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Episode Summary
Welcome to our 50th episode!! This week we have a VERY special guest to celebrate, Megan Tamte! Megan is the Co-Founder, Co-CEO, and Chief Brand Officer for Evereve. Together with her husband, Mike, they have built what started as a single store in Edina, MN to over 100 stores nationwide!
Megan shares with us how the idea for Evereve first came to her through a horrible dressing room experience she had 26 years ago. She walks us through the seven year process of dreaming and brainstorming before they officially opened their first store in 2004.
We also dive into the culture of Evereve and how Megan intentionally created a culture of HEART (Humility, Empathy, Authenticity, Relationships, and Tenacity) values. She also shares how a VERY special expert helped her take these values and scale them to her growing business, you definitely do not want to miss this pop-out!
Finally, Megan shares what exciting trends we can expect for fall and where to find an Evereve near you to stock up!
In this episode you’ll learn:
1:00 Our 50th episode is here!
2:20 FREE Business Blueprint!
3:00 Holly introduces how she knew of Evereve and Megan and how she met her one day in an Evereve store
6:22 A brief breakdown of HEART values before we learn the whole story from Megan herself
7:25 Welcome Megan to the podcast
8:15 Evereve's origin story, Megan's horrible dressing room experience 26 years ago
10:00 Holly's experience shopping at Evereve and how it makes her feel
11:45 Megan's fashion philosophy for Evereve, making fashion warm and approachable for all women
14:05 The importance of talking about your dreams and goals in life with fellow supporters and dreamers
17:20 After 7 years of brainstorming, Megan is feeling unhappy in her professional life and looking to make a change
19:00 Committing to herself to start every morning alone in quiet time to reflect and brainstorm
20:10 How asking herself, "What did you do in 5th grade on the playground for fun?" pointed her back to the idea for Evereve
21:30 Wrestling with the fear and self doubt of going after her dream
22:30 Spending three months writing down her dreams for the business
24:36 Her husband and Co-CEO, Mike Tamte, reviews what she has put together and makes a formal business plan
25:15 The magic $1,500 / day number that had to be met
26:45 Officially opened their flagship store in Edina, MN in 2004 - 7 years after she had the idea
28:30 Megan and Mike's vision since day one for an Evereve brand versus single store
30:40 What they learned after opening their first store and how they had to work outside their natural strengths while they grew the business
33:00 Megan shares how her "Founding Leaders" have and continue to be an integral part of Evereve's culture and success
35:25 Megan breaks down Evereve's HEART values culture and how she intentionally went about scaling the culture along with the business itself
38:30 How the amazing Brené Brown helped Megan better define and refine her HEART values culture
42:35 The importance of accepting help from others
46:00 The one key strategy Megan believes always leads to success
48:45 A day in the life of Megan, how she builds her days and more
53:10 The inspiration she gets from traveling to stores and abroad
54:35 How Evereve handled COVID with the help of their HEART values culture and the ability to work together and quickly pivot
56:15 How Mike's financial transparency with the company builds trust
57:58 Megan breaks down the boards she sits on, how she decides who to work with and how she can provide them value
60:55 How her Warners' Stellian board seat has pushed her outside of her comfort...
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Episode Summary
Karina Muller and Lana Gendlin from HeartCentric Divinations join us on the podcast this week to share their exciting mission to bring pendulums to as many people as they can! Karina and Lana share how their careers in consulting and art curating, respectively, led them to where they are today, founding their joint business, HeartCentric Divinations and Coaching.
Together Karina and Lana break down the basics of pendulums; what they are, how they work, and how they can help you listen to yourself for the big and small questions we face in life. Karina and Lana share how pendulums are a tool that we can use to help guide us through decisions and strengthen our ability to trust ourselves.
These women are so passionate about spreading the message of pendulums that they even wrote a book about it! Pendulums & Intuition: Practical Advice for Trusting Your Inner Wisdom, launching June 6th, available for pre-orders on Amazon now!
In this episode you’ll learn:
1:00 Holly briefly introduces the basics of pendulums
1:45 Jill Loftis episode referenced!
6:10 Holly introduces Karina and Lana and shares how they originally met
6:42 Heather Boschke episode referenced!
7:55 Lana shares her background as an art curator and what brought her back to Minnesota
10:05 Karina shares her background in tech and eventually product marketing and consulting
12:00 How Karina and Lana met during COVID and eventually started HeartCentric
13:00 Figuring out their business during the tail end of the pandemic
14:08 Lana explains what "creative wellness" is and why it is so important
15:20 What is a pendulum? Karina and Lana break it down!
