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Business did not come kindly to Gunjan Saini Bradshaw and that is exactly what shaped her into the powerful entrepreneur she is today. From her beginnings as a TV and radio host in India to co-founding a thriving tech company across India and the United States, Gunjan's story is one of bold pivots, resilience and redefining leadership. In this episode of the Badass Women in Business podcast, Gunjan shares how she built Codebase alongside her husband, navigated cultural and gender barriers, and turned personal challenges into a global success story.

Whether you are scaling a startup, breaking into tech, or balancing business with personal life, Gunjan’s raw and real insights will inspire you to embrace change, trust your instincts and lead with both heart and grit.

Welcome Gunjan Saini Bradshaw

• Gunjan's early career path from journalism and marketing in India to the entertainment world
• How business "happened" unexpectedly through her relationship with her now husband and business partner
• The story behind Codebase, a fully bootstrapped journey connecting Indian tech talent with US venture-backed companies
• Navigating the transition from TV to tech, India to Utah, and from dating to building a business together
• Finding her voice as a non-technical co-founder and earning respect in a male-dominated industry
• Bridging cultural differences between India and the United States and building strong cross-cultural teams
• Why staying bootstrapped mattered and how it helped preserve the company's vision and values
• Commitment to excellence by focusing only on hiring A players and redefining offshore collaboration
• Lessons learned about resilience, adaptability, leadership and trusting yourself when the path is unclear

Key Takeaways

• Your gender should never define your potential or leadership presence
• Bootstrapping can build a strong foundation even if it means growing slower
• Understanding cultural nuance is critical for building international teams
• Founders must wear multiple hats and continuously evolve based on the needs of the business
• True success is not about avoiding failure but about embracing challenges as opportunities to grow

Favorite Quotes

• Website: Codebase
• LinkedIn: Gunjan Saini Bradshaw
• Instagram: @goofwoman

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Keep up with more content from Aggie and Cristy here:

• Facebook: Empowered Women Leaders  
• Instagram: @badass_women_in_business
• LinkedIn: ProveHer - Badass Women in Business
• Website: Badasswomeninbusinesspodcast.com
• Athena: athenaac.com

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🔥 Episode Summary

Jayla Siciliano knows what it feels like to chase the dream, hit burnout, and completely rebuild. After raising half a million dollars without connections, surviving a product launch disaster, and landing a Shark Tank deal with Mark Cuban, she walked away from it all to create something that actually supports her life. Today, she runs a bi-coastal luxury short term rental company and hosts the Seed Money Podcast to help early stage founders get funded and stay sane.

In this episode, Jayla gets real about the pressure of raising capital, the reality of burning out on your own dream, and how she rebuilt her business and lifestyle from the ground up. If you're questioning what success really means or wondering how to fund your big idea, this one is a must-listen.

📓 Show Notes

In this powerful episode, Jayla joins Aggie and Cristy to talk about:

• What it really takes to raise your first seed round when you have no network and no runway
• Why one investor’s comment about pregnancy haunted her for years
• The emotional toll of losing over $100K in inventory and what got her through it
• Why she walked away from her Shark Tank-backed company to reclaim her life
• How her short term rental business gives her time freedom, creative space, and family flexibility
• The exact systems and boundaries that keep her 30-property portfolio running smoothly
• Why perfectionism held her back and how she finally let it go
• What founders need to know before diving into hospitality and real estate investing
• Why she launched Seed Money to take the mystery and intimidation out of fundraising
• The truth about confidence, patience, and persistence when everything feels impossible

You’ll also hear her take on building sustainable businesses that reflect who you are and how you want to live. Jayla proves that you don’t need to do it like everyone else. You just need to be bold enough to do it your way.

👀 Mentioned in the Episode

• Seed Money Podcast: seedmoneypodcast.com
• Follow Jayla on Instagram and TikTok: @jaylasiciliano
• YouTube: @seedmoneypodcast

If you loved this conversation, subscribe and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform.
The Badass Women in Business Podcast is where honest conversations fuel powerful growth. Hosted by Cristy and Aggie.

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Subscribe and Review
If you loved this episode, drop us a review, share it with a badass woman in your life, and subscribe to Badass Women in Business wherever you get your podcasts.

Stay badass. Stay bold. Build it your way.

