CEOs You Should Know: ObviousLee

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome back to CEOs You should Know. Today we have
an opportunity to speak with Lee or as you will
know her, Obviously at obvious le dot com. Hi, Lee,
thanks for joining us today on CEOs You should Know.

Speaker 2 (00:14):
Hi.

Speaker 3 (00:14):
Thanks so much for having me.

Speaker 1 (00:15):
Now, obviously Obviously dot com is a webpage our listeners
could go to learn more about you, but give us
your thirty second pitch on what exactly is Obviouslee dot com.

Speaker 2 (00:27):
We are a marketing agency that works with just really
great people having a lot of fun with all aspects
of marketing. Our focus is on strategy and just really
connecting with businesses and understanding their goals and how we
can help them grow through a mix of communications and
design and digital marketing. And we celebrate our twenty years

(00:51):
next year and coratulation.

Speaker 3 (00:53):
Thank you.

Speaker 1 (00:53):
Now. Obviously dot Com is headquartered here in South Carolina,
but I understand you have employees all over the country.

Speaker 3 (01:01):
Well, I think like a lot of companies.

Speaker 2 (01:02):
During COVID, we really opened it up to our employees
moving and living anywhere. So we did have one remote
team member as we went into COVID, but then during
that time we saw different team members go move back
to be closer to family or friends, or maybe there
was a trip they've always wanted to take or place
they wanted to be and they saw that as a

(01:23):
good opportunity. So it just really opened the door. We
wanted to get closer to that anyway, and so we've
just kept that ever since. We stayed a hybrid remote
friendly company. We do have an office in Charleston, South Carolina.
I joke that it's just the most expensive coffee shop
in town because we just leave it open for people

(01:44):
to be fluid to use as a touchdown space if
they want. We have some team members that choose to
work out there every day, and then others that drop
in from time to time, and then we have team
members everywhere from Miami, New York, DC, Denver, Oregon, and
they're really fully spread out, and that's really helpful because
most of our clients are in New York and the

(02:06):
West Coast, so we have some great clients here in
South Carolina as well.

Speaker 1 (02:10):
Now, you mentioned that how you help other companies grow
through their marketing and through your imaging for them. Talk
specifically about is there a particular genre of companies that
you found a lot of attraction to or companies that
come to you because of your success in a particular field.

Speaker 3 (02:26):
It's a good question.

Speaker 2 (02:27):
I think the thing that we do bring to the
table most is just really understanding how businesses work. I
always say I'm an entrepreneur definitely first, and a marketer second,
and a lot of our team members are really trained
a lot on business and entrepreneurship. We're having just as
many conversations around that as we are marketing and studying

(02:47):
all those aspects. And we get in with companies to
understand their sales process, where they make the most margins,
their operations, their supply chain, and once we really can
understand their business model, then we can figure out how
to successfully market and help. Whereas I think a lot
of marketing agencies are asked by clients, but the way

(03:08):
that they start is okay, well, let's, you know, try
to get some really great articles out through public relations,
or build up this big social media campaign or a
variety of services, where we think first just what are
we trying to achieve and then ask a lot of
questions of like is that really where we should be pointed,
or like how can we really drive success? I think

(03:29):
being a small business owner as well is very helpful
and have been a partner in other companies, and so
I do think that our advantage is for companies who
are looking for something a little bit different. We work
across so many industries, but our focus areas really are
outdoor and active lifestyle, especially consumer products think ski and

(03:49):
surf and phishing brands, and then sports, especially big tennis
events and golf tournaments, Health and wellness, and then anything
that is producing impact and community impact. So we love
to work with nonprofits or just for profit companies that
have a specific focus on how to do their best
in the world.

Speaker 1 (04:09):
We're speaking with Lee from Obviously dot Com. I know
that you are very familiar with and they've actually been
a part of the se launched a legacy program. Talk
specifically about some of the opportunities you've seen for yourself
or for other companies you've worked with.

