Entreprenista: Recent Episodes
Entreprenista Media
The Entreprenista Podcast is a weekly show featuring the stories of successful female founders and what it's really like to run a business. Hosted by Stephanie Cartin & Courtney Spritzer, co-founders of Socialfly, a leading social media marketing agency, each episode goes beyond what you see on Instagram and into the nitty-gritty of growing and scaling a company effectively from women who’ve done it. Consider this the most fun business meeting you’ll ever have.
“ The more I tell my story, the more I'm like, damn, I would never have wanted to follow in the footsteps of anyone, I really have to blaze the path. Even though it's painful as sin, I have to put something out there that's brand new, and let people react to it.”
Jen is delivering a whole new way to relate with “all bliss and no booze”, as she would put it, so we all can stay clear and calm while keeping the fun creative juices flowing. Jen Batchelor is a serial Entreprenista and the co-founder of Kin Euphorics, a line of non-alcoholic functional beverages, designed using ingredients that nourish the mind and body. Jen launched Kin to transform the drinking culture and provide the sober-curious, a sexy alternative to booze. After being the first Latina woman to raise over $15 million for a beverage company and partnering with supermodel Bella Hadid, Jen is just getting started. Listen in to today's refreshing new episode to hear the wildest launch story you’ve ever heard and learn how Jen’s upbringing and family influenced Kin Europhics. Find out why Jen isn't worried about the competition. And finally, the secret key to developing an in-demand product. Jen is an endless well of inspiration with the mindset of a true innovator and future-focused creator. Her insight on all things experimentation and taste-testing a new way of being is beyond valuable, so you won’t want to miss this!
We talked about: Community building + service providing Leveraging social media Developing product + food sciences Pushing the boundaries of industry standards Self-discovery + healing The power of good press Holding out for the right investor Celebrity business partnerships + negotiating legal contracts Market copycats
Members of our Entreprenista League get access to live Office Hours with top founders that have been on our show!, Join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
Connect with Jen:
Kin Euphorics
Are you ready to make meaningful business connections that lead to real business results? Join our Entreprenista League community of women founders! You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded Entreprenistas who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, the opportunity to have your story featured on our website and social channels, and MORE! Whether you’re looking to scale your existing business and want to make the right connections, or you’re thinking about finally taking the leap to launch your business, we’re here to give you access to a community of women who will celebrate and support you every step of the way. Join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey! Become An Entreprenista! Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Entreprenista Podcast - the most fun business meeting for women founders and leaders. . If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts. Apple Podcasts | TuneIn | Spotify | Stitcher | iHeart Radio | GooglePlay Be sure to share your favorite episodes across social media to help us reach more amazing female founders, like you. Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram, and LinkedIn and for more exclusive content, tips, and insight, join our community of founders right here.
“It really just comes down to the partnership that you build with the person who is selling your business, making sure that that's extremely personal, and that you understand the ins and outs of what they're looking to gain out of that acquisition.”
Kira is a wealth of knowledge and innovation with a career to prove it. As an Investor and the Head of Partnerships at RX3 Growth Partners, a consumer-centric growth equity firm co-founded by Aaron Rodgers of the New York Jets, Kira oversees the company's value-add investment strategy across its deal and operating teams. Kira has both personally and professionally invested in numerous brands but focuses primarily on pairing the right consumer brands with the athletes, celebrities, and influencer talent that comprises RX3’s investor base. In today’s episode, we had the joy of sitting down with Kira Mackenzie Jackson to talk about partnership and fundraising. She shares with us her career journey and finding herself in PR as a pre-law undergraduate, the ins and outs of the acquisition process, the three categories you should always consider when building a partnership, and so much more!
We talk about:
Brand Partnerships + influencer marketing
Expanding through relationships
Celebrity brand deals
Knowing your worth
Top funnel marketing + building consumer brands
Private Equity
Innovative content generation
Angel investors + raising capital
The mechanics of the acquisition process
Mutual alignment + symbiotic collaboration
Persistence + consistency
Members of our Entreprenista League get access to live Office Hours with top founders that have been on our show!, Join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
Connect with Kira:
Tiktok
Are you ready to make meaningful business connections that lead to real business results? Join our Entreprenista League community of women founders! You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded Entreprenistas who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, the opportunity to have your story featured on our website and social channels, and MORE! Whether you’re looking to scale your existing business and want to make the right connections, or you’re thinking about finally taking the leap to launch your business, we’re here to give you access to a community of women who will celebrate and support you every step of the way. Join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey! Become An Entreprenista! Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Entreprenista Podcast - the most fun business meeting for women founders and leaders. . If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts. Apple Podcasts | TuneIn | Spotify | Stitcher | iHeart Radio | GooglePlay Be sure to share your favorite episodes across social media to help us reach more amazing female founders, like you. Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram, and LinkedIn and for more exclusive content, tips, and insight, join our community of founders right here.
“You have to have a lot of confidence to be an entrepreneur. I will say I'm a generally confident person, but it is also a truly humbling experience in some respects. You are constantly being pushed to learn different things every day, which is what I love about it.”
Jessica is a self-proclaimed human systems nerd who channeled her love of identifying and solving problems through a decade's worth of career experience in building international economic systems as a consultant. So when she saw an opportunity to shape the Billion dollar home-improvement market with innovative strategies that center the needs of the consumer, she couldn't resist making the transition to entrepreneurship. In today’s episode, we sit down with Jessica Majno, founder and CEO of Idyllo, a modern home-improvement marketplace that connects local contractors in the Birmingham, AL area with customers looking to complete specialized projects within their homes. Jessica shares with us her journey from working in over 20 different countries to building a business instilled with southern hospitality, how she came to realize she had a knack for entrepreneurship, her insights into our current economic landscape, the learning lessons that have molded her career, and so much more!
We talk about: Consulting + building brands Accelerator programs Choosing business locations Raising capital + fundraising Home-improvement Reshaping a market Curating a marketplace Embracing the journey + prioritizing the foundation of your business Marketing strategy + design
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level, join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
Connect with Jessica:
Website
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level: Join our Entreprenista League community of women founders! You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded Entreprenistas who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, the opportunity to have your story featured on our website and social channels, and MORE! Whether you’re looking to scale your existing business and want to make the right connections, or you’re thinking about finally taking the leap to launch your business, we’re here to give you access to a community of women who will celebrate your every step, and with whom you can share the candid reality of building a business from scratch. Join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey! Become An Entreprenista! Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Entreprenista Podcast - the most fun business meeting for female founders, by female founders. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts. Apple Podcasts | TuneIn | Spotify | Stitcher | iHeart Radio | GooglePlay Be sure to share your favorite episodes across social media to help us reach more amazing female founders, like you. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn and for more exclusive content, tips, and insight, join the Entreprenistas Facebook group and visit the SocialFly website.
“I am me and that is my superpower. I can live a life beyond my wildest dreams and I deserve it. I am worthy of it. I attract money wherever I go. I am an abundant beacon of light.”
After years of struggling with addiction cycles and failing to find fulfillment in the corporate world, Amanda discovered the key to her transformation and ultimately her purpose, through a personal development program that opened her eyes to the power of her own mind. In today’s episode, we finally got to sit down with Amanda Bybel Kutner, Mindset Expansion Expert, Motivational Speaker, certified NLP practitioner, and the founder and CEO of the Inner Beauty Bybel, a resource that aims to guide you on a transformative journey of self-discovery and empowerment using cutting edge neuro-scientific principles and the art of manifestation. Amanda shares her inspiring recovery journey, the realization that altered the trajectory of her company, how collaboration over competition serves as the foundation for her business, which business tools have been the best for launching her wildly popular courses, and so much more!
We talk about:
Healing addition patterns + restoring inner-strength
Mindset + the art of manifestation
Collaborating with other new entrepreneurs
Neuro-Linguistic Programing
Transformation Coaching + Personal Development Programs
Choosing a launch model
Creating courses
Intention + Intuition
Goals + desired outcomes
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level, join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
Resources Mentioned:
ThriveCart
Kajabi
Circle
Connect with Amanda:
Tiktok
Podcast
Website
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level: Join our Entreprenista League community of women founders! You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded Entreprenistas who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, the opportunity to have your story featured on our website and social channels, and MORE! Whether you’re looking to scale your existing business and want to make the right connections, or you’re thinking about finally taking the leap to launch your business, we’re here to give you access to a community of women who will celebrate your every step, and with whom you can share the candid reality of building a business from scratch. Join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey! Become An Entreprenista! Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Entreprenista Podcast - the most fun business meeting for female founders, by female founders. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.
Carly was living the LinkedIn dream as a financial analyst for Goldman Sachs until all-nighters at work with no time to truly nourish her mind, body, and spirit became the new normal that doubled as a wake-up call. As someone who navigated the difficulties of an autoimmune condition from a young age, Carly created the product she couldn't find but needed the most. Carly believed in her unique vision so fiercely, it led her to discover the key to experiencing a full recovery using the very product that would facilitate the growth of her now booming business. Not to mention, she did it all while saving the bees.
Today, we sit down with Carly Stein-Kremer, the founder and CEO of Beekeepers Naturals, a leading holistic wellness product line in North America that offers a better way to feel better and cleaner alternatives to the traditional medicine cabinet. Carly shares valuable information with us about how her unique hobby helped create the mission behind her business, she provides a fascinating crash course behind her secret ingredient Propolis, discloses her process for scaling a product-based business, her secret to building a great team, why she believes the individual with the calmest nervous system always win, and so much more!
“I had to keep building myself up because I didn't really have anyone that totally understood what I was doing. I think that skill set of just cultivating resilience and leaning on yourself. That is what carries me today. It carries me through fundraisers, and it carries me through any challenges I have.” - Carly Stein-Kremer
This week's takeaways from Entreprenista:
Carly reflects on the journey from leaving her job to running her company full-time (2:11)
Carly shares her first steps towards building her business full-time (5:37)
The first product Carly created (6:22)
How Carly manufactured her product in the early days (8:03)
Carly discusses how her company has been able to support the bee community (11:19)
Carly walks through the evolution of her business tools (13:56)
Carly discusses the mistakes that gave her the most wisdom (18:06)
Carly discusses her leadership style and her ideal team member (24:18)
The importance of checking in with yourself and celebrating the little wins (29:36)
Carly shares her advice on impactful marketing strategies (32:43)
Where Carly focused her marketing efforts when she was first getting started (35:28)
Carly explains how she navigated getting her products in Farmer's Market (38:06)
Carly's favorite tools for collecting payments and running business operations (40:27)
Carly reflects on the craziest moment of her entrepreneurial career (44:30)
Carly shares her 3 tips for founders that are attempting to raise capital right now (46:36)
What being an Entreprenista means to Carly (47:56)
Resources Mentioned:
Square
Slack
Asana
Trello
Notion
Our favorite quotes:
“I didn't have a lot of support that I could turn to, which meant I had to lean on resources, like podcasts and books, and I found so much support and there was so much information accessible. “ - Carly Stein-Kremer
“As the company scales, our supply chain scales, and we've really championed this regenerative beekeeping industry. So it's a really cool thing where, as we grow, do-gooder beekeepers get to expand and we get to build the market for pesticide-free and humane beekeeping practices.” - Carly Stein-Kremer
“I never no matter how many mistakes I made, I never tried to cover it up or blame or push people off. I was just always like, Hey, this is what happened, I was super direct, let's deal with this head on. And, you know, this is on me, and whatever consequences there are, I will receive them.” - Carly Stein-Kremer
“It was an interesting path. I was really solving my own problem before I even thought about starting a company.” - Carly Stein-Kremer
Connect with Carly:
Tiktok
Amazon
Website
With 20 years of on-camera experience, Alix has become a master at showing her clients how they can be the most beautiful versions of themselves while simultaneously curating an experience they will never forget. As Alix’s makeup and hair artistry grew to be in higher demand, it was crucial she learned how to manage a team just as dedicated to those details that leave lasting impressions - But most importantly, knows how to handle the off-screen drama we all face in business.
Today, we sit down with Alix Mane, Lead Colorist and Owner of Mane & Company, a full-service salon with locations in New York, New York, and San Antonio, Texas. Alix has managed beauty teams and their campaigns for national broadcasts, major motion pictures, and is also a published author dedicated to establishing genuine connections with each of her clients. She shares with us how she got started with her salon, why she finds management to be one of the hardest parts of her job, the question she asks everyone that sits in her chair, her keys to handling difficult clients, and so much more!
“It's always so interesting, where beauty has taken me and the opportunities that it has offered me. So when you have an idea or a talent, and you share it, and you embark on the journey of having your own business, you don't know where it's going to take you. It does grow and sometimes it grows a little bigger than you” - Alix Mane
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level, join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
This week’s takeaways from Entreprenista:
How Alix got started in her business (0:56)
Alix’s decision to take her business to the next level (5:06)
What Alix wished she knew before opening a salon (15:01)
Where Alix finds the best advice as a leader and company owner (22:35)
The business tools and solutions that have helped Alix grow her business (30:01)
The craziest thing that’s happened to Alix since starting her business (32:30)
How Alix stays level-headed through the trials and challenges of her business (37:42)
The compliment that has stuck with Alix through the years (41:09)
What being an Entreprenista means to Alix (49:12)
Our favorite quotes from the episode:
“I think the best businesses grow organically because you're able to truly, truly connect with each person, and truly connect with the consumer and also truly connect with yourself as a business and see what your needs are.” - Alix Mane
“You have to invest your time in the people that are in your company.” - Alix Mane
“Now I'm able to determine what is a fault of my own and what is not something that I'm going to internalize, because you do feel like a failure, when somebody leaves, you know, especially with my type of business. My type of business is not like, ‘Oh, you were sitting at a computer, you were making, 12 or 14 bucks an hour’. That's not what it is…These are passionate people, and this is their career and their passion and I’m mentoring them. And it's like a family. So it's a little deeper than that. The connection is so much deeper.” - Alix Mane
“Whether it's in my salon or in a coffee shop, there is no difference in the sense of customer service… in the sense of like, taste, smell, sight, sound, like all those things are so important because they leave lasting impressions. That's how people really know your brand.” - Alix Mane
This episode was made possible by our friends at Square, who are passionate about empowering women to Just Get Started with their business idea. Square is offering Entreprenista listeners 20% off your first POS hardware device. Click here for more.
Connect with Alix:
Mane & Company
Resources Mentioned:
Square
ADP
When Lee launched the beta for her event-planning business in January 2020, she couldn't have known just how big of a risk she was taking. In March 2020, it was clear that her company would have to pivot, Lee got to work turning these lemons into a wholesale supply worth of lemonade. Her secret? Well, she says focusing on the sheer excitement and thrill of being an entrepreneur building something from scratch carried her through any and all times of destabilizing uncertainty. What may have looked like the end for her business was really just the beginning of a major breakthrough.
Today, we sit down with Entreprenista 100 Award winner Lee Rubin, the CEO, and founder of Confetti, an online platform that empowers leaders to discover, plan, and book engaging team events. Confetti functions as an amazing tool used by organizations like Hubspot, Netflix, Linkedin, and Shopify. Lee shares with us her tips for finding a technical co-founder, how she managed to scale her business 600% during a pandemic, Lee’s invaluable advice on how to approach raising capital for your business, and so much more!
“As a female entrepreneur, investors get really into the nitty gritty of all the numbers, you have to have an answer to every question. You need to be prepared for everything and come out of every single conversation with an investor understanding which questions did they ask, and how do I perfect it a little bit better over time…but confidence, confidence, confidence. Confidence is the number one thing that's going to get somebody to write you a check.” - Lee Rubin
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level, join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
This week's takeaways from Entreprenista:
Lee shares how far back her entrepreneurial spirit goes (2:39)
Lee’s first steps toward building her business (4:44)
Lee provides an overview of her career journey (7:50)
Lee discusses adjusting her business online (12:07)
Lee shares her tips for anyone just getting started (14:32)
Lee talks what to keep in mind when structuring an agreement with a co-founder (16:32)
Lee discusses finding the right technical founder (21:15)
Lee talks raising capital and shares her fundraising journey (25:25)
Lee’s strategy for meeting with investors (34:31)
Lee shares more about Confetti and the mission behind the company (39:29
How Lee landed her biggest clients (43:52)
Lee’s craziest and proudest moments since starting her business (45:38)
What being an Entreprenista means to Lee (47:26)
For $50 off your first booking with Confetti, use code "ENTREPRENISTA50”
Our favorite quotes:
“Ideas aren't worth anything. It's really the execution and the hard work. There's so much more beyond the idea itself “ - Lee Rubin
“If you can get $1 from your customers, metaphorically but ideally more than $1 for whatever product or service that you have, you'll know that you'll be on to something” - Lee Rubin
“Everything's really grounded on memorable experiences, and getting your team to feel something and building a layer of empathy with one another that gets them to just like who they're working with a little bit more because so many of us just hate Mondays. And it's just a sad story that I wanted to change as I put my impact on this world.” - Lee Rubin
Connect with Lee:
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level: Join our Entreprenista League community of women founders! You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded Entreprenistas who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, the opportunity to have your story featured on our website and social channels, and MORE!
Kendra is a truly exceptional Entreprenista who firmly believes that two brains are always better than one and more can be accomplished together than alone. As a serial entrepreneur, venture capitalist, and podcast host of Business and The Beat, Kendra has focused her career on providing community and education for Black founders building lifestyle, beauty, and wellness businesses. As a pioneer in the digital media space, Kendra has been named one of Essence Magazines' “17 Inspiring Black Executives Redefining the Face of Beauty” and is one of only 100 Black women to raise over 1 million dollars in venture funding.
Today, we have the honor of sitting down with Kendra Bracken-Ferguson, founder and CEO of BrainTrust, an all-encompassing ecosystem of mentorship, education, and community that also provides social media, influencer marketing, and brand development for Black Beauty and Wellness Founders. She shares with us the game-changing advice she received from Ralph Lauren’s Chief of Staff and her own advice for creating successful business partnerships. Kendra also shares advice for founders that are currently raising capital, the litmus test she uses when she starts a new business, and so much more!
“Success doesn't mean that you have a billion-dollar company that you exit. There’s success in everything that we do every single day. And so we can't get caught up in what success looks like for another company” - Kendra Bracken-Ferguson
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level, join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
This week's takeaways from Entreprenista:
Kendra’s journey to becoming an entrepreneur (2:55)
Kendra’s biggest struggles in the early days of building her agency (8:20)
Kendra’s take on co-founder disagreements and deciding when to raise capital (11:31)
Working with a business coach (16:43)
Kendra breaks down her catalog of business ventures (20:25)
How Kendra keeps track of her business ideas (28:11)
Kendra’s craziest moments along her Entreprenista journey (29:52)
Kendra shares what to remember when selling your business (33:04)
Kendra’s vision for the future (38:16)
Our favorite quotes:
“You don't have to go and start something new you can create within what you already have. It's just the wherewithal and the self-awareness to check yourself and then to make sure that it's completing the circle of what you've created.” - Kendra Bracken-Ferguson
“Don't sell yourself short when it comes to financing your business “ - Kendra Bracken-Ferguson
“the whole beauty of having co-founders, having been a solo founder, is you really can split the weight, but you have to communicate what that splits gonna look like. And you have to play to each of their strengths. And you constantly have to be in communication.” - Kendra Bracken-Ferguson
“I have a network of so many people, where I'm like, this deal may not work for me, but here's a deal for you. And that, to me, is just as exciting because no one funds can invest in every single thing or support every single person. And so the greater our network is, the more that we're collaborating, the greater capital that can flow to businesses and diverse business owners.”
Connect with Kendra:
BrainTrust Founder Studio - Linkedin
BrainTrust LA - Linkedin
BrainTrust LA Instagram
Linkedin - Kendra
Instagram - Kendra
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level: Join our Entreprenista League community of women founders! You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded Entreprenistas who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, the opportunity to have your story featured on our website and social channels, and MORE!
Laurel didn't learn how to create a winning brand strategy overnight. She worked on brands like Dove’s campaign for Real Beauty, Suave, Hasbro Toys, and Lipton before putting on her entrepreneurial hat and taking a chance on starting her business. Despite the risk of launching during the 2020 lockdown, Laurel managed to turn her self-funded hyperlocal snack brand into one that is nationally recognized and available in a CVS near you.
Today, we sit down with Laurel Orley, CEO and co-founder of Daily Crunch Snacks, a uniquely crunchy and tasty treat made from sprouted nuts. She shares with us what she wished she had known before becoming an Entreprenista, how a strategic partnership created the gift that kept on giving, how to connect with influencers to market your brand and the most challenging part of being an entrepreneur. You won’t want to miss it!
“Just to have these people who are so much bigger than you believe in you, makes you say okay, I'm onto something I'm going to keep on going.” - Laurel Orley
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level, join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
This week’s takeaways from Entreprenista:
Laurel explains how she got started on her idea for Daily Crunch Snacks (2:25)
Laurel describes the situation that served as her most significant lesson learned (8:28)
Laurel’s outside-of-the-box approach to launching her business (11:56)
Laurel shares her most exciting wins throughout the journey (15:34)
Laurel talks about how to deal with the difficult times (20:05)
Laurel shares advice on presenting to retail buyers (25:46)
Laurel explains how she stays organized while creating growth (29:00)
How Laurel went about funding her business (34:40)
Laurel explains the process of coming up with new ideas (41:38)
Laurel shares the craziest experiences she's had since launching her business (44:53)
What being an Entreprenista means to Laurel (47:16)
Our favorite quotes:
“So many of these wins. They start small, but they mean the most because it's these people who just believe in you first,” - Laurel Orley
“I feel much more comfortable taking investors who invest, you know, invest in a lot of brands, and they know that nine out of 10 of them are going to fail, and they're banking on that one to override all the rest. And while I want to be that one, I want to try my damn hardest to do that. They know the risks involved, and they're used to doing this” - Laurel Orley
“My motto is the squeaky wheel gets what they want. And being an entrepreneur, you have to follow up, and you have to keep on following up. You're not going to get the door open on the first try. It's just how it goes. “ - Laurel Orley
This episode was made possible by our friends at Square, who are passionate about empowering women to Just Get Started with their business idea. Square is offering Entreprenista listeners 20% off your first POS hardware device. Click here for more.
Connect with Laurel:
Daily Crunch Snacks
Amazon
Thrive Market
Resources Mentioned:
Mondays.com
SPS
Dear
Excel
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level: Join our Entreprenista League community of women founders! You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded Entreprenistas who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, the opportunity to have your story featured on our website and social channels, and MORE!
According to Tiffany, every day is a good day for a cookie. Especially during a Pandemic when she, like so many others across the country, would lose her corporate marketing job and be forced to regroup. Tiffany took this newfound freedom as an opportunity to focus full-time on chasing her dream of perfecting her skills and using them to make the ultimate cookie for bringing people together. Tiffany moved to LA, graduated from culinary school, interned with celebrity chef Curtis Stone while freelancing with other prominent chefs, and finally took the leap to get started on her own business. Through this, she discovered a key secret ingredient to successfully launching a business by centering community and honoring each cookie's nostalgic essence.
Today, we sit down with Tiffany Lewis, founder of Cookies with Tiffany, a Seattle-based cookie company with a mission to bring people together through food. She shares with us her most insightful tips for starting and launching a business, how she took her online business to a storefront and local farmer's markets, and the ways to create your own recipe for success through marketing. Tiffany also discusses her community's integral role in supporting her business and much more!
“If you lead with that purpose and that genuineness, then the rest will just naturally fall into place.” - Tiffany Lewis
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level, join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
This week’s takeaways from Entreprenista:
Tiffany discusses the essential questions when getting started on a business idea (0:50)
Tiffany shares the first steps she took toward creating her business (2:05)
Tiffany shares the winning idea for her business and its evolution (3:58)
Tiffany explains why less is more when launching your business (8:09)
Tiffany shares what business tools she finds the most helpful (12:28)
Why Tiffany prefers collaboration and community over competition (17:30)
Tiffany discusses her experience working with local farmer's markets (19:58)
Tiffany shares her marketing strategy and how it has changed over time (25:20)
Tiffany explains the craziest things that have happened along her journey (32:49)
What being an Entreprenista means to Tiffany (37:22)
Our Favorite Quotes:
“It's really just putting that pen on paper. That's where you got to begin. It's all in your head, but write it down and say it out loud.“ - Tiffany Lewis
“That's really how you kind of continue to fine-tune your business is just to try everything, allow it time to really see where it goes. But then pivot along the way and be willing to say that doesn't serve me, that's not for me, I'm going to really focus my energy on this. “ - Tiffany Lewis
“There are some really great data out there that you can get for free simply by opening your eyes and listening to everything that's happening around you. “ - Tiffany Lewis
“You're a leader, you're a maker, you're a communicator, and you're part of another community. A bigger community of other entrepreneurs” - Tiffany Lewis
This episode was made possible by our friends at Square, who are passionate about empowering women to Just Get Started with their business idea. Square is offering Entreprenista listeners 20% off your first POS hardware device. Click here for more.
Connect with Tiffany:
Cookies with Tiffany's Website
Address
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level: Join our Entreprenista League community of women founders! You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded Entreprenistas who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, the opportunity to have your story featured on our website and social channels, and MORE!
Emily jokes that she builds businesses based on the phase of life she is in, and she’s not lying. Her first business came from a shared need with her sister for online interior design. Her business today, Nurture&, came to life because she felt there was a hole in the market for millennial parents who wanted aesthetic and functional pieces.
Today, we sit down with Emily Motayed Lancaster, co-founder of Nurture&, a premium nursery furniture company. She shares what it was like starting a business during Covid, advice for raising capital, what it’s like being a mom and growing a business, and so much more.
“We looked at the market, and we saw that there was no real brand that was really built for the modern millennial parent, you know, with really beautiful design aesthetic, but also great functionality, free shipping, free returns and amazing customer service at a great price point.” - Emily Motayed Lancaster
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level, join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
This week's takeaways from Entreprenista:
Emily shares about the first business she started and why she left it to start Nurture& (4:56)
Emily talks about the lessons she learned from Havenly that she brought to Nurture& (11:52)
Emily discusses launching a product-based business during Covid (16:13)
Emily talks about her co-founder, Roberto, and how they complement each other (22:37)
Emily tells us about her team (25:35)
Emily gives advice for Entreprenistas that want to start a product-based business (31:16)
Emily talks about all the crazy things Nurture& has been through (32:59)
Emily shares her learning lessons from raising capital (39:31)
Emily discusses being a mom and growing a business (44:51)
What being an Entreprenista means to Emily (48:55)
Resources Mentioned:
Shopify
Klaviyo
ChatGPT
Excel
Google Docs
Yotpo
TypeForm
Our Favorite Quotes:
“I always joke, at this point, I'm completely unemployable. So I just have to keep starting businesses.” - Emily Motayed Lancaster
“You know your customer well if you are the customer.” - Emily Motayed Lancaster
“It’s so hard to start, but it's never been easier to do a low risk start.” - Emily Motayed Lancaster
Connect with Emily Motayed Lancaster:
NurtureAnd.com
Emily on Instagram
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level: Join our Entreprenista League community of women founders! You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded Entreprenistas who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, the opportunity to have your story featured on our website and social channels, and MORE! Whether you’re looking to scale your existing business and want to make the right connections, or you’re thinking about finally taking the leap to launch your business, we’re here to give you access to a community of women who will celebrate your every step, and with whom you can share the candid reality of building a business from scratch. Join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
When Eve experienced a breakdown in communication with her partner, she wiped away her tears of frustration and turned them into fuel for social change. In a true Entreprenista fashion, Eve applied her Harvard-trained background in organizational management to completely re-imagine the structures we have cultivated within the home front. Her solution? Creating a gamified life-management system that helps partners rebalance their workload and in turn, re-invent their relationship.
Today, we sit down with Eve Rodsky, founder of Philanthropy Advisory Group, as well as the New York Times bestselling author of Fair Play and Find Your Unicorn Space. She shares with us her mission of making the invisible visible, how a spreadsheet acted as a catalyst for expanding her empire, why Fair Play is not just for women in relationships, the secret formula for building successful organizations, and so much more!
“It's not the systems that are hard to ask for. It's really understanding that you deserve to be unavailable.” - Eve Rodsky
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level, join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
This week’s takeaways from Entreprenista:
How a simple text led to the expansion of Eve’s empire (2:26)
Eve shares she took action toward her vision of the modern home (6:00)
Eve explains how her viral spreadsheet evolved into the creation of Fair Play (8:58)
Eve shares why Fair Play is not just for women in relationships (14:29)
Eve talks about the secret formula for transforming the dynamic of her marriage (16:30)
Eve explains how to start having the difficult conversations that lead to growth (20:08)
Eve emphasizes the importance of communication and regular check-ins (26:28)
How Eve came into partnership with Hello, Sunshine when writing Fair Play (31:12)
Eve talks about the benefits of being a lawyer when making major career moves (33:35)
Eve shares her craziest moments along the journey (35:53)
What being an Entreprenista means to Eve (39:09)
Our Favorite Quotes:
“One of my favorite quotes is that you know, you can't manage what you can't measure.” - Eve Rodsky
“Society basically said, you're allowed to be a parent, you're allowed to be a partner, you're allowed to be professional, but God forbid Eve, you want to use your time and anything else, we're going to shame you into submission.” - Eve Rodsky
“Often, it's the person who feels oppressed or that things need to change that has to initiate the conversations. “ - Eve Rodsky
“If your mind is made up that there's a problem out there that you want to solve, solve it, go for it, solve it when nobody else tells you it's an issue. If you know it's an issue, and you feel that in your gut, solve it.” - Eve Rodsky
Connect with Eve:
Website
Fair Play
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level: Join our Entreprenista League community of women founders! You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded Entreprenistas who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, the opportunity to have your story featured on our website and social channels, and MORE! Whether you’re looking to scale your existing business and want to make the right connections, or you’re thinking about finally taking the leap to launch your business, we’re here to give you access to a community of women who will celebrate your every step, and with whom you can share the candid reality of building a business from scratch. Join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
No one understands how rejection is simply redirection better than Renata. Upon graduating from one of the nation's top journalism schools, Renata was devastated to find out she had failed to land her dream job. So instead, she traveled the world and discovered a fulfilling opportunity to provide women with the necessary tools to empower themselves. Financially and aesthetically.
Today, we sit down with Renata Black, co-founder of EBY, a lingerie brand that is elevating women around the world out of poverty using microfinance. She shares how rediscovering the lost art of seduction along her travels led to a life-changing a-ha moment, how she got connected with Sofia Vergara, the learning lessons from her Entreprenista journey, why she values influencer marketing, and so much more!
“You have to have really thick skin and not buy into the narrative of, oh, only 2% of VC funding goes to women, and even less than that goes into BIPOC. Yeah, sure. I'm a Hispanic woman, of course, yes, but it does no good for me to believe that. I have to do the impossible. “ - Renata Black
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level, join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey! This week’s takeaways from Entreprenista:
Renata discusses her childhood and the unrelenting hunger to succeed (2:06)
Renata talks about the path that led her to starting EBY (3:33)
Renata defines microfinance and elaborates on its significance (5:30)
Renata shares her inspiration for creating EBY and her first steps for launching (7:12)
Renata discusses her biggest learning lessons (13:26)
Renata shares the moment it all started to click (17:09)
Renata explains influencer marketing and how it is benefitting EBY (20:30)
Renata’s secret to raising over $10 million in venture capital (26:10)
Renata talks about understanding the ‘why’ behind the ‘no’s’ (29:59)
Renata discusses balancing business and navigating motherhood (32:08)
Renata shares tips for better time management (37:12)
What Renata looks for in future employees (40:40)
What being an Entreprenista means to Renata (44:48)
Resources Mentioned:
Asana
Shopify
Google Sheets
Soundcloud
Our favorite quotes:
“Time kills deals. If you don't create urgency if you don't create FOMO, it's gonna die. If once it's dragging and dragged out, it's basically dead. So be strong enough to give it a deadline“ - Renata Black
“women have proven statistically to be the best investment. “ - Renata Black
“I think that's the thing about entrepreneurship, you have to be really open to the circumstances that lead you to a certain point.” - Renata Black
“I would just get up and do it all over again. And I would just be relentless. And I think that's my background; being relentless. I grew up having to be relentless. Everything I've ever done has been relentless” - Renata Black
Connect with Renata:
EBY Website
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level: Join our Entreprenista League community of women founders! You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded Entreprenistas who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, the opportunity to have your story featured on our website and social channels, and MORE! Whether you’re looking to scale your existing business and want to make the right connections, or you’re thinking about finally taking the leap to launch your business, we’re here to give you access to a community of women who will celebrate your every step, and with whom you can share the candid reality of building a business from scratch. Join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
Although known for her infectious personality and boundless beauty tips, Tammy is no stranger to adversity. As she walked away from working under a plastic surgeon to create her medspa, it seemed as though one shocking turn of events after the other would surely stand in the way of reaching her dreams. Through this journey, Tammy would discover and embody exactly what it means to be an Entreprenista.
In this episode, we sit down with Tammy Napoli, founder of The Elevated Esthetician and owner of SkinHealth Studios in Palm Beach, Florida. She shares how she created revenue when she couldn’t treat people in person, how a shocking situation impacted her business, what her process of starting a low-cost but high-impact skincare company entailed, and much more.
“You know, all the things that you need to know and whatever business that you're in, that will set you apart over anything. Being personable will set you apart.”
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level, join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
This week's takeaways from Entreprenista:
Tammy explains the moment she knew she was ready to start her business (2:08)
Tammy shares the details of how she handled a shocking turn of events (3:45)
Tammy discusses the mindset and the books that helped her stay motivated (8:28)
Tammy talks business tools that she found the most helpful and user-friendly (10:45)
Tammy discusses Canva and social media use for marketing strategies (14:20)
Tammy shares the beauty and benefits of having a VA (20:50)
Tammy talks the phased approach to building her business (23:57)
Tammy explains her process for figuring out how to manufacture products (28:00)
Tammy shares the craziest thing that’s happened to her on this journey (29:39)
What being an Entreprenista means to Tammy (35:24)
Resources Mentioned:
Square
Canva
Planoly
Our Favorite Quotes:
“Stay focused, just put your head down. Stay grinding, but it's definitely a daily process.” - Tammy Napoli
“I just kind of let go and like, this is me, I have to be raw and real.” - Tammy Napoli
“I am me. Come into that mindset. Be yourself. People are gonna love you. Be kind. Show that on camera, it makes it easier.” - Tammy Napoli
“This is what I think when I'm going through something crazy. I think about when we're driving in a car, and we're there if all of a sudden rainstorm comes right? If you pull over, you stay stuck in that storm, right? So tell myself, don't pull over, keep going, just keep moving. “ - Tammy Napoli
Connect with Tammy Napoli:
SkinHealth Studios
@glamtam_
@skinhealthstudios
561-510-3322
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level: Join our Entreprenista League community of women founders! You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded Entreprenistas who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, the opportunity to have your story featured on our website and social channels, and MORE! Whether you’re looking to scale your existing business and want to make the right connections, or you’re thinking about finally taking the leap to launch your business, we’re here to give you access to a community of women who will celebrate your every step, and with whom you can share the candid reality of building a business from scratch. Join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey! Become An Entreprenista! Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Entreprenista Podcast - the most fun business meeting for female founders, by female founders. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.
When Jerri was a teenager, her life turned upside once her mother was diagnosed with cancer. Her mother completely transformed the family’s way of living through food. After Jerri’s mom passed, Jerri left a stable career to go back home. That’s when she decided to continue her mother’s legacy, and forge her own.
Today, we sit down with Jerri Evans, owner of Turning Natural, a juice bar that provides fresh and natural food to urban communities in the DC area, as well as online. She shares her advice for starting a store, why she had trouble getting funding, how she found her team, and so much more.
“I wanted to be able to provide something that was cool, fun and accessible to people. And so that's how I birthed the idea of juicing, but I want you to have something good that you're putting in.” - Jerri Evans
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level, join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
This week's takeaways from Entreprenista:
Jerri shares when she knew it was time to start Turning Natural (2:42)
Jerri talks about the first steps she took in business (9:27)
Jerri gives advice for brick and mortar businesses (15:15)
Jerri explains why she didn’t get funding (20:31)
Jerri shares why she actually opened multiple locations (22:31)
Jerri talks about finding her team (27:59)
Jerri discusses figuring out the process of working with investors (38:51)
What being an Entreprenista means to Jerri (46:09)
Resources Mentioned:
Square
Shopify
NetSuite
Our Favorite Quotes:
“That's not just your mother, it’s your best friend, it’s your gossip buddy. She's a little bit of everything to you.” - Jerri Evans
“I quit my job, right? But I had to go back to work, because you have to finance this thing.” - Jerri Evans
“You're tasked with being the visionary. And being the visionary, sometimes it's a very isolating space.” - Jerri Evans
Connect with Jerri Evans:
TurningNatural.com
Turning Natural on Instagram
Turning Natural on Facebook
Jerri Evans on Instagram
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level: Join our Entreprenista League community of women founders! You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded Entreprenistas who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, the opportunity to have your story featured on our website and social channels, and MORE!
Whether you’re looking to scale your existing business and want to make the right connections, or you’re thinking about finally taking the leap to launch your business, we’re here to give you access to a community of women who will celebrate your every step, and with whom you can share the candid reality of building a business from scratch. Join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey! Become An Entreprenista! Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Entreprenista Podcast - the most fun business meeting for female founders, by female founders. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.
After rising up through the ranks in the hospitality industry to become a bartender at many different cocktail bars in Northern California, Dominique Gonzalez found herself being the designated bartender at all the gatherings she would attend. An Entreprenista at heart, Dominique decided to use her bartending knowledge to fix the problem that many of her family members were facing: creating intricate great-tasting cocktails.
In today’s episode, we are talking with Dominique Gonzalez, founder of Root Elixirs, a craft cocktail mixer that gives people the ability to create high-quality cocktails in the comfort of their own homes. Dominique shares how her background led her to start Root Elixirs, the process of developing new flavors, how to apply for business grants, and so much more.
"I just found myself bartending at every barbecue, or any hosted event like Christmas, Thanksgiving, you know, bigger events, I was always bartending. And so I was like, you know, it would be really cool if I created something that everybody could be their own bartender, and still have a craft experience.” - Dominique Gonzalez
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level, join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
This week's takeaways from Entreprenista:
Dominique talks about her background and how that led to her starting Root Elixirs (2:33)What Root Elixirs is (6:54)Dominique shares what the process of launching new flavors entails (8:50)Dominique talks about what she sees for the future of Root Elixirs (12:45)Dominique explains how she grew her team (16:16)The process of getting into retail and selling wholesale (20:07)How to apply for and receive grants (23:49)Rapid fire questions (29:43)How Dominique manages her day (31:48)What Dominique would tell her younger self (34:31)What being an Entreprenista means to Dominique (36:52)
Resources Mentioned:
Google Calendar QuickBooksGuusto
Our Favorite Quotes:
“When we first started, I couldn't afford, you know, hiring anybody. So it was just me and my mom, like making the product in the kitchen. And then eventually it became too much for us. And then we brought in other family to help.” - Dominique Gonzalez “Sometimes a grant will take, like, a month for me to complete because it's extensive. And you know, you want to get your whole story in there.” - Dominique Gonzalez“The Entreprenista League community is like, they're so ambitious. And it's really nice being a part of that group, because they're all pushing to be better, and, you know, collaborative, and that's exactly what I love to do is collaborate with other women and see where they are in their journey.” - Dominique Gonzalez
Connect with Dominique Gonzalez :
www.RootElixirs.comRoot Elixirs on InstagramRoot Elixirs on LinkedIn
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level:
Join our Entreprenista League community of women founders! You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded Entreprenistas who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, the opportunity to have your story featured on our website and social channels, and MORE!
Whether you’re looking to scale your existing business and want to make the right connections, or you’re thinking about finally taking the leap to launch your business, we’re here to give you access to a community of women who will celebrate your every step, and with whom you can share the candid reality of building a business from scratch.
Join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
Become An Entreprenista!
Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Entreprenista Podcast - the most fun business meeting for female founders,
Amy Shoenthal is a journalist who loves covering founders because it combines her love for writing with her admiration of gritty Entreprenistas. Amy has been a marketing executive for many years, making her the go-to person for tips on how to market your business.
Today, we sit down with Amy Shoenthal, journalist, author, marketing executive, and mom. She shares her hot tips for founders wanting to get press for their businesses, the common thread between most successful Entreprenistas, how to survive a setback, and so much more. If you have questions on gaining media attention for your business, this episode is a MUST.
