Meet Theresa Bandru, a proud female entrepreneur & the founder of Golden Owl Consulting! She is a native of Northeastern Pennsylvania & a graduate of Temple University’s School of Tourism & Hospitality Management in Philadelphia, where she received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Sport & Recreation Management. While at Temple, she fell even more in love with the marketing, entertainment, event management, & fundraising portions of the program, ultimately leading to the opening of Golden Owl Consulting. Theresa has over 20 years of experience working with Professional-level sports teams, entertainment venues, non-profits, event venues, medical practices, contractors, technology companies, & more.  Her experience in a vast number of industries allows for adaptation & learning when molding the scope of a business's marketing practices to lead to success.   

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Q: You talk a lot about your past experiences, which ones do you feel significantly helped you now?

A: “Honestly, all my experiences have helped me in some way. Working with the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Railriders & the Philadelphia 76ers were both amazing experiences that I would never trade, but, it showed me that the office side of sports/entertainment world was not where I wanted to be long-term.  Working at The Trocadero Theater in Philadelphia gave me a glimpse into the business side of the entertainment (particularly music) industry, which now helps me to work with venue owners & bar/restaurants for their event promotions, consulting, & planning.  Working in the construction industry, ironically, opened me up to getting heavily involved in business networking right before I opened Golden Owl. Moving back to Northeastern PA I found myself working with two construction companies, one of which also had a storefront & a dental practice, which helped me learn different avenues of business operations & helped me see that I was able to multitask and take on multiple clients at once.  Eventually, I realized that my services were valuable & I could take on the challenge of operating a marketing agency & business of my own. I always preach that any experience will benefit you as long as you are open-minded about it!"  

 

Q: What is your choice of philanthropy to support & why did you choose this one?

A: "Being a founder & previous board member of The Andrew Mazza Foundation really gave me exposure to the non-profit world, unlike any that I've had before. After being heavily involved with the foundation for 7 years, it was time to step back a little as life & business changed.  Although I'm no longer a main player for AMF, I am fortunate enough to be working with the event venue that hosts their large annual event, so by the grace of God, I'm still able to work with them in a smaller capacity.  I also work with various local non-profits, so that they can have professional marketing support at a cost their organizations can afford."  If you're out in the world doing good & making a difference, we can help!!

 

Q: What would you say to business owners who are hesitant to put more focus on their marketing?

A: “I would start by telling them that they are 75% of my client base & not alone!  A lot of business owners get discouraged very quickly with marketing because it is ever-changing & difficult to keep up with.  Today’s marketing is comprised of 20-25% traditional advertising, including print (magazines/newspapers), voice (radio), & visual avenues (TV commercials). So, taking the plunge into internet marketing is a must for survival, plus, it is also much more cost-efficient.  Although it is a scary dive for those who have been in business for years, it is necessary.  I assure my clients that I am here every step of the way. They are essentially handing the image of their business over to me, & that can be scary.  I want them to know that their input is valuable, & their ideas are wonderful. I’m here to work with them to improve them & use them efficiently. I try to explain as much as I can along the way so that they are also learning & understanding the techniques that are successful not only in the current marketing world but also in their industry."

 

Q: If you had one piece of advice for business owners, what would it be?

A: “Surround yourself with like-minded individuals, both personally & professionally, & you will find invaluable connections that will help you to grow your business & help others grow theirs as well.  One of the biggest assets that you have in business is your network, which not only helps you to grow your business but also supports you professionally.  Almost all of my past & present clients have come through personal &/or professional connections.”