Alpha Woman Podcast

On today's show we meet Nan McKay. Nan is President of the Board of Directors of Nan McKay and Associates, a corporation she founded in 1980, which now has 4000 employees with offices in 10 cities. Nan is also CEO and founder of Nan McKay Connects LLC, a media and consulting company with a podcast and YouTube channel, TrailBlazers Impact Interviews, featuring ordinary women with extraordinary stories. 

Nan is focusing on women over 50 who want to launch a business. Her book, Gold in the Golden Years, The Definitive Guide to Ensuring You Never Run Out of Money, along with her webinar and course will be available soon. In 2018 she received the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) Signature Award for Southern California, and in 2019 she was selected by NAWBO as the California Woman Business Owner of the Year. She has received numerous awards for her service in affordable housing and has two buildings named after her, a 10-story elderly high-rise, the Nan McKay Building, and a family subsidized development, McKay Manor.

Show Timestamps:

Start of interview (1:42)
Early Obstacles Nan had to face as a businesswoman (7:15)
All about Nan McKay Connects (12:36)
The aspect of Nan's career that makes her happiest (18:37)
Alpha Women over 50 (24:15)
Advice for aspiring Alpha Women entrepreneurs (31:22)
Ana's preferred social media services (34:14)
What's next? (36:07)

Click here to get your free guide complimentary of Nan to discover the 10 Tips on How to Pivot to Entrepreneurship for Women 50+.

Nan McKay Connects: https://trailblazersimpact.com/whats-happening/

Trailblazers Impact on Insta: https://www.instagram.com/trailblazersimpact/?hl=en

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TrailblzrsImpct

Krista Raymer is a cannabis-industry retail Powerhouse, and is the Co-Founder of Vetrina Group,  a  consultancy that specializes in Cannabis and non-grocery Consumer Packaged Goods retail. 

Described as customer journey experts, Vetrina intently focuses on retail and operational excellence that meets and exceeds their clients’ objectives through the use of technology, data and 60+ years of retail expertise. 

Krista knows the kind of impact a great in-store experience can have on a business. Her ability to train and guide high-performance teams is matched only by her passion for humanizing retail interactions. Understanding the necessity for communication and trust in retail, she dedicates herself to creating holistic training models that drive efficiency and profitability by creating a positive, one-of-a-kind customer experience. 

With over ten years of retail experience, Krista has built and led training programs for multiple cannabis companies and international apparel brands expanding in Canada and the US. She believes that people are always telling you what they want. All you have to do is listen. 

Show Timestamps:

Start of Interview (2:09)
What is Vetrina Group? (4:21)
Cannabis storefronts that cater more to women (9:06)
Krista's educational background and what led her to cannabis (11:43)
What Krista's most proud of about founding Vetrina Group (17:54)
Advice for fellow Alpha entrepreneurs (22:17)
Krista's self-care routine (28:40)

Show Notes:

Sign up to Alpha Woman Co at: https://alphawomanco.com

Follow us on social media @alphawomanco

Find Krista Raymer on LinkedIN https://www.linkedin.com/in/krista-raymer/

Vetrina Group Socials:

https://twitter.com/vetrinagroup

https://linkedin.com/company/vetrina-group/

September is sex month at Alpha Woman, so we’ll be profiling women entrepreneurs in the sexuality space, as well as delving into tips and tricks to enjoy your most pleasurable life. Which is why we're super intrigued to interview our next guest, Fatima Mechtab.

Pre-pandemic, Fatima oversaw all marketing strategies, brand initiatives, and event designs at Oasis Aqualounge, Toronto's premiere, sex-positive, women-first (and owned), water-themed club. Post-pandemic, she has since returned to Oasis Aqualounge as an event host for both in-club parties and a content creator for the Oasis virtual space. 

We discuss what it's like to go to a sex-positive club as a woman and why being among people of many different body shapes and types is liberating . And why taking full control of your own sexuality and sensuality - whatever that means to you - is deeply empowering. 

