Introducing Taylor Dru, owner of Systems Guru LLC and winner of the “Best in Coaching and Consulting” award at the 2023 Blaze Business Awards. Taylor is from Akron, Ohio and her journey started as a passion for creativity and a strong foundation in visual arts, but her story shows how dynamic she truly is.
With a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, specializing in International Business, Taylor embarked on a 12-year journey, working in various administrative and operations positions. This experience allowed her to understand the intricacies of improving internal operations within businesses and fueled her desire to make a difference.
It was in this energetic and diverse atmosphere that her determination to create change led her to take a leap of faith and establish her own business, Systems Guru LLC. With a wealth of knowledge and a burning desire to succeed, Taylor shares her insights and future plans that are sure to leave you inspired.
About Systems Guru LLC
Systems Guru LLC offers a range of services and resources to empower service-based entrepreneurs. They provide client experience consulting, client journey analysis, and tailored strategies for improvement. They are also launching a full-service systems implementation experience in the fall, providing comprehensive support for implementing and optimizing business systems.
Delving Deeper
"Building a business is a journey filled with challenges, and I've faced my fair share. One significant hurdle was during the fall and winter of 2022. It was a crucial time for me as I had recently made the decision to resign from my six-figure tech job in order to fully focus on my business and prioritize my mental health," said Taylor.
Taylor, we love to see how you've flourished! Can you share a little bit about your business journey? How did it all start for you?
Taylor: It all began in January 2020 when I launched SystemsGuru LLC as a virtual assistance service. Recognizing the need for office administrative support among entrepreneurs, I offered services such as email management, calendar management, data entry, and other tasks that were crucial for their daily operations.
During this initial phase, one of my clients approached me with a unique challenge. She needed assistance in setting up a CRM (Customer Relationship Management) tool called Dubsado. To my surprise, I quickly fell in love with Dubsado and discovered the immense value it could bring to businesses in terms of streamlining processes and enhancing client experiences.
In July 2022, I took a significant step in my business journey by launching a masterclass that focused on automations and business systems. The response was incredible, and it ignited a pivotal moment in my career. Recognizing the demand and the immense value of coaching and consulting, I made a strategic decision to pivot from solely offering done-for-you services to providing comprehensive coaching and consulting solutions.
Inspired by this realization, I designed and launched my signature program, Systems Guru Academy, in just one weekend. This program aimed to empower entrepreneurs with the knowledge, tools, and strategies to systematize their businesses and achieve sustainable growth. Looking back, I am amazed at how my business has evolved and transformed over time. It has been a journey of continuous learning, adaptation, and expansion. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve and support entrepreneurs on their quest for success, and I am excited about the future as I continue to create history.
We're so proud of you, Taylor! So tell us, how did it feel to be recognized as a winner in your category at the Blaze Business Awards and what other achievements have you had on your entrepreneurial journey?
Taylor: Being recognized as a winner in my category at the Blaze Business Awards is an incredibly gratifying and humbling experience. I am incredibly honored to be acknowledged by this amazing community. From my initial conversation with Casey in preparation for the first Blaze Summit, I knew I was home. Since then, I’ve been locked in with the Blaze community and I’m never going anywhere.
Winning this Award from a community that empowers black women founders is so special because it was made for us and by us. This space is so sacred, pure and full of power. It is a complete honor. This recognition has further fueled my determination to continue pushing boundaries, raising the bar, and making a meaningful impact in the lives of other women.
We feel you! It's applaudable how you've gone out of your way to professionalize your offerings and set yourself apart! Can you share a bit about your impact goals and vision for your business?
Taylor: My primary goal is to empower women entrepreneurs with the tools, strategies and the support they need to build sustainable businesses. I aspire to foster a global community of women who understand the power of efficient business systems, where we can exchange knowledge, share experiences, and collectively elevate business standards.
Additionally, I aim to help 200 small businesses stay in business in 2023 by providing tailored guidance, coaching, and systems support. Ultimately, I believe that by inspiring and empowering women entrepreneurs, we can create a legacy of positive social impact and contribute to a more inclusive, resilient, and thriving business landscape.
That's powerful, Taylor! You're definitely going to touch many lives with your ambition! If you were to give advice to other aspiring Black women entrepreneurs, what would you tell them?
Taylor: Pour into yourself as much as you can: Self-care and self-development are crucial for your personal and professional growth.
Delegate and automate to gain time freedom: By effectively leveraging your resources and implementing efficient systems, you can free up valuable time and energy to focus on strategic activities and priorities that will propel your business forward.
Find a community for support: Seek out networking groups, mastermind circles, or online communities where you can connect, collaborate, and learn from others who are on a similar journey. Having a support system in place can provide guidance, inspiration, and encouragement during both the triumphs and challenges of entrepreneurship.
You hit the nail on the head! Sustainability on all fronts is key. So what's next for Systems Guru LLC? Any upcoming projects?
Taylor: Yes! There are always fun projects coming up:
We are hosting our first in-person event in Atlanta, GA to celebrate our Best in Business Award!
We are launching a Client Experience Bootcamp this fall to help service-based entrepreneurs create seamless processes for their clients in 3 days.
We are also relaunching the First Class Experience Academy soon to teach entrepreneurs our signature Client Experience funnel.
Thank you so much, Taylor, for taking the time to chat with us and inspire the community! You are doing absolutely amazing work and we wish you good luck in all your future endeavors!
If you'd like to connect with Taylor or access her client experience services, you can use the links below:
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