Call Me CEO: Moms Building Businesses, a Woman's guide to Balancing it All

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What do you do when the business you just bought starts falling apart—and you have 12 employees counting on you?

That’s exactly what happened to today’s guest, Andrea Palacio.

Andrea and her husband bought a landscaping company with a $500K SBA loan, believing they were stepping into a profitable business. But just days after closing, the seller disappeared, the business began to unravel, and Andrea found herself responsible for a company that was in serious trouble.

She quickly realized she couldn’t simply hire her way out of the problem. Instead, she turned to AI and began building systems to handle the back-office work that was consuming her time—from scheduling and customer communication to invoicing and crew management.

That experience eventually became the foundation for Run Crewless, where Andrea now helps other service-based business owners use AI and automation to build businesses that don’t depend on them doing everything.

In this episode, we talk about what it really takes to lead through a business crisis, how to recognize when you need systems instead of more people, and how entrepreneurs can use AI in a practical way without losing the human side of their business.

If you’ve ever felt like your business has become a job you can’t escape from, this episode will give you a whole new perspective on what’s possible.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Buying a business that quickly turned into a crisis
• What happened when the seller disappeared after closing
• Leading a team when everything feels uncertain
• Why Andrea realized she couldn’t hire her way out of the problem
• Using AI to automate the back office
• The business tasks that are perfect for AI—and the ones that aren’t
• How systems can create more freedom for business owners
• The mindset shift from doing everything to actually leading as a CEO
• How service-based businesses can start using AI today
• Building a business that gives you your time and life back

If you’re ready to stop doing everything yourself and start thinking like the CEO of your business, this conversation is for you.

Connect with Andrea Placio:

• Website: https://andreapalacio.ai/
• Instagram (personal): https://www.instagram.com/andreapalacio/  
• Personalized gameplan: https://andreapalacio.ai/personalized-90-day-game-plan 
•  Email: [email protected]
  
   
  
  

Connect with Camille:

• Instagram: @CamilleWalker.co
• Podcast: @CallMeCEOPodcast

Try the 5-minute routine tomorrow and tag @CallMeCEOPodcast on Instagram with your biggest takeaway.

Schedule a free discovery call with Camille!

https://calendly.com/callmeceopodcast/discovery-call-with-camille 

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AI is changing the way we work, create, market, and grow—and if you’re a business owner, it can feel like the rules are changing every five minutes.

So what is actually working right now?

In this episode of Call Me CEO, I’m joined by Shannon Kinney for a practical and energizing conversation about AI, marketing, and building a business designed to grow.

We talk about what’s happening in marketing right now, where AI is genuinely helping business owners, and where human connection, strategy, and creativity still matter more than ever.

Because AI can help you move faster—but speed isn’t the same thing as strategy.

AI + Marketing: What’s Working Now

AI is changing the way we build, market, and grow our businesses—but what is actually working right now?

If you’ve been wondering how to use AI more effectively in your business, this episode is for you!

Shannon’s work focuses on helping businesses use AI effectively and ethically to save time while increasing marketing activity and growth. (linkedin.com)

Shannon and I dig into how entrepreneurs can use AI as a tool without losing their voice, how marketing is evolving, and what it takes to create a business that consistently attracts the right people and turns attention into growth.

In this episode, we talk about:

 What’s actually working with AI right now
 How entrepreneurs can use AI to save time and increase productivity
 Where AI fits into your marketing strategy
 Why your human voice and perspective still matter
 How marketing is changing—and what business owners need to pay attention to
 Building a marketing strategy that supports consistent growth
 How to create content that attracts the right audience
 The difference between being busy with marketing and actually generating results
 How entrepreneurs can stay ahead without chasing every new AI trend
 What business owners should be focusing on as AI continues to evolve

One of my favorite themes from this conversation is that AI isn’t the strategy. It’s a tool that can help you execute the strategy faster.

The businesses that win won’t necessarily be the ones using the most AI. They’ll be the ones that understand their customer, communicate clearly, build trust, and use technology to amplify what already makes their brand valuable.

If you’re wondering how to navigate AI without getting overwhelmed—or how to build a marketing engine that actually grows your business—this episode is for you.