“My role is just to elevate the stories of people who were doing the work and building a better way of doing business and a better culture and society as we know it.” - Amy Shoenthal
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level, join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
This week's takeaways from Entreprenista:
Amy shares her career journey and how it’s led to where she is today (2:51)Amy talks about the common traits she sees when interviewing women (5:40)Amy discusses her book and describes the setback cycle (10:10)Amy gives tips for managing a full schedule (19:47)Amy suggests helpful exercises for founders going through a setback (27:29)Amy shares her tips for founders who want to get press for their businesses (32:09)Rapid fire questions (39:26)What being an Entreprenista means to Amy (44:31)
Resources Mentioned:
SlackGoogle HangoutCaveDayNotionGoogle KeepBeRealBook Coach
Our Favorite Quotes:
“Well, like any good writer who values stability, when I graduated college, I went into marketing.” - Amy Shoenthal“Their most brilliant ideas and their most successful ventures come from some sort of setback that they experience.” - Amy Shoenthal“Yeah, I don't know anyone more efficient than a mom, who is like ‘my child care ends at this time, I need to make the most of the hours I have before I go into mom mode.’ Again, the level of efficiency that I have been able to achieve since becoming a mother is unbelievable.” - Amy Shoenthal
Connect with Amy Shoenthal:
AmyShoenthal.comAmy on InstagramAmy on LinkedInAmy on Twitter
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level:
Join our Entreprenista League community of women founders! You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded Entreprenistas who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, the opportunity to have your story featured on our website and social channels, and MORE!
Whether you’re looking to scale your existing business and want to make the right connections, or you’re thinking about finally taking the leap to launch your business, we’re here to give you access to a community of women who will celebrate your every step, and with whom you can share the candid reality of building a business from scratch.
Join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
Become An Entreprenista!
Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Entreprenista Podcast - the most fun business meeting for female founders, by female founders. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.
Apple Podcasts | TuneIn | Spotify | Stitcher | iHeart Radio | GooglePlay
Be sure to share your favorite episodes across social media to help us reach more amazing female founders, like you.Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn and for more exclusive content, tips, and insight, join the Entreprenistas Facebook group and visit the SocialFly website.
Amanda Schutzbank saw a hole in the capital-raising world for non-tech businesses needing capital during the early stages of business. So she decided to put her years of expertise to use and do something about it.
In today's episode, we sit down with Amanda Schutzbank, co-founder of Willow Growth, a company that provides early-seed funding for consumer-based businesses. She shares why there was a need for Willow Growth, what the difference in venture capital and private equity is, what investors look for in pitches, and so much more.
"My mission right now is we want more women managing more capital. And I think that that flows through to more women starting more businesses and getting funding. And let's just keep on going, brick by brick. And I think part of that for me, and why I really am doing this and so passionate about it, is just to get more women creating wealth for themselves." - Amanda Schutzbank
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level, join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
This week's takeaways from Entreprenista:
Amanda shares her background (3:20)Amanda talks about the moment she decided to open her own business (6:36)Amanda explains the difference between private equity and venture capital (9:00)Amanda talks about her relationship with her co-founder (15:30)Amanda talks about starting Willow Growth at the beginning of the pandemic (19:58)Amanda shares what investors are looking for in pitches and some helpful tips (26:24)Amanda shares one of the brands she's most excited about (29:55)Rapid fire questions (34:26)How Amanda finds balance (36:55)What being an Entreprenista means to Amanda (41:51)
Resources Mentioned:
CalendlyZoomSuperhuman TikTok
Our Favorite Quotes:
"Don't feel like you need to change your story and make it a different story every time because that person's never heard your story. And so you just kind of have to do it over and over again and repeat yourself and it will lead to success." - Amanda Schutzbank"COVID actually really accelerated a lot of our thesis, we were investing in value-led consumer brands." - Amanda Schutzbank"I want to leave a legacy, I want to build a legacy that, you know, stands beyond my time." - Amanda Schutzbank
Connect with Amanda Schutzbank:
Amanda@WillowGrowth.comWillowGrowth.com
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level:
Join our Entreprenista League community of women founders! You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded Entreprenistas who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, the opportunity to have your story featured on our website and social channels, and MORE!
Whether you’re looking to scale your existing business and want to make the right connections, or you’re thinking about finally taking the leap to launch your business, we’re here to give you access to a community of women who will celebrate your every step, and with whom you can share the candid reality of building a business from scratch.
Join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
Become An Entreprenista!
Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Entreprenista Podcast - the most fun business meeting for female founders, by female founders. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.
Apple Podcasts | TuneIn | Spotify | Stitcher | iHeart Radio | GooglePlay
Be sure to share your favorite episodes across social media to help us reach more amazing female founders, like you.
Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn and for more exclusive content, tips, and insight,
Amanda Schutzbank saw a hole in the capital-raising world for non-tech businesses needing capital during the early stages of business. So she decided to put her years of expertise to use and do something about it.
In today's episode, we sit down with Amanda Schutzbank, co-founder of Willow Growth, a company that provides early-seed funding for consumer-based businesses. She shares why there was a need for Willow Growth, what the difference in venture capital and private equity is, what investors look for in pitches, and so much more.
"My mission right now is we want more women managing more capital. And I think that that flows through to more women starting more businesses and getting funding. And let's just keep on going, brick by brick. And I think part of that for me, and why I really am doing this and so passionate about it, is just to get more women creating wealth for themselves." - Amanda Schutzbank
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level, join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
This week's takeaways from Entreprenista:
Amanda shares her background (3:20)Amanda talks about the moment she decided to open her own business (6:36)Amanda explains the difference between private equity and venture capital (9:00)Amanda talks about her relationship with her co-founder (15:30)Amanda talks about starting Willow Growth at the beginning of the pandemic (19:58)Amanda shares what investors are looking for in pitches and some helpful tips (26:24)Amanda shares one of the brands she's most excited about (29:55)Rapid fire questions (34:26)How Amanda finds balance (36:55)What being an Entreprenista means to Amanda (41:51)
Resources Mentioned:
CalendlyZoomSuperhuman TikTok
Our Favorite Quotes:
"Don't feel like you need to change your story and make it a different story every time because that person's never heard your story. And so you just kind of have to do it over and over again and repeat yourself and it will lead to success." - Amanda Schutzbank"COVID actually really accelerated a lot of our thesis, we were investing in value-led consumer brands." - Amanda Schutzbank"I want to leave a legacy, I want to build a legacy that, you know, stands beyond my time." - Amanda Schutzbank
Connect with Amanda Schutzbank:
Amanda@WillowGrowth.comWillowGrowth.com
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level:
Join our Entreprenista League community of women founders! You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded Entreprenistas who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, the opportunity to have your story featured on our website and social channels, and MORE!
Whether you’re looking to scale your existing business and want to make the right connections, or you’re thinking about finally taking the leap to launch your business, we’re here to give you access to a community of women who will celebrate your every step, and with whom you can share the candid reality of building a business from scratch.
Join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
Become An Entreprenista!
Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Entreprenista Podcast - the most fun business meeting for female founders, by female founders. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.
Apple Podcasts | TuneIn | Spotify | Stitcher | iHeart Radio | GooglePlay
Be sure to share your favorite episodes across social media to help us reach more amazing female founders, like you.
Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn and for more exclusive content, tips, and insight,
After the dotcom crash and 9/11, Candace was left wondering what she wanted to do as a career. She knew she loved baking, so she decided to enroll in pastry school instead of going to business school. Soon, Sprinkles was born.
In today's episode, we sit down with Candace Nelson, co-founder of Sprinkles, the revolutionary cupcake company that took the world by storm and created the cupcake craze. Candace shares her tips for starting an undoable business, she talks about her new book and her new business, working with a business coach, and so much more.
"Here's this uniquely American treat, which I appreciated because I, you know, growing up overseas, I realized how American they were. Everyone had this nostalgia for cupcakes, and yet they were being treated, just like, you know, lunchbox here. So that's when I had the aha moment to reinvent the cupcake." - Candace Nelson
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level, join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
This week's takeaways from Entreprenista:
Candace shares her background and where her Entreprenista gene comes from (3:05)Why Candace chose pastry school over business school and how that led to her starting Sprinkles (7:07)Candace shares about her tips and lessons for Entreprenistas who are starting businesses that seem undoable (13:58)Candace talks about her book, Sweet Success (22:19)Candace talks about working with a business coach (28:01)How Candace decided what to do after Sprinkles (30:06)Candace explains the logistics behind the iconic cupcake ATM (37:29)Rapid fire questions (40:23)Candace's top need for maintaining balance (42:56)What being an Entreprenista means to Candace (48:19)
Resources Mentioned:
TikTokResy Notion
Our Favorite Quotes:
"The first time I ate a Mrs. Fields cookie that kind of opened my eyes to the magic that a female entrepreneur can create." - Candace Nelson"Real word of mouth, by the way, still the holy grail of marketing, if you can get that absolutely." - Candace Nelson"We had created such a special brand that resonated with people so much that they didn't let it up. And we ended up scaling the majority of our business through the Great Recession. We were that escape." - Candace Nelson
Connect with Candace Nelson:
Sweet Success on AmazonCandace on InstagramCandace on TikTokPizzana via Goldbelly
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level:
Join our Entreprenista League community of women founders! You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded Entreprenistas who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, the opportunity to have your story featured on our website and social channels, and MORE!
Whether you’re looking to scale your existing business and want to make the right connections, or you’re thinking about finally taking the leap to launch your business, we’re here to give you access to a community of women who will celebrate your every step, and with whom you can share the candid reality of building a business from scratch.
Join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
Become An Entreprenista!
Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Entreprenista Podcast - the most fun business meeting for female founders, by female founders. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.
Apple Podcasts | TuneIn | Spotify | Stitcher | iHeart Radio | GooglePlay
Be sure to share your favorite episodes across social media to help us reach more amazing female founders, like you.Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn and for more exclusive content, tips, and insight,
After the dotcom crash and 9/11, Candace was left wondering what she wanted to do as a career. She knew she loved baking, so she decided to enroll in pastry school instead of going to business school. Soon, Sprinkles was born.
In today's episode, we sit down with Candace Nelson, co-founder of Sprinkles, the revolutionary cupcake company that took the world by storm and created the cupcake craze. Candace shares her tips for starting an undoable business, she talks about her new book and her new business, working with a business coach, and so much more.
"Here's this uniquely American treat, which I appreciated because I, you know, growing up overseas, I realized how American they were. Everyone had this nostalgia for cupcakes, and yet they were being treated, just like, you know, lunchbox here. So that's when I had the aha moment to reinvent the cupcake." - Candace Nelson
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level, join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
This week's takeaways from Entreprenista:
Candace shares her background and where her Entreprenista gene comes from (3:05)Why Candace chose pastry school over business school and how that led to her starting Sprinkles (7:07)Candace shares about her tips and lessons for Entreprenistas who are starting businesses that seem undoable (13:58)Candace talks about her book, Sweet Success (22:19)Candace talks about working with a business coach (28:01)How Candace decided what to do after Sprinkles (30:06)Candace explains the logistics behind the iconic cupcake ATM (37:29)Rapid fire questions (40:23)Candace's top need for maintaining balance (42:56)What being an Entreprenista means to Candace (48:19)
Resources Mentioned:
TikTokResy Notion
Our Favorite Quotes:
"The first time I ate a Mrs. Fields cookie that kind of opened my eyes to the magic that a female entrepreneur can create." - Candace Nelson"Real word of mouth, by the way, still the holy grail of marketing, if you can get that absolutely." - Candace Nelson"We had created such a special brand that resonated with people so much that they didn't let it up. And we ended up scaling the majority of our business through the Great Recession. We were that escape." - Candace Nelson
Connect with Candace Nelson:
Sweet Success on AmazonCandace on InstagramCandace on TikTokPizzana via Goldbelly
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level:
Join our Entreprenista League community of women founders! You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded Entreprenistas who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, the opportunity to have your story featured on our website and social channels, and MORE!
Whether you’re looking to scale your existing business and want to make the right connections, or you’re thinking about finally taking the leap to launch your business, we’re here to give you access to a community of women who will celebrate your every step, and with whom you can share the candid reality of building a business from scratch.
Join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
Become An Entreprenista!
Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Entreprenista Podcast - the most fun business meeting for female founders, by female founders. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.
Apple Podcasts | TuneIn | Spotify | Stitcher | iHeart Radio | GooglePlay
Be sure to share your favorite episodes across social media to help us reach more amazing female founders, like you.Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn and for more exclusive content, tips, and insight,
When Maggie Segrich moved from New York to Houston, she learned that Houstonians would not feel comfortable going to a jewelry shop in a home unlike New Yorkers do. So she needed a space to set up shop. After meeting her business partner, Meredith, Sesh Coworking was created.
In today's episode, we sit down with Maggie Segrich, co-founder of Sesh Coworking, Houston's first female centered workspace that is a safe and inclusive community. She shares with us the lessons she's learned, how Covid affected the then brand-new Sesh, what you should know before going into business with a partner, and so much more.
"We are strong allies for the LGBTQ+ community as well as the BIPOC community. And we have everything from co-working to there's a pop up shop that's like, right across the hall from me, and it's where my sweatshirt came from. We have art galleries, there's doctors here, like it's an amazing community. And it truly represents the diversity that is Houston." - Maggie Segrich
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level, join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
This week's takeaways from Entreprenista:
Maggie shares her background and what led her to start her own business (4:31)Maggie shares what Sesh is and what lessons she has learned (10:39)Maggie shares how Sesh started (14:38)Maggie talks about how Covid affected the brand-new Sesh (22:44)Learning lessons Entreprenistas should know before going into business with a partner (31:54)Rapid fire questions (36:33)How Maggie balances business and motherhood (41:45)What being an Entreprenista means to Maggie (44:28)
Resources Mentioned:
OutlookWordpress
Our Favorite Quotes:
"The other thing I learned during that time was I took Facebook off my phone. I did it in New York, because I was being trolled pretty hard from some locals who didn't like what I was doing with the chamber. And I realized having Facebook on my phone was just, I was giving them a free pass to access my time with every single notification that would pop up." - Maggie Segrich"I think my perspective and outlook on life is the world is just a bunch of open doors. And it's whether or not I walk through them and have that experience. And so for me, I'm always going to poke my head in the open door just to see what's on the other side. Because like, I might like it." - Maggie Segrich"I know that if I ask for help, someone will say yes. And I think that's a very empowering thing that we constantly need to remind everyone of." - Maggie Segrich
Connect with Maggie Segrich:
Sesh Address: 2808 Caroline St, Unit 201, Houston, TX 77004SeshCoWorking.comSesh on InstagramSesh on FacebookSesh on Twitter
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level:
Join our Entreprenista League community of women founders! You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded Entreprenistas who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, the opportunity to have your story featured on our website and social channels, and MORE!
Whether you’re looking to scale your existing business and want to make the right connections, or you’re thinking about finally taking the leap to launch your business, we’re here to give you access to a community of women who will celebrate your every step, and with whom you can share the candid reality of building a business from scratch.
Join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
Become An Entreprenista!
Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Entreprenista Podcast - the most fun business meeting for female founders, by female founders. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and leave a review wherever you get your podca...
When Maggie Segrich moved from New York to Houston, she learned that Houstonians would not feel comfortable going to a jewelry shop in a home unlike New Yorkers do. So she needed a space to set up shop. After meeting her business partner, Meredith, Sesh Coworking was created.
In today's episode, we sit down with Maggie Segrich, co-founder of Sesh Coworking, Houston's first female centered workspace that is a safe and inclusive community. She shares with us the lessons she's learned, how Covid affected the then brand-new Sesh, what you should know before going into business with a partner, and so much more.
"We are strong allies for the LGBTQ+ community as well as the BIPOC community. And we have everything from co-working to there's a pop up shop that's like, right across the hall from me, and it's where my sweatshirt came from. We have art galleries, there's doctors here, like it's an amazing community. And it truly represents the diversity that is Houston." - Maggie Segrich
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level, join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
This week's takeaways from Entreprenista:
Maggie shares her background and what led her to start her own business (4:31)Maggie shares what Sesh is and what lessons she has learned (10:39)Maggie shares how Sesh started (14:38)Maggie talks about how Covid affected the brand-new Sesh (22:44)Learning lessons Entreprenistas should know before going into business with a partner (31:54)Rapid fire questions (36:33)How Maggie balances business and motherhood (41:45)What being an Entreprenista means to Maggie (44:28)
Resources Mentioned:
OutlookWordpress
Our Favorite Quotes:
"The other thing I learned during that time was I took Facebook off my phone. I did it in New York, because I was being trolled pretty hard from some locals who didn't like what I was doing with the chamber. And I realized having Facebook on my phone was just, I was giving them a free pass to access my time with every single notification that would pop up." - Maggie Segrich"I think my perspective and outlook on life is the world is just a bunch of open doors. And it's whether or not I walk through them and have that experience. And so for me, I'm always going to poke my head in the open door just to see what's on the other side. Because like, I might like it." - Maggie Segrich"I know that if I ask for help, someone will say yes. And I think that's a very empowering thing that we constantly need to remind everyone of." - Maggie Segrich
Connect with Maggie Segrich:
Sesh Address: 2808 Caroline St, Unit 201, Houston, TX 77004SeshCoWorking.comSesh on InstagramSesh on FacebookSesh on Twitter
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level:
Join our Entreprenista League community of women founders! You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded Entreprenistas who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, the opportunity to have your story featured on our website and social channels, and MORE!
Whether you’re looking to scale your existing business and want to make the right connections, or you’re thinking about finally taking the leap to launch your business, we’re here to give you access to a community of women who will celebrate your every step, and with whom you can share the candid reality of building a business from scratch.
Join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
Become An Entreprenista!
Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Entreprenista Podcast - the most fun business meeting for female founders, by female founders. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and leave a review wherever you get your podca...
After stepping down from her career and taking a six month traveling trip with her children, Lindsay Cook realized what her next career step would be: creating an app based on her health and wellness passions.
In today's episode, we sit down with Lindsay Cook, co-founder of FitOn, the number one free fitness app. Lindsay shares with us how her corporate background helped her start FitOn, the process and mindset needed for raising capital, how to market an app, and so much more.
"I realized how important actually my workouts were to my own self care. And I had no time to go to the gym. And I spend a lot of time looking at apps in the App Store and just being really underwhelmed by what I was seeing in this space." - Lindsay Cook
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level, join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
This week's takeaways from Entreprenista:
Lindsay shares when she realized she wanted to be an Entreprenista (3:20)How Covid impacted the early days of her business (5:47)Lindsay shares what the business model for FitOn is (7:07)How the idea of FitOn came to Lindsay and what her biggest challenges were (10:53)The processing of raising capital (14:56)How to market an app (19:26)Lindsay talks about the mistakes she has made and the lessons she's learned (27:53)Rapid fire questions (34:49)Lindsay shares some great advice for starting a business (43:16)What being an Entreprenista means to Lindsay (45:19)
Resources Mentioned:
CrunchBasePitchBookEverNoteAmplitude
Our Favorite Quotes:
"Turn on your alter ego, even if it's not natural to you in, kind of, those first early years." - Lindsay Cook"Who do I know from college from high school that maybe is connected to someone at one of those companies? And how do I get that meeting and get the best introduction I possibly can to help kind of sell in that concept?" - Lindsay Cook on raising capital "I think hiring people: I think we would say, there's no better way to say it than, we had like a no jerks policy. Like, you know, people, people that you wanted to work with, you wanted to be around, it felt like a small family, we always call it the FitOn family that we work in. And so we're small, but we're mighty." - Lindsay Cook
Connect with Lindsay Cook:
FitOnApp.com
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level:
Join our Entreprenista League community of women founders! You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded Entreprenistas who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, the opportunity to have your story featured on our website and social channels, and MORE!
Whether you’re looking to scale your existing business and want to make the right connections, or you’re thinking about finally taking the leap to launch your business, we’re here to give you access to a community of women who will celebrate your every step, and with whom you can share the candid reality of building a business from scratch.
Join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
Become An Entreprenista!
Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Entreprenista Podcast - the most fun business meeting for female founders, by female founders. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.
Apple Podcasts | TuneIn | Spotify | Stitcher | iHeart Radio | GooglePlay
Be sure to share your favorite episodes across social media to help us reach more amazing female founders, like you.
Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn and for more exclusive content, tips, and insight, join the Entreprenistas Facebook group and visit the SocialFly website.
Due to growing up on a farm, hard work and determination was instilled in Janna from a young age. Even though she had a successful career in sales and marketing, the beauty industry kept calling her name. So she took those childhood traits and her love for skincare, and created one of the most recognizable clinical skincare companies in the world, IMAGE Skincare.
In today's episode, we sit down with Janna Ronert, founder of IMAGE Skincare, a paraben-free clinically backed skincare company that has dominated the global market. Janna shares the importance of clinical studies, her secret to an amazing sales team, her biggest lessons, and so much more. If you're looking to take your business to the next level, this is the episode to listen to!
"I always had this passion for beauty. So secretly at night, I went back and I became an esthetician and I got into the esthetician world and I decided to go into the skincare world." - Janna Ronert
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level, join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
This week's takeaways from Entreprenista:
Janna shares how her childhood helped lead her into her business (3:09)The first steps Janna took to launch her skincare business in 2003 (5:42)Janna talks about how long it took for her company to gain traction (9:40)Janna shares how her second business aligns with her first and what she has done differently this time (11:18)Janna talks about what she has learned about building her team (17:05)Janna gives tips for setting up a sales team (25:14)Janna shares why she partnered with a private equity firm after 10 years of owning the company by herself (29:11)Rapid fire questions (33:42)Janna talks about her biggest learning lessons (35:03)How Janna manages her life with her business (39:08)The mantra Janna lives by (40:48)
Resources Mentioned:
WhatsAppZoom
Our Favorite Quotes:
"As an entrepreneur, you've got to have a great product, that's number one. Marketing comes second, in my opinion." - Janna Ronert"I think that the best advertisement is a happy client." - Janna Ronert"The lazy are never lucky. And if you want to be lucky, you can't be lazy. You have to put in the hard work." - Janna Ronert
Connect with Janna Ronert:
ImageSkincare.comHushandHush.com Janna on InstagramJanna on LinkedIn
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level:
Join our Entreprenista League community of women founders! You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded Entreprenistas who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, the opportunity to have your story featured on our website and social channels, and MORE!
Whether you’re looking to scale your existing business and want to make the right connections, or you’re thinking about finally taking the leap to launch your business, we’re here to give you access to a community of women who will celebrate your every step, and with whom you can share the candid reality of building a business from scratch.
Join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
Become An Entreprenista!
Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Entreprenista Podcast - the most fun business meeting for female founders, by female founders. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.
Apple Podcasts | TuneIn | Spotify | Stitcher | iHeart Radio | GooglePlay
Be sure to share your favorite episodes across social media to help us reach more amazing female founders, like you.
Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn and for more exclusive content, tips, and insight,
A childhood obsession with pigs led Berkley to becoming an attorney. During law school, she started a blog for legal education, which led to a contract template side business. Then the side business she started became her passion and she stepped away from being an attorney.
In today's episode, we talk with Berkley Sweetapple, an Entreprenista with a legal contract template business. Berkley shares with us the mistakes she's made and the lessons she's learned, the legal protections Entreprenistas MUST know, how to create content that converts, and so much more. If you have any legal questions about starting a business, this is THE episode to listen to!
"So that is one of the reasons why I wanted to create contracts that I use in my, in my law firm, you know, with one on one clients, and that I would charge maybe 1500 to draft from scratch, but have them be more in the $300 range so that entrepreneurs can DIY things that are DIY viable." - Berkley Sweetapple
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level, join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
This week's takeaways from Entreprenista:
Berkley talks about law school and her early years as an attorney (3:47)Berkley shares about starting her business in law school (6:58)Mistakes Berkley made in the early days of her business and the lessons she's learned (9:34)Berkley shares the legal protections Entreprenistas need to know about (16:45)Why Berkley wanted to start a business creating contracts (20:45)The number one tip to create content that converts (23:10)How to stay current with the ever changing landscape of social media (26:31)Rapid fire questions (31:22)How Berkley balances work life with being a mom (33:09)The mantra Berkley lives by (33:50)Berkley's final tip for Entreprenistas [it's an important one] (36:13)
Resources Mentioned:
ConvertKit Klaviyo SquarespaceShopifyCanva
Our Favorite Quotes:
"You also are, like, relying on an oral agreement at that point if you don't have something in writing, which is problematic because then it's he said she said." - Berkley Sweetapple"When women are starting out with businesses, we don't hire attorneys right away, because it's one of those things where it's like, okay, I know this is going to be a big investment, I'm going to push this off till later. And legal is one of those things that you really want to get ahead of, because problems become much more expensive, when you don't deal with them right away." - Berkley Sweetapple
Connect with Berkley Sweetapple:
Berkley on InstagramBerkleySweetapple.com - use code Entreprenista to get 25% off your order!BerkleySweetappleLaw.comBerkley@BerkleySweetappleLaw.com
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level:
Join our Entreprenista League community of women founders! You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded Entreprenistas who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, the opportunity to have your story featured on our website and social channels, and MORE!
Whether you’re looking to scale your existing business and want to make the right connections, or you’re thinking about finally taking the leap to launch your business, we’re here to give you access to a community of women who will celebrate your every step, and with whom you can share the candid reality of building a business from scratch.
Join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
Become An Entreprenista!
Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Entreprenista Podcast - the most fun business meeting for female founders, by female founders. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts. ...
A childhood obsession with pigs led Berkley to becoming an attorney. During law school, she started a blog for legal education, which led to a contract template side business. Then the side business she started became her passion and she stepped away from being an attorney.
In today's episode, we talk with Berkley Sweetapple, an Entreprenista with a legal contract template business. Berkley shares with us the mistakes she's made and the lessons she's learned, the legal protections Entreprenistas MUST know, how to create content that converts, and so much more. If you have any legal questions about starting a business, this is THE episode to listen to!
"So that is one of the reasons why I wanted to create contracts that I use in my, in my law firm, you know, with one on one clients, and that I would charge maybe 1500 to draft from scratch, but have them be more in the $300 range so that entrepreneurs can DIY things that are DIY viable." - Berkley Sweetapple
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level, join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
This week's takeaways from Entreprenista:
Berkley talks about law school and her early years as an attorney (3:47)Berkley shares about starting her business in law school (6:58)Mistakes Berkley made in the early days of her business and the lessons she's learned (9:34)Berkley shares the legal protections Entreprenistas need to know about (16:45)Why Berkley wanted to start a business creating contracts (20:45)The number one tip to create content that converts (23:10)How to stay current with the ever changing landscape of social media (26:31)Rapid fire questions (31:22)How Berkley balances work life with being a mom (33:09)The mantra Berkley lives by (33:50)Berkley's final tip for Entreprenistas [it's an important one] (36:13)
Resources Mentioned:
ConvertKit Klaviyo SquarespaceShopifyCanva
Our Favorite Quotes:
"You also are, like, relying on an oral agreement at that point if you don't have something in writing, which is problematic because then it's he said she said." - Berkley Sweetapple"When women are starting out with businesses, we don't hire attorneys right away, because it's one of those things where it's like, okay, I know this is going to be a big investment, I'm going to push this off till later. And legal is one of those things that you really want to get ahead of, because problems become much more expensive, when you don't deal with them right away." - Berkley Sweetapple
Connect with Berkley Sweetapple:
Berkley on InstagramBerkleySweetapple.com - use code Entreprenista to get 25% off your order!BerkleySweetappleLaw.comBerkley@BerkleySweetappleLaw.com
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level:
Join our Entreprenista League community of women founders! You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded Entreprenistas who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, the opportunity to have your story featured on our website and social channels, and MORE!
Whether you’re looking to scale your existing business and want to make the right connections, or you’re thinking about finally taking the leap to launch your business, we’re here to give you access to a community of women who will celebrate your every step, and with whom you can share the candid reality of building a business from scratch.
Join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
Become An Entreprenista!
Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Entreprenista Podcast - the most fun business meeting for female founders, by female founders. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts. ...
Sabeena was like every other millennial and took the straight and narrow corporate career path. Then when the world shut down and she was quarantined to her home, Sabeena mixed her love of healthy eating and a cookie dough obsession with her career knowledge of the snack industry to create a good-for-you cookie dough company.
In today's episode, we sit down with Sabeena Ladha, CEO and founder of Deux, a healthy cookie dough company for women. Sabeena shares how she started Deux in her own kitchen during the pandemic, how she found herself on Shark Tank, how to raise capital, and so much more.
"It started as, okay, women's nutrition and healthy indulgences, and then kind of transformed into how do we create what women want to eat and do it in a way that they want to consume it?" - Sabeena Ladha
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level, join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
This week’s takeaways from Entreprenista:
Sabeena talks about her early career and how it led to her starting Deux (3:34)Where the idea for Deux came from (8:15)Sabeena shares how she stays organized (15:55)Sabeena chats with us about her experience on Shark Tank (21:22)Tips and advice for fundraising (33:33)How to get into the retail realm (39:08)Rapid fire questions (42:06)What being an Entreprenista means to Sabeena (46:31)
Resources Mentioned:
Notion
Our Favorite Quotes:
"I think the difference between an entrepreneur and a non entrepreneur is just doing it, like just trying it, which is kind of crazy to think about, right?" - Sabeena Ladha"Feeling like I don't belong has made me work harder to belong." - Sabeena Ladha"If you get a 'no' in the business world it's not a no, right? Like you can keep pushing and keep finding a way there and I think noes are really discouraging and you get a shit ton of them doing this, like everybody says no, it's much easier to say no than yes. So in this world being able to kind of navigate around that and not get discouraged is, I think, it's super important." - Sabeena Ladha
Connect with Sabeena Ladha:
EatDeux.com - use code Entreprenista20 to save 20% on your order!Deux on InstagramSabeena on Instagram
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level:
Join our Entreprenista League community of women founders! You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded Entreprenistas who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, the opportunity to have your story featured on our website and social channels, and MORE!
Whether you’re looking to scale your existing business and want to make the right connections, or you’re thinking about finally taking the leap to launch your business, we’re here to give you access to a community of women who will celebrate your every step, and with whom you can share the candid reality of building a business from scratch.
Join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
Become An Entreprenista!
Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Entreprenista Podcast - the most fun business meeting for female founders, by female founders. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.
Apple Podcasts | TuneIn | Spotify | Stitcher | iHeart Radio | GooglePlay
Be sure to share your favorite episodes across social media to help us reach more amazing female founders, like you.
Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn and for more exclusive content, tips, and insight, join the Entreprenistas Facebook group and visit the SocialFly website.
Sabeena was like every other millennial and took the straight and narrow corporate career path. Then when the world shut down and she was quarantined to her home, Sabeena mixed her love of healthy eating and a cookie dough obsession with her career knowledge of the snack industry to create a good-for-you cookie dough company.
In today's episode, we sit down with Sabeena Ladha, CEO and founder of Deux, a healthy cookie dough company for women. Sabeena shares how she started Deux in her own kitchen during the pandemic, how she found herself on Shark Tank, how to raise capital, and so much more.
"It started as, okay, women's nutrition and healthy indulgences, and then kind of transformed into how do we create what women want to eat and do it in a way that they want to consume it?" - Sabeena Ladha
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level, join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
This week’s takeaways from Entreprenista:
Sabeena talks about her early career and how it led to her starting Deux (3:34)Where the idea for Deux came from (8:15)Sabeena shares how she stays organized (15:55)Sabeena chats with us about her experience on Shark Tank (21:22)Tips and advice for fundraising (33:33)How to get into the retail realm (39:08)Rapid fire questions (42:06)What being an Entreprenista means to Sabeena (46:31)
Resources Mentioned:
Notion
Our Favorite Quotes:
"I think the difference between an entrepreneur and a non entrepreneur is just doing it, like just trying it, which is kind of crazy to think about, right?" - Sabeena Ladha"Feeling like I don't belong has made me work harder to belong." - Sabeena Ladha"If you get a 'no' in the business world it's not a no, right? Like you can keep pushing and keep finding a way there and I think noes are really discouraging and you get a shit ton of them doing this, like everybody says no, it's much easier to say no than yes. So in this world being able to kind of navigate around that and not get discouraged is, I think, it's super important." - Sabeena Ladha
Connect with Sabeena Ladha:
EatDeux.com - use code Entreprenista20 to save 20% on your order!Deux on InstagramSabeena on Instagram
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level:
Join our Entreprenista League community of women founders! You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded Entreprenistas who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, the opportunity to have your story featured on our website and social channels, and MORE!
Whether you’re looking to scale your existing business and want to make the right connections, or you’re thinking about finally taking the leap to launch your business, we’re here to give you access to a community of women who will celebrate your every step, and with whom you can share the candid reality of building a business from scratch.
Join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
Become An Entreprenista!
Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Entreprenista Podcast - the most fun business meeting for female founders, by female founders. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.
Apple Podcasts | TuneIn | Spotify | Stitcher | iHeart Radio | GooglePlay
Be sure to share your favorite episodes across social media to help us reach more amazing female founders, like you.
Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn and for more exclusive content, tips, and insight, join the Entreprenistas Facebook group and visit the SocialFly website.
When Stefanie Sample woke up one day, mid-pandemic, and read an article that mentioned the huge gap in PPP loans for women and minorities, she knew she wanted to be part of the solution. So she spent the next few months learning all she could about small business lending. Then she launched Fundid.
In today's episode, we talk with Stefanie Sample, founder of Fundid, a business capital company for women and minority business owners. She chats with us about the previous businesses she's had, how to profitably sell your business, all about raising capital, and so much more. If you have any fundraising questions, this is the episode to tune into!
"Venture funding to women actually decreased quite significantly, and it was only at 2% to begin with. So it's like, Oh, my God, how is even possible that this could decrease. And I was just really pissed, and I turned to my husband, and I'm like, I'm not going to be on the sidelines on this, like, I have to do something, I have to be part of the solution." - Stefanie Sample
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level, join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
This week’s takeaways from Entreprenista:
Stefanie talks about her background and how she found herself as an Entreprenista (3:06)Stefanie shares about her many previous businesses (5:55)Stefanie gives us the lessons she's learned from selling businesses (9:02)Stefanie shares about her new business, Fundid (12:34)Stefanie shares the ins-and-outs of fundraising (19:00)Rapid fire questions (37:59)Stefanie talks about how she manages her days as a business owner, while also being a mom (39:10) Stefanie shares the mantra she lives her life by (43:17)What being an Entreprenista means to Stefanie (44:55)
Resources Mentioned:
WebflowUpworkCrunchBase
Our Favorite Quotes:
"But what I've learned about myself now is that I'm a builder, I'm a zero to one." - Stefanie Sample"I lucked out in that I'm really not capable of being anything but authentic and transparent." - Stefanie Sample"I had a really amazing experience raising, I never felt like my gender was an issue in any way with males or females, like, at the end of the day, a VCs job is to return their funds and make money. If you can do that, they don't care who you are." - Stefanie Sample
Connect with Stefanie Sample:
Stefanie Sample on LinkedInGetFundid.com
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level:
Join our Entreprenista League community of women founders! You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded Entreprenistas who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, the opportunity to have your story featured on our website and social channels, and MORE!
Whether you’re looking to scale your existing business and want to make the right connections, or you’re thinking about finally taking the leap to launch your business, we’re here to give you access to a community of women who will celebrate your every step, and with whom you can share the candid reality of building a business from scratch.
Join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
Become An Entreprenista!
Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Entreprenista Podcast - the most fun business meeting for female founders, by female founders. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.
Apple Podcasts | TuneIn | Spotify | Stitcher | iHeart Radio | GooglePlay
Be sure to share your favorite episodes across social media to help us reach more amazing female founders, like you.
Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn and for more exclusive content,
When Stefanie Sample woke up one day, mid-pandemic, and read an article that mentioned the huge gap in PPP loans for women and minorities, she knew she wanted to be part of the solution. So she spent the next few months learning all she could about small business lending. Then she launched Fundid.
In today's episode, we talk with Stefanie Sample, founder of Fundid, a business capital company for women and minority business owners. She chats with us about the previous businesses she's had, how to profitably sell your business, all about raising capital, and so much more. If you have any fundraising questions, this is the episode to tune into!
"Venture funding to women actually decreased quite significantly, and it was only at 2% to begin with. So it's like, Oh, my God, how is even possible that this could decrease. And I was just really pissed, and I turned to my husband, and I'm like, I'm not going to be on the sidelines on this, like, I have to do something, I have to be part of the solution." - Stefanie Sample
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level, join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
This week’s takeaways from Entreprenista:
Stefanie talks about her background and how she found herself as an Entreprenista (3:06)Stefanie shares about her many previous businesses (5:55)Stefanie gives us the lessons she's learned from selling businesses (9:02)Stefanie shares about her new business, Fundid (12:34)Stefanie shares the ins-and-outs of fundraising (19:00)Rapid fire questions (37:59)Stefanie talks about how she manages her days as a business owner, while also being a mom (39:10) Stefanie shares the mantra she lives her life by (43:17)What being an Entreprenista means to Stefanie (44:55)
Resources Mentioned:
WebflowUpworkCrunchBase
Our Favorite Quotes:
"But what I've learned about myself now is that I'm a builder, I'm a zero to one." - Stefanie Sample"I lucked out in that I'm really not capable of being anything but authentic and transparent." - Stefanie Sample"I had a really amazing experience raising, I never felt like my gender was an issue in any way with males or females, like, at the end of the day, a VCs job is to return their funds and make money. If you can do that, they don't care who you are." - Stefanie Sample
Connect with Stefanie Sample:
Stefanie Sample on LinkedInGetFundid.com
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level:
Join our Entreprenista League community of women founders! You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded Entreprenistas who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, the opportunity to have your story featured on our website and social channels, and MORE!
Whether you’re looking to scale your existing business and want to make the right connections, or you’re thinking about finally taking the leap to launch your business, we’re here to give you access to a community of women who will celebrate your every step, and with whom you can share the candid reality of building a business from scratch.
Join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
Become An Entreprenista!
Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Entreprenista Podcast - the most fun business meeting for female founders, by female founders. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.
Apple Podcasts | TuneIn | Spotify | Stitcher | iHeart Radio | GooglePlay
Be sure to share your favorite episodes across social media to help us reach more amazing female founders, like you.
Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn and for more exclusive content,
In today's day and age, it's hard to have honest conversations with people who have a different belief than you. But it's so important. Having conversations with people different than you helps you understand their perspective AND it helps build community.
In today's episode, we hear from Sophie Beren, CEO of The Conversationalist, a nonpartisan education community that has the goal of helping people break out of their echo chambers. Sophie shares with us how The Conversationalist started, her hiring process, how to have hard conversations, and so much more. We say it all the time, but this is truly the episode you don't want to miss!
"It kind of hit me all at once that the thing I resented so much growing up in Kansas being the odd one out, the different one, was actually the thing I was taking for granted my entire life. And I realized in that moment that the meaning of life is actually to be surrounded by people who are different from you, who will push you to grow, to consider new perspectives, and to be part of a larger whole." - Sophie Beren
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level, join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
This week’s takeaways from Entreprenista:
Sophie shares the original roadmap for her life and what she's learned along the way (4:56)Sophie talks about her first entrepreneurial endeavor and how it shaped The Conversationalist (9:53) What The Conversationalist started it as and how it's evolved (14:41)How Sophie knew to make data driven decisions for her community-based company (18:31)Building an internal team when you don't know where to start (21:42)Sophie shares her hiring process and the question she asks to find the right team members [it's a good one] (24:39)Rapid fire questions round (34:44)Sophie shares the moment she's most proud of (41:51)Sophie gives tips for having difficult conversations (45:00)Sophie talks about her go-to mantra [this is THE ONE] (47:35)What being an Entreprenista means to Sophie (51:25)
Resources Mentioned:
Bumble BizzNotionAsanaClickupCanvaGoogle Calendar
Our Favorite Quotes:
"That realization led me to take pen to paper and start writing a column about why our generation needs to break open our echo chambers." - Sophie Beren"I think the biggest learning lesson was making sure that whatever I create can be this living, breathing organism that should always shape shift to best impact the people you're trying to serve." - Sophie Beren"Businesses are not overnight successes. But you can expedite your success if you're willing to lean into the challenges when they first arise." - Sophie Beren
Connect with Sophie Beren:
Sophie Beren on InstagramSophie Beren on LinkedInSophie Beren on TwitterSophie Beren on TikTokThe Conversationalist on Instagram
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level:
Join our Entreprenista League community of women founders! You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded Entreprenistas who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, the opportunity to have your story featured on our website and social channels, and MORE!
Whether you’re looking to scale your existing business and want to make the right connections, or you’re thinking about finally taking the leap to launch your business, we’re here to give you access to a community of women who will celebrate your every step, and with whom you can share the candid reality of building a business from scratch.
Join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
Become An Entreprenista!
Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Entreprenista Podcast - the most fun business meeting for female founders, by female founders.