18:30 The kinds of questions you can ask your pendulum
20:05 What a pendulum looks like and how to use it
22:15 Holly shares her hands on experience finding her pendulum with Karina and Lana's help
26:40 The importance of listening to your pendulum and not "over-riding" it
29:00 Learning to build trust within yourself through your pendulum
32:45 How to not bias your pendulum and the optimal state of mind to be in
38:36 Pendulums are NOT crystal balls, they are one data point in time
43:00 How Karina and Lana use their pendulums to help organize their schedules as entrepreneurs
44:30 Marrying the data WITH intuition
48:13 Learning to use a pendulum to sharpen your intuition muscle
54:45 Karina and Lana's book: Pendulums & Intuition: Practical Advice for Trusting Your Inner Wisdom, launching June 8th, preorder now!
59:00 What to expect from their book including the history and science of pendulums, how to incorporate pendulums into your life, and how to sharpen your intuition and more!
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Episode Summary
This week we have Lee Funke, founder and CEO of Fit Foodie FInds! Lee comes in the podcast studio to share a VERY exciting new business venture for her and her team at Fit Foodie Finds!
Lee also shares why she started Fit Foodie Finds in college, and what inspired her to build the community that is still growing with her today! Throughout our conversation you will quickly notice the key ingredient to Lee's success... listen on to hear for yourself!
Finally, Lee shares advice that she has for other entrepreneurs out there wanting to take the plunge into their own business. As well as how her work / life balance and mental health journey has grown and changed through the years. With the help of her team members she is able to follow her passions and continue to grow her successful, $1M dollar business!
In this episode you’ll learn:
1:00 Holly introduces this week's guest, Lee Funke!
5:02 Lee shares when she first started Fit Foodie Finds and why she wanted to create a community in college
8:42 After several side hustles (including Fit Foodie Finds) Lee shares when and why she finally decided to go full time with her business, Fit Foodie Finds
10:20 The importance of team work and collaboration that Lee integrated into the business when it was time to take on team members
11:05 Why an entrepreneur needs to identify areas to outsource and the investment that takes
13:24 How collaboration and team work can help you identify and follow your passions within the business
16:05 Lee's approach to being a CEO and how she fosters an environment of transparency for mutual success
18:00 Rosie's Dill Pickle Martini recipe we referenced!
18:50 Lee announces her next business venture, HodgePodge! A unique food truck collaboration with Forgotten Star Brewery in Fridley, MN!
19:58 A break down of the initial conversations that inspired this new venture and what the process was like as they collaborated to build the menu, infrastructure, and marketing
25:00 The biggest challenges Lee faced when creating this new business and how her and her team overcame them together
31:30 How Lee's relationship with work / life balance has developed through the years
34:50 Gaby Dalkin podcast episode!
35:28 Why Lee and her team feel compelled to use their platform for mental health and women's health issues
37:40 The impact recent Google SEO changes have made on Lee's business
40:26 The time Gwyneth Paltrow made Fit Foodie Find's recipe for Sweet Potato Crust Quiche AND tagged her!
42:28 What's next for Fit Foodie FInds, including taking a deserved break for summer and family time!
43:45 Lee's advice to any entrepreneurs on the fence out there, including her original blog post, A Leap of Faith, when she first decided to make Fit Foodie Finds a full-time career and business
45:05 Lee's husband, Mark Funke's new business Little Ember Co. get saunas delivered to your home today!
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Episode Summary
This week I sit down with Haley Westfall, founder and owner of The West Collective and co-founder of Collab Culture. Haley shares how she started working in corporate America in high school, which led to almost twenty years within the corporate healthcare industry. It wasn't until she was laid off... twice within six months that she knew something had to change.
That was when Haley, through the help of her friends and community, found herself with a social media strategy and content business. One client turned to two, to three, and so on before she was running her own successful business. She was officially her boss and no longer had to worry about getting laid off... until she laid off herself!
Haley realized with the help from her tight-knit women's entrepreneurial community and self-reflection that even though her business was succeeding, she wasn't happy. Instead of feeling defeated, she decided to go back to square one and create a business again, this time with the utmost intention in her purpose and strengths.
In this episode you’ll learn:
2:43 Haley's intro and background
3:45 Haley started her healthcare corporate career in high school, stayed in that industry for 20 years
4:10 Sharing her experience getting laid off from her corporate job
6:14 She quickly found another corporate job, but after six months in she was laid off AGAIN, this time two weeks before Christmas
8:30 Taking the time to process and figure out her next move
15:00 Learning to shed her corporate "polished" image in lieu of an image that is more authentic to her and the business she is creating
19:04 The importance of releasing the "shame" of getting laid off and sharing your story is therapeutic and brings you more credibility as an entrepreneur
21:55 Leaning on entrepreneurial friends and started her business of social media management and strategy for small businesses
23:05 Business is successful, but Haley didn't feel completely fulfilled or aligned
24:45 Her decision to end that business and start over AGAIN, this time with more intention and purpose
27:36 Inbal Claudio episode referenced!
