Business That Speaks With Kelsie Downs

What happens when you watch your family's successful business collapse—and lose nearly everything at just 16 years old?

In Episode 15 of Business That Speaks, Kelsie Downs sits down with Stacey, founder of Kybera Accounting, to discuss how financial hardship shaped her career, her approach to entrepreneurship, and her mission to help small business owners build financial stability and confidence.

Growing up, Stacy experienced both sides of entrepreneurship. Her family's novelty and toy business was thriving until two major customers, responsible for roughly 70% of its business, filed for bankruptcy within 48 hours of each other. The financial fallout eventually forced her family to sell their home and belongings.

Standing in the driveway watching her childhood possessions being sold, Stacy made a decision that would shape her future: she never wanted to experience that kind of financial instability again.

That moment led her into accounting, earning her CPA license, working for a Fortune 100 company, and eventually stepping into entrepreneurship.

Today, Stacy leads Kybera Accounting, helping business owners navigate financial challenges, understand their numbers, and make confident decisions without the shame or judgment that so often surrounds money.

But her journey has also taught her that financial stability isn't the only measure of success.

Stacy and Kelsie discuss the importance of boundaries, learning when to say no, building a sustainable business, surrounding yourself with the right community, and recognizing that you get to decide what success actually looks like for your life.

• Growing up in a successful family business

• How losing two major customers devastated the company

• Watching her family lose their financial stability at 16

• Why she chose accounting as her career

• Going from corporate accounting to entrepreneurship

• The trip to Africa that challenged her perspective on comfort

• Learning to lead through organizational culture and change

• The growing need for fractional accounting and CFO services

• Why she launched Kybera Accounting

• The importance of branding and authentic relationships

• Learning that every yes means saying no to something else

• Creating boundaries as an entrepreneur

• Why financial conversations should never begin with shame

• Building a team that can thrive without constant oversight

• Redefining success beyond revenue and financial milestones

• Why business owners get to make their own rules

Whether you're an entrepreneur struggling with financial uncertainty, a business owner learning to establish boundaries, or someone questioning what success should look like, Stacy's story is a powerful reminder that the experiences that shape us don't have to define our limitations.

You can build something different.

#BusinessThatSpeaks #Entrepreneurship #SmallBusiness #Accounting #FinancialFreedom #BusinessGrowth #WomenInBusiness #Leadership #BusinessPodcast #FinancialClarity

If you've ever felt like you're doing everything right and still running on empty, then you need to meet my friend Lyndi Zavy. She literally wrote the book on burnout and is a keynote speaker and organizational development consultant. Her book Cheerleading from Quicksand gives leaders a real framework for getting out of burnout instead of just surviving it. Her firm Rivers & Roads works with businesses, nonprofits, and HR teams who are ready to create a culture where people thrive. Grab the book at rivers-roads.com/cfq.

In this episode:This episode is sponsored by Lyndi Zavy

Angela Muir couldn't find the kind of ice cream she wanted in Oklahoma City, so she decided to make it herself.

In Episode 14 of Business That Speaks, Kelsie Downs sits down with Angela Muir, founder of Boom Town Creamery, to unpack the story behind one of Oklahoma City's local ice cream brands and the business lessons she's learned through rapid growth.

Angela's entrepreneurial journey started long before Boom Town. From charging girls to paint their nails in third grade to fashion design, custom wedding gowns, blogging, shaved ice, and even a corporate job at Hobby Lobby, entrepreneurship has been a consistent thread throughout her life.

Then, in 2021, a conversation with her brother sparked an idea. Angela didn't know how to make ice cream, but she believed she could figure it out. She found a commercial ice cream-making workshop, signed a lease shortly after, and opened the first Boom Town location in 2022.

What followed was growth much faster than she anticipated.

Angela shares candidly about acquiring additional locations, overestimating the strength of her brand outside its original neighborhood, learning just how important location is in brick-and-mortar business, opening multiple operations within weeks of each other, struggling with cash flow, and eventually realizing she couldn't solve every problem herself.

She also explains why Boom Town's mission has become about far more than ice cream. Today, Angela sees one of her most important responsibilities as creating a workplace where employees, especially teenagers and young adults, feel valued, heard, safe, and equipped for whatever comes next in their lives.

