Writing the Third Chapter: the Journey to Founding Chapter 3

In the competitive world of startups and tech innovation, finding the right guidance can make all the difference. Enter Chapter 3, a consulting firm founded by Mary Jane Leslie, better known as MJ in the industry, who brings her wealth of experience to help businesses thrive in their pivotal growth stages.Leslie's journey to establishing Chapter 3 was anything but conventional. With a rich history of intrapreneurship, she spent years growing and managing startups from within, honing her skills and understanding of the unique challenges these companies face. "I was an intrapreneur within those organizations for years," Leslie recalled. "The next thing I knew, I was consulting and had a consulting company. It was a bit of an accident, but one that made a lot of sense."Leslie’s journey to founding her consultancy is as compelling as the name itself. Chapter 3 signifies the third chapter of Leslie's career, blending her background in public relations with a narrative approach to business. "The third chapter of a book is when the characters areset up, and the story starts getting good," said Leslie, adding this literary theme is woven into the brand, emphasizing the importance of storytelling in business growth and development.Chapter 3 specializes in offering strategic marketing, go-to-market, and growth services. Leslie and her team focus on helping startups navigate critical growth stages, particularly those in the Seed to Series A phases. "Really what we do is help problem-solve either pivots or opportunities of growth," Leslie explained. The firm's unique value lies in its hands-on approach. Unlike traditional consultants who might leave clients with a hefty playbook, Chapter 3 ensures practical application and execution of strategies. This approach ensures that clients receive not only strategic guidance but also the support needed to implement solutions effectively.One of the significant advantages Chapter 3 offers is Leslie's extensive experience with startups, allowing her to help clients avoid common pitfalls. "I know many of the weird and wonderful mistakes that people make because I made them myself," she said. "A big portion of our value is helping people avoid the potholes in that road to growth because I've hit them, some of them I’ve hit more than once." Leslie isn't alone in her mission. Melissa Roe, her right hand and the ‘other side of the brain and the business,’ brings tactical execution to the strategic vision. Together, they ensure that Chapter 3 provides a comprehensive blend of strategy and practical application.In addition to the core team, Chapter 3 collaborates with a network of experts, including a data scientist, a paid media specialist, and practical CTO and design partners. This collaborative approach enables the firm to offer specialized expertise tailored to each client's unique needs.Building long-term, trust-based relationships is central to Chapter 3's ethos. Leslie emphasizes the importance of fit and alignment in client relationships. “We usually do that over one of typically three beverages. So either a get-together for a coffee date, a beer date or wine date, and just get to know each other a little bit better make sure values align,” she said, adding this initial "dating" phase often leads to long-term engagements and where Chapter 3 prides itself on becoming an extension of the client's team.While Chapter 3 has a strong focus on tech startups, Leslie and her team have successfully expanded their scope to include non-tech clients in consulting and professional services. "Tech is part of our identity. So I think that will always be an underlying current, but we're very open and have been learning a lot in adjacent sectors with these new professional services types," she explained. Looking ahead, Leslie envisions a future of continued growth and collaboration. "We don't have aggressive growth plans. Everything's been very organic, and we look forward to continuing that trend," she said. This steady, value-driven approach ensures that Chapter 3 remains focused on delivering meaningful results for its clients, one chapter at a time.