Lady Boss with Courtney Wright: Recent Episodes
Courtney Wright
Lady Boss Podcast with Courtney Wright is a place where great leaders tell their stories of their entrepreneurship journey. “I’m a student of this game of which I’ve been playing my whole life,” said Wright. In this podcast, Courtney collects and shares advice with her peers as a way to help empower other business owners. She is anxious to share their stories, career pivots, and daily decisions that drive goals and successes. Give it a listen or nominate your favorite business owner!
John Cerasani has carved a unique path in the business world, marked by bold decisions and remarkable success. His journey is not just a story of financial triumph but a testament to the power of perspective and the courage to challenge the status quo.
At just 27 working in corporate America, John noticed a stark disparity between his contributions and his compensation. This moment of clarity propelled him to reevaluate his career trajectory and explore the realms of entrepreneurship.
And ever since then, John has redefined success on his own terms. He navigated the challenges of entrepreneurship with determination and strategic insight and today, is a source of inspiration and guidance for those looking to break free from the constraints of traditional employment.
Elizabeth Scott of Elizabeth Scott Design Group doesn’t just know design – she knows business, too. After creating her brand with custom home design, she started looking at ways she could branch out to build passive income. She combined her passion of design with a unique “rinse and repeat” model that is helping her business not just grow, but thrive.Listen in to this mini-episode for takeaways on how you can find new opportunities within your business and why it’s so important to have multiple income streams.
Trish Thomas, a serial entrepreneur and 4x founder, is the Co-Founder and Chief Eating Officer of Whole & Free Foods. An early innovator, Trish founded and sold her first company four years after graduating from college. In the ‘90s, she built the first safe online community and a decade later had scaled transmedia entertainment properties to 100 countries in 65 languages. Trish has consulted on digital strategies for IBM, Dreamworks, Hasbro, Redbox, and Nissan to name a few. Trish pioneered a collegiate curriculm on how to improve the psychological resilience of founders as a means of improving start-up success rates. Currently, she is faculty teaching her entrepreneurship model at Northwestern University, and was the former Director of Entrepreneurship & Innovation at Lake Forest College. A food-loving, vibrant, connector of people, Trish is mom to six boys and is extraordinarily grateful when someone else makes dinner – especially if every body can eat it!Nichole Wilson, is the Co-Founder and President of Whole & Free Foods. Nichole knows how to build, scale, and manage triple bottom line teams. Previously, she lead the R&D strategic planning process for PepsiCo’s $33B food portfolio, crafted Frito-Lay’s first Environmental Sustainability Strategy, pioneered alliances between M&A and R&D to create platforms to invest in smaller companies, like Sabra and Spitz, and managed the top tier brands Doritos and Fritos. She began her career in investment banking, and most recently led the $40MM investment portfolio for Chicago Beyond. A mother of two, Nichole’s family has experience with dietary restrictions that she believes should not define them. Determined and unafraid of what others call “impossible,” she uses her super powers to find unexpected solutions to big problems worth solving.Every Body Eat® isn’t just a snack company, it’s a promise to create a world where everybody feels included.
On this episode we sit down with Dana (Rebecca) Gordon, third-generation jeweler who was born with diamonds in her DNA.She was raised in the industry, often spending hours behind the scenes at her father's factory. During the summer of her sixteenth birthday, she travelled to India with her father and returned home with her first collection. To her shock and delight, it sold out in 48 hours. Each summer thereafter, she continued designing and selling her pieces. Soon, this hobby began to turn into a passion. Dana did not initially set out to follow in her family's footsteps, but had her eyes set on law school. But in 2007, after graduating from the Gemological Institute of America in Carlsbad, California, she founded Dana Rebecca Designs. Wanting to create an accessible luxury fine jewelry brand, her business is built on the simple but important idea your jewelry should make you feel as comfortable as your favorite t-shirt and as amazing as your little black dress. Dana Rebecca Designs strives to create luxurious, everyday pieces women are excited to buy for themselves and gift to their loved ones. Listen in as we hear about her journey in the family business, how she sets her company apart, and why it’s important to be open and honest with your community.
As a trusted leadership coach and consultant, today’s guest Amy Riley has worked with hundreds of leaders one-on-one, and thousands more as part of a group, to fully step into their leadership, create amazing teams and achieve extraordinary results. Amy is also an internationally renowned speaker, author and consultant. Her new book, “The Courage of a Leader: How to Inspire, Engage and Get Extraordinary Results”, is a #1 international best-seller. With over 2 decades of experience developing leaders at all levels, we are excited to have her share about authenticity, clarity, and the courage it takes to develop your leadership legacy.
