Meet Alexey Lizhnyk CEO of MakeStoryboard
First of all, how are you and your Team doing?
Hello, we are positive and motivated about what we are working on. Seeing your work help other people’s creativity is a good feeling.
At the same time, the biggest part of our Team is in Ukraine right now, and it’s a difficult time for us and all Ukrainians. I’ll take the opportunity and want to ask your readers not to stop supporting Ukraine in this terrible and bloodthirsty war that Russia started.
Tell us about you, your career, and how you founded MakeStoryboard?
I am a software engineer with more than 15 years of experience. My focus and passion are to use my developer’s skills as art to improve and simplify customers’ interaction with online services. During my career all time I have tried to find areas where I can use my skills the best.
While one of the talks with my sister about her job, she is a video maker and described the whole process. I told her I could improve the process of storyboard creating and communication with her client by developing a small web service for her.
In three weeks, I have released the first version of MakeStoryboard and allowed people to use it for free. Even with a few competitors on the market, many people have started to use MakeStorybord and request more features. I have phone calls with all of them to understand their processes. Step by step, by adding new functionality, understanding the process of creating video better, and investing more time in the project rapidly from a small project, it has grown into a sustainable SaaS product.
What is MakeStoryboard?
MakeStoryboard is a web service that allows you to create a professional storyboard within a few minutes, share it with your Team and clients and collect feedback.
Why did you decide to become a business owner?
It happened naturally. I want to have wider responsibilities than an employee position can propose. As a business owner, I like to be evolved in the decision-making at all stages, from communication with the customers to delivering new features, analyzing them, and collecting feedback.
What is your biggest success?
I’d say. The biggest success is to stay optimistic in the face of all the challenges we face in life.
How much time do you spend working on your business each day?
It is really important to keep the balance between work and recovery. I had times when I worked 60+ hours a week, but the risk of burnout became quite high. I have the rule to work each day except Sunday to move the process of developing and improving the project continuously.
What advice would you give beginners who want to start their own Technology Company? How do you advertise your business?
When I was a 20 years old guy, I liked to play computer games a lot. In a few years, I made a company building my favorite game. If you lose, you start from scratch. Never stop as long as you have the strength. Express yourself within your company. I believe it helps to succeed.
What is the future of MakeStoryboard? Where do you want to see MakeStoryboard in the next 5 to 10 Years?
We want to attract more creative people to use MakeStoryboard. We are improving it each day. In 5 years, we will provide even more useful products for our customers to improve their workflow and grow as a company.
Finally, what would you like to say to CEO Advertising readers? Your final thoughts?
I don’t consider myself in a position to advise an established CEO. It seems that persistence and perseverance in one’s business help overcome all difficulties.
Narattor: Alexey Lizhnyk
Company: MakeStoryboard
Website: www.makestoryboard.com
