Deepti Babu saves time using digital strategies from AWE — Alberta Women Entrepreneurs

Meet Deepti Babu

Deepti Babu is the founder and solopreneur behind Integrity Content Consulting, a company specializing in medical writing and content strategy services. With a background as a genetic counsellor, Babu has dedicated her career to communicating complex genetic and health information in a way that’s easy to understand, helping individuals make informed decisions about their health.

[Executive Summary]

Integrity Content Consulting, founded by Deepti Babu, faced challenges typical of a growing solopreneur-led business: limited capacity with a rising volume of work, manual processes, and the need for a robust digital strategy. Babu knew she had to prioritize building digital infrastructure, streamlining repetitive tasks, and finding a supportive local community.

Through Alberta Women Entrepreneurs’ Bold Leadership program, Babu gained access to valuable resources, learned from advisors and peers, and implemented automation and tracking systems that significantly improved her business efficiency. The results? Time savings, increased lead quality, and enhanced business operations.

[Introduction]

Food Writer Turned Solopreneur in a Niche Industry

Deepti Babu started her journey in the content industry as a food writer nearly 25 years ago. She transitioned to medical writing in the early 2000s, building a niche in a field she is passionate about. She later launched Integrity Content Consulting in 2020. 

As her business grew, Babu brought on occasional subcontractors to meet the increasing demand for her services. But like many solopreneurs, she faced new challenges and realized she needed guidance and support from a connected community. 

[Challenge]

A Solopreneur in the Midst of a Balancing Act 

Nearly 4 years into running her business, Babu’s capacity to take on new projects and manage existing ones was stretched thin. The manual processes she relied on were time-consuming and inefficient, limiting her ability to scale the company. 

“I often write about cutting-edge technology, yet I wasn’t going ‘cutting-edge’ in my business. As a solopreneur, I have limited capacity, so I knew that staying low-tech just didn’t make sense anymore,” Babu says. 

It was clear that Babu needed a more robust digital infrastructure to manage her growing operations. She needed to build a sensible digital strategy to automate repetitive tasks, improve project management, and free up her time to focus on higher-value activities. She also wanted to find a local community of like-minded entrepreneurs for support and collaboration.

Babu hoped that a comprehensive program specifically designed for entrepreneurs would provide the necessary resources and community to address these challenges. She planned to measure success by tracking time savings and evaluating the quality of leads coming into her pipeline, as well as overall business efficiency.

[Discovery]

Seeking Deeper Business Insight

Babu received AWE’s newsletter and was intrigued by the organization’s Bold Leadership program. Despite her initial uncertainty about meeting the program’s requirements, she was selected for an interview and felt an immediate connection with the AWE team. The program’s curriculum, timeline, and group activities appealed to her, offering the right balance of structure and flexibility.

“I wanted to work on my business and move things out of my head and into structured tools, ideas, and plans. I knew that participating in Bold Leadership would make me accountable to a digital strategy,” Babu says.

The program’s online learning environment and sense of community also felt like the right fit.

“I currently have a strong professional network in my field, but not many people physically near me. I wanted something that would connect me to my local community of entrepreneurs,” Babu says.

[Solution/Results]

Maximizing Business Potential Through Digital Tactics

Bold Leadership’s thoughtful onboarding process provided Babu with access to a robust online learning portal filled with tools and resources. The well-organized and straightforward setup allowed her to easily integrate these resources into her daily operations. 

Through the program, Babu was also able to access grant funding for technological upgrades, enabling her to try the right tools to enhance her operations.

In addition to her new digital infrastructure, the biggest benefits Babu got from the Bold Leadership program were time savings, improved project management and efficiency, and greater business insights.

“You have to carve out the time to get the greatest value out of the course. It’s worth it, if you can do it” she says. “Working with the advisors was the most validating piece.”

Digital Infrastructure Supports Business Growth 

Babu implemented a digital strategy that automated many repetitive tasks like meeting scheduling, email communications, and lead qualification, resulting in a significant reduction in the time she was spending on these activities. This allowed her to focus on more complex and creative work and more effectively use her time.

The lead tracking and evaluation systems introduced through the program are also helping Babu qualify and track leads more efficiently. She now operates her business based on data-driven insights rather than on instinct alone, providing her with a clearer view of her business performance and opportunities for growth.

Technology Enhances Client Experience and Saves Time

Automated scheduling and follow-ups streamlined Babu’s client interactions, making the process simpler and more efficient — and enhancing the client experience. 

The automations reduced administrative burdens, too, giving Babu more time to focus on strategic tasks and content creation. In turn, this shift increased her capacity to take on new clients and projects.

Improved Project Management and Efficiency

The introduction of robust project management tools through the Bold Leadership program allowed Babu to organize her workload more effectively. These tools facilitated better tracking of project timelines, deadlines, and deliverables, ensuring that all tasks were completed efficiently and on time.

Babu can now handle more projects simultaneously, maintaining her goal to deliver timely and high-quality services.

Enhanced Business Insights and Decision-Making

The implementation of tracking and evaluation systems provided Babu with valuable insights into her business operations. By analyzing data that she now tracks, she has gained a clearer understanding of her business strengths and areas for improvement.

Operating on data-driven insights alongside instinct allows Babu to make informed decisions that drive business growth. This strategic approach has led to better resource allocation, improved client targeting, and ultimately, a more successful and sustainable business model.

[Future]

What’s Next for Integrity Content Consulting?

Looking ahead, Babu intends to stay connected with her Bold Leadership cohort, participate in AWE’s webinars and events, and explore future courses relevant to her business needs. The confidence she gained through Bold Leadership has equipped her with the skills and strategies necessary for ongoing success.

“I’m looking forward to exploring new ways to share my skills after completing Bold Leadership,” Babu says. 

She’s also nearly finished with a refresh of her company’s branding and website, aiming to explore new ways to offer her skills and services. And, as the recent President of the National Society of Genetic Counselors, Babu is committed to supporting future leaders in the field. She is also considering expanding Integrity Content Consulting’s services to include career advising.

Discover how AWE’s Bold Leadership program can transform your business.