Katie May, mom of three and a small business owner, deftly balances motherhood with creating fashion collections from her home.Her fashion journey began at 21 when she opened a clothing store in Madison, WI, where she honed her skills as a buyer, manager, and designer. After becoming a mother, Katie turned her creativity towards crafting clothes and pajama dresses for her daughters, which gained traction through her popular Instagram account. This natural growth into the realm of social media influencing led to the establishment of her online shop, where she enlisted a team of skilled sewers. In 2021, the arrival of Emmaline, alongside sisters Windsor and Arabella, became the driving force behind the rebranding of her venture to EWAMAY. The brand now emphasizes high-quality, sophisticated pieces, specializing in matching mommy + me collections, as well as custom hat making and leather belts, showcasing Katie's dedication to family and design.Listen in to hear Katie May’s entrepreneurial journey and how she’s handling the demands of fashion, influencing, and motherhood.
Alison “Babs” Beitzel’s path to entrepreneurship is a unique one – a former corporate world accountant, she made a hard pivot in retirement to pursue a creative passion of hers. Having always enjoyed entertaining friends and family, Babs began to make charcuterie boards as a fun way to fill time. She quickly learned that her unique and creative style boards were a big hit in the North Shore area of Chicago, and so she began to build off word of mouth and presence on social media. Saying YES and learning as she went, Babs Boards is now 2 years old and expanding not only into custom charcuterie boards, but also grazing tables and local charcuterie classes as well. A teacher at heart, Babs is excited to continue to offer new classes and find ways to level-up entertaining.Listen in as we hear how Babs got started, what she’s learned, and how she’s turning something she truly enjoys into a profitable solopreneurship business.
When you’re an entrepreneur in a very niche market, how do you take on big competitors like Hermès?A scarf lover from early on, today’s guest Sarah Somers recognized that it had become challenging to find beautifully designed, high-quality silk scarves. Coming from a background of private equity and raising capital, the world of retail and women’s accessories was, as she puts it, a “trial by fire”. But she took the leap, combining her passion and experience and transforming it to create her own company, Deseda. Using that business savvy, Sarah has deployed a variety of different revenue streams – online to wholesale to brick-and-mortar – to help build her brand recognition and awareness. Now, together with a team of talented creatives, Sarah continues to lead the process of transforming silk into wearable art. Sarah’s goal for Deseda is to be THE go-to for luxury designer scarves – and she’s well on her way. Listen in to this incredible story and discover how she turned this unique idea into a resounding success.
From a struggling storefront to a rockin' revenue stream, today's guest Kira Kessler has transformed her family business - and she started when she was in high school.Rock n' Rags was the brain-child of a entrepreneurial teenager who knew the business run by her parents had potential. But Kira also knew that the clients at their storefront were dwindling, so she seized on an opportunity to bring in a clothing line to attract new attention. Jumping in to Instagram and TikTok early, she started building an audience for their brand simply by being authentic - and it's that personal connection that has continued to set her business apart.Listen in to hear how Kira Kessler took her family's legacy to the next level through passion, determination, and above all else - her love of fashion.
Annette Findling is not only passionate about finance in her job as CEO of Stonebridge Wealth Associates, but she's also a fashionista too. In this episode, we welcome Annette back to the Lady Boss podcast to discuss the unique way she has found to explain common investment strategies to women, just by looking around their closets! This mini episode is a lot of fun and offers a unique analogy that will help you look at your portfolio in a whole new way...
"The greatest story is how it all makes you feel once you step inside." As a store, Arch has been in existence since 2021, but founder Laura White has been sharing its philosophy of bringing the undeniably unique to the North Shore for years. In this episode we sit down with Laura to find out - how do you create a customer experience that makes them want to keep coming back?As a designer, botanical skin care line creator, seeker of vintage perfection and pop-up maven, she’s always been drawn to the natural world and beautiful things with a history and stunning patina. Arch just happens to be where it all lives together, along with Laura’s passion for careful curation that’s constantly changing and never the same way twice. Creating that special experience, both in her shop and online, is something she is passionate about. Listen in to hear what drove Laura to open a retail shop, how she carefully crafts her brand story, and what scaling such a unique business looks like.
