Search past winners/finalists


  • MESA logo

BBSA, Dover, Delaware, United States: Anna Stella, Founder

Company: BBSA, Dover, Delaware
Company Description: BBSA is a global outsourcing marketing company dedicated to helping small and large enterprises grow and thrive. We offer specialized marketing solutions to businesses while eliminating substantial workloads from their client's operations. With offices in the US, UK, Hong Kong, & Virgin Islands, BBSA is the only company offering a unique 24-hour, seven-day-a-week business model across the globe.
Nomination Category: Management Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Executive of the Year - Advertising, Marketing & Public Relations
2023 Stevie Winner Nomination Title: Anna Stella, Founder of BBSA, Academic Researcher, and Marketing Expert
  1. Which will you submit for this nomination, a video of up to five (5) minutes in length or a written essay of up to 650 words? Choose one:
    Essay of up to 650 words
  2. If you are submitting a video of up to five (5) minutes in length, provide the URL of the nominated video here, OR attach it to your entry via the "Add Attachments, Videos, or Links to This Entry" link above, through which you may also upload a copy of your video:

     

  3. If you are providing a written essay for this nomination, submit in this space an essay of up to 650 words describing the nominee's accomplishments since 1 January 2021:

    Total 7 words used.

    Anna Stella, the founder & CEO of BBSA, is a pioneer in global marketing outsourcing.
    She has significant milestones in her academic and professional journey, including an
    MBA from Henley Business School, where she earned a scholarship for winning the
    Institute of Directors competition. Additionally, she holds an MA in Strategic Marketing
    Management from Kingston University and a BA(h) in Communication and Marketing
    from Nottingham Trent University. Anna is pursuing a Doctorate at Strathclyde
    University, focusing on "Outsourced Marketing Services for small-sized businesses."
    The unique 24/7 business model

    In 2021, Anna introduced BBSA’s unique 24-hour, seven-day-a-week business model,
    enabling all clients to get marketing support anytime. No other marketing agencies in
    the world operate with this business model.

    [REDACTED FOR PUBLICATION]
    BBSA now has offices in the USA, U.K., the Virgin Islands, and Hong Kong and has
    expanded its dedicated and diverse team to 30+ marketing experts.
    Since our establishment in 2012, BBSA's goals have extended beyond acquiring new
    clients; we aspire to "democratize marketing." We aim to make marketing accessible,
    affordable, and flexible, even for smaller businesses, just as it has traditionally been for
    larger organizations with more flexible budgets.

    Leadership and organizational culture

    Anna is a vibrant leader with a personality to match. She bases BBSA's work on six
    pillars:

    - sustainability

    - passion for great marketing

    - discipline and commitment to clients

    - data-first approach

    - inclusivity, and

    - mentorship.
    Her team attributes their loyalty and strong work ethic to Anna's inclusive leadership
    style, driven by her passion and love for marketing. Under her leadership, BBSA has

    built a positive working environment prioritizing employees' growth and well-being.
    Aside from ongoing marketing training, since 2021, BBSA has provided to all staff:

    - specialized diversity training,

    - flexible work arrangements,

    - mentoring programs, and

    - mental health resources.

    Realizing the societal impact of inclusivity and diversity, Anna has woven these values
    into her business. With more than 67% of the staff being women, BBSA has established
    fair pay policies that ensure that all employees are fairly compensated regardless of
    race, gender, religion, orientation, or cultural background.

    One of the defining moments at BBSA was during the pandemic when Anna led her
    team to a global scale, making great marketing and customer dedication the
    cornerstone of BBSA's reputation. In 2021 BBSA changed focus, moving from serving
    clients to serving the business community. We made every single client, small or big, a
    priority by offering them personalized experiences and a few free marketing activities to
    help them sustain their businesses. [REDACTED FOR PUBLICATION]

    Going green

    Anna is an avid marathon runner. Her motto, “Why take the car when you can run to
    your meetings?” summarizes her dedication to sustainability beyond mere certification;
    she actively seeks to assist BBSA and her clients in attaining sustainability and
    protecting the environment.

    To mark its 10th anniversary in 2022, after getting green-certified by GreenAmerica,
    BBSA launched a ‘reafforestation initiative’ that involves planting a tree for each new
    client joining BBSA. Through this program, we’ve successfully planted [REDACTED FOR PUBLICATION] trees to
    date. While we acknowledge this is just a small contribution to the broader global
    sustainability challenges, the campaign created awareness, as every little counts.
    To date, Anna still doesn’t drive a car and has never taken business-class flights.
    GreenAmerica recognized Anna’s work in 2023 and listed her as a ‘remarkable leader’
    in their GreenAmerica Network publication.

     

  4. In bullet-list form (up to 150 words), provide a brief summary of up to ten (10) of the nominee's chief achievements since 1 January 2021:

     

    Total 7 words used.

    [REDACTED FOR PUBLICATION]

    3. Moved the industry forward: Concluded the three-year entrepreneurship study

    "The Great Small Business Study," Collaborated with Strathclyde Univeristy to

    conduct a major study on marketing outsourcing.

    Anna is due to publish a book on small business marketing in late 2023.

    4. Awards won in 2023:

    - Won the Brainz Awards

    - Became a finalist of Convrt Awards

    5. New business operations in Hong Kong

    6. Launched a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week outsourcing business model in 2021

    7. Diversity targets: commitment to diversity and inclusivity. 67% of BBSA staff are

    women

    8. Green-certified by GreenAmerica (2022)

    9. Launched the ‘Reforesting Campaign’ to mark our 10th anniversary.

    [REDACTED FOR PUBLICATION]

    10. Media: Anna was appointed Guest Executive Contributor for ‘Forbes’ and

    ‘Brainz’

     

Attachments/Videos/Links:
Anna Stella, Founder of BBSA, Academic Researcher, and Marketing Expert
JPG Anna_Stella_MIL.JPG
PDF [REDACTED FOR PUBLICATION]
PDF Media_Mentions.pdf
URL Website:
URL Sustainability / Reforesting Initiative: