Episodit

  • This is a special bonus episode from our friends at the Amazon & JAR Audio podcast This Is Small Business.

    This is Small Business explores the journey to success for small business owners by diving deep into the pivotal moments they have faced and conquered along the way. Brought to you by Amazon, this show is delivered through the unique perspective of a curious millennial trying to figure out what it takes to be a successful small business owner today. Episodes feature small business owners and industry experts from all walks of life who offer trends analysis, life lessons, and a different point of view. This is Small Business invites you to dig deep and find the tools you need to start, build, and grow your small business.

    If there's one thing we’ve learned over the many episodes of this show, it’s that owning and operating your own business is hard. You have to overcome challenges you didn’t even know existed.

    Thinking of becoming an entrepreneur or you’re wondering if you should stick it out? We have Dr. Laura Morgan Roberts, scholar, speaker and consultant, who studies the science of maximizing human potential, to guide us through. “I do think for every market need, for every human desire, there is an entrepreneur who is inspired and equipped to meet that need and to help for people to connect with that desire”

    And Pamela Wirth, of Hello Health, will share what she’s learned on her path to entrepreneurship. Learn from an expert and those who have been there!

    In this episode you’ll hear:

    (03:49) Why connecting with others is one of the most important traits of an entrepreneur

    (05:23) What qualities you need to be an entrepreneur

    (08:17) If you can't go all in on your business because you need the financial security of a 9 to 5, how else can you start your business journey?

    (10:24) How do you start a business if you have too much on your plate?

    (12:56) An entrepreneur is also a leader, so what qualities do you need to be a great leader?

    (15:38) What are some hurdles that entrepreneurs might have to overcome when they're thinking about starting a business?

    (18:45) What are some of the qualities you need to help you get through the tough times?

  • Back in 2006, Kiersten Hathcock was just trying to figure things out.

    She had left her job at A and E Television Networks a few years before and was bouncing around from town to town with her husband and their two kids.

    As she was, Kiersten did the very last thing that anyone expected: she founded a children’s furniture company called Mod Mom Furniture. Then in 2024, after the brand received international recognition and acclaim from Shark Tank, Elle DĂ©cor, Better Homes and Gardens, and more, she made another unexpected move: she simply walked away.

    Today, Kiersten is the Chief Marketing Officer at Moonshot. It’s a non-profit helping to spur economic development in rural Arizona. But to get there, Kiersten walked on some pretty uneven ground. She navigated a tumultuous appearance on Shark Tank, childhood trauma
even hearing the voices of dead children.

    This week, I sat down with Kiersten to hear how she went from working in the television industry to building children’s furniture by hand in her garage. Why did she make such a drastic jump to an industry she had no experience with? How did she differentiate her products in such a saturated market? And how did she learn to trust her intuition, even when she had no indicators of success to latch onto?

    Kiersten talks about:

    Identifying product/market fitHer experience pitching on Shark TankLearning to trust her instincts over everythingHow to surround yourself with the right kind of peopleHearing the voices of dead children while designing kid's furniture

    Want to sponsor season 3 of "And So, She Left"?

    We need your help to keep sharing unique and inspiring stories of women's entrepreneurship! Email us at [email protected].

    We have a website!
    Visit andsosheleft.com for full episodes, transcripts, an application form to be on the show, a list of upcoming guests and more.

    Hosted by Katherin Vasilopoulos. Made by Cansulta and Ethan Lee.
    Music by © Correspondence and © Chris Zabriskie, published by You've Been a Wonderful Laugh Track (ASCAP).

    Songs used in this episode include:

    Chris Zabriskie - "Air Hockey Saloon," "I Refuse to Accept That There's Nothing I Can Do About It," "Short Song 012823," "Short Song 022123."Correspondence - "Up + Up (reprisearise)."
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  • Growing up in the South Side of Chicago, Amanda Moncada-Perkins wanted power.

    Her family had few resources to make do with, so she became an attorney when she grew up to unlock a better future. And today, Amanda is the Founding Attorney of her own firm, Stoutegy Law. But stepping into her power as a lawyer wasn’t without some major caveats.

    Amanda was pulling brutal 70 to 80-hour weeks while she was working at major firms. She recalls crying every day at work, stretching herself to the absolute limit to outperform her colleagues. She was even put on suicide watch during a particularly dark period.

