Christine Channer August, also known as Fab, is a multi-passionate entrepreneur. She is the CEO of Channer Consulting and Training and hosts a podcast called The Fab Collective. Hopeful optimism is what drives her day to day, always keeping the big picture in mind.
Over a year ago Christine left her previous employment. “I can't say that entrepreneurship hasn't always been a part of who I am. I've always had a side hustle of some capacity. Leaving my job was that final push. I've always taken this posture of service and doing things with integrity. When there was a misalignment of values in previous roles, it was my opportunity to do things the way that I wanted. I believe clients deserve to be treated with full transparency and true collaboration.”
Channer Consulting and Training is a customized solution to training needs for businesses because training staff is at the core of every customer-centric business. “I've been in situations where I've noticed training is not considered. I always give the example if there's this massive hotel or structure that's going up, but then once the structure is erected, who's going to work there?”
Christine’s business assists other businesses in bridging the gap between starting a business and assisting with sustainable growth. The solutions her company provides are very customized to her clients’ needs.
“I'm very client-centric in everything that I do. I make the clients a priority. It's about literally being a partner. Not to say that my business survives off of air and unicorns, obviously there's a financial component, but I just truly have the mindset of working hand in hand with clients.”
Christine places a large emphasis on making her strategies easy to follow and to helping her clients in every way she can. Often, she has several phone calls before a contract is signed so her clients can have piece of mind before investing. She also lets her clients know of what funding is available to them to assist them in paying for her services, or to keep another aspect of their business running.
“If you take care of your team, if you take care of your clients, your business will take care of itself. I strongly believe that. Not everyone does. So that's why I'm doing it my own way.”
After being turned away from federal funding because her business was relatively new, a friend referred her to AWE’s The Regional Relief and Recovery Fund. When the pandemic hit, Christine reached out to AWE for some financial help. “AWE was honestly a lifesaver for my business. Working specifically with Amber and Nicole has been a dream. I'm always anticipating a ‘no’ when it comes to asking for funding, but that wasn't the case here, AWE said ‘yes’.”
To anyone starting a business right now, Christine gives the following advice, “Resiliency is only developed in opposition. As long as you are aligned with what you enjoy and your purpose, just stay the course.”