28:08 Connected with three other entrepreneur women and created their own community to build each other up and help with each other's businesses
29:30 Community is NOT just all rainbow and sunshine, it is showing up and holding people accountable to be the best version of themselves
30:30 Learning to shed the corporate habits and behaviors we all learn that no longer serve us as an entrepreneur
31:40 Officially launched her new business, The West Collective, in 2023 with the help of her own community and the self-reflection she had done for herself
32:15 Haley started her own podcast, The Table Podcast
34:30 The impact of creating a business with purpose can have on your entire life, your joy and happiness will radiate for all to see
35:50 Giving yourself the permission to pivot and trusting yourself are keys to success
38:47 Identify your strengths! 70% of individuals are not able to see what their own strengths are in the world
39:12 Asking people around you what they think your strengths are and journaling the feedback to better identify your strengths and how you can find your purpose
43:20 Haley's desire to ditch the mold of networking and create spaces and events where people feel seen and heard
47:19 Link to Haley's FREE monthly community calls that you can join!
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Episode Summary
This week we sit down with my personal business coach, Lisa LeBlanc. Lisa is a wife, mother, and grandmother as well as a certified life coach and weight loss specialist with No BS Weightloss. I share how I naturally met Lisa, and how our coaching relationship evolved from personal weight loss to business.
Lisa shares how her entrepreneurship story started when she was a young wife and mom with three kids under five. Out of necessity Lisa decided to start her own daycare business, but it wasn't long before her own kids were in school and she had a waitlist of parents and kids. After over twenty years in that business Lisa had reached burn out and was ready for a change.
Lisa began to prioritize herself again and reflect on how she has always been coaching those around her through the years. She decided to invest in herself and get her life coach certification and become part of a coaching team at No BS Weightloss. Throughout this episode you will hear the coaching techniques Lisa uses with clients (and herself) to help them overcome their own negative thoughts. Lisa and I role play two common scenarios Lisa runs into with new and existing clients, as a glimpse into what a coaching session with her looks like!
In this episode you’ll learn:
2:14 Holly introduces Lisa LeBlanc, her personal business coach
2:58 Corinne Crabtree episode that is referenced in this episode!
5:55 Lisa shares how she started her first business as a daycare provider, out of necessity
6:47 Her old mindset of "If you build it they will come" and how that gave her success, but never gave her the opportunity to celebrate any of that success
7:50 Five years ago Lisa felt burned out from the daycare business she had built and was looking to make a change
8:25 Lisa joins Corinne's No BS Weight Loss program and starts prioritizing herself again
11:25 What led Lisa to pursue her life coach certification and the financial investment that goes into that decision - it was time for her to invest in herself!
14:02 Through coaching and self reflection, Lisa learns how she is in control of her thoughts
15:50 Her journey to becoming a coach at No BS Weightloss and the extensive interview process she went through
22:50 How to stop getting in your own way and the coaching to help you
24:49 The importance of listening back to your own thoughts and reflecting and editing them
25:30 Mock Coaching Session Example #1 Corporate woman who wants to start her own business but can't quit her job AKA steady income and insurance
29:20 Why you need to look forward in life and NOT backward if you want to make changes in your life
33:07 Lisa shares her approach to getting out of her own head and why it is important to "get quiet" or "get in your body" in order to reflect
36:43 Why Lisa thinks journaling is so important to reflect and filter your thoughts and experiences
44:15 Mock Coaching Session Example #2 A corporate woman who has a horrible boss that does not treat her well or appreciate her work and feeling a loss of control with her work environment
48:30 How taking action, any action, reminds you that you are in control
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Episode Summary
This week we sit down with Angel Holmes, the Founder and CEO of Sipindipity, LLC. Sipindipity is your one-stop shop for all social media marketing and branding for small businesses. Holly shares how she and Angel met, and how Angel blew her away with the branding and social media posts that Angel and her team created for her.
Angel shares with us how entrepreneurship is something she knew she wanted to pursue since childhood. As a Charleston, South Carolina native, she has created a community and network for herself that has helped her grow personally and professionally through the years.
We get to hear about Angel's philosophy of "over-deliver", and her goal of helping as many people as she can to find and chase their passions. She shares the importance of social media for a small business today and the most common mistakes business owners make when it comes to their social media strategy. Finally, she shares some best practices on how to create a conversation with your ideal customer via social media.
In this episode you’ll learn:
4:07 How Holly and Angel met, hint... it was through a fellow podcast guest!
7:00 Angel's background and the role her father had in her pursuit of entrepreneurship
10:09 When she lost her business in 2020 due to the pandemic, and how she pivoted and overcame that setback
12:36 Angel shares her deep desire to empower fellow entrepreneurs and the importance of perseverance to succeed
22:30 The importance of time blocking and how it sets Angel up daily for success and the balanced life she wants
28:05 Why social media is an important tool for your business and Angel's best practices for business owners
33:45 How to create a conversation with your audience that fosters a relationship instead of constantly selling
39:12 The MOST common mistake Angel sees business owners make when posting on social media and how to avoid it!
