Julia Becker Collins works with two Vision staffers on a laptop.

Why We’re Proud to Be a Women-Owned and -Run Business

Recently, I was networking with a colleague and was on an initial phone call with him. When I explained that we were women-owned and -run, he responded with, “Oh, you’re only trying to work with women.” To him, stating your business is women-owned, minority-run, etc., means that you are only selling to those groups. Calmly, […]
Julia Becker Collins in her home office.

In the News: How servant leadership keeps companies together

This article originally appeared in the Worcester Business Journal on February 22nd, 2021. Once you have employees, your business changes. Leadership isn’t defined by what you lead, but how you lead. Who do you put first at your business? Yourself? Your team? Your customers? There are no right or wrong answers, but they all form […]
Woman in face mask hangs closed sign on door of shuttered business.

In The News: Small business relief must focus on actual small businesses

This article originally appeared in the Worcester Business Journal on January 25th, 2021. When hearing the term “small business,” you probably envision a decades-old hardware store or that North End restaurant you order takeout from once a week. However, other small business owners and I are finding out the hard way there is an exploitive […]
A person in a red sweater holding a wine bottle and wine glasses in their hand attending an online holiday party with coworkers

Holiday Parties and Dress Codes: Strengthening Your Remote Team’s Morale

Holiday parties are a great way for staff members to enjoy one another’s company without the underlying pressures of the workplace. They’re a much-appreciated reprieve from the year-ending deadlines and a celebration of achieving goals. Most importantly, they’re a morale boost. With COVID taking an ax to this year’s calendar, business owners need to find […]
An overhead shot of a person sitting cross-legged with a laptop on their laptop in a video conference. A coffee mug, notepad, box, and cellphone rest on the floor beside her.

Reimagining Company Culture During and After COVID-19

The pandemic has challenged the conventional definition of company culture. Since quarantine began, business owners have struggled to determine the new role of the office and bypass the hurdles of remote collaboration. Discovering this new work culture requires breaking down the changes that have occurred in the times of COVID-19. Companies have been reimagining the […]
A person's thumb installing the Facebook app on their cellphone despite the Facebook advertising boycott

Why Did the Facebook Advertising Boycott Fail?

By the end of July, more than a thousand companies reduced or completely suspended their advertising on Facebook. Major corporations, including Mars, HP, and Coca Cola, continue to remain steadfast in their boycott of the social media platform. However, despite their efforts to foster change regarding Facebook’s free speech and misinformation policies, their actions have […]
A women wearing a headset holding a post-it note with a question mark on it, indicating the important of asking questions as a professional

The Importance of Asking Questions as a Professional

For business owners, there are unfortunate mental and societal pressures that accompany asking questions in the workplace. There’s a deep-seated fear that your team will label you a fraud if you question your own business’s internal affairs. This reluctance to ask questions can put unnecessary strain on you and your business. It’s important to overcome […]