Arrows in a Bundle: Tulsa Entrepreneurs Unite to Empower Other Business Founders

36°N Editor's Note: There's an ancient Japanese proverb that says, "A single arrow is easily broken, but not ten in a bundle." The 36°N members you'll hear from in the below article are a prime example of this concept. Instead of plowing forward with their businesses with prideful independence, they've decided to work together to grow and strengthen and increase their opportunity for expansion. We're excited to see how their effort shapes Tulsa's entrepreneurial ecosystem.

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Prodigy Collective is now up and running! It is one of the largest projects I’ve ever led. There are a lot of moving parts when you're coordinating eight business consultants and launching a brand new collaborative service in just five weeks.

But without a doubt, it was the smoothest and least stressful launch I’ve ever been a part of.  I was confident in their skillsets before, but I can now say, after experiencing the launch, each and every woman on my team is an absolute rock star in their area. And combined? We are a force.

For those who don’t know, Prodigy Collective is a team of eight specialized female entrepreneurs who empower founders to rise above their business challenges. Our consultants cover growth strategy, branding, copywriting, technology, sales funnels, publicity, leadership, and social media. Prodigy Collected was created because I just wanted to be able to talk to people about what I was struggling with. I didn’t need multi-thousand dollar packages or long term coaching in one specific area; I just needed advice and boost of confidence from the experts.

It’s amazing what can happen when you have the right people with the right expertise supporting a business, project or product (especially at launch time). Each of those eight consultants were laser focused on their area of expertise, and it made such a difference in how easily things came together, given the scale of what we were doing.

36 Degrees North, Tulsa’s “Basecamp for Entrepreneurs” in the Brady Arts District, played an integral role in the development and launch of Prodigy Collective. The conference room facilities made our live launch possible. (Sorry about all the rooms we took over at the same time. On multiple occasions.) We also received motivation and encouragement along the way from other members who heard about what we were doing.

However, the most important thing 36°N provided was the connections to the other talented consultants who joined Prodigy Collective. The people we met here employ their expertise, enthusiasm and work ethic to turn a good idea into an amazing service. Through my membership at 36°N, and my partnership with Tulsa Tech, I met both Amanda McKinney and Amanda Woods teaching a small business bootcamp last spring. I don’t know that our paths would have ever crossed if it wasn’t for this. They have been wonderful additions to Prodigy Collective, and I am grateful for their partnership and friendship – as we have gotten to know each other and bond through this process. Amanda, Amanda, Meg Weinkauf (our fourth Tulsa based Prodigy Collective member) and I used 36°N as our basecamp to launch this project and it was exactly what we needed – in so many ways.

I’ll let each of them tell you a bit about their experience joining Prodigy Collective and how 36°N contributed to our success:

Meg Weinkauf, The Faithful Leader, Leadership Coach  
“Everything about 36°N makes my heart happy! I love being part of a place where there are other entrepreneurs going through the same struggles, because building anything is hard. But, when you have the most amazing people surrounding you it makes climbing the mountain a little easier. Everyone is so helpful and willing to share their knowledge and wisdom. Being part of Prodigy Collective is a dream come true. I am surrounded by amazing women entrepreneurs that are world changers. 36°N makes it possible for startups to launch, grow and thrive. I am forever grateful for everything 36°N brings to our community. Great things are happening here that will impact the world in the best of ways.”
 

Amanda McKinney, AM:Marketing, Marketing and Branding Strategist  
“There would be no Amanda McKinney in the Prodigy Collective without 36°N. I attended a small business workshop at 36°N before I even became a member and that is where I met Jessica Kinsey. After sharing a cup of coffee together she mentioned her idea for the collective group of consultants and asked if I would be interested. It was an easy yes for me and continued to be an easy yes as I met the other ladies in the Collective. There are 4 of us (5 include the amazing Claire!) that are members at 36°N and I can say that I truly believe I have not only met business colleagues but also friends. A big THANK YOU to 36°N for giving us a place that fosters these partnerships!”

Amanda Woods, Social Savant Consulting, Social Media Coach
“I’m excited about the Collective, and thank my membership at 36°N for connecting me with such savvy business owners! Social Savant Consulting launched six months ago, and although it has been excelling, I’m always on the lookout for new strategic partnerships and connections with others that share the same vertical. I met Jessica while participating in an automated systems workshop she held at 36°N, and met Amanda McKinney at a networking event there as well. Fast forward a couple of months, and I now have the honor to work alongside these (and 6 other) amazing, intelligent women as we empower those on their startup journey. The Prodigy Collective has been the perfect addition to our own businesses, and a perfect demonstration of what happens when talent and collaboration meet with a unified vision for success. “

We are eager to guide and empower entrepreneurs and small business owners through the process of starting up, scaling up or just feeling overwhelmed.

Jessica Kinsey
Founder, Prodigy & Co
Creator & Growth Strategist, Prodigy Collective