Connect with Shannon: 

Shannon website: https://shannonkinney.com/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannonkinney/  

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shannonkin/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shannon.kinney 

Connect with Camille:

• Instagram: @CamilleWalker.co
• Podcast: @CallMeCEOPodcast

Try the 5-minute routine tomorrow and tag @CallMeCEOPodcast on Instagram with your biggest takeaway.

Schedule a free discovery call with Camille!

https://calendly.com/callmeceopodcast/discovery-call-with-camille 

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From Sister-in-Laws to Brand Owners

What happens when two sister-in-laws combine their ideas, creativity, and love for their girls? Pip Pop Post was born!

In this fun episode of Call Me CEO, I’m chatting with the women behind Pip Pop Post, a playful jewelry brand created with young girls and tweens in mind.

We’re talking about what it’s like to build a business with your sister-in-law, how they turned a real need into a brand, and why finding cute, stylish earrings for girls with sensitive ears shouldn’t be so difficult.

Pip Pop Post is all about making earrings that girls actually want to wear while giving parents peace of mind with hypoallergenic options designed with sensitive ears in mind.

But behind the earrings is an even better story: two women who saw an opportunity, leaned into their strengths, and decided to build something together.

In this episode, we talk about:

 How Pip Pop Post came to life
 What it’s like building a business with your sister-in-law
 Turning a problem into a business opportunity
 Why they chose to focus on young girls and tweens
 Creating a brand that feels fun, colorful, and made for girls
 The importance of listening to your customer
 What they’ve learned about entrepreneurship along the way
 The challenges and fun of building a product-based business
 What it takes to turn an idea into an actual brand

And of course, we talk earrings! From cute styles to the challenge of finding options that work for sensitive ears, Pip Pop Post is filling a niche that moms and girls have been looking for.

This conversation is a reminder that sometimes the best business ideas come from simply noticing a problem and saying, “There has to be a better way.”

Whether you’re thinking about starting a business with a family member, building a product-based brand, or simply looking for inspiration to turn an idea into something real, you’re going to love this episode.

Come for the earrings, stay for the sister-in-law entrepreneurship story!  

Connect with Pip Pop: 

Website: https://www.pippoppost.com/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pippoppost/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Pippoppost 

Connect with Camille:

• Instagram: @CamilleWalker.co
• Podcast: @CallMeCEOPodcast

Try the 5-minute routine tomorrow and tag @CallMeCEOPodcast on Instagram with your biggest takeaway.

Schedule a free discovery call with Camille!

https://calendly.com/callmeceopodcast/discovery-call-with-camille 

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What if growing your business didn’t require you to work more hours?

So many entrepreneurs build successful businesses only to find themselves completely buried in the day-to-day. They’re answering every email, managing every detail, remembering every process, and becoming the bottleneck in their own business.

In this episode of Call Me CEO, I’m talking with Sandi Glandt about the power of systems, strategy, and support—and how these three things can completely change the way you operate your business.

Sandi shares practical insights into knowing when you’ve outgrown your current way of doing business, what to delegate first, how to create systems that actually simplify your work, and why getting support isn’t a sign that you can’t do it all.

We also talk about an important CEO mindset shift: moving from being the person who does everything to becoming the person who leads the business strategically. 

In this episode, we talk about:

• Why entrepreneurs get stuck doing everything themselves
• How to recognize when your business has outgrown your current systems
• The difference between having tools and having actual systems
• What to automate, delegate, and eliminate
• How to decide what the CEO should continue owning
• Why delegation can feel so difficult—and how to get better at it
• How systems can help prevent burnout
• Building a business that can grow without requiring more of your time
• The mindset shift from business owner to CEO
• Simple steps you can take right now to create more structure and freedom

The Big Takeaway

Your business should support your life—not consume it.

Creating systems isn’t about making your business more complicated. It’s about creating enough structure that you can stop living in the weeds and start leading your business.

If you’re constantly thinking, “I know I need help, but I don’t even know where to start,” this episode is for you.