In this episode:

• The unexpected origin story of Boom Town Creamery

• Angela's journey as a lifelong entrepreneur

• Why she left Hobby Lobby to start an ice cream company

• Learning how to make commercial ice cream from scratch

• Opening the first Boom Town location

• Growing faster than she anticipated

• Why location matters so much in brick-and-mortar businesses

• Overestimating brand awareness during expansion

• Opening multiple locations within weeks

• Learning to delegate instead of doing everything herself

• Hiring the person who transformed Boom Town's kitchen

• Building a healthy culture in the food industry

• Why psychological safety matters at work

• The cash flow challenges behind a growing business

• Realizing grit couldn't solve the financial problem

• Why Angela decided to bring in a strategic business partner

• Learning that asking for help isn't weakness

• Creating a company that can operate without the founder

• Why relationships matter more than business success

• Developing young employees instead of simply getting work out of them

Whether you're growing a brick-and-mortar business, leading employees, navigating cash flow, or realizing you've reached the limit of what you can figure out alone, Angela's story is a reminder that growth sometimes requires giving up a little control to build something stronger.

#BusinessThatSpeaks #BoomTownCreamery #Entrepreneurship #SmallBusiness #BusinessGrowth #OklahomaCity #Leadership #CompanyCulture #BrickAndMortar #BusinessPodcast

What if the business you're building is actually taking you further away from the life you wanted?

In Episode 13 of Business That Speaks, Kelsie Downs sits down with Danielle Throckmorton, a multi-passionate entrepreneur whose journey has taken her from the legal field and event planning to Reach Retreats, business consulting, and building T5 alongside her husband.

Danielle shares how the unexpected loss of her 17-year-old sister completely changed her perspective on time, family, work, and what she wanted her life to look like. That experience eventually pushed her to rethink a career that controlled her time and begin intentionally building businesses that could serve her life instead of owning it.

But building that kind of freedom hasn't meant avoiding risk.

Danielle talks candidly about burnout, walking away from a successful six-figure event business, scaling T5 from one truck, hiring a growing team, dealing with expensive mistakes, getting robbed, learning to lead employees, taking financial risks, and recognizing when comfort can actually keep you from stepping into what you're called to do.

Through it all, faith, family, impact, and intentionality have remained at the center.

• Danielle's 10-year entrepreneurial journey
• Going from divorce by day to weddings by night
• The personal loss that changed her perspective on time
• Building a business that serves your life
• Why she walked away from a successful event business
• Creating Reach Retreats for women entrepreneurs
• Building meaningful community instead of competition
• Going into business with her husband
• Growing T5 from one truck into a team
• The difference between solopreneurship and leading employees
• Learning from expensive business mistakes
• Taking the leap before you feel financially comfortable
• The difference between comfort and faith
• Creating a company where employees can prioritize their families
• Using business to create jobs and give back
• Raising kids while building businesses
• Why intention without action means nothing
• Following the calling you can't shake

If you're building a business, navigating a transition, or wondering whether the life you've built still matches the life you actually want, this conversation is a reminder that it's okay to redesign how you live your life.

#BusinessThatSpeaks #Entrepreneurship #WomenInBusiness #BusinessGrowth #Leadership #FamilyBusiness #FaithAndBusiness #BusinessPodcast #SmallBusiness #EntrepreneurMindset

In this episode:

She never planned to take over the family business. In fact, when her dad bought Lettering Express, Jill wanted nothing to do with it.

In Episode 12 of Business That Speaks, Kelsie Downs sits down with Jill from Lettering Express to talk about the unexpected path that led her into entrepreneurship, taking over a family business alongside her husband Charlie, and intentionally building a company culture people actually want to be part of.

Jill shares how Lettering Express evolved from a company her dad described as putting “stickers on big trucks” into a business helping companies bring their brands to life through vehicle wraps, signage, apparel, promotional products, and more.

They also dig into what Jill and Charlie have learned about hiring for culture instead of skills, recognizing employee burnout, creating open communication, learning from bad hires, building better systems, and why a major rebrand helped usher Lettering Express into an entirely new era.

