Written by: Mara Williams
Jeremy Buzanis (BComm’ 19) is the founder of Platinum Lead, a marketing agency that offers customized AI-enhanced digital marketing systems to small businesses. He and his team have helped many businesses grow their leads, sales, online presence, and long-term customer relationships. The foundation of this successful business was built during Jeremy’s time in the Commerce Co-op program at Dalhousie University, where he completed two entrepreneurial work terms to launch Platinum Lead. These work terms allowed him to develop business intelligence, communication skills, and get his business off the ground without any venture capital or investors. “I like to think my Entrepreneurial Work Term experience was the sandbox and foundational time to set my business and mindset up for success.”
Advice for Future Entrepreneurs
Having built a successful business from scratch, Jeremy is well positioned to offer advice to anyone hoping to follow a similar path. His own experience has taught him that it is not an easy journey: there will be late nights, early mornings, and a consistently packed schedule. He stresses the importance of being willing to tackle the front-end marketing and sales aspect of business ownership, as well as developing back-end business processes to deliver value to customers. In addition, continuing to learn and grow to stay ahead of market trends while managing a business is essential to entrepreneurial success. Believing in yourself and in your idea despite any naysayers will help you get far. “If you are creative and want to help companies or people grow with whatever you are working on, follow that pull, tend to that ember, and grow it into a roaring flame inside of you.” It requires personal dedication and sacrifice, but Jeremy’s experience has taught him that is also incredibly rewarding.
Practical Experience
Getting the chance to dive into the world of entrepreneurship during two of his three work terms taught Jeremy more about business operations than he could have ever learned solely in a classroom. He developed many essential skills, such as how to build websites, manage sales funnels, image creation, and copywriting. Through this experience, he learned how to create digital marketing campaigns that would yield real results for clients depending on him. In addition, he learned how to acquire customers and build long-term, profitable, trusting relationships. By participating in entrepreneurship in a real-world setting, he was exposed to the constantly changing economical dynamics that business owners operate in. “The amount of time, energy, and sheer faith you must have to get your business idea off the ground, into a startup, and then scaling is impossible to learn in the classroom.”
Unforgettable Moments
Jeremy’s work terms were filled with valuable experiences and memorable moments that stick with him to this day. Initially, launching Platinum Lead required Jeremy to hustle and pitch his services to customers looking for solutions to their marketing challenges. The very first proposal he ever put together for his first client sticks out as a significant milestone. After practicing his pitch countless times and ensuring perfection in all the details, his hard work paid off, and the client signed on the spot. “That moment of validation — realizing that someone was willing to pay me for something I created — was indescribable.” This was the moment he realized that taking the leap and developing his venture was going to be worth the hard work.
Entrepreneurial vs. Traditional Work Term
In addition to his entrepreneurial work terms, Jeremy first completed a traditional co-op with O’Regans Mercedes-Benz that provided valuable foundational skills. Working in a conventional corporate space taught him the importance of adhering to a schedule and helped him develop a system that worked for his personal business goals. “The structure I received from the traditional setting helped set me up, now and when I was in my entrepreneurial work terms, because I didn’t let myself create excuses.” Working for yourself requires motivation and discipline, since there is no other boss to answer to. By gaining that traditional experience, Jeremy set himself up for success in his entrepreneurial endeavors.
In fall 2024, Management Career Services reached an incredible milestone of 20,000 business work terms for students in the Bachelor of Commerce Co-op, Bachelor of Management, and Corporate Residency MBA programs. These programs have produced a diverse group of alumni who have made significant contributions across industries. To learn more about their stories and the impact of these work-integrated learning programs, visit our website.