Ciara Lewis, CEO and founder of an online magazine for women and entrepreneurs, speaks with George Alger about collaboration over competition.
Lewis defines this as coming together on a project or discussion to find ways to mutually boost each other’s businesses, rather than trying to outdo one another. The goal is to work together to better solve a problem or complete a project.
The concept works not only for “affinity entrepreneurs” who do similar or related things but also between different entities, such as a vendor and a business person. An example given is her magazine’s collaboration with a travel company to provide travel tips and retreats for business professionals.
While the goal of collaboration is for both parties to benefit, Sierra notes that sometimes one company may initially have more power. The long-term objective, however, should be to find a balance where both parties are equally benefited. If the balance becomes uneven, she advises going back to the drawing board to reassess the pros and cons, refocus on each company’s strengths and weaknesses, and rehash the agreement.
Tips for Initiating a Collaboration:
Start with a plan: Begin with a list, including pros and cons, and be clear on the specific niche you are targeting.
Lay out an exact map: Before approaching a potential collaborator, have a detailed plan of what you are trying to do, what you want it to look like, what it will include, what you want them to bring to the table, and what you will bring.
Soft Introduction: Open up the conversation with a brief introduction of who you are and what you are looking to do to gauge interest before setting a formal meeting.
Beyond Business: The principles of collaboration can be applied outside of a purely business context, such as in community advocacy or between non-profit entities (e.g., an arts group working with a health non-profit). In all cases, the key is knowing what both sides want and tying that together through clear communication and attention to detail.
TV broadcast week beginning 11/02/25
Producer: George Alger
Sponsor: NONPROFIT FIRE, Google Ad Grants Community Building NonProfitFire.org
Sponsor: GWC PRODUCTIONS, Putting Eyes on Your Music GWCProductions.com
Sponsor: SKYWORKS MARKETING, Performance Advertising SkyworksMarketing.com