Today we’d like to introduce you to Anna Stella.
Hi Anna, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My story began on December 12, 2012, when I founded BBSA in a small kitchen in London with a vision to rethink how marketing agencies support businesses. The initial funding came from an unexpected source. I won the Italian version of the popular British game show The Cube, and I used those winnings to launch my business.
From the beginning, BBSA focused on helping businesses grow through evidence-based marketing and innovative strategies. As an academic, I’ve always believed in putting research into practice, so we’ve built BBSA around research-led decision-making, helping businesses make better decisions grounded in research instead of assumptions. One of the things I’m most proud of is the 24/7 business model, which allows us to support clients wherever they are in the world, as well as our commitment to sustainability. BBSA is green-certified because we believe businesses can achieve growth while making a positive impact.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
From my first year at university to building my career, my passion has always been marketing. However, running a business quickly taught me that being a CEO is a completely different role from the one I had set my heart on. It involves much less creative work and far more responsibility, requiring you to manage every aspect of the business, from finance and operations to strategy and people.
Fortunately, I had support and guidance to help me navigate those challenges, giving me the space to grow into the role. Even so, the part of the business I continue to enjoy most is still marketing itself.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about BBSA?
BBSA is an outsourced marketing agency that acts as our clients’ remote marketing department. We don’t believe in the traditional agency model where work is handed over and sent back. Instead, we become part of the business, collaborating closely with clients and working alongside them as an integrated member of their team.
This way of working gives businesses access to experienced marketing professionals without the expense of building an in-house department. It’s something I’m incredibly proud of because it creates genuine partnerships and allows our clients to focus on what they do best while we focus on helping them grow.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
Risk is a matter of perspective. In marketing, we are taught that you’re unlikely to stand out from your competitors and win new clients if you keep doing what everyone else is doing.
The ability to differentiate is everything. There will always be times when you need to step out of your comfort zone. At the time, those decisions rarely feel like risks; they simply feel like the right thing to do. It is only in hindsight that you realize they were risks because success was never guaranteed.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.bbsa-marketing.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theannastella/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Bobshow-TV
- Other: https://anna-stella.com/
