Gwen Hawver’s entrepreneurial journey began in 2005 with a decision rooted in conviction and resilience. While serving as interim president for a nonprofit, Gwen discovered her vision for the organization clashed with the new leadership hired by the board. Instead of compromising, she took a bold step and left to begin consulting for the same nonprofit. From there, she expanded into business services, coaching, and eventually marketing, founding Vision Interface to help businesses grow and thrive.
Navigating Challenges: Building Recurring Clients and Reliable Teams
Starting out, Gwen faced a common challenge: creating recurring clients. “Often, I would do the service, they’d be happy, and move on,” she recalls. This constant hustle for new clients pushed her to transition into the SEO and marketing space, which offered opportunities for ongoing relationships.
Another significant challenge arose with unreliable subcontractors. Some failed to complete projects, while one even tried to discredit Gwen’s company to compete for bids. These experiences taught her the importance of hiring people who align with her culture and values and the value of well-written contracts. “You can’t compromise on fit or integrity,” Gwen emphasizes.
Staying Motivated: Believing in the Impact
Despite the ups and downs of cash flow, Gwen remained steadfast. “I’ve had to invest personal money to keep things running during slow periods,” she admits. But her belief in Vision Interface’s ability to drive results kept her going. “We’ve grown our business and helped others expand their reach and sales—that’s what keeps me motivated.”
Advice for Entrepreneurs: Hire Smart and Embrace the Journey
Gwen’s advice to entrepreneurs is to hire help early—but wisely. “Make sure their personality fits your culture and values. If not, they’re not worth it,” she warns. Beyond that, she encourages embracing the entrepreneurial journey with all its challenges. “You will make mistakes, but you’ll learn from them. Keep going and enjoy the process.”
Proud Moments: Making an Impact
Gwen recounts numerous success stories, from helping a coaching client reorganize their team using a Steve Godin analogy, leading to significant business growth, to helping a reseller expand their online sales. “One client asked me, ‘What can you do if I give you another $1,000 to work with?’ We appropriated it, and he grew even more,” Gwen says, reflecting on the tangible results Vision Interface delivers.
Vision for the Future: Growth, Development, and Giving Back
Looking ahead, Gwen envisions multiple paths for Vision Interface. She aims to expand her service base, increase training and speaking engagements, and establish a business development center to teach entrepreneurship skills. Her ultimate goal is an exit strategy that allows her to focus on creating farms and ranches for at-risk kids. “I want to give them skills to survive in this world, with the right people in place to love and train them,” she shares.
Driving Success with Innovation
In the meantime, Vision Interface is building a marketing training program and leveraging AI tools to help entrepreneurs thrive. Gwen’s vision is to take people from the idea stage through growth and development to a successful exit strategy, ensuring their ideas make it to market and flourish.
Gwen Hawver’s journey is a testament to perseverance, adaptability, and a commitment to helping others succeed—not just in business but in life.
To learn more, visit visioninterface.com.