45:45 How offering free products or advice is the best way to authentically and organically grow your business and personal brand
46:36 The importance of sharing the love on socials, you need to engage and support others, especially if they support you
53:26 Angel's "over-deliver" philosophy when it comes to business... and life!
59:00 Sign up for Angel's FREE social media guide and templates
1:03:00 Holly shares her personal experience working with Angel
1:04:36 Angel's PDF bio not only outlines her professional accomplishments but allows you to get to know her as a person too. As she says, "The good, the not great at the time, and the funny"
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Sipindipity, LLCSipindipity's InstagramAngel's InstagramLinkedIn
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Episode Summary
This week I sit down with Yusra Mohamud live and in person! Yusra shares her story growing up in Minneapolis, how she got her start in community outreach, and what led her to start her own consultancy business, Yuspire Consulting, to help small businesses succeed. Yusra is also a member of the Lake Street Council in Minneapolis and was an integral part of helping with the rebuilding of the community after the events of June 2020.
Yusra's commitment to our community is also shown through her podcast and YouTube channel, Eat & Talk MN. She and her co-founder, Gilbert, wanted to create a space to share local stories from "unsung heroes".
When she isn't helping grow and build her local community, Yusra also loves to travel and spend time with her son. She shares with us her recent experience traveling to Turkey and Saudi Arabia, and why traveling and experiencing the world for yourself is so important.
In this episode you’ll learn:
0:52 Ready to finally take that idea and turn it into a business? Let me help you for FREE!
1:43 Yusra's background and story growing up in South Minneapolis
5:28 Becoming a boy mom and how that impacted her career path
6:00 While working at a bank Yusra gets the opportunity to help with community outreach and join the Lake Street Council as an advisor in 2018
7:52 Pursuing her passion for helping people and her community while leveraging the tools and resources the large bank she worked for had to grow her own skills
9:30 Why Lake Street is a vital cultural corridor to the Twin City community and how it feels like home to Yusra
13:16 Yusra describes her first-hand experience on the ground following the murder of George Floyd in June 2020
15:22 Leaving the corporate world behind to work full time for Lake Street Council following the events of June 2020, where she was able to help the community raise $12 million dollars to rebuild
18:21 Yusra shares her experiences since June of 2020 and how we as a community, nation, and even world have made improvements but also what work still needs to be done
21:43 The importance of putting yourself in different spaces than you normally occupy and why it is GOOD to feel uncomfortable
28:26 Yusra shares her recent experience traveling to Turkey and Saudi Arabia
32:14 Yusra shares what surprised her most about women in Saudi Arabia and why it reinforced the importance of travel and experiencing the world for yourself
37:00 What it was like experiencing Mecca and the thriving community surrounding it
40:33 Eat & Talk podcast and Youtube channel was born in 2020 to highlight the community's "unsung heroes" with the goal of "good conversation feeds starvation"
43:05 The surprising international singer who got her start on Eat & Talk years ago
45:29 Yuspire Consulting and the importance of helping small business owners know their strengths
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Episode Summary
Today we chat with Martha Bitar, CEO of Flodesk! Martha got her start in the tech industry in Silicon Valley. It wasn't long before she took the skills she learned from Silicon Valley and put them to work for herself by starting Flodesk. Flodesk is an email design and marketing tech company that helps small businesses build community with their customers through on-brand and beautiful emails. Martha shares what inspired her and her business partner, Rebecca Shostak, to start Flodesk, what it's like to be a disruptor in an established industry, and why an email list is so important to transform the relationship you have with your new and existing customers!
Throughout this episode, you will hear the integrity and love that Martha and her teams pour into their work to ensure their customers have everything they need to be successful. This is especially apparent when Martha shares two unique challenges Flodesk faced and how they overcame them AND gained more trust with their customers in the process.
In this episode you’ll learn:
1:48 Holly's experience with being an OG Flodesk customer and how an email list can help you build your business
4:08 Martha shares how she and Holly first met, years ago - connections are everything!
5:48 The importance of feedback from customers, especially at the beginning
7:36 What inspired Martha and Rebecca to start Flodesk, despite the "nay-sayers" they originally encountered
9:30 Martha shares how an email list levels the playing field between small businesses and big companies
12:00 The importance of understanding and connecting with your ideal client
13:50 How being an "outsider" in the industry can bring a fresh perspective and disrupt the existing competitors, no matter how large they are!
15:50 Overcoming their first major company challenge and how it only STRENGTHENED their customer relationships and trust
19:50 The power behind "Made with love in Flodesk," what a product viral loop is, and how it benefits you, your customers, and your future customers
22:53 The difference between scaling hours to dollars and scaling digitally
27:32 Martha shares the amazing feat of being a tech company that has NEVER raised funding from outside investors, and how you can too!
