For Emily Kocian-Dery, entrepreneurship was always somewhere in the background. Growing up with parents who
owned their own insurance agency, she saw firsthand the flexibility, independence, and community impact that came with running a small business.
“I just saw the amount of independence they had owning their own business and the impact they had in the community,” Emily shared. “I kind of knew that’s what I wanted to do eventually.”
Today, Emily is the founder and Digital Marketing Strategist behind Go Juni Go, a Minnesota-based business helping small and mid-sized businesses grow through paid digital advertising and user experience strategy.
But her path into entrepreneurship was anything but traditional.
From Art Teacher to UX Strategist
Emily originally began her career as a K-12 art teacher before transitioning into the corporate marketing world after moving to Seattle with her husband. While there, she pursued evening coursework in user experience (UX) design, eventually working as a User Experience Architect at U.S. Bank after moving back to Minnesota.
At the same time, she quietly built her side business helping small businesses with marketing and advertising.
“I’ve been doing consulting for probably 10-plus years helping small businesses,” Emily said. “It was always my side hustle, and then I decided to go all in last fall.”
That decision came after years of balancing corporate work, consulting, and family life.
“I have three little kids, and I needed more flexibility,” she explained. “I also wanted to create more financial independence and security outside of the corporate world.”
The Story Behind “Go Juni Go”
The name Go Juni Go has a meaningful family connection behind it.
During maternity leave with her middle daughter, Juniper, Emily’s oldest daughter created a cheer while watching her baby sister learn to roll over.
“She kept saying, ‘Go Juni Go!’ and I remember thinking that would make such a great business name,” Emily laughed.
While her oldest daughter may still be “a little jealous” the business wasn’t named after her, the family-inspired brand reflects the personal and approachable nature of Emily’s work.
Making Marketing Easier for Small Businesses
Go Juni Go specializes in paid digital advertising across Google, Facebook, and Instagram, primarily serving small to mid-sized businesses looking to increase online leads and visibility.
Many of Emily’s clients are business owners who have already built strong in-person networks and referral systems but are ready to grow online.
“They’ve usually been in business for three to five years, have their sales process figured out, and are looking to sustain or grow their lead generation online,” she explained.
What sets Emily apart from many marketing consultants is her deep expertise in user experience design.
For Emily, successful marketing is about far more than just running ads.
“It’s making it as seamless as possible for someone to become a lead,” she said. “From the first click all the way through someone booking a call or making a purchase online.”
That includes everything from website flow and branding consistency to simplifying forms, fixing broken links, and optimizing layouts.
“If you have a broken funnel or a broken user experience, you might be running people into an issue where they can’t become a lead,” Emily explained. “It’s super important that everything is streamlined and optimized before you start running paid ads.”
Common Marketing Mistakes Businesses Make
One of the biggest issues Emily sees with small business marketing is that owners are often trying to do everything themselves.
“When you’re in the business running the business, sometimes you don’t realize something is broken,” she said.
She recently worked with a client whose online booking system had become difficult to navigate without the owner even realizing it.
“She was losing leads and didn’t know it,” Emily explained. “That’s why I always tell business owners to constantly test their experience. Google yourself. Click your own links. Make sure everything is working.”
Emily also encourages business owners to simplify rather than overcomplicate their marketing systems.
“Sometimes it’s not about doing more,” she shared. “It’s about trimming things down and making it easier for someone to become a client.”
Supporting Women in Business
One of the most rewarding parts of entrepreneurship for Emily has been connecting with other women business owners.
“What surprised me most is how many women in business are just crushing it,” she said. “There’s such a culture of lifting each other up.”
As Go Juni Go continues to grow, Emily has found herself increasingly working with women-owned businesses, particularly in the health, wellness, and spiritual practitioner spaces.
Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
For those thinking about launching a service-based business, Emily encourages people to start small, test their idea, and build confidence gradually.
“If you can do it as a side hustle for a little while and prove that you can get clients, that’s where I’ve seen the most success,” she said.
For more information or to Connect with Emily visit gojunigo.com