Speaker 2 (04:24):
Sc Launch has been such a great organization, really helpful
to a lot of growing companies within the state. We've
had clients that have applied for grants and gone through
that process, and I know that that was really huge
help in their growing stages. And I'm a co founder
and board memborer and still really involved in Citybot, which

(04:45):
is citibot dot com for anyone who wants to check
that out. And se Launch was also one of our
first funding partners and they've been just really incredible to
work with. I think a lot of businesses still exist
in South Carolina because of their eight programs that they have.

Speaker 1 (05:01):
I know that the Governor's Office in a particular Harry
lights in the programs not only just available through South
Carolina Department of Commerce, but with the way that the
state has reached out to make sure that we bring
in new businesses or help support businesses as they want
to expand in the state of South Carolina. Have you
had an opportunity to work with different agencies or just
under that agency in a particular situation that comes to

(05:23):
mind that you could absolutely say to yourself looking back,
that's what inspired this company to go forward, That's what
helped us to go up the next wrong on the ladder.

Speaker 2 (05:31):
When it comes to companies that are raising money and
really looking to do a round of fundraising to help
grow their companies quickly at SC Launch was the first
organization that I always recommend that people go to. There's
a lot of other great organizations depending on what the
industry is Charleston Angel Partners, but I think those are

(05:52):
two really great ones to start with. There's also a
Venture South and some other groups that not only help
with a raising money piece, but also with the mentorship
and strategic partnership piece.

Speaker 1 (06:02):
Do you also finding that there is synergy between these
companies that are maybe startups or maybe they're huge corporations
working in the state of South Carolina? Do you see
the synergy growing just beneath what the South Carolina Department
of Commerce is doing.

Speaker 3 (06:16):
Absolutely.

Speaker 2 (06:17):
I think they've been so helpful in helping businesses to
grow but also connecting businesses to each other.

Speaker 3 (06:25):
And in Charleston we.

Speaker 2 (06:26):
Have the Harbor Accelerator, which really brings together a lot
of entrepreneurs into CEO forums so that we can form
a lot of connection. There's also the EEO, which is
an entrepreneur organization that does the same. So a lot
of these groups didn't exist, you know, even ten years ago.
So I think businesses that have been growing or these
last few years really had these extra incredible organizations to

(06:49):
connect into, and the state's just been so supportive and
helping connect in with all those groups as well. You know,
a real deepened sense of a community for entrepreneurs and
CEOs and executives here.

Speaker 3 (07:03):
Over the last few years.

Speaker 2 (07:05):
We launched a program called Women Leading Women here in Charleston,
which is for specifically like women leaders, because we just
realized that there is a little bit of a gap
for women supporting each other with their current initiatives, and
we are often asked to volunteer for things, or support
other organizations or just kind of add on tasks. And
it's a space for us to go to where there's

(07:27):
no really ask other than listening to the great programs
and initiatives we're all working on and trying to help
support each other. And I've just seen so many more
organizations like that grow over the last five years.

Speaker 1 (07:39):
Obviouslee dot Com based in Charleston, South Carolina. I forgot
to ask a little more about your personal story because
I know that you were raised in Charleston. You decided
to stay here. You could do business anywhere in the world,
but talk to me about why you wanted to stay
here in South Carolina as your home base and headquarters.

Speaker 2 (07:57):
I really love watching Charleston specifically grow. I feel like
we've grown up together. Whereas I'm kind of entering a
new phase of life. I feel like Charleston grows in
similar ways. And it's been great to be an entrepreneur here.
It's all the entrepreneurs and business owners I feel like
are very connected and friendly and supportive of each other.

Speaker 3 (08:18):
So that's a huge reason. And of course it's just
a lovely place to.

Speaker 2 (08:22):
Live and you know, raise children and to be out
in nature and enjoying the beach and boat life and
all the great things that has to offer. But I
would say, in terms of really wanting to kind of
connect in with my own sense of purpose and impact,
I feel like there's a lot to be done in
this state, and it's you know, easier to help and

(08:43):
to get involved here then maybe it might be in
a bigger market. Always kind of joke that it's like
there's a microphone stand just waiting for someone to go
grab it and voice what they think should happen in
terms of change, and I love the fact that I
feel like it's pretty accessible for anyone to go grab
that microphone and really give their point of view and

(09:03):
get involved, whether it's in politics or how we're going
to really work to be more inclusives, or public transportation
or whatever your passion point is here.