30:48 The importance of listening to your customers for their "pain points" and not their "solutions"
34:42 The recent domain changes Google and Yahoo made and the impact that had on Martha and her team
37:02 Why it is important to look at the full picture when going through business challenges
41:50 The difference between social media and email lists and how they're both more powerful when used together strategically
45:15 How email lists level the playing field between small businesses and their large corporation competitors - email is connection
49:51 Flodesk is expanding their team with two exciting new roles!
51:57 Save 50% on your first year with Flodesk!
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Episode Summary
Today we have a special episode and guest! I am LIVE in the podcast studio with Heather Boschke. Heather is a marketing executive with over twenty years of corporate experience turned entrepreneur with her business, Vogel Venture. She shares how after getting fired twice and laid off once, she finally was ready to take the leap of faith to start her own marketing business. Using her experience with corporate she was able to take the lessons and processes learned and leverage them within her own business and to help her small business clients.
With no longer worrying about fitting the "corporate mold" Heather was even able to find her creative side again and started ANOTHER business, Buddha Birdie. Combining her love of birds and drawing, she was able to create two children's books.
Heather shares with us the importance of talking to people about your ideas / business and letting yourself get quiet enough to listen to your own voice. She shares what are the most important priorities and values in her life and how she lets those guide her to make the best business and personal decisions. In other words, what gives you energy versus what drains you of energy?
Finally Heather shares with us her most important message for listeners, "BET ON YOURSELF!" We are all born with purpose and passions in our lives, and it is our job to find them!
In this episode you’ll learn:
1:46 Heather's experience with climbing the ladder in Corporate America and still getting thrown off
3:11 Giving herself a six-month timeline to build her own business
4:00 Letting go of expectations and leaning into the ride
5:21 How being written up for "disobedience" helped her realize that she no longer wants to try and fit the "corporate mold"
10:06 Using Corporate America as a master class in processes, people, and business that you can leverage for your own business and clients
13:12 Defining what Vogel Venture is as a business
18:36 We are more than what we are paid to do, we are multi-passionate individuals
19:20 Normalizing getting fired or laid off, it happens to the best of us!
23:04 The Sunday Truth Gun: Are you looking forward to the next week?
25:25 Enough versus more; how chasing more for more's sake can keep you from your purpose and passions
27:57 Stumbling in your business is ok, and sometimes is what you need to accelerate faster than you ever could
28:38 Forcing versus flow; what gives you energy and what drains you of energy?
32:24 Get quiet and listen to yourself and learn to trust in yourself
37:30 Pushing through negative self-talk; notice the thought, normalize it, and then neutralize it
40:02 The power of writing down your dream and saying it OUT LOUD
42:25 When it feels too good to be true, that means you are in alignment!
43:00 Heather's experience on live television and what helped her prepare for that new experience
45:36 BET ON YOURSELF, we are all born with purpose and it is your job to find and follow it!
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Episode Summary
Have you been wanting to start your own business for awhile now, but you have no idea where to start or how? Then this is the podcast episode for you! In this episode I break down my FREE step-by-step guide, the Business Blueprint! Listen along with me as I walk you through each step to get you closer to your goal, starting your own business! As we discuss each of the six steps in the Business Blueprint I provide more context and examples to help guide you and get you started on your journey. Finally, if you still have any questions after listening, I would LOVE for you to reach out to me for help! Below you will find my calendar link to book a 20 minute FREE consultation to help get you started with your own business!
In this episode you’ll learn:
0:38 Download my FREE Business Blueprint guide to follow along in this episode with each step
2:15 Shifting your mindset from 'employee' to 'boss' and what does that look like for you
2:36 Step #1 Create your vision for your ideal workday, environment, and energy
6:28 Step #2 Your strengths, what inspires you, brings you energy, and makes you feel confident?
10:15 Step #3 Define your ideal client, who do you want to work with? Because YOU get to choose!
13:15 Step #4 Your offer, what strengths do you have that you can offer to your ideal client?
16:14 Step #5 Strategy, commit to five activities over the next five days that will immerse you in your industry and around your ideal clients
19:41 Step #6 Plan, once you have your five action item next steps, look at your week and see what could cause you to not complete these items and find ways to work around these obstacles
21:55 Book a consultation with me to discuss any questions or ideas you may want to bounce off someone, I am here to help!
22:09 Join the Consultant Code waitlist to make sure you get a spot in my next class that will be launching this spring!
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Episode Summary
In this week's episode, we break down everything that goes into the conception, launch, and ongoing production of a podcast. Have you always thought about starting a podcast but immediately feel overwhelmed when it comes to next steps? ME TOO! Listen to hear how I overcame those initial overwhelming emotions, and how you can too!