Connect with Sandi Glandt:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sandiglandt 
• Website: https://www.sandraglandt.com/ 
  
  
  

Connect with Camille:

• Instagram: @CamilleWalker.co
• Podcast: @CallMeCEOPodcast

Try the 5-minute routine tomorrow and tag @CallMeCEOPodcast on Instagram with your biggest takeaway.

Schedule a free discovery call with Camille!

https://calendly.com/callmeceopodcast/discovery-call-with-camille 

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Camille sits down with Anne Lopez, founder and CEO of Miami-based Studio 790 Interior Design, to talk about building a purpose-led business through life's hardest seasons. Anne shares her journey from 20 years in corporate digital marketing to launching her design firm at 39 — just before COVID and a surprise divorce hit simultaneously. They discuss pricing strategy for service-based businesses, how to create purposeful spaces in your home on any budget, and how Anne transformed her firm into an AI-first operation that made the Inc. 5000 list twice.

Key Topics & Timestamps:

• Anne's background & career pivot — 20 years in corporate marketing for luxury hotels, launching Studio 790 at age 39
• Surviving rock bottom — Navigating a surprise divorce and COVID in 2020 as a single mom and new business owner; "sink or swim, victim or victor"
• Learning on the job — Showing up to gut renovation job sites without knowing construction terminology, Googling "rough plumbing" on the fly
• Purpose-led vision — How living authentically attracts the right team and clients; building an all-women team
• Pricing strategy — Hourly model with min/max ranges, one flat rate, transparency for clients; "set it and forget it for one year"
• Client impact story — Designing a nursery that became a healing sanctuary for a mom during a difficult birth
• Home design tips without a designer — Start with one space, dream big, execute one thing; avoid buying piecemeal items that don't cohere; save ~$10,000 before furnishing a room
• Budget reality check — $7,500 for an entry-level living room (Target, Amazon, West Elm level); factor in 7% tax + 10-15% shipping
• AI integration — Running an AI-first design firm: Archsynth for elevation drawings, Lovable for website building, AI for client emails and automated reporting
• Inc. 5000 — Made the list twice; team grew to 8 full-time (up to 16 in busy season)
• Self-care as a CEO — Reading habits, Tony Robbins' "NET Time" (No Extra Time), exercise, WPO & Pinnacle Global Network, intentional family time
• Book recommendations — Atomic Habits, Design Love In by Marcus Buckingham

Mentioned Resources:

• Lovable (AI website builder) — lovable.dev
• Archsynth (AI elevation drawings)
• Amplify My Portfolio — amplifymyportfolio.com
• Tony Robbins' NET Time concept
• WPO (Women Presidents' Organization)
• Pinnacle Global Network

Connect with Anne Lopez:

• Instagram (personal): @annelopezliving
• Instagram (business): Studio 790 Interior Design
• Website: studio790.com
• Email: [email protected]
  
  

Connect with Camille:

• Instagram: @CamilleWalker.co
• Podcast: @CallMeCEOPodcast

Try the 5-minute routine tomorrow and tag @CallMeCEOPodcast on Instagram with your biggest takeaway.

Schedule a free discovery call with Camille!

https://calendly.com/callmeceopodcast/discovery-call-with-camille 

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What if one of the greatest gifts we can give our kids is the ability to pause, breathe, and find a little calm?

In this episode of Call Me CEO, we’re talking about why meditation can be such a simple and powerful tool for kids—and why it doesn’t have to take more than five minutes.

You’ll learn how short meditation and breathing practices can help kids navigate big emotions, worry, stress, overstimulation, and busy days.

And we’re talking about the important role we play as parents in modeling calm, rest, and self-care for our kids.

Try It Tonight

Start small.

Take five minutes with your child to slow down, breathe, and reset.

And if five minutes feels like too much, start with one.

The goal isn’t perfection. It’s creating the habit of pausing.

Connect with Camille:

• Instagram: @CamilleWalker.co
• Podcast: @CallMeCEOPodcast

Try the 5-minute routine tomorrow and tag @CallMeCEOPodcast on Instagram with your biggest takeaway.

