Big Gorgeous Goals

Julie's Big Gorgeous Goals: Official Workbook is here! Order your copy today.

Did you know that mature entrepreneurs bring a wealth of diverse experiences to the table?  In this episode of Figure Eight, Jackie Dinsmore highlights the value of founders with life experience. Her venture capital firm, Extra Innings Ventures, embraces this philosophy by investing in seasoned individuals. Jackie and Julie also discuss how letting go of the helm to become an employee and eventually selling one's ownership requires adaptability and emotional preparedness. Her story provides invaluable lessons on the often-overlooked human side of business transactions.

Jackie was a corporate lawyer at Blakes in Toronto, and subsequently worked as Assistant General Counsel at The Toronto Star. Originally intended as a side project to satisfy her non-legal creative side, Jacqueline launched FlapJackKids, a company that focuses on all reversible products for women and children. Jacqueline's products were featured in swag bags for Emmys and Oscars pre-parties, and can be found in thousands of stores in North America and worldwide. She has been named Top Mompreneur by Mompreneur Magazine and appeared in Forbes Magazine alongside Hilary Clinton and Barack Obama. Her company was featured numerous times in top press and media including The Toronto Star, The Globe and Mail, Ok Weekly, Us Weekly, Woman's World, USA Today, The Huffington Post and Woman's Day.

Jacqueline was also one of the original owners of Caravel Law and since its sale, now acts as its Co-Managing Partner. Caravel Law is a revolutionary law firm of over 100
lawyers that has disrupted the legal services industry in Canada, by making big firm trained and in-house experienced lawyers available as fractional counsel to start-ups, F500 companies and everything in between. Its low overhead model ensures access to great lawyers at a reasonable cost. Jacqueline has had three successful exits and most recently started Extra Innings Ventures, a venture capital firm focusing on under-represented founders with life experience.

Jackie's Transition from Law to Serial Entrepreneurship (00:01:24) Jackie's journey of practicing law before founding and exiting multiple companies, including her current venture capital firm.

Challenges of Exits, New Partnerships, and Extra Innings Ventures (00:12:37) The emotional and strategic challenges of exiting businesses and finding the right partners for future ventures, including her venture capital firm focused on investing in underrepresented founders.

Lessons from Product-Based Business (00:20:36) Reflections on mistakes made, managing inventory, and staying relevant in the fashion industry.

Building a Founding Team (00:24:29) Lessons learned from building a founding team, scaling up, and managing people.

Continuous Learning and Community (00:29:55) The importance of continuous adapting and surrounding oneself with a supportive community in entrepreneurship.

More about Jackie: 

www.caravellaw.com

www.extrainningsventures.com

Love the show or want to request a topic? Leave us a message (All submissions are anonymous, so if you'd like a reply, please include your email address!).

You can connect with Julie on LinkedIn or Instagram. 

Find Julie's writing at her blog or by ordering her book Big Gorgeous Goals and the brand new official companion workbook! 

What did you think of this conversation? We'd love if you'd rate or review our show!

Julie's Big Gorgeous Goals: Official Workbook is here! Order your copy today.

Have you ever been branded a failure for choosing a path less traveled? On the latest episode of the Figure Eight podcast, Julie had the pleasure of chatting with Kristy Miller. Kristy shared her journey from dropping out of university to becoming the founder of The Scented Market. Despite the resistance, her unwavering determination and strong support system proved that success doesn't always follow a conventional script.

Kristy is the founder and CEO of The Scented Market, a homegrown business known for its self-care mission and soy wax candles, bath and body products, and home decor. In 5 years, The Scented Market has expanded to four retail locations and supplies hundreds of stockists across Canada and the USA. With a passion for creating sensory experiences that transcend the ordinary, Kristy has built a reputation for excellence in the candle industry.

Join Julie and Kristy as they discuss evolving team dynamics and strategies to align with the needs of a flourishing business, the art of hiring for brand wellness, and the tough decisions that spark monumental growth.

**Journey to Entrepreneurship and The Scented Market (00:02:03)**
Kristy's path from nursing student to entrepreneur, overcoming resistance, and garnering support. The genesis of The Scented Market and crafting the inaugural candle.

**Expanding Business, Team Dynamics, and Overcoming Struggles (00:07:29)**
The expansion of the team, learning from errors, valuing team members, and transforming challenges into lessons for positive growth.

**Business Growth and Role Transitions (00:14:46)**
Addressing the complexities of scaling up, including U.S. expansion plans, legal and financial hurdles, and the necessity for detailed planning. Kristy contemplates moving from CEO to a creative director role, leveraging her strengths, and the intricacies of such a transition.

**Self-Reflection, Aspirations, and Mentorship (00:21:51)**
The critical role of self-reflection in entrepreneurship, Kristy's ambitions for herself and The Scented Market, and her intent to provide mentorship based on her experiences.