Keep up with more content from Aggie and Cristy here:

• Facebook: Empowered Women Leaders  
• Instagram: @badass_women_in_business
• LinkedIn: ProveHer - Badass Women in Business
• Website: Badasswomeninbusinesspodcast.com
• Athena: athenaac.com

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In this deeply moving and inspiring episode, Aggie and Cristy sit down with Blair Pietrini, co-founder of Pietrini Pizza Napoletana and longtime community advocate, for a conversation that goes far beyond business. Blair shares her powerful story of launching a dream with her husband, losing him just ten months after opening their restaurant, and continuing to honor his legacy through family, faith, and fire-forged perseverance.

From founding a nonprofit that served tens of thousands annually to building a thriving restaurant with no prior industry experience, Blair’s journey is one of unwavering values, radical authenticity, and a refusal to let tragedy define her future. You’ll walk away with lessons on leadership, grief, guts, and how to build a business that’s truly an extension of who you are.

In this episode, we cover:

• How Blair’s 25+ years running Grateful Hearts shaped her leadership and people-first approach
• The story behind opening Pietrini Pizza Napoletana in the middle of COVID—and the devastating loss that nearly ended it
• What it means to run a business rooted in values like integrity, enthusiasm, and ownership
• The healing power of hospitality, and why her restaurant feels more like a home than a business
• How Blair intentionally cultivates culture, even with a young and inexperienced staff
• The mindset shift that allowed her to move through grief with gratitude
• Why passion trumps reason—especially when you're over 60 and following a dream
• Her son’s journey to becoming a certified pizzaiolo (yes, that’s a real title!)
• How to lead without compromising your values—even when it's the harder path

Memorable Quotes:

🤝 Connect with Blair Pietrini

• 🍕 Pietrini Pizza Napoletana: pietrinipizza.com
• 📧 Email: [email protected]
• 📞 Phone: (562) 485-7939
• 📷 Instagram: @pietrinipizzanapoletana
• 👩‍🍳 Featured on Women in Pizza
• 📰 Read more: PMQ Article on Blair Pietrini

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Subscribe and Review
If you loved this episode, drop us a review, share it with a badass woman in your life, and subscribe to Badass Women in Business wherever you get your podcasts.

Stay badass. Stay bold. Build it your way.

Keep up with more content from Aggie and Cristy here:

• Facebook: Empowered Women Leaders  
• Instagram: @badass_women_in_business
• LinkedIn: ProveHer - Badass Women in Business
• Website: Badasswomeninbusinesspodcast.com
• Athena: athenaac.com

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Fear of public speaking doesn’t show up out of nowhere. In this deeply honest and uplifting conversation, Linda Ugelow joins us to share her journey from stage performer with intense speaking anxiety to a sought-after confidence and vocal coach.

Linda helps entrepreneurs and professionals get comfortable being seen and heard, whether on camera, in a meeting, or on stage. She shares why the traditional advice to “push through the fear” often falls short, and how uncovering the root of that fear—usually found in personal history—can completely change your relationship with speaking.

This episode is a powerful reminder that the goal isn’t just to get by when speaking, but to actually enjoy the experience and feel at home in your voice.

Episode Notes

• How Linda went from white-knuckling through video appearances to building a framework that cleared her fear
• Why the fear of public speaking often traces back to family dynamics, childhood experiences, and old patterns of protection
• The difference between managing fear and actually not feeling fear anymore
• How perfectionism, people pleasing, and school performance culture create internal pressure to always "get it right"
• What it takes to watch yourself on camera without cringing
• Linda’s approach to turning your inner critic into an inner ally
• How a supportive, nonjudgmental environment makes speaking growth sustainable and joyful
• Behind the scenes of her Delight in the Limelight Accelerator and how she helps people reconnect with their true voice

Guest Contact Info – Linda Ugelow
Website: www.lindaugelow.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lindaugelow
Instagram: instagram.com/lindaugelow
TikTok: tiktok.com/@lindaugelow
Facebook: facebook.com/linda.ugelow
YouTube: youtube.com/user/lindaugelow
Podcast: Delight in the Limelight

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Subscribe and Review
If you loved this episode, drop us a review, share it with a badass woman in your life, and subscribe to Badass Women in Business wherever you get your podcasts.

Stay badass. Stay bold. Build it your way.