In today's day and age, it's hard to have honest conversations with people who have a different belief than you. But it's so important. Having conversations with people different than you helps you understand their perspective AND it helps build community.
In today's episode, we hear from Sophie Beren, CEO of The Conversationalist, a nonpartisan education community that has the goal of helping people break out of their echo chambers. Sophie shares with us how The Conversationalist started, her hiring process, how to have hard conversations, and so much more. We say it all the time, but this is truly the episode you don't want to miss!
"It kind of hit me all at once that the thing I resented so much growing up in Kansas being the odd one out, the different one, was actually the thing I was taking for granted my entire life. And I realized in that moment that the meaning of life is actually to be surrounded by people who are different from you, who will push you to grow, to consider new perspectives, and to be part of a larger whole." - Sophie Beren
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level, join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
This week’s takeaways from Entreprenista:
Sophie shares the original roadmap for her life and what she's learned along the way (4:56)Sophie talks about her first entrepreneurial endeavor and how it shaped The Conversationalist (9:53) What The Conversationalist started it as and how it's evolved (14:41)How Sophie knew to make data driven decisions for her community-based company (18:31)Building an internal team when you don't know where to start (21:42)Sophie shares her hiring process and the question she asks to find the right team members [it's a good one] (24:39)Rapid fire questions round (34:44)Sophie shares the moment she's most proud of (41:51)Sophie gives tips for having difficult conversations (45:00)Sophie talks about her go-to mantra [this is THE ONE] (47:35)What being an Entreprenista means to Sophie (51:25)
Resources Mentioned:
Bumble BizzNotionAsanaClickupCanvaGoogle Calendar
Our Favorite Quotes:
"That realization led me to take pen to paper and start writing a column about why our generation needs to break open our echo chambers." - Sophie Beren"I think the biggest learning lesson was making sure that whatever I create can be this living, breathing organism that should always shape shift to best impact the people you're trying to serve." - Sophie Beren"Businesses are not overnight successes. But you can expedite your success if you're willing to lean into the challenges when they first arise." - Sophie Beren
Connect with Sophie Beren:
Sophie Beren on InstagramSophie Beren on LinkedInSophie Beren on TwitterSophie Beren on TikTokThe Conversationalist on Instagram
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level:
Join our Entreprenista League community of women founders! You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded Entreprenistas who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, the opportunity to have your story featured on our website and social channels, and MORE!
Whether you’re looking to scale your existing business and want to make the right connections, or you’re thinking about finally taking the leap to launch your business, we’re here to give you access to a community of women who will celebrate your every step, and with whom you can share the candid reality of building a business from scratch.
Join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
Become An Entreprenista!
Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Entreprenista Podcast - the most fun business meeting for female founders, by female founders.
Apple Podcasts | TuneIn | Spotify | Stitcher | iHeart Radio | GooglePlay
Many people struggle to grow their families, so they turn to fertility treatments. However, the process can be confusing and not personal. SMP Pharmacy decided to change that by streamlining the process and making it easier on patients and nurses, alike.
In today's episode, we talk with Pam Schumann, CEO of SMP Pharmacy, about why she saw the need for a new fertility management program, how to set your business up for acquisition, how to build a tech company, and so much more.
"What I brought to them was, I call it a modern look at what a fertility pharmacy could be." - Pam Schumann
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level, join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
This week’s takeaways from Entreprenista:
Pam shares her background (1:15)Pam talks about her first company (5:41)Tips for setting your business up for acquisition (8:30)Pam talks all about SMP Pharmacy (11:51)Pam takes us through the process of building tech and shares how long it took for SMP Pharmacy to go live (21:33)What patients who use SMP Pharmacy can expect (31:32)How SMP Pharmacy is improving the patient experience (38:19)Rapid fire questions (42:28)What being an Entreprenista means to Pam (46:50)
Resources Mentioned:
$150 off code for listeners - PODCAST
Our Favorite Quotes:
"I have been so fortunate to make a living in something that I feel so strongly about." - Pam Schumann"We decided to move to a seven day a week operation in all three of our locations because patients have questions. They're going through fertility treatments, seven days a week and we needed to be there for them." - Pam Schumann"From a business perspective, because we went for the hard one, and not the easy one, it's gonna be very hard for our competition to replicate that anytime soon. So from a competitive advantage, it's just from a pure business perspective, that's been the better move." - Pam Schumann
Connect with Pam Schumann:
SMPPharmacy.comSMP Pharmacy in Instagram
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level:
Join our Entreprenista League community of women founders! You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded Entreprenistas who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, the opportunity to have your story featured on our website and social channels, and MORE!
Whether you’re looking to scale your existing business and want to make the right connections, or you’re thinking about finally taking the leap to launch your business, we’re here to give you access to a community of women who will celebrate your every step, and with whom you can share the candid reality of building a business from scratch.
Join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
Become An Entreprenista!
Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Entreprenista Podcast - the most fun business meeting for female founders, by female founders. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.
Be sure to share your favorite episodes across social media to help us reach more amazing female founders, like you.
When Anna Ratala decided to start a podcast, she went looking for a platform that would help her find brands to monetize her podcast. When she found there was no such site, she decided to create her own, thus Zvook was born.
In this week's episode, Anna Ratala, CEO and co-founder of Zvook, a platform that matches brands to podcasts, shares how her journey to starting her own business led her across the world, how to go about fundraising, why she thinks more women should enter tech, and so much more. If you've been waiting for motivation to strike, THIS is the episode you don't want to miss.
"We try to make it easy to make sure that the brands find you and that you're able to, you know, monetize your podcasts, regardless of the size." - Anna Ratala
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level, join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
This week’s takeaways from Entreprenista:
Anna talks about her upbringing and how it shaped her journey into entrepreneurship (3:17)Where the idea of Zvook came from (11:00)Anna's tips for choosing the right co-founder (15:35)Anna shares all about her fundraising process [and gives some great tips] (22:03)Rapid fire questions (36:18)What it's like to be a woman in tech (38:21)Anna's favorite mantra [this is a stellar one] (43:41)
Resources Mentioned:
SpotifyApple PodcastsCastboxOvercast Hubspot
Our Favorite Quotes:
"I can actually create something, if I don't see an opportunity, I can create it, and I can get it done. And I think that was sort of the first time I was really thinking about, well, it could actually be pretty nice to do something on my own." - Anna Ratala"I am not begging for money, I am giving someone an opportunity to jump on board of a business that is going to explode." - Anna Ratala"We need both. We need women who code, but we also need women who lead." - Anna Ratala
Connect with Anna Ratala:
Anna Ratala on InstagramAnna Ratala on LinkedInAnna Ratala on TwitterZvook.coZvook on InstagramZvook on LinkedIn
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level:
Join our Entreprenista League community of women founders! You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded Entreprenistas who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, the opportunity to have your story featured on our website and social channels, and MORE!
Whether you’re looking to scale your existing business and want to make the right connections, or you’re thinking about finally taking the leap to launch your business, we’re here to give you access to a community of women who will celebrate your every step, and with whom you can share the candid reality of building a business from scratch.
Join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
Become An Entreprenista!
Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Entreprenista Podcast - the most fun business meeting for female founders, by female founders. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.
Apple Podcasts | TuneIn | Spotify | Stitcher | iHeart Radio | GooglePlay
Be sure to share your favorite episodes across social media to help us reach more amazing female founders, like you.
Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn and for more exclusive content, tips, and insight, join the Entreprenistas Facebook group and visit the SocialFly website.
When Anna Ratala decided to start a podcast, she went looking for a platform that would help her find brands to monetize her podcast. When she found there was no such site, she decided to create her own, thus Zvook was born.
In this week's episode, Anna Ratala, CEO and co-founder of Zvook, a platform that matches brands to podcasts, shares how her journey to starting her own business led her across the world, how to go about fundraising, why she thinks more women should enter tech, and so much more. If you've been waiting for motivation to strike, THIS is the episode you don't want to miss.
"We try to make it easy to make sure that the brands find you and that you're able to, you know, monetize your podcasts, regardless of the size." - Anna Ratala
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level, join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
This week’s takeaways from Entreprenista:
Anna talks about her upbringing and how it shaped her journey into entrepreneurship (3:17)Where the idea of Zvook came from (11:00)Anna's tips for choosing the right co-founder (15:35)Anna shares all about her fundraising process [and gives some great tips] (22:03)Rapid fire questions (36:18)What it's like to be a woman in tech (38:21)Anna's favorite mantra [this is a stellar one] (43:41)
Resources Mentioned:
SpotifyApple PodcastsCastboxOvercast Hubspot
Our Favorite Quotes:
"I can actually create something, if I don't see an opportunity, I can create it, and I can get it done. And I think that was sort of the first time I was really thinking about, well, it could actually be pretty nice to do something on my own." - Anna Ratala"I am not begging for money, I am giving someone an opportunity to jump on board of a business that is going to explode." - Anna Ratala"We need both. We need women who code, but we also need women who lead." - Anna Ratala
Connect with Anna Ratala:
Anna Ratala on InstagramAnna Ratala on LinkedInAnna Ratala on TwitterZvook.coZvook on InstagramZvook on LinkedIn
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level:
Join our Entreprenista League community of women founders! You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded Entreprenistas who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, the opportunity to have your story featured on our website and social channels, and MORE!
Whether you’re looking to scale your existing business and want to make the right connections, or you’re thinking about finally taking the leap to launch your business, we’re here to give you access to a community of women who will celebrate your every step, and with whom you can share the candid reality of building a business from scratch.
Join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
Become An Entreprenista!
Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Entreprenista Podcast - the most fun business meeting for female founders, by female founders. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.
Apple Podcasts | TuneIn | Spotify | Stitcher | iHeart Radio | GooglePlay
Be sure to share your favorite episodes across social media to help us reach more amazing female founders, like you.
Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn and for more exclusive content, tips, and insight, join the Entreprenistas Facebook group and visit the SocialFly website.
Jennifer Brisman was always a go-getter, a starter, the one who made things happen. Add that to her, as she says, "problem with authority" and you get the creator of futuristic event planning. Even though she knew she wanted to be her own boss, Jennifer's career path started out in a completely different field–pre-med. But on one fateful day, as Jennifer planned a pre-med event, she met a person who would change the trajectory of her life forever.
In this week's episode, we talk with Jennifer Brisman, CEO and founder of Vow, an event planning company that has changed guest management for the better. She shares tips for starting a tech company, how to handle business with a remote team, how to raise capital, and so much more.
"Since I was little I feel like I naturally had a problem with authority or doing things, you know, the way anybody else wanted me to do it. I always thought I knew best. And you know, as time went along, I kind of proved that to myself in small ways." - Jennifer Brisman
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level, join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
This week's takeaways from Entreprenista:
Jennifer shares her background and how young she was when she realized she wanted to own her own business (2:56)Jennifer talks about the early years of Vow (10:23)Tips to starting a tech company (15:53)How Vow got its first customers (22:06)How Jennifer manages a remote team (29:26)What Jennifer has learned about raising capital (33:26)Rapid fire questions (39:24)How Jennifer stays organized (46:41)What being an Entreprenista means to Jennifer (51:51)
Resources Mentioned:
ZoomSlack
Our Favorite Quotes:
"I think the first thing that I would say is to be really, really clear about what you want to build." - Jennifer Brisman" So like, right now, the first few engineers that I hired, I needed people that I could connect with, not just robots, like I needed people who, you know, were granular and had good spidey sense and great chemistry with me." - Jennifer Brisman"So I'm not sure what we're doing exactly right now, but as far as my learning curve, it sucks to be rejected. Like it really, really sucks to be rejected. That's number one." - Jennifer Brisman"But if you're a CEO, get the fuck out of email. Email is where productivity goes to die. Nothing good happens on email, nothing urgent happens on email." - Jennifer Brisman
Connect with Jennifer Brisman:
Vow.AppVow on LinkedInVow on InstagramVow on TwitterJennifer Brisman on LinkedInJennifer Brisman on InstagramJennifer Brisman on Twitter
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level:
Join our Entreprenista League community of women founders! You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded Entreprenistas who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, the opportunity to have your story featured on our website and social channels, and MORE!
Whether you’re looking to scale your existing business and want to make the right connections, or you’re thinking about finally taking the leap to launch your business, we’re here to give you access to a community of women who will celebrate your every step, and with whom you can share the candid reality of building a business from scratch.
Join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
Become An Entreprenista!
Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Entreprenista Podcast - the most fun business meeting for female founders, by female founders. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.
Apple Podcasts | TuneIn | Spotify | Stitcher | iHeart Radio | GooglePlay
Jennifer Brisman was always a go-getter, a starter, the one who made things happen. Add that to her, as she says, "problem with authority" and you get the creator of futuristic event planning. Even though she knew she wanted to be her own boss, Jennifer's career path started out in a completely different field–pre-med. But on one fateful day, as Jennifer planned a pre-med event, she met a person who would change the trajectory of her life forever.
In this week's episode, we talk with Jennifer Brisman, CEO and founder of Vow, an event planning company that has changed guest management for the better. She shares tips for starting a tech company, how to handle business with a remote team, how to raise capital, and so much more.
"Since I was little I feel like I naturally had a problem with authority or doing things, you know, the way anybody else wanted me to do it. I always thought I knew best. And you know, as time went along, I kind of proved that to myself in small ways." - Jennifer Brisman
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level, join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
This week's takeaways from Entreprenista:
Jennifer shares her background and how young she was when she realized she wanted to own her own business (2:56)Jennifer talks about the early years of Vow (10:23)Tips to starting a tech company (15:53)How Vow got its first customers (22:06)How Jennifer manages a remote team (29:26)What Jennifer has learned about raising capital (33:26)Rapid fire questions (39:24)How Jennifer stays organized (46:41)What being an Entreprenista means to Jennifer (51:51)
Resources Mentioned:
ZoomSlack
Our Favorite Quotes:
"I think the first thing that I would say is to be really, really clear about what you want to build." - Jennifer Brisman" So like, right now, the first few engineers that I hired, I needed people that I could connect with, not just robots, like I needed people who, you know, were granular and had good spidey sense and great chemistry with me." - Jennifer Brisman"So I'm not sure what we're doing exactly right now, but as far as my learning curve, it sucks to be rejected. Like it really, really sucks to be rejected. That's number one." - Jennifer Brisman"But if you're a CEO, get the fuck out of email. Email is where productivity goes to die. Nothing good happens on email, nothing urgent happens on email." - Jennifer Brisman
Connect with Jennifer Brisman:
Vow.AppVow on LinkedInVow on InstagramVow on TwitterJennifer Brisman on LinkedInJennifer Brisman on InstagramJennifer Brisman on Twitter
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level:
Join our Entreprenista League community of women founders! You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded Entreprenistas who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, the opportunity to have your story featured on our website and social channels, and MORE!
Whether you’re looking to scale your existing business and want to make the right connections, or you’re thinking about finally taking the leap to launch your business, we’re here to give you access to a community of women who will celebrate your every step, and with whom you can share the candid reality of building a business from scratch.
Join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
Become An Entreprenista!
Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Entreprenista Podcast - the most fun business meeting for female founders, by female founders. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.
Apple Podcasts | TuneIn | Spotify | Stitcher | iHeart Radio | GooglePlay
Moving across the globe with the intention of becoming and staying an entertainment executive was exactly the life Yanghee Paik wanted and got. Until one day, she spoke with her future business partner about the lack of quality feminine care products in the US. That one conversation changed the course of Yanghee's life forever.
In this week's episode, Yanghee Paik, co-founder and CEO of Rael, an organic and natural feminine hygiene company, discusses the ins and outs of all things business. She shares why it's important to stand confident when talking to investors, the importance of flexible employees in a startup, how to get products in front of big-name retailers, and so much more. This is an episode of Entreprenista you do NOT want to miss.
"Feminine care products were one of those which was kind of neglected by us women, unfortunately. So we're trying to do a lot of education about why this is important. And then how different our products are and then the benefits of, you know, converting to organic and natural." - Yanghee Paik
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level, join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
This week’s takeaways from Entreprenista:
Yanghee shares her background and how she came to co-found Rael (3:40)How to find the right employees at the beginning of a startup (11:55)The evolution of Rael's packaging and branding (17:42)Yanghee shares the ins and outs of Rael's marketing strategy and how it has changed (20:28)Yanghee shares the challenges of getting male investors on in the early days of Rael (29:11)How to get your brand in front of big-box retailers (37:06)Rapid fire questions (42:59)What being an Entreprenista means to Yanghee (45:05)
Resources Mentioned:
Slack NetSuite
Our Favorite Quotes:
"I would actually warn my team members from the beginning when they were joining the company. 'Well, we think that this is your role for now. But because the company is going so fast and evolving so fast, we hope that you're open to all the other tasks and you know, jobs that come up.'" - Yanghee Paik"Initially, it was very scrappy, you know, we were just gifting a lot. And we reached out to the influencers that we would love working with." - Yanghee Paik on Rael's early marketing strategy"So we would just direct our investors to go to Amazon, read the customer reviews, which are authentic, and then just see, you know, what people like about us, and then they realized that people were hungry for something that's organic, natural, but that worked really well, which was what we were offering at that time." - Yanghee Paik"I was one of those who thought, you know, will never become an entrepreneur, I thought I was just going to become a corporate executive." - Yanghee Paik
Connect with Yanghee Paik:
Yanghee on LinkedInRael's WebsiteRael on InstagramRael on TikTokRael on FacebookRael on AmazonRael at TargetRael at WalmartRael at CVSRael at Walgreens
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level:
Join our Entreprenista League community of women founders! You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded Entreprenistas who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, the opportunity to have your story featured on our website and social channels, and MORE!
Whether you’re looking to scale your existing business and want to make the right connections, or you’re thinking about finally taking the leap to launch your business, we’re here to give you access to a community of women who will celebrate your every step, and with whom you can share the candid reality of building a business from scratch.
Join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
Have you ever wanted to detach time from money? You may have wanted something more than an hourly job. But maybe you thought 'I'm too young' or 'I'm too old' or 'I'm too [fill-in-the-blank.]' For Kimmy Scotti, she didn't let her age stop her from accomplishing what she wanted. She pounded the pavement and figured out how she could get to where she wanted to go.
This week's guest, Kimmy Scotti, is a life-long entrepreneur and business owner. After starting her first business at 15, Mimz New York, Kimmy went on to become a founding member of 8VC, a venture capitalist group. In the last few years, Kimmy has put her focus on co-founding Fig.1, a revolutionary skincare line. In this episode, Kimmy shares how she got started, her biggest passions, how she juggles her life and work, and so much more.
"When we talk about the mission of Fig.1, it's to democratize access to healthy skin. And if you're going to democratize something, you better believe that Walmart is where it's gonna be." - Kimmy Scotti
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level, join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
This week's takeaways from Entreprenista:
Kimmy shares how her entrepreneur journey started at age 15 (4:21)How Kimmy juggles her time between family and business [this is a good tip] (10:10)Kimmy discusses what industries excite her as a venture capitalist (17:23)Why Kimmy co-founded Fig.1 (18:33)Kimmy shares the marketing strategy for Fig.1 (33:53)Kimmy gives tips to get your product into retailers (38:21)Rapid fire questions round (44:26)Kimmy shares what being an entreprenista means to her (53:13)
Resources Mentioned:
Google DocsPinterestUnited AppFig.1 discount code: entreprenista10
Our Favorite Quotes:
"There's this kind of tone that talks down to the consumer, who were mainly women, right? And I don't believe in that." - Kimmy Scotti"I think post-having kids and I'm like 'look at them.' It's an entirely different thing and it's just about being happy every day." - Kimmy Scotti on what success means to her"When I look back at my career path, it's not like oh, every step was chosen perfectly. They were messy steps. There were backward steps. And there were dance steps. There were, like, real steps in there. But all of them were kind of moving me towards where I am now. " - Kimmy Scotti
Connect with Kimmy Scotti:
Kimmy on InstagramFig.1 on Instagram8VC.comFig-1.cokimmy@8VC.com
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level:
Join our Entreprenista League community of women founders! You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded Entreprenistas who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, the opportunity to have your story featured on our website and social channels, and MORE!
Whether you’re looking to scale your existing business and want to make the right connections, or you’re thinking about finally taking the leap to launch your business, we’re here to give you access to a community of women who will celebrate your every step, and with whom you can share the candid reality of building a business from scratch.
Join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
Become An Entreprenista!
Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Entreprenista Podcast - the most fun business meeting for female founders, by female founders. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.
Apple Podcasts | TuneIn | Spotify | Stitcher | iHeart Radio | GooglePlay
Be sure to share your favorite episodes across social media to help us reach more amazing female founders, like you.
Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter,
Michelle Reeves is the co-founder and CEO of Mavion, a Web 3 platform that creates fashion NFTs. Michelle has a heart for helping women break into the cryptocurrency world. As she says, her DMs are always open to inquiring minds.
In this week's episode, Michelle shares how 2016 got her started in NFTs. She also shares what she hopes her company, Mavion, can help with, how NFTs can help a business grow, and how to get started in the NFT space. As a mom herself, she gives helpful tips on how to manage it all, as well.
"Be that trusted, friendly, credible, voice personality product that gets them in, educate them. Give, give, give before you start asking them of anything. And if you create that kind of connection, that's a loyalty that is almost unbreakable. You've educated them. You've brought them into a space safely. You will be with them for a long time." - Michelle Reeves
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level, join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
This week’s takeaways from Entreprenista:
How Michelle got started in NFTs (3:41)Michelle talks about The Accessory Junkie (6:27)The problem Mavion solves (8:32)Michelle gives the lowdown on what NFTs and Web 3 actually are (11:56)How social media helped Michelle learn about the digital world (22:07)How NFTs can propel a business forward (25:23)What the business model of Mavion is (32:40)Rapid fire questions round (36:10)Michelle shares what a typical day looks like for her (37:32)Michelle shares the best tip for being a working mom (40:07)How to get started in NFTs (41:35)What being an Entreprenista means to Michelle (44:23)
Resources Mentioned:
MetaMaskCoinbaseEtherscanOpenSea
Our Favorite Quotes:
"It's there forever. I'll say it again. You can't copy it, edit, or delete it. It's there forever." - Michelle Reeves"Case in point, I can get on LinkedIn right now. And I could change my profile and say that I am the founder of Sephora. No one can stop me. Sephora can't stop me. LinkedIn can't stop me. I can say that." - Michelle Reeves "I am a notoriously annoyingly curious person, I like to put myself in the middle of conversations where I probably don't belong, and then absorb, learn and try to connect the dots." - Michelle Reeves
Connect with Michelle Reeves:
Mavion on Instagram Mavion on TwitterMavion WebsiteMichelle on InstagramMichelle on TwitterThe Accessory Junkie on Instagram
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level:
Join our Entreprenista League community of women founders! You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded Entreprenistas who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, the opportunity to have your story featured on our website and social channels, and MORE!
Whether you’re looking to scale your existing business and want to make the right connections, or you’re thinking about finally taking the leap to launch your business, we’re here to give you access to a community of women who will celebrate your every step, and with whom you can share the candid reality of building a business from scratch.
Join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
Become An Entreprenista!
Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Entreprenista Podcast - the most fun business meeting for female founders, by female founders. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.
Apple Podcasts | TuneIn | Spotify | Stitcher | iHeart Radio | GooglePlay
Be sure to share your favorite episodes across social media to help us reach more amazing female founders, like you.Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram,
Any person with a food allergy knows what it feels like to miss out on sweets. But when starting a business to fill that void, how do you get investors to believe in your mission? And how do you gain the trust of your intended audience?
This week’s guest is Denise Woodard, founder of Partake, an allergen-free sweets company that Denise started because of her daughter’s many food allergies. In this episode, Denise discusses how her background helped her start her company, how she got investors to back her passion, and so much more. She also shares some amazing tidbits of information for all the Entreprenistas listening.
“I wanted to create an inclusive brand that invited people with and without food allergies to enjoy. And I didn't feel like I was seeing that reflected. And so the name Partake came from this idea of me wanting people with and without dietary restrictions to be able to enjoy.” - Denise Woodard
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level, join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
This week’s takeaways from Entreprenista:
Denise’s childhood introduction to entrepreneurship (3:38)Denise shares when and why she started Partake (4:36)Denise talks about the importance of branding (6:11)Denise shares where the name Partake comes from (8:37)How Denise marketed Partake in the beginning as a “team of one” (14:05)How much money Denise put into her business at the beginning (15:01)Denise shares in-depth about her fundraising process (24:53)What keeps Denise going on the hard days (29:31)What’s in store for Partake in the future (35:37)Rapid fire questions (37:50)How to overcome imposter syndrome (43:50)What being an Entreprenista means to Denise (45:35)
Resources Mentioned:
Google SuiteGoogle SheetsGoogle DocsGmail
Our Favorite Quotes:
“One of the things that I always tell entrepreneurs is that you have to have a really strong reason for why you're doing what you're doing, not to get famous or not to get rich.” - Denise Woodard“It's really important to know your business inside out, I think oftentimes, as women, we have to be twice as good. And so, know the business, know the numbers, know the vision.” - Denise Woodard“Work hard and be kind.” - Denise Woodard“I have the worst imposter syndrome. And as I talk to other women that I perceive as so successful, and so have it all together, and then realize that they're trying to figure out the work-life integration thing, and that they doubt themselves, I get a little solace in that.” - Denise Woodard
Connect with Denise Woodard:
Partake’s WebsitePartake’s InstagramPartake’s LinkedInDenise’s Instagram Denise’s LinkedIn
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level:
Join our Entreprenista League community of women founders! You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded Entreprenistas who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, the opportunity to have your story featured on our website and social channels, and MORE!
Whether you’re looking to scale your existing business and want to make the right connections, or you’re thinking about finally taking the leap to launch your business, we’re here to give you access to a community of women who will celebrate your every step, and with whom you can share the candid reality of building a business from scratch.
Join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
Become An Entreprenista!
Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Entreprenista Podcast - the most fun business meeting for female founders, by female founders. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.
Imagine moving to a new state, changing careers, and starting a business, despite having no business background. Sound scary? Well, that’s exactly what this week’s guest, Erin Patinkin, did in her 20s.
Our guest this week is Erin Patinkin. She is the founder, former CEO, and Board Chair of the beloved New York-based bakery chain Ovenly, founder of the award-winning Seemore Meats & Veggies, executive producer, creator, & co-host of Start to Sale on Vox, co-author of the bestselling Ovenly cookbook, business consultant to companies like Noishaf, Seed + Mill, and White Moustache, and advisor to many.
In this episode, Erin walks us through how she started Ovenly with co-founder Agatha Kulaga, the lessons she learned along the way, and why she ultimately decided to step down from the CEO position. She also talks to us about what she’s doing now.
“I didn’t really know what the word ‘entrepreneur’ was until someone started calling me that after I launched my first business.” - Erin Patinkin
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level, join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
This week’s takeaways from Entreprenista:
What inspired Erin to start Ovenly (4:47)The original plan for Ovenly, the challenges it faced, and how it evolved into what it is now (7:37)When and why Erin and co-founder Agatha decided to create different roles for themselves in the business (18:12)The reason Erin stepped down from Ovenly as the CEO (23:41)How Erin got started advising other companies and entrepreneurs (27:33)Rapid fire questions round (36:30)Erin’s final tip - it’s a good one (44:30)
Resources mentioned:
Lizandmollie.com Erin Patinkin CalendlyErin’s business tools
Our Favorite Quotes:
“We got this terrible advice from someone that was ‘say yes to everything’.” - Erin Patinkin“I feel like I got my degree in coaching and an MBA and my culinary degree all in like a 10-month period.” - Erin Patinkin“I also have a real issue with business books because they’re all like 500 pages long because the publisher is like ‘you gotta have 70,000 words.’ And it’s like this is the same chapter over and over again, we could have said this in an essay.” - Erin Patinkin“It takes a lot of grit and resilience to get through the day sometimes.” - Erin Patinkin
Connect with Erin Patinkin:
Erin Patinkin LinkedInErin Patinkin InstagramErin Patinkin WebsiteOvenly WebsiteOvenly Instagram
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level:
Join our Entreprenista League community of women founders! You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded Entreprenistas who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, the opportunity to have your story featured on our website and social channels, and MORE!
Whether you’re looking to scale your existing business and want to make the right connections, or you’re thinking about finally taking the leap to launch your business, we’re here to give you access to a community of women who will celebrate your every step, and with whom you can share the candid reality of building a business from scratch.
Join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
Become An Entreprenista!
Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Entreprenista Podcast - the most fun business meeting for female founders, by female founders. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.
Apple Podcasts | TuneIn | Spotify | Stitcher | iHeart Radio | GooglePlay
Be sure to share your favorite episodes across social media to help us reach more amazing female founders, like you.
Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram,
Picture this - you’re a new graduate, hoping to follow your dreams and land your dream job, but in the midst of all your anticipation and excitement, a recession hits. How would you handle this sort of setback? This episode’s guest, Allie Danzinger, experienced just this when she graduated right before the 2008 real estate market crash.
Allie Danziger graduated from the University of Texas with a career in public relations before venturing out to New York to start her promising career. Since then, her journey has evolved from working in a small, boutique PR firm, to owning her own PR agency, and finally to starting her newest business, Ampersand Professionals. In this episode, Allie walks us through that journey and shares some valuable advice on lessons she’s learnt along the way. She talks to us about the thought processes behind some of the important decisions she’s made and how they’ve led to her success as a businesswoman and entrepreneur.
“Be in that moment, as much as possible and as best as possible. And when it's great, experience that and be grateful for that. But don't live for those moments too much.” - Allie Danziger
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level, join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
This week’s takeaways from Entreprenista:
What it was that made Allie realize she had an entrepreneurial spirit (4:04)Allie’s college experience and first PR job in New York (4:50)How Allie started the social media department at this new job and caught the entrepreneurial bug (7:32)The beginning stages of Allie’s entrepreneurial career (9:38)Why Allie decided to sell her PR agency (12:43)How Allie’s new business, Ampersand Professionals, started (19:28)Allie’s fundraising experience for her new business (28:19)Allie’s tips for running a business in a recession (37:03)
Resources Mentioned:
BoomerangSpotifyPipedrive
Our Favorite Quotes:
“I love helping other people become the best versions of themselves.” - Allie Danziger“I think having those past experiences both helped me with what to do and not be as nervous. I can move faster through new challenges because, most of the time, I've been there before.” - Allie Danziger“I just had the great fortune and opportunity to connect with people who gave me a chance from a very, very young, early age.” - Allie Danziger
‘
Connect with Allie Danziger:
Ampersound ProfessionalsAllie Danziger LinkedInAllie Danziger Instagram
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level:
Join our Entreprenista League community of women founders! You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded Entreprenistas who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, the opportunity to have your story featured on our website and social channels, and MORE!
Whether you’re looking to scale your existing business and want to make the right connections, or you’re thinking about finally taking the leap to launch your business, we’re here to give you access to a community of women who will celebrate your every step, and with whom you can share the candid reality of building a business from scratch.
Join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
PNC Celebrates Women Business Leaders
Each year, PNC celebrates women business leaders by hosting Women in Business Week. As co-founders of SocialFly and Entreprenista, Courtney and I were invited to join the lineup of this year’s keynote speakers!
Join us on Thursday, May 12th at 1p.m. Eastern Time for our keynote event, but you won’t want to miss any of the webcasts. This year’s all-virtual line up is absolutely inspiring.
To register for PNC’s Women in Business Week webcast event,
Any entrepreneur knows the fear and uncertainty that comes with starting your own business. Trying to get started can make you feel insecure and unsure of yourself and your abilities, regardless of what you’ve accomplished in the past and what you know you’re capable of.
Our guest today, Sara Adler, graduated with a degree in economics looking to pursue a career in investment banking. She soon realized, however, that it wasn’t the right path for her and so she started to pursue other options. Sara went on to work for Facebook, Dropbox, and Airbnb in mergers and acquisitions before finally deciding to start her own venture capital firm with a fellow colleague.
In this episode, Sara shares a bit about her career journey and what inspired her decisions along the way. She talks to us about her experience working for founder-led companies like Facebook and Airbnb and why she eventually chose to start her own firm over continuing in corporate life. Sara also walks us through her business thesis and portfolio and shares her take on the current market situation and what it means for entrepreneurs.
“I was clearly not someone who was willing to just coast and let things slide. I really wanted to keep learning.” - Sara Adler
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level, join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
This week’s takeaways from Entreprenista:
Sara’s career path after graduating (4:49)The reason Sara decided to start Wave Capital instead of continuing in corporate life (9:20)How Sara knew her current business partner would be the right fit for her and their business (11:00)What drew Sara to founder-led companies (13:07)Sara’s take on founders trying to run a company and raise capital in the current market situation (21:20)Wave Capital’s thesis (25:14)Sara’s advice for entrepreneurs looking to reach out to VCs (30:04)
Resources Mentioned:
Socialfly NYCopperOutlastThe Entreprenista LeagueAirtableSuperhuman
Our Favorite Quotes:
“Just being in a hypergrowth environment, it doesn't really matter what function you are, if you are working cross functionally, you're just absorbing so much.” - Sara Adler“Having been an employee at all three companies and not a founder, I think I am very empathetic to the employee journey.” - Sara Adler“It took me a while to really understand that the reins are in my hands, and no one is going to help me through it. And that means that I can ask people for advice, but that's on me to solicit it. And I can ask for mentorship. But that's on me to find it.” - Sara Adler“I want to be motivating for them and a good role model, for both my daughter and my son, for what it means to be ambitious.” - Sara Adler“I used to look up to people at bigger firms and thought, I'm nothing compared to them. And then I just realized we're playing different games. And so they actually wouldn't know how to do this. And that's okay. And it's not a competition.” - Sara Adler“In hindsight, it's so easy to kind of create this narrative of what your career looks like. And it all fits together. And it all leads from one to the next. But in any given moment. It never felt obvious.” - Sara Adler
Connect with Sara Adler:
Wave CapitalSara Adler LinkedInSara Adler InstagramSara Adler Twitter
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level:
Join our Entreprenista League community of women founders! You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded Entreprenistas who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, the opportunity to have your story featured on our website and social channels, and MORE!
Whether you’re looking to scale your existing business and want to make the right connections, or you’re thinking about finally taking the leap to launch your business,
Media plays a huge role in most people’s lives on a daily basis. It can influence our thoughts, ideas, purchases, and so much more. For some, where media is an integral part of their business and it’s vital for them to be able to present themselves in the best way possible, hiring a media trainer is essential.
This episode’s guest, Jessica Abo, is a media trainer and storytelling coach. Jessica leverages 20 years spent in the field of journalism to provide valuable insight to a range of clients. Her services include one-on-one training and workshops where she breaks down the dos and donts of public relations. On this episode of Entreprenista, Jessica walks me through her earliest aspirations growing up and how she went about realizing them, her transition from the newsroom to media training, and the experience of starting her own business.
“So I think my Achilles heel is analysis paralysis. I think I am someone who launches very late because I want everything to be right and everything to be perfect. And I've learned that that in some ways is a strength of my business and in other ways is a weakness.” - Jessica Abo
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level, join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
This week’s takeaways from Entreprenista:
Jessica’s career path from her early school days (6:04)How Jessica secured her first job after graduating (8:31)How Jessica transitioned from the newsroom into media training (15:16)What Jessica struggled with the most when first starting her own business (19:45)The different services Jessica offers (20:56)Jessica’s top-tips when it comes to media training (25:00)Jessica’s advice for potential future entreprenistas (33:57)
Resources Mentioned:
Socialfly NYCanvaPostmates
Our Favorite Quotes:
“So if you go in with a little bit more fluidity, and you have buzzwords and nuggets that you know you want to hit in that interview, the interview will feel a lot more comfortable.” - Jessica Abo“When you're asked to do an on-air opportunity, or give a speech, or be the recipient of an award, you are then able to put your work in the spotlight and help someone else.” - Jessica Abo“Don't be hard on yourself if you just feel like you haven't built your dream team yet and do as much as you possibly can. And know that things are flexible and changeable.” - Jessica Abo
Connect with Jessica Abo:
Jessica Abo’s websiteJessica Abo’s InstagramJessica Abo’s TwitterJessica Abo’s LinkedInJessica Abo’s book - Unfiltered: How to Be as Happy as You Look
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level:
Join our Entreprenista League community of women founders! You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded Entreprenistas who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, the opportunity to have your story featured on our website and social channels, and MORE!
Whether you’re looking to scale your existing business and want to make the right connections, or you’re thinking about finally taking the leap to launch your business, we’re here to give you access to a community of women who will celebrate your every step, and with whom you can share the candid reality of building a business from scratch.
Join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
Become An Entreprenista!
Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Entreprenista Podcast - the most fun business meeting for female founders, by female founders. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.
Apple Podcasts | TuneIn | Spotify | Stitcher | iHeart Radio | GooglePlay
Be sure to share your favorite episodes across social medi...
We all know starting a new business is not easy. It comes with a long list of challenges that can be difficult for just one person to navigate. So what happens when you’re one half of an entrepreneurial partnership? Does it become easier or more difficult to navigate these obstacles?
Or guests today, Jan Seale and Coabi Kastan, are the co-founders of Out of Office - an app that facilitates travel by offering personalized inspiration, tips, and recommendations directly from your own inner circle of family and friends.
In this episode, Jan and Coabi walk us through how they went about building their business, the lessons they’ve learnt along the way, and the ways in which they’ve successfully managed their partnership. They also break down how the Out of Office app works and why they believe it’s the future of travel.
“We were oftentimes the only women in the room at the leadership table, or I was oftentimes the only black woman at that table. And so I wanted to make sure that as we grew at this organization that we provided opportunities for people that didn't necessarily always get to have seats at the tables.” - Jan Seale
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level, join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
This week’s takeaways from Entreprenista:
The vision for Out of Office and what it facilitates (10:17)How Jan and Coabi manage their business partnership (16:11)How Coabi and Jan were able to source workers without initially being able to pay their salaries (26:12)How Coabi and Jan chose their investors (36:46)Jan and Coabi’s team-building strategy (38:11)How Coabi and Jan have incorporated the world of influencing into their business (44:34)Jan and Coabi’s business monetization strategy (47:01)
Resources Mentioned:
Out of Office app
Our Favorite Quotes:
“We talk a lot about places like Yelp, or TripAdvisor, and those things can be helpful, but they're so impersonal. And there's no way for you to calibrate your tastes on those kinds of sites. And so, we solved that with Out of Office.” - Jan Seale“It is so important to know which areas of the business, which functions, each of you will own if you're in a partnership.” - Coabi Kastan“For the most part, we stayed really focused on owning whose lanes are what, and so it makes our life so much easier. Even to this day, when we're in meetings or with our investors, we still use that same cadence, and that's ‘who owns what?’” - Jan Seale“Being an entreprenista is taking a risk not being afraid to fail, and then doing something you love, and that you're passionate about, and putting your heart and soul behind it.” - Coabi Kastan
Connect with Jan Seale and Coabi Kastan:
Out of Office on LinkedInOut of Office websiteOut of Office on InstagramOut of Office on TikTokOut of Office on FacebookJan Seale on LinkedInCoabi Kastan on LinkedIn
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level:
Join our Entreprenista League community of women founders! You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded Entreprenistas who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, the opportunity to have your story featured on our website and social channels, and MORE!
Whether you’re looking to scale your existing business and want to make the right connections, or you’re thinking about finally taking the leap to launch your business, we’re here to give you access to a community of women who will celebrate your every step, and with whom you can share the candid reality of building a business from scratch.
Join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
PNC Celebrates Women Business Leaders
Each year,
Julie Solomon is the CEO of EmpowerYou, Inc., an organization whose core mission is to coach individuals into reaching their full potential and goals. She is also a business coach, brand and pitch expert, best-selling author (Get What You Want: How to Go From Unseen to Unstoppable), and popular podcast host (The Influencer Podcast).
On this episode, Julie talks to us about the steps that she took to becoming an Entreprenista, beginning her career as a publicist for an agency in 2007 before eventually venturing out to start her own business. She walks us through her experience of being a content creator before moving into individual consulting and then course creation. Julie also discusses the steps she took to becoming a best selling author and shares her advice for those who are looking to write their own books. Finally, Julie imparts some words of wisdom for all women looking to start their own business and breaks down how she’s been able to successfully juggle being an entrepreneur and a mum.
