Bonus note: This is a throwback conversation recorded in April 2025 (from our Facebook Live days), with the most timeless clips pulled for today.

If you’ve ever felt stuck, unsure where to find business support, or like you’re building alone, this episode is for you.

Leslie revisits key insights from a 2025 conversation with Tamara Carlen, focused on how entrepreneurs can leverage community resources, navigate funding options, and reframe the mindset around debt and profitability.

You’ll hear clips on:

• Ensemble’s mission and the power of community + collaboration
• What Sparkyard is and how it connects entrepreneurs to resources
• Practical tools at the Fort Worth Library and Tarrant County College
• Why debt isn’t automatically failure
• How funding helps you scale
• Cash flow realities: payroll timing + why a line of credit protects your business

Connect with Tamara:

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

https://www.ensemblecoworking.com

Connect with Leslie:

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

https://www.theshieldsagency.com