Keep up with more content from Aggie and Cristy here:

• Facebook: Empowered Women Leaders  
• Instagram: @badass_women_in_business
• LinkedIn: ProveHer - Badass Women in Business
• Website: Badasswomeninbusinesspodcast.com
• Athena: athenaac.com

Send us Fan Mail

What happens when you mix childhood hustle, a deep commitment to faith, and two decades of leadership experience? You get Lakeisha Robichaux—CEO of Chief of Minds and a total force in the HR and business strategy space.

In this episode, Lakeisha walks us through her journey from selling candy in middle school to building a thriving HR consultancy that’s redefining how businesses grow through people. She shares what she learned from her first failed business, how she leads with intention and integrity, and why HR should never be an afterthought.

We dig into:

• The mindset shift that changed everything
• Why hiring a “mini-me” is a red flag
• How to build diverse, high-performing teams
• The difference between work-life balance and integration
• The role of faith and prayer in her leadership decisions
• What’s ahead for Chief of Minds in 2025

If you’re leading a team, growing a business, or trying to figure out how to do both without losing yourself, this episode is for you.

📇 Connect with Lakeisha Robichaux
Website: https://www.chiefofminds.com
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (516) 306-0229
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lakeisharobichaux
Instagram: @chiefofminds
Facebook: facebook.com/chiefofminds
X (Twitter): @chiefofminds

🎙️ About the Show
Badass Women in Business is hosted by Cristy and Aggie. We spotlight powerhouse women doing business differently—women who are leading with vision, scaling with purpose, and building businesses that actually fit their lives. If you enjoy the episode, don’t forget to rate, review, and follow wherever you listen!

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Subscribe and Review
If you loved this episode, drop us a review, share it with a badass woman in your life, and subscribe to Badass Women in Business wherever you get your podcasts.

Stay badass. Stay bold. Build it your way.

Keep up with more content from Aggie and Cristy here:

• Facebook: Empowered Women Leaders  
• Instagram: @badass_women_in_business
• LinkedIn: ProveHer - Badass Women in Business
• Website: Badasswomeninbusinesspodcast.com
• Athena: athenaac.com

Send us Fan Mail

What happens when a financial whiz kid grows up, burns out, and then decides to redefine the rules of money entirely? You get Alejandra Rojas—entrepreneur, money mentor, and founder of Brown Way to Money. In this episode, Alejandra shares her powerful story of growing up around ledgers and invoices, her Wall Street dreams, and the wake-up call that shifted everything. She walks us through how financial trauma shows up in entrepreneurship, how to clear it, and why our money stories—especially as women of color—deserve a complete rewrite. This one’s for the business owner who’s making money but still doesn’t feel “financially free.” Prepare for truth bombs, laughter, and a framework that centers you, your voice, and your lived experience.

📝 Episode Notes:

• Alejandra’s early obsession with finances (yes, she was that kid who loved Excel).
• Climbing the corporate finance ladder… and burning out hard.
• The bus incident that forced her to stop and listen to her body.
• Why being “good with money” doesn’t prevent financial trauma.
• What financial trauma really is—and how it messes with our business goals.
• The Brown Way Framework: a trauma-informed path to financial independence for women of color.
• Why ambition isn’t a dirty word (and how to own yours unapologetically).
• The five W’s Alejandra uses to help clients clear trauma and build a strategic path forward.
• The real meaning of financial freedom—and why it looks different for everyone.
• How traveling the world became Alejandra’s rebellion and her definition of wealth.
• The one practice you can start today to shift your relationship with money.

🔥 Favorite Quote:
"Understanding money is understanding a world we’ve been taught not to understand." — Alejandra Rojas

📲 Connect with Alejandra Rojas:
Website: brownwaytomoney.com
Instagram: @moneymindsetexpert
TikTok: @moneymindsetshow
YouTube: Brown Way to Money
LinkedIn: Alejandra Rojas

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Subscribe and Review
If you loved this episode, drop us a review, share it with a badass woman in your life, and subscribe to Badass Women in Business wherever you get your podcasts.

Stay badass. Stay bold. Build it your way.

Keep up with more content from Aggie and Cristy here:

• Facebook: Empowered Women Leaders  
• Instagram: @badass_women_in_business
• LinkedIn: ProveHer - Badass Women in Business
• Website: Badasswomeninbusinesspodcast.com
• Athena: athenaac.com

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Alexandria Hammond knows what it takes to make a brand stand out. A seasoned PR strategist and founder of BrandNEWS PR Consulting Firm, Alexandria has spent two decades crafting compelling stories, managing high-profile events, and ensuring her clients stay ahead of the media curve. From leading PR campaigns for major brands—including helping to make The Elf on the Shelf a household name—to navigating the fast-paced worlds of healthcare and sports, she has built a career on mastering the art of storytelling.