So you have a great idea for a new product – but what are the next steps? Today we dive in with Margaret Chaffee to talk about product design, rendering, manufacturing, and pricing – all essential considerations before your great idea ever hits the shelves.
Margaret Chaffee is the owner of Chaffee Innovations, LLC, a company that aims to create products to reduce chaos, streamline efficiency, and make the parenting journey more pleasant. Prior to starting her own company, Margaret had a robust marketing career, most recently running communications (PR, social media and content) for Chef José Andrés, a Spanish chef and owner of ThinkFoodGroup, which operates over thirty restaurants worldwide. Margaret is based in Winnetka and is a mother of three, which allows her to leverage her vast experience of thinking, "there has to be a better way!" to design innovative new products.
Leslie Randolph is in business to change the world – and that’s not just something she says, but something she is putting all her muscle behind through her business as a certified life coach.
Since she was a young girl, Leslie wanted to make the world a better place and she is living that dream today as a self-confidence coach for teenage girls (and the teenage girl that still exists in all of us!). She knows that when we are loving and believing in ourselves, living intentional lives, and amplifying our gifts then we are ALL doing our part to change the world.
Through her coaching as the Chief Wisdom Officer at The Coach Chronicles and as host of the inspirational podcast “Why Didn’t They Tell Us”, Leslie shares lessons she’s learned about self-worth, overcoming doubt, and how to positively change our mindsets about our own biggest critics – OURSELVES!
Listen in to hear how Leslie made the leap into coaching, how she’s conquering her “Chapter 1” of entrepreneurship, and the importance of having confidence in yourself no matter what path you’re on.
Bela Gandhi is a dating/relationship expert, founder of Smart Dating Academy and has been featured on most national/local media outlets including Good Morning America, Steve Harvey, the Today Show, Kelly Clarkson, Access, ABC, NBC, Fox, and more.
As she quickly climbed the corporate ladder, Gandhi had a feeling that her career would one day be taking a sharp turn in a different direction – because she discovered her love of matchmaking and providing dating advice. She launched her Smart Dating Academy in 2009.
Smart Dating Academy has quickly become one of the nation's top date coaching firms - and teaches busy, successful professionals to jump start their dating lives successfully. Smart Dating Academy is described by its clients “like going to Harvard Business School, but for dating and relationships.” SDA’s coaches become personal trainers for their clients’ love lives – helping them to navigate the ever-changing world of online & in-person dating. The SDA coaching program is results-oriented and fun - which helps you to clarify who is right for you, stop old dating patterns, and use technology the RIGHT way. Clients become positive and enthusiastic about dating / relationships again and find love! Bela attends more weddings than she can count and she “loves love”.
Listen in to hear how Bela Gandhi has made a business out of love by being bold, saying YES, and following her passion.
The transformation Morgan Chavis has gone through in the last 2 years is nothing short of inspiring. She knew she was being called to build her own brand, so much so that she even had employees and a brick-and-mortar store before she finally called it quits in Corporate America.
Though Morgan’s formal studies landed her a career with first Target and then Amazon, her passion from childhood has been hair artistry and cosmetology. She started her first business, Lusso Salon, in 2019. Now a successful entrepreneur with multiple locations, e-commerce brand, a consulting agency, and even a published book under her belt, Morgan is looking ahead to expansion of her brand across the country. Her passion and tenacity and desire to help other entrepreneurs is obvious in everything she does – listen in to Morgan Chavis and hear how she embraced the challenges of starting her own business(es) and the lessons she’s learned along the way.
Creativity is at the center of what she does – not just as an artist, but also in business. As Bojana Ilic-Bojitt explains, “We are all born creative. It doesn’t mean we all paint, we just find different mediums. Finding solutions is also creative.”
BOJITT is Serbian-born and raised, Chicago based artist with a degree in clothing and textile design from DTM Belgrade, Serbia. Following a successful career in the fashion industry, she immigrated to the United States in 2007. She took all the “NO’S” as fuel for her fire, leaning on her grit, determination, and a passion to help clients visually articulate their vision and brand experience to create a name for herself. Her work can be found from coast-to-coast in the United States as well as internationally, in both public and private collections.
BOJITT talks with Lady Boss to share how she uses her 20 years of combined experience in the industry to push herself, her art, and her business forward.
