Celebrating success is about celebrating your people
SuvaNova didn’t start with a business plan; it started with a spark.
What began as a quirky, one-off project for a freelance client quickly snowballed into a steady stream of work.
Before long, SuvaNova was born: a creative agency specializing in film and television production, animation, design, and visual storytelling.
The agency’s founder, Shahir, carved out a niche by supporting small businesses that lacked the time or resources to manage end-to-end visual and digital solutions.
“I saw an opportunity to form my own agency to help solve their needs. Our approach was to embed ourselves like an internal team within the client company, helping to deliver complex, creative projects with care and precision.”
That approach paid off.
Today, operating from its studio in New York, SuvaNova has collaborated with global giants like Google, Marvel, and the NFL, milestones that mark just how far the agency has come.
A memorable moment for SuvaNova was collaborating with OnLocation to design and deliver visual assets for their Super Bowl events. “The scale didn’t truly hit us until we caught glimpses of it on TV. Knowing that millions of people were watching something we had helped create was both humbling and electrifying. It was certainly a moment we felt we’d really made-it’”
But not all made-it moments are headline-grabbing.
“Other made-it moments include moving into our first office, and small wins like ensuring that if somebody sends us an invoice, we can pay it immediately. That’s important to us.”
Shahir explains SuvaNova’s North Star is to widen the eyes of their audience. “To make them smile, think, or pause just long enough to experience true delight.”
That same philosophy extends to how SuvaNova celebrates its own milestones.
“We try to pause and celebrate, whether it’s sending our team out to dinner with their families or taking a moment to reflect and explore other interests.”
Shahir explains that while they’re often focused on the next thing, celebrating together with their clients is important. Packaging up and showcasing what they’ve achieved serves as a useful branding exercise. “The US celebrates more openly than Fiji, so we’ve learned to embrace that and give ourselves permission to acknowledge the wins.”
Shahir’s observation is consistent with findings from recent Xero research, which revealed that over half of US small business owners believe celebrating milestones is important, primarily because it boosts motivation, fosters pride, and helps set future goals.
Behind the scenes, digital tools like Xero have helped power SuvaNova’s growth. “Xero is the backbone of our financial operation, from invoicing and tracking expenses to generating reports that keep us aligned with our goals. It gives us real-time visibility into the business, and it’s a satisfying moment when everything balances out and we mark a project as complete.”
Shahir’s advice to other small businesses is simple but powerful: “Celebrating success is ultimately about celebrating your people, whether that’s your team or clients. Take time to understand what makes them feel appreciated and seen. A celebration should be sincere, thoughtful and personal.”
Download Xero's report: Small business made-it moments and why celebrating them is important.