This interview is part of the Entrepreneurial Women Series, a column published by Leila Lewis, to shine the light on the inspiring women making waves in the business world.
Meredith Monday Schwartz is the CEO of Here Comes The Guide, a one-stop-shop website to provide assistance to couples planning their weddings by providing resources to find venues, vendors, inspiration, and more. Being an all-female team since it was founded in 1989, Here Comes The Guide is on a mission to provide local, helpful, fantastic resources to couples so that they can plan the wedding of their dreams! Schwartz has made it her goal to run this company with a focus on providing a truly balanced workplace for working women, and continues to find new ways to push forward in making their brand stand out among the competition. We were honored to hear more of her story!
Interview with Meredith Monday Schwartz, CEO, Here Comes The Guide
What brand values have shaped how Here Comes The Guide has grown in the last 5 years?
We take our company culture seriously and our top two values reflect this. Our first is “The Sisterhood first, always.” We are an all-female company and we are ride or die for each other. We delight in being supportive when things get hard and celebrating all of our big victories together.
The other value that has defined these last five years is “everything is figure-out-able.” There are lots of times when we know where we want to go, but not exactly how we can get there. Working together with this amazing team of brilliant women, we always figure it out. It’s nice to not think you need to have all the answers before you make the next leap.
What has been the biggest lesson you’ve learned in business?
To trust my instincts. I’m not always right on all the details, but my gut has never pointed me in the wrong direction.
What is your key to standing out in your industry?
Our biggest competitor is run by mostly men and does business in a much more old-fashioned, money-first model. Our differentiator is that we’re all women and we lean into leading with heart-forward service to our clients. And they feel that difference in a major way!
What excites you most about what you do?
We are creating the company we want to see more of in the world - a company that is a great place for a working mother to be able to have a career AND be a mom, every time it counts. I am excited every single day to get up and do more of this work.
How do you differentiate your company’s culture from other brands?
We’re loud and proud about what makes us different as a business. We show our faces on social media, write articles on our website about our business practices, and put our core values front and center. These aren’t for internal use only. We want to tell our brand story to show that our business model works. That you can, in fact, run a company that values both the work and the lives, health, and families of its all-women workforce.
How do you keep your employees motivated and productive in a remote work environment?
First, we set them up for success with the training and tools they need to do the work. Then, when they are ready to take on the job, we don’t micro-manage them. We believe that smart, driven women don’t need someone breathing down their necks. They need answers when they have questions and support when things are tough. We give them both. Then, we give them room to make the job their own and find their own voices.
We also set individual and team goals and cheer each other on to reach them. These goals are not related just to income, but keep an eye on other projects and even non-work-related milestones that they want to reach. We’re there for accountability and to be their cheering squad.
Also, we have a 4-day work week. Our staff is paid for 5 days, but works just 4. We strongly believe that a well-rested, balanced staffer is a more productive one. And our growth trajectory bears that out!
What is the number one thing you want people to know about Here Comes The Guide?
That we are working hard to be a great place for women to have a career that includes true work-life balance.
What are your hopes for your brand in the near future?
I am excited to tell our story nationally! I think we have a real message to share about how to run a fully distributed, all-female team and how to compete with much larger companies – and win – every day.
Rapid Fire!
What’s one thing you always start your mornings with?
Coffee and a half hour of reading.
How do you recharge after a busy work day?
A bath and a book and then The Bachelor with my husband.
What’s your go-to inspiration source (podcast, book, Instagram account, etc.)?
I love to read Fast Company magazine. I’m inspired by the different ways companies are fun and always find great new ideas to play with at Here Comes The Guide.
Favorite PM drink:
I know it’s horrible, but I drink coffee all day – and all night. One last warm cup is my favorite way to wind down before bed.
WRITTEN BY
Leila Lewis