We are excited to share today’s mini episode with Helen Marie Diaz, author, national speaker, coach, and bad a*s survivor.
A few weeks ago, we hosted a give away for a one-on-one consultation with the Lady Boss, Courtney Wright. Helen was the winner of this giveaway, and as soon as she sat down with Courtney we knew that Helen’s story was one that our whole audience needed to hear.
For years, Helen dealt with the aftermath of her childhood and unhealed traumas, eventually becoming despondent and losing a 6-figure job that she had been at for 11 years. But what came from the ashes is a survivor! This entrepreneur turned her experience into a company she founded not just to survive and support her children as a single mom, but one she could use to inspire women everywhere who want to heal from their past and build a new future.
Helen Marie Diaz’s book “Journey of Reflection” is available now, and she just launched a documentary on destigmatizing mental health. Please go check them out and listen to this incredible woman’s journey!
Wait until you hear the incredible story behind this powerhouse Lady Boss!
Dr. Sandra Scheinbaum knew ALL about nutrition and functional medicine, but not a whole lot about business. She spent nearly five decades making healthcare and education more holistic and innovative. With a Ph.D. in clinical psychology, “Dr. Sandi” specialized in positive psychology, cognitive behavioral therapy, and mind-body medicine, and served as a teacher and the director of a clinic for Attention Deficit Disorders (ADD). She is a pioneer in her fields, having implemented programs such as the use of neurofeedback with patients and becoming the first-ever psychologist to earn certification through The Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM). And then, in her 6th decade - with many assuming all her accomplishments meant she was ready to take time and relax - she instead decided to partner up and start her own company. FMCA (Functional Medicine Coaching Academy) was founded in 2014 by two women whose personal experiences with the conventional healthcare system, both as providers and as patients, drove them to find a better way to be well - a way that listened to and treated the whole self, not just the parts that could be medicated.
Listen in to hear how Dr. Sandi’s ability to form strategic partnerships, having a keen eye for execution, and how being a CONSTANT learner has allowed her to take her passion for wellness to new heights. Her journey to high-powered CEO and public figure is both inspiring and fascinating.
This first-time entrepreneur always imagined herself in the legal world – as a student of Yale College and Harvard Law School, Emily Groden was sure she was going to follow in her father’s footsteps as a corporate lawyer. But the more she dove into this career, the more her passion for food started weaving its way into her life.
While pregnant with her first child, a podcast about frozen breakfast foods ended up changing the direction of her career altogether. She knew she wasn’t interested in serving her children the standard frozen waffles, but there were no real options for a healthy, clean alternative. So, she set out to make one. In just a short time, she went from creating a recipe to designing packaging to acquiring space in a commercial kitchen. And thus, Evergreen Waffles was born. Now, her products are featured in Whole Foods across the country, offering consumers a breakfast alternative with whole grains, no refined sugars, and no preservatives.
Emily’s legal background has been a help on her journey, but much of it (manufacturing, hiring, distribution channels, marketing) she learned along the way. Having two young daughters who are watching motivates her to keep going, setting an example for them that they can also do anything they want to do!
This Lady Boss has her sights set on growing and selling her CPG company in the next few years so she can sit back and enjoy her sweet success. Her diligence and thoughtfulness, combined with finding a great niche in the market, makes Emily’s “accidental entrepreneur” story one you don’t want to miss.
When Emily Mackie examined the challenges she was facing in interior design with her company, Inspired Interiors, she decided to use that insight (with a little motivation from the naysayers) as inspiration to forge her own way into the real estate development industry. In 2020, Emily extended her Inspired brand to include Inspired Luxury Homes, a custom home building company that utilizes innovative 3D technology to tailor-fit residences to her clients’ specifications prior to construction. And as a female-led company in a traditionally male-dominated industry, Inspired Luxury Homes brings an unparalleled perspective to the custom home building experience. In today's episode, we take a tour of her recently-completed luxury build at 1760 Washington Ave, Wilmette, IL and then sit down with Emily to talk about the headwinds and tailwinds she has encountered during this project and what she has learned throughout the process.