Speaker 3 (09:13):
Mine happens to be education.

Speaker 2 (09:14):
But I love all those topics and I really want
to get involved in how this state is shaping.

Speaker 1 (09:19):
You know, when CEOs, you should know we have spoken
with a lot of companies corporations worldwide headquartered hero or
have a location here who we're working more and more
with all levels of education and helping our citizens not
only see a bigger horizon for themselves, but also access
training or instruction, get guidance and how to get more involved,
not only to better themselves, what better their community.

Speaker 3 (09:41):
Yes, and by the.

Speaker 2 (09:41):
Way, you should give my phone number to all those companies,
so anytime you meet one of them, if they need marketing,
you can tell them where to go. Fortunately, a lot
of our clients are really geared towards community impact, whether
they have some kind of a giving program that they do.
So I always like to point out Toadfish, which is
a great South Carolina born company, and they make a

(10:03):
ton of outdoor products and specifically a lot of fishing products,
but they give a portion of their profits to support
restoring oyster beds and they've made just tremendous impact in
that area and definitely we're checking out, so we get
to do a lot of fun work on impact through
partnering with our clients oftentimes, so that has been really great.

(10:25):
And then on a personal side, I was on the
Palmeto Goodwill board for about seven to eight years and
we learned through that time that a lot of Palmeto
Goodwills start these free adult high schools called Excel Centers.

Speaker 3 (10:39):
So I was so excited about that.

Speaker 2 (10:41):
We went and visited a few of them in Indianapolis
and decided to launch one here. And as you can imagine,
launching a school, especially a new concept that is for
eighteen and up, that was a long adventure, but that's
been my real passion and happy to say we opened
last August and just graduated the first round of students.

(11:01):
That's been just really exhilarating to be a part of.

Speaker 1 (11:04):
Talk to me about a term that you introduced me
to a B corporation. Is it a particular certification of
training or what exactly is the terminology I'm looking for.

Speaker 2 (11:14):
I first learned about this through Low Country Local First
has an awesome event here called the Good Business Summit,
and they invited some people who had become Bee Corps
and they helped get the statewide status for that. So
it can be two things. One it can be a
business structure, so like a ES corp, or like a
C corp or an LLC. There is another option, not

(11:35):
in all states, but in many called a B corp
that a lot of people aren't aware of, and you
essentially get to act like a combination of a for
profit and nonprofit. And it's a really cool model, like
think or b Parker that you know, you buy a
pair of glasses, they give one away, same with like
Tom Shoes Patagonia with their huge work that they've done
in the environment. So it's businesses that believe in people

(11:56):
over profit and get really involved in their community and
creating a really healthy culture internally and as well as
a focus on the environment. There's also a B corpse certifications,
so separate from that tax status, you can apply for certification.
It is a very rigorous process. It took us over

(12:17):
a year to be ready to submit, and then you
go through a very detailed process and you work with
someone from the certification team. You have to basically show
what you've been doing in terms of governance within your company,
how you're supporting your people and all aspects.

Speaker 3 (12:36):
Do you have equal.

Speaker 2 (12:37):
Pay, what is your diversity at the inclusion process, including
with your own supplier chain? And then what are you
doing in terms of really thinking about sustainability and the environment.

Speaker 3 (12:50):
So like we.

Speaker 2 (12:51):
Compost the office and you know, you're try not to
print anything on paper.

Speaker 3 (12:55):
If you do, it's recyclable paper.

Speaker 2 (12:57):
And a lot of it is things that you can
show that you already been doing for years, and then
some of it they walk you through some changes that
you need to make to apply. So it's been great.
We are really really proud to have just gotten certified.
We're one of I believe eight in South Carolina companies,
and I think there's less than one percent of marketing
agencies that have gone through the process.

