Today we’d like to introduce you to Christina Iskandar
Hi Christina, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Hi! I’m Christina, Founder and CEO of Nurture Productivity, where we help marketing teams stress less and save time with marketing systems that empower businesses to thrive.
My journey started at Stony Brook University, where I earned my undergraduate degree in business and marketing and later my MBA, specializing in innovation. During this time, I was on the founding team of Stony Brook’s first maker space, collaborating with talented business and engineering students to create something truly impactful for our community. This experience ignited my passion for designing systems that drive productivity, efficiency, and creativity.
After graduation, I transitioned into roles at multi billion-dollar companies, learning how large-scale operations function. While this gave me a solid foundation, it was in the fast-paced environment of digital agencies where I truly honed my skills. Managing full-service marketing campaigns and leading teams, I gained invaluable experience in strategy, project management, and leadership. But, I also saw the cracks—the constant demands, inefficiencies, and overwhelming stress—that made me question the sustainability of this way of working.
The pressure eventually took its toll. I was diagnosed with a rare venous condition, which was made significantly worse by stress. When you’re stuck on the couch for hours because there isn’t enough blood flow in your legs to walk, it gives you an uncomfortable amount of time to reflect deeply on what truly matters in both your life and career. This was a turning point for me.
After my recovery, I transitioned into freelance consulting, eager to redefine how I worked. Initially, I took on every project I could and tried to be everything to everyone, but I soon realized that this stretched me too thin. The key was focus. I narrowed my expertise to building systems that reduce stress and optimize performance. And that’s how Nurture Productivity was born.
With the support of my husband and our “Barketing Assistant,” Hashbrown, I launched Nurture with a mission: to help marketing leaders streamline their workflows, regain control, and achieve more without the chaos.
Today, I work with marketing agencies and business leaders, implementing tools like ClickUp, HubSpot, monday.com, and ChatGPT to help them enhance efficiency and scale sustainably. Through everything I’ve learned—from my early days in corporate life, to navigating agency pressures, to freelancing—I’m committed to helping others avoid the pitfalls I experienced. My goal is to guide them toward success without the burnout.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The road to entrepreneurship has certainly been challenging, but incredibly rewarding. In the early days of my career, I worked long hours to rapidly build my skills, but the biggest challenge came when I got sick. I pushed my body to its limits, and that experience changed everything. It forced me to slow down, rethink my approach, and take control of my career. That time gave me the space to heal and reflect on a better way forward.
Another key challenge was learning to niche down. Coming from a full-service digital marketing background, I initially tried to be everything to everyone. That quickly stretched me too thin, and I realized it was impossible to stay on top of every area of marketing. Deciding to focus on what I do best was the turning point that shaped Nurture Productivity. Now, I focus on efficiency and systems that allow both myself and my clients to work smarter, not harder.
This clarity around my niche came during a busy period in my life. My first year in business was spent recovering from my health issues, and in my second year, I married my wonderful husband. We also stood by four of our best friends as they got married—all across the country (ahh!). It was an incredible year full of love, but juggling so much personally and professionally was definitely a challenge.
Through it all, embracing Agile project management practices and using tools like ClickUp and HubSpot allowed me not only to keep the business running but to continue growing. I’ve learned to see any failure as feedback, and that mindset has helped me adapt and grow quickly.
Ultimately, I believe we shouldn’t live to work—we should work to live. I’ve found balance in my journey, and now I help other business owners find theirs, without the burnout.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
At Nurture Productivity, we’re committed to helping marketing teams thrive through smarter systems and strategies. Our three core services are designed to transform how teams work:
NurtureProjects: We develop custom ClickUp builds that align seamlessly with your current processes, ensuring your team operates with enhanced clarity and efficiency. By removing bottlenecks and automating repetitive tasks, we allow your team to focus on creative, high-impact work.
NurtureCustomers: With tailored HubSpot solutions, we help businesses attract, nurture, and delight their ideal customers. Whether you’re just starting out or scaling rapidly, our systems are built to grow alongside you, creating meaningful customer relationships while simplifying the workload.
NurtureProductivity: Beyond standard solutions, our consulting services dive deep into your existing systems. We harmonize team structures, optimize workflows, and unlock a world of tools to support your team’s creativity and innovation.
What truly sets Nurture Productivity apart is our balance of impact and empathy. We’ve automated over 15,000 tasks, saving clients thousands of hours of manual work. But more than that, we recognize that productivity is about more than just getting things done—it’s about freeing up time for people to focus on what they love. We believe that work should nurture, not exhaust, and we’re on a mission to create work environments that prioritize balance and well-being.
The results speak for themselves: marketing teams that work with us report greater efficiency and a renewed sense of purpose and enthusiasm. Our vision is simple: create marketing systems that empower teams to thrive without burnout. Whether you’re looking to streamline your operations, strengthen customer relationships, or reimagine how your team works, we’re your breath of fresh air, here to help you succeed with clarity and ease.
Let’s build a system that works for you, so you can focus on growing your business!
Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
The Covid-19 crisis gave my husband and I the chance to completely reset our lives. Growing up in New York, we had fully embraced the hustle culture—long hours, weekend work, and always being available. It was so ingrained in us that we didn’t even realize there was another way. Exhausting and unsustainable, yet it felt normal.
When the pandemic hit, everything changed. Like many others, we transitioned to remote work, and for the first time, we asked ourselves: “If we could live anywhere, where would it be?” We landed in the beautiful mountains of Colorado. Swapping constant hustle for a life surrounded by nature, we experienced a completely new rhythm—balancing work with time outdoors and prioritizing family over never ending to-do lists.
This shift made us realize something important: does work really need to consume our lives? Can we still succeed without running ourselves into the ground? The answer was a resounding yes. There’s a better way, one that leads to both balance and powerful business results.
Living in Colorado has taught me that work should support a rich, full life—not take over every aspect of it. This mindset shift is one I now carry into Nurture Productivity. It has transformed not only how I run my business but how I live. I’m passionate about sharing this lesson with others: you don’t need to sacrifice well-being for success. There’s a more sustainable way to work that empowers you to thrive both personally and professionally.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://info.nurtureproductivity.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nurtureproductivity/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nurtureproductivity