    This week, Amanda talks about how she navigated countless obstacles in the daunting world of law to found her own successful firm. How did she cope with the immense pressure and strain as a high-profile attorney? Why did she find stepping away from work to be so difficult? And how did she eventually learn to put her mind at ease without compromising the quality of her work?

    Amanda talks about:

    Overcoming overworkHow she landed her first clientSurviving a toxic work environmentUsing school to transcend her circumstancesThe vacation experience that convinced her to leave corporate

    We have a website!
    Visit andsosheleft.com for full episodes, transcripts, an application form to be on the show, a list of upcoming guests and more.

    Hosted by Katherin Vasilopoulos. Made by Cansulta and Ethan Lee.
    Music by © Correspondence and © Chris Zabriskie, published by You've Been a Wonderful Laugh Track (ASCAP).

    Songs used in this episode include:

    Chris Zabriskie - "Air Hockey Saloon," "Candlepower," "CGI Snake," "Wonder Cycle," "Short Song 012823," "Another Version of You."Correspondence - "The North Sea (version)."
  • When Janice Person was first talking about farm-to-table in the 90's, people thought she was crazy.

    Even with a journalism and communications background, she found it tough to share the perspectives of a minority group that we don’t think about very often: the farmers who grow it.

    When Janice started out, she was doing PR for the agrochemical juggernaut Monsanto. At Monsanto, she was given tools and resources to amplify the voices of farmers, a goal she’s still pursuing today through her podcast Grounded by the Farm and her company Grounded Communications. To hear Janice talk about farming is to learn what it means to speak with passion and conviction about your business.

    In this episode, Janice about her time working in the agriculture industry. What has she learned about communicating key issues about farming to people who know nothing about it? Why is she so passionate about agricultural advocacy? And what can we learn from Janice when it comes to talking about our own businesses?

    Janice talks about:

    Essential consumer outreach tipsWhy we should be worried about farmersHow to engage people outside your nicheHow a trip to her first farm changed her lifeConnecting with your customers through storytelling

    We have a website!
    Visit andsosheleft.com for full episodes, transcripts, an application form to be on the show, a list of upcoming guests and more.

    Hosted by Katherin Vasilopoulos. Made by Cansulta and Ethan Lee.
    Music by © Correspondence and © Chris Zabriskie, published by You've Been a Wonderful Laugh Track (ASCAP).

    Songs used in this episode include:

    Chris Zabriskie - "Air Hockey Saloon," "The Sun is Scheduled to Come Out Tomorrow," "What True Self? Feels Bogus, Let's Watch Jason X" "Short Song 012023."Correspondence - "Harp Routine," "In Copenhagen."
  • **SPECIAL FOR OUR LISTENERS! Use code "SHELEFT20" for 20% off an order**

    Kaylin Marcotte’s early career wasn’t particularly fun.

    But when she was training as a management consultant at IBM in 2013, she met two promising, young female founders who wanted to start a media company...called theSkimm. So, she left to become their first employee.

    Kaylin’s days were pretty demanding, and she often played with jigsaw puzzles at home to unwind. But she didn’t always love the stock imagery she was putting together. So, in 2019, she founded JIGGY. It’s a direct-to-consumer company creating jigsaw puzzles that
actually look pretty cool. And its very existence is a reminder of how important it is to have fun throughout the entrepreneurial journey.

    Kaylin talks about how she went from getting hired as theSkimm’s first employee to becoming the Founder & CEO of JIGGY. How did she transition from working at a media company to manufacturing a physical product? What was it like to create a business out of her hobby? And how do we make fun a core part of the entrepreneurial experience?

    Kaylin talks about:

    Essential lessons she learned at theSkimmThe importance of joy and play in businessHow to transition into product manufacturingHow she kept her business going after COVIDHow to give your customers exactly what they want

    We have a website!
    Visit andsosheleft.com for full episodes, transcripts, an application form to be on the show, a list of upcoming guests and more.

    Hosted by Katherin Vasilopoulos. Made by Cansulta and Ethan Lee.
    Music by © Correspondence and © Chris Zabriskie, published by You've Been a Wonderful Laugh Track (ASCAP).