After working in marketing and media for decades, Lindsay Pinchuk bootstrapped her first company, Bump Club and Beyond. It started as a personal project to connect with other parents and parents-to-be and grew into a company with 7-figures of annual revenue that reached 3MM people a month. And she did it without a product or a store front – she did it through the power of community.After growing and selling this business she did what all serial entrepreneurs do and looked towards her 2.0. She wanted to stay authentic to herself and her passions, with her goal to find a way to support female founders and entrepreneurs. And once again, you’ll find her building that community – not just through her consulting and coaching business, but through her podcast. @DearFoundHer is a weekly letter to female entrepreneurs created to inspire, motivate and provide actionable tips for success through thought-provoking conversations with other successful founders and entrepreneurs.Listen in to Lindsay as she talks about her takeaways from growing and selling a business and the most important aspects of showing up for your company online.
Global brand strategist, growth expert, international speaker, #1 best-selling author, entrepreneur, wife, mom – today’s guest does it ALL.Korie Trevino is the Founder and CEO of Rock Your Product. Through her company, she helps pre-revenue and startups launch and scale their B-2-C businesses. She works with firms that bootstrap and those that are funded to shortcut the path to launch and faster EBITDA.And if THAT weren’t enough, she recently became a #1 best-selling author for her book, “BE: From Passion and Purpose to Product and Prosperity”. Korie is dedicated to helping support the community of women, with the goal of this book to teach others to lean into their unique skills to impact the world – to be happy, aligned, and intentional in life and business.Korie Trevino is a powerhouse entrepreneur and leader and brings years of personal and professional experience, tips, and advice to the Lady Boss Podcast!
Whether you are at work or at home, our relationships with those around us hinge on both listening and making sure that you are being heard.Beth McCormack, Equity Partner at Beermann, LLP has a unique ability to speak in words that mean each one of her clients feel heard and understood. A long-time litigator and entrepreneur, she crafted an approach which changed her clients experience – and ultimately lead her to become the best divorce lawyer firm in the United States. Beth approaches divorce, and business, differently. The typical business model for divorce lawyers means families fight and fight while the cash register of the law firm rings. She created a platform to try to heal the two sides of a family. Her story is a unique example of “the pivot”, the power of networks, and how EQ can serve you in your business.Beth is Star Entrepreneur you won’t want to miss...
In this special episode, we take a peek behind the curtain to hear about the entrepreneurship journey of the Lady Boss herself, Courtney Wright. Born into a family of entrepreneurs, her drive, tenacity and “starter” attitude was ingrained very early on. After finding great success in the retail sales industry after college, Courtney walked away from it all to follow her drive to become an entrepreneur. Failure was never in her vocabulary. She started with a single written 10 year goal – and you’re not going to believe how that played out! With her solid mix of entrepreneurial foresight, creativity, and hustle mentality, it was only natural that Courtney would develop a platform to share advice from her decades of experience. Thus, Lady Boss Podcast was created as a sort of modern-day guide to business, offering listeners real conversations with other successful leaders and entrepreneurs to discuss failures, successes, and strategies.
As an entrepreneur, do you know what it takes to make a successful start-up company? Today’s CEO comes at it from the mind of an amazing lawyer - Leslee Cohen is building All Rise Legal Counsel to help startups see beyond just their product or service.Her team helps people make sure that they secure the right partnership agreements before they pick a partner in their business or take investment from PE or VC. She was always a great lawyer, but now as an entrepreneur herself she understands the process behind starting, growing, and running a business. And she uses that unique insight to guide other new start-ups through all of the legal steps needed to secure and grow their own businesses. Tune in to hear what made Leslee decide to become an entrepreneur, what it’s like to be a first-time CEO, and what advice she has for new businesses.
Today’s episode is such a special one for us as we visit and learn about the incredible 70-year legacy that continues on at Shore Community Services. Shore’s program provides critical education, support, and training to persons with intellectual and other developmental disabilities – most of whom have aged out of the programs aimed for children and were left with nowhere to go. They offer all kinds of programs that build the skills needed to be part of the workforce and the tools to be more confident and independent. Board member Meridith Adams and CEO Alexis Alm talk about how they strive to fulfill the company vision of creating opportunities for these individuals to reach their full potential, and we discuss what it takes to run such a unique 501c and what they can do to boost their impact. You have to tune in to see all of the amazing work that’s being done here behind the scenes…
As an entrepreneur, have you tried going it alone? Do you wonder why it’s so hard?In this episode of the Ladyboss Podcast, we welcome my business coach Mark Repkin of Mark Repkin & Associates. He turns the tables on me to uncover how having a business coach allows for more creative thinking, unraveling the problems in business that you can’t necessarily talk to your team about. They provide support as an outside party, becoming THE tool to help you hit your goals and become a better version of yourself.Mark wrote and is publishing a book titled “Growing Unicorns” – can’t wait to read the secrets on how to create unicorn salespeople for our own organizations! Listen in as we hear more about what business coaching is like and what I have gained from having Mark in my corner.