“A lot of people will tell me like, if you could do anything different, what would it be? And I always say I would have started earlier.” - Julie Solomon
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level, join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
This week’s takeaways from Entreprenista:
How Julie got into the influencer business (4:31)How Julie’s business started to come together (8:55)How Julie went about creating her first course (14:36)Why Julie feels women in business are afraid to invest in their own businesses (18:59)What type of content you can expect from reading Julie’s book (27:15)Julie’s advice for people wanting to write a book (34:31)Julie’s favorite solution to help grow business (42:29)Julie’s advice for moms trying to manage home and work life (44:46)What being an entrepreneur means to Julie (49:04)
Resources Mentioned:
MastermindClickupSlackAudible
Our Favorite Quotes:
“I think that first it has to come from you believing that you actually have something that is really important to share with the world. And that has to begin with you.” - Julie Solomon“Women have to stop waiting for the confidence to do something. It's actually the clarity that you get from doing something that creates the confidence, not the other way around.” - Julie Solomon“We learn from our no’s the no’s is where the magic is, that's where we're able to grow and expand and tweak and really kind of learn different perspectives that we may not be seeing.” - Julie Solomon
Connect with Julie Solomon:
Julie Solomon’s LinkedInJulie Solomon’s InstagramJulie Solomon’s WebsiteJulie Solomon’s Book - Get What You Want: How to Go From Unseen to UnstoppableJulie Solomon’s Podcast - The Influencer Podcast
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level:
Join our Entreprenista League community of women founders! You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded Entreprenistas who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, the opportunity to have your story featured on our website and social channels, and MORE!
Whether you’re looking to scale your existing business and want to make the right connections, or you’re thinking about finally taking the leap to launch your business, we’re here to give you access to a community of women who will celebrate your every step, and with whom you can share the candid reality of building a business from scratch.
Join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
Become An Entreprenista!
Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Entreprenista Podcast - the most fun business meeting for female founders, by female founders. If you enjoyed this episode,
Jesse Draper is the Founding Partner of Halogen Ventures, an early-stage venture capital fund focused on women-founded consumer technologies. A 4th generation venture capitalist, Jesse is an advocate for investing in innovation that solves some of the biggest issues facing women and families today. A leading voice of women in technology, Jesse was listed by Marie Claire magazine as one of the 50 Most Connected Women in America and was nominated by the NRF as a DealMakeHer. In addition to their work at Halogen Ventures, Jesse and her team created the Halogen Fellowship in Venture Capital to increase diversity and inclusion in the industry.
Jesse joins us today to discuss her experiences with simultaneously navigating an acting career and a budding interest in the tech industry. She describes the thought process and lessons she learned from building The Valley Girl Show. She reveals the best way to get the attention of a VC. Jesse also highlights the flaws of traditional funding and capital access and underscores the role of women- and minority-led funds in changing the system.
“Access to capital is an old, broken part of the system that started in slave-holding days and it’s a real problem. Women and minority-led funds are going to change it.” - Jesse Draper
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level, join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
This week’s takeaways from Entreprenista:
Growing up in a family of entrepreneursJesse’s experience working in the entertainment industry and her journey to starting a venture capital fundCreating The Valley Girl Show and the challenges Jesse faced in the mediaEfficiently qualifying an investor for your fundHow much capital Jesse was able to raise for her first fundHow she decides which companies to invest inHow her thought process as an angel investor changed over timeWhy women need to start funds and help other women entrepreneursThe best ways to reach out to angel investors and venture capitalistsInfluencer marketing and finding creative ways to help women get fundingJesse’s tips for time management and balancing business and family
Resources Mentioned:
IFundWomenAffinity CRM
Our Favorite Quotes:
“You want to ensure that any fund manager you’re talking to thinks 20 years into the future.” - Jesse Draper“As an investor, I love it when entrepreneurs are ruthless and won’t give up when trying to find me.” - Jesse Draper“Don’t take an investment check from anyone until you have a plan on how to make it back.” - Jesse Draper
Connect with Jesse Draper:
HalogenHalogen on LinkedInHalogen on InstagramHalogen on FacebookHalogen on TwitterJesse Draper on LinkedInJesse Draper on InstagramJesse Draper on TwitterJesse Draper on YouTube
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level:
Join our Entreprenista League community of women founders! You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded Entreprenistas who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, and the opportunity to have your story featured on our website and social channels, and MORE!
Whether you’re looking to scale your existing business and want to make the right connections, or you’re thinking about finally taking the leap to launch your business, we’re here to give you access to a community of women who will celebrate your every step, and with whom you can share the candid reality of building a business from scratch.
Join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
Improve Your Customer Support with TextExpander
Every minute counts when running a business. That's why we are so excited to introduce you to an amazing, time-saving customer support solution - TextExpander!
Arian Simone is the Co-founder and CEO of Fearless Fund, the first venture capital firm built by women of color for women of color. She served as the CEO of AR PR Marketing until the firm’s acquisition in 2016, while in 2010—driven by a mission of inspiring millennial women entrepreneurs—Arian founded Fearless Magazine and the Fearless Platform. A philanthropist, serial entrepreneur, and angel investor with over 17 years of experience, Arian received her Master of Business Administration degree from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University. She is also the author of several books including The Fearless Money Mindset and My Fabulous & Fearless Journey.
Arian joins us today to describe how she co-founded Fearless Fund. She shares how her childhood experiences shaped her work ethic and describe how her optimism helped her overcome challenging times. She enumerates the different factors and indicators investors consider when choosing a business or entrepreneur to invest in. She outlines how Entreprenistas can take their first steps in the venture capital world and start investing in other businesses. Arian also underscores the role of patience in entrepreneurship and highlights the value of building a team from the top.
“We need more women and people of color on the investor side to make capital more diversified.” - Arian Simone
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level, join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
This week’s takeaways from Entreprenista:
Arian’s background and Entreprenista origin storyHer experience in product placement and how optimism kept her going through challenging timesHow Arian started networking with people in venture capitalWhy entrepreneurs need to think about their ideal investorBuilding a business for acquisition and Arian’s experience running a PR agencyHow Entreprenistas can start in the venture capital worldWhat it means to build your team from the top downWorking with an advisory board while being on a budgetThe types of companies Arian and the Fearless Fund invest inThe different indicators investors look for in entrepreneursThe role of patience in the life of an EntreprenistaHow Arian learned about the importance of well-being and self-care
Resources Mentioned:
Book: The Self-Aware Leader: Play to Your Strengths, Unleash Your Team by John MaxwellBook: Happy Days by Gabrielle Bernstein
Our Favorite Quotes:
“Hone in on what your ideal investor looks like. Don’t waste time speaking to people who won’t buy what you’re selling.” - Arian Simone“There are some acquisition offers that should be accepted, and some declined. Know where your sweet spot is.” - Arian Simone“Investing in women of color is the right move for business, not the right move for social impact—it just happens to be a social impact.” - Arian Simone
Connect with Arian Simone:
Arian SimoneThe Fearless FundBook: The Fearless Money Mindset: Broke Doesn’t Scare MeBook: My Fabulous & Fearless JourneyBook: Fearless Faith + Hustle: 21-Day Devotional JourneyFearless Fund on LinkedInFearless Fund on InstagramFearless Fund on FacebookFearless Fund on TwitterArian Simone on LinkedInArian Simone on InstagramArian Simone on FacebookArian Simone on TwitterEmail: hello@fearless.fund
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level:
Join our Entreprenista League community of women founders! You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded Entreprenistas who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, and the opportunity to have your story featured on our website and social channels, and MORE!
Whether you’re looking to scale your existing business and want to make the right connections, or you’re thinking about finally taking the leap to launch your business,
Elena Cardone is an entrepreneur, event producer, public speaker, and visionary who inspires women to create their own life-fulfilling empires. Elena began her career in Hollywood, where she became a successful model and actress. Today, she is the architect behind many Grant Cardone Enterprises’ ventures and has designed a curriculum to assist aspiring empire-builders. She is also the author of the best-selling book, Build an Empire: How to Have it All and the executive producer of massively successful events such as 10X Ladies and Build an Empire Mastermind.
Elena joins us today to discuss how sticking to her purpose helps her achieve her mission in the world. She recounts early lessons from her childhood and her decision to move to L.A. She reveals her secret tip for hiring and describes her programs for empowering women worldwide. Elena also underscores the importance of collaborating and understanding that no empire is built alone.
“To empower women is to make them stronger, especially in controlling their lives and claiming their rights.” - Elena Cardone
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level, join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
This week’s takeaways from Entreprenista:
Elena’s background and why she moved to LA at 17Her first business venture with her husband, GrantWhat it means to empower womenHow narrowing her purpose helps Elena manage her time and focusElena’s tips on the hiring process The biggest lessons Elena learned as an EntreprenistaThe value of building the right team and collaborating with othersWhat it takes to scale a company into a business empireElena’s morning routine and how she sets up her day for successHow she teaches her children about entrepreneurship
Our Favorite Quotes:
“Don’t get stuck on what ‘the ultimate purpose’ is; you can change your purpose depending on where you are at in your life.” - Elena Cardone“The solopreneur is a myth. No successful company is one person.” - Elena Cardone“Being an Entreprenista is being a woman who’s willing to take responsibility for her power, for being able to contribute to society and making a difference for the better.”
Connect with Elena Cardone:
Elena Cardone WebsiteCardone UniversityBook: Build an Empire: How to Have it AllThe Elena Cardone PodcastCardone Training Technologies, Inc. on LinkedInCardone Training Technologies, Inc. on InstagramCardone Training Technologies, Inc. on FacebookCardone Training Technologies, Inc. on TwitterElena Cardone on LinkedInElena Cardone on InstagramElena Cardone on FacebookElena Cardone on TwitterElena Cardone on YouTube
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level:
Join our Entreprenista League community of women founders! You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded Entreprenistas who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, the opportunity to have your story featured on our website and social channels, and MORE!
Whether you’re looking to scale your existing business and want to make the right connections, or you’re thinking about finally taking the leap to launch your business, we’re here to give you access to a community of women who will celebrate your every step, and with whom you can share the candid reality of building a business from scratch.
Join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
Improve Your Customer Support with TextExpander
Every minute counts when running a business. That's why we are so excited to introduce you to an amazing, time-saving customer support solution - TextExpander! TextExpander gives you an edge over your competition by speeding up your customer support and communications with easy-to-format...
Shauna Armitage is the Co-Founder of Odo, a fintech startup that helps people safely grow their wealth.
She’s also a fractional marketing director, guiding founders at all stages of growth in developing an impactful marketing program. Shauna works with companies of all sizes to plan and implement strategy for scalable growth.
Key takeaways this week:
Shauna shares how she became an Entreprenista “by accident”
Her early lessons from working at an agency
How being fired fueled Shauna to start her own business and find her niche in marketing for early stage startups
How she finds clarity around which clients to take on The behind the scenes process of building Odo’s launch strategy and waitlist
And Odo’s mission to provide loss-protected investing to grow your wealth
Follow Shauna on Instagram: @shauna.armitage
Follow Odo on Instagram: @investwithodo
Connect with Shauna on LinkedIn: Shauna Armitage
Fran Hauser is an author, keynote speaker and startup investor at the intersection of women’s empowerment, career fulfillment, and collective wellbeing. As a long-time media executive, Fran has always championed the power of content in shaping culture, educating the public, and driving awareness of important issues.
She is the best-selling author of The Myth of the Nice Girl: Achieving a Career You Love Without Becoming a Person You Hate. Fran’s new book, Embrace the Work, Love Your Career, is quickly becoming the go-to for women seeking more joy and fulfillment in their career. Fran regularly speaks at conferences and organizations to help women build careers they love while staying true to themselves.
Key takeaways this week:
How Fran pivoted from the corporate world to starting her own business
The importance of storytelling and energy
Fran’s inspiration behind her guided workbook “Embrace the Work, Love Your Career”
Fran’s most memorable pitch and biggest investment mistakeEssential tips for a happy and healthy career that will leave you fulfilled
And finally, how Fran values integrity and character when vetting founders
Follow Fran on Instagram: @fran_hauser
Connect with Fran on LinkedIn: Fran Hauser
Check out Fran's newest book!
As PNC’s Director of Women’s Business Development, Beth Marcello helps women thrive in their businesses! For nearly 20 years, she ran a successful PR writing firm helping diverse clients achieve goals by simplifying ideas and using pointed messaging. At PNC, she acts as an Intraprenista by leading the charge to help women-led businesses grow and scale.
Key takeaways this week include:
Beth shares her early experience with journalism and launching her own businessWhy Beth was inspired to join PNC and lead their efforts in Women's Business DevelopmentBeth shares her take on how PR and Communications has evolved over the last decadeAnd how you can tune into PNC's "Women in Business Week"
Connect with Beth on LinkedIn: Beth Marcello
Follow PNC on Instagram: @pncbank
Click here to tune in to PNC's Women in Business Week!
Jaclyn Johnson is the ultimate multi-hyphenate redefining the concept of work for a new generation of women. She is a serial entrepreneur with two exits from highly successful businesses, including cult-favorite brand, Create and Cultivate. In addition to being a best-selling author, Jaclyn is the host of a business podcast where she has interviewed pioneers of the industry such as Martha Stewart, Meghan Markle, and Chelsea Handler. She now uses her expertise in business to pay it forward to self-starters, entrepreneurs, and women in business with her angel investment fund, New Money Ventures.
Today, Jaclyn shares her journey into accidental entrepreneurship and how she went on to successfully build and sell two businesses before the age of 35. She reveals some of the challenges of managing a company that takes off quickly and explains how she structured her business partnerships. Jaclyn details the things to keep in mind as you build your business to sell and the process of finding a new CEO for a company. She discloses why she chose to start a venture capital company and outlines her decision-making process for selecting companies for her investments. Jaclyn also describes what makes a successful investment pitch and some of the biggest mistakes people make when pitching to investors.
“When you’re building something to sell, there are a couple of things you need to think about: one is you want to retain as much equity as possible, and two is you want to run it as lean as possible.” - Jaclyn Johnson
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level, join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
This week’s takeaways from Entreprenista:
- Jaclyn’s accidental entrepreneur story and how she acquired her first clients
- How Jaclyn structured the deal for her exit from her first company
- How Create and Cultivate came into being
- The secret sauce in Create and Cultivate that made it take off in the first year
- How the business evolved over time
- The most challenging part of growing the company so quickly
- How Jaclyn structured her business partnerships
- Things to keep in mind when building a business to sell
- The challenges of selling a business you built yourself
- The process of finding a new CEO for the business
- What inspired Jaclyn to start her new venture
- The decision process for investing in a new business
- What makes a great pitch for successfully gaining investors
- The exiting companies that Jaclyn has invested in recently
- Biggest mistakes people make when pitching to investors
- How Jaclyn approaches challenges in her business
Resources Mentioned:
- Podcast: The Dropout
- App: Intro
- Slack
Our Favorite Quotes:
- “The most challenging part of growing the business was figuring out how much bandwidth the team would have and how much business we would get.” - Jaclyn Johnson
- “You don’t want to be chasing somebody to invest in their business.” - Jaclyn Johnson
- “Going into it with an attitude of being really excited to be in the room is really important as well.” - Jaclyn Johnson
Connect with Jaclyn Johnson:
- Jaclyn Johnson Website
- New Money Ventures
- Create and Cultivate
- Podcast: Work Party
- Book: Work Party: How to Create and Cultivate the Career of Your Dreams
- Jaclyn Johnson on LinkedIn
- Jaclyn Johnson on Instagram
- Jaclyn Johnson on Facebook
- Jaclyn Johnson on Twitter
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level:
Join our Entreprenista League community of women founders! You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded Entreprenistas who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, the opportunity to have your story featured on our website and social channels, and MORE!
Whether you’re looking to scale your existing business and want to make the right connections, or you’re thinking about finally taking the leap to launch your business, we’re here to give you access to a community of women who will celebrate your every step, and with whom you can share the candid reality of building a business from scratch.
Join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
PNC Celebrates Women Business Leaders
Each year, PNC celebrates women business leaders by hosting Women in Business Week. As co-founders of SocialFly and Entreprenista, Courtney and I were invited to join the lineup of this year’s keynote speakers!
Join us on Thursday, May 12th at 1p.m. Eastern Time for our keynote event, but you won’t want to miss any of the webcasts. This year’s all-virtual line up is absolutely inspiring.
To register for PNC’s Women in Business Week webcast event, head over to PNC.com/businesswebcasts - we can’t wait to see you there!
Introducing… Startups in Stilettos Podcast
Have you recently started a business? Are you considering taking the leap to start? Do you find yourself alone and overwhelmed in the whirlwind of early challenges in your entreprenista journey?
Then our newest podcast – brought to you by the Entreprenista Network – is for you.
The Startups in Stilettos Podcast helps you learn what it takes to grow your startup from your peers in the startup world and those who are in your shoes… or your stilettos, if you will. Each week, you’ll hear from startup founders from the Entreprenista League who are in the trenches and building their businesses from the ground up.
Learn more about the Startups in Stilettos Podcast by visiting www.entreprenista.com/startupsinstilettos/ and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.
Startups in Stilettos launches on March 8, 2022 – on International Women’s Day. We can’t wait to share everything we have in store with you.
Become An Entreprenista!
Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Entreprenista Podcast - the most fun business meeting for female founders, by female founders. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.
Apple Podcasts | TuneIn | Spotify | Stitcher | iHeart Radio | GooglePlay
Be sure to share your favorite episodes across social media to help us reach more amazing female founders, like you.
Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn and for more exclusive content, tips, and insight, join the Entreprenistas Facebook group and visit the SocialFly website.
Jaclyn Johnson is a powerhouse Entreprenista - by the time she was only 28 years old, she had already sold her first business and launched her second, multimillion dollar business, Create & Cultivate. Create & Cultivate sold a majority stake to Corridor Capital in 2020, and to date, Jaclyn has had 2 eight figure exits by the age of 35 and both companies were self funded.
In the process, Jaclyn’s own work-life philosophy built on the cornerstones of hard work and innovation have propelled her voice to the forefront of the discussion on women in the workplace.
Jaclyn currently serves as an advisor to startups and angel invests in women owned businesses and recently launched her new Venture Capital fund, New Money Ventures. Tune in to hear more of her incredible story!
Key takeaways this week:
Jaclyn shares her path to "accidental entrepreneurship" and the most challenging experiences while scaling her business
The process of selling a majority stake in Create & Cultivate
Jaclyn shares the importance of "leaning in" to failure
Learn about Jaclyn's new Venture Capital fund, New Money Ventures
And finally, Jaclyn discusses how she and her team at New Money Ventures decide which companies to invest in, and her take on what makes a great pitch
Follow Jaclyn on Instagram: @jaclynrjohnson
Follow Create & Cultivate on Instagram: @createcultivate
Follow New Money Ventures on Instagram: @newmoneyventures
Connect with Jaclyn on LinkedIn: Jaclyn Johnson
Dr. Catha Fischer is the Director of Fertility Preservation, Reproductive Endocrinologist, and Medical Director at Spring Fertility. Spring Fertility is a modern fertility center that delivers patient-centric, state-of-the-art IVF, egg freezing, genetic testing, and advanced reproductive services. A board-certified reproductive endocrinologist, obstetrician, and gynecologist, Catha is driven by the belief that every patient deserves both compassionate service and expert clinical care.
Catha joins us today to describe her early desire to study infertility and be a physician. She shares her passion for personalized and compassionate patient care and outlines the different options available for women who want to take control of their fertility journey. She also underscores why Entreprenistas need to be willing to take risks and highlights the importance of women advocating for themselves in every medical situation.
“It’s always about the patient. Sometimes, doctors tend to forget that.” - Dr. Catha Fischer
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level, join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
This week’s takeaways from Entreprenista:
- Catha’s background and her path to becoming a doctor
- How Catha found her passion for oncofertility
- Her journey through medical school and getting to infertility fellowships
- Running a business as a doctor and the dichotomy between academic and private practice
- Building a medical practice centered around patient experience
- Why women need to take control of their fertility
- The process of opening up a medical practice
- What it was like to start a clinic amid the Covid-19 pandemic
- Why aspiring Entreprenistas need to be okay with risk and failure
- What young Entreprenistas need to know about fertility preservation
- A day in the life of a medical doctor at Spring Fertility
Our Favorite Quotes:
- “Advocacy for women’s health is critical—it’s been a long time coming that we’ve all had voices.” - Dr. Catha Fischer
- “Knowledge about your fertility will give you not only power, but also options.” - Dr. Catha Fischer
- “Keeping people in the game is critical—if they don’t have that support in the fertility world, some people give up.” - Dr. Catha Fischer
Connect with Dr. Catha Fischer:
- Spring Fertility
- Spring Fertility’s Egg Freezing Calculator
- Spring Fertility on LinkedIn
- Spring Fertility on Instagram
- Spring Fertility on Facebook
- Spring Fertility on Twitter
- Catha Fischer on LinkedIn
- Email: hello@springfertility.com
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level:
Join our Entreprenista League community of women founders! You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded Entreprenistas who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, the opportunity to have your story featured on our website and social channels, and MORE!
Whether you’re looking to scale your existing business and want to make the right connections, or you’re thinking about finally taking the leap to launch your business, we’re here to give you access to a community of women who will celebrate your every step, and with whom you can share the candid reality of building a business from scratch.
Join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
PNC Celebrates Women Business Leaders
Each year, PNC celebrates women business leaders by hosting Women in Business Week. As co-founders of SocialFly and Entreprenista, Courtney and I were invitedto join the lineup of this year’s keynote speakers!
Join us on Thursday, May 12th at 1p.m. Eastern Time for our keynote event, but you won’t want to miss any of the webcasts. This year’s all-virtual line up is absolutely inspiring.
To register for PNC’s Women in Business Week webcast event, head over to PNC.com/businesswebcasts - we can’t wait to see you there!
Introducing… Startups in Stilettos Podcast
Have you recently started a business? Are you considering taking the leap to start? Do you find yourself alone and overwhelmed in the whirlwind of early challenges in your entreprenista journey?
Then our newest podcast – brought to you by the Entreprenista Network – is for you.
The Startups in Stilettos Podcast helps you learn what it takes to grow your startup from your peers in the startup world and those who are in your shoes… or your stilettos, if you will. Each week, you’ll hear from startup founders from the Entreprenista League who are in the trenches and building their businesses from the ground up.
Learn more about the Startups in Stilettos Podcast by visiting www.entreprenista.com/startupsinstilettos/ and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts..
Startups in Stilettos launches on March 8, 2022 – on International Women’s Day. We can’t wait to share everything we have in store with you.
Become An Entreprenista!
Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Entreprenista Podcast - the most fun business meeting for female founders, by female founders. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.
Apple Podcasts | TuneIn | Spotify | Stitcher | iHeart Radio | GooglePlay
Be sure to share your favorite episodes across social media to help us reach more amazing female founders, like you.
Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn and for more exclusive content, tips, and insight, join the Entreprenistas Facebook group and visit the SocialFly website.
Dr. Catha Fischer is a board certified Reproductive Endocrinologist as well as a board certified Obstetrician and Gynecologist. Her personal practice ethos is that patients deserve both exceptional clinical care and a compassionate patient experience. She launched the New York City location of Spring Fertility to bring that intersection to the heart of the city, and is continually supporting women along their fertility journeys.
Key takeaways this week:
Dr. Fischer explains her early desire to be a physician and study infertility in women who have survived cancer
The importance of advocating for yourself in every medical situation
Dr. Fischer shares her passion for personalized, compassionate care
A look at the options available for women who want to take control of their fertility journey
Dr. Fischer explains fertility preservation and egg freezing
And finally, how an overall increase in knowledge around your fertility can improve your health at any age
Follow Dr. Catha Fischer on Instagram: @cathafischermd
Connect with Dr. Catha Fischer on LinkedIn: Dr. Catha Fischer
Follow Spring Fertility on Instagram: @springfertility
Learn more about Spring Fertility: www.springfertility.com
The mother-daughter duo, Pamela Hirsch and Nicole Lawson, are the Co-founders of Baby Quest Foundation, a 501 c(3) non-profit organization. Baby Quest Foundation helps people start families by providing financial assistance to those who can’t afford the high costs of alternative means of conception such as IVF, egg donation, and surrogacy.
Pamela Hirsch brings over 15 years of business expertise as Co-founder of Baby Quest Foundation. Before co-founding the non-profit, Pamela was one of the original franchise owners of The Princeton Review, a national test preparation company. In 1993, INC Magazine included Pamela in the Top 500 List of the fastest-growing private companies in the U.S. Pamela holds a Bachelor’s degree in French and Spanish from the University of Illinois and received her Master’s in French from Santa Clara University.
Nicole Lawson holds a Bachelor’s degree in Communications from the University of Arizona and spent over 10 years of her career as a television executive. As Director of Affiliate Relations for Fox Broadcasting Company, Nicole oversaw liaisons between network and local affiliates. In 2011, Nicole left the entertainment industry to explore the third-party reproduction sector by working as a case manager for Alternative Conceptions. She later launched Abundant Beginnings Co., a surrogacy agency through which she guides people through the process of becoming surrogates or intended parents.
Pamela and Nicole join us today to discuss how Baby Quest Foundation and Abundant Beginnings are spreading hope and assistance to people hoping to start and grow families. They recount how Nicole’s pregnancy journey sparked the inspiration behind co-founding Abundant Beginnings and Baby Quest Foundation. They discuss how Pamela’s business experience helped her navigate fiscal responsibility during Baby Quest’s early stages. They also share the importance of surrogacy access and education and outline how Entreprenistas can get involved in the mission of Baby Quest and Abundant Beginnings.
“Run the foundation as if it were a for-profit company with lower overhead costs being fiscally responsible.” - Pamela Hirsch
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level, join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
This week’s takeaways from Entreprenista:
- Nicole’s experience with third-party reproduction and how it led her to launch her own business
- Why the process of getting a surrogate can be lonely
- The year Baby Quest and Abundant Beginnings were born
- Pamela’s early lessons from setting up and starting a non-profit
- Leaving the entertainment industry and Nicole’s first steps toward founding Abundant Beginnings
- The process of applying for a grant and how Entreprenistas can get involved in Baby Quest’s work
- How COVID-19 has impacted grant applications for Baby Quest
- How donating to a foundation like Baby Quest can help companies
- What a surrogacy agency is, how it works, and the Abundant Beginnings business model
- Marketing strategies and challenges for a surrogacy agency
- How the media has shaped the public’s perception of third-party reproduction
Resources Mentioned:
- App: Zoom
Our Favorite Quotes:
- “In every miscarriage, you remember the exact place you were in and the emotions you were carrying. It’s difficult for women to get out of that negative space.” - Nicole Lawson
- “Being a workaholic doesn’t hurt, but it did for me because I didn’t delegate as much as I should. I didn’t separate or balance work and life.” - Pamela Hirsch
- “Starting a business is always challenging, but running an agency and helping others honestly and ethically is rewarding.” - Nicole Lawson
Connect with Pamela Hirsch:
- Baby Quest Foundation
- Baby Quest Foundation on Instagram
- Baby Quest Foundation on Facebook
- Baby Quest Foundation on Twitter
- Baby Quest Foundation on YouTube
- Pamela Hirsch on LinkedIn
Connect with Nicole Lawson:
- Abundant Beginnings Co.
- Abundant Beginnings Co. on Instagram
- Abundant Beginnings Co. on Facebook
- Abundant Beginnings Co. on Twitter
- Nicole Lawson on LinkedIn
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level:
Join our Entreprenista League community of women founders! You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded Entreprenistas who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, the opportunity to have your story featured on our website and social channels, and MORE!
Whether you’re looking to scale your existing business and want to make the right connections, or you’re thinking about finally taking the leap to launch your business, we’re here to give you access to a community of women who will celebrate your every step, and with whom you can share the candid reality of building a business from scratch.
Join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
Improve Your Customer Support with TextExpander
Every minute counts when running a business. That's why we are so excited to introduce you to an amazing, time-saving customer support solution - TextExpander! TextExpander gives you an edge over your competition by speeding up your customer support and communications with easy-to-format snippets that save you time when typing. With TextExpander, your customer communications will have less repetition, fewer errors and consistent messaging that will keep your growing team aligned and working more efficiently.
Here's how it works…
- Drop commonly used content (like email templates and FAQs) into TextExpander to create a snippet and assign an abbreviation.
- Type the abbreviation to trigger your snippet and see your content expand.
It's that easy!
TextExpander is available on Mac, Windows, Chrome, iPhone and iPad so you can use your snippets on any device, in any program, and share them with your growing team.
Don’t miss out on your opportunity to save valuable time and get more done with the power of TextExpander. To start your journey toward better, faster, more consistent customer support and save 20% off your first year with TextExpander, visit www.TextExpander.com/Podcast.
Become An Entreprenista!
Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Entreprenista Podcast - the most fun business meeting for female founders, by female founders. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.
Apple Podcasts | TuneIn | Spotify | Stitcher | iHeart Radio | GooglePlay
Be sure to share your favorite episodes across social media to help us reach more amazing female founders, like you.
Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn and for more exclusive content, tips, and insight, join the Entreprenistas Facebook group and visit the SocialFly website.
Mother-daughter duo Pamela Hirsch and Nicole Lawson Co-Founded Baby Quest Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to granting financial assistance to those who cannot afford the high costs associated with alternative means of conception such as IVF, egg donation, and surrogacy. Nicole is also the Co-Owner of Abundant Beginnings, a surrogacy agency, where she provides both a personal and professional outlook for her clients around surrogacy.
Tune in to hear how these two incredible women are spreading hope and assistance to people hoping to start and grow a family.
Key takeaways this week:
Nicole shares her pregnancy journey and the inspiration for Co-Founding Abundant Beginnings
Pamela’s subsequent desire to launch BabyQuest and her passion for spreading hope
Pamela shares how she navigated fiscal responsibility during BabyQuest’s early stages
The importance of surrogacy access and education
And finally, how you can get involved in the amazing work that Nicole + Pamela are both doing
Follow BabyQuest on Instagram: @babyquestgrants
Follow Abundant Beginnings on Instagram: @abcsurrogacy
Simmone Taitt is the Founder and CEO of Poppy Seed Health, a company she launched after 14 years of working in tech startups such as Gilt Group, SpaFinder, and Handwriting.io. Poppy Seed Health is revolutionizing support and care for pregnant and postpartum individuals through on-demand, 24/7 access to doulas, midwives, and nurses. In addition to her work as CEO of Poppy Seed Health, Simmone serves as the Founder and Principal of HeartSpace NY, a boutique agency with a unique approach to consulting.
Simmone joins us today to discuss the process of building a tech company for womens’ reproductive journeys. She shares the pivotal pregnancy loss experience that sparked the business idea for Poppy Seed Health and outlines how she solidified the company’s name and branding. Simmone also shares advice for fundraising in a male-dominated industry and underscores the value of vulnerability and deep empathy in building a tech product.
“Tech could be used not just for innovation, but also for serving people through creating more accessibility and inclusivity.” - Simmone Taitt
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level, join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
This week’s takeaways from Entreprenista:
- Getting bit by the “building bug” and Simmone’s journey from tech to entrepreneurship
- How Simmone’s experience with pregnancy loss led her to found Poppy Seed Health
- What a doula is and Simmone’s first encounter with one
- Why Simmone focused on Poppy Seed Health’s branding while she was creating the business
- Hemorrhoids in pregnancy and its relation to shame and stigma
- Midwifery care and the important role of nurses
- Poppy Seed Health’s services and why the company focuses on supporting its customers through text messaging
- How Simmone built and beta-tested Poppy Seed Health’s app
- Creating an equitable business model
- The fundraising process for a tech company
- Why Simmone values empathy and vulnerability when building a product
Resources Mentioned:
- App: Flo Health
Our Favorite Quotes:
- “Wanting to feel better is a human experience. People should have emotional, mental health, and wellbeing support within seconds in the moments they need it most.” - Simmone Taitt
- “Have vulnerability, deep empathy, and big returns—not only just for you and your investors, but also for the people you serve.” - Simmone Taitt
- “When choosing who’s at your cap table, make sure they mirror the people you’re supporting or whoever your customers are.” - Simmone Taitt
Connect with Simmone Taitt:
- Poppy Seed Health
- Poppy Seed Health on LinkedIn
- Poppy Seed Health on Instagram
- Poppy Seed Health on Facebook
- Simmone Taitt on LinkedIn
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level:
Join our Entreprenista League community of women founders! You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded Entreprenistas who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, the opportunity to have your story featured on our website and social channels, and MORE!
Whether you’re looking to scale your existing business and want to make the right connections, or you’re thinking about finally taking the leap to launch your business, we’re here to give you access to a community of women who will celebrate your every step, and with whom you can share the candid reality of building a business from scratch.
Join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
Introducing… Startups in Stilettos Podcast
Have you recently started a business? Are you considering taking the leap to start? Do you find yourself alone and overwhelmed in the whirlwind of early challenges in your entreprenista journey?
Then our newest podcast – brought to you by the Entreprenista Network – is for you.
The Startups in Stilettos Podcast helps you learn what it takes to grow your startup from your peers in the startup world and those who are in your shoes… or your stilettos, if you will. Each week, you’ll hear from startup founders from the Entreprenista League who are in the trenches and building their businesses from the ground up.
Learn more about the Startups in Stilettos Podcast by visiting www.entreprenista.com/startupsinstilettos/ and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.
Startups in Stilettos launches on March 8, 2022 – on International Women’s Day. We can’t wait to share everything we have in store with you.
Become An Entreprenista!
Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Entreprenista Podcast - the most fun business meeting for female founders, by female founders. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.
Apple Podcasts | TuneIn | Spotify | Stitcher | iHeart Radio | GooglePlay
Be sure to share your favorite episodes across social media to help us reach more amazing female founders, like you.
Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn and for more exclusive content, tips, and insight, join the Entreprenistas Facebook group and visit the SocialFly website.
After 14 years working in tech startups like Gilt Group and SpaFinder, Simmone Taitt founded Poppy Seed Health, a company that is transforming the way we care for pregnant and postpartum people with 24/7 on demand access to doulas, midwives and nurses.
Simmone experienced the gaps in emotional and mental support in maternal healthcare while navigating her own path to parenthood, and after suffering multiple miscarriages—with and without health insurance—she identified a better way forward.
Key takeaways this week:
Simmone shares how she was bit by the “building bug” early on in her career
The pivotal pregnancy loss journey that sparked the idea for Poppy Seed Health
How Poppy Seed Health solidified it’s welcoming name and branding
Simmone explains the differences between doulas, midwives, and nurses
And finally, fundraising tips and tricks that have helped Poppy Seed Health along the way
Connect with Simmone on LinkedIn: Simmone Taitt
Follow Poppy Seed Health on Instagram: @poppyseedhealth
Jane Mosbacher Morris is the Founder and CEO of TO THE MARKET, a company that provides key solutions for the ethical manufacturing and sourcing of apparel, accessories, and home goods. Jane graduated with a degree in Foreign Service from Georgetown University and later served the U.S. Department of State as a counterterrorism advisor and a detailee to the Secretary’s Office of Global Women’s Issues. She also worked as the Director of Humanitarian Action for the McCain Institute and completed her Master of Business Administration degree at Columbia Business School. In addition to her leadership role at TO THE MARKET, Jane is a team member of the Council on Foreign Relations and sits on the Advisory Board of VF Corporation’s Responsible Sourcing Advisory Council.
Jane joins us today to discuss how TO THE MARKET empowers people and sustainability by revolutionizing the supply chain. She describes her entrepreneurial ventures as a child and explains how studying foreign service set her path to founding TO THE MARKET. She outlines the process she utilized to raise capital for her company and explains how she remained focused through the ups and downs of seeding. Jane also highlights the power of resilience and shares her advice on driving business growth.
“Your job is to be a leader of leaders. Enable your leadership team to be successful and ensure that they have what they need to meet their objectives.” - Jane Mosbacher Morris
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level, join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
This week’s takeaways from Entreprenista:
- Jane’s upbringing and her first entrepreneurial ventures as a child
- Her educational background and the inception of TO THE MARKET
- Jane’s first steps to developing her business idea for TO THE MARKET
- Revolutionizing supply chains for sustainability and how Jane did her market research
- Raising the pre-seed round for TO THE MARKET and some alternatives to accessing venture capital
- The pros and cons of being supported by venture capital
- Determining how much money she needed to raise during TO THE MARKET’s pre-seed round
- Remaining focused and positive through the challenges of raising capital
- How Jane felt when she got her first approval for investment
- TO THE MARKET’s business structure and vision for the retail manufacturing industry
- How TO THE MARKET is driving people’s empowerment and environmental sustainability
- How Entreprenistas can work with TO THE MARKET
- Guerrilla marketing and how Jane got her first clients for the company
- Her marketing strategies for attracting new clients
- Jane’s advice for developing tech and digitizing workflows from analog
- Her day-to-day work in TO THE MARKET and what it means to be a leader to leaders
- The value of culture and other key learnings in driving business growth
- How Jane balances her family and business
- The power of resilience and what it means to be an Entreprenista
Resources Mentioned:
- MouseWatcher
Our Favorite Quotes:
- “95% of people you talk to will reject you, but it doesn’t mean you’re a bad entrepreneur.” - Jane Mosbacher Morris
- “TO THE MARKET’s vision is to change retail marketing, empower people, and protect the planet.” - Jane Mosbacher Morris
- “There continues to be a lot of pain that develops into scar tissue, but scar tissues make me more resilient and more capable of believing through difficult situations—now or in the future.” - Jane Mosbacher Morris
Connect with Jane Mosbacher Morris:
- TO THE MARKET
- Book: Buy the Change You Want to See: Use Your Purchasing Power to Make the World a Better Place
- TO THE MARKET on LinkedIn
- TO THE MARKET on Instagram
- TO THE MARKET on Facebook
- TO THE MARKET on Twitter
- Jane Mosbacher Morris on LinkedIn
- Jane Mosbacher Morris on Instagram
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level:
Join our Entreprenista League community of women founders! You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded Entreprenistas who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, and the opportunity to have your story featured on our website and social channels, and MORE!
Whether you’re looking to scale your existing business and want to make the right connections, or you’re thinking about finally taking the leap to launch your business, we’re here to give you access to a community of women who will celebrate your every step, and with whom you can share the candid reality of building a business from scratch.
Join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
Introducing… Startups in Stilettos Podcast
Have you recently started a business? Are you considering taking the leap to start? Do you find yourself alone and overwhelmed in the whirlwind of early challenges in your entreprenista journey?
Then our newest podcast – brought to you by the Entreprenista Network – is for you.
The Startups in Stilettos Podcast helps you learn what it takes to grow your startup from your peers in the startup world and those who are in your shoes… or your stilettos if you will. Each week, you’ll hear from startup founders from the Entreprenista League who are in the trenches and building their businesses from the ground up.
Learn more about the Startups in Stilettos Podcast by visiting www.entreprenista.com/startupsinstilettos/ and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.
Startups in Stilettos launches on March 8, 2022 – on International Women’s Day. We can’t wait to share everything we have in store with you.
Become An Entreprenista!
Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Entreprenista Podcast - the most fun business meeting for female founders, by female founders. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.
Apple Podcasts | TuneIn | Spotify | Stitcher | iHeart Radio | GooglePlay
Be sure to share your favorite episodes across social media to help us reach more amazing female founders, like you.
Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn and for more exclusive content, tips, and insight, join the Entreprenistas Facebook group and visit the SocialFly website.
Jane Mosbacher Morris is the Founder and CEO of TO THE MARKET, a sustainable sourcing company that connects businesses and consumers to ethically made products from around the world. Tune in to hear how Jane was introduced to supply chain management, her fundraising efforts and tips for growth, and her experience working with clients like Bloomingdale’s, Dillards, and Target!
Key takeaways this week:
Jane shares how her entrepreneurial spirit was clear from a young ageA unique look into TO THE MARKET’s mission, vision, values, and strategic pillarsJane’s best tips for fundraising and growthHer experience and advice in tech developmentHow TO THE MARKET initially marketed their unique business modelAnd finally, the importance of resilience and facing rejection head on
Connect with Jane on LinkedIn: Jane Mosbacher Morris
Follow TO THE MARKET on Instagram: @letsgottm
Follow Jane on Instagram: @janemosbachermorris
Kiya Tomlin is a fashion designer and entrepreneur. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Pre-Medical Studies at the College of William & Mary, Kiya pursued her lifelong love of fashion by studying Fashion & Apparel Design at the University of Cincinnati. She later established her own brand and line of clothing for women, dedicated to helping her customers live their stories purely and fully, without restrictions or limitations.
Kiya joins us today to share the story of how she started her fashion brand. She discusses her background and what led her to the fashion industry. She explains how she found her first customers and describes how selling online contributed to their growth as a custom design business. Kiya also outlines how she managed her team through the pandemic and highlights the power of email marketing.
