Expanding in the Midst of COVID-19

“As an entrepreneur, struggle can always bring amazing innovation… How do we change and go forward in a way that’s current with the time?”

-Erica McMannes


Her Story of Success…

Erica McMannes is the founder and COO of Instant Teams, a company that builds and manages remote teams for companies across the U.S.. She and her co-founder, Liza Rodewald, started Instant Teams out of Erica’s own experience as an Army spouse who had to get creative about finding career opportunities that could accommodate her lifestyle. At Instant Teams, military spouses can create a free profile and be matched with remote work. Instant Teams recently closed a $1.5 million round of VC funding and has been able to continue expanding even in the midst of COVID-19 losses. Erica is also a speaker and thought leader around military spouse employment and serves on the advisory board for the Association of Military Spouse Entrepreneurs.

Though Instant Teams has lost a few clients during COVID-19, the company has also been able to bring on about 30 new employees, and they’re continuing to offer solutions for businesses that need remote work more than ever. Erica shares her optimism around the innovation that she believes will come out of COVID-19, and she explains how she’s learning to seek work-life harmony instead of balance, even in chaotic times.  

In This Episode:

Erica shares some of the biggest lessons she’s learned while building her company, from the importance of flexibility and remote work options to the power of networking. She also stresses the importance of staying true to yourself and your business, even when you’re a woman in a male-dominated space like venture capital. 

Here are some of the highlights:

  • Building remote solutions for clients
  • How COVID-19 is fostering innovation in the workplace
  • Seeking harmony instead of work-life balance
  • Lessons Erica has learned through the fundraising process

Episode Transcript

Sponsored By: This episode is sponsored by Insperity, an HR company that makes a difference. Insperity combines first class service and robust technology so you can focus on your people.