In this extra special bonus episode, we sit down with Miami University senior Robert Wright to hear what entering the job market is like for young people. What are they looking for? What drives them? How can you make your business stand out in order to secure the best young talent? Listen in for insight from the next generation of business execs and entrepreneurs!
Are you building a company with the intention to sell, or have you given thought to the sustainability of your business beyond where you are right now? Savvy businesspeople know that your company as well is your biggest risk, but also your most important and valuable asset. When you build a solid, professionally run business, one path of succession may be a transaction, or “liquidity event” in industry terms. But how do you navigate the process and know if it’s the right move?Gary Arakelian, CEO of Arakelian & Associates and middle market Mergers & Acquisitions advisor, gives us a guide to all the industry jargon to help us see how at any size company, thinking about the opportunities and ‘what if’ scenarios with an advisor makes such great business sense. Listen in to find out how YOU can make your company more attractive to outside investment.
Are you building a company with the intention to sell, or have you given thought to the sustainability of your business beyond where you are right now? Savvy businesspeople know that your company as well is your biggest risk, but also your most important and valuable asset. When you build a solid, professionally run business, one path of succession may be a transaction, or “liquidity event” in industry terms. But how do you navigate the process and know if it’s the right move?Gary Arakelian, CEO of Arakelian & Associates and middle market Mergers & Acquisitions advisor, gives us a guide to all the industry jargon to help us see how at any size company, thinking about the opportunities and ‘what if’ scenarios with an advisor makes such great business sense. Listen in to find out how YOU can make your company more attractive to outside investment.
In this extra special bonus episode, we sit down with Miami University senior Robert Wright to hear what entering the job market is like for young people. What are they looking for? What drives them? How can you make your business stand out in order to secure the best young talent? Listen in for insight from the next generation of business execs and entrepreneurs!
Are you building a company with the intention to sell, or have you given thought to the sustainability of your business beyond where you are right now? Savvy businesspeople know that your company as well is your biggest risk, but also your most important and valuable asset. When you build a solid, professionally run business, one path of succession may be a transaction, or “liquidity event” in industry terms. But how do you navigate the process and know if it’s the right move?Gary Arakelian, CEO of Arakelian & Associates and middle market Mergers & Acquisitions advisor, gives us a guide to all the industry jargon to help us see how at any size company, thinking about the opportunities and ‘what if’ scenarios with an advisor makes such great business sense. Listen in to find out how YOU can make your company more attractive to outside investment.
Are you building a company with the intention to sell, or have you given thought to the sustainability of your business beyond where you are right now? Savvy businesspeople know that your company as well is your biggest risk, but also your most important and valuable asset. When you build a solid, professionally run business, one path of succession may be a transaction, or “liquidity event” in industry terms. But how do you navigate the process and know if it’s the right move?Gary Arakelian, CEO of Arakelian & Associates and middle market Mergers & Acquisitions advisor, gives us a guide to all the industry jargon to help us see how at any size company, thinking about the opportunities and ‘what if’ scenarios with an advisor makes such great business sense. Listen in to find out how YOU can make your company more attractive to outside investment.
She entertained over half a million people from the stage of one of the most famous women on the planet – Oprah. Now, after a 36-year career in television, Sally Lou Loveman brings her message to new audiences as a motivational speaker and author of the book “SPEAK: Love Your Story, Your Audience is Waiting”. It can be quite a challenge to switch from ‘right hand’ to center stage as a new entrepreneur. Listen in to hear Sally Lou Loveman’s honest and compelling story about her past, how she handles the hurdles, and how she celebrates her triumphs as she pivots into this important new ‘chapter’ of entrepreneurship.
Listen in to this special bonus holiday episode as Courtney sits down with her toughest interviewee yet - her husband, Larry Wright. Not only are they life partners, but business partners as well, with Larry running the financial side of their company as CFO/COO. Courtney and Larry exchange places in the "hot seat" to talk about company goals, pizza parties, and the why behind starting up the Ladyboss Podcast.