    Songs used in this episode include:

    Chris Zabriskie - "Air Hockey Saloon," "And It Is There, in Those Depths," "Can You Even F****** Imagine Being a Teenager Today?" "I Don't See the Branches, I See the Leaves," "Candlepower."Correspondence - "New Year's Loops."

    Used under the Creative Commons 4.0 International License

  • Lisa Lloyd will be the first to tell you that she’s not a genius...though she certainly seems like one.

    She invented her first product at 23, a hair styling tool called The French Twister, which eventually grossed $20 million. And over the years, she went on to license seven other products; getting featured on Shark Tank, Good Morning America, USA Today, The Big Idea, and more before starting the Lisa Lloyd Marketing Group. She’s also the Founder and Chief Innovation Officer at the Invention Accelerator, a program that helps busy innovators to get their ideas off the ground.

    But not all of those inventions turned out; in fact, Lisa had still been paying off the debt from one of her products until
pretty recently. And before she started inventing, there were no early signs of entrepreneurial greatness. She actually didn’t think she was smart enough to become an entrepreneur, period.

    In this episode, Lisa shares what she's learned over 30 years as an inventor and high-profile business owner. What were her most costly mistakes, and what did they teach her? What’s the key to persisting through prolonged periods of uncertainty without becoming cynical? And what are the two types of discipline that you need to keep moving forward as an entrepreneur?

    Lisa talks about:

    Why she's not a geniusThe two essential types of disciplineWhen to buckle down, and when to give it upA less than perfect experience on Shark Tank Generating $20,000,000 from her first productHow to persist through launching your first product

    We have a website!
    Visit andsosheleft.com for full episodes, transcripts, an application form to be on the show, a list of upcoming guests and more.

    Hosted by Katherin Vasilopoulos. Made by Cansulta and Ethan Lee.
    Music by © Correspondence and © Chris Zabriskie, published by You've Been a Wonderful Laugh Track (ASCAP).

    Songs used in this episode include:

    Chris Zabriskie - "Air Hockey Saloon," "CGI Snake," "Everyone Will Notice, No One Will Say Anything," "We Always Thought the Future Would Be Kind of Fun."Correspondence - "Holding Cycle," "On Again (version)," "New Year's Loops."

    Used under the Creative Commons 4.0 International License

  • When Polina Ruvinsky stepped into a leadership role at Disney, she was told to not ask for permission.

    In 2018, she formed a women and tech employee group at the company. What started as a kind of experiment turned into a tight-knit community, allowing women at the company to come together, brainstorm, and offer support. The ripple effect of Polina’s community can still be felt: the group is now designated as a Business Employee Resource Group, or BERG, one of 100 BERGs across Disney today.

    In 2022, she founded To The SHE Power to offer mentorship, coaching and career services to women in transition. And now, she’s working to launch Hype Her, a platform to revolutionize how women gain visibility and support each other, while uplifting each other and having fun while doing it.

    Polina shares how she gave herself permission to create new opportunities for women leaders, how she learned to trust her gut, and how she dealt with what she calls “egregious leadership decisions” during her corporate career.

    Polina talks about:

    Dealing with bias and imposter syndromeHow she learned to not ask for permissionHow she formed a close-knit community at DisneyWhy she never thought she would become an entrepreneurThe "egregious leadership decisions" she experienced in corporate

    We have a new website!
    Visit andsosheleft.com for full episodes, transcripts, an application form to be on the show, a list of upcoming guests and more.

    Hosted by Katherin Vasilopoulos. Made by Cansulta and Ethan Lee.
    Music by © Correspondence and © Chris Zabriskie, published by You've Been a Wonderful Laugh Track (ASCAP).

    Songs used in this episode include:

    Chris Zabriskie - "Air Hockey Saloon," "There Are Days That I Don't," "What True Self? Feels Bogus, Let's Watch Jason X," "Short Song 020523," "We Always Thought the Future Would Be Kind of Fun."Correspondence - "Harp Routine."

    Used under the Creative Commons 4.0 International License

  • Content Warning: This episode deals with sensitive topics like suicide, PTSD, divorce, and poor mental health.

    On the surface, Tereson Dupuy has led a pretty good life.

    She successfully ran her business FuzziBunz Diapers for almost two decades and kickstarted the modern cloth diapering movement. All in all, she sold $32 million dollars worth of product.