Show timestamps:

Start of interview (1:40)
Growing up in Thunder Bay (6:13)
All about Oasis Aqualounge (8:55)
Fatima's thoughts on socializing post-pandemic (24:07)
The percentage of women working in sex-positivity (29:00)
What's next for Oasis Aqualounge? (32:40)
Fatima's self-care routine (35:50)

Sign up to Alpha Woman Co at: https://alphawomanco.com

Sponsorship enquiries email: [email protected]

Follow us on social media @alphawomanco

Yin Qi Xie is a 20-year-old entrepreneur making strides in the world of MMA with her company, KoStudio. 

Young Alpha Gabby Samson had the pleasure of chatting with Yin Qi to hear more about her experience in the world of entrepreneurship and mixed martial arts. Two years ago, Yin Qi started boxing while studying at Parsons School of Design. As a student suffering from homesickness, she found a positive community of women who shared a passion for boxing. Unfortunately, though, Yin Qi noticed how ill-fitting the equipment was for her small hands. In a male-dominated space equipment for women is rarely a priority. So Yin Qi took matters into her own hands. 

Listen to the interview to learn more about this inspiring young woman!

July is menstruation month at Alpha Woman. We’ve been exploring how people around the world menstruate, the impact of period poverty, how girls and women around the world are educated about their periods and more. Which is why we are honoured to interview graduate student and activist, Valeria Moncada.

Valeria is a very impressive young woman. A Salvadoran changemaker who immigrated to Vancouver, Canada four years ago, Valeria is the Founder of ‘MenstruActua’, a social project that tackles period poverty and stigma by providing reusable menstrual pads and educational workshops in El Salvador.

She is a gender equality advocate who has collaborated with different organizations for women empowerment and mental health as a Mentor and Senior Peer. Recently she delivered her first TEDxTalk to raise awareness about period poverty as a barrier to achieve gender equality at her alma mater The University of British Columbia where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Education. She is currently pursuing a Masters Degree in Family Therapy and a Postgraduate Degree in Child & Adolescent Clinical Psychology, all to pursue her lifelong dream of becoming a therapist to continue advocating for women and families.

Timestamps:
Start of interview (2:08)
Growing up in El Salvador (4:12)
Period education in El Salvador (9:38)
Valeria's eventful and educational summer of 2019 (17:43)
What's next for MenstruActua? (27:22)
Valeria's Inspirational Alpha Woman (34:30)
Valeria's self-care routine (37:53)

Notes:
Don’t forget to get your Limited Edition Menstruation Month Alpha Woman t-shirt, designed by Young Alpha Intern Sadhvi Sail. We have podcast sponsorship opportunities available to help you reach our fantastic audience. Please reach out to [email protected] for more information. Review and rate our podcast and follow us on social media @alphawomanco wherever you are. 

Podcast researcher Anvi Sethi

Limited Edition Menstruation Month t-shirt: https://www.alphawomanco.com/product/?product-id=38155327-6e1c-1d6c-1f08-eff2985ecdc4

Menstruactua: https://www.instagram.com/menstruactua/

July is menstruation month at Alpha Woman. We’ve been exploring how people around the world menstruate, the impact of period poverty, how girls and women around the world are educated about their periods and more. This is why we are so excited to interview one of the global leaders in menstrual product innovation - and also a sister Canadian - the Co-Founder and CEO Diva International, Carinne Chambers-Saini. In the interview we’ll explore her almost 20-year journey to create and market the revolutionary product, The DivaCup. As the only real innovation in feminine hygiene in decades, The DivaCup has completely disrupted the industry by providing the most eco-friendly, clean and comfortable way to address menstrual care on the market today. 

The incredible growth of the company and rise of The DivaCup brand caused Carinne to receive much recognition. To name a few, has been awarded the EY Entrepreneur of The Year for Sustainable Products and Services, EY national Special Citation Award for Industry Disruptor, in addition to being recognized as one of Canada's Top 40 under 40.

In addition to working towards her business dreams, Carinne is also a daughter, wife and mother of two amazing kids.