“There is no perfect time nor set of circumstances. Be confident and take the steps.” - Kiya Tomlin
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level, join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
This week’s takeaways from Entreprenista:
- Kiya’s background and her path to fashion design and entrepreneurship
- Deciding what she wanted to design and how Kiya found her first customers
- How Kiya got the word out about her business
- Launching her website and how she got her first storefront and studio space
- Getting into the wholesale business and how Kiya learned to work with a factory
- The first steps Kiya took to find manufacturers
- How Kiya knew the number of dresses to order from manufacturers in the beginning
- Her initial marketing strategy and trying her luck in trade shows
- How Kiya’s fashion brand has evolved over the years
- Driving traffic to your website, attracting customers, and the power of email marketing
- Building Kiya’s team and making her first hire
- How Kiya managed her team through the COVID-19 pandemic
- The Kiya Tomlin team’s role in producing one million face masks and collaborating with the Pittsburgh Steelers
- Kiya’s go-to fashion tip and her advice on growing a business while staying present with the family
Our Favorite Quotes:
- “The responsibility of providing for someone’s livelihood is serious—it is not something to be taken lightly.” - Kiya Tomlin
- “The apparel timeline is stressful. But with selling online and direct-to-customer, you can have your own timeline.” - Kiya Tomlin
- “Being an Entreprenista means I get to live my story — and create with it.” - Kiya Tomlin
Connect with Kiya Tomlin:
- Kiya Tomlin
- Kiya Tomlin on LinkedIn
- Kiya Tomlin on Instagram
- Kiya Tomlin on Facebook
- Kiya Tomlin on Twitter
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level:
Join our Entreprenista League community of women founders! You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded Entreprenistas who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, the opportunity to have your story featured on our website and social channels, and MORE!
Whether you’re looking to scale your existing business and want to make the right connections, or you’re thinking about finally taking the leap to launch your business, we’re here to give you access to a community of women who will celebrate your every step, and with whom you can share the candid reality of building a business from scratch.
Join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
Introducing… Startups in Stilettos Podcast
Have you recently started a business? Are you considering taking the leap to start? Do you find yourself alone and overwhelmed in the whirlwind of early challenges in your entreprenista journey?
Then our newest podcast – brought to you by the Entreprenista Network – is for you.
The Startups in Stilettos Podcast helps you learn what it takes to grow your startup from your peers in the startup world and those who are in your shoes… or your stilettos, if you will. Each week, you’ll hear from startup founders from the Entreprenista League who are in the trenches and building their businesses from the ground up.
Learn more about the Startups in Stilettos Podcast by visiting www.entreprenista.com/startupsinstilettos/ and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.
Startups in Stilettos launches on March 8, 2022 – on International Women’s Day. We can’t wait to share everything we have in store with you.
Become An Entreprenista!
Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Entreprenista Podcast - the most fun business meeting for female founders, by female founders. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.
Apple Podcasts | TuneIn | Spotify | Stitcher | iHeart Radio | GooglePlay
Be sure to share your favorite episodes across social media to help us reach more amazing female founders, like you.
Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn and for more exclusive content, tips, and insight, join the Entreprenistas Facebook group and visit the SocialFly website.
Fashion designer Kiya Tomlin launched her initial collection in 2014, uniting “cover girl glamor” with the comfort and ease of your favorite sweatshirt. Fast forward to 2021, Kiya was named the “Best of Pittsburgh” readers’ poll winner for Best Fashion Designer.
Kiya’s designs embody femininity, versatility, and the constant pursuit of the place where style, function, and comfort intersect. Tune in to hear how Kiya found her clientele and manufacturing partners, how her business has grown and evolved, and her most recent collection with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Key takeaways this week include:
Kiya shares the inspiration behind her chic and functional “Signature Dress”
How she found the perfect vendor and manufacturer for her line
How Kiya reached her initial clientele
The launch strategies behind Kiya’s first storefront and website How Kiya navigated licensing with the Pittsburgh Steelers for her recent collection
And finally, Kiya shares the importance of an email newsletter
Follow Kiya on Instagram: @kiyatomlin
Connect with Kiya on LinkedIn: Kiya Tomlin
Lindsey Laurain is the Founder of ezpz, an organization revolutionizing the feeding industry with their Happy Mat mealtime tool. Lindsey is an operations, management, and sales professional with extensive experience in start-ups and the medical industry. Before launching ezpz, Lindsey served as the Director of Operations for Humana. She had also served as an operations manager for Pfizer, a company she has worked with for over eight years.
Lindsey joins us today to recount her journey from working in corporate America to launching ezpz. She reveals the lessons she learned from prototyping, designing a physical product, and appearing on Shark Tank. She outlines the process of starting and running a Kickstarter campaign and discusses building the proper infrastructures to protect your products. Lindsey also highlights how a grassroots community of moms helped ezpz grow and offers advice to Entreprenistas.
“Anything is possible. If you believe enough in what you’re doing, you can make it happen.” - Lindsey Laurain
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level, join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
This week’s takeaways from Entreprenista:
- Lindsey’s background and her beginnings as an Entreprenista
- How long it took Lindsey to decide to quit her job and launch her business
- The first steps Lindsey took toward turning her business idea into a product
- How much money Lindsey invested in her products before launching a Kickstarter campaign
- The initial production run for ezpz products and the process of doing a Kickstarter and other crowdfunding campaigns
- Lindsey’s appearance on Shark Tank and what has surprised her about running ezpz
- How the ezpz team has grown since its launch
- The process of getting into retail
- What Lindsey has learned from working with retailers
- How Lindsey’s marketing strategies evolved over the years
- Her advice on reaching the mom community
Resources Mentioned:
- QuickBooks
Our Favorite Quotes:
- “Accepting those hard times as part of our journey has made it so much easier.” - Lindsey Laurain
- “It’s possible for anyone to follow entrepreneurship.” - Lindsey Laurain
- “Trade shows are a great place to meet retailers.” - Lindsey Laurain
Connect with Lindsey Laurain:
- ezpz
- ezpz on LinkedIn
- ezpz on Instagram
- ezpz on Facebook
- ezpz on Twitter
- ezpz on Pinterest
- Lindsey Laurain on LinkedIn
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level:
Join our Entreprenista League community of women founders! You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded Entreprenistas who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, the opportunity to have your story featured on our website and social channels, and MORE!
Whether you’re looking to scale your existing business and want to make the right connections, or you’re thinking about finally taking the leap to launch your business, we’re here to give you access to a community of women who will celebrate your every step, and with whom you can share the candid reality of building a business from scratch.
Join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
Improve Your Customer Support with TextExpander
Every minute counts when running a business. That's why we are so excited to introduce you to an amazing, time-saving customer support solution - TextExpander! TextExpander gives you an edge over your competition by speeding up your customer support and communications with easy-to-format snippets that save you time when typing. With TextExpander, your customer communications will have less repetition, fewer errors and consistent messaging that will keep your growing team aligned and working more efficiently.
Here's how it works…
- Drop commonly used content (like email templates and FAQs) into TextExpander to create a snippet and assign an abbreviation.
- Type the abbreviation to trigger your snippet and see your content expand.
It's that easy!
TextExpander is available on Mac, Windows, Chrome, iPhone and iPad so you can use your snippets on any device, in any program, and share them with your growing team.
Don’t miss out on your opportunity to save valuable time and get more done with the power of TextExpander. To start your journey toward better, faster, more consistent customer support and save 20% off your first year with TextExpander, visit www.TextExpander.com/Podcast.
Become An Entreprenista!
Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Entreprenista Podcast - the most fun business meeting for female founders, by female founders. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.
Apple Podcasts | TuneIn | Spotify | Stitcher | iHeart Radio | GooglePlay
Be sure to share your favorite episodes across social media to help us reach more amazing female founders, like you.
Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn and for more exclusive content, tips, and insight, join the Entreprenistas Facebook group and visit the SocialFly website.
Lindsey Laurain is a working mom who launched ezpz in 2014 when she created the “Happy Mat” mealtime tool after frustration with the messiness and clean-up time dedicated to each meal for her three children. Since 2014, ezpz has revolutionized the feeding industry with their all-in-one silicone suction mats, and has been featured on Shark Tank and The Today Show! ezpz’s mission is to make mealtime with kids less about stress and more about fun.
Key Takeaways this week:
The story of how rambunctious dinner time sparked the launch of ezpz
Lessons learned in prototyping and designing a physical product
Behind the scenes of ezpz’s Kickstarter campaign
How ezpz tapped into the mom community to generate salesLindsey shares how to build proper infrastructure to protect your product
And finally, Lindsey’s learnings from her appearance on Shark Tank
Connect with Lindsey on LinkedIn: Lindsey Laurain
Follow ezpz on Instagram: @ezpzfun
Rachel Katzman is the Co-founder of P.volve, an omnichannel fitness brand that features a global on-demand platform, live virtual classes, a growing line of patented equipment, and studios in multiple cities. Launched in 2017, P.volve is known for its functional fitness philosophy and remains a leading force among women-led companies. Rachel also founded the haircare brand, Cuvée Beauty, in 2015.
Rachel joins me today to share her experience running two companies at once and the lessons she learned from selling her business. She discusses why it’s important to be unafraid when asking questions and explains how a strong community supported P.volve’s launch. She describes how she has evolved as a leader throughout the years. Rachel also underscores the importance of listening to learn and outlines the rebranding process.
“There’s no better feeling than having a vision come to reality and change peoples’ lives for the better.” - Rachel Katzman
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level, join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
This week’s takeaways from Entreprenista:
- How long it took Rachel to decide on selling Cuvée Beauty
- The power of asking questions and Rachel’s learned lessons from the acquisition process
- What the experience of selling her company was like
- What P.volve is and how the company has grown
- The world of functional movement and low-impact exercise
- The inspiration behind P.volve and the first steps she took toward launching the company
- The most exciting and challenging parts of growing a team
- How Rachel has evolved as a leader over the years
- Learning to outsource and delegate and Rachel’s day-to-day responsibilities at P.volve
- The story behind P.volve’s reimagined brand
- The process of rebranding
- Testing influencer marketing, how macro-influencers benefitted P.volve, and working with niche influencers
- How the P.volve team traversed through the COVID-19 pandemic
- Rachel’s tips on keeping a team personally connected while working remotely
- Her advice for Entreprenistas who are about to start their own company
Our Favorite Quotes:
- “Listening to learn and not listening to respond is something that has served me well.” - Rachel Katzman
- “Don’t ever be afraid to ask a question for more clarity or information; that’s how you’re going to get the best results.” - Rachel Katzman
- “Creating a team that shares the same passion and dedication is rewarding. Learning from team members and hearing their own transformation is powerful.” - Rachel Katzman
Connect with Rachel Katzman:
- P.volve
- P.volve on LinkedIn
- P.volve on Instagram
- P.volve on Facebook
- Rachel Katzman on LinkedIn
- Rachel Katzman on Instagram
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level:
Join our Entreprenista League community of women founders! You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded Entreprenistas who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, the opportunity to have your story featured on our website and social channels, and MORE!
Whether you’re looking to scale your existing business and want to make the right connections, or you’re thinking about finally taking the leap to launch your business, we’re here to give you access to a community of women who will celebrate your every step, and with whom you can share the candid reality of building a business from scratch.
Join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
Introducing… Startups in Stilettos Podcast
Have you recently started a business? Are you considering taking the leap to start? Do you find yourself alone and overwhelmed in the whirlwind of early challenges in your entreprenista journey?
Then our newest podcast – brought to you by the Entreprenista Network – is for you.
The Startups in Stilettos Podcast helps you learn what it takes to grow your startup from your peers in the startup world and those who are in your shoes… or your stilettos, if you will. Each week, you’ll hear from startup founders from the Entreprenista League who are in the trenches and building their businesses from the ground up.
Learn more about the Startups in Stilettos Podcast by visiting www.entreprenista.com/startupsinstilettos/ and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts..
Startups in Stilettos launches on March 8, 2022 – on International Women’s Day. We can’t wait to share everything we have in store with you.
Improve Your Customer Support with TextExpander
Every minute counts when running a business. That's why we are so excited to introduce you to an amazing, time-saving customer support solution - TextExpander! TextExpander gives you an edge over your competition by speeding up your customer support and communications with easy-to-format snippets that save you time when typing. With TextExpander, your customer communications will have less repetition, fewer errors and consistent messaging that will keep your growing team aligned and working more efficiently.
Here's how it works…
- Drop commonly used content (like email templates and FAQs) into TextExpander to create a snippet and assign an abbreviation.
- Type the abbreviation to trigger your snippet and see your content expand.
It's that easy!
TextExpander is available on Mac, Windows, Chrome, iPhone and iPad so you can use your snippets on any device, in any program, and share them with your growing team.
Don’t miss out on your opportunity to save valuable time and get more done with the power of TextExpander. To start your journey toward better, faster, more consistent customer support and save 20% off your first year with TextExpander, visit www.TextExpander.com/Podcast.
Become An Entreprenista!
Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Entreprenista Podcast - the most fun business meeting for female founders, by female founders. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.
Apple Podcasts | TuneIn | Spotify | Stitcher | iHeart Radio | GooglePlay
Be sure to share your favorite episodes across social media to help us reach more amazing female founders, like you.
Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn and for more exclusive content, tips, and insight, join the Entreprenistas Facebook group and visit the SocialFly website.
Rachel Katzman is the Co-Founder of P.volve, an omnichannel fitness brand featuring a global on-demand platform, live virtual classes, a growing line of patented equipment and studios in multiple cities. Rachel launched the company in 2017 and remains a leading force within the female-led company known for its functional fitness philosophy.
Key takeaways this week:
Rachel’s experience running two companies at once
Her lessons learned from the acquisition process
Why Rachel says it’s so important to be unafraid in asking questions
How a strong community supported P.volve’s launch
The story of P.volve's reimagined brand
And finally, Rachel’s evolution as a leader and the importance of listening to learn
Connect with Rachel on LinkedIn: Rachel Katzman
Follow Rachel on Instagram: @rkatzman
Follow P.volve on Instagram: @pvolve
Learn more about P.volve here!
Santhi Ramesh is the CMO of The Hershey Company. A senior global marketing executive, Santhi’s career spans several years and across powerful brands such as Colgate-Palmolive, McCain Foods, and Walmart. She completed her Master of Business Administration degree at the Stephen M. Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering from the University of Madras. A staunch advocate for women, Santhi is also a proud member of Chief, an organization for women leaders.
Santhi joins us today to discuss what it takes to launch a global campaign to uplift women. She shares her background and explains how her father inspired her to have a career in marketing. She outlines her strategies for leading and championing a global team. Santhi also provides her insights on reaching out and marketing to women globally and describes why Hershey’s “Her for She” campaign is close to her heart.
“It’s all about creating a sisterhood. We need to be in it together and support each other. We can all rise together.” - Santhi Ramesh
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level, join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
This week’s takeaways from Entreprenista:
- Santhi’s role after business school and the key lessons she learned while working at Walmart
- Key lessons she learned while working at Walmart
- The 20-Foot Rule and the power of packaging
- Situational leadership and her thought process on championing a global team
- Her advice on collaborating on projects virtually
- Creative problem-solving skills and brainstorming techniques for success
- The “Her for She” campaign and what it’s like to launch a global movement
- Santhi’s tactics for reaching out and marketing to women globally
- Why the “Her for She” Campaign is important to Santhi
- Santhi’s efforts in uplifting women
- The importance of loving what you do and Santhi’s advice on balancing work and life
Resources Mentioned:
- Book: Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap…And Others Don’t by Jim Collins
- Book: Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell
- Book: Execution: The Discipline of Getting Things Done by Larry Bossidy
Our Favorite Quotes:
- “Look at what the shopper wants. We often look at what the consumer wants but overlook the dynamics in a retail environment that drives a purchase.” - Santhi Ramesh
- “Empower teams to unleash their creativity.” - Santhi Ramesh
- “Going through the life of a woman: understanding that experience and solving the problems she has is most important in serving her needs and maximizing the potential for you as a business owner.” - Santhi Ramesh
Connect with Santhi Ramesh:
- The Hershey Company
- The Hershey Company on LinkedIn
- The Hershey Company on Instagram
- The Hershey Company on Facebook
- The Hershey Company on Twitter
- The Hershey Company on YouTube
- Santhi Ramesh on LinkedIn
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level:
Join our Entreprenista League community of women founders! You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded Entreprenistas who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, the opportunity to have your story featured on our website and social channels, and MORE!
Whether you’re looking to scale your existing business and want to make the right connections, or you’re thinking about finally taking the leap to launch your business, we’re here to give you access to a community of women who will celebrate your every step, and with whom you can share the candid reality of building a business from scratch.
Join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
Introducing… Startups in Stilettos Podcast
Have you recently started a business? Are you considering taking the leap to start? Do you find yourself alone and overwhelmed in the whirlwind of early challenges in your entreprenista journey?
Then our newest podcast – brought to you by the Entreprenista Network – is for you.
Santhi Ramesh fuses analytics, creativity and commercial expertise to uncover white spaces and transform companies into highly competitive market leaders. As the CMO of Hershey International, Santhi is leading a global team with flexibility, empathy and empowerment.
Santhi is an influential and culturally sensitive leader, recognized for cultivating diverse teams of excellence, forming enduring customer relationships, and building winning environments of collaboration, alignment and transparency. Listen in to hear Santhi discuss leadership, the HerForShe cause marketing campaign, and the importance of loving what you do.
Key takeaways this week include:
Santhi’s insights around leading a global team with different communication styles
How empowerment creates accountability within a work environment
Creative problem solving tips for virtual collaboration
A behind the scenes look at launching a global cause marketing campaign with HerForShe
And finally, Santhi explains her excitement for entering new spaces and passion for mentorship
Connect with Santhi on LinkedIn: Santhi Ramesh
Learn more about #HerForShe here!
Mara Smith is the Founder and CEO of Inspiro Tequila, an additive-free tequila brand owned, created, and inspired by women. After graduating from Pritzker School of Law at Northwestern University, Mara worked as an attorney for Mayer, Brown, & Platt and later as a corporate attorney for McDonald’s. Mara and the Inspiro Tequila team seek to support and inspire women founders while making women feel seen and relevant in industries where they have long been underrepresented.
Mara joins us today to discuss Inspiro Tequila’s mission to meet the needs of women consumers. She describes how she pivoted from serving as a McDonald’s corporate attorney to following her entrepreneurial spirit. She highlights the importance of knowing your customers and innovating marketing strategies to meet their needs. Mara also outlines the digital strategies Inspiro Tequila used to build brand awareness before launching and shares her advice on taking the risk to reach out and network.
“As a founder, you have to have an understanding of every aspect of the business enough to make decisions, but you don’t have to be the expert in every area.” - Mara Smith
This week’s takeaways from Entreprenista:
- What lit Mara’s entrepreneurial spirit and inspired her to launch Inspiro Tequila
- Creating and innovating customer-centric products
- The first steps Mara took toward turning her idea into a thriving business
- How her legal background helped her build a business
- How long it took Mara to research the liquor industry and its customers
- The most surprising things Mara learned after launching her business
- Mara’s advice on funding your business and alternatives to seeking VC funds or giving away equity
- Her tips on working with agencies or freelancers and delegating parts of the business
- The Inspiro Tequila launch strategy and how learning about their customers helped the company build a brand community
- Why Mara moved away from using Google Drive and the alternative she’s currently using
- Working with influencers and ambassadors and how Inspiro Tequila measures the efficacy of their brand strategy
- Mara’s networking and community-building strategies
- Her thoughts on balancing work and life as an Entreprenista
Resources Mentioned:
- App: Airtable
Our Favorite Quotes:
- “Find small agencies and freelancers to help you; being new, I wanted someone who cared about the brand and wanted to see Inspiro Tequila grow.” - Mara Smith
- “Be a learn-it-all, not a know-it-all.” - Mara Smith
- “Supporting other women-owned businesses is essential for any woman in business to be successful.” - Mara Smith
Connect with Mara Smith:
- Inspiro Tequila
- Inspiro Tequila on LinkedIn
- Inspiro Tequila on Instagram
- Inspiro Tequila on Facebook
- Inspiro Tequila on Twitter
- Mara Smith on LinkedIn
- CODEWORD: Entreprenista10
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level:
Join our Entreprenista League community of women founders! You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded Entreprenistas who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, the opportunity to have your story featured on our website and social channels, and MORE!
Whether you’re looking to scale your existing business and want to make the right connections, or you’re thinking about finally taking the leap to launch your business, we’re here to give you access to a community of women who will celebrate your every step, and with whom you can share the candid reality of building a business from scratch.
Join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
Improve Your Customer Support with TextExpander
Every minute counts when running a business. That's why we are so excited to introduce you to an amazing, time-saving customer support solution - TextExpander! TextExpander gives you an edge over your competition by speeding up your customer support and communications with easy-to-format snippets that save you time when typing. With TextExpander, your customer communications will have less repetition, fewer errors and consistent messaging that will keep your growing team aligned and working more efficiently.
Here's how it works…
- Drop commonly used content (like email templates and FAQs) into TextExpander to create a snippet and assign an abbreviation.
- Type the abbreviation to trigger your snippet and see your content expand.
It's that easy!
TextExpander is available on Mac, Windows, Chrome, iPhone and iPad so you can use your snippets on any device, in any program, and share them with your growing team.
Don’t miss out on your opportunity to save valuable time and get more done with the power of TextExpander. To start your journey toward better, faster, more consistent customer support and save 20% off your first year with TextExpander, visit www.TextExpander.com/Podcast.
Become An Entreprenista!
Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Entreprenista Podcast - the most fun business meeting for female founders, by female founders. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.
Apple Podcasts | TuneIn | Spotify | Stitcher | iHeart Radio | GooglePlay
Be sure to share your favorite episodes across social media to help us reach more amazing female founders, like you.
Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn and for more exclusive content, tips, and insight, join the Entreprenistas Facebook group and visit the SocialFly website.
Former attorney Mara Smith had no alcohol industry experience when she started wondering if the clean spirit she and her girlfriends enjoyed - tequila - could be reimagined from a female perspective. She committed herself to a singular mission – to create a new tequila brand that honored the traditional spirit while innovating to reveal a fresh, new offering. As a result, Inspiro Tequila was born with women as a part of every aspect of the brand, from production in Mexico to getting bottles on the shelves.
Key takeaways this week:
Mara explains her journey from corporate America to becoming an Entreprenista
How the pandemic allowed Mara to have the time to focus on building her 100% agave tequila company
The importance of research and understanding the basics of an industry before breaking into it
The key to figuring out a proper budget to fund your own business as a solo Entreprenista
Inspiro Tequila’s early digital marketing tactics and launch strategy
And finally, the importance of building a network around your brand
Connect with Mara on LinkedIn: Mara Smith
Follow Mara on Instagram: @beinspiredbymara
Follow Inspiro Tequila on Instagram: @inspirotequila
Emma Bates is the Co-founder and CEO of Diem, a social knowledge-sharing platform designed for women and non-binary individuals. An expert marketer and community builder, Emma served as the Head of Global Marketing for the travel brand, Away, and was the Head of Community for Whalar before co-founding Diem in 2020. Emma is also a member of the Female Founder Collective, a network of businesses led by women.
Emma joins us today to provide insight on fundraising as a woman and the unexpected emotional toll it could have. She outlines the process of launching an app and describes how the Diem team is working on reclaiming the narrative of direct messaging. She discusses Diem’s vision for the future of monetizing ideas. Emma also shares her perspective on the metaverse and underscores Diem’s mission to create a social experience for women and non-binary individuals.
“Persistence is the most important thing. Entrepreneurship is difficult, but you have to keep going.” - Emma Bates
This week’s takeaways from Entreprenista:
- Emma’s background, how her career started, and her first experiences in community-building
- How a blog she started led Emma to work for a creator platform
- How she realized she wanted to start her own company
- Diem’s mission to create a social experience for women and non-binary individuals
- How Emma and her business partner met and teamed up
- The importance of trust in working with your best friend as a business partner
- The process of building a technology company and launching an app
- Why tech start-ups should aim for creating a minimum viable product
- How Diem has evolved from its minimum viable product stage to what it is today
- How the Diem launch reached a waitlist of 20,000 users
- Emma’s fundraising experience and her advice on raising capital
- How Emma gauged the amount of money they needed to raise for Diem
- Staying organized during the pitching and fundraising process
- Their monetization strategy for growing Diem
- Emma’s advice for Entreprenistas who are about to launch their business
- Why persistence is key to entrepreneurship and her thoughts on work/life balance
Resources Mentioned:
- App: Notion
Our Favorite Quotes:
- “Being an Entreprenista means building something you’re passionate about and leading in a way that feels true to you.” - Emma Bates
- “The market changes all the time; having a pulse on it is really important.” - Emma Bates
- “Men get asked promotional questions but women get asked as if they will fail.” - Emma Bates
Connect with Emma Bates:
- Diem
- Diem on LinkedIn
- Diem on Instagram
- Diem on Facebook
- Diem on Twitter
- Emma Bates on LinkedIn
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level:
Join our Entreprenista League community of women founders! You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded Entreprenistas who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, the opportunity to have your story featured on our website and social channels, and MORE!
Whether you’re looking to scale your existing business and want to make the right connections, or you’re thinking about finally taking the leap to launch your business, we’re here to give you access to a community of women who will celebrate your every step, and with whom you can share the candid reality of building a business from scratch.
Join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
Improve Your Customer Support with TextExpander
Every minute counts when running a business. That's why we are so excited to introduce you to an amazing, time-saving customer support solution - TextExpander! TextExpander gives you an edge over your competition by speeding up your customer support and communications with easy-to-format snippets that save you time when typing. With TextExpander, your customer communications will have less repetition, fewer errors and consistent messaging that will keep your growing team aligned and working more efficiently.
Here's how it works…
- Drop commonly used content (like email templates and FAQs) into TextExpander to create a snippet and assign an abbreviation.
- Type the abbreviation to trigger your snippet and see your content expand.
It's that easy!
TextExpander is available on Mac, Windows, Chrome, iPhone and iPad so you can use your snippets on any device, in any program, and share them with your growing team.
Don’t miss out on your opportunity to save valuable time and get more done with the power of TextExpander. To start your journey toward better, faster, more consistent customer support and save 20% off your first year with TextExpander, visit www.TextExpander.com/Podcast.
Become An Entreprenista!
Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Entreprenista Podcast - the most fun business meeting for female founders, by female founders. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.
Apple Podcasts | TuneIn | Spotify | Stitcher | iHeart Radio | GooglePlay
Be sure to share your favorite episodes across social media to help us reach more amazing female founders, like you.
Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn and for more exclusive content, tips, and insight, join the Entreprenistas Facebook group and visit the SocialFly website.
Emma Bates is a marketeer, Entreprenista, and most importantly a community builder. As a 19 year old, Emma was introduced to marketing through a unique route- by growing a blog to 100k+ readers. Simultaneously, Emma was attending King’s College London where she majored in War Studies with a focus on the intersection of gender and sexual-based violence in conflict and post-conflict regions. Prior to Diem, Emma was the Head of Global Marketing at the travel brand, Away. Emma’s deep level of empathy and passion for gender equality sparked the co-creation of Diem. Diem is like no other community platform. Social media is hugely influential to how we live, work and interact with each other, and yet the vast majority of the leading platforms we spend all our time in are designed by men, which has a huge impact on the % of their userbase that do not identify as men. Diem aims to tackle the inequality that exists for women and non-binary folks IRL and on social media by creating a platform centered on exchanging knowledge, powered by conversation & community. Think of it like the digital version of the real behavior that exists among women and non-binary folks in the real world, which is to share our lived experiences with each other “behind closed doors.” But in Diem, all the doors are wide open and you aren't limited to the knowledge & experiences of your immediate circle.
Key takeaways this week:
Emma’s insights on fundraising as a woman and the unexpected emotional toll it can have
The behind the scenes process of launching an app
How Emma and her team are working to reclaim the narrative of “DM”ing
How the Diem launch reached a waitlist of 20,000 users
Diem’s vision for the future of monetizing ideas on the platform
And finally, Emma’s perspective on the metaverse and how Diem serves as an additive experience for users
Follow Emma on Instagram: @emmashbates
Connect with Emma on LinkedIn: Emma Bates
Follow Diem on Instagram: @askdiem
Download the Diem app: iOs | Android
Cyndi Ramirez-Fulton is the Founder and CEO of Chillhouse, a day spa that serves fashionable cafe drinks in spaces designed to help its customers slow down and relax. As CEO of Chillhouse, Cyndi brings together her experience in hospitality and flair for brand marketing to grow the company. Cyndi has previously worked as the Brand and Business Manager of Third Wave Fashion and served as the Editor-in-Chief and Creative Director of Taste the Style, a lifestyle site she founded in 2013.
Cyndi joins us today to discuss the power of cultivating a strong digital presence before launching your business. She divulges how her experience in her mother’s spa as a child sparked her passion for service and hospitality. She discusses the first businesses she started and what inspired her to launch Chillhouse. She outlines her process for launching a service-based spa business and explains how Chillhouse navigated its business challenges and the pandemic. Cyndi also provides insight on fundraising with friends and family and underscores why finding joy in what she does is key to her success as an Entreprenista.
“Where your personal brand and business can integrate is where the magic is.” - Cyndi Ramirez-Fulton
This week’s takeaways from Entreprenista:
- Cyndi’s entrepreneurial background and her journey launching Chillhouse
- How Cyndi sourced the first location for Chillhouse
- Management and operational challenges Cyndi had to overcome after launching Chillhouse
- Executing your brand’s presence and promise
- The lessons Cyndi learned from her first time fundraising for a spa business
- How Chillhouse’s early success sparked partnerships with companies like Nike to continue their revenue growth
- Chillhouse’s initial marketing strategies and building an Instagram-native brand
- How the company’s team has grown from its first launch
- How camaraderie between Chillhouse and its customers allowed the business to navigate through the pandemic
- Launching their first nail art product line
Our Favorite Quotes:
- “Opening a physical space for your business is a dance between finding space and pitching it, because you have to fundraise if you don’t have your own capital.” - Cyndi Ramirez-Fulton
- “Everyone needs a direct leader who can fully understand what they go through and inspire them to be better in their practice.” - Cyndi Ramirez-Fulton
- “When fundraising with friends, family, and angel investors, it’s important to build a community around your business and know that they’re going to be there with you.” - Cyndi Ramirez-Fulton
Connect with Cyndi Ramirez-Fulton:
- Chillhouse
- Chillhouse on Instagram
- Cyndi Ramirez-Fulton on LinkedIn
- Cyndi Ramirez-Fulton on Instagram
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level:
Join our Entreprenista League community of women founders! You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded Entreprenistas who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, the opportunity to have your story featured on our website and social channels, and MORE!
Whether you’re looking to scale your existing business and want to make the right connections, or you’re thinking about finally taking the leap to launch your business, we’re here to give you access to a community of women who will celebrate your every step, and with whom you can share the candid reality of building a business from scratch.
Join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
Zoho - The CRM that Does It All
As your business grows, Zoho grows with you. Zoho’s CRM packages are completely customizable, so you can utilize the tools you need when you need them - allowing you to not only find the business tools and solutions that fit your current needs, but also foresee what types of tools you might need as you continue to grow your business.
Zoho CRM is our choice for the best customer relationship management software to fuel and help sustain your business growth.
So if you’re ready to sustainably grow your business, head over to www.partners.entreprenista.com/ZohoCRM to claim your free trial plus 50% off Zoho CRM today!
Become An Entreprenista!
Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Entreprenista Podcast - the most fun business meeting for female founders, by female founders. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.
Apple Podcasts | TuneIn | Spotify | Stitcher | iHeart Radio | GooglePlay
Be sure to share your favorite episodes across social media to help us reach more amazing female founders, like you.
Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn and for more exclusive content, tips, and insight, join the Entreprenistas Facebook group and visit the SocialFly website.
In 2017, Cyndi Ramirez-Fulton noticed a gap between traditional spas and ones that catered to on-the-go millennials. Fast forward to today - she’s now applying her past experience in hospitality and her natural flare for branding and marketing to grow Chillhouse - a day spa that serves fashionable cafe drinks in spaces designed to help us slow down and relax. Her brick and mortar locations in New York City supply an assortment of essential self-care experiences, including facials, massages, and nail and pedicure services, and are home to wellness cafes. Chillhouse also offers incredible products on their DTC website, and Cyndi has an even bigger ambition: to turn Chillhouse into a global brand for modern self-care.
Key takeaways this week:
How Cyndi’s experience in her mother’s spa as a child sparked her passion for hospitality
Why Cyndi was inspired to launch Chillhouse
A behind the scenes peek at launching a service-based business and how the Chillhouse team navigated hiccups along the way
How to successfully market a DTC website launchHow Chillhouse’s early success sparked partnerships with larger corporations like Nike to continue revenue growth
And finally, Cyndi’s insights on fundraising with friends and family
Connect with Cyndi on LinkedIn: Cyndi Ramirez-Fulton
Follow Cyndi on Instagram: @cyndiramirez
Follow Chillhouse on Instagram: @chillhouse
Amanda Zuckerman is the Co-Founder and CEO of Dormify, a home decor brand and e-commerce store dedicated to fashion-minded college women and first apartment dwellers. When Amanda and her mom were shopping for Amanda's freshman dorm room, they had trouble finding dorm decor as stylish and sophisticated as Amanda desired, inspiring their vision for Dormify, which has since developed into the reputable commerce and content brand it is today.
Key takeaways this week:
How Amanda’s unique experience starting a business catered to college students while in college herself gave her the focus group she needed to set herself up for successHow developing a blog for her new business led Amanda to a network of brand ambassadors eager to share DormifyBoundaries to set when working with familyWhy Amanda says Dormify’s grassroots marketing was key to their success and how their marketing strategy has evolved over the yearsHow the right PR placements led to a boom in salesAnd finally, Amanda shares how to run a successful ambassador and referral program
Connect with Amanda on LinkedIn: Amanda Zuckerman
Follow Amanda on Instagram: @amandazuckerman
Follow Dormify on Instagram: @dormify
Rebecca Zung speaks to the power of resilience in her Entreprenista journey - originally dropping out of college to raise her family, Rebecca pivoted to law school when she got a divorce and is now regarded as one of the Top 1% of divorce attorneys in the nation.
Her experiences with narcissists led her down a path of worry and exhaustion, until a mountaintop in Hawaii convinced her to let it all go - she now teaches courses and has written bestselling books about her experience.
You’re about to hear how “ah ha” moments in Rebecca’s career kickstarted her most successful steps, how she’s seen growth through publishing and YouTube, and why she says the key to business is that you simply can’t do it alone.
Key takeaways this week:
How pivotal experiences can shape your Entreprenista journey
Rebecca shares her secrets to negotiating with narcissists
“Victim mode” vs “creation mode” and the power in choosing between them
YouTube secrets that have helped Rebecca reach 1.5M views per monthWhat it means to SLAY a negotiationAnd finally, a peek behind the curtain at the book publishing process
Follow Rebecca on Instagram: @rebeccazung
Connect with Rebecca on LinkedIn: Rebecca Zung
Learn more about Rebecca and her offerings on her website: https://www.rebeccazung.com/
Allie Egan began her career in investment banking and private equity. She first got a taste for entrepreneurship while she was working for a fund that focused on consumer retail, and she fell in love with the concept of building a brand. After working in marketing and as a CEO of a fashion brand, Allie took a leap in 2020 and founded Veracity Selfcare. Veracity creates a personal skincare experience based on real data about hormones and other biofactors that impact skin and health through their at-home Skin + Health Test.
Tune in to hear how, after a career working with luxury brands through e-commerce, retail and wholesale, Allie was inspired to take the mystery out of skincare and make it about real health and identifying root causes versus just treating symptoms.
Key takeaways this week:
Allie shares how she created the idea for Veracity while balancing her work as CEO of Cynthia Rowley
The importance of taking risks in your Entreprenista journey
How Allie partnered with doctors to research personalized skincare
Why she says fundraising is a truly eye-opening experience and her best tips for success
Allie shares the power in conviction when you’re starting a business
And finally, why Allie says the best class she took in business school was Negotiation
Follow Allie on Instagram: @allie_b_egan
Follow Veracity Selfcare on Instagram: @veracityselfcare
Rachel Sanders started her career in investment banking focused on the healthcare sector. During her role as an analyst, she felt her career start to plateau, so she decided to go to business school. After graduating, she and her business partner joined to launch Rootine, with the mission of solving nutrition gaps for every individual. Rootine has developed into a personalized nutrition system that combines science with health and wellness data to identify unique nutrition needs and deliver convenient products to provide real health benefits.
You're about to hear how Rachel decided it was time to take the leap to shift careers, Rootine’s evolution over time, how to successfully hit milestones with team members and tips for fundraising and hiring that will help your business hit its stride.
Key takeaways this week:
Rachel’s insights on transforming a brand according to your visionTips for running an efficient remote workplaceHow Rootine manages privacy and data protectionHow Rachel is using NFTs as a collaborative approach to bring health to the forefront of techAnd finally, Rachel’s go to hiring questions that ensure each employee is the best fit for the team
Connect with Rachel on LinkedIn: Rachel Soper Sanders
Follow Rachel on Instagram: @rachelsopsanders
Follow Rootine on Instagram: @rootine_co
Covey Co-Founders Emily DiDonato and Christina Garcia once believed that healthy skin required a multi-step routine and an arsenal of products. But no matter how much they researched or how many products they tried, they still had unanswered questions. To develop their simplified skincare routine for everyone, they first leaned on expert dermatologists and found products that worked for their own skin.
You’re about to hear how Emily and Christina have maintained their friendship as a priority throughout being business partners, what sets Covey apart from other skincare brands, and how choosing the right partners can be the key to success.
Key takeaways this week:
How Emily & Christina’s complementary skill sets make them the perfect pair
What balancing being a co-founder and a full time employee looks like
Emily & Christina share how Covey takes the guesswork out of a skincare routine
How they have seen success with user generated content in their marketing campaigns
The importance of resilience in business
And finally, why momentum is so pivotal in any business
Follow Covey on Instagram: @covey
Follow Emily on Instagram: @emilydidonato
Follow Christina on Instagram: @cugarcia1
Whitney Tingle began her career on Wall Street, where she quickly learned that being a part of the fast paced work culture of New York City’s epicenter only led her to late nights and eating habits that worsened her acne and overall health. She decided to take matters into her own hands by learning about her own health struggles and testing solutions, eventually sparking the idea for Sakara Life, which she launched with her lifelong best friend, Danielle.
Whitney and Danielle spent a few years developing their offering and their goals, then raised money in 2015 to open their own kitchen, and have now reached over 150 million in sales
Tune in to hear how Sakara Life has evolved over time, why Whitney believes in being on mission in business, and how she and Danielle make their friendship translate into their business partnership.
Key takeaways this week:
Why Whitney says you have to believe in the business you’re building
Whitney’s advice for Entreprenistas in the early stages of business
Whitney’s take on success and how she incorporates gratitude into everything Sakara Life does
How to navigate starting and running a business with a close friend
And finally, how continually challenging yourself can create an exciting and purposeful Entreprenista journey
Follow Sakara Life on Instagram: @sakaralife
Follow Whitney on Instagram: @whitneytingle
2020 felt like the year that never ended. While every month in 2020 felt like three years condensed, 2021 just breezed by—we blinked, took a breath, and here we are, almost at the end of the year, planning for 2022. It only goes to show that life is so precious and short that you need to make the most of every moment, celebrate your wins, and take all your learning opportunities to heart.
In this episode, we take the time to pause and reflect on the highs, the lows, and the lessons we’ve learned in 2021. We share how our professional and personal lives changed in 2021 and the lessons we learned from running multiple businesses. We also discuss the mission behind the Entreprenista League, describe the biggest blessing we received this year, and underscore the importance of listening to your brand’s community.
“Take the time to pause and celebrate the wins—even the small ones—because they all add up to larger ones.” - Stephanie Cartin
This week’s takeaways from Entreprenista:
The lessons we learned from running multiple businessesPutting together a new mission statement and team for SocialFlyOperating from the startup mindset and what helped Courtney stay patient throughout the yearCourtney’s advice on how much time you should give a business initiative before calling it offWhat Stephanie learned from launching the Entreprenista League communityThe mission behind the Entreprenista LeaguePaying it forward to women entrepreneurs and the biggest blessing we’ve had this year
Follow Entreprenista on Instagram: @entreprenistas
Join The Entreprenista League!
Jamie Hess is an influencer and PR expert turned wellness mentor who encourages women to ask for help and accountability in the areas they need it most. After juggling a 9-5 in PR and her side hustle on Instagram, Jamie realized she was never putting 100% into either, so she decided to focus full time on bringing her platform, NYCFitFam, to life.
Jamie now focuses on bringing her community together through events, using her unique skill set to serve brands authentically. You’re about to hear why Jamie says her “north star” is being of service, and she tells us how to show up for yourself and for your community.
