Today we’d like to introduce you to Nadia Osman.
Hi Nadia, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I grew up in Savannah but left for college and the first part of my career. For 15 years, I worked in Central Georgia, focusing on community and economic development. For me, that meant working with non-profits focused on enhancing the area’s quality of life, developing affordable housing, and helping entrepreneurs grow their businesses.
From helping turn abandoned buildings to thrive multi-use developments to helping neighborhoods develop affordable in-fill housing that did not displace residents, I was part of a transformation that I will not forget. I am particularly proud of launching the Shop Local Macon movement, developing the area’s first large-scale maker festival, leading the region’s first makerspace, and running the first Young Entrepreneurs Academy in Georgia.
I chose to come back to Savannah to be near family and now work for the University of Georgia’s Small Business Development Center as a business consultant. Every day, I help startups and existing companies tackle their business challenges, from planning and financial projections to human resources and digital marketing.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
One of my biggest professional struggles was when I changed career paths for a short time. I had the opportunity to work for the federal government and assist with organizational change management for a program valued at over $6 billion. Not only did I struggle to fit in with the new culture, but I also struggled to be accepted by my new co-workers. My team and I were pushing big change and that was not accepted well. After working as a contractor for one year, my team’s contract was not renewed. We were given 10 days’ notice, and I was devastated.
Thanks to the support of family and friends, I was able to realize that the job had not been a good fit for me and that it was damaging me mentally and emotionally. After that, I went back to what I love and what I know how to do best: Economic development via helping business owners succeed.
My biggest lesson was to not chase the money. I did make more with that federal government job than my previous positions, but it did not last and was not worth it. Now, I am making a salary comparable to that job, and I love what I do.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
In 2020, I was delighted to join the University of Georgia Small Business Development Center (SBDC) in Savannah. The organization, which operates statewide, is dedicated to enhancing the economic well-being of Georgians by providing tools, training, and resources to help small businesses grow and succeed.
I serve as a business consultant for the SBDC. Each day, I assist new and existing companies with a wide range of business needs, from capital acquisition to growth strategies. My area of expertise is digital marketing, and I am a Digital Marketing Institute Certified Digital Marketing Professional. All of which means I am called on to work with other consultants across the state, who have business clients that need assistance in that area.
One of my proudest accomplishments during my time with the SBDC is the Tybee Beach Business Bootcamp. The program was developed in partnership with Tybee Main Street and, over the course of a year, helped 12 Tybee businesses with their digital marketing strategies. The results of that program have been outstanding, with participants seeing more than 50% growth in their social media engagement and website traffic.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
I love Savannah so much I have a tattoo for it! In this city, I have experienced some of the worst and best portions of my life, including my engagement. Through it all, I have been surrounded by the beauty of Savannah, from its majestic trees to its lush parks to its abundant waters. For me, the natural parts of Savannah are my favorite aspect of the city, and the resiliency of it helps ground me. The amazing architecture and historic aspects of the city are a bonus.
My least favorite part of Savannah has to do with its perception. You will quite often hear those who do not live in the area describe the city as a tourist destination but leave out that it is a wonderful place to live and work for those in creative technology fields. With one of the top ports in the country and access to a large pool of talent, this community is ideal for tech businesses.
I would love it more people focused on that aspect of this wonderful city.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nadiasuz/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nadia.s.osman/
Image Credits
Ken Krakow
