In today's technologically advanced era, companies and businesses are attempting to gain a foothold in the internet world. Doing what has always been done is not enough when conditions and customer expectations change. Applying the proper demand and lead-generation tactics throughout the year can make all the difference in ensuring an organization is able to meet its business goals. Zeefa Sayyed has set up Marathon B2B, a demand and lead-generation startup to generate leads, drive revenue and achieve business success for its clients. Marathon B2B has the broad capabilities and in-depth industry experience to assist with customers' most challenging problems. Zeefa Sayyed has over eight years of experience in various domains and has helped companies handle their operations and build a strong clientele. In recent interaction with Women Entrepreneur, Zeefa Sayyed shares more about her journey. Let’s hear from her.
What motivated you to establish Marathon B2B? Tell us about the underlying idea behind the firm and some of its most unique features.
Owning a business was a lifelong goal of mine. weighed the advantages and disadvantages of every circumstance and work environment wherever I worked. I was inspired to launch Marathon B2B by my previous employer, where I started as a regular telemarketing agent and advanced to the position of Subject Matter Expert within a year. My friend Siddique Inamdar was already operating BizzLeadz Media and was willing to join Marathon B2B. As a result, we minimized the initial setup period and began operating fully from day one. MarathonB2B has a unique quality in combining corporate and frugal cultures, which sets us apart from other companies in the conventional B2B demand generation sector. We are situated in Pune, a B2B Demand Generation market centre. Starting and growing it into a full-fledged business was challenging, but we succeeded. Currently, we are working with six clients, and many more are on the horizon.
Tell us about Marathon B2B and how it is positioned in the market.
We created Marathon B2B to bridge the gap between old and modern marketing tactics. Our most popular offerings are telemarketing, email marketing, and other lead-generation campaigns. Marathon B2B provides high-quality lead-generating programs to businesses all around the world. Every month, our process specialists meet with technology decision-makers and influencers. Our lead-generating expertise encompasses many geographies, including North America, Europe, the Middle East, and APAC. Our clients repeatedly trust our solutions. Since we began operations, we have worked with more than 6 happy clients, over 65 team members, and a 20M+ opt-in data count.
What are the various roles and responsibilities you shoulder as the founder of MarathonB2B? Throw light on some of the most critical challenges you face and how did you overcome them?
At Marathon B2B, I'm in charge of sales, HR, and finance. My main goal in sales is to increase revenue month over month and close as many deals as possible. My other priority is strengthening relationships with current clients and obtaining at least 20% more monthly revenue from them. The first challenge was being a female founder in the B2B Demand Generation sector. I've noticed that there aren't many female founders in this industry, especially in Pune, and there aren't many female co-founders as well. So, the initial difficulty was establishing myself as the company's founder before luring in the necessary skills. Siddique and Waseem, my business partners and co-founders, were crucial in founding Marathon B2B and managing day-to-day operations.
“If you maintain sincere efforts And focus on your goal, things Will work themselves out”
In your opinion, what is the one trait you possess which has helped you create a successful career for yourself? How has the past year been for us as an entrepreneur?
My self-assurance and fortitude in the face of difficulties have considerably helped me to endure and persist. The past year was fantastic, and it changed the course of my life from south to north. It was initially challenging for me as a business to get things organized. Although it was a massive undertaking to set up an office, a staff, clients, operations, and deliveries, the people I encountered along the road made it look easy. We currently have a terrific team of over 65 employees spread across India and the Philippines.
Drawing from your experience as a business leader, what would your advice be to young women and girls who aspire to become business leaders and entrepreneurs in the future?
The most significant advice is to start their journey and not bother about people's perceptions, even if the sector is male-dominated. My disadvantage was that I launched MarathonB2B at the age of 30, whereas if I had begun earlier, the company would have more than 200 employees today. Therefore, I would counsel young ladies and girls to start their journeys toward achieving their objectives as soon as possible.
Zeefa Sayyed, Founder And CEO, Marathon B2B
Zeefa has over eight years of experience working in various domains and roles. She possesses the ability to grasp the circumstances of a client or employee and respond appropriately. She began her career as a customer service agent for Airtel, and steadily advanced towards becoming the founder at Marathon B2B. She has previously worked at organizations like WNS Global Services, Capita India, XDBS Corporation, ApTask, and Incredible Marketeer ITES.