Key takeaways this week:
Why Jamie believes in the “Art of Follow Up”
What you need in place to transform your side hustle into your full time hustle
Why it’s important to show more than just the “good stuff” on the ‘gram
Learn more about Jamie’s "Big Ask" mission: how she’s empowering women to ask for help and accountability
And finally, Jamie shares the steps you need to consider when starting a community based business
Follow Jamie on Instagram: @nycfitfam
After starting her career in New York City, Nikki Arensman escaped the exhausting city life by moving to Florida and starting a women’s activewear brand called JIVA. When she ultimately sold JIVA, Nikki started thinking about what she loved in the process of owning and selling a business, and realized that she was truly passionate about the freedom and creativity that came with brand building.
Tune in to hear how this Mamaprenista transformed her passion into a new business, launching her brand academy and 1 on 1 coaching sessions, and how you can build a thriving business through killer branding.
Key takeaways this week:
Nikki shares why it’s important to “just start” before your business idea loses momentum
How to play to your strengths in building a company
What the process of selling a business really looks like
How to master communication around your brand’s mission
What it looks like to work with a brand strategy agency
And finally, Nikki shares her best tips for building a binge worthy brand
Follow Nikki on Instagram: @nikkiarensman
Connect with Nikki on LinkedIn: Nikki Arensman
Use the Entreprenista link here for 40% off Nikki Arensman’s Brand Identity Breakthrough!
Madeline Fraser is a seasoned Entreprenista. Tune in to hear all about her previous experience co-founding two other businesses and what ultimately led her to start her most recent company, Gemist. Two years later, Gemist has been called the Warby Parker of the jewelry industry, because it allows customers to try pieces on at home before committing in addition to allowing customers to custom design jewelry online.
Key takeaways this week:
Madeline shares her early experience with entrepreneurship and lessons learned that she now applies in her role at GemistThe behind the scenes of making a deal on Shark TankHow to figure out your brand’s point of difference and make a splash in the marketHow the founder of Tinder became Madeline’s business mentorAnd finally, her best tips for raising capital
Follow Madeline on Instagram: @madfraser
Follow Gemist on Instagram: @gemistco
Connect with Madeline on LinkedIn: Madeline Fraser
Sandy Abdallah brings to MAM Baby more than 20 years of senior management expertise that has led her to understand how to change and modernize any organization. She believes that women leaders have the ability to help shape what the future looks like for all women, and that true leadership means having an appreciation for others and leaving a little sparkle wherever you go.
Tune in to hear how MAM Baby is leading the baby category revolution by making the consumer journey easier and providing community and support around their products.
Key takeaways this week:
Sandy shares why she truly believes in trusting your intuition in businessHer best tips for navigating the day to day of being a CEOHow MAM Baby is hoping to give the baby category a makeover3 ways to shift the culture at your organization for the betterWhy Sandy says a grassroots marketing approach and building brand love is so importantAnd finally, how MAM Baby’s “new path to parenthood” campaign is creating community around the brand
Follow MAM Baby on Instagram: @mambaby_usa
Connect with Sandy on LinkedIn: Sandra Abdallah
"If you want something that you've never had before, you'll have to do something you've never done before in order to get it."
This is the mantra that guides Tiffany Dufu in everything she does. Being one of 94 Black Women founders to raise over a million dollars in venture capital, Tiffany’s primary goal is to advance women and girls. She’s founded a peer coaching company for women, has helped launch a girls’ middle school, run a national women’s leadership organization, and served as an executive at a technology company that arms millennial women professionals with the tools they need to be successful.
As Founder and CEO of membership community The Cru, Tiffany helps a diverse group of mid-level and senior professionals find their inspiration and accountability partners. You’re about to hear how Tiffany and her team are bringing her mission to life.
Key takeaways this week:
How Tiffany and her team are harnessing the power of women and girls’ ingenuity and creativity for the benefit of everyone
Why she’s “obsessed” with understanding what matters most to women
The importance of finding your “Cru” to help realize your life goalsWhy Tiffany believes women partnering together can create real change in the world
How the power of positive affirmations can fuel your mission
And finally, Tiffany shares her lessons learned in positioning herself as a thought leader
Follow Tiffany on Instagram: @tdufu
Follow The Cru on Instagram: @thecru
Check out The Cru: thecru.com
As the Founder & CEO of the only woman-owned cosmetic brush manufacturer in the world, Anisa Telwar Kaicker is truly a pioneer in her industry.
She started her business in 1992, and for almost 3 decades has refined the leadership, product development strategy, and culture of her global company. Alongside her own collections, Anisa partners with some of the most esteemed brands in the beauty industry to supply their makeup and skincare brushes as well. Her company’s mission is to redefine beauty by creating inclusive and innovative products that take care of their consumers, partners, and society.
Key takeaways this week include:
Anisa shares how she navigated unforeseen circumstances in business
How to find the competitive advantage that sets your brand apart
What it really takes to run a manufacturing company
Why influencers matter in the beauty industryAnisa’s philanthropic initiatives and why they’re so important to her and her businessWhy recognizing what you bring to the table and celebrating your wins (even the little ones) is so important
And finally, Anisa shares how she and her team are committed to empowering women
ANISA Beauty understands that what touches your skin matters. ANISA designs each brush through cruelty-free, vegan and sustainably responsible practices to elevate your skincare and makeup routines from hands-on to hands-free. The innovative design of these skin care and makeup brushes offer versatile application and fiber flexibility to achieve a great look - each and every time.
Head over to ANISABeauty.com and use the code Entreprenista50 for 50% off at checkout to unlock the power of self-expression today.
Entreprenista has also teamed up with ANISA Beauty for an exciting giveaway! Enter to win the entire ANISA beauty collection and an Entreprenista League one-year membership! Visit Entreprenista.com/ANISABeauty to enter by December 15.
Follow Anisa on Instagram: @therealatk
Follow Anisa Beauty on Instagram: @anisabeauty
Connect with Anisa on LinkedIn: Anisa Telwar Kaicker
Sabina Hitchen is an Entreprenista, public speaker and media expert dedicated to educating and empowering people to lead their lives rooted in passion and purpose. She began her career as a teacher, where she learned the skill of lesson planning that would eventually come into play as she now teaches Public Relations through her Press for Success community of small business owners and entrepreneurs.
Sabina serves as a contributing writer for AllBusiness.com and is a regularly featured media expert in outlets including USA Today, The Huffington Post, Fox Business News, ABC News, and more!
Tune in to hear how Sabina’s Entreprenista journey has transformed over the course of her career and the best advice she has to offer when looking to incorporate a PR strategy into your business.
Key takeaways this week:
How being the youngest staff member at a PR firm sparked Sabina’s love for small business owners and entrepreneurs
What to do before you press send on a media outreach email
How letting go of limiting beliefs can propel you forward
Sabina’s 3 best PR tips for when you’re starting any business
And finally, Sabina shares why she believes that showing up consistently in your business will help you win
Follow Sabina on Instagram: @sabinaknows
Connect with Sabina on LinkedIn: Sabina Hitchen
Claim your Entreprenista exclusive discount code for $50 off the Press For Success annual membership! CODE: ENTREPRENISTA
Karen Cahn credits the beginning of her Entreprenista story with becoming a feminist after a few years of her career were spent monetizing primarily male creators at YouTube. Karen fell into what she calls a “shame spiral” after being unexpectedly let go from another decade-long career, and started her first business to help her get out of that mindset. She ultimately launched IFundWomen, a crowdfunding site for women with big ideas.
Tune in to hear how Karen and her team have passed $500M in capital raised by their members in under 5 years, and how you can get involved with IFundWomen too by supporting the Entreprenista x IFundWomen campaign OR starting your own!
Key takeaways this week:
Karen shares her experience dealing with the unexpected loss of her corporate job
How market research and testing can help you be prepared for anythingWhy hiring a coach can help you become more attractive to investorsSome common terms you need to know when raising capitalAnd finally, how IFundWomen is dedicated to helping all women see success in their businesses
To support Entreprenista on IFundWomen, click here.
Follow Karen on Instagram: @karencahn
Follow IFundWomen on Instagram: @ifundwomen
Connect with Karen on LinkedIn: Karen Cahn
Named to Entrepreneur Magazines' 100 Powerful Women of 2020, Rachel ten Brink is a data driven Founder, Board Member, Investor and a Top Latinx in Tech leader. She was co-founder and CMO of Scentbird, a Y-Combinator backed fragrance subscription service that raised $29M in venture funding who went on to open her own investment fund in Red Bike Capital. She is one of just 90 Latinas to have ever raised over $1M in Venture Capital funding.
Tune in to hear why Rachel says taking up space and owning what you’re good at is crucial to success as a powerful woman in business.
Key takeaways this week:
Rachel shares why managing your emotions and mental health is important as an Entreprenista
How to be strategic about using customer feedback to pivot and scale your business
What to look for in co-founders
How to effectively communicate to women on social media through influencer marketing
Her best tips on how to keep yourself brutally honest so you aren’t distracted by vanity metrics
And finally, Rachel shares why nurturing your tribe of fellow Entreprenistas is key to making connections with investors
Connect with Rachel on LinkedIn: Rachel ten Brink
Follow Rachel on Instagram: @rtenbink1
Serial Entreprenista Leslie Grossman’s vision is a world where gender equity is a given, not a goal. Leslie is Courtney & Stephanie's business coach, and has helped lead them through the challenges and exciting opportunities they’ve had over the years. She presents women's leadership programs, workshops, and conferences worldwide that have helped thousands of women take the next best step in their journey. We’re so excited to share her knowledge and amazing expertise with our Entreprenista community.
Tune in to hear Leslie’s best tips for networking and building relationships that can take your business to the next level, and learn more about our newest offering in partnership with Leslie - Entreprenista Circles.
Key takeaways this week:
Leslie shares what it means to have an advisory board and how to find the right people for yours
Why trusted relationships are at the core of everything women do
How to host a conference and the best tactics to sell through brand sponsorships
Leslie shares what your business can really achieve by having the right coach How to get “unstuck” by addressing the questions you need to ask yourself about your business
And finally, Leslie shares her best tips for what to do when you’re feeling “burnt out” and how you can join our Entreprenista Coaching Circles
Connect with Leslie on LinkedIn: Leslie Grossman
Follow Circle Leadership on Instagram: @circleleadershipofficial
After beginning her career in a completely unrelated field, Jennifer Aaronson pivoted to follow her ultimate passion, the culinary arts. Soon after, she landed the coveted position of Associate Food Editor at San Francisco Magazine where she reviewed restaurants for a living. Jennifer then heard of an opening at Martha Stewart Living, and the rest was history. After 14 years there, it was time for a new adventure, and Jennifer left to co-found a meal delivery service that would eventually become Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon.
You’re about to hear the inspiring story of a culinary 'wiz' who loves her job, and how a FaceTime pocket dial from Martha Stewart launched a partnership that changed Jennifer’s Entreprenista journey forever.
Key takeaways this week:
How frustrations or seemingly mundane steps in your Entreprenista journey can actually be the best lessons
What the process of building a meal delivery service business really looks like
Jen shares the team it takes to ensure the best quality product
How Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon can help busy Entreprenistas make the most of their time at home
How you can get $100 off your first set of Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon meals
And why Jennifer believes in staying humble, expressing empathy, and setting an example for the next generation of Entreprenistas
Get $100 Off My Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon Boxes
Connect with Jennifer on LinkedIn: Jennifer Aaronson
Follow Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon on Instagram: @marleyspoon
Sarah Dorsett is an e-commerce leader with more than two decades of experience scaling brands like Coty, Bed Bath & Beyond and Bloomingdales. Sarah now spends her time navigating the challenges and excitement of being the CEO of Nanit while simultaneously managing the needs of her three young children.
Tune in to hear how Sarah leads Nanit in its mission to support the journey of parenthood through the development of its products that connect parents to their baby’s health and well-being, how she spearheaded a $25 Million Series C fundraise, and the strategy behind the launch of their new product.
Key takeaways this week:
Sarah shares the road that led to her transition into the role of CEO
How she helped to build Nanit by adjusting their marketing strategy
The platforms that have been the secret to their success in driving customer acquisition
Sarah’s tips managing their Series C fundraise
Why Sarah says “network mode” is the fastest way to get key hires in place
And finally, Sarah shares her best tips for balancing a high pressure career with motherhood
Connect with Sarah on LinkedIn: Sarah Dorsett
Follow Nanit on Instagram: @get_nanit
Shop the Nanit website: www.nanit.com
From sleeping on friends’ couches while bootstrapping her first business, to helping the most promising founders raise real capital with her own boutique investment fund, Annie Evans is a true powerhouse with a wealth of investment knowledge.
She understands consumer behavior and the key role of B2B partnerships in scaling and growing ideas into companies, and knows how to make the fundraising process approachable for anyone.
Key takeaways this week:
Annie shares her experience in converting early customers to angel investors
The 3 essential tips you need to know when putting together an operating agreement with business partners
How Dream Ventures is demystifying the fundraise process into digestible, simple steps
What makes for a great investment pitch
The best tips for pitching virtually to investors and how Annie was able to raise $50K in just over a month with iFundWomen
And finally, Annie shares how she and her team can act as the fundraising “wingwomen” of your dreams
Connect with Annie on LinkedIn: Annie Evans
Follow Dream Ventures on Instagram: @dreamventures.co
Visit the Dream Ventures website to learn more: www.dreamventures.co/
When Jaime Schmidt found out she was pregnant, she began paying more attention to the products she was putting on her skin, and started making her own body care products to sell at markets and festivals. As her customer base grew and retailers began to approach her, Schmidt's Naturals was on its way to becoming a household name.
You’re about to hear how Jaime’s approached her venture one day at a time, and what she’s learned in transitioning from a solo founder to selling her business to Unilever.
Key takeaways this week:
How Schmidt’s Naturals has challenged the stigma around natural products and who they are made for
Why Jaime says going to market without a PERFECT product is totally okay
Her lessons learned in understanding the supply sourcing and wholesale processes
How to navigate the flexibility and quickness of a startup
And finally, Jaime shares her experience in starting to offer financial support to underrepresented entrepreneurs with her fund Color Capital
Follow Jaime on Instagram: @jaimeschmidt
Follow Schmidt's Naturals on Instagram: @schmidtsnaturals
Connect with Jaime on LinkedIn: Jaime Schmidt
First generation college grad Amanda Goetz is paving the way for Entreprenistas, taking what she calls the “untraditional path.” Prior to launching her CBD brand House of Wise, Amanda learned operational excellence overseeing brand and product marketing as the Vice President of Marketing at The Knot.
With personal hardships and rising anxiety, Amanda realized that alcohol was no longer serving her, so she turned to cannabis. She quickly recognized that there were no CBD brands that spoke to her and the industry lacked transparency, so she set out to change that in launching HOUSE OF WISE.
Amanda now leads her company in offering impactful solutions to modern women, helping them reclaim some of their most important lifestyle routines and needs. You’re about to hear why Amanda believes in embracing every part of your sleep, sex, and stress life.
Key takeaways this week:
Amanda shares how watching her father build his company as an entrepreneur showed her what it meant to be a business owner and a parent
Why conversational breadcrumbs are the realistic path to transforming an idea into a business
The importance of founder mental health and choosing the right people to work with
How House of Wise is empowering women to embrace their multi-hyphenate selves
Amandas best tips for a successful fundraise
Why creating a community around your brand is the best launch strategy
Follow Amanda on Instagram: @goetzam
Follow House of Wise on Instagram: @house__of__wise
Shop House of Wise (Entreprenista listeners get $20 off your first order with code ENTREPRENISTA for a limited time): https://houseofwise.co/
Alex Toccin always knew she wanted to be involved in fashion, so when she worked for a PR company out of college and then pursued her degree from fashion institute Parsons, her career followed, working for Ralph Lauren, Theory, and Emily & Ashley jewelry.
Throughout her time gaining experience in the fashion industry, Alex worked with her husband Michael to start a blog that launched their journey into entrepreneurship. Having their own line of designer aesthetic clothing at an affordable price point was always their dream, and eventually, TOCCIN was born. You’re about to hear how Alex’s journey is a true testimony that something started as a passion project can evolve into a profitable full time venture.
Key takeaways this week:
Alex shares how building your network can impact your Entreprenista journey
Why finding your niche is so important in the early days of any business
How listening to your audience and filling their needs can position any brand for success
The unexpected logistics involved in launching a fashion brand and e-commerce site
How Alex led her business in 2020 amidst a pandemic and launched a successful partnership with Dillards - plus, the key things to know before pitching a brand to retailers or wholesalers
Follow Alex and Michael on Instagram: @alexandmichaeltoccin
Follow TOCCIN on Instagram: @toccin.official
Shop the TOCCIN website: https://toccin.com/
Living in London throughout her teenage years, Jyothi Rao developed her keen interest in fashion. She joined Gap after graduating college and was at the portfolio company for 16 years before serving as Senior Vice President and General Manager at Calvin Klein, then Executive Vice President and General Manager of Gilt.com, and eventually transitioning into her current role as CEO of fashion empire INTERMIX. You’re about to hear how Jyothi transformed the culture of the company to foster innovation and inspire growth, her learnings from the sale of INTERMIX, and where she thinks the future of work is headed. Key takeaways this week:
Jyothi uncovers the advantages of adding value over time and playing the long game in your career
How to build a business in a sustainable way through culture that attracts the right talent
Her top interview questions and hiring tips to ensure you’re gaining employees that will stick around
What constitutes an acquisition that makes sense for your business
Jyothi’s sound advice in considering the sale of your company when the time comes
What’s next for INTERMIX - Jyohti touches on the “purpose part” of their company, and how they’re hoping to use their platform to go beyond fashion and amplify women’s voices from every walk of life.
Connect with Jyothi on Linkedin: Jyothi Rao
Keep up with INTERMIX on their website: www.intermixonline.com
Follow INTERMIX on Instagram: @intermixonline
Early in her finance career, Jacquette Timmons saw firsthand the economic crash of 1987 and the mixed reactions and behaviors people exerted around their newfound hardship. Her observation ultimately inspired her to start her own money management business in 1995 that would eventually pivot to provide behavioral-focused financial coaching. She’s now working to dispel money myths and shift the dynamic away from thinking financial health is only about numbers. You’re about to hear Jacquette reveal the secrets to financial health she’s learned over her many years traveling the world to talk about the intersection of emotions and money.
Key takeaways this week:
Jacquette explains how our perceived value of money is taught at a young age through the things that we see in our close environments
Why it’s important to put the health of your personal finances first
How the tendency to be accessible to everyone leans away from success
Tips on how to develop relationships that drive the best PR around your business
Why Jacquette says staying true to yourself is the key to delivering your best possible work.
Follow Jacquette M. Timmons on Instagram: @jacquettemtimmons
Follow Jacquette's Financial Intimacy page on Facebook: Financial Intimacy
Learn more and keep up with Jacquette on her website jacquettetimmons.com
“You are the best storyteller of your business.”
This is a mantra that has guided Shelley Zalis, founder and CEO of The Female Quotient, from her early days of being a chief troublemaker to planning the largest virtual conference in the world. You’re about to hear how Shelley is making an impact everyday in the business of equality, and how she is advancing diversity in the workplace.
Key takeaways this week include:
Shelley shares why you need to be the first, second, and third to think of something to really make a difference.
The importance of knowing your value and worth.
What inspired her to launch The Female Quotient.
Her reasoning behind choosing not to raise money.
How Shelley pivoted her business during the pandemic, which led to over 700 virtual events.
And finally, Shelley talks about the #SeeHer mission, and what it means to her.
After working as a hairstylist for 20 years, Carolyn Aronson knew she could create a better hair care product line that tackled different hair concerns at once. This inspired the launch of It’s a 10, which she built organically into the empire it is today. You’re about to hear how she started off by offering free samples in the early days to get the word out, to buying out her partner and finally expanding into the full head to toe It’s a 10 experience including makeup and hair tools.
Key takeaways this week:
Carolyn shares how she accidentally fell into product management.
How experiencing failure with her first business motivated her to keep going.
Tips on how to buy out your partner, and why shareholder and operating agreements are so important.
Why she is a firm believer in organic traction and the power of a passionate influencer.
And finally She shares how she manages motherhood (as a mama of 5!) and running her business.
When Jamie Kern Lima started experiencing rosacea at her dream job as a TV anchor and couldn’t find a makeup brand with the right coverage, she decided she had to launch her own line. After drafting a business plan on her honeymoon, she launched IT Cosmetics, and the rest is history! You’re about to hear the incredible story of how Jamie built her brand through pure grit and perseverance and finally sold it for $1.2B to l’Oréal. She also gives us sneak peeks into her new book, “Believe IT: How to Go from Underestimated to Unstoppable”.
Key Takeaways This Week Include:
How Jamie overcame self doubt and finally decided to trust the feeling in her gut.
The early days of building IT Cosmetics, including a funny story about her middle name!
Jamie shares her experience raising money, and the lessons that came from it.
Jamie’s best tip for handling inbound requests from investors.
Why feedback is a gift, and rejection is protection.
How she has juggled running her business and becoming a mother after 10 years of infertility.
To Purchase a copy of Jamie’s book “Believe It”: https://www.believeit.com/
Follow Jamie Kern Lima IG: @Jamiekernlima
Follow Jamie Kern Lima on FB @JamieKernLimaPage
After climbing the ranks at Shopify, Atlee Clark was inspired to take the leap to launch her own business, Pika Layers. You’re about to hear how she manages her day to day as the Director of Operations at Shopify’s shopping assistant app Shop while scaling her business - and making time for her family! She also shares how easy it is to build your own ecommerce business on Shopify.
Key takeaways this week include:
Atlee shares how her role at Shopify has evolved over the past 7+ years.
Her best tip for knowing if you are in the right role.
Atlee tells us about her experience pivoting to being fully remote and her best tips to make this a success.
She shares what inspired her to take the leap to start her own business, Pika Layers.
Atlee’s best tips for managing a corporate career and building her own business.
And finally, why it’s more rewarding to aim for harmony rather than balance.
Shopify is extending a 30 day free trial to Entreprenista listeners! Follow this link to get your extended 30 day free trial to Shopify, and join us at Entreprenista on Shopify events!
When Carin Luna-Ostaseski discovered the world of Scotch, she realized it was full of preconceived notions, and decided she wanted to create an inclusive brand that changed people’s opinions. She built SIA focusing on creating a flavor profile that was unique and disruptive - and hit the ground running with a successful kickstarter campaign, grit, and the determination to make an impact. Fast forward to today, she looks back on her journey and shares the biggest lessons she has learned over the years.
She also shares exciting news about launching The Entrepreneurial Spirit Fund by SIA Scotch, a $250,000 grant program in partnership with Hello Alice to support Entrepreneurs of Color. She tells us how you can apply for a chance to receive a $10,000 grant plus mentorship and a one year membership to the Entreprenista League!
Key takeaways this week include:
How Carin pivoted from being a graphic designer for 20 years to launching her own brand.
Her experience getting into the Scotch industry, and the power of networking.
How she created a unique flavor profile that so many love.
Carin shares everything you need to know about launching a Kickstarter campaign.
How Carin’s journey is now going full circle and she is able to help budding entrepreneurs launch their businesses.
After a successful career in advertising working for some of the world’s biggest agencies, Cindy Gallop realized she wanted to make a bigger impact, while living her values. She launched MakeLoveNotPorn - a ground-breaking adult video streaming platform and with a viral TED talk, quickly received global acclaim. You’re about to hear how Cindy is creating the “safest place on the internet”, and combatting rape culture one video at a time.
Key takeaways this week include:
What inspired Cindy Gallop to launch MakeLoveNotPorn, and the mission that drives her.
How Cindy is helping people around the world talk openly about sex.
Cindy’s challenges raising venture capital and securing advertisers.
Why she is all about the “no hour workweek”, and doesn’t make a difference between work and fun.
Why women need champions instead of mentors.
Kate Kimmerle has been ahead of every skincare and beauty trend, including being the first entrepreneur to bring sheet masks from South Korea to the United States. You’re about to hear her journey founding Snaproducts and how she has managed to land her iconic Miss Spa product line in the biggest retailers across the country.
Key takeaways from this episode include:
How Kate stays ahead of the curve, and knows which trends will take off in the US.
Running a private label business, and her process developing products.
Kate shares her experience bootstrapping, and why she decided not to raise funding.
She gives us the inside scoop into big pitches with retailers, and the lessons she has learned along the way.
And finally Kate shares her best tips for pricing products, and why this is such a challenge.
After being drawn to the company by a promise of free ice cream 17 years ago, Bethanie Baynes is now Google’s Director of Strategic Partnerships, and is still learning everyday. Tune in to hear how she climbed the corporate ladder over the years by establishing and nurturing relationships, and how she is giving back with Breadwinning Women, the community she wished she had when she first started at Google.
Key takeaways this week include:
The piece of advice her first manager at Google gave her, and why it changed her career.
The difference between being reactive or proactive in an interview.
Impactful ways you can share your accomplishments with your manager.
Bethanie shares The launch of Breadwinning Women at Google, followed by her new podcast.
And finally, How you can make running your own business and being the breadwinner work for you.
“Focus is the key to success, do one thing and do it well.”
This is the mantra that has led Elizabeth Edwards throughout her incredible journey, from her first job in Strategy & Operations at Deloitte to launching H Venture Partners, one of the world’s only female-founded, owned and controlled venture funds to raise over $10MM. You’re about to hear Elizabeth’s stories from investing in some of today’s biggest consumer brands, why you should always ask for what you want, and more!
Key takeaways this week include:
Elizabeth shares her best tip for knowing you made the right decision.
Why she loves investing in women.
Elizabeth tells us more about some of her favorite investments, from beauty to baby products.
She goes over the criteria she has for the type of companies she invests in.
Elizabeth shares her insights about why some companies have a hard time getting funded.
Over the past couple of years, we have shared many stories of women founders and leaders making an impact, and this time we are speaking a 4th generation Entreprenista! Currently the Vice President at Horus Construction Services, Lena Graham-Morris grew up in the family business and is now playing an essential role in growing and scaling the company. Tune in to hear the biggest lessons Lena has learned over the years, from figuring out what you rock at, and how she approaches difficult business conversations.
Coming up, you’ll hear:
Lena’s best tips on succession planning, and what she has learned during the process.
How Lena acts as a facilitator and mediator at Horus Construction Services.
The importance of bringing in outside resources to help with difficult business conversations.
Lena explains their tried and true hiring process, and how you can apply this to your business.
And finally, Lena shears why she involved with the NAWBO organization, plus, an exciting announcement.
From actress to tech CEO, Cooper Harris has forged a path unlike any other we have heard on the podcast. After her personal experience with online shopping led her to realize there had to be an easier way to purchase products in just a few clicks, she launched Klickly, a smart commerce-engine that powers impulse-payments online. Tune in to hear how Klickly is disrupting the ecommerce space, her best tips on fundraising, and so muchmore!
Key takeaways this week include:
How Cooper’s training as an actress prepared her to be CEO.
Cooper shares how her trailblazing grandmother has been an influential presence in her life.
Her best tips on raising venture capital, and why doing market research is essential.
Cooper tells us what she wishes she had done differently when she first started fundraising.
Finally she shares her experience and knowledge with biohacking, and how it has improved her life.
With over 1.3M followers on Instagram and a viral photo editing app, Tezza is one of the leading voices in the fashion and lifestyle space today. Tune in to hear how she got started in content creation, built authentic partnerships with some of today’s most exciting brands, and is growing her brand which include her app, collage kits, and more!
Key takeaways this week include:
Tezza shares her experience growing up in an artistic family and falling in love with photography.
How Tezza started building her community in the early days, and tactics you can use to grow yours.
She shares a behind the scenes look into building her app, and how she powered through difficult times.
Tezza gives tips for brands wanting to work with influencers like herself.
Her best strategies to create content that converts.
Susan Danziger launched her first business to solve a problem, and hasn’t stopped since! From making books accessible on your commute to combating the climate crisis with Wally Farms, Susan is a serial Entreprenista and investor with a deep drive to positively impact her community. You’re about to hear the lessons she learned building her businesses, key tips for raising capital, and more!
Up next, you’ll hear:
Susan describes how she built DailyLit, Wally Farms and The Spark at Hudson, among her many ventures.
Why you shouldn’t be using your inbox as a to-do list!
Her experience transitioning to being an investor, and her best tips for raising capital virtually in 2021.
Why it it crucial to build your network before you start fundraising, and her handy tip for making 30 connections a day.
The importance of speaking about your business, because while ideas are a dime a dozen, execution is everything.
Susan shares what her typical day looks like, and how it has changed from the times before the pandemic.
And finally she shares Why failing more should be your goal!
“Say yes to most things.”
This is a mantra that has guided Intraprenista Leah Wyar throughout her career, from being recruited as a young college grad at Cosmopolitan to her current position as the SVP & General Manager at Dotdash, which includes brands such as Brides and Byrdie. You’re about to hear how she successfully climbed the corporate ladder by leading with kindness, understanding the psychology of team culture, and translating her skills for print into digital channels.
Key takeaways this week include:
How Leah built the beauty and style group at Dotdash
Her best tips on getting noticed in the workplace, and promoted!
The concept of “calendar hygiene”, and why it is so important
The difficulty of managing up, and how to motivate a team after a transition
Leah’s best tips on succeeding in the workplace while raising children
After facing a period of anxiety at the start of a new demanding job, Sarah McDevitt discovered meditation and the transformative power it had on shifting her mindset and coping with stress. This experience inspired her to launch Core, a personal meditation trainer that uses dynamic vibrations to help you stay focused. You’re about to hear how she built Core from the ground up, including how shifting her mindset changed her fundraising experience, and why a single thing won’t ever make or break a business.
Key takeaways this week include:
Sarah shares her background with meditation, and how it helped her navigate a stressful time in her life.
She explains a proven critical mindset shift when speaking with VC’s.
Sarah shares how she deals with failure, and what it ultimately means.
How Core has implemented a work culture that encourages its employees to bring their whole selves to work.
Why she reminds herself that while she is the CEO of Core, Core does not represent her whole identity.
Finally, Sarah shares the importance of owning how you want to impact the world.
Alli Webb kicked off her Entreprenista journey when she took a thriving mobile blowout business she had launched as a side hustle and turned it into the Drybar empire we all know today. And she didn’t stop there! You’re about to hear not only the inspiring story of how Alli made luxurious blowouts accessible to all, but also the story behind her two latest ventures: Squeeze, a disruptive massage salon chain, and Beckett & Quill, a DTC jewelry brand that offers high-end designs and materials at an affordable price.
Key takeaways this week include:
The early days of Drybar, and how Alli first started her mobile blowout business to solve a personal struggle
Partnering with her brother for both Drybar and Squeeze, and the best tips for working with family
Managing the explosive growth of Drybar, and the process of starting a second business
The story behind Beckett & Quill, and how they are disrupting the space
The secret sauce behind successful partnerships
The importance of leading with kindness, and fostering an environment where your team feels empowered
Bethany Braun-Silva’s first pregnancy inspired her to kick off her writing career in the parenting space, and she quickly realized she had unique stories and content to share with parents across the country. From being the editor of Parenting.com to more recently leading strategy at What To Expect, Bethany’s career story is full of perseverance, grit and positive thinking. You’re about to hear how Bethany climbed the ranks throughout the years, and the different ways 2020 encouraged her to slow down and find balance.
Key takeaways this week include:
How Bethany made her mark in the media industry, and some stories from her early days.
How the pandemic impacted her role at Parenting.com, and what she learned in the process.
Bethany shares her proudest moment from the past year, and why she is approaching 2021 with a different attitude.
Her learnings that When something doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t.
The importance of carving out time to pursue your passions outside of work.
How Bethany is positioning herself as a thought leader on Clubhouse, and how you can get started too!
The value of raising your kids as they are, rather that as you want them to be.
And finally, why you should always go after what drives you!
Hi Entreprenistas! @stephjillcartin here 💛 This week is National Infertility Awareness Week. Going through infertility and then experiencing an extremely complicated pregnancy was absolutely devastating. In this week’s episode, I’m sharing the full story of my journey, which included IVF, a complicated pregnancy from being diagnosed with twin to twin transfusion, the loss of one our babies, PPROM, 17 weeks on bedrest, 11 of those weeks in the hospital. I am now a mom to a beautiful and healthy 22 month old baby girl ✨
In this episode, I touch on many of the lessons I learned along the way during my infertility journey and what I wish I knew before I had started fertility treatments. I also share how I focused on staying positive and having hope even when there was a new bump at every turn. I learned how to hold onto hope and the belief that miracles can happen every day. You are not alone in this journey and always feel free to reach out to me. I was able to get pregnant abs stay pregnant because of this social media community. Sharing, supporting and helping one another is so important. Sending lots of love and strength to everyone on this journey.
Have you ever woken up from a dream with a really good idea? This is exactly what happened to Bea Dixon, founder of The Honey Pot Company, when she connected with her late grandmother during a dream and woke up with the miracle formulation for her first product. You’re about to hear how Bea turned her dream into reality with a lot of hard work, grit, and focus. She shares her experience raising venture capital (and why you don’t always need it!), the value of going with the flow, and why entrepreneurship never looks like what is depicted on social media.
Next up, you’ll hear:
Bea’s early challenges while growing The Honey Pot Co, and how her past experience taught her to juggle many things.
Why Bea doesn’t like to dwell on her mistakes, but rather be grateful for them.
The importance of only focusing on what you can control.
She shares how her vision for her company has changed over the years, and how the landscape is getting bigger.
Why investing in your team is incredibly important, especially when you are growing fast.
Her experience raising venture capital, and her best tips for getting started.
And finally, Bea shares how her role has evolved over the years.
When Ashley Iaconetti was cast on The Bachelor back in 2015, she didn’t know the show would turn her into one of the OG Instagram influencers, and give her an engaged audience she is still growing 6 years later. You’re about to hear how Ashley built a business around her social following of over 1M engaged fans by sharing raw and authentic moments in her life, and why she thinks leading with a relatable image has been the key to her success.
Coming up, you’ll hear:
How Ashley recorded a unique audition tape for The Bachelor, and how she felt when she got the call announcing she was cast
How Ashley started building her brand and growing her audience after leaving The Bachelor, and her biggest lessons from the early days
Why Ashley steers clear from showing a curated and polished image on social media
Why it is beneficial to say yes to everything when you are starting out, and the importance of “just asking”
How Ashley navigates brand deals as an influencer, and her best tips for creating truly engaging content that converts!)
Ashley shares her experience co-hosting her podcast, and her best tips on getting started
Finally, Ashley talks about big life transitions coming up in the near future, and what is next for both her and Jared!
Gregg Renfrew launched Beautycounter without any experience in the beauty industry, but with a fierce desire to make clean beauty as accessible as possible. Fast forward to today and with over 60,000 independent consultants, Beautycounter is taking the world of beauty by storm, and Gregg is here to share the story of how it all started!
Coming up, you’ll hear:
About the movie that inspired her to start Beautycounter.How Gregg started Beautycounter without any experience in the beauty industry, and how she underestimated the costs of formulating the products she dreamed of.How Beautycounter coined the term “clean beauty”, and why this is so important to Gregg’s mission.Why it is more important to surround yourself with people who are passionate about your mission, rather than experts.Raising money for Beautycounter, and what she would do differently. Her evolution as a leader over the years.How the Covid-19 pandemic has impacted her company culture, and the ways in which it has allowed her to really lean into her people.Exciting recent launches including their new clean deodorant and why they are leaning into live streaming shopping.How you can get involved with Beautycounter and discover their product.sFinally, Gregg shares stories about mentors that have guided her over the years, and why it is such an incredible asset to be a woman in business.
When Allie Kelly joined JazzHR as CMO, she was the only female executive in the room, and was tasked with helping the company thrive after a challenging rebrand. Fast forward to today, Allie shares the incredible impact she has made through cutting-edge marketing strategies, cultivating an employee-led culture, and implementing powerful changes such as a new maternity leave policy. You’re about to hear how JazzHR has become the most intuitive job applicant tracking platform on the market today and how Allie has been a part of the success!
Key takeaways from this episode include:
Allie share more about her previous roles that led her to JazzHR, and why her non-traditional background made her the ideal candidate.
She shares how her biggest driver is building new processes within organizations, the true definition of an Intraprenista.
Allie gives her best tips for job seekers looking to catch the attention of recruiters in 2021.
She shares her experience being the only female executive in the room, and her tips for listeners in the same situation.
Allie gives her best advice for balancing motherhood and your career, and why her husband is a huge part of her success.
And finally Allie shares a special offer to try JazzHR with each of you. Follow this link to post your first job free, and find your next employee today!
Hilary Coles launched Hims & Hers following a personal struggle with the healthcare system, and through her work has helped destigmatize physical and mental health issues. You’re about to hear how Hilary (who describes herself as risk-averse!), built two brands from the ground up and continues to make the experience of booking a doctor’s visit as accessible as possible across the country as telemedicine becomes the new norm.
Coming up, you’ll hear:
How Hilary’s personal experiences in health care impacted her decision to launch Hims & Hers.
The magical experience of launching Hims, quickly followed by one of their biggest challenges.
Hilary shares her biggest piece of advice when it comes to making important decisions.
How Hims & Hers have pivoted over the past year to better meet their customers’ needs.
Hilary shares exclusive insights into an upcoming haircare collaboration.
And finally, Hilary tells us how she is staying grounded this year.
When Julie Rice was faced with a life-altering health diagnosis just 5 days before her wedding, her life was transformed and she decided to launch Inner Beauty, a clean cosmetics brand free of harmful chemicals. You’re about to hear how Julie went from working at a makeup counter to growing Inner Beauty and getting her brand into the retailer of her dreams!
Coming up, you’ll hear:
How her passion for makeup began as a teenager, when when she discovered the Clinique counter at Nordstrom.
Her career journey going from working at a makeup counter to packaging, and finally product development.
How her experience being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis led to her desire to create a cosmetics line that was free of harmful ingredients.
Julie shares key advice for listeners who want to start a beauty business.
Exclusive news Julie is really excited to share!
Julie’s best tips on how to get your brand into a big retailer.
How Julie is adapting to changes over the past year which involves being there for her family while running her business.
The biggest lesson Julie has learned over the years, and how she manages her chronic illness with her busy Entreprenista lifestyle.
To learn more about Inner Beauty and the benefits of cleaning up your beauty routine, check out this post!Enjoy 20% off Inner Beauty with the code ENTREPRENISTA20 - we can't wait to hear your thoughts.
How do you launch your own podcast and build an engaged audience, all the while raising kids during a pandemic? Meet Ashley Hearon-Smith & Keri Setaro of Momtourage, and learn the candid story of how they are building their media company from the ground up! From their start as co-hosts of Scary Mommy to starting the Momtourage podcast exactly one year ago, they share hilarious and real insights into how they balance it all, and how YOU can too!
Coming up, you’ll hear:
Kerri and Ashley’s backgrounds prior to becoming the co-hosts of the Scary Mommy Podcast, and the value of hustling right out the gate.
How they set ground rules in their business partnership before becoming fast friends.
Sitting down and defining the vision for Momtourage after leaving Scary Mommy.
Best tips for starting your own podcast, including coming up with a unique voice and learning how to use your equipment.
The importance of consistency when releasing content, and why this will make you more attractive to sponsors.
The reality of being a mom while running a business, and why it helps to have a business partner that is also a Mamaprenista!
The importance of sticking with it and showing up.
When Wende Zomnir started building Urban Decay, she set out to change how women looked at makeup and brought her own spin to the world of color cosmetics. Tune in to hear how she grew Urban Decay into the global beauty empire it is today through smart marketing tactics, ground-breaking formulas and iconic products.
Coming up, you’ll hear:
How Wende discovered a passion for makeup at an early age and how her partnership with Sandy Lerner would change the color cosmetics industry
The early days of Urban Decay, and how they marketed their new brand in a time before social media
How Wende first built her team, and her favorite interview question that helps her determine if someone is a good fit
The impact of covid 19 on her business and and the acceleration of virtual try-ons
Her experience selling Urban Decay, and why she wishes she had predicted the bumps in the road that come with every transition
How getting acquired has helped Urban Decay reach the goal of becoming a global brand,
Balancing motherhood and building a business, and the mentors that have helped her along the way
A rapid fire Q&A and Finally, Wende shares how finding balance between life and work involves making constant tiny adjustments
When Crystal Etienne launched Ruby Love, she was looking to solve a personal challenge by designing leak-free period protection. Fast forward to today, Crystal has disrupted the femtech space with her innovative underwear and swimwear products, and joins us to share her story! You’re about to hear how she built her business from the ground up through an innovateive social media strategy, fund raising, and staying true to her mission.
