DBL Entrepreneur District Cohort: Hannah Bettenhausen, Owner, 654 Business Strategies

A: Building a world where businesses thrive, led by extraordinary people, fostering a culture of mentorship, accountability, and mutual respect.

Q: How did your company come to be?

A: 654 Business Strategies was born from a combination of my extensive experience in operations, leadership, and strategic planning, and a profound realization that I had a unique way of viewing goals and the steps required to achieve them. Throughout my career, including my time as COO at BCrew Enterprises and in various roles such as at a Ford dealership, I observed a recurring pattern of pain and chaos within organizations. This was often due to a lack of effective communication and understanding between visionaries and their teams.

I noticed that visionaries often chase ever-changing goals, which can create confusion and instability for the rest of the team. Conversely, teams need clear, grounded, and stable targets to work towards effectively. This communication gap frequently leads to a breakdown in trust and efficiency within the organization.

In 2023, I launched 654 Business Strategies with the mission to bridge this gap. My goal is to help businesses realize their objectives by providing tailored strategies that align visionary ideas with practical implementation. By breaking down communication barriers and ensuring that objectives are clearly communicated and understood. We aim to create an environment where both visionaries and their teams can thrive.

Q: Why did you join the Dakota Business Lending cohort?

A: I love that I can surround myself with passionate and intelligent individuals who are also striving to build their businesses. Supporting each other in our journey and learning from each other and their expertise.

Q: What has your experience been like with the cohort so far?

A: It has been an amazing group of support and ideas. The knowledge I have gained so far as well as the relationships I have built are lifechanging.

Q: What is the five-year plan for your business?

A: In the next five years, 654 Business Strategies plans to build a strong team of experienced C-Suite professionals offering training, coaching, mentorship, and on-demand services across all business functions. I am excited to create national groups of small business owners and leaders who want to take their skills and businesses to the next level. We’ll also be speaking around the country, with a focus on improving relationships and communication between visionaries and integrators, as well as using personality assessments to motivate teams.

Q: Can you describe a challenge your company has faced, and how you overcame it?

A: One significant challenge I faced was entering the B2B market with a service that, while essential, isn’t always immediately recognized as a priority when companies are tightening budgets nationally. To overcome this, I focused on helping businesses identify their underlying needs and demonstrating how our services could address their current challenges effectively. This approach proved successful with several clients who recognized the value I could bring. For others, I adapted by aligning our offerings more closely with their immediate needs and budget priorities through focused conversations on maximizing their resources.

Q: What trends in your industry are you most excited about or concerned by?

A: I’m particularly excited about the growing trend toward personalized leadership development and the integration of personality assessments into team dynamics. This trend not only enhances organizational effectiveness but also aligns perfectly with our approach to empowering leaders and teams through tailored coaching and mentorship. On the other hand, I’m mindful of the challenges posed by fluctuating economic conditions and how they impact client budgets. Adapting our services to meet evolving client needs while maintaining value will be crucial in navigating this concern.

Q: How do you measure success in your role and for your company?

A: My idea of success within my company and congruently in my role at this time is to make a substantial and lasting positive impact on each business and life I work with. I want to make sure that 654 Business Strategies is building a world where small businesses can thrive.

Q: What has been the most rewarding part of running your business?

A: The moment a company lets me know that they feel confident to carry on without me. Although bitter-sweet, I aim to create strong enough processes and empowered leaders in my wake that a business does not need to keep me on.

Q: Is there any technology or innovation that you believe will significantly impact your industry in the next few years?

A: I believe that advancements in AIdriven tools will significantly impact our industry in the coming years. This technology has the potential to revolutionize how we deliver training, coaching, and mentorship services by offering more personalized and data-driven insights into leadership development and team dynamics. Harnessing these innovations will enhance the effectiveness of our services as well as enable us to provide more tailored solutions that meet the evolving needs of our clients.

Q: What advice would you give to other business owners out there?

A: Ensure you have a strong support system that provides mentorship, insights, knowledge, and encouragement whenever you need it. The people you surround yourself with will profoundly influence your life as well as your business’s success.