This episode breaks down the equipment I use and tips to consider when looking for your own, best practices for interviewing guests, and how to conduct authentic interviews that'll be sure to captivate your audience.
We also discuss the details of actually producing your podcast and best practices to keep in mind as you begin your podcast journey!
In this episode you’ll learn:
5:34 Why I decided to launch my podcast back in 2020
8:31 How I defined the goal and audience for my podcast
14:26 How I prepare before an interview while still allowing room for true organic conversation with my guest
21:41 What equipment I use for my podcast and tips on how to pick the best equipment for you
24:35 The importance of a sound editor and how to find one
27:23 "Be like Oprah" or in other words, be present and curious with your guest to create a real conversation for your audience
30:02 How to choose branding without letting it delay you from launching your podcast
32:11 How I named my podcast and the best practices to keep in mind when naming yours
34:32 How to promote your podcast across your platforms and why you owe that to your guest
36:15 The importance of asking your guest to share their episode
38:17 Creating a guest pipeline and ideal guest profile
40:53 The details on how to book guests and prepare them prior to the interview
42:48 The resources I use to produce each podcast (links below)
45:27 How to prepare your guest before an episode goes live
47:17 The importance of learning the production process yourself first
Links Referenced in this Episode:
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Microphone
Camera
Captivate (podcast hosting platform)
Canva (podcast artwork)
Rev (AI transcript)
Squarespace (website hosting platform)
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Episode Summary
In this week's episode, I interview Inbal Claudio, a wife and mom of three as well as a three-time entrepreneur. She is originally from Israel and currently resides in southern California. As a candle maker turned tech founder, turned community builder, Inbal's passion for empowering women entrepreneurs has led her to create Like Minded Collective. LMC Is a social media platform for dreamers, creators, and female founders to connect and learn from each other.
The genesis for creating this community started when Inbal was searching for a community herself. She kept being bombarded by business coaches, influencers, and other entrepreneurs all trying to sell their services without getting to know her or her business. That is when Inbal realized she needed to create the community she wanted. One where genuine connections can be made before any true 'business' is discussed or exchanged.
If you are interested in community; how to find it, build it, and organically grow it, Inbal has the insights to help. As an introvert herself, she knows how difficult it can be to make genuine connections with new people. Listen as she breaks down how she makes her events introvert-friendly to ensure everyone feels supported and welcomed from the minute they arrive.
Inbal's mission is to make sure every single female founder (no matter what stage their business is in) knows how incredible they are and they have the support that they need. Throughout this podcast, you will hear how she works towards her mission, and the challenges she has faced and overcome throughout that process.
In this episode you’ll learn:
5:46 Inbal's desire to create community from the start of her working career
6:36 Starting and growing a candle company
9:08 Avoiding spam-y business connections and finding genuine people to connect with
12:25 Creating a space for women entrepreneurs without selling or being sold to
18:06 How to start a community from scratch and grow it organically
22:32 Listening to your community's feedback and making changes in your business
36:44 Overcoming the 'ick' of charging for in-person events, know your worth!
42:21 Accepting help from your community to ensure your live event success
47:30 Making in-person events introvert friendly
48:10 Anatomy of Inbal's events: Networking, brainstorming, and workshopping
50:40 Growing her community through key community member partnerships
1:00:10 Community is a feeling
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Episode Summary
Today we take a look back on the lessons and accomplishments of 2023. From restarting my podcast and launching a 'Women in Tech' specific series, to creating a women's networking group in my community. Listen along as I share my experiences, challenges, and thought processes. My biggest lesson learned, motivation is not required to accomplish your goals! I hope you can learn from lessons as you set out to start your business or reach your 2024 dreams.
In this episode you’ll learn:
1:05 A review of my lessons and accomplishments in 2023.
2:58 Accomplishment #1 - What I learned from re-launching my podcast on a topic that scared me.
3:58 What often gets in my way when launching new ideas and how I use it to my benefit.
12:42 Accomplishment #2 - Lessons learned from creating the IRL community I wish existed.
19:37 My top lesson learned in 2023 and why you must apply this to your goals!
25:09 The system I use to work efficiently and get more done each day (and how you can apply this system too).
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Episode Summary
In this week's episode, I interview Nancy Korsah, founder of Black Business Enterprises and a powerhouse entrepreneur whose life story is a testament to resilience and determination. Nancy walks us through her life's journey, and believe me, the first time I heard it my mouth was agape (and yours probably will be, too!).
Nancy's journey begins with her roots in Italy born to Ghanaian parents. As a teenager, Nancy tells us how she arrived in Los Angeles with just $175 and embarked on her entrepreneurial path by cleaning houses, unaware of the fame of some of her clients, including Ozzy Osborne.
Her worldview expanded during her time as a flight attendant, where she mastered seven languages before settling in Charlotte, North Carolina. It was there that she observed wage disparities for people of color and took action. This led her to found Black Business Enterprises (BBE) in 2015, dedicated to empowering minority entrepreneurs globally by providing vital resources such as financial literacy, mentorship, and access to capital.