Coming up, you’ll hear:
Crystal’s “aha moment”, and when she realized she could make a difference with her product
The importance of SEO in her early days of marketing the company
Launching her brand online and getting the attention of her first customers
Her biggest mistakes in business
Why raising venture capital isn’t personal, but a business transaction
What excites Crystal about 2021, including new launches and
How Crystal unwinds outside of work, and her best tips to balance motherhood and building a business
After climbing the corporate ladder at Victoria’s Secret, Michelle Cordeiro Grant realized that there was room to build a whole new conversation around lingerie - one that put the community first and tapped into the power of social media. After gaining 90,000 email subscribers overnight through a viral refer a friend campaign, Michelle launched Lively and the rest is history! You’re about to hear how Michelle built a community-first brand from the ground up, including her emotional experience selling Lively back in 2019, and more recent insights into how they pivoted during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Coming up, you’ll hear:
How Michelle first fell in love with lingerie, and her experience climbing the corporate ladder at Victoria’s SecretRealizing that there was room to build a new conversation about lingerie that put the social community firstThe essential questions she asked herself before launching Lively, including acknowledging the things she didn’t know, and defining her level of risk toleranceHer experience taking her first investment from her manufacturer, and what it allowed her to doWhy being a mother gave her the strength to keep going, and the realization that “if she can create a human, she can create a company”Lively’s viral “refer a friend” campaign that garnered 90,000 email subscribers overnight, before the product was even manufacturedHer biggest learning from the launch of Lively, which is that community should always be put firstThe biggest manufacturing mistake they ever made, and how she was able to solve itHow Lively has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and her pivot from swimwear to loungewear back in March of 2020Michelle’s experience selling her business, both logistically and emotionally, and why she knew she had found the right partnerHow Michelle’s day looks like when she isn’t working, and why her biggest goal for 2021 is to find a new equilibrium that prioritizes both her family and workAnd finally, why her team is the most important part of her business, and the value of investing in the people that surround you
Riana Lynn’s mission is no small feat: to help companies get healthier and more biodiverse food to millions of people. You’re about to hear how with a decade of experience in the food and technology industry, Riana, founder of Journey Foods, is making an impact and working to be the best, most beautifully-designed food technology company in the world.
Coming up, you’ll hear:
Riana’s experience launching her first business, Peeled Juice Bar, and how this kicked off her passion for food and technologyHow she was inspired to start Journey Foods, and how her past ventures led her to this innovative conceptHow her company was built with the mission of helping companies get better food to millions of peopleHow visualization and accountability are the first most important steps Riana takes when launching a new businessRiana shares some exciting projects she has in the pipelineHer experience raising venture capital, and her best tips for staying organized and prioritizing a fundraising strategyWhy great companies are built around great culture, and how Riana manages to stay connected with her remote teamAnd finally, Riana shares the biggest mistake she has made in her entrepreneurial journey
Alli McCartney is on a mission is to get rid of the taboo of talking about money, and she does this by encouraging people to embrace uncomfortable conversations about the power dynamics of money, the role finances have in a relationship, and how taking the leap and investing can help you reach your goals. Now a Managing Director at UBS, Alli has spent her career climbing the corporate ladder in a male-dominated field, and has amassed a number of personal and professional lessons she shares with us today.
Coming up, you’ll hear:
How she was born to be a “financial psychologist”Why she always thought there was a powerful relationship between money and behaviorHer early days working at the Lehman Brothers, and being 24 in a male-dominated businessThe definition of financial feminism, and why this is such an important concept for AlliWhy having a “money posse”is essentialGetting rid of the taboo around talking about money, and how Alli is achieving thisFinancial Planning 101, with tips on building a financial plan that aligns with your goals3 different ways you can get involved as a philanthropist: with time, treasury or talentBeing a self-taught extrovert, and how she recharges during her time offThe value of defining the things that energize you, and the things that deplete you. And then using this information to be fulfilled at work and in your relationships!The origins of “class, sassy, and a little bad-assy”
With roles at Bobbi Brown, Smashbox and more recently Murad, Michelle Shigemasa has innovated and impacted brands throughout her career as an Intraprenista, and she joins us today to share her journey. As the current CEO of Murad, Michelle tells us how she feels at home at a company that has the perfect balance of dynamic startup energy and the resources of a large organization.
Coming up, you’ll hear:
The process of becoming a CEO, and why it involves “interviewing the company” yourselfHow Michelle has built a strong team at Murad, and why it is crucial to hire people who you want to be sitting across from everydayHow Michelle has nurtured the company culture at Murad since going remoteThe impact of COVID-19 on her industry and Murad, and how she has managed the shift from brick and mortar to onlineThe importance of being where the consumer is, and tuning into what they care about most in the momentHow Michelle recharges when she is not working, which involves painting and her skincare routineWhat Michelle is grateful for everyday, and why her mother is her biggest mentor
Leslie Voorhees Means didn’t set out to be an entrepreneur, but when she started experiencing frustration finding an affordable wedding dress, she realized there had to be a better way. She took the leap and co-founded Anomalie - the internet’s best place to fully customize the wedding dress of your dreams, without breaking the bank. After quitting her job at Apple back in November of 2016, she launched the Anomalie website with three different designs (including her own wedding dress!) and the rest is history.
Coming up, you’ll hear:
How a personal frustration led Leslie to co-found Anomalie with her husbandRealizing that many women shared her pain point, and how she felt when quitting her job at Apple to take the leapWhy launching isn’t about having a flashy marketing campaign or a perfect website, but rather nurturing a real connection with your customer baseHow Anomalie (virtually) brings the often emotional experience of buying your wedding dress to their customerThe impact of COVID-19 on the bridal industry, and how Anomalie has focused on connecting with their brides-to-be with empathy and authenticityRaising venture capital for Anomalie, and how she deals with the expectations that comes with their choiceWhy working from home has allowed them to hone in and only focus on important initiativesThe difficulty of having a work / life balance while building a company, combined with the added factor of working with your significant otherThe biggest lessons Leslie has learned this year, including a shift to focusing on profitability rather than fast growth And finally, why your friends are the best focus group - if they aren’t enjoying or buying your product, it’s likely other people won’t either!
Tea was always a family affair for Sashee Chandran and growing up, she loved the social ritual of sharing a cup of tea with friends and family. It was only when she was working her first corporate job at Ebay that she realized how challenging it was to prepare loose leaf tea at her desk between meetings, and that is when the light bulb went off! Fast forward five years, Sashee is the founder of Tea Drops - an innovative company that offers fair trade, organic and loose leaf tea that works exactly like a bath bomb - all you have to do is drop it in hot water and enjoy! You’re about to hear how Sashee built her business from the ground up,
Coming up, you’ll hear:
The impact Growing up with tea-loving parents made on Sashee How Sashee had an “aha moment” while working at Ebay, and when she realized she wanted to take the leap and start Tea DropsDeciding to start a business instead of getting an MBA,Facing hard truths in the beginning regarding how much packaging and manufacturing would add up to, and having to adapt her budgetFiguring out how to write a patent in order to protect her unique ideaHow dedicating time to networking and entering pitch competitions led her to build a community and meet angel investorsThe moment when she realized she needed to raise capital, and how she went about itHow Sashee got comfortable with taking capital and making a plan with itHow the brand has connected with their community over the past few years, turning the ritual of drinking tea into a community-centric activityHow COVID-19 impacted her company and team, and key learning that came from 2020Sashee’s best remote working tips, and ways in which she stays connected with her team despite being far awayA recent lifestyle change, which involved downsizing her apartment and getting rid of anything that was not essentialFinally, Sashee’s best business tip - Just keep going!
Today we reflect on 2020 and look forward towards 2021. We discuss the importance of staying positive in adversity and present tips for dealing with the unwanted and unexpected.
When Entreprenistas Marissa Saporta and Jennifer Bernstein met at a summer study program, they had no idea they would one day be joining forces one day and leading Gorilla Commerce together. After launching their first product Gorilla Grip, they realized they were onto something, and the rest is history. You’re about to hear the story of how they steadily grew their product development platform into an empire that specializes in launching the best in class home, pet and office products - now offering over 100 products across 8 different brands! They share the ins and outs of product development and launch, and how they determine what will be successful. They also tell us about their experience taking investment and how they knew it was the right decision for them. Finally, you will hear their best work/life balance tips and how this year has brought them a unique set of challenges, but also allowed them to thrive, keep scaling and hiring!
Coming up, you’ll hear:
Why they decided to take the leap and leave corporate American behind, and how they came up with their first product, Gorilla GripWhy their biggest earlier lesson was learning to delegate in order to scale the businessHow they broke up responsibilities when they realized they needed to divide and conquerWhat it looks like to launch a product, and all the different phases of this processTheir experience receiving investment, and why they decided it was the right moment for this moveTheir best tips for selling on AmazonHow Gorilla Commerce has been impacted by COVID-19, from logistical bumps to being in a rapid fire hiring modeWhy they ask all their interview candidates if they consider themselves to be more of a right side or left side of the brain personWhy big things come from big ideas, and the importance of building a business you know you can scaleHow Marissa and Jenn approach work/life balance (hint: it involves a lot of quality family time!)And finally, why all you really need to be successful is wifi and a dream.
“The extra verve of the added touch.”
In other words, the art of living well - a value that Abigail Cook Stone’s mother passed down to her, and that informs all aspects of Otherland - a lifestyle candle brand with a strong focus on art and storytelling. Growing up, Abigail cultivated a love for candles and the power they had in setting a mood, but she was always frustrated by the price tag. When she launched Otherland, she wanted to offer a candle experience that was elevated and aesthetically pleasing, without breaking the bank.
In this episode you will hear how Abigail worked with a branding studio to make her dream a reality, and her early days of raising capital. Fast forward to today, Abigail shares stories from this past (unprecedented) year, including how her customers started gravitating towards nostalgic scents (think holiday-inspired candles in April!), and how she has expanded her community by hosting weekly Instagram Live shows. Abigail also gives us tips on how to make the most of your space during lockdown by creating an ambiance on weekends and switching it up!
Coming up, you’ll hear:
Abigail’s early love for upscale candles, but her frustration at the steep price tagsThe early days as an art buyer for Ralph Lauren, and how she chose to get her MBA at Columbia to pivot her careerHow Abigail learned to make candles in her apartment, and a long summer of hustle trying to raise capital for her brandHer experience working with Red Antler, and how they turned her dreams into a realityThe origins of “the extra verve of the added touch”, and how this informs everything Otherland represents todayHow COVID-19 has impacted her brand, and her decision to release nostalgic holiday scents in the spring of 2020Abigail’s best tips on making the most of your space, and setting different ambiances for different times of the weekHer key work/life balance advice, which includes taking time for exercise, therapy, and meditationAnd finally, for all you New York listeners: Abigail shares where you can get the best croissant in the city!
Intraprenista Robyn Mermelstein has held a number of exciting high level marketing positions at companies such as Bliss, Jurlique, The Hain Celestial Group, Babyganics, and most recently becoming the Head of Marketing at PM Pediatrics. What is the secret to her success? In her words, it is the attitude she brings to the job, and her ability to inspire and lead teams.
In this episode, you will learn how Robyn has climbed the corporate ladder over the years (while becoming a mom of two!) and the crucial lessons she has learned about work/life balance, the importance of working at a company whose mission aligns with yours over a bigger paycheck, and how to define your superpower and surround yourself with people who have balancing traits. We also dive into her experience being at PM Pediatrics this year and having to pivot an entire marketing strategy to best suit her patients’ needs.
Coming up, you’ll hear:
About how she started her career in PR before quickly realizing she wanted to see the whole picture of a brand, and deciding to pursue marketingHer early years working at beauty and luxury brands, before her pivot to baby products after the birth of her first childA tragic loss at Babyganics, which led to the most difficult transition in Robyn’s lifeHow Robyn’s positive attitude and innate leadership skills have led her to successThe key pillars of “Robyn’s Way of Working” - and why you should use this method too!How a personal experience led her to taking the Head of Marketing position at PM PediatricsHow Robyn had to pivot their marketing strategy earlier this year when people became afraid of going to the doctorRobyn’s best tips to effectively lead a meeting over ZoomHow Robyn stays grounded by focusing on her family and community
Liana Douillet Guzmán, Intraprenista and CMO at Skillshare, kicked off her career dreaming of becoming a lawyer, and never expecting to work in marketing. Fast forward to today, she has spearheaded innovative marketing initiatives as VP of Marketing at both Axiom and Blockchain, and finally leaving the cryptocurrency space to become the CMO at Skillshare.
You’re about to hear Liana’s best advice for climbing the corporate ladder, getting the promotion you deserve, and knowing your worth. She also shares insights into how 2020 has impacted her day to day: from pivoting a major marketing campaign to parenting and why being upfront about your boundaries and working hours is more important than ever before.
Coming up, you’ll hear:
How COVID-19 has affected the hiring pool and office dynamics
Why a mentor should tell you the hard truths in addition to being a cheerleader
How ‘no negotiation’ salaries have evened up the hiring playing field
Why you should be asking your boss for a promotion a year before you actually want it
The two questions Liana asks every new job candidate before hiring them
Why you should redo your resume once a year and continuously make sure you are growing in your role
We often hear that “you are what you eat”, but in this episode with Dr. Casey Means, co-founder of Levels, we learn how your nutrition may be the most important key to achieving optimal health. Casey kicked off her career in medicine being a Head and Neck surgeon, and now is the co-founder of a digital health company that combines glucose monitors with intelligent software that helps your track and understand your data.
She is passionate about educating her audience about the benefits of preventative health care, and how tracking your glucose levels throughout the day can help you achieve metabolic optimization and live a longer and healthier life. She also shares helpful tips on how she approaches time management, and leads a balanced life!
Coming up, you’ll hear:
How Casey discovered the gap in the health service of the immune system
How Levels has enabled Casey to reach more patients than she ever could as a surgeon
Casey productivity tips for running your company remotely
How Casey’s company raised 12 million dollars from its first seed round
Why you should seek feedback and advice from your investors
Why only 12% of the U.S population have a healthy metabolic function, and what we can do to fix this
Why we should be concerned by the behavior of our metabolism
And finally, Casey’s best tips to achieve optimal work/life balance
“Be a generalist and a specialist at the same time.”
There lies the secret to Halle Tecco’s inspiring success: from investing in over 100 companies (including big names like Kindbody and Robyn) to launching both Rock Health and more recently Natalist, her path is unique and full of learnings. You’re about to hear Halle share stories from her early days working in Silicon Valley, to a pivotal moment that made her rethink her work/life balance, and finally the launch of Natalist - her latest venture which offers conception products that are inspired by beauty and science. She also shares essential tips for founders looking to raise venture capital - including the rising value of a cold intro, and the importance of timing.
Coming up, you’ll hear:
How Halle kicked off her career in finance, and quickly realized her sweet spot was at the intersection of healthcare and businessBeing in Silicon Valley in 2006, and how she grew her first company Rock HealthA pivotal moment in Halle’s life that forced her to rethink her work/life balance and make a big change Halle’s experience with infertility and IVF, and what inspired her to launch her business, NatalistHow social media is Natalist’s biggest growth channel, and her involvement in the content they shareHow launching Natalist in Target in April during the pandemic, helped her shift her core messagingWhy the best investment she has made is the culture of her businessExperiencing a 500% growth during a pandemic while also prioritizing work/life balance, and tips on how to achieve itHalle’s best advice to Entreprenistas looking to raise venture capital, from timing to what she looks for in a cold introAnd finally, Halle’s best time management skills that started in middle school
Melissa Facchina kicked off her career at age eleven by joining the family business and falling in love with food & beverage. Fast forward to 2020, she is the founder of not one but two businesses: Siddhi Ops, an outsourced operations firm that offers support and execution to emerging food & beverage businesses, and her latest venture, Siddhi Capital, which invests in some of today’s most exciting brands.
Tune in to hear Melissa tell the story of how a combination of innate negotiating skills and being gutsy has helped her scale her businesses and navigate this past year’s challenges with resilience. She also shares why 2020 might actually be the best to launch a business!
Coming up, you’ll hear:
Melissa’s early days of growing up in her family’s Food & Beverage businessHow wanting to become a leader meant starting out on her ownHow to define and address the parts of you that need workHow Melissa raised millions during the COVID-19 pandemicWhy being a strong negotiator is critical when starting a businessThe reason why Melissa will find 15 minutes for a conversation with anyone in businessThe value of bringing on an executive coach to train your team (and yourself!)How Melissa winds down and unplugs from running two businesses
“Being an Entreprenista is about having an idea and following through with it.”
And that is exactly what former MSNBC TV Host JJ Ramberg did when she grew Goodpods from an idea shared with her brother, to a widely successful social podcasting app used by Kim Kardashian and Gwenyth Paltrow. JJ takes us through her unique journey that spans hosting MSNBC’s longest running show Your Business for which she interviewed some of the world’s leading entrepreneurs, to launching Goodpods with the goal of democratizing podcast discovery. Do you ever feel like you spend more time looking for a podcast to listen to, than actually hitting play? Tune in - this episode is for you!
Coming up, you’ll hear:
How a passion to find great podcasts led JJ and her brother to create GoodpodsJJ’s journey from NBC News receptionist to becoming the host of MSNBC’s Your Business How JJ navigated launching a business alongside raising a family and hosting a TV showHow COVID-19 affected the launch of GoodpodsJJ’s current favorite podcasts to listen toWhat JJ does to balance her busy schedule while also spending time quality time with her familyAnd The best advice JJ was ever given by a mentor
Jessica Rolph is the Cofounder and CEO of Lovevery, a new child development company helping parents feel confident they are making the most of each learning stage of their babies life experience. Equipped with an MBA in Management from Cornell University, in 2005 she Co-Founded the brand Happy Family, an impactful organic baby food company she, and her friend Shazi Visram, took from concept to mega brand. In 2013 Happy Family was acquired by Danone, allowing the French food group to enter the US baby food market. After reading a doctoral dissertation titled ‘Current Research Findings on the Neurological Development of Infants’, Jessica educated herself on baby experience as well as diet. This paper inspired Jessica, along with her business partner Rod Morris to create a second baby company, this time focused on brain development. The result is Lovevery, bringing academics, researchers, and practitioners from a wide range of disciplines together for a holistic approach to parent choices.
Jessica joins us today to reveal how her interest in child diet and development lead to the creation of one of the most successful organic baby food companies in the country. We discuss the early days of Happy Family and how a failed attempt at frozen organics lead to a successful journey into organic dry foods and baby cereal. We discuss the problems Jessica faced with distribution and product development and how underestimating the customers passion for their products resulted in valuable learned lessons. We also discuss what Jessica and her partner do to keep their working relationship healthy and the things Jessica does for herself so she can be her ‘fullest self’ for Lovevery.
Key Takeaways include:
What happened when Jessica spotted a gap in the organic baby food marketHow trial and error with product design for Happy Baby lead to an explosion in demand for organic baby food productsWhen Jessica passed over the reigns of Happy Family to DanoneHow being transparent about mistakes can lead to a stronger relationship with your customersWhy the timing of your customer feedback is important for product planningThe qualities Jessica looks for in prospective work relationshipsJessica's tips on managing co-founder relationshipsWhy you should file your ‘no’ in fundraising under a future possible ‘yes’Jessica's typical day outside of workWhat you should prioritize when managing a company and a family
Connect with Jessica Rolph:
Lovevery WebsiteLovevery on LinkedInLovevery on InstagramLovevery on FacebookJessica Rolph on LinkedInJessica Rolph on InstagramJessica Roplph on Facebook
Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Entreprenista Podcast – the most fun business meeting for female founders, by female founders. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.
Apple Podcasts | TuneIn | Spotify | Stitcher | iHeartRadio | GooglePlay
Be sure to share your favorite episodes across social media to help us reach more amazing female founders, like you.
Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn and for more exclusive content, tips, and insight, join the Entreprenistas Facebook group and visit the Socialfly website.
Caroline Beckman is the founder and CEO of Nouri, a probiotics company with a mission to bring community and immunity together by delivering Gut Health solutions to the commercial market.
At only 18 years old, and within weeks of beginning her Bachelors Degree in Business Administration with the University of San Diego, Caroline connected with a group of entrepreneurs to form the company Suja Juice. Here, her role as VP of Special Projects meant choosing being a full-time entrepreneur over completing her degree. She followed this by forming Nomva, a probiotic superfoods company, at 22 years old. Despite its closure in 2017, it proved an invaluable learning experience in business. Caroline’s passion lies in transforming imagination into action throughout the consumer product industry. She believes by means of disruptive technologies, Nouri can provide holistic health to the modern consumer.
Today Caroline joins us to share her impressive journey, from her days of being homeschooled to becoming the ultimate Entreprenista as founder of 3 companies by the age of 26. Caroline describes her excitement in starting Suja Juice in her college days, learning inventory, production planning, distribution and customer care and how to go from idea to action. We discuss the difficult time when her second company, Nomva, ceased trading and the lessons she learned when having hard conversations. We discuss the leadership difficulties when managing investors and work teams and how recommendations in hiring go a long way. We also discuss Caroline’s different approaches to fundraising and her bold tactics to making direct contact with the people she wishes to work with.
Key takeaways include:
Caroline's fast track journey from undergraduate to CEO of Nouri LifeHow to have the difficult conversations with staff and investorsWhy leadership in business dictates the information you can shareHow integrity and honesty can help bring a peaceful resolution to a failed ventureCaroline’s approach to marketing and brandingHow homeschooling gave Caroline a taste of start-up work lifeCaroline’s hack on sourcing email addresses for you business prospectsThe etiquette you should follow in your business meetingsCaroline’s tips on bespoke fundraising, from a few hundred thousand, to millions of dollarsWhy the end goal in your business should be the starting point of your planCaroline’s tips on wellness in a tough year of COVID-19
Resources Mentioned:
Nouri Life on AmazonSujaJuice Website
Connect with Caroline Beckman:
Nouri WebsiteNouri on LinkedInNouri on InstagramNouri on FacebookCaroline Beckman on LinkedInCaroline Beckman on InstagramCaroline Beckman on Twitter
Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Entreprenista Podcast - the most fun business meeting for female founders, by female founders. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.
Apple Podcasts | TuneIn | Spotify | Stitcher | iHeartRadio | GooglePlay
Be sure to share your favorite episodes across social media to help us reach more amazing female founders, like you.
Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn and for more exclusive content, tips, and insight, join the Entreprenistas Facebook group and visit the Socialfly website.
Abby Taylor is the Co-Founder and creative genius behind Playa Bowls, a 90+ store franchise that has an Instagram-cult following of loyal customers, making acai bowls that contain one of the highest percentages of acai pulp in the country. Featured in media publications such as Forbes and The Washington Post, and listed No 6 in the top 50 restaurants by Restaurant Business Magazine, Abby has made a successful franchise out of her passion for travel and healthy eating. Abby began her entreprenista journey after returning from some of the world's most exotic surfer destinations, including Hawaii and Nicaragua. She brought with her a business idea that morphed into a million-dollar franchise. With a Bachelor's Degree in Fine Art, Abby leads the Playa Bowls brand marketing, menu creations and social media strategy. More importantly, she is the fearless leader of her ‘Playa bros and babes' and an inspiration to entrepreneurs everywhere.
Today Abby joins us to share her journey from surfer beach babe with a passion for a certain South American fruit, to one of Forbes 30 Under 30 in 2019. She remembers the simple food stall she set up in 2014 in Jersey Shore with her friend and business partner Robert Giuliani. We discuss how that little hustle project in front of a pizza store created queues around the block, and then across the U.S. We discuss her initial reluctance to franchise out Playa Bowls, but how creating the right team and gauging trust with her franchisees allowed the business to explode. We discuss what Abby describes as ‘the worst day’ of her professional life when a worker’s strike affected her supply chain, and what she did to overcome that. We discuss Abby's belief in a ‘trickle down passion’ within her business and why with the right management, all of your employees can love what they do for you. Abby also shares her thoughts on ‘work life balance’ and shares advice on how to take care of yourself when taking care of business.
Key takeaways include:
How Abby went from surfer nomad to being listed on Forbes ‘30 under 30’Abby’s grassroots approach to sharing her love of acai with the worldAbby’s philosophy on successful business partnershipsWhy choosing franchise partnerships for Playa Bowls has evolved with experienceHow making mistakes can help learning and growth in a new businessAbby's advice on building the best team to support business expansionHow passion in your business will trickle down through the ranksAbby’s most challenging business day and 4th of JulyWhy it’s okay to employ people smarter than youAbby's philosophy on customer and employee welfare in the time of COVID-19How Abby achieves a work life balance while overseeing 97 storesAbby's advice on starting your business passion project
Resources Mentioned:
Playa Bowls ‘Helping Heroes’ initiative
Connect with Abby Taylor:
Playa Bowls WebsitePlaya Bowls TwitterPlaya Bowls InstagramPlaya Bowls FacebookAbby Taylor LinkedInAbby Taylor Instagram
Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Entreprenista Podcast - the most fun business meeting for female founders, by female founders. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.
Apple Podcasts | TuneIn | Spotify | Stitcher | iHeartRadio | GooglePlay
Be sure to share your favorite episodes across social media to help us reach more amazing female founders, like you.
Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn and for more exclusive content, tips, and insight, join the Entreprenistas Facebook group and visit the Socialfly website.
Suneera Madhani is the Founder and CEO of Fattmerchant, a revolutionary payment processing technology company helping businesses around the world accept modern forms of payment, stay competitive, and track data without breaking their budget. She is the co-host of the CEO School podcast, a show dedicated to helping more female founders break through their financial glass ceilings, skyrocket their sales, and achieve $1-million - or more - in annual revenue. Her inspirational story of building her fintech business from the ground up and raising over $20-million in venture capital as a minority female founder has been featured in countless media publications, including TechCrunch, Forbes, and Fast Company. She has been recognized as The Most Influential Woman in Payments by Payment Source in 2018, one of the Top 40 Under 40 by Business Journal, and one of the Women to Watch by Entrepreneur Magazine.
Suneera joins us today to share the humble beginnings of her company, Fattmerchant and what inspired her to launch the revolutionary payment platform. She explains how her payment platform works, why she decided to offer a flat-fee processing option, and how it impacted the way companies continue to conduct business. She shares her experience of repeatedly being rejected by colleagues and potential business partners about her business idea and why she finally decided to ‘bet on herself’ by taking the plunge into entrepreneurship on her own. We discuss Suneera’s ‘3 Bucket Principle’ for achieving work-life integration and why she doesn’t believe in the concept of work-life balance. Suneera also shares the inspiration behind launching the CEO School community and podcast and her mission to help more female founders disrupt the 2% club and break through the million-dollar-revenue mark.
Key takeaways include:
Launching an innovative payment technology as a female founderHow Suneera honed in on the customer experience and pain points around accepting modern forms of paymentThe challenge Suneera faced when pitching her business idea to her former colleagues and potential partnersThe importance of getting comfortable with rejection and continuing to persevereHow staying resilient and solution-oriented helped Suneera’s company continue to grow year over yearHow the COVID-19 pandemic impacted Suneera’s company and their strategy for continuing to grow despite the economic downturnAligning yourself with your company’s core values and missionSuneera’s ‘3 Bucket’ Principle, how she uses this principle to juggle her work-life and home-life, and why she doesn’t believe in the concept of work-life balanceThe inspiration behind the CEO School community and podcast and Suneera’s mission to help more female founders break through the ‘2% club’Why it’s critical for entreprenistas to be willing to take risks and avoid perfectionismHow Suneera manages her time to accomplish her goals
Resources Mentioned:
GiftHub
Connect with Suneera Madhani:
FattmerchantCEO School PodcastFattmerchant on LinkedInFattmerchant on InstagramFattmerchant on FacebookFattmerchant on TwitterSuneera Madhani on LinkedInSuneera Madhani on InstagramSuneera Madhani on Twitter
Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Entreprenista Podcast - the most fun business meeting for female founders, by female founders. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.
Apple Podcasts | TuneIn | Spotify | Stitcher | iHeartRadio | GooglePlay
Be sure to share your favorite episodes across social media to help us reach more amazing female founders, like you.
Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn and for more exclusive content, tips, and insight, join the Entreprenistas Facebook group and visit the Socialfly website.
Sophia Hutchins is the Founder and CEO of Lumasol, a skincare company devoted to designing products to inform and protect their customer’s health. Their unique sunscreen formula revolutionized the way consumers protect their skin from harmful UV rays and has been featured in media publications like Forbes, The New York Times, and Allure Magazine. Sophia began her entreprenista journey soon after earning her Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Pepperdine University. In March 2019, she successfully closed her first round of venture funding. Prior to starting her venture, she served as the CEO of the Caitlyn Jenner Foundation. When she’s not busy growing her company, Sophia can often be found speaking and advocating for women and women’s equality in the workplace.
Sophia joins us today to share why she decided to revolutionize the skincare industry and how she launched Lumasol shortly after graduating from college. We discuss her experience with launching her brand in the middle of the COVID-19 crisis, the challenges and obstacles they endured during the launch, and how they pivoted their marketing strategy amid the pandemic. We discuss the lessons she’s learned about building her team and developing her company culture. We discuss the challenges she’s experienced by receiving negative press attention from tabloids, why she lives by the mantra to never be afraid of being told ‘no,’ and how she continues to power through the ‘no’s’ to receive a ‘yes.’ She also shares an insider’s peek into the innovative new product ideas Lumasol plans to launch in the future.
Key Takeaways include:
What inspired Sophia to launch a skincare product and how she raised venture capital while earning her college degreeWhat makes Lumasol different from other sunscreen products on the marketWhat it’s like to launch a new product brand during the COVID-19 pandemic and how they shifted their marketing strategy amid the pandemicWhy Sophia believes CEO should stand for “Chief External Officer”Sophia’s advice for utilizing influencer marketingSophia’s philosophy on building a team and creating a company culture, the mistakes she’s made while hiring her team, and the lessons she’s learned from these mistakesSophia’s experience with raising venture capitalHow to identify when an investor is ‘fishing for data”The importance of surrounding yourself with mentors and people who believe in youHow Sophia handles negative press attention and why she chooses to live by the mantra ‘Don’t be afraid to be told ‘no’
Our Favorite Quotes:
“Marketing comes down to relationships.” - Sophia Hutchins“The ultimate definition of success is when you can’t tell the difference between work and play.” - Sophia Hutchins“Surround yourself with people that uplift you, people that believe in you, and people that are there to really support your vision and your journey.” - Sophia Hutchins
Connect with Sophia Hutchins:
LumasolLumasol on LinkedInLumasol on InstagramLumasol on FacebookLumasol on TwitterSophia Hutchins on LinkedInSophia Hutchins on Instagram
Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Entreprenista Podcast - the most fun business meeting for female founders, by female founders. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.
Apple Podcasts | TuneIn | Spotify | Stitcher | iHeartRadio | GooglePlay
Be sure to share your favorite episodes across social media to help us reach more amazing female founders, like you.
Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn and for more exclusive content, tips, and insight, join the Entreprenistas Facebook group and visit the Socialfly website.
Katya Libin is the Co-Founder and CEO of HeyMama, an application-based membership community dedicated to working mothers. Having led the business since its inception, Katya has helped HeyMama reach mothers worldwide, fostering connections and community with working mothers. Prior to co-founding the company, she worked with large corporations and brands such as Apple, Intel, and Conde Nast as well as the Global Director of Sponsorships with Social Media Week. She holds a degree in Political Science and History as well as a degree in the Spanish language. When she’s not dreaming up big ideas to grow the HeyMama brand, Katya can often be found rock climbing with her daughter and creating the perfect EDM Spotify playlist.
Katya joins us today to share the inspirational birth of the HeyMama community, how they’ve grown the community to reach working mothers worldwide, and the challenges and obstacles they’ve faced along the way. She explains how she and her co-founder, Amri Kibbler, leveraged social media to gauge their target audience’s interest before launching their platform and how they bootstrapped their way to earning over 7-figures in revenue before raising venture capital. Katya shares her advice for raising investor capital and the lessons she’s learned from pivoting her business during the COVID-19 outbreak. She also shares how practicing self-care techniques helps her reduce stress and show up as her best self as well as the benefits of becoming a member of the HeyMama community.
“Ideas are a-plenty, but it’s action that really turns them into reality.” - Katya Libin
Key takeaways from this episode include:
What inspired Katya to build the HeyMama community for working mothersHow Katya knew she was ready to launch the HeyMama communityHow they leveraged social media to gauge their market’s interest in the community before launchingHow HeyMama bootstrapped their way to earning over $1-million in revenueIdentifying the basics of your business idea and implementing them quickly to avoid procrastinationThe impact that mom entrepreneurs are making on future generations and why Katya believes it’s okay for entreprenistas to discuss business topics with their childrenWhy HeyMama decided to seek venture capital funding and how they knew it was time to start raising investor capitalThe impact of forming an advisory board early-on and how it has helped HeyMama growKatya’s advice for entreprenistas starting their journey into raising investor capitalThe impact that COVID-19 has had on HeyMama and the biggest lessons Katya has learned since the pandemic beganPrioritizing self-care to manage stress and consistently show up as your best selfThe benefits of joining the HeyMama communityWhy it’s critically important for entreprenistas to believe in themselves and avoid impostor syndrome
Our Favorite Quotes:
“This generation of mom entrepreneurs is really doing such a bigger service to their kids than they probably realize.” - Katya Libin“Focus. Just keep your eye on exactly what you need to get done. Don’t get distracted by all of the shiny objects.” - Katya Libin“You have to believe in yourself more than anyone else. The reason people are going to support you is because they believe in it and they see that you believe in it.” - Katya Libin
Resources Mentioned:
Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown
Connect with Katya Libin:
HeyMamaHeyMama on LinkedInHeyMama on InstagramHeyMama on FacebookHeyMama on TwitterKatya Libin on LinkedInKatya Libin on InstagramKatya Libin on Twitter
Jill joins us today to share the inspiration behind the Motherly platform and their efforts to embrace and inspire the ‘modern mother.’ She shares how the company has grown to reach over 30-million monthly users and how they’ve stayed true to their vision of becoming the intersection of content, community, and commerce for modern mothers.
In today’s episode, Courtney and I share the lessons we’ve learned since the coronavirus took the world by storm. We discuss how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted our business and the challenges and pivots we’ve made along the way. We discuss the importance of over-communicating with your team when working remotely and how we use DigiCards™ to promote productivity, collaboration, and communication during virtual meetings.
Rebecca Minkoff built a global brand with a wide range of apparel, handbags, footwear, jewelry and accessories (including tech). She’s also an icon, a mentor, an innovator, a thought leader, and a media personality. Rebecca joins Socialfly co-founders Stephanie Cartin and Courtney Spritzer for a conversation about building her business and career, and describes her journey to success. It’s Becky—unfiltered.
Be all in. That’s the philosophy of Intraprenista Kasey O’Leary, Vice President of Global Marketing for what she calls “a 100 year old startup”, one of the biggest names in hospitality and hotels: Hilton. From her start in a family ad agency...
Launching the next huge business would be a massive challenge for anyone. But high level business experience and two years of focus have kept Julie Bornstein on the path to the next level of success. Julie is the Founder of , a new shopping app...
Build what you can sell, don’t sell what you can build. Great advice from Miami-based entrepreneur Andrea Lisbona, the founder and CEO of Touchland: a vegan, cruelty-free hand sanitizer that makes your skin happy, kills 99.9% of germs, and...
If you think you can get cheese from plants, you are right. Case and point: Miyoko Schinner, the tenacious, award-winning vegan celebrity chef, cookbook author, and animal sanctuary founder behind the dairy-free cheese brand Miyoko's Creamery....
“Find your path to yes." Wise words from model-turned-business-powerhouse Alexandra Cristin, a self-proclaimed ‘accidental entrepreneur’ who built her company, Glam Seamless, from just a thousand dollars all the way through being acquired...
This dynamo serial entrepreneur and retail real estate expert has an impressive track record of building three successful New York-based businesses and a notable portfolio of real estate. Yet, Pam Wolf says being a mom is the greatest passion she...
Tracy Chadwell, Founding Partner of 1843 Capital (an early stage venture capital firm investing in technology companies with diverse founding teams) knows something about money. She was named one of Entrepreneur Magazine's "100 Powerful Women" and...
One of the biggest challenges of launching a company is transitioning from the security and support of a corporate job into the unknown, and how your former corporate allies may question every move you make. For Alexandra Zatarain, cofounder of ...
Things turn out the best for those who make the best of what turns out. So says Lindsay McCormick, co-founder of Bite Toothpaste Bits, who launched a business that was inspired well beyond money, after watching a documentary about the plastic crisis...
From admiring her grandmother’s Chanel #5 -- to her own Ah-Ha moment watching Oprah -- a love for creating fragrances and inspiration has driven Lisa Price to fulfill a dream, and she is certain that the universe conspired to make it happen. Carol’s Daughter, her natural haircare and beauty product company featuring remarkable scents and made with rare, natural ingredients, has grown from her kitchen to a thriving business. From a celebrity investment team with Will and Jada Pinkett Smith to a game-changing acquisition by L’Oreal, it is truly a dream, come true. Lisa joins Socialfly co-founders Stephanie Cartin and Courtney Spritzer for a conversation about building her business and career, and describes her journey to success, including working on The Cosby Show, a dream about Maya Angelou, and a timely call from the Oprah Show have all been just a few of the remarkable stops on Lisa’s incredible journey to success.
Naturally, treStiQue (a brand with high-performance, cruelty free cosmetic products and customizable makeup routines) was not born nine months from conception. It was nine years in the making. Despite growing up on a farm, co-founder Jennifer Kapahi always loved beauty, and enjoyed doing makeovers for her mom when she was just a kid. Then, art school, and even taking her place as one of 15 people selected out of 3,000 applicants in the Bloomingdale's executive training program. Next, she worked as a product manager at Revlon. And, ultimately, it happened: Jennifer and her cofounder launched treStiQue. Jennifer joins Socialfly Co-founders Stephanie Cartin and Courtney Spritzer for a conversation about building her company and her journey to success, including juggling two very young children and multiple businesses all while living in New York City, about the travel-friendly Essential 8 from treStiQue, and how Jennifer has managed to never taken even one penny from venture capitalists. Plus, a surprise!
Let’s be honest: being a Mamaprenista is really two full time jobs. But for Joanna Parker, co-founder of Yumble (a weekly subscription service that delivers healthy, delicious fully-prepared meals specifically designed for kids), it’s the "mama" job that actually inspired the “prenista” in her. Trying to solve mealtime challenges with her own kids, Joanna had an idea to lighten the load of other mothers, sharing a post on Facebook with an offer to cook for others. Before she knew it, her family's kitchen was doing double duty as a test and production kitchen for the new business she started with her husband. Just three years later, the company has gone national, has a fast growing team and many customers, and big plans to expand mealtime to a happier place. Joanna joins Socialfly co-founder Stephanie Cartin for a conversation about building her business and career, and describes her journey to success, including: how Joanna learned the power of social media to test the market, the value of getting feedback from early adopters; why Yumble wasn’t the original name, and how the name was inspired by a story that never got made; why the decision to pause product deliveries for six months actually saved the company instead of destroying it; about the overlooked challenge of team management; how Joanna has found the fine line between managing and micromanaging; the distinction between ego and confidence; why one of most successful aspects of Yumble resulted from a scramble to fix a last minute problem; how Joanna the mom compares to Joanna the businessperson; why Joanna and family have committed to device-free weekends; and, the power of the "word of mom". Plus, a surprise!
Let’s talk fur. Not the mink coat kind of fur. It’s high time that pubic hair gets the attention it deserves. CEO Laura Schubert co-founded Fur as a force for good in the world by creating effective, clean products, and challenging outdated societal views that breed unnecessary shame and stigma around our bodies. The company offers products that hydrate skin, soften hair, and eradicate ingrowns from head to toe. Its facial-grade, vegan, cruelty-free, non-toxic ingredients are dermatologically and gynaecologically tested, and the products are now in big retailers like Ulta Beauty, Nordstrom, and Macy’s. Laura joins Socialfly Co-founder Courtney Spritzer for a conversation about her journey to success and building her company from the ground up, including why hustle was the most important ingredient for Laura in building Fur; why Laura had to find cosmetic chemists by Googling them; what the biggest challenge during year 1 had to do with finding rhythm; the battles with digital censorship; the journey from serious HR and management consultant to pubic hair expert; the importance of discipline and strategy in launching new products; the marriage-like partnership of working with your best friend, and the art of disagreeing productively; the moment that packing boxes on the floor while being pregnant made Laura and her cofounder make a big change in their business; how moms might just make better delegators and managers; and why someone always has to cry! Plus, a surprise!
It’s hard enough making sure your children are fed, without having to choose between making their baby food from scratch or feed them highly-processed jars and pouches from the store. Lisa Barnett knew there just had to be a better solution, and co-founded Little Spoon, a brand built for the modern parent that is rethinking the sleepy industry of highly processed, unhealthy baby food by delivering high quality, fresh baby food right to your door. This runaway hit of a 15 person business that launched nationwide just a little over 2 years ago comes down to listening to what people want and need, getting to them, and pursuing a mission to make people feel well. After all, many Entreprenistas are also Mamaprenistas. Lisa joins Socialfly Co-founder Stephanie Cartin for a conversation about her journey to success and building her company from the ground up, including: how a beta launch created loyalists, how Youtube showed the magnitude of impact that social media can provide for a community of consumers; why Little Spoon can contribute meaningfully to a child’s development experience; why Lisa cares so much about Little Spoon’s mission despite not being a parent; how Little Spoon built a remarkable board of advisors; why many startups die of indigestion rather than starvation; and, the resource Lisa is very proud of that helps parents know if what’s happening with their child is normal. Plus, a surprise!