In this episode, Alexandria shares her journey from corporate PR powerhouse to entrepreneur, breaking down what it really takes to build a personal brand, create meaningful media connections, and handle PR crises before they happen. She also talks candidly about the challenges of starting her own business, the lessons she’s learned along the way, and why every business—big or small—needs a PR strategy.

If you’ve ever wondered how to get your brand noticed, how PR differs from marketing, or how to take control of your own narrative, this episode is a must-listen.

Episode Notes:

Guest:

Alexandria Hammond
Founder, BrandNEWS PR Consulting Firm

Key Takeaways:

• The difference between PR, branding, and marketing—and why businesses need all three
• How to build strong media relationships and craft a compelling brand story
• Navigating the challenges of running a PR firm and learning to embrace the word "no"
• The power of resilience in entrepreneurship and how to pivot when setbacks happen
• Why every business should have a PR strategy in place before a crisis hits

Connect with Alexandria:

• Website: BrandNEWS PR Consulting Firm
• LinkedIn: Alexandria Hammond
• Instagram: @brandnews.llc
• Email: [email protected]

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Subscribe and Review
If you loved this episode, drop us a review, share it with a badass woman in your life, and subscribe to Badass Women in Business wherever you get your podcasts.

Stay badass. Stay bold. Build it your way.

Keep up with more content from Aggie and Cristy here:

• Facebook: Empowered Women Leaders  
• Instagram: @badass_women_in_business
• LinkedIn: ProveHer - Badass Women in Business
• Website: Badasswomeninbusinesspodcast.com
• Athena: athenaac.com

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Numbers don’t have to be intimidating, and Melissa Armstrong is here to prove it. As a CPA, fractional controller, and founder of SteadyHand Accounting & Advisory, Melissa helps business owners streamline their accounting processes, gain financial clarity, and make smarter decisions. In this episode of Badass Women in Business, we dive into the real challenges business owners face with cash flow, risk management, and internal controls—and why no business is too small to start thinking about financial strategy.

Melissa shares her unconventional journey from Puerto Rico to Spain, and finally to Colorado, where she built a business that helps entrepreneurs stay on top of their numbers without feeling overwhelmed. She also opens up about the realities of starting and scaling a business, the importance of community, and why understanding your financials is key to long-term success.

Whether you’re a solopreneur juggling everything, or a growing business trying to get a handle on your cash flow, this episode is packed with insights to help you take control of your finances and set your business up for success.

What We Cover:

• The difference between a fractional controller and a fractional CFO
• Why cash flow problems happen and how to fix them
• The top financial pain points business owners face
• How to create scalable financial processes that actually work
• The importance of community and mentorship for entrepreneurs
• Melissa’s journey from corporate accounting to launching her own practice
• Why no business is too small to start thinking about risk management and internal controls

Connect with Melissa Armstrong & SteadyHand Accounting & Advisory:

• Website: SteadyHand Accounting & Advisory
• LinkedIn (Melissa): Melissa Armstrong, CPA
• LinkedIn (Company): SteadyHand Accounting & Advisory
• Instagram: @steadyhandacct

Melissa’s story is a testament to the power of taking risks, staying adaptable, and trusting yourself. Tune in and learn how to make your financials work for you—not the other way around.

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Subscribe and Review
If you loved this episode, drop us a review, share it with a badass woman in your life, and subscribe to Badass Women in Business wherever you get your podcasts.

Stay badass. Stay bold. Build it your way.

Keep up with more content from Aggie and Cristy here:

• Facebook: Empowered Women Leaders  
• Instagram: @badass_women_in_business
• LinkedIn: ProveHer - Badass Women in Business
• Website: Badasswomeninbusinesspodcast.com
• Athena: athenaac.com

Send us Fan Mail

Julie Holunga is on a mission to rid the world of lazy leadership. With decades of experience coaching high-performing professionals, she knows what it takes to lead with confidence, communicate effectively, and build trust. In this episode, Julie dives into the importance of strong leadership language, why conflict is necessary for growth, and how professionals can step into their authority without self-sabotage.

