We recently had the opportunity to sit down with one of our favorite customers — Lauren McKinnon, Founder and CEO of Project Mockingbird. We talked with her about the change Project Mockingbird is creating in the world and how Gig Wage has made her life easier through the process.
“I’ve always had just one talent — I don’t quit until it’s right — and I only hire people with that same mindset.”
A Bit About Lauren and Project Mockingbird:
GW: Introduce your business and tell us your story: How did you decide to start your business?
LM: Project Mockingbird is a Dallas based, full-service communications agency working solely with social impact brands and nonprofit organizations. We are a change agent for social good and build movements to drive awareness for the truly game-changing work of our clients. I founded Project Mockingbird in 2018 after continuously seeing a gap in the agency market for true representation of these important brands and decided now was the time to change that.
GW: When did you know contractors would be an important part of your workforce?
LM: Building this business from the ground up by myself and with no outside funding has influenced many different business decisions. For the beginning stages of this company, I felt that hiring contractors was the best decision so I could employ the right people for the right projects and be nimble and quick in hiring decisions.
“One big positive aspect about bringing on contractors is you can hire them for a project and see how it goes before hiring them full time. This has been a game changer for us in the first year.”
GW: How is your company different than your competitors?
LM: What sets us apart is our relentless commitment to what we refer to as “mission strategy.” Our firm was built to champion social impact work, and that mission is ingrained into our DNA. As such, we work to ensure our strategy complements and furthers the vital mission of organizations while simultaneously supporting our client’s business objectives.
GW: Where will your company be in 5 years?
LM: We are intent on building a world changing empire, so over the next 5 years we will continue working towards that goal by bringing on new clients and continuing to hire the best talent possible.
GW: What tools and apps do you use to run your business?
LM: I use Gig Wage, GSuite, Slack, and Quickbooks
GW: What key factors have lead to your success?
LM: I believe that our grit and integrity have lead to our success. I’ve always had just one talent — I don’t quit until it’s right- and I only hire people with that same mindset.
GW: What advice do you have for businesses who employ contractors?
LM: Continue looking for the best talent until you find it. One big positive aspect about bringing on employees as contractors is you can hire them for a project and see how it goes before hiring full time. This has been a game-changer for us in the first year.
Lauren’s Thoughts on Us:
GW: What problem(s) were you trying to solve with our product?
LM: I was trying to find a product that was simple, easy to use, and paid my employees quickly. I also like that Gig Wage is on top of all of the tax issues that contractors face and helps support them through that process. Gig Wage is also great for Project Mockingbird because as the business grows and employs more people, Gig Wage has the ability to pay many contractors at once and grow with us.
GW: What was it like before you had our product?
LM: I was paying contractors with a check, which made things way more complicated and tedious.
“Gig Wage stands out from other options because it pays contractors quickly and offers them a great amount of support.”
GW: How does our product or service stand out from other options?
Gig Wage stands out from other options because it pays contractors quickly and offers them a great amount of support. My top priority is making sure our Mockingbirds are getting what they need.
GW: What was the obstacle that almost prevented you from buying our product or service?
LM: Well, I had wanted to hire my employees on as W-2 employees, but I realized that bringing my employees as contractors would be much more affordable.
GW: What made you happiest about working with our company? What is your biggest success story?
LM: My biggest success story with Gig Wage is their customer service. They’ve been available every single time I needed assistance or had a question. I just know they have my back and that’s a great feeling as a business owner.
GW: What are your recommendations for other companies who are fueled by a contractor workforce?
LM: My recommendation is to stay on top of your payments and stay organized. This will help both yourself and your employees when it comes time to tax season. I also would advise companies to discuss pay dates with their employees, as Gig Wage allows for flexibility which lets you put your contractors first.
“We are a change agent for social good."
We are PROUD to serve customers like Project Mockingbird and Lauren— giving her the tools to make running her business easier and giving her back TIME, so that she and her Mockingbirds can get back to changing the world. What world-changing business has Gig Wage helped you manage? We want to tell YOUR story next.