With a membership of over 72,000 in 32 countries, Nancy's mission with BBE is to impact a million lives through rigorous financial training and aims to raise $4 million for larger grants. Beyond BBE, Nancy is involved in multiple ventures, including owning a home care agency, conducting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) training, mentoring entrepreneurs, and hosting popular podcasts and events like the Black Business Enterprises podcast and the Black Business Ball.
Join me as we delve into Nancy's remarkable journey, her unwavering dedication to empowering others, and her vision for a more equitable entrepreneurial landscape.
In this episode you’ll learn:
4:55 Being the only African family in Nancy's hometown
9:19 How food makes culture and Nancy's favorite African dish
12:10 Nancy's first impressions of the United States
15:44 Homeless in LA: Nancy's first business and $1M
23:05 From business owner to international flight attendant
23:08 International parties: Nancy's second business
32:51 From flight attendant to banking
35:39 The catalyst to why Nancy started Black Business Enterprises (BBE)
39:27 Nancy's favorite BBE success story
44:22 How Black businesses are severely underestimated
47:59 What Nancy created that she'd always wish existed
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Black Business EnterprisesInstagram
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Episode Summary
This week I interview Gaby Dalkin, a trained chef, recipe developer, entrepreneur, and New York Times best-seller food/lifestyle writer. I had the pleasure of meeting Gaby in Mexico on one of her food adventures organized just for her community! I've loved getting to know Gaby, her business, and the people she brings together. It was on that Mexico trip that I knew she MUST be on the podcast, so you can get to know her, too.
Gaby recently launched her latest venture, Dalkin and Co., and shares her journey on how she's grown her company and created a community of raving fans, including the super simple formula she applies to her business - daily. We also talk about Gaby's favorite pinch-me moments and her plans for the future, including a new book and expanding the Dalkin and Co. product line.
Gaby has built her entire empire from the ground up, so if you're looking for a dose of inspiration and to see what's possible when it comes to starting or scaling YOUR own business, you'll love this episode!
In this episode you’ll learn:
4:53 How Gaby went from PR to culinary school5:53 Working as a private chef8:28 Taking What's Gaby Cooking full-time 11:08 How Gaby built What's Gaby Cooking14:13 The approach that changed EVERYTHING with What's Gaby Cooking17:08 Gaby's method to building a loyal community20:19 Gaby's motto for living life and how she embodies it23:42 Gaby's favorite "pinch me" moments25:54 What fills Gaby's cup28:54 How Gaby launched her new product line, Dalkin & Co.30:29 Advice for starting something new (even when you're scared)34:16 What's on Gaby's Friendsgiving table36:30 The key to in-person event successChat With Me + Download Business Building Tools:
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What's Gaby CookingDalkin & Co. Instagram
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Episode Summary
In this episode, I dive into the captivating world of astrology and entrepreneurship with former yoga studio owner and astrologer, Jill Lofits.
Jill's journey unfolds as she shares her initial lessons from owning a business, the unique challenges she faced as a woman business owner in the South, and her decision to sell her yoga studio. We learn about Jill's evolving definition of success and why traditional business plans may not always be the answer to launching a successful business.
Jill's transition into astrology is a pivotal moment in the episode, as she discusses the unexpected shift in her career and the possibilities it offers as a business model. She takes us deep into the world of astrology, explaining the essence of astrology charts and how astrology can serve as a guiding tool in life's complex decisions.
We also explore how to harness the power of the universe and astrology for launching a business or making big decisions. We end the episode discussing why women must build and find a supportive community and the importance this type of solidarity plays in the entrepreneurial journey.
In this episode you’ll learn:
06:41 - The first thing Jill learned about owning a business.10:58 - Jill reflects on her experiences as a woman business owner in the South and the unique challenges she faced.17:30 - Jill's journey takes an unexpected turn as she sells her yoga studio and her definition of business success evolves.18:57 - The importance of ditching textbook business plans and trying alternative approaches.
23:50 - How Jill pivoted from owning a yoga studio to a new venture in astrology.
27:42 - Astrology as a viable business model – exploring its potential and unique challenges.
34:36 - The essence of an astrology chart and what can reveal.
41:23 - How astrology can serve as a guide to navigate life's complexities and decisions.
44:01 - Harnessing the power of the universe and astrology to start a business or take a significant leap.
49:43 - Discover when the stars align for launching a new business venture according to astrology.
53:07 - On building a supportive community of women, highlighting the importance of solidarity in business.Chat With Me + Download Business Building Tools:
Start Your Business For Free >>HERE<<Create a compelling business idea in 6 steps InstagramConnect with my guest:
www.NuitAstrology.comInstagram
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Episode Summary
In this episode, Ofelia Ponce, owner of Abogados Cafe, shares her journey from Honduras to Minnesota and how she launched the first Latina-owned coffee shop in the Twin Cities. Ofelia's journey is a testament to determination, perseverance, and the pursuit of her passion for coffee and hospitality.