• Why Jill originally wanted nothing to do with the family business
• How she eventually fell in love with Lettering Express
• Taking over the company alongside her husband, Charlie
• How Jill and Charlie met at Lettering Express
• Why branding can transform more than your logo
• Hiring for culture instead of skills
• Creating a workplace people actually enjoy
• Recognizing burnout before it’s too late
• Using regular one-on-ones to strengthen your team
• Why a bad culture fit doesn’t mean someone is a bad employee
• Learning from leadership mistakes
• Building systems that make the business easier to run
• Why community matters for entrepreneurs
• What makes Oklahoma City’s business community special

Whether you're building a family business, leading a growing team, or trying to create a workplace where people genuinely want to stay, Jill's story is a reminder that great businesses aren't built overnight. They're shaped through experience, mistakes, relationships, and a willingness to keep making things better.

#BusinessThatSpeaks #FamilyBusiness #Entrepreneurship #CompanyCulture #Leadership #SmallBusiness #BusinessPodcast #OklahomaCity #Branding #LetteringExpress

If you've ever felt like you're doing everything right and still running on empty, then you need to meet my friend Lyndi Zavy. She literally wrote the book on burnout and is a keynote speaker and organizational development consultant. Her book Cheerleading from Quicksand gives leaders a real framework for getting out of burnout instead of just surviving it. Her firm Rivers & Roads works with businesses, nonprofits, and HR teams who are ready to create a culture where people thrive. Grab the book at rivers-roads.com/cfq.

In this episode:This episode is sponsored by Lyndi Zavy

Healthy company culture doesn’t happen by accident. It has to be intentionally built.

In Episode 11 of Business That Speaks, Kelsie Downs sits down with Jessica Rimmer, founder of Solomon Strategic Advisors, to talk about leadership development, organizational culture, executive leadership, feedback, self-awareness, and what it actually takes to build a healthy, high-performing team.

Jessica shares her journey from spending 10 years as Vice President for Student Engagement at Mid-America Christian University to discovering entrepreneurship, launching Solomon Strategic Advisors, and building a team of executive-level advisors serving organizations across the country.

They also dig into one of the biggest misconceptions about company culture: that it should develop organically. Jessica explains why healthy culture requires intentional leadership, clear expectations, strong relationships, honest feedback, and leaders who are willing to admit when they get it wrong.

• Why healthy company culture doesn’t happen organically
• Moving from executive leadership into entrepreneurship
• Building Solomon Strategic Advisors
• Why trust-based relationships have measurable business ROI
• Giving feedback that actually develops people
• Why leaders must take responsibility for culture
• The exhaustion of trying to be a perfect leader
• Radical self-awareness and honest leadership
• Learning to delegate to people who are better than you
• Creating expectations without creating unnecessary pressure
• Why teams should spend intentional time developing together
• Building an organization where people flourish
• Why you should surround yourself with people doing bigger things than you

Whether you’re an entrepreneur, executive, manager, or business owner trying to build a stronger organization, this conversation offers practical leadership principles for creating a culture where both people and businesses can thrive.

#BusinessThatSpeaks #CompanyCulture #Leadership #Entrepreneurship #ExecutiveLeadership #BusinessPodcast #LeadershipDevelopment #WorkplaceCulture #BusinessGrowth #TeamCulture

If you've ever felt like you're doing everything right and still running on empty, then you need to meet my friend Lyndi Zavy. She literally wrote the book on burnout and is a keynote speaker and organizational development consultant. Her book Cheerleading from Quicksand gives leaders a real framework for getting out of burnout instead of just surviving it. Her firm Rivers & Roads works with businesses, nonprofits, and HR teams who are ready to create a culture where people thrive. Grab the book at rivers-roads.com/cfq.

In this episode:This episode is sponsored by Lyndi Zavy

What happens when your business starts growing faster than you can afford?

In Episode 10 of Business That Speaks, Kelsie Downs sits down with Murry Parrish of Parrish DeVaughn to unpack his journey from starting his own law practice with just $10,000 to building and scaling one of Oklahoma’s largest personal injury law firms.