    But beneath the surface, it’s a different story. Tereson’s dealt with trauma ever since she was little: trauma which bled into her entrepreneurial life. She’s battled abandonment and lost her son to suicide during the pandemic.

    But Tereson's traumas have actually unlocked her ability to lead with love, both for herself and those around her. The death of her son Eden in particular spurred her upcoming memoir titled "The Return of Eden", which details how he has guided Tereson along her healing journey
from beyond the veil.

    In this special Women's History Month episode, Tereson talks about:

    Making sense of suicide and lossHow prolonged trauma impacted her businessDealing with betrayal from predatory business partnersHow her son's diaper rash led inspired a $30,000,000 companyThe unforgettable quote from a Shark Tank shark that changed her life

    We have a new website!
    Visit andsosheleft.com for full episodes, transcripts, an application form to be on the show, a list of upcoming guests and more.

    Hosted by Katherin Vasilopoulos. Made by Cansulta and Ethan Lee.
    Music by © Correspondence and © Chris Zabriskie, published by You've Been a Wonderful Laugh Track (ASCAP).

    Songs used in this episode include:

    Chris Zabriskie - "Air Hockey Saloon," "It Takes a Lot to Keep a Figure Like This," "Perhaps It Was Not Properly Manufactured," "The Lower Third Hall of Fame," "Cylinder Nine," "Cylinder Four," "CGI Snake," "I'm About to Do the Second Hardest Thing I've Ever Done," "Stories About the World That Once Was," "We Were Never Meant to Live Here," "Short Song 011823," "Short Song 021723," "Short Song 030223," "The House Glows (With Almost No Help)," "I Can't Imagine Where I'd Be Without It."

    Used under the Creative Commons 4.0 International License

  • In her previous life as a corporate recruiter, Maisha Cannon put on what she describes as a kind of “mask.”

    She wasn’t fully herself. Often, she’d fade into the background to try and get ahead as a black woman in corporate America. But for Maisha, getting into entrepreneurship meant putting aside those incidents where she experienced bias. It meant stepping into herself and building the confidence she needed to start The Collab Lab, which helps Talent Acquisition professionals and Recruiters to grow their skills and careers.

    In this episode, Maisha talks about how to bring your full self to work. How did she respond to experiencing racial bias in the workplace? How did she develop the confidence to start The Collab Lab, especially as an introvert? And what’s the biggest trend affecting job recruitment right now?

    Maisha talks about:

    Getting hired at (and leaving) companies like Google and LinkedInEmbracing imperfection and the importance of launching earlyThe secrets to overcoming bias in the workplaceHow AI is being used to disrupt recruitingShedding her corporate "mask"

    We have a new website!
    Visit andsosheleft.com for full episodes, transcripts, an application form to be on the show, a list of upcoming guests and more.

    Hosted by Katherin Vasilopoulos. Made by Cansulta and Ethan Lee.
    Music by © Correspondence and © Chris Zabriskie, published by You've Been a Wonderful Laugh Track (ASCAP).

    Songs used in this episode include:

    Chris Zabriskie - "Air Hockey Saloon," "Candlepower," "CGI Snake" "Wonder Cycle," "Readers! Do You Read?," "Is That You Or Are You You?" "Short Song 021423," "Everybody's Got Problems That Aren't Mine," "Another Version of You."

    Used under the Creative Commons 4.0 International License

  • At first glance, you probably couldn’t tell that Mallory Greene is in the funeral industry.

    She’s not an older, stuffy man in a dark suit
she’s a young woman who got her start as a member of Wealthsimple’s founding team. Today, she’s the CEO and Co-Founder of Eirene, a funeral service provider that’s disrupting the industry with their affordable prices and tech-driven approach.

    Much like Mallory herself, Eirene isn’t your typical funeral company. They’re incredibly transparent with the families they serve, educating them while prioritizing their comfort to guide them through a simplified arrangements process.

    On this episode, Mallory answers questions like: how does she navigate being an outsider in the funeral industry? How do her views on mortality allow her to create strong bonds with customers? And how has she scaled her business in a highly regulated, traditional industry?

    Mallory talks about:

    What she learned as an early Wealthsimple team memberHow a regulatory battle nearly cost her her businessDistinguishing herself in an antiquated industryWhy choice and availability always winsStepping into a new leadership role

    We have a new website!
    Visit andsosheleft.com for full episodes, transcripts, an application form to be on the show, a list of upcoming guests and more.