Ofelia shares her unique perspective on being an introvert in a highly social industry, her unwavering dedication to her dream in the face of challenges, and her commitment to her core values, which includes partnering with women-owned in unexpected parts of her business.
In this episode you’ll learn:
4:05 How Abogados Cafe got its name
5:30 How Ofelia met her husband and business partner
8:51 What made Ofelia decide to open a coffee shop
11:37 On being an introvert in an extroverted industry
16:44 What makes Abogados Cafe truly unique
19:05 What it means to be the first Latina-owned coffee shop in the Twin Cities
23:22 What keeps Ofelia going and determined to succeed
28:41 Sourcing coffee grown by women
36:05 Ofelia's biggest lessons
41:59 On hiring and building a company culture
51:34 Building creativity into the coffee brand + what's next for Abogados Cafe
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Abogados CafeAbogados Cafe on Instagram
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Episode Summary
In today's episode, I interview Melissa Wong, co-founder and CEO of Zipline, a leading retail communication and store execution software that supports 80 of the world's most iconic brands.
Melissa is a remarkable entrepreneur who dared to embrace the unknown and transform her life from a corporate employee to a visionary leader in the tech industry. She is also the author of the book, "Stores Don't Suck," which focuses on helping stores achieve their highest success.
Melissa's story is one of resilience, determination, and unwavering belief in the power of possibility.
In this episode you’ll learn:
3:38 The retail problem Melissa decided to solve
8:30 How Melissa met her co-founder
13:53 Melissa's mission
15:54 How Melissa decided to leave Gap and start her own thing
19:17 Being part of an accelerator
21:47 How Melissa produces the most important conversations
23:57 On being a woman of color in Tech
29:28 On managing self-doubt
31:36 Managing a major setback in life
35:50 The importance of taking just one step at a time
39:44 When doors open
47:10 Melissa's book and on being an author
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ZiplineLinkedIn
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Episode Summary
In this episode, I chat with Kimberly Minor, the CEO of Bumbershoot Group, which provides interim C-suite leadership and leadership development, process creation and improvement, and cultural transformation.
Together, we explore vital topics such as career plateaus and making yourself visible in the workplace. We dive deeper into the significance of sponsorship and the intersectionality of race and gender, emphasizing why leaders must be conscious of this intersection as they promote and build their teams.
Kimberly shares actionable steps on how individuals can make themselves seen in the workplace, why sponsors (not mentors!) are critical for success, and how to land high-visibility leadership roles.
Kimberly also provides her insights into the concept of intersectionality, where race and gender overlap, how this impacts individuals' experiences in the workplace, and why leaders must pay attention to intersectionality when building teams and promoting their people.
In this episode you’ll learn:
3:48 Kimberly's background
6:27 Why Kimberly started Women of Color Retail Alliance
12:40 On gender parity and lifting ALL women
15:01 Asking for what you want and conquering fear
25:27 How to harness your power to get what you want in life
30:20 How to make yourself truly seen by others
36:28 Why we should stop looking for mentors and look for sponsors
40:41 How to attract a sponsor
45:35 On being a businesswoman vs. a DEI representative
50:37 Why diversity should be a given
52:00 The intersection of gender parity and race
55:50 What happens when leaders don't consider race and gender when grooming leaders
59:17 A call for conscious leadership
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[email protected] of Color Retail AllianceLinkedIn
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Episode Summary
In this episode, I had the honor of sitting down with a truly remarkable woman, Ramitha Meloor. Ramitha's inspiring journey from a near-fatal bus accident to becoming a top leader in the retail technology space is nothing short of extraordinary.
Ramitha opens up about her accident that shook her life to its core. She shares the challenges she faced during her recovery process, both physical and emotional. While this accident could have easily derailed her dreams and ambitions, her journey of survival against all odds is a powerful reminder that the human will can overcome even the darkest of moments.
This episode is a testament to the power of the human spirit and the incredible heights that can be reached through determination and perseverance. Ramitha Meloor's story will leave you inspired, motivated, and believing that no matter the odds, you can rise above adversity to achieve greatness!
In this episode you’ll learn:
4:26 Ramitha's Intro
8:36 On being an (almost) solo parent
13:04 Ramitha's life-changing moment: the accident
23:13 How Ramitha managed her mindset while being on bed rest
25:00 How Ramitha learned to walk again
32:08 Ramitha's workout routine today
35:10 The importance of self-advocating & seizing opportunities
44:27 Suggestions for male leaders
49:16 Why disappointing people is a good thing
52:14 Being a mother and a leader
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Ramitha Meloor - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ramitham
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