**Leadership Balance and Strategic Decisions (00:27:31)**
The balance between being a leader and a learner, the significance of data in strategic decision-making, and combining instinct with analytics for the brand's benefit.

**Customer Engagement and Strategic Marketing (00:33:01)**
Fostering customer loyalty, community engagement, niche marketing focus, and future plans for growth and community support through self-care product experiences.

You can find Kristy and The Scented Market on Instagram, Facebook, X, TikTok, and LinkedIn.

Love the show or want to request a topic? Leave us a message (All submissions are anonymous, so if you'd like a reply, please include your email address!).

You can connect with Julie on LinkedIn or Instagram. 

Find Julie's writing at her blog or by ordering her book Big Gorgeous Goals and the brand new official companion workbook! 

What did you think of this conversation? We'd love if you'd rate or review our show!

Julie's Big Gorgeous Goals: Official Workbook is here! Order your copy today.

"Strategy is a marathon, not a sprint." This philosophy rings true in Julie's conversation with Nicole Mahoney, CEO of Break the Ice Media, as they delve into the long-term vision for her business. 

Nicole Mahoney is an entrepreneur, speaker, and podcast host with a passion for business. She’s the founder of Break the Ice Media, a PR and digital marketing agency specializing in the travel, tourism, and hospitality industry, and also serves as the CEO of Travel Alliance Partners. In her weekly podcast, Destination on the Left, launched in 2016, she interviews tourism professionals from all over the globe on creativity and collaboration.

She commissioned a first-of-its-kind research study in 2020 to examine what makes partnerships successful and explore the role collaboration is playing in helping the industry recover from the Covid-19 pandemic. Those results, her recorded conversations with more than 300 podcast guests, and her personal experience formed the basis of her book, Stronger Together: Building World-Changing Business Collaborations. Nicole resides in Canandaigua, New York.

In this conversation, Nicole and Julie discuss the significance of laying a robust foundation before embarking on major projects like a brand refresh. It's a reminder that strategic thinking and the ability to look beyond the day-to-day are what differentiate thriving businesses from the rest.

Join us for more strategic insights on the latest Figure Eight episode:

Nicole's journey, evolving leadership, and company culture (00:02:03) Nicole's entrepreneurial journey, the strategies she used to navigate business during the pandemic, and her post-pandemic leadership evolution.

The pivot point (00:21:27) Nicole discusses landing a large contract in 2022 and the challenges she faced in securing the right financing and banking relationship.

Challenges of being a CEO (00:25:38) Nicole discusses the bottlenecks and challenges she faced as a CEO, particularly related to managing the work and strategic partnerships within the company.

Evolution of the brand and the importance of strategic thinking (00:30:09) Nicole talks about the upcoming evolution of her business's brand, the strategic thinking behind it, and the potential for new revenue streams and relationships.

You can find Nicole and Break the Ice Media here:

https://breaktheicemedia.com/

https://nicolemahoney.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolemahoney/

Love the show or want to request a topic? Leave us a message (All submissions are anonymous, so if you'd like a reply, please include your email address!).

You can connect with Julie on LinkedIn or Instagram. 

Find Julie's writing at her blog or by ordering her book Big Gorgeous Goals and the brand new official companion workbook! 

What did you think of this conversation? We'd love if you'd rate or review our show!

Julie's Big Gorgeous Goals: Official Workbook is here! Order your copy today.

Ever wondered how a simple idea scribbled on a napkin can evolve into an eight-figure empire?

In this introductory episode of the Figure Eight podcast, host Julie Ellis will take you through the incredible journey of Mabel's Labels and moving beyond it. 

From a light-bulb moment to the nail-biting experience of scaling up for major retail to the emotional journey of selling and stepping into an advisory role for other entrepreneurs, you’ll discover the reality of switching gears and the insights gained from both sides of the business fence.

We'll discuss:

Introduction to Figure Eight (00:00:04)
Julie Ellis introduces the Figure Eight podcast and her interest in learning from women entrepreneurs, their experiences, challenges, and future plans.

The Story of Mabel's Labels (00:03:07)
Julie shares the story of founding Mabel's Labels, from the initial idea to scaling for major retail, goal setting, and the decision to sell.

Transitioning to Advisory Work and Entrepreneurial Support (00:16:50)
Julie's transition to advisory work and her focus on helping women face the challenges of scaling businesses.

Love the show or want to request a topic? Leave us a message (All submissions are anonymous, so if you'd like a reply, please include your email address!).

You can connect with Julie on LinkedIn or Instagram. 

Find Julie's writing at her blog or by ordering her book Big Gorgeous Goals and the brand new official companion workbook! 

What did you think of this conversation? We'd love if you'd rate or review our show!