Team | Onyx Group

Working in an office can get a little monotonous and leave a person feeling very uncreative. At Onyx Group, our mission is to keep ourselves, and our work, fresh and innovative. How do we keep ourselves creative? Below are some of the motivating factors and inspirations that keep us going.

1. The Staff (aka the coolest people you’ll ever meet)
Everyone who works at Onyx Group is here for a reason. We come from diverse backgrounds and bring talent, experience, and passion to our work.

“We’re colleagues, but we’re also friends. I love coming to work every day because I enjoy my work and there’s never a dull moment in the office.”
–Nick Williams, The Man.

2. Free Flowing Ideas
Group brainstorming sessions are how we keep ideas free flowing and where everyone’s ideas are heard. This produces some of our most creative concepts, because ideas build upon each other and everyone has a chance to contribute. In addition, we have an open office plan that fosters relationships between employees and helps keep everyone on the same page.

3. Strong Client Relationships
We value our relationships with clients and love to exceed their expectations. We understand our clients and show them how our work can help them succeed. By maintaining close relationships with clients, they become an extension of the Onyx Group family.

“We try our hardest to get to know our clients – not just as clients, but as people. It’s easier to work with someone you’re comfortable with. We truly look at it as a relationship. There are even some clients we spend time with off the clock.”
–Amanda Doumanian, The Planner.

4. Chloe
Her constant curiosity keeps everyone on their toes. She livens up the office and adds a playful mood to everyone’s day. She loves attention and makes certain that everyone says ‘hi’ to her when they visit our office.

“Hi, Hello! Let’s play fetch.”
–Chloe, The Office Dog.

5. Creative Leadership
Last but certainly not least is our fearless leadership, Nadia and Kris. They understand the value of creativity in the work place and go out of their way to foster it. Our open office structure ensures that they are easily accessible. Our staff knows they can share their ideas and get immediate feedback.

“Our goal is to create a workplace environment where our employees feel valued and respected. We want our employees to enjoy coming into work every day, because when people are happy it shows in their work.”
–Nadia Kamal, Agency Principal.

nadia In this interview, our fearless leader, Nadia Kamal, gives some insight into her driving philosophy and her vision of Onyx Group’s future.

Where did the idea for Onyx Group come from?
I co-founded a graphic design studio with a partner. When we dissolved that partnership, I decided to create a broader service that would fit better with my vision. The idea was to focus on where we wanted to go rather than where we were, to build something we could grow into.

To what do you most attribute your success?
My passion and my belief in having an energetic and driven team.

How important have good employees been to your success?
Critical, you can’t build it alone. My philosophy is that it’s one thing to build something for yourself, but it’s another to build something for those around you.

How do you balance your work life with your family life?
I always remember that I couldn’t do anything without my family’s love and support. They motivate me to succeed, especially my children. When things get difficult, I just think of them and it gives me the will to persevere. (But true balance is achieved right now, because I sleep very little.) 

Where do you draw your inspiration from?
I draw inspiration from multiple sources. I’m inspired by a lot of successful and unsuccessful business owners. The successful give me something to strive for while the unsuccessful give me an example of what to avoid. My family and those around me who believe in me are another excellent source of inspiration.

How long do you stick with an idea before changing course?
I consider myself to be action oriented. If something isn’t working, I’m quick to assess it and change it until I find something that will work. The only exception is when it comes to people. I believe in learning someone’s true skill set and finding where they belong rather than assuming that they just don’t belong at all.

Where do you see Onyx Group and yourself in 10 years?
I see Onyx Group as a successful international corporation with satellite offices in various cities. I see myself as being a true entrepreneur. I want to own multiple businesses and I want Onyx Group to be the force behind them. I want to breed more success for my family, my business partner, my team, and my clients.

What are the top skills that have helped you become a successful entrepreneur?
I have the ability to see a bigger vision and to create a strategy that breaks through the concrete walls that get in the way. I’m not afraid to start over, and I’m not afraid to be different. Life is too short not to love it.

If you have any additional questions for Nadia about what it takes to become a successful entrepreneur just DM them to us on Twitter, or email us at intern@onyxcreates.com and we’ll answer them in our next blog.