https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKK6HISHVng

Kevin Mintaraga has had his eye on technology since he was 13 years old when he discovered the joy of internet games. When he got to university, he pursued his interest in the field by studying computer science. That early, he already saw how technology will evolve marketing.

His instincts proved correct. Kevin jumped into internet marketing ahead of many others. He also established a digital agency, Magnivate, in 2008. The impressive pace by which Kevin’s business grew, however, cannot all be attributed to timing or first-mover advantage.

A personal approach and willingness to listen can open up many opportunities.

Kevin talks to GetCRAFT Co-Founder and Group CEO Patrick Searle about his journey as an entrepreneur–from the time he built his first digital business until he co-founded Bridestory, a global marketplace that connects wedding vendors with would-be couples.

In this 30-minute conversation, Kevin shares the challenges he faced and his advice for young entrepreneurs venturing into the creative industry. Here are some takeaways from The Crafters interview with Kevin Mintaraga:

• At 4:00 minutes, Kevin talks about the factors that shaped his decision to foray into digital marketing, despite his keen interest in computer science.
• At 14:00 minutes, Kevin tells the story of how he won the hearts of his clients early in his career as an entrepreneur. Building a business is no easy task, he says, especially in a field such as digital, which was still considered uncharted territory when Kevin started.
• At 18:00 minutes, Kevin shares how he taps into his employees’ full potential, believing that a talented team is an important asset in a business like a digital agency.
• At 29:00 minutes, Kevin talks about the need for an offline strategy, particularly for market education, even when your business is on digital.
• At 32:00 minutes, Kevin tells us what he thinks is the ideal role of the entrepreneur.