Murry shares the realities behind entrepreneurship that rarely make it into the success story: operating month to month, investing aggressively in marketing, hiring before you feel ready, making expensive mistakes, building systems, protecting company culture, and learning that every new level of growth creates an entirely new set of problems.

One of Murry’s biggest lessons is simple: you never really arrive. Every time you open the door you’ve been working toward, there are 20 more doors waiting behind it.

This episode is sponsored by Lyndi ZavyLyndi Zavy is a bestselling author, keynote speaker, and leadership and organizational development consultant helping leaders overcome burnout and lead with greater clarity. As founder of Rivers & Roads and SoLo Collective, Lyndi works with leaders and organizations through training, strategic planning, and leadership development designed to create healthier, more sustainable ways to lead.

In this episode:Starting a law firm with $10,000Going from solo attorney to entrepreneurTaking a massive risk on TV advertisingNearly running out of money while growingWhy every business breaks when it doublesBuilding systems and processes for scaleHiring leaders before you think you're readyWhy company culture is critical to growthPutting the client first, even when it delays revenueLearning from other successful business ownersWhy admitting “I don't know what I don't know” mattersThe mindset required to survive entrepreneurshipWhy failure is part of building something successfulIf you're an entrepreneur, business owner, attorney, or leader trying to scale an organization, this episode offers a candid look at what growth actually

requires.#BusinessThatSpeaks #Entrepreneurship #BusinessGrowth #Leadership #ScalingBusiness #LawFirm #BusinessPodcast #CompanyCulture #SmallBusiness #EntrepreneurMindset

If you've ever felt like you're doing everything right and still running on empty, then you need to meet my friend Lyndi Zavy. She literally wrote the book on burnout and is a keynote speaker and organizational development consultant. Her book Cheerleading from Quicksand gives leaders a real framework for getting out of burnout instead of just surviving it. Her firm Rivers & Roads works with businesses, nonprofits, and HR teams who are ready to create a culture where people thrive. Grab the book at rivers-roads.com/cfq.

Success isn't just about building a business, it's about building a life worth living.In Episode 9 of Business That Speaks, Kelsie Downs sits down with Hannah Schmitt, founder of The Treasury and Hundred Magazine, to talk about entrepreneurship, motherhood, identity, community, and why so many women feel isolated while building businesses.Hannah shares her journey from journalism to creating one of Oklahoma City's most influential communities for women entrepreneurs, the lessons she learned from selling her business, and why your identity should never be tied to what you create.If you've ever wrestled with loneliness, purpose, balancing work and family, or wondering what's next after success, this conversation will encourage you.Sponsor: Rivers & Roads is an organizational development and leadership consulting firm led by workplace culture expert and public speaker Lyndi Zavy.In this episode:

• Why entrepreneurs often feel isolated
• Building The Treasury from the ground up
• Starting Hundred Magazine during COVID
• Motherhood and entrepreneurship
• Selling a business and rediscovering your identity
• Creating meaningful community
• Why women need deeper relationships, not more networking
• Faith, calling, and slowing down
• Learning to separate identity from achievement

Whether you're an entrepreneur, creative, business owner, or someone navigating a new season of life, this episode offers honest wisdom about success, purpose, and the importance of authentic community.Connect with Hannah: Linkedinlinkedin.com/in/hannah-schmitt-98b359151This episode is brought to you by Rivers & Roads Organizational Development, led by workplace culture expert and public speaker Lyndi Zavy. Rivers & Roads helps organizations build stronger leadership, healthier culture, and teams that actually want to stay.Learn more: Rivers-roadsRivers & Roads Organizational Development#BusinessThatSpeaks #Entrepreneurship #WomenInBusiness #Leadership #Community #Motherhood #BusinessPodcast #SmallBusiness #ChristianEntrepreneur #Purpose