    Hosted by Katherin Vasilopoulos. Made by Cansulta and Ethan Lee.
    Music by © Correspondence and © Chris Zabriskie, published by You've Been a Wonderful Laugh Track (ASCAP).

    Songs used in this episode include:

    Chris Zabriskie - "Air Hockey Saloon," "The Sun is Scheduled to Come Out Tomorrow," "I Am Running a Marathon with Thousands of Other Highly Qualified People Who Are All Trying to Defeat Me," "Short Song 022123," "Short Song 022823," "Short Song 030623," "We Always Thought the Future Would Be Kind of Fun," "Another Version of You," "I Can't Imagine Where I'd Be Without It," "Rewound."Correspondence - "On Again."

    Used under the Creative Commons 4.0 International License

  • Alina Kravchenko has always loved inventing.

    Alina defines her entrepreneurial success based on one simple factor: how much creativity she’s able to express as a founder. But being raised by a single mom in Ukraine and eventually becoming a single mom herself meant there was no shortage of people who looked down on them both.

    When she drained her 401K and secured a patent for SwipenSnap, her one-hand applicator for baby ointment, people laughed at her. Until the product landed Alina a spot on Shark Tank and propelled her to launch TonerBum, an ergonomic weight designed specifically for glute workouts.

    In this conversation, Alina answers questions like: why does she feel so driven to constantly create? How did she persist during times of immense stress as a single mom? And how can we determine our own versions of success as entrepreneurs?

    Alina talks about:

    Growing up in UkraineOvercoming immense self-doubtDefining success as a creative personEmbracing falls instead of giving in to failureWhy pursuing wealth will never make you happy How she created both SwipenSnap and TonerBum

    We have a new website!
    Visit andsosheleft.com for full episodes, transcripts, an application form to be on the show, a list of upcoming guests and more.

    Hosted by Katherin Vasilopoulos. Made by Cansulta and Ethan Lee.
    Music by © Correspondence and © Chris Zabriskie, published by You've Been a Wonderful Laugh Track (ASCAP).

    Songs used in this episode include:

    Chris Zabriskie - "Air Hockey Saloon," "There Are Days That I Don't," "The Lower Third Hall of Fame," "Does It Exist or Do I Have to Create It?" "Cylinder Six," "Wonder Cycle," "I Am Running with Temporary Success from a Monstrous Vacuum in Pursuit," "I'm About to Do the Second Hardest Thing I've Ever Done," "Short Song 010923," "Another Version of You." Correspondence - "Harp Routine."

    Used under the Creative Commons 4.0 International License

  • Bisila Bokoko says that our purpose is not defined by what we do...but by who we are.

    Growing up in Valencia, Spain with mixed Spanish-African heritage came with a heavy dose of discomfort. But these experiences drove her to learn more about her heritage
to become what she calls “culturally intelligent.”

    Cultural intelligence has been the key to Bisila’s success as a founder. By becoming culturally intelligent, she’s learned how relationship building can scale businesses like Mango and Zara through her company Bisila Bokoko Embassy International (BBES).

    She’s landed monumental jobs like Executive Director of the Spanish Chamber of Commerce and the Director of Valencia’s foreign exchange in New York. She’s been featured in Vogue, Forbes, Harper’s Bazaar and Vanity Fair. And today, she’s Chair of the Executive Board of the United Nation’s EMPRETEC Women in Business Awards. She even has her own Spanish wine brand.

    In this episode, we answer questions like: how do you become culturally intelligent? What’s the overlap between building relationships and building big businesses? And how can I discover my unique value proposition as a person, and communicate that value to others?

    Bisila talks about:

    How to go from local to globalHelping other women to climb laddersGrowing up visibly different in ValenciaThe trip to Africa that changed her worldviewWhy she has no employees (but plenty of collaborators)Getting hired (and fired) as Director of the Spanish Chamber of Commerce

    We have a new website!
    Visit andsosheleft.com for full episodes, transcripts, an application form to be on the show, a list of upcoming guests and more.

    Hosted by Katherin Vasilopoulos. Made by Cansulta and Ethan Lee.
    Music by © Correspondence and © Chris Zabriskie, published by You've Been a Wonderful Laugh Track (ASCAP).

