“Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.” - Arthur Ashe

From Side Hustle to Full-Time Success: Emily Kocian-Dery Shares Her Entrepreneurial Journey

Recently, Go Juni Go founder Emily Kocian-Dery was interviewed by the Eden Prairie Chamber about her journey into entrepreneurship, the story behind her business, and her passion for helping small businesses grow online.

For Emily, entrepreneurship was always part of the plan. Growing up with parents who owned an insurance agency, she saw firsthand the freedom, flexibility, and community impact that came with running a business.

"I knew someday I wanted to build something of my own," Emily shared.

But her path wasn't a straight line.

Emily began her career as a K-12 art teacher before moving to Seattle with her husband. While there, she pursued coursework in user experience (UX) design and eventually transitioned into the corporate world. After returning to Minnesota, she built a successful career as a User Experience Architect while helping small businesses with marketing and advertising on the side.

For more than a decade, Go Juni Go existed as a side hustle.

Last fall, Emily decided it was time to take the leap and build the business full-time.

"I have three young kids, and I wanted more flexibility and more control over my future," she explained.

The name Go Juni Go comes from a special family memory. During maternity leave with her daughter Juniper, Emily's oldest daughter would cheer, "Go Juni Go!" as her baby sister learned to roll over.

Emily immediately knew it would make a perfect business name.

Today, that same spirit of encouragement and growth is at the heart of everything she does.

Go Juni Go helps small and mid-sized businesses generate leads through Google, Facebook, and Instagram advertising while improving the customer experience behind every click.

What makes Emily's approach different is her background in UX design.

Many businesses focus solely on driving traffic, but Emily believes success comes from optimizing the entire customer journey.

"It's about making it as easy as possible for someone to become a lead or customer," she said.

From website navigation and forms to booking systems and landing pages, Emily helps business owners identify and fix the hidden issues that may be costing them leads.

One of the most common mistakes she sees is business owners becoming too close to their own systems.

"When you're busy running the business, you don't always realize something is broken," Emily explained.

Her advice is simple: regularly test your own website, click your links, and walk through your customer journey as if you were a first-time visitor.

Small improvements can make a significant difference in conversion rates and lead generation.

One of the most rewarding parts of entrepreneurship for Emily has been connecting with other business owners, especially women entrepreneurs.

"There are so many incredible women building amazing businesses," she said. "I've been inspired by how supportive and encouraging the entrepreneurial community can be."

As Go Juni Go continues to grow, Emily remains focused on helping business owners simplify their marketing, improve their online presence, and create systems that support sustainable growth.

Her advice for aspiring entrepreneurs?

Start before you feel completely ready.

Test your ideas, build confidence through action, and trust yourself to figure things out along the way.

Sometimes the biggest growth happens when you simply decide to go for it.

And in Emily's case, to Go Juni Go.

Check out the full article here >

Click the link above to read the whole member blog post article from the Eden Prairie Chamber.