How do you overcome the challenges of starting up your own brand in a highly competitive market?For Mara Smith, a former attorney in Chicago, it was about finding a niche that she could fill. She and her friends enjoyed the versatile, carb-free and zero sugar spirit but they were not drawn to the traditional tequila offerings. For years, Mara searched for a brand that was additive-free, gluten free and with a look, taste, and aroma that appealed to her and her friends and family. That perfect tequila simply did not exist, so instead of rejoining the corporate world she decided to call on her entrepreneurial spirit and create one! Today her business, Inspiro Tequila, is dominating the shelves of retailers all over the mid-west. Consumers are drawn to Mara’s story as a 2nd act entrepreneur and woman in a traditionally male industry. Listen in to hear how Mara’s journey evolved, how she utilizes her experience and ideas as a consumer to level up her brand, and what it takes to stand out in the crowded consumer packaged goods space.
How do you merge the idea of a high-growth company with a personalized, individual counseling service?That’s the drive behind owner and CEO Lauren Schifferdecker’s entrepreneurship journey with her company, Inspire Counseling Centers. She believed so strongly in providing a better counseling experience that she started in a literal broom closet – offering her services to whomever walked through the door with the goal of opening centers across the area to bring affordable and accessible therapy to everyone.With multiple centers now under her direction, Lauren has her eye on growing Inspired Counseling Centers to 50 locations within the next 5 years. Her mantra – “Whenever you are ready, we are here. You deserve to life a full and fantastic life!”Listen in as we talk with Lauren about how she is able to scale her business, how she is making friends with her failures, and how she helps her employees avoid the burnout that is so common among therapists.
Most entrepreneurs were not jumping in headfirst in 2020 - but Pim Alley and Kate Holland are not your typical entrepreneurs. When the rest of the world shut down, they saw a need for women to have a separate space for work and collaboration - and Suite Escape was born.Based in Lake Forest, Suite Escape is a place to gather - physically, but also through the gathering of thoughts both intellectual and emotional. They aim to connect women who believe in the power of supporting one another, and to provide a space for these women to grow personally and professionally. Listen in to hear how Co-Founders Pim & Kate have created an 'escape' that enriches the lives of its members and inspires women to be a positive influence on their communities.
When more women have a seat at the table, everyone wins. That’s the philosophy that drives this week’s guest, Brooke Skinner Ricketts. Until recently, Brooke served as a Chief Executive at a publicly traded company. She has enjoyed a 20+ year career defined by growth and accomplishment, but through her own experiences in a male-dominated industry Brooke saw the importance and need for support for our future female leaders. So she traded in corporate life for entrepreneurship by becoming President and Co-Founder of Beyond Barriers. Their proprietary methodology is designed to disrupt hard and soft-skill barriers that limit workplace advancement for women, while also building a support community for women with tools, training, and networks they need to become future-ready leaders.Results are more powerful when everyone is empowered – listen in to hear how Brooke and her team are making the world more inclusive and innovative.
Being nimble in an ever-changing environment is what sets most successful entrepreneurs apart – and Melissa Carter is no different. A life-long fashionista and a native Chicagoan, Melissa spent most of her adult life working with high couture brands in New York City. But when COVID arrived and shuttered the city, she came back to her roots to reinvent herself and launch her own brand. Leaning on her passion for supporting women and women of color, combined with her love of circular - upcycled vintage - clothing, she founded iamthecarterprojekt and Kameo Vintage. Her unique style and ability to craft the perfect outfits set her apart and has captured the interest of the Who’s Who in the affluent North Shore. The quick pivot to follow her true passion, along with a “dress up, look chic, and go for it” attitude, makes this stylish entrepreneur one to watch!
Serial entrepreneurs lean on their passions and their experience to see where there are gaps to fill. When Emily Mackie examined the challenges she was facing in interior design with her company, Inspired Interiors, she decided to use that insight (with a little motivation from the naysayers) as inspiration to forge her own way into the real estate development industry. In 2020, Emily extended her Inspired brand to include Inspired Luxury Homes, a custom home building company that utilizes innovative 3D technology to tailor-fit residences to her clients’ specifications prior to construction. And as a female-led company in a traditionally male-dominated industry, Inspired Luxury Homes brings an unparalleled perspective to the custom home building experience. Listen in as we talk with Emily about the how she got started, balancing family and work-life, and how her hallmark approach to design is carving a new path for more female entrepreneurs to follow.