What separates average leaders from transformational leaders?In Episode 8 of Business That Speaks, Kelsie Downs sits down with Marian Redwine—leadership consultant, entrepreneur, former Southern Nazarene University executive, and culture expert—to unpack the one thing every healthy organization is built on: trust.From building a successful photography business to leading teams at SNU and now helping organizations transform their culture through Solomon, Marian shares practical leadership lessons that every entrepreneur, executive, nonprofit leader, and manager can apply immediately.If you've ever struggled with employee engagement, company culture, difficult conversations, or building trust with your team, this conversation is for you.This episode is sponsored by Lyndi ZavyLyndi Zavy is a bestselling author, keynote speaker, and leadership & organizational development consultant. Through Rivers & Roads and SoLo Collective, she helps leaders overcome burnout, develop healthy organizational cultures, and lead with greater clarity, purpose, and resilience. Whether you're building a business, leading a team, or navigating change, Lyndi equips leaders to thrive in both work and life.In this episode:Why trust is the foundation of great leadershipBuilding a thriving company cultureTransformational leadership vs. transactional leadershipThe biggest communication mistake leaders makeLeading Gen Z employees effectivelySetting healthy expectations and accountabilityPricing your work with confidenceEntrepreneurship, faith, and purposeWhy your work is your worshipWhether you lead a business, nonprofit, church, or team of any size, this episode will challenge the way you think about influence, communication, and culture.#BusinessThatSpeaks #Leadership #Entrepreneurship #CompanyCulture #BusinessPodcast #TeamLeadership #Management #LeadershipDevelopment #SmallBusiness #ChristianLeadership

Why do so many talented women hesitate to speak up?

In Episode 7 of Business That Speaks, Kelsie Downs sits down with Elizabeth Pollard—former Oklahoma Secretary of Science and Innovation, Silicon Valley CEO, venture capitalist, executive coach, and entrepreneur—to discuss leadership, confidence, communication, feedback, company culture, and why women must learn to raise their voice.

Drawing from more than 30 years of experience leading companies, raising venture capital, serving on boards, and coaching executives, Elizabeth shares practical wisdom for entrepreneurs looking to grow both personally and professionally.

A.R.K. Ramos is a wholesale manufacturer located in the heart of Oklahoma City. They partner with architects, contractors, signage companies, marketing agencies, and branding firms to create custom wholesale letters, plaques, and architectural signage. Learn more at ARKRamos.com.

• Why women should raise their voice in business
• The difference between confidence and aggression
• How to receive feedback as a gift
• Building company culture that lasts
• Leadership lessons from Silicon Valley
• Navigating difficult conversations
• Overcoming imposter syndrome
• The power of authentic leadership
• Why your identity matters more than your title

Whether you're an entrepreneur, executive, business owner, or aspiring leader, this conversation offers timeless leadership principles that will challenge the way you think about success and influence.

#BusinessThatSpeaks #Leadership #WomenInBusiness #Entrepreneurship #BusinessPodcast #ExecutiveLeadership #SiliconValley #BusinessGrowth #LeadershipDevelopment #ChristianLeadership

This episode is sponsored by ARK RamosIn this episode:

What if your business became the vehicle for changing lives?In Episode 6 of Business That Speaks, Kelsie Downs sits down with Stephanie Kramer, owner of Puppy Paws Dog Hotels, founder of the Edmond Community Center, and a passionate foster care advocate. Stephanie shares how she built multiple successful businesses while opening her home to children in foster care, creating systems that scale, and using entrepreneurship to make a lasting impact in her community.From leadership and operations to faith, foster care, and building with purpose, this conversation is full of practical wisdom and inspiring stories.This episode is sponsored by ARK RamosARK Ramos is a wholesale manufacturer located in the heart of Oklahoma City. They serve architects, contractors, signage companies, marketing agencies, and branding firms with custom wholesale letters, plaques, and architectural signage. Learn more at ARKRamos.com.In this episode:Building a business with systems that scaleWhy excellence beats perfectionLeading multiple businesses successfullyEntrepreneurship with eternal purposeFoster care, adoption, and serving your communityBalancing business, family, and faithBuilding businesses that create lasting impactWhy leadership always requires sacrificeUsing your gifts to change livesWhether you're an entrepreneur, leader, business owner, foster parent, or someone looking to make a difference, this episode will encourage you to think bigger about the purpose behind your work.#BusinessThatSpeaks #Entrepreneurship #Leadership #FosterCare #SmallBusiness #BusinessPodcast #ChristianBusiness #Adoption #BusinessGrowth #CommunityLeadership