It is important to remain mindful of the critical need to cultivate a balance between creative vision and rigorous analytical methodologies.
QASymphony Director of Marketing Reed Gusmus is a passionate and capable leader who believes that innovation is the product of a delicate balance between creativity, vision, and analytical rigor. Throughout his time as the director of marketing for QASymphony, Mr. Gusmus has repeatedly demonstrated the validity of his belief with regard to innovation, as his approach has consistently brought about exceptional marketing outcomes that include new client acquisition, improved top- and bottom-line revenue, lead generation, and a host of other positive developments.
Mr. Gusmus’ role with QASymphony is quite expansive and includes the development, implementation, and oversight of an incredibly diverse array of B2B digital marketing strategies aimed at SaaS companies seeking an effective and efficient test management tool. Given his technical expertise with regard to test management and software development, Mr. Gusmus is uniquely qualified for his role with QASymphony, a fact demonstrated time and again through the exceptional outcomes his marketing campaigns have yielded.
A veteran digital marketing expert whose varied experience includes extensive freelance work completed while still in the process of earning his degree, Mr. Gusmus has excelled in every position he has occupied throughout his accomplished professional career. The Kennesaw State University graduate now resides in Atlanta, Georgia, in close proximity to the QASymphony offices in which he works.
Where did the idea for QASymphony come from?
Tight deadlines are common in software development, and meeting these deadlines makes it difficult for software development teams to produce software that meets quality and performance standards. With the added testing efficiency and efficacy made possible through QASymphony, software developers can save a tremendous amount of time while also producing high-quality software.
What does your typical day look like and how do you make it productive?
QASymphony emphasizes a highly collaborative work environment, so my days typically involve a great deal of collaborative interactions with team members on plans for a current or upcoming marketing campaign.
How do you bring ideas to life?
We believe that thoughtful collaboration between team members yields the kind of innovative ideas that have always been at the core of our success.
What’s one trend that really excites you?
We are experiencing a sharp rise in demand for our testing tools, which means that more and more development teams are recognizing the critical need for efficient and effective testing.
What is one habit of yours that makes you more productive as an entrepreneur?
As an entrepreneur, I feel that it is important to remain mindful of the critical need to cultivate a balance between creative vision and rigorous analytical methodologies.
What was the worst job you ever had and what did you learn from it?
I have always been a self-starter, so I was never subjected to the kind of jobs many of my peers held during their high school or college years. Once I graduated from Kennesaw State, I landed several freelance assignments that encouraged me to earnestly pursue entrepreneurship.
If you were to start again, what would you do differently?
I would have more confidence in my own philosophies regarding the most ideal approach to business operations rather than deferring to the traditional and established practices.
As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?
I am always seeking new perspectives and collaborative opportunities.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business? Please explain how.
A comprehensive approach to our digital marketing campaign has been crucial to our continued expansion since the company was founded in 2011. We didn’t rely on any single strategy and instead leveraged every channel possible while still focusing on reaching our specific target market.
What is one failure you had as an entrepreneur, and how did you overcome it?
I think my biggest failure would have to be my decision not to pursue entrepreneurship at an earlier stage in my life, but I am absolutely grateful for the experiences I had before allowing my entrepreneurial spirit to truly flourish.
What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?
My best business ideas have always revolved around the concept of drastically improving the efficiency of an established business practice in a manner that makes the business far more productive and profitable.
What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?
We like to take our team members on big group outings from time to time as a token of our appreciation, and our most recent outing involved a trip to see an Atlanta Braves home game.
What software and web services do you use? What do you love about them?
We are really all software developers at heart, so almost all of the software and web services I currently use are the product of in-house development efforts.
What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?
Surprisingly enough, John Wooden’s “Practical Modern Basketball,” played a role in shaping the way I approach my leadership responsibilities. I then read many of the great UCLA coach’s other books, and “Wooden on Leadership: How to Create a Winning Organization,” is particularly useful for any aspiring entrepreneur.
What people have influenced your thinking and might be of interest to others?
In addition to John Wooden, Paul Allen’s philosophies have served as a guide in my own professional endeavors and have certainly influenced my thinking over the years.
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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.