    Songs used in this episode include:

    Chris Zabriskie - "Air Hockey Saloon," "I Am Running Down the Long Hallway of Viewmont Elementary," "Your Mother's Daughter," "Is That You or Are You You?" "Short Song 011723," "Short Song 020323," "Land On the Golden Gate," "Everybody's Got Problems That Aren't Mine."Correspondence - "On Again (version)," "Expanding Cycle," "On + On," "On Again," "In Copenhagen," "Longshore Drift (fragments)."

    Used under the Creative Commons 4.0 International License

  • **Use code AndSoSheLeftPod to get $150 off your WNORTH Conference Pass!**

    In 2015, Heather Odendaal founded the WNORTH conference.

    The aim of WNORTH is simple: create more pathways for women to become business leaders through networking and collaboration. For the first 8 years, Heather worked as a solopreneur. Today, she's built a small but mighty team and together, they have grown WNORTH to seven chapter cities and launched a membership program with 1300 leaders from companies like Google, Lululemon, Aritzia, and Cisco. The conference has also won a half-dozen awards and been held at swanky venues like the Four Seasons.

    In this episode, Heather talks about how to effectively motivate your team, build time off into your packed schedule, and adapt to unforeseen challenges through constant reflection and course correction.

    Heather talks about:

    How to take time off strategicallyDoing everything herself for 8 yearsThe importance of paying it forwardTaking time to step away and rechargeRecognizing her customers' biggest needsEnduring the pandemic as an events-based business

    We have a new website!
    Visit andsosheleft.com for full episodes, transcripts, an application form to be on the show, a list of upcoming guests and more.

    Hosted by Katherin Vasilopoulos. Made by Cansulta and Ethan Lee.
    Music by © Correspondence and © Chris Zabriskie, published by You've Been a Wonderful Laugh Track (ASCAP).

    Songs used in this episode include:

    Chris Zabriskie - "Air Hockey Saloon," "CGI Snake," "Everyone Will Notice, No One Will Say Anything," "What True Self? Feels Bogus, Let's Watch Jason X," "Another Version of You," "The Theatrical Poster for Poltergeist III."Correspondence - "On Again (version)," "The North Sea (version)," "Chime Hour (edit)," "Up + Up (reprise/arise)."

    Used under the Creative Commons 4.0 International License

  • Urbander CEO SamĂ­ Haiman-Marrero describes herself as an armadillo.

    She’s got thick skin, she’s scrappy, and she can smell insincerity from a mile away.

    SamĂ­ spent almost her entire life in Puerto Rico, but you can tell right away that she has roots in the Bronx. When she came back to New York to work in media and publishing, she soon found herself grappling with some harsh realities, dealing with cultural and social environments that were completely different from the ones she grew up with.

    To kick off 2024, SamĂ­ shares her best advice on self-advocacy, why communication is the most useful skill for any entrepreneur, and how her business thrived during two major economic downturns.

    SamĂ­ talks about:

    Why she sees herself as an "armadillo"Learning through observing her coworkersWhy establishing a sense of community is a mustRecognizing familiarities in an unfamiliar environmentHow her cultural background has been the key to her successHer journey to finding identity in New York's media & publishing industry

    We have a new website!
    Visit andsosheleft.com for full episodes, transcripts, an application form to be on the show, a list of upcoming guests and more.

    Hosted by Katherin Vasilopoulos. Made by Cansulta and Ethan Lee.
    Music by © Correspondence and © Chris Zabriskie, published by You've Been a Wonderful Laugh Track (ASCAP).

    Songs used in this episode include:

    Chris Zabriskie - "Air Hockey Saloon," "I Refuse to Accept That There's Nothing I Can Do About It," "Candlepower," "Wonder Cycle," "I Am Running Down the Long Hallway of Viewmont Elementary," " Short Song 020923," "The House Glows (With Almost No Help."Correspondence - "Playing Field," "Longshore Drift (fragments)," "In Copenhagen," "The North Sea (version)," "New Year's Loops," "Expanding Cycle."

    Used under the Creative Commons 4.0 International License

  • And So, She Left returns January 24.

    New episodes every Wednesday.

