How Entrepreneur Amanda Hamilton Allows Business Leaders to Focus on Their Zone of Genius

Amanda Hamilton, Founder of Hamilton Raye, is committed to supporting business owners and executives by keeping them organized and managing their busy days.

Amanda’s career journey started more than a decade ago in the corporate retail industry. Throughout her successful time in the production and sourcing space, Amanda garnered essential skills such as managing changing priorities and refining processes to reduce workload. When it was time to wrap up that chapter of her career in 2018, Amanda applied the transferable skills she had gained to start working as a virtual assistant. While she loved the flexibility and option to work remotely, she generally found her tasks to be mundane. In pursuit of finding work that was more mentally stimulating, Hamilton Raye was born. The company now serves as an outsourced admin for a variety of founders, CEOs, and small business owners. 

We asked Amanda about the founding story of her company, the biggest misconception others have around entrepreneurship, and what’s next for her and Hamilton Raye.

Q: Tell us the story behind your company’s founding. How and why did you start working on Hamilton Raye?

A: Before founding Hamilton Raye, I spent a decade working in the corporate retail industry in Columbus, Ohio. During that time, I built a successful career in production and sourcing, honing my skills in organization, prioritization, and process efficiency. I loved learning new technology and tools, which led me to explore the ever-changing outsourced admin world, where I could help support my clients' business growth.

Despite enjoying the scope of my work and my team, I longed for personal and professional growth and the ability to work remotely. Fascinated by the concept of digital nomads, I decided to take my fate into my own hands. Drawing on the lessons I learned from incredible leaders during my corporate career, I soon saw an opportunity to carve out my own path.

I realized that executives and business owners face countless mundane tasks every day that eat away at their most valuable asset: time. And that's where Hamilton Raye comes in. We have proven to our clients that effective growth can be achieved by adding an outsourced admin™ to their team, freeing up their time to focus on what matters most.

I started Hamilton Raye with a passion for helping businesses succeed and a commitment to delivering exceptional service. And I haven't looked back since.

Q: What problem does Hamilton Raye solve? 

A: As a business owner, I know the importance of maintaining peak efficiency and productivity. It's the cornerstone of success, and without it, even the best ideas can fall short. Hamilton Raye specializes in partnering with founders, CEOs, and senior leaders within organizations, empowering them to focus on what they do best and unlocking new revenue opportunities for their organization.

Part of our core mission is to help businesses maximize their potential by streamlining their daily operations, freeing up valuable time and resources to focus on growth and innovation. By leveraging our expertise in outsourcing admin services, we help our clients stay organized, manage their schedules, and remain laser-focused on achieving their goals.

We understand the challenges facing business leaders today, and we're here to support them every step of the way. At the end of the day, our success is measured by our client's success, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Q: In what ways has your upbringing or past experiences contributed to how you operate as an entrepreneur?

A: Throughout my corporate career, I had the honor of working alongside a remarkable leadership team who helped shape my leadership style and approach. These women showed me skills that take years to master, such as delegating, training, and leading others.

They also taught me the importance of collaboration and communication, while instilling in me the value of building strong, supportive relationships. Most importantly, they exemplified how to lead with empathy, compassion, and a genuine desire to help others succeed. My past experiences have laid the foundation for how I operate as an entrepreneur and leader. Today I’m proud to be leading my outstanding team at Hamilton Raye.

Q: What’s the biggest misconception that others have around entrepreneurship?

A: The biggest misconception people have about entrepreneurship is that it's a walk in the park. They think that success comes overnight and without any effort, but that couldn't be further from the truth.

I can attest that entrepreneurship is one of the most challenging and fulfilling experiences to exist. It's a journey filled with twists and turns, ups and downs, and unexpected surprises. It’s often stressful and time-consuming, but in my opinion, totally worth it! 

So, the next time you see a successful entrepreneur, remember that it likely took them years of hard work and sacrifice to get where they are today. Success doesn't come overnight. It's the result of years of trial and error, learning from failures, and constantly improving oneself.

Q: Have you struggled with self doubt as an entrepreneur? How do you navigate this?

A: Self doubt is something I struggle with often and something I am continually trying to evolve in how I adjust my perspective, as self doubt can be detrimental to a business. Each time I am thrown a curveball or a challenging situation, I look at it as a learning opportunity rather than doubting my ability, and remember how far I have come. I remind myself that I have been able to overcome every obstacle I’ve been given and that slowing down, adjusting my mindset, and having a plan will allow me to navigate anything. 

Q: Has your definition of success evolved throughout your journey as a founder?

A: Throughout my time as an entrepreneur, success for me has always been flexibility and freedom. Our core values at Hamilton Raye are focused on this to build a business that not only creates success but also empowers and supports others.

At Hamilton Raye, our definition of success is grounded in our core values: passion, efficiency, balance, happiness, and presence. These five values guide us in every decision we make, every service we provide, and every interaction we have with our team and clients. 

Q: How have you grown as a leader since starting Hamilton Raye? What experiences have contributed to this growth?

A: As a leader, I have undergone significant growth since starting my company. Initially, I believed that speed was everything, and that hiring and onboarding quickly was the key to business growth. This mentality stemmed from my background in the corporate world and the startup culture of "speed to market."

However, 2022 was a transformative year for me. I recognized the importance of slowing down and being intentional. I realized that the best approach to achieving long-term success is not about rushing to identify the ideal team and clients, but rather taking a step back to assess our goals and values. This shift in perspective has allowed me to focus on building the best team possible and cultivating relationships with the right clients.

Growth as a leader is not just about speed and efficiency, but also about reflection, intentionality, and alignment.

Q: How would you describe the journey you’ve had in a few sentences? Would you do it all over again?

A: My entrepreneurial journey has been a rollercoaster of highs and lows, with no shortage of challenges and obstacles to overcome. Even though there are many uncertainties and unknowns that come with owning a business, I wouldn't have it any other way. I have the freedom to set my own pace, while prioritizing self care and team success.

The biggest experiences that have contributed to my growth as a leader are the moments of adversity and failure. Each obstacle has been an opportunity to learn and improve, and to better understand the needs of our clients and team. Ultimately, my story has been a rewarding one, and I am excited to see what comes next!

Q: What’s next for you and Hamilton Raye?

A: The end of 2022 was a time of learning and growth, both for me personally and for my team. We faced challenges head-on as we dealt with a number of client and team changes. Fortunately, we were able to make significant improvements to our approach going into 2023 through reflection and teamwork. While there were undoubtedly difficult moments, we have made great adjustments to our partnerships with our clients, as well as our client onboarding and integration process.

Amanda is a member of Dreamers & Doers, an award-winning community that amplifies extraordinary women entrepreneurs and leaders by raising their profile through PR, forging authentic connections, and curating high-impact resources. Learn more about Dreamers & Doers and get involved here.

The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

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