Imagine a one-stop-shop for wellness that includes cutting edge services and programming (infrared saunas, cryotherapy, IV drips), a functional tonic and superfood bar, and a modern apothecary market of nutritional products. Lily Kunin, a plant-based cook, expert in holistic nutrition, and wellness entrepreneur, did imagine this, and co-founded Clean Market in 2018. It might not be obvious that Lily’s education in environmental economics gave her the exact set of skills she needed to make Clean Market possible. Lily joins Socialfly Co-Founder Stephanie Cartin for a conversation about building her business and career, and describes her journey to success, including: how the school of thought of human design guides her, and how awaiting an invitation helped Lily contributed to her start; Lily’s mission to make people feel well; running a complex business made up of three parts; a focus of treating customers the way they want to be treated, with a curiosity and passion to improve; Lily’s passion for meditation and baths; and why really being you might be a path to making anything possible. Plus, a taste test!
Family is everything. In the case of mother and daughter team Eileen and Anne Huntington, and their company Huntington Learning Center, which has helped expand the academic skills with individualized tutoring services and test prep for countless children for more than 42 years, their business is a true labor of love. Mom Eileen (CEO) and daughter Anne (President) join Socialfly Co-founders Stephanie Cartin and Courtney Spritzer for a conversation about building their company and their journeys to success, including how leaving a teaching job led to creating a company and ultimately an industry, the differences for Eileen on between being an entrepreneur in the late 70’s vs today, how marketing has completely changed since the company’s early days, what Anne’s biggest mistake was in the business and what she learned from it, important insights about focus and staying true to the DNA of one’s company, and the joy of joining a family business and importance of boundaries that allow efficient collaboration at work and a loving family at home.
Heather Deeth is the North America Buying Manager at LUSH FRESH HANDMADE COSMETICS and she heads up ethical buying. But how did her unusual path -- from growing up in farming communities and working in the shipping industry, to joining a Canadian chocolate startup then managing operations for a big skin care brand in Canada, -- prepare her for the massive scope of how LUSH has grown — involving hundreds of raw materials and thousands of packaging items—all while maintaining an ethical supply chain and giving attention to social impact of that sourcing? Heather joins Socialfy co-founders Stephanie Cartin and Courtney Spritzer, on location at the National Retail Federation Big Show in New York for a conversation about leadership in her business and building her career, and she describes her journey to success, including: the challenges of launching as many as 400 products each year; the strict conditions of determining vendors in cosmetics, including prohibiting animal testing; the tough decisions of reconciling business needs with staying true to ethical buying; a special fund devoted to systematically shifting agriculture through regenerative sites; the value of personal coaching; and Heather's memorable pilgrimages with a four year old child in tow.
What doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger. This is more than a proverb-- it’s the real story of Kristen Tomlan, founder of DO, the original gourmet edible & bakeable cookie dough confectionery. After visiting a Philadelphia cookie shop, Kristen was inspired to create cookie dough that was safely edible—something that didn’t really exist on the market at the time. She tag-teamed with her husband to make cookie dough into an experience, and a business, all while holding down her career job as a designer at a brand consultant firm. Then, out of the blue, illness left her on life support and enduring a three week hospital stay. As she recovered, Kristen realized her therapy of baking made her happy, and eventually she decided she was all in. As challenging as it was, before she knew it, her business that started with baking in her tiny Brooklyn apartment grew through word of mouth and a proactive social media presence. There were lines out the door for nearly a year, and today her unique take on the formerly forbidden treat is a viral success and has inspired fans worldwide including A-list celebrities. Now the company with a mission to spread joy employs 55 people, and since opening her shop in New York City’s Greenwich Village, she’s opened a series of successful pop-ups in cities throughout the country, served over one million customers through in person and online, become an author, launched the first-ever edible cookie dough at-home baking mixes, partnered with brands like Bloomingdales, KitchenAid, and Williams Sonoma, and caught the attention of some of the biggest publications out there. Kristen joins Socialfly co-founder Stephanie Cartin for a conversation about building her business and career, and describes her journey to success, including: why Kristen’s actual customers became the best possible test market; the mission to teach people how to eat --and make-- safe cookie dough at home; the one thing Kristen wishes she had done before she started her own bakery that would have kept her from having to reinvent the wheel; why she launched the business online first instead of her original vision of a physical storefront; what happened in the scary moment she decided to tell her boss she was leaving her job; the challenge of fertility treatments while building a successful business; living by doing you, trusting your gut, and hell yes or hell no; and a very yummy in-studio taste test. Plus, a surprise.
As we all experience challenging times, one of the things we all need is a sense of hope and reminder of the power of positive thinking. Many of you may very well be aware of Stephanie Cartin’s experience with the challenges of infertility, pregnancy, loss, and the birth of her greatest gift and accomplishment, her daughter Mollie Hope. Even though she has shared some important aspects of that story on social media, in interviews, and even on this podcast, she has never told the full story in detail publicly before. Since, along with extraordinary healthcare professionals, hope and positive thinking both were so important to the journey she experienced, it seems fitting to share this story with you now---at a time when we all need to be reminded of what is possible. In this special episode of Entreprenista, Stephanie shares the story with Randi Zinn, the founder of Beyond Mom, and the host of The Going Beyond podcast. Since Stephanie relied on information and encouragement from so many generous people, she is hopeful that hearing this conversation will in some way inspire, comfort, or inform you as well.
At her core, she’s an advocate for those who would otherwise be voiceless. She co-hosts the hip hop talk show "State of the Culture” on REVOLT TV and has emerged as a powerful media voice in the national conversation where politics, law, justice, sports, and popular culture intersect. Yet, to reach this point, television host, speaker, author and attorney Eboni K. Williams had a challenging journey -- from theater, to law school, to becoming a formidable media personality and advocate. In fact, many would say there was a point when she should have given up (and she almost did). It was the sheer determination of knowing who she was, and must be, that kept her on track for a destiny that materialized in the nick of time. Eboni joins Socialfly co-founders Stephanie Cartin and Courtney Spritzer for a conversation about building her business and career, and describes her journey to success, including: how a spiritual camp helped her save herself, and about the wisdom of leaning into one’s moment of peace; why the decision to go on a date, and being open to approaching something in a different way, allowed a big opportunity; the money impact that no one talks about when you're building a career, and why financial ruin followed Eboni’s big moment of achievement; Eboni’s parallel lives as a lawyer and nightclub bottle service girl; why Eboni made the fateful decision to buy back her book “Pretty Powerful” from the publisher who didn't see things the same way; how focusing on her own agenda guided her through her experience of working at Fox Television and with Bill O’Reilly; why it is foolish to have a platform with no product to sell; how she uses social media to give a glimpse into who she is; and how Eboni went from working for Roger Ailes to Sean Diddy Combs.
After napping for a few hours under a weighted blanket on a Saturday afternoon, Kathrin Hamm fell in love with the feeling of sleeping under weight. But when she started to search for high quality weighted bedding, she just couldn’t find any. So she...
Imagine building a company that makes you happy every day, makes other people happy every day, and is considered the gold standard of what you do? That’s the story of Connie McDonald and Pam Weekes, co-founders of Levain Bakery. If you’ve ever...
Success as an Entreprenista involves innovation, taking big risks, and thinking outside the box. In the case of Gwen Whiting, co-founder of The Laundress, a successful line of eco-friendly laundry and home products, it’s all of these. Inspired with...
You probably know we wrote a book “Like, Love, Follow”. And we constantly hear from other Entreprenistas who also want to become published authors. But where do you start, and who do you even pitch a book idea to? How does it get marketed? So many...
Three sisters, one company, and a whole lot of energy, smarts, and success. That’s Shida, Shirin and Shideh Kaviani --- three entreprenistas who tell the story of the formation of their company, Naked Wardrobe — a hugely successful women’s...
FabFitFun is more than a seasonal subscription box with a curated mix of fabulous beauty, wellness, fashion, fitness, home, or tech items that's delivered four times per year. Katie Rosen Kitchens, Co-founder of , has led its evolution into...
There aren’t many people who can describe themselves as a sponge scientist. But Rea Ann Silva, an in-demand celebrity makeup artist and the founder and inventor of Beautyblender (an iconic, expanding, egg-shaped makeup sponge for effortless...
Growth. It’s a part of every Entreprenista’s journey. For founder Eliza Blank, it’s at the heart of the experience and nature of her amazing business. Her company The Sill, offering locally, easy-to-care-for, quality houseplants, shipped right...
Getting to “yes”. That’s been a mantra that has driven Intraprenista-turned-Entreprenista Ilana Fischer, cofounder and CEO of Whisps, to turn a simple idea (to turn an ingredient into a snack) into an amazing, and delicious, company,...
Marie Forleo is an entrepreneur, writer, philanthropist & unshakeable optimist dedicated to helping people become the person they most want to be. She should know — after an unfulfilling start on Wall Street, it was a call for advice with her...
Amy Shechter is an accomplished Intreprenista and the CEO of the on-demand, in-home beauty service Glamsquad. But despite being in a leadership role of a fast growing company that’s recently expanded beyond the home and launched 50 SKUs and now in...
Suzanne Somers. You might know her as Chrissy Snow in the iconic sitcom Three's Company. Or as Carol Lambert on the successful show Step by Step. Or as a long-running Las Vegas headliner, or for her Thighmaster...
You may know about the skincare brand Rodan + Fields, or the popular acne treatment Proactiv, both created by dermatologists Dr. Katie Rodan and Dr. Kathy A. Fields. What you may not know is the incredible journey they have been on, the challenges...
built a global brand with a wide range of apparel, handbags, footwear, jewelry and accessories (including tech). She’s also an icon, a mentor, an innovator, a thought leader, and a media personality. Rebecca joins Socialfly co-founders Stephanie...
Tune in this week for an extra special episode of The Entreprenista Podcast featuring our very own Stephanie Cartin and Courtney Spritzer. While reflecting on this past years challenges and wins, Stephanie and Courtney share how trusting their gut...
You might not expect to learn that your favorite Mexican restaurant has its own University. But when you head up human resources and training in a restaurant business with nearly 700 employees across two dozen locations in multiple states, creating...
Leap and the net will appear. It’s inspiring wisdom from successful celebrity stylist Sarah Potempa, who created the incredible smash hit The Beachwaver---a patented, dual Voltage Rotating Curling Iron along with a line of styling products. She took...
Less is more. This is a value shared by both founder Cheryl Yannotti Foland and her company, a luxury, minimalistic collection of color that allows women to achieve a finished look with fewer products -- encouraging a movement to declutter, minimize...
CEO Lynda Cloud is at the helm of a remarkable mission: Improving the world’s health and happiness one coach at a time. The Institute for Integrative Nutrition (or IIN) offers next-generation curriculum and over 100 dietary theories as they train...
Melissa Ben-Ishay took something very tiny and built it into something very big. The “tiny” is cupcakes. The “big” is Baked by Melissa, which over the last decade has grown beyond its popular storefronts into a fast growing online business,...
If you really want to do something, don’t let what you don’t know hold you back—you’ll learn along the way. It’s about hustle, and going after what you want. And if anyone knows this, it’s Gigi Goldman & Kiana Cabell, co-founders...
Command and control. That’s what Cathy Skula did at Rent-a-Center, starting just a few months out of college, and then working her way up for the next 18 years. From working the desk, to driving a truck, and even working collections, she has worked...
There’s a great way to build a business that is poised to quickly disrupt a $130 billion industry: take everything you’ve learned from building other businesses and apply it to your own. With your husband. And name it “Henry.” That’s the...
How do you take the momentum of a more than century-old iconic brand and keep it current for a new generation, while staying true to what makes it part of the fabric of our culture? That’s the charge of special guest Mishka Pitter-Arnand, VP of...
"The bubbly state of mind." For many of us, it probably sounds like a pretty nice place to be. Tawnya Falkner, the proprietor and managing member of the French sparkling wine company Le Grand Courtâge gives customers permission to embrace the spirit of joie de vivre and celebrate the art of elevating the everyday---often in ways you never considered before. And it all started with an idea, a vision, made real by a seasoned entrepreneur with a business plan who found a need in a market place, and had the determination to not let anything get in her way. Tawnya joins Socialfly Co-Founder Stephanie Cartin in the MouthMedia Network studio for a conversation about building her business and career, and describes her journey to success. She discusses how a big problem with a label was able to be addressed by going into a quick problem-solving mode; the power of networking with other female entrepreneurs and a mastermind group; the true value of a business coach; the challenge of raising money and lessons learned with raising a large funding round up front; and getting a big deal with a major airline that was worth popping a cork for. Plus, a surprise!
For Arianne Perry, founder of (the only clinically proven natural lozenge that stops sugar cravings in seconds), being an athlete not only gave her the strength, stamina, and discipline for being a mom -- it helped her be able to run a company. With...
How much power do we really have? Could having the life you want be as simple as manifesting it? Brooke Budke, Vice President of Marketing at TITLE Boxing Club — a fitness club with 60,000 members in nearly 200 locations and the mission of...
Today, Poppy King (founder of the game-changing, Australian-born beauty brand Lipstick Queen and author of the popular book Lessons of a Lipstick Queen) might just remind you of the Roald Dahl version of Willy Wonka. But the real story is how at just...
What if you could have access to health care that was designed for women and by women who support other female vendors and partners? This is concierge medicine. It’s real, and co-founded by General Manager Rachel Blank. Rachel joins Socialfly...
Building a business is hard enough. In addition to being a mom? That’s another level. But co-founding a business with your spouse — someone who is already a serial entrepreneur and highly accomplished in their industry (in this case, haircare...
Many entrepreneurs call their business their “baby.” And while there are countless resources for business owners, from coaching to seminars to podcasts like this one, mothers who give birth to a real baby often lack support in the months...
Former-teacher-turned-beauty-brand-founder Holly Thaggard’s sun-safe skincare brand Supergoop! is more than a successful business. It’s also a massive classroom that gives her and her team the opportunity to teach people how to protect themselves...
She might be a kind of real life super hero. Her name certainly seems appropriate, and she champions female empowerment and equality while playing an important role in supporting women to achieve their business potential. She’s Jennifer Justice,...
On the day her grandmother passed away, Tiffany Pham made a decision that changed the course of her life—promising that she’d follow the same mission as her grandmother and provide information and opportunities to as many people as possible....
A painful ski accident left a former investment banker turning to acupuncture—and her immediate relief inspired an idea for a business. With a partner who already provided acupuncture to celebrities, Michelle Larivee envisioned a new kind of...
If you could create the perfect blend of energy, positivity, strategy, and hard work, her name would be Anna Kaiser. Anna is a choreographer and fitness entrepreneur who was named one of the 100 Most Influential People in Health & Fitness by...
A green finger at a weekend brunch with a fellow Princeton alum inspires a side hustle, and ultimately a thriving full-time business with 15 employees -- and big vision. This is a true story for co-founder Sophie Kahn and her business AUrate, offering...
Starting a business is hard, and raising money to do it is not easy either. Being a woman in the tech industry is even harder! Doing it so well that Forbes recognizes you as one of their 30 Under 30 in the Marketing & Advertising category? Nearly...
Can you build a successful business based on selling a feeling instead of the product? The answer is yes, and Olivia Young did it. She’s the Founder and CEO of Box + Flow, a fitness class that combines boxing and yoga with self discovery for...
“The benefit of community is that you can add more voices to the conversation. It’s high time the definition of beauty was expanded”. This line is from Le CultureClub’s website, a community that is working to eliminate the tired standard and...
There’s something to be said about building the company you want. Just ask Melissa Mash, who says she never had any doubts about her company reaching its goals! Melissa is the CEO and Co-Founder of Dagne Dover — Designer Handbags For A Life In...
How do you move forward with a business when conflict with a business partner changes everything? Hillary France, CEO and Co-Founder of Brand Assembly knows all about this, and has found a bright path forward. Her company was founded to nurture and...
Leaving a cushy job at a major brand that allows you to travel internationally and lead a team in order to start a business selling products like candles and kimono robes—with you and only you to do—everything? That’s the story of Ashli...
A scientist and winner of the Miss New York pageant launches a ground-breaking digital publication that harnesses the style and glamour of today’s business-minded woman. Sounds like the premise for a good movie, doesn’t it? The star of that story...
A Luminary is a person who inspires or influences others; a guiding light, an inspiration, a role model and a leader. This word and definition have inspired a collaboration hub for women to develop, network and connect, and used its founder and CEO...
One of the characteristics of successful entrepreneurs is their willingness to put themselves out there and make it happen. Eden Grinshpan is not only the co-founder and executive chef at DEZ, an innovative restaurant concept, but also a celebrity...
For most startup founders, they are guided by the advice to never give up. For Sarah LaFleur, the CEO of M.M. LaFleur -- a Luxury-Quality Clothing company via a Seamless & Direct-To-Consumer Stylist Experience that takes the work out of...
Social media can be a powerful tool for developing products. Just ask Wander Beauty co-founders Divya Gugnani and Lindsay Ellingson -- the first travel-inspired, cruelty-free luxury color cosmetics experience! Divya and Lindsay join Socialfly...
On average we spend more than a month every year just thinking about what we are going to eat. Imagine if you could have that month back —what could you accomplish? That very thought has driven Nicole Centeno to build an incredible...
Some of the greatest companies are conceived from a problem that the founder could not solve. This is one of those stories. Sas Simon, founder of NAME GLO, a business that offers customized neon lighting, solved her own need and discovered a gap in...
Making lemonade from lemons. It’s a phrase that comes to mind when we think of Helaine Knapp—founder and CEO of City Row, which offers water-based rowing workouts and a rowing-based fitness app. After literally breaking her back, Helaine...
You can’t do Bustle without Hustle, and in the case of Kate Ward, Editor in Chief for Bustle Digital Group – publisher of Bustle, Elite Daily, Romper, and The Zoe Report – Bustle has definitely been a part of her DNA. From writing...
Entrepreneurial journeys are often begun to find a better way to do something, or solve a problem, in spite of the odds against them. Artistic journeys are usually a way to express oneself. For Elizabeth Sutton, a visual artist who has taken the...
Some entrepreneurs build businesses for fortune. Some for impact. Deepti Sharma is driven by passion. As CEO and Founder of , a community-minded catering concierge service, she connects immigrants, women and minority-owned food vendors to...
Imagine jumping into the driver’s seat of a company more than 100 years old. What challenges, and possibilities, would you face? Ask , the CEO of She Runs It— an organization of professional women working in marketing, advertising and media,...
It’s been said that the power of the next generation is rooted in the success of women. We agree and so does Jenni Luke, CEO of Step Up — a not for profit organization that works to propel girls going to school in under-resourced communities to...
Imagine you were on Shark Tank and made a deal on-air, the deal didn’t work out off-air, but the exposure propelled your business to the next level? For Co-founder/CEO , and her company Glow Recipe—which curates the best natural and...
At 23 years old, Soraya Darabi managed the digital partnerships and social media marketing for The New York Times. Not a bad start. Since then, she has played a substantial role in the success of several amazing companies, her first three angel...
From ballerina to Broadway to fitness model turned boxer, Julie ‘JAWS’ Nelson is at the top of her game. Julie joined founders Stephanie Cartin and Courtney Spritzer, along with “” podcast host Dale Moss, in front of a live audience at...
It’s never too late to reinvent yourself. Just ask Ruth Zukerman, one of the original cofounders of SoulCycle (arguably one of the most successful spin class companies anywhere) and who, after a devastating exit from the company, picked...
When you’ve built a very successful business as a jewelry designer for more than 20 years, the natural move is to leave it all behind and start making documentary films celebrating and supporting female artisans and entrepreneurs through authentic...
Determination is an essential ingredient to succeeding in business and overcoming the inevitable challenges any entrepreneurial journey can pose. It’s also something that defines Tina Hedges, who at every turn has pushed forward to realize her vision of a company that can make a difference to countless beauty consumers and the environment as well. Tina Hedges, Founder and CEO of LOLI Beauty (a beauty brand using only organic, raw, fair-trade, non-GMO ingredients), joins Socialfly founders Stephanie Cartin and Courtney Spritzer in the MouthMedia Network studios for a conversation about building her company and her journey to success, along with a surprise and a brainstorm. In this episode:
How Tina’s career trajectory changed from being on track to run factories in China to starting her own beauty company Standing up for your morals even if it may cost you your job The changes in the fashion industry from the 80s to today Learning to appreciate the little details of running a beauty company by working in retail Why Tina still makes sure to spend time in stores when on business trips to stay in touch with the consumer’s experience with the product How a chance phone call changed Tina’s trajectory from going to business school to working on a creative marketing team and learning on the job Why giving employees autonomy and encouraging decision making is important for building a strong team How Tina’s childhood shaped her view of health and beauty products The environmental damage the beauty industry does, and how that sparked Tina’s decision to start LOLI The filling station concept, and the spark to deconstruct the beauty industry to fresh and raw ingredients which can be customized and sustainable Getting accustomed to working for yourself, and how to judge work for yourself objectively How Tina started LOLI as a surprise subscription box service, and the benefits of using your early clients as a focus group to hone your brand The creative ways that LOLI operates as a zero waste organic beauty brand, but upscaling from food produce sources and finding ways to operate without adding or wasting water The strength of collaborating with brands, like Adidas and Alexander Wang, to gain traction and boost visibility How Tina funded the start of LOLI, and some tips for those presenting business plans to potential investors Ageism, and how Tina overcame the obstacles she encountered when trying to find investors A dramatic story where a sick Tina flies to Geneva to meet with investors who had the funds to start LOLI Learning to hire employees and the stresses and learning experiences Tina experienced while building a strong team around her The importance of communicating with your consumers and solving issues quickly A one minute brainstorm on how LOLI can build more traction as the look to take their next step forward as a company
A case study on building a business empire-in-the-making, proving that creativity, hard work, determination, and research can transform a passion into a real business, why believing in your excellent product is crucial for growth, leveraging people around you to jump start your business, how the use of influencer marketing before it was a thing and early adoption of social media made a major difference, challenges from having from no money for payroll to running out of cash during construction, and why you won’t hear Britney Spears in any of Heather’s pilates studios…
Heather Andersen, Studio owner and Program Director of New York Pilates (a New York city-based fitness company offering music driven, small group reformer classes and private sessions), joins Socialfly founders Stephanie Cartin and Courtney Spritzer in the MouthMedia Network studios for a conversation about building her company and her journey to success, along with a surprise and a brainstorm. In this episode:
How Heather discovered pilates, and what led her to open her own studio, New York Pilates Why the social aspect of taking classes with groups and friends is important to Heather and how that shaped her studio space and business model How Heather started her own studio without any outside investors What Heather did to market her studio’s brand, and why being passionate about your product is vital How Heather’s business grew from a one-woman operation to opening multiple locations ClassPass, and the difficulties in converting people looking to save money into reliable returning clients The challenges of learning how to run a business on the job What kept Heather going even when the responsibilities of running a studio on a shoestring budget were daunting How Heather is keeping New York Pilates feel like a tight knit community even as it grows into bigger spaces and new markets The challenges Heather had with learning to grow as a manager, and the lessons she learned through trial and error and a book that helped her How New York Pilates uses social media to showcase their brand ethos to potential clients What being an entreprenista means to Heather Plus, a one minute brainstorm about organization and managing ideas and goals
Some of the greatest ideas for a business come from solving a problem the founder has personally experienced. Sarah Kugelman is such a founder, whose personal experiences with anxiety, and the impact of stress on her skin, led her to build a successful business…
Sarah Kugelman, Founder/CEO of skyn ICELAND (a Vegan, Cruelty-free, natural skincare line) joins Socialfly founders Stephanie Cartin and Courtney Spritzer in the MouthMedia Network studios for a conversation about building her company and her journey to success, along with a surprise and a brainstorm. In this episode:
How Sarah’s personal dealings with anxiety led to her founding skyn ICELAND, and the connection between stress and skin health Sarah’s entrepreneurial spirit, and how she combined her working experience and her passion to forge a new career path for herself The vacation that led to the name of the line, and what makes it more than just a name The challenges of importing ingredients overseas, and finding a chemist who shared Sarah’s vision for the line How Sarah approaches bringing new products into the line, and know when some products have run their course The tentpole moments in skyn ICELAND’s history where Sarah knew she had made it How Sarah manages stress now, and how that has evolved over time Sarah shares some of the biggest scares she’s had while running skyn ICELAND, and the lessons she’s learned along the way What Sarah did to keep the business alive when one of their biggest retailers decided to phase the line off the shelves Some of Sarah’s most out=of-the-box marketing ideas from the pre-social media age and what she did to adapt to the current marketing climate What Sarah sees as the future of the beauty industry, and for skyn ICELAND What having more educated consumers means for the industry ‘Sarah shares what being an entreprenista means to her, and gives some advice for people who are starting their own businesses Plus, a one minute brainstorm on how Sarah can boost her engagement on Instagram
Social media is powerful, but what if you can’t use big platforms to advertise your business and initiate products, such as sex toys? Plus, hiring the right people, having hustle, how health challenges can inspire an entrepreneurial mission, the challenge of raising money in a boys’ club, and never giving up.
Polly Rodriguez, CEO and Co-Founder of Unbound (a leader in changing how feminists explore and enjoy their sex lives., through a quarterly box, online shop and Unbound Magazine), joins Socialfly founders Stephanie Cartin and Courtney Spritzer in the MouthMedia Network studios for a conversation about building her company and her journey to success, along with a surprise and a brainstorm. In this episode:
How Polly went from working as a consultant to finding a business parter and starting Unbound The difficulties in finding steady income while trying to commit to growing your business, and why it’s better not to feel embarrassed by doing whatever it takes to set off down your own career path The growing pains unique to Unbound as a sexual wellness brand How through self motivated research and practice Polly helped Unbound tackle advertising hurdles by utilizing SEO and content marketing How Unbound grew from a subscription box only to a broader wellness product company that produces its own goods The process of finding investors, and why timing is crucial How Polly and her co-founder Sarah split their workloads The importance of finding motivated employees and structured hiring processes Polly’s experiences with cancer and how that led to her career change The importance of support systems outside of the company you work at A one minute brainstorm about white-listing ads and the future of social media
If you have any connection to the fashion or beauty industries you’ve most likely heard of Alexandra Wilkis Wilson at least of The GILT Group and Glamsquad. Her latest entrepreneurial success is Allergan’s Spotlyte, educating millions on beauty and medical aesthetics.
Alexandra shares her remarkable entrepreneurial journey—from a childhood lemonade stand to leading 1,000 employees, how startups are romanticized, and teams are everything, the importance of a two-way street and how becoming a mother impacted her professional life, finding the right people to hire, launching a company in the biggest way, how culture has been a focus for her new company, and how she’s learned to say no (but sometimes yes). Plus, a surprise, and a brainstorm for a social media strategy.
Alexandra Wilkis Wilson, Entrepreneur, Executive, Board Director, Investor, Advisor, Mentor, Author, Public Speaker, and SVP, Consumer Strategy and Innovation for Allergan, joins Socialfly founders Stephanie Cartin and Courtney Spritzer in the MouthMedia Network studios for a conversation about building her company and her journey to success, along with a surprise and a brainstorm. In this episode:
Coming from a lemonade stand as a child to launching GILT as her first entrepreneurial effort as a professional person Being bitten by the entrepreneurial bug, a major turning point for her — seeing tech, fashion, commerce, all really changing Why Alexandra is a big believer in teams The unexpected level of difficulty, and how startups are romanticized The process from idea to raising money and figuring out a business How Alexandra is involved in many startups in various ways Always seeking the perfect market fit — a perfect storm of a good idea and amazing people, timing and funding What the co-founders focused on in their roles The importance of a two-way street, LinkedIn, helping others, what goes around comes around The timing of becoming a mother, how it brought a change Getting involved in Glamsquad because she bumped into cofounders who had a great idea What Alexandra is doing now is scarier than anything before Someone from Socialfly was the 500k Glamsquad customer When she was looking for board roles, a big client is Allergan owned Botox, doing something innovative Spotlyte – a great place to learn about beauty and skincare Alexandra is an expert in understanding consumer behavior, consumer strategy and innovation into an industry heavily regulated, that wasn’t focused enough on customer A billboard in Times Square and a food truck for a launch Educating millions of consumers on beauty and medical aesthetics, unbranded Why Alexandra is surprised that a big, global company is so entrepreneurial Keep meeting people, keep track of people Hiring 50 new people in a year Leading over a 1,000 people at one time The culture at Alexandra’s current office – transparent, communicative, respectful, agile, teamwork, fun, passionate, and more — consistency Whether being an entrepreneur gets easier? The good days and bad days phase her less Learning to say “no”
A happy accident on a 21st birthday and an old Hollywood secret inspired a booming beauty business, the importance of a balanced team and open dialogue, why it is crucial to learn from customer feedback, and the challenges and rewards of running a business with your life partner.
Rachel Katzman, Founder/CEO of Cuvée Beauty (champagne-inspired/infused haircare line), joins Socialfly founders Stephanie Cartin and Courtney Spritzer in the MouthMedia Network studios for a conversation about building her company and her journey to success, along with a surprise and a brainstorm.
In this episode:
How a happy accident on Rachel’s 21st Birthday and old Hollywood secrets led to a booming business Starting a beauty product band from scratch Learning on the job while building a business Differentiating a product in a well established industry by focusing on the consumer Finding business partners as a small upcoming brand Growing up in an entrepreneurial family and starting a business without a formal education Working through discouragement and insecurity to find success Learning on the job while building a business The importance of building a balanced team Why this is the time of the indie beauty brand How personal experiences shaped Rachel’s focus on hair health and investments in clinical trials Prioritizing the product before focusing on marketing and social presence The importance of having an open dialogue and learning from customer feedback Managing two business, one on your own and one with your partner The good and bad of running a business with your life partner The challenge of keeping your personal and private lives separate How being a problem solver helps push your business and products to the next level And a 1 Minute Brainstorm for Cuvée’s next marketing plan and products!
How it all started…
Socialfly founders Stephane Cartin and Courtney Spritzer take a break from sharing the journeys of other female founders—and to share there own. Hear how they met, there first days as co-founders seven years ago, how and why things took off, the challenges and victories, how they’ve changed and grown, and biggest sources of pride.
Happy holidays!
A desserts-in-a-jar business so successful that major fashion events have made them a must, and actually started on Instagram by a 22 year-old founder without a formal business education who just wanted to share her love for baking… Dani...
Acting on the vision of building a solution that’s about making women’s lives easier…
Women need to be treated as first-class citizens in health care and the primary decision makers. Thanks to the power of social media platforms like Instagram, women are really pushing each other forward and empowering one another to learn more and take action for their own health. Knowledge truly is power, Kindbody will be passionately leaning into their strong growth in a big way, and Kindbody has personal meaning to one of the Socialfly team .
Gina Bartasi, Founder/CEO of Kindbody (a full service women’s health and fertility platform, reinvented for the women of today), joins Socialfly founders Stephanie Cartin and Courtney Spritzer in the MouthMedia Network studios for a conversation about building her company and her journey to success, along with a surprise and a brainstorm. In this episode:
From former patient to disruptor in the space, having passion for change From building Fertility Authority 10 years ago, to recently launching Kindbody, what has changed in the healthcare space? The answer, not much… Seeking transparency and truth with Kindbody; only 3 things matter in healthcare – patient outcome, patient experience, and cost Shifting into services to positively affect change with the women’s health and fertility space Gina’s first business in Atlanta; the Leader Publishing Group – knowing when to pivot and moving to NYC Finding ways to listen to your audience and meet their needs and wants Not fearing change and getting ahead of it Finding ways to remove costs from the system, not adding costs to the system – bringing reproductive endocrinologists and OBGYNs on staff at Kindbody The genesis of Kindbody; creating better health for women, all services under one roof The broken healthcare system and the roadblocks in place by insurance companies like Aetna IVF vs IUI Finding ways to speak to women in their 20s to educate them about the issues they may face in their 30s How to create parody in space, the disadvantages women face in the work force Creating options for women, “I wish I knew then what I know today.” The reality of costs for egg freezing, how can we make it affordable and available for everyone When are you the most fertile and when can you expect to see declines? Testing women with their new pop up mobile experience: 20% of women tested have diminishing ovarian reserve – they key is education, not fear, and empowering women with knowledge 80% of the time women prefer female doctors, and Kindbody’s efforts to accommodate that. The launch of Kindbody; early business success is a product of a strong team Seeing the success of mobile pop ups in other industries and bringing it to the women’s health space; bringing the van’s success to the west coast Spreading the word on social media and women supporting women How to build a strong brand, looking for adjacent brands to partner with and associate with Removing the stigma associated with fertility and bringing it to the retail level. Sharing a surprise with Gina Dealing with criticism and stress in the spotlight; avoiding mistakes and learning from the past How to be more patient, learning from people around you Twins marrying twins 60 second brainstorming session with Gina Understanding the needs of Kindbody as it continues to grow What has surprised Gina most about the launch of Kindbody Stephanie sharing her fertility journey on social media What’s next for Kindbody? The lessons learned from the raising capital A special offer from Kindbody
Turning a childhood dream and resulting side hustle into a full-fledged career as a sought-after wedding dress designer with a large following and celebrities wearing her creations, and even a TV show, and how early adoption of Instagram gave her momentum…
Hayley Paige, Head Designer for Hayley Paige at JLM Couture, Blush by Hayley Paige, and Jim Hjelm by Hayley Paige bridal collections and for Hayley Paige Occasions bridesmaids collection, joins Socialfly founders Stephanie Cartin and Courtney Spritzer in the MouthMedia Network studios for a conversation about her journey to success, along with a surprise and a brainstorm. In this episode:
How Hayley made a shift from focusing on gymnastics to using skills she learned at home and at school to bridge her work and her lifelong passion The ways studying at Cornell’s Fiber Science department helped Hayley develop her skills and influenced her approach to design How a friendship in college led to an early entrepreneurial venture, and how that experience shaped Hayley’s own ventures How Hayley became an early adopter on Instagram and developed a strong following The moment Hayley realized she could turn her side hustle into a full-fledged career Hayley’s determination to work with JLM Couture and how she made it happen The moment Hayley knew she had her own collection How Hayley’s line have evolved over time and what’s in store for the future of the brand The TV show “Weddings to Watch” Plus, a One Minute Brainstorm for Hayley Paige’s next big product line
Delivering on a social media strategy and a thoughtful marketing plan as part of the DNA of launching a business from the beginning, finding people who roll with punches matters, the art of winning with a small team, the impact of making yourself valuable, and persevering in spite of tough personal challenges…
Samantha Wasser, Restaurateur and Founder of by CHLOE, & Co-Founder of DEZ and The Sosta, joins Socialfly founders Stephanie Cartin and Courtney Spritzer in the MouthMedia Network studios for a conversation about her journey to success, along with a surprise and a brainstorm.
In this episode:
Getting into the food world Spending a lot of free time in restarants with friends, inspiring to go into the business Building by CHLOE for 3+ years Studied sociology/psychology in college The 2009 job market was tough, Samantha worked for a year wthout pay to get her foot in the door Samantha on how she only wanted to work with her father in restaurants if she could create her own brands How she has created an “Instagram dream”, everything so thought-out in appearance and function How Samantha was excited for vegan restaurants because of her impending wedding then she decided to create a vegan restaurant that was approachable and felt like you really belong Instagram feed vs. stories Using stories to connect with customers and engage users Cookies and pastries are so instagrammable CBD-infused by CHLOE sweets Sourcing CBD oil A kind of traveling pop-up plus a dozen locations Managing so many business priorities Finding the right partners You figure it out, all encompassing, you will find the tme when something is meaningful for you How the business recently took on outside funding for first time Growing the team, identifying the right employees, building culture with experiences, being a fun boss A typical day for Samantha How Samantha doesn’t want to be a boss that is unavailable or at a distance The importance of an open office environment Focusing on best skills with the immediate team Mistakes that have been made Kombucha Samantha’s fertility journey while running business, putting yourself first when it matters so much The emotional impact of miscarriages and how it created a lack of openness, how that changed with IVF Pilates and yoga a part of game-changing routine Maternity leave for an entreprenista? A brainstorm for a new restaurant idea
What if your job was making people happy at the most special moments of their life? Can someone make a career change at 30, follow their passion to build a very successful business with dozens of employees, and win major accolades as a business leader —all without a business degree?
Dana Pollack, CEO and Founder of Dana’s Bakery (which revolutionizes the traditional French macaron with an authentic American twist), joins Socialfly founders Stephanie Cartin and Courtney Spritzer in the MouthMedia Network studios for a conversation about her journey to success, a surprise, and a brainstorm. In this episode:
Dana’s former career at Muscle and Fitness magazine Her light bulb moment – when she asked for a raise and was declined Faced with screen of oily men working out—asking will she really do this the rest of my life Photo industry in transition, switching digital wanted to do something different after 10 years=–what would she want to do Realizing she loved baking and entertaining Dana realized she should get formal training, and within a week enrolled in culinary education and quit job, and broke up with boyfriend Everyone except for her mom thought she was crazy to do this at 30 years old Never anticipating what it the bakery became How she knew could always pick up work in editorial world, but never had to Found a job as pastry cook while going to school to get experience as fast as possible Never went to business school, learned largely online basics of starting a business How her mom helped her, no investors or partners, bootstrapping When she photographed macaroons like sexy perfume, people were drawn to them Using American flavors instead of traditional macaroon flavors Social media as marketing helped people find out about them all over the country, then Dana hand-delivered and was not making a lot of money because the cost of delivering Collaboration with Drake for Valentines Day Favorite flavor is the “Mallomac” – a Mallomar bar without gluten Biggest mistake made in packaging — $60k of unusable branded inventory Making a formal business plan vs. getting things done A surprise for Dana and idea for a new flavor! The challenge of hiring the best talent Why she has no partner to date Why it is best to hire people who are better than you are at skills Being at 35 employees Typing and email answering assignments with new employees Expanding the operating and offerings Why showing up is such a major thing Marketing strategy Partnership with Dylan’s Candy Bar The Mookie – a macaroon inside a cookie How an Instagram contest created a new product The rainbow black and white cookie Looking at ROI of every dollar spent Organic social media posts have always worked, preferring marketing dollars for ad words and FB ads Sharing her entire days on Instagram Planning days, every day is different, the importance of the calendar in phone How Dana doesn’t have a set schedule every day Running personal and business Instagram accounts, and how running a business account like a personal account speaks to the brand Dana’s most used apps How helpful people are, and why being willing to ask for help is huge Being able to recover by recognizing when something goes wrong in the business A brainstorm for a new flavor idea for the holidays And, a big accolade as a business leader without a business degree is a credit to her team
Tapping into the mindset of female millennials, building a viral social media and digital humor company that’s become a thriving creative brand (expanding with changing trends and with a huge Instagram following), and why doing it with best friends from middle school has succeeded…
Sami Fishbein, Co-Founder and COO of the digital brand Betches and co-author of “When’s Happy Hour”, joins Socialfly founders Stephanie Cartin and Courtney Spritzer in the MouthMedia Network studios for a conversation about her journey to success, a surprise, and a brainstorm. In this episode:
Managing people that are same age or younger Going into business with close friends from middle school after going to Cornell with them How Sami uses what she learned in college in the business That moment of co-founding Betches Running a company when no one on the founding team went to business school—how they figured it all out, and how sharing and dividing responsibilities is difficult Finding the right people to hire, how to evaluate people, and how attention to detail important in considering them Launching the first company site BetchesLoveThisSite.com, and how the team just wanted to do for college aged people a like list of things they liked The site was originally envisioned as a dark satire The simple and unassuming start of writing the first five posts in the first night, then asking someone to put on a Facebook wall Staying as an anonymous presence for a few weeks, then how it all went viral fast How it wasn’t long until a TV producer contacted them, then they got an agent, were recommended to write a book Taking three years to monetize, working out of WeWorks, no outside funding First hires, staying small for a while, most hiring in the last year or so That time they considered calling it quits, but stuck with it When hit their stride and kept going Working through disagreements with friends you run a company with, how you have to communicate, becoming better communicators Why Betches is moving into podcasting, building podcasts across several verticals What’s in the works for 2019 The book “Whens Happy Hour”, and writing it in three months A politics bus A TV show in development, like a female South Park If Sami ever felt like she was burning out? And — a 1 Minute Brainstorm on the next big book idea