    We'd love to hear your feedback!
    Here's a quick 5-question survey. Your answers will help us to make the show even better: https://forms.gle/5JnfCUWbgLRw1NTa8

    Hosted by Katherin Vasilopoulos. Made by Cansulta and Ethan Lee.
    Music by © Chris Zabriskie, published by You've Been a Wonderful Laugh Track (ASCAP).

    Songs used in this episode include: "Short Song 020923."

    Used under the Creative Commons 4.0 International License

  • Entrepreneurs love to set lofty, ambitious goals for ourselves
after all, it’s in our nature. But what separates those of us who reach our goals from those who don’t are the skills we obtain and use to get there.

    Leah Carr’s approach to entrepreneurship is a highly grounded one. She’s the CEO of a learning and development company called TILR (that’s T.I.L.R.). They help HR teams and people leaders to hone in on the proficiencies their employees need. Her work philosophy is simple: she chases opportunities, no matter where they crop up, over hyper-defined goals.

    Leah shares her best learning and development advice. If you’re looking to future-proof your career or your company through a skills-first approach, then this episode is essential listening.

    Leah talks about:

    Going "rogue" as a bank employeeProviding opportunities for skills developmentAbsolutely essential advice for skills acquisitionThe most important skills employees need right nowDeveloping a hyper-rational approach to entrepreneurshipDeveloping upskilling solutions for entrepreneurs and businesses

    We'd love to hear your feedback!
    Here's a quick 5-question survey. Your answers will help us to make the show even better: https://forms.gle/5JnfCUWbgLRw1NTa8

    Hosted by Katherin Vasilopoulos. Made by Cansulta and Ethan Lee.
    Music by © Chris Zabriskie, published by You've Been a Wonderful Laugh Track (ASCAP).

    Songs used in this episode include: "Air Hockey Saloon," "Everyone Will Notice, No One Will Say Anything," "Hitchcock Would Have F___ed Up Charades," "What True Self? Feels Bogus, Let's Watch Jason X," " Short Song 022123."

    Used under the Creative Commons 4.0 International License

  • Every once in a while, we hear a story that floors us. Christelle Biiga’s story is one of them.

    Today, she gets clients in front of the right podcast audiences to grow their businesses. Her company is called Exposure Maven.

    As a young girl in Cameroon, she bought into the American Dream. She knew no one in the states. Had no family or friends stateside. And could barely speak English at the time. But she still bought a one-way ticket to LAX.

    What Christelle couldn’t know was that the next few years would stretch her resilience, patience, and spirit to their absolute limits. She would find herself coping with stress, trauma, and self-doubt. And she would discover just how much she was capable of as an entrepreneur.

    Christelle talks about:

    Being illegally detained at LAXSpending 9 months in a detention centerPersistence in the face of doubt and obstaclesHow her trauma resurfaced in the middle of a shiftSharing her traumatic story and overcoming shameThe importance of staying busy and embracing unpredictability

    We'd love to hear your feedback!
    Here's a quick 5-question survey. Your answers will help us to make the show even better: https://forms.gle/5JnfCUWbgLRw1NTa8

    Hosted by Katherin Vasilopoulos. Made by Cansulta and Ethan Lee.

    Music by © Chris Zabriskie, published by You've Been a Wonderful Laugh Track (ASCAP).

    Songs used in this episode include: "Air Hockey Saloon," "And It Is There, in Those Depths," "They Call It Nature," "Short Song 011223," " Short Song 020523," "Short Song 030923," "There's a Special Place for Some People."

    Used under the Creative Commons 4.0 International License

  • If you asked your clients to describe you, what would they say? Today, customers want to know who you are. We’re living in the age of personal branding.

    Christina Minshull spent 15+ years in brand and social marketing for companies like SportCheck, WestJet, and LinkedIn. Today, Christina helps CEOs, Founders and brands unleash their LinkedIn potential through her company The Brand Audit.

    Across LinkedIn and TikTok she’s amassed a 25K following and earned LinkedIn’s Top Voice for Social Media and Brand Strategy in 2023. All without spending a dime on advertising.

    You’re about to hear Christina’s best advice on personal branding and being a thought leader on LinkedIn. She tells us why it's important, how to form deep connections with your target audience, and she shares countless bits of practical advice that will keep you and your personal brand humming along.

