all over the world.
What is one failure you had as an entrepreneur, and how did you overcome it?
Early in my career, like so many others in my field, I tried to do too much and spread myself much too thin to live up to my own professional standards. I sought advice from my colleagues and have since developed strategies that uphold my lofty professional standards even while managing several challenging projects.
What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?
Digital inclusion and the need to adapt to an increasingly digital economy is not an issue unique to Indonesia or Australia, and I believe the business model we’ve developed would be effective in places all over the globe.
What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?
I recently attended a series of lectures on technology and innovation not too far from where I currently live and work, and it was easily worth the price of admission.
What software and web services do you use? What do you love about them?
I love the fact that our data analyses are incorporated right into our digital marketing software, which really highlights the importance of making accurate and updated information easily accessible to the people who need it most.
What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?
“Contagious: Why Things Catch On,” which, at its core, is a book on marketing. I believe it is important for every entrepreneur to deeply understand the thought processes we tend to rely on when making decisions, especially consumer-related decisions.
Key Learnings
- Take time to reflect on the progress you’ve made at the close of each day, week, month, and year with the goal of evaluating the path you’re on and determining whether it will take you where you want to go.
- Early in my career, like so many others in my field, I tried to do too much and spread myself much too thin to live up to my own professional standards.
Connect:
Krystal Perkins on LinkedIn:
Krystal Perkins on Twitter:
Mario Schulzke is the Founder of ideamensch, which he started a decade ago to learn from entrepreneurs and give them a platform for their ideas.