Timestamps:

Notes:

Podcast researcher Anvi Sethi

Sign up to Alpha Woman Co at: https://alphawomanco.com

Sponsorship inquiries email: [email protected]

Limited Edition Menstruation Month t-shirt: https://www.alphawomanco.com/product/?product-id=38155327-6e1c-1d6c-1f08-eff2985ecdc4

Follow us on social media @alphawomanco

DivaCup: https://divacup.com

Sexual empowerment coach Katrina Marie works with women from all over the globe to recreate their most foundational relationship: the one with themselves.

She describes herself as a crusader of self-love and self seduction. She helps people shed sexual shame and pleasure anxiety. Katrina carries on the legacy of Dr. Betty Dodson, facilitating Bodysex workshops all around the world.

Timestamps:
What is a sexual empowerment coach? (3:12)
The challenges women face in identifying their self-worth (8:00)
Sexuality and being a mother (17:06)
Menstruation shame (28:28)
Your biggest challenges in building your business (33:00)
The importance of self-care (42:58)
Katrina's Inspirational Alpha Woman (45:09)

Notes:
Podcast researcher Anvi Sethi

Sign up to Alpha Woman Co at: https://alphawomanco.com

Sponsorship inquiries email: [email protected]

Follow us on social media @alphawomanco

To kick off Menstruation Month here at Alpha Woman, I sat down with an entrepreneur and impressive Young Alpha, Nicole Sanchez. Nicole is the co-founder of sustainable period product brand Ruth Pads, named after Ruth Bader Ginsberg. These innovative period products help to reduce waste and provide comfortable and ethical alternatives to traditional brands.

Nicole has a familiar story when it comes to menstruation. She described how as a young Filipino woman, she received little education or guidance around menstruation. And like many other young girls and menstruators, she hid her period as a young twelve-year-old, unsure why she was ashamed.

Nicole was inspired after learning that period pads can take 500-800 years to decompose. And by contrast, sustainable products can decompose within just a year. When Nicole discovered this, she was studying e-commerce at the University of Alberta. She later joined the sustainable period brand, Hempact to provide a much-needed alternative to traditional products. This year, Hempact evolved into Ruth, a brand featuring ethically and sustainably made period pads. And while Nicole didn't have plans to be an entrepreneur, her passion for sustainable and shame-free periods inspired her involvement in such a life-changing project.

Nicole described some of the major challenges in starting a business as a young woman of colour in an industry dominated by white men. During our conversation, she described the intimidating environment of pitching a brand for periods in a room full of predominantly white, cis, men. As a young businesswoman, it can be difficult to feel confident as is. But it can be an added challenge when you're selling products considered taboo for many squeamish men. But intimidation did not stop Nicole's entrepreneurial spirit. Today, Community Foundations Canada and Alberta Innovates proudly support Ruth.

After hearing her story, I asked Nicole if she had women entrepreneurs to look up to when she was younger. And her answer was moving. She described how entrepreneurship ran in her family, and her grandparents were poultry farmers. While many don't associate farming with the glamorous image of entrepreneurship, for Nicole, her grandparent's farming was the entrepreneurial inspiration she needed. She also named her grandmother as one of her Inspirational Alpha Woman.

Nicole is an inspiration. She overcomes obstacles, promotes sustainability, and prompts a much-needed change in the period industry. Most importantly, she reminds us all that menstruation is a normal experience worthy of our attention and innovation. And we can't wait to see the impact of her innovation.

Timestamps

Start of interview (1:43)
All about Hempact and Ruth (4:19)
The stigma around women's periods (8:58)
Balancing going to school and starting a business (13:01)
When Nicole first found her entrepreneurial spirit (16:49)
The difficulties of being a female entrepreneur (26:32)
Nicole's Inspirational Alpha Woman (35:00)
Behind the name "Ruth" (41:22)
Advice for Young Alpha Women (48:34)
Where do you see yourself in 10 years? (54:13)

Notes:

We’re excited to announce that we have podcast sponsorship opportunities available to help you reach this fantastic audience. Please reach out to [email protected] for more information.