She shares her journey from working with Harvard Business School to launching her own leadership coaching practice, helping attorneys, CPAs, and business leaders master the Trusted Voice Paradigm. We also explore the generational shifts in leadership styles, the role of confidence in conflict resolution, and why pausing before reacting is the most underrated leadership skill.

If you're ready to level up your leadership and communicate with clarity and conviction, this episode is for you.

Notes:

• The Trusted Voice Paradigm – What it is and how leaders can use it to increase trust, collaboration, and productivity in their teams.
• Why strong leadership language matters – The words you use shape how others perceive your authority and influence.
• The confidence trap – How both overconfidence and lack of confidence can sabotage leadership.
• Handling conflict like a leader – Why avoiding conflict is a leadership killer and how to navigate difficult conversations with ease.
• The power of the pause – How taking a breath before responding can transform leadership effectiveness.
• Generational shifts in leadership – How younger professionals integrate work and life differently and what today’s leaders can learn from it.
• Lessons from a global upbringing – How Julie’s experience living across multiple countries shaped her curiosity and leadership approach.

Connect with Julie Holunga

Stay connected and learn more about Julie’s work in leadership development and executive coaching:

• 🌍 Website: julieholunga.com
• 🔗 LinkedIn: Julie Holunga
• 📺 YouTube: Julie’s TEDx Talk
• ✉️ Contact: Request a Consultation

Julie is on a mission to transform leadership by fostering trust, communication, and impact—don’t miss out on her insights!

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Subscribe and Review
If you loved this episode, drop us a review, share it with a badass woman in your life, and subscribe to Badass Women in Business wherever you get your podcasts.

Stay badass. Stay bold. Build it your way.

Keep up with more content from Aggie and Cristy here:

• Facebook: Empowered Women Leaders  
• Instagram: @badass_women_in_business
• LinkedIn: ProveHer - Badass Women in Business
• Website: Badasswomeninbusinesspodcast.com
• Athena: athenaac.com

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode of the Badass Women in Business Podcast, Coco Sellman, a five-time founder and impact investor, shares her powerful insights into building businesses that achieve exponential growth through purpose-driven leadership. From founding and scaling her healthcare business, Allumé, to navigating its merger and successful exit, Coco reveals the crucial lessons she's learned along the way. Discover Coco’s strategies on how visionary women can lead innovative, profitable companies without losing sight of their purpose or their well-being.

Show Notes:

• Meet Coco Sellman, founder of A Force for Good, and learn how her entrepreneurial journey began—starting with her first online business before PayPal even existed.
• How Coco scaled her healthcare business, Allumé, to eight figures in revenue, 150+ employees, and navigated the complexities of mergers and acquisitions.
• Coco explains why businesses fueled by purpose outperform others, highlighting that purpose drives both growth and profit.
• The importance of personal growth as a leader: Coco emphasizes that your company will only grow as much as you're personally willing to evolve.
• Coco shares practical tools, including her "Four-Page Growth Plan," helping entrepreneurs focus on what truly drives sustainable business growth.
• Discover Coco’s "Seven Rituals of Innovation," designed to create a culture of purpose, vision, and values that propels businesses forward.
• Real talk on mergers: Coco shares her candid experiences, challenges, and key lessons learned when integrating Allumé into a larger company.
• Why having clear metrics, consistent rituals, and aligning actions with your core values are essential to exponential growth.
• Coco’s advice to women entrepreneurs: embrace receiving help—whether funding, mentorship, or guidance—as a sign of strength, not weakness.
• A sneak peek into Coco’s upcoming book, "A Force for Good," a roadmap for women leaders aiming for high-impact and high-growth businesses.

Connect with Coco Sellman:

• A Force for Good Website
• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Facebook
• YouTube

Tune into this inspiring conversation, and discover how to become a fearless leader who scales businesses that make a lasting impact.

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Subscribe and Review
If you loved this episode, drop us a review, share it with a badass woman in your life, and subscribe to Badass Women in Business wherever you get your podcasts.

Stay badass. Stay bold. Build it your way.

Keep up with more content from Aggie and Cristy here:

• Facebook: Empowered Women Leaders  
• Instagram: @badass_women_in_business
• LinkedIn: ProveHer - Badass Women in Business
• Website: Badasswomeninbusinesspodcast.com
• Athena: athenaac.com