When entrepreneurship is in your blood, you are always looking out for new opportunities. That’s exactly what happened with PR maven Mika Stambaugh and her newest venture, Acannability.Mika is the CEO and Founder of The Mas Ink, a company that has broken the mold on what PR can look like. Her goal with clients is to offer accessible opportunities for them to tell their stories – and when she came across cannabis, she knew that was a story she needed to tell too. Now, as a Founder and Director of Marketing & PR for Acannability, Mika is using her years of media knowledge and storytelling experience to educate others and help to create a set of standards within the CBD industry. Listen in as we talk with Mika on managing multiple businesses, what growth looks like, and where she sees herself in 10 years.
This week we are debunking the myth that you have to be a “starving artist” as we talk with Martha Nippert, CEO of Marnani Designs.Martha started down her creative path with Michael Kors as a lead designer in New York City during the height of the company’s growth trajectory. But she started to feel the desire to strike out on her own and knew that her passion for art was the key to building her own brand. Now, that art lifestyle company she grew from the ground up has been featured in multiple Fortune 500 companies. Listen in as Martha talks about ‘knowing your value’ and the power of believing in yourself.
How do you take an old-school skill and scale it for today’s market? We are talking today with fashion designer and entrepreneur Elena Victoria, CEO and Founder of Elena Victoria based out of Chicago and Detroit.Elena’s passion for fashion, combined with her rigorous standards about who delivers her vision through her business, makes her a budding entrepreneur to watch. Her company starts right at ground level, teaching classes that introduce children to sewing with a second arm of her business also catering to brides-to-be with beautiful custom couture wedding gowns. Hearing about Elena Victoria’s grind mindset and her ability to scale her business beyond the current market is an inspiring and fun listen. Tune in now!
Have you ever wondered how some people end up dominating multiple geographies in super competitive spaces? Dawn McKenna, CEO and Founder of The Dawn McKenna Group executes a half-billion in luxury real estate sales annually, making them the #1 team in Illinois and the #1 large team in Naples. She had a long play as #1 in Illinois with reach from Hinsdale to the North Shore but she didn’t get to Naples by accident - she listened to her clients and after many failed referrals to local brokers in Florida, she decided she own that market too. Hiring, social media engagement and marketing strategy are some of the differentiators that help DMG come out on top in the real estate market.
How do you raise capital and manage an active board while keeping a growth mindset? We are talking with Robbie Ventura, CEO & Founder of Vision Quest and Velocity.com, the only SAS business in the sport of cycling.Robbie graduated with honors from Lake Forest College with a double major in Business and Psychology. While working towards his bachelor’s degree, he played on the Forester hockey team, which advanced to the NCAA Tournament. He was also named to the All-American Collegiate Cycling Team, and in 2008 he was inducted into the LFC Athletic Hall of Fame for his accomplishments in both hockey and cycling. Robbie has raced professionally for 12 years, including 3 years in the United States Postal Service Cycling Team, accumulating over 70 wins. Now, he’s turned his passion and years of experience into a successful business that keeps on winning.
How do you stand out and carve a name for yourself in male-dominated field? Today we are talking with Annette Findling, CEO and Founder of Stonebridge Wealth Advisors to learn how she navigated this and found unique ways to become a dominant player.By definition, managing a family's money and securing financial freedom for clients is a tough task. Adding to this is the fact that when Annette started her business, it was in a very male-dominated field. But Annette's savvy for fashion, her standout leadership, and her diligent work ethic combined with an amazing upbringing allowed her to garner the skills she needed to rise to the challenge.
Does your current company name truly represent who you are today? How do you pivot your business identity while still maintaining growth? We sit down with Kathleen Sarpy, CEO and Founder of Agency H5, to discuss a life-altering change that allowed her to pause and reflect on her business.Agency H5 is a woman-dominate PR company whose focus is on the restaurant and hospitality industry. They lead with purpose, following a shared list of values that every team member can recite verbatim. Kindness and Hustle are at the top of the list.
Have you ever wondered how Entrepreneurs pick their profession and business? Join us as we talk to Chloe Mendel, CEO and Co-Founder of MAISON ATIA.Coming from a diverse family, generations deep in fashion and fur, Chloe launched her own sustainable fashion furrier business. Hear how Chloe pivoted her path into a company that mirrored her values, her lifestyle, and what she stands for.