Podcast researcher Anvi Sethi

Sign up to Alpha Woman Co at: https://alphawomanco.com

Follow us on social media @alphawomanco

This week, I interviewed a queer entrepreneur and impressive Young Alpha, Laksha. Laksha is the owner of Sassage Stickers, an inclusive stickers brand with great designs for Pride Month, mental health awareness, and so much more! Laksha is a familiar face at Alpha Woman Co. Our first Young Alphas article, Top 8 Young Entrepreneurs You Need to Know, features Laksha and her brand. This week, Laksha and I explored her journey as a passionate and light-hearted young entrepreneur.

Laksha is a psychology major from Bangalore, India, who is passionate about mental health advocacy and queer representation. When I spoke with Laksha, she described the challenges of growing up in India, where LGBTQ+ identities are taboo, and so is mental health.

When Laksha was in quarantine, she launched Sassage Stickers with her partner Nakul and found a way to channel her passions in her brand. She combined her quirky personality with her passions to create a fun and authentic brand for her community. And in her words, the name "Sassage" comes from her love of hot dogs, "and all the cool hot dogs that we are."

Laksha is a lively spirit and a perfect guest for the end of Pride Month! For her, Sassage Stickers is a hobby and passion project. She aspires to be a counsellor and pursue a career in psychology. But in the meantime, Sassage Stickers is a great way to combine her creative skills and aspirations. Her accomplishments as a young businesswoman are inspiring. And without a doubt, she'll be a fantastic counsellor for Young Alphas in the future.

To check out Laksha's products, check out sassagestickers.com!

Timestamps:
The taboo of mental health in India (3:11)
The idea for Sassage Stickers (11:48)
Meeting her business partner on a dating website (15:44)
Unexpected challenges while starting the business (20:19)
Where do you see Sassage Stickers in 10 years? (26:39)
Laksha's inspirational Alpha Woman (29:57)
Where you can find Sassage Stickers? (33:48)

Notes:

 We’re excited to announce that we have podcast sponsorship opportunities available to help you reach this fantastic audience. Please reach out to [email protected] for more information.

Podcast researcher Anvi Sethi

Sign up to Alpha Woman Co at: https://alphawomanco.com

Follow us on social media @alphawomanco

Today I’m interviewing opera singer Breanna Sinclairé. A native of Baltimore, Maryland, and a graduate of CalArts, Breanna received her Masters from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, and was the first transwoman of the opera program. Operatic performances include Carmen, La Calisto, The Old Maid and The Thief, The Magic Flute, L’enfant et les sortilèges, Platée, and West Side Story, as well as Meredith Monk’s Songs of Ascension at REDCAT, and Zachary Sharrin’s Time Bodies at MOCA. Outside of opera, Sinclairé has enjoyed a variety of performance opportunities with LGBT and other nonprofit organizations across North America.

Breanna also made her debut as a guest artist for the Gay Men’s Chorus of DC in Durufle’s Requiem performing “Pie Jesu” at Church of the Epiphany. She was among Out magazine’s 2015 “OUT100” list of LGBT heroes. She was the first transwoman to perform the National Anthem at a professional sporting event for the Oakland A’s, SF Giants, and San Francisco Deltas. She made her debut with SF Symphony on December 2018 as the first trans singer to perform with the orchestra.

Timestamps

Start of interview (2:14)
Early thoughts about gender (5:09)
Breanna's passion for music (9:40)
Coming out as trans (15:57)
What it means to be a Soprano singer (21:21)
Your favourite opera to perform? (24:21)
The day-to-day of an opera singer (27:57)
Breanna's inspirational Alpha Woman (38:40)

We’re excited to announce that our Alpha Woman Store is now open! Show the world the Alpha Woman that you are! We’ll be introducing new designs frequently so check back often for our new, limited designs. 

Podcast researcher Anvi Sethi

Sign up to Alpha Woman Co at: https://alphawomanco.com

Sponsorship enquiries email: [email protected]

Follow us on social media @alphawomanco