Speaker 1 (13:17):
We're speaking with Lee from obviously dot com and one
of the things you just mentioned in your certification for
BCorp was the work environment. And although you've been saluted
by Outdoor magazine as one of the best places to work,
can you tell us what their insights were and why
you were voted as such.

Speaker 2 (13:34):
Yeah, thank you. We are so excited about that. It
was a huge exciting thing. We applied for the best
places to work and then they go through a long
interview process of your team and your clients, and you know,
they really spend a lot of time with each company
before they announce the winners, and hope to have it

(13:55):
again your over year, looking to be the first at
some point. We're really proud that to a lot of
our work, like I said, is in the outdoor industry,
and so getting an award from that space that you
work in was just a really good feeling.

Speaker 1 (14:09):
You know you were invited on CEOs. You should know
because of your company obviously dot Com, but I do
know you've been involved with several other companies and several
other social outreaches I will say, or community involvements and
boards that you mentioned. Where does this drive come from
in your being? You love giving back to the community.
You're a successful business woman. What drives you every day

(14:31):
when you get up in the morning, and where do
you think that came from?

Speaker 2 (14:35):
Probably very layered, but maybe the fastest response is I'm
very just self competitive, so very friendly with others, and
I'm not trying to create a very competitive landscape when
it comes to working with other business owners. I think
we're always better working together. But within my own being,
I'm constantly trying to reach my best, whether that's from

(14:58):
my own personal self work, or as a leader, or
as far as I can take things. In the business world.
I'm definitely hyper ambitious, and I kind of treat it
like I'm playing an individual sport. It's also, you know,
a great team sport, So I always look at it
is a lot of fun. I always tell people, like,
the best thing you can do in business is just
to kind of treat it like you're playing a video game.

(15:20):
Some days you go up another level or two, some
days you get not down the level. So it's a
lot of fun. So I think that I've given myself
a lot of freedom to be very ambitious without it
feeling exceptionally stressful.

Speaker 3 (15:32):
That is probably where a lot of the drive is
just that.

Speaker 2 (15:34):
I enjoy it and i want to always hit my
best potential and I'm just very curious, which I think
is true for all marketers.

Speaker 3 (15:42):
It's such a joy that we work across so many industries.

Speaker 2 (15:45):
So in the morning, I might be working on something
for a huge fund that we're a part of that
is for employee giving, and then by afternoon I might
be working on a fee brand and then you know,
at the end of the day, I might be working
on a PGA championship or a huge tennis tournament. So
I get to learn so much about so many different

(16:06):
places and companies and opportunities.

Speaker 3 (16:09):
So that's been really great.

Speaker 2 (16:11):
Being on boards and being a partner and other companies
that are in different fields has definitely heightened my leadership
capabilities for my own organization because I just learned so
much from other industries and how other people work, and
then I get to bring that back to our company.

Speaker 1 (16:28):
You really do have an attractive way of describing what
are is it you do? What does it motivates you?
If business owners wanted to get in touch that they
go to obvious lead dot com and they can contact you.
What other ways should they look to do research on
you before they make their first contact?

Speaker 2 (16:44):
No research needed, We'll just have a great first combo
and it is Lee Lee at obviously also with le
ee dot com. Always happy to have a conversation with anyone.
Love talking to business owners or people looking to break
into market, or anyone who's just looking to make that connection.

Speaker 1 (17:03):
I'm always excited to talk to the CEOs across the
state of South Carolina, like yourself, who not only enjoy
what they're doing, have helped other people recognize their abilities
or expand their accomplishments with inside their business realm, but
at the same time enjoy doing business inside the state
of South Carolina. Born and raised and still headquartered in Charleston,

(17:24):
we hope that you stay there as you expand your
company across our state and across our country.

Speaker 3 (17:29):
I love being here.

Speaker 2 (17:31):
Has been such a great opportunity in such a welcoming
state for anyone who's considering launching a business here or
moving a business here. There's so many great state and
citywide organizations that are so supportive.

Speaker 1 (17:43):
Lee from Obviouslee dot com thank you again for your time.

Speaker 3 (17:47):
Thank you so much. I really appreciate it. This was
a great conversation.