Expert to Know: Andriy Boychuk (Q&A Interview)

Andriy Boychuk is the CEO of Flowium (based in New York), listed on 50Pros as a top 50 firm in Email Marketing, Ecommerce Marketing & Growth, and SMS & Text Marketing.

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In this Q&A, Andriy shares his in-depth perspective, unique background, robust experiences, and insightful tips.

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How did you get into your industry?

After moving to the US in 2004, I spent 9 years working in corporate America, advancing from a junior position to Senior Project Manager at the Clarient Group, where I focused on designing integrated, smart building design solutions. In 2017, I made the transition to email marketing when I created Flowium. I actually started as a freelancer before building the agency - I used to think bringing ideas to life meant having to work myself to exhaustion. But as I moved from working as a freelancer to building Flowium, I learned that it's not only about working hard, but also about having a clear vision, being self-aware of your own strengths and weaknesses, and finding the right people to share and help you implement that vision.

What inspired you to start your agency?

At the beginning of my entrepreneurial journey, I tried doing too many things at once, offering our services to all kinds of businesses. But after reading 'The One Thing' by Gary W. Keller and Jay Papasan, I decided to niche down and focus specifically on email marketing - and so far it's proven to be a great decision for my business. I'm truly passionate about email marketing, and I'm excited to see more and more businesses recognizing its power and effectiveness compared to other marketing channels.

How do you manage work-life balance as an agency owner or executive?

Running a fast-growing agency, it's incredibly easy to become consumed by work and neglect other important aspects of life, such as family or personal health. What works for me now is having a clear structure and discipline. My workday starts at 8 AM sharp and ends at 5 PM, with time blocking for each activity to make sure I get everything planned done.

As a CEO, my role requires a lot of management and meetings with different departments within the agency. To stay organized and productive, I find it helps to divide my week into themes, dedicating specific days to meetings and other days to deep work. During meetings, my team and I prioritize actionable points instead of simply updating each other on what's happened throughout the week. Most importantly, I start every day with family time and prioritize my physical and mental well-being by incorporating exercise into my daily routine. It's these boundaries and routines that help me maintain balance.

What is the best piece of advice you've received in your career that pertains to your work, and how has it influenced your decisions?

The most transformative advice I discovered came from Michael Hyatt - focus only on tasks that you're both passionate about and good at. I know it sounds counterintuitive, and almost nobody agrees with this at first. We're conditioned to believe that success requires doing things we don't like, staying busy rather than productive.

What activities or hobbies outside of work do you enjoy that help you recharge and stay creative?

I'm a big podcast enthusiast - there's just something about podcasts that really captures my interest. I particularly enjoy listening to inspiring stories of successful individuals that leave you feeling motivated and remind you that nothing's out of reach.

When I'm not working, I love spending time with my loving wife and two beautiful daughters, and we enjoy movie nights together. I'm also an avid reader, and I actually wrote and published my first book in Ukrainian called 'American Dream. How to buy your first real estate in the US.'

Exercise is another essential part of my routine - I've found it's crucial for both my physical and mental well-being and helps me stay energized and focused.

What do you like most about your industry?

As someone truly passionate about email marketing, I'm excited to see more and more businesses recognizing the power and effectiveness of email marketing compared to other marketing channels. Lately, I've noticed even more established and traditional businesses incorporating email into their marketing strategy, and as someone who's been preaching the power of email for years, I'm glad to see that. There's also tremendous opportunity in this field - email marketing continues to grow, though there are still not enough knowledgeable email marketing technicians in the industry.

How do you ensure that your team members stay motivated and engaged in their work?

It starts with hiring the right people - we always look for team members with an above-and-beyond attitude, who are creative, passionate about their work, and who are supportive team players. But it's not just about hiring - I believe in setting higher standards for yourself and those around you. This includes ensuring great working conditions and benefits for my team. By consistently raising the bar in all areas, we've been able to transform Flowium from a small niche agency to a premium email marketing company respected by industry leaders. When you surround yourself with the right people who share the agency's values and vision, and you provide them with the right environment to thrive, that's how ideas come to life and the company grows.