    Christina talks about:

    How to build trust with your audienceThe decline of trust in traditional brandsHow to build a community, both on and offlineWhy smaller companies struggle with brand awarenessThe importance of knowing yourself before building your brandWhy your family isn't always the best professional support system

    We'd love to hear your feedback!
    Here's a quick 5-question survey. Your answers will help us to make the show even better: https://forms.gle/5JnfCUWbgLRw1NTa8

    Hosted by Katherin Vasilopoulos. Made by Cansulta and Ethan Lee.

    Music by © Chris Zabriskie, published by You've Been a Wonderful Laugh Track (ASCAP).

    Songs used in this episode include: "Air Hockey Saloon," "I Am Running Down the Long Hallway of Viewmont Elementary," "I'm About to Do the Second Hardest Thing I've Ever Done," "Stories About the World That Once Was," " The House Glows (With Almost No Help)."

    Used under the Creative Commons 4.0 International License

  • No one warns you about the loss of structure when you leave the corporate womb. Suddenly, it’s all up to you.

    You’re the boss. You make the decisions. And you need to pin down the principles that create structure in your work life
or face the consequences.

    Michelle Peters is the CEO of Supplino, a thriving supply chain marketplace. When she left corporate, she fell victim to hustle culture, overwork, and burnout. Facing each of these challenges in time, she eventually disassembled her embedded corporate mentality and found a winning structure that worked for her
not the other way around.

    You’re about to hear Michelle’s journey to make sense of structure as an entrepreneur, her best advice for businessowners who hold on to the corporate mentality, and learning to love the inherent uncertainty of her work.

    Michelle talks about:

    Dealing with repeated burnoutTrusting and embracing your communityWhy women entrepreneurs are hesitant to ask for helpWhy "plant the seed metrics" matter more than you thinkHow to persist as an entrepreneur during even the toughest timesThe importance of falling in love with the problem, not the solution

    We'd love to hear your feedback!
    Here's a quick 5-question survey. Your answers will help us to make the show even better: https://forms.gle/5JnfCUWbgLRw1NTa8

    Hosted by Katherin Vasilopoulos. Made by Cansulta and Ethan Lee.

    Music by © Chris Zabriskie, published by You've Been a Wonderful Laugh Track (ASCAP).

    Songs used in this episode include: "Air Hockey Saloon," "It Will Make You Feel Better If You Put It In the Right Place," "Is This the Spirit Everybody Keeps Talking About?" "Heliograph," " Mario Bava Sleeps In a Little Later Than He Expected To."

    Used under the Creative Commons 4.0 International License

  • Constriction and guidance are the two sides to the feedback coin. But sometimes, we have to squint to tell which is which. Can you?

    As a clinical psychologist, Cindy Wahler faced constant doubt. She was told that she’d never make it. But today, she uses her understanding of psychology to consult for organizations like Ralph Lauren, Exxon Mobile, and Toyota on effective leadership development.

    She also bakes cookies.

    Cindy started Bite Me Cookie back in 2021. Once again, she was swarmed by naysayers. But a few years later, Bite Me Cookies has become something of a Torontonian phenomenon, with over 20 varieties of cookies on offer and expansions into other deserts like pies and hot chocolate.

    You’re about to hear Cindy’s best advice on receiving feedback as a leader. She breaks down different kinds of feedback, how they can either help or hinder you, and plenty of practical tips on how to pivot based on the feedback you receive.

    Cindy talks about:

    The power of persistenceBuilding confidence as a leaderThe inherent vulnerability in all peopleWhy great leaders pay attention to feedback of all kindsWhy not all leaders make great managers (and vice versa)Why you may already possess the skills you need to succeed

    Speaking of feedback...we'd love to hear yours!
    Here's a quick 5-question survey. Your answers will help us to make the show even better: https://forms.gle/5JnfCUWbgLRw1NTa8

    Hosted by Katherin Vasilopoulos. Made by Cansulta and Ethan Lee.

    Music by © Chris Zabriskie, published by You've Been a Wonderful Laugh Track (ASCAP).

    Songs used in this episode include: "Air Hockey Saloon," "An Extraordinary Camera Was Custom Built and Used Only Once," "Short Song 012023," "Short Song 012823," " Short Song 020623," "Short Song 021123," "We Always Thought the Future Would Be Kind of Fun."

    Used under the Creative Commons 4.0 International License