On this episode of Stand Out: Growing Your Organizing and Productivity Business, host Sarah Karakaian talks with guest Heather Cocozza about the benefits of working with corporate clients.
Sarah and Heather begin by talking through Heather’s experience in the corporate world. As a project manager with IBM, Heather did her share of leading teams. Then a combination of things happened. She was traveling for work a great deal, and then read Julie Morgenstern’s Organizing from the Inside Out. Which Heather proceeded to do in her personal life – and realized she wanted to do this as a career.
Heather relates how she started out as many productivity and organizing professionals do: working in homes for individuals who needed help with home projects. She still does that, but found that her contacts and general inclinations toward the corporate world led to some projects, which led to more projects.
NAPO figures prominently in Heather’s business development plan. Her volunteer work, teaching and service on the D.C. chapter board have led to some great collaborations with other members, and just a better sense of the ins and outs of the business.
Sarah and Heather go on to talk about how getting work in a corporate setting is not that much different than landing any other work. You demonstrate your value with someone in the organization, that’s how you become a known quantity. But you’ve also got to ask for the work. Asking for a referral from someone who appreciates what you do – that is how you fill your pipeline.
There’s much more packed into the interview – be sure you take a listen. To check out the podcast and subscribe so you don’t miss an episode, visit: https://napopodcast.com/.
Heather Cocozza is the owner of Cocozza Organizing & Design, LLC which serves business and residential clients. She has been organizing for 12 years, and her clients include large establishments such as the Smithsonian Institution and National Institute of Health (NIH). She is a Certified Professional Organizer® (CPO®) and a Certified Project Management Professional (PMP). Cocozza has participated in the National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals (NAPO) in numerous capacities, from teaching to D.C. area chapter president. Prior to entering the organizing industry, Cocozza worked at IBM / PricewaterhouseCoopers as an ERP project manager on financial system integration projects for 13 years. She managed teams of up to 40 people. In 2005, she left the life of a road warrior, traveling full-time, and became an entrepreneur with the launch of Cocozza Organizing & Design, LLC in 2006.