Kathryn Bielunis

At first blush, one may not classify Kathryn Bielunis as a business owner to be, but, at 22 years of age, her entrepreneurial talents have won her recognition. In the past few years, Bielunis has been active and the youngest board member -- with Step Forward/ Step Ahead, a youth girl's organization working to improve the lives of at-risk teens, attended national conferences supporting women in business and been active in community events, while completing the requirements for a bachelor's degree in business at UMass Amherst. Bielunis, who has worked in Women's Markets at MassMutual for the past two years, won the Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award of Western Mass in 2002 for her school-inspired logo-wear business, Lancawear. "I wrote a business plan, entered it in the Young Entrepreneurial Scholars Business Plan Competition and won first place," Bielunis told Business to Business. Having been graduated, she is now in the process of creating a business plan to start her own business, a unique children's toy and clothing store, within the next few years. We asked her to discuss those traits and tools that have helped her succeed. Ambition "Ambition has brought me to where I am today. I would never be where I am if I wasn't a go-getter. There are so many people are in the business world, you have to find a way to stand out. I've gained experience through challenging positions within large corporations, and now I have a wealth of experience to speak to. This experience will pay off as I embark on my own business plans." Outgoing "In business, you are constantly dealing with people and building relationships. It's much easier to get around if you communicate well. You must find a balance between being outgoing and being professional." "Developing good relationships will boost your business tenfold; it is also very helpful with networking. In order to launch your business, you have to be willing to put yourself out there." Dedication "You are not going to enjoy your job, or your life for that matter, if you are not passionate about it. I love dealing with people and that is a very positive reputation to have, especially when you're building a career or business." "It's also important to not just be dedicated to your job, but to your family and friends as well. At the end of the day, they are who make your life all the more rewarding." Competition "In today's business, there's a lot of competition. If you are not performing at your best, you're replaceable. So it's important to find a way to stand out. I have a lot more corporate experience than [most] people, but once they meet and speak with me and learn about what I've accomplished, people's opinions change immediately." Technology "Technology has increased the speed of business. Communication is easier and faster because of the Internet. It has allowed me to multitask and accomplish more. A Blackberry, for example, allows me to carry on with business after hours. Technology has improved the work-life balance. E-mail lets me stay in touch with former colleagues, business associates and personal friends. It's the best thing for networking since the business card." Employee versus Entrepreneur "Large corporations teach you a lot. I have learned much from them. I [also] have an entrepreneurial spirit, and it's difficult for that spirit to thrive under corporate structures, policies and procedures." "Working for yourself allows you to take more risks, empowers more personal decision-making and gives you a greater amount of flexibility. Being a business owner also puts you in charge of your own destiny, which can drive a person all the more." The Business World "My advice for those entering the business world is to never turn down an opportunity. No matter how small or big an event may be, always be ready and willing to participate. I never said no to anything I thought could help me in developing my career or myself, and there isn't one experience I regret." If you would like to contact Kathryn Bielunis, her e-mail address is KBielunis@GMail.com.