 5-minute meditations 

Schedule a free discovery call with Camille!

https://calendly.com/callmeceopodcast/discovery-call-with-camille 

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Selling your services shouldn’t feel like you’re pushing people into something they don’t want, but that’s exactly how it can feel when you’re trying to create a signature offer for the first time. We sit down with Kimberly G Walker, an exercise physiologist and cancer exercise trainer, to unpack what’s really underneath the fear of sounding “salesy,” especially when you’re used to clients walking into your practice without you having to market yourself at all.

We dig into the mindset work that comes before any funnel, offer page, or content plan. Camille walks Kimberly through the question that changes everything: “Why not you?” From there, we build real evidence. Years of being booked out, teaching and mentoring, and working with high-risk clients is not just experience, it’s proof of outcomes. We also talk about why staying in your scope of practice matters online, and how a professional, collaborative approach (like partnering with dietitians when needed) builds trust fast.

Then we get practical about marketing an online coaching offer with integrity: share bite-sized value, teach what you know, and give people a clear next step when they’re ready. When your message is rooted in quality of life, longevity, resistance training, and honoring the body with a non-restrictive approach, selling becomes an act of care, not pressure.

If you’re building a business as a mom, juggling life, work, and big goals, this quick coaching session will help you share your offer with confidence. Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs it, and leave a review so more women can find the support to lead and serve.

Connect with Camille:

• Instagram: @CamilleWalker.co
• Podcast: @CallMeCEOPodcast

Try the 5-minute routine tomorrow and tag @CallMeCEOPodcast on Instagram with your biggest takeaway.

Schedule a free discovery call with Camille!

https://calendly.com/callmeceopodcast/discovery-call-with-camille 

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Back-to-school season has a way of turning even the most capable working mom into a full-time logistics manager. I’m Camille Walker, a mom of four with four different schools on the calendar this year, and I wanted a practical reset that doesn’t require me to become superhuman. So I did something fun and surprisingly useful: I asked ChatGPT for back-to-school tips, then I tell you which ones I agree with, how I actually do them, and where real life needs a simpler plan. 

We get into the systems that reduce daily stress fast, starting with planning ahead using a family calendar. I share what’s worked for me with scheduling tools, plus why a big printed, color-coded wall calendar can beat digital invites when kids don’t live in email. We also talk meal prep for busy weeks, freezer and crock pot backups, snack bins, and keeping school lunches simple while still hitting the basics like protein, fruit, and a veggie. 

From there, we move into routines that support both kids and parents: mornings that build independence, after-school transitions that make homework less painful, and how to adjust when attention and energy tank later in the day. I also share my core message for working parents: delegate, ask for help, and don’t carry it all alone, whether that means involving your kids, leaning on your partner, or even hiring a virtual assistant. We wrap with self-care that fits real life, staying flexible when the school year throws curveballs, saying no without guilt, and building stronger connection through check-ins and simple family meetings. 

If this helps, subscribe, share it with a friend who needs a calmer school year, and leave a five-star rating and review.

Connect with Camille:

• Instagram: @CamilleWalker.co
• Podcast: @CallMeCEOPodcast

Try the 5-minute routine tomorrow and tag @CallMeCEOPodcast on Instagram with your biggest takeaway.

Schedule a free discovery call with Camille!

https://calendly.com/callmeceopodcast/discovery-call-with-camille 

Send us Fan Mail

What happens when a husband starts growing a beard and can't find quality products he actually likes?

For Megan "The Princess" Gray and her husband Colin "The Wizard" Gray, that simple problem sparked the creation of Fable Beard Co. and eventually Fable Beauty—two story-driven brands that have grown from a garage startup into a thriving multi-million-dollar company.

In this episode of Call Me CEO, Camille sits down with Megan and Colin to discuss entrepreneurship, marriage, motherhood, leadership, and what it really takes to build a business from scratch. Megan shares her experience as a female founder leading a company in a traditionally male-dominated industry, while Colin reveals how creativity and storytelling became the secret ingredient behind Fable's passionate customer community.

Together, they discuss how they bootstrapped their business, learned Facebook advertising themselves, manufactured products from their garage, and eventually expanded into a 10,000-square-foot facility while raising three children.

If you've ever wondered whether you can build a successful business without sacrificing your family, this episode will leave you inspired to think bigger.

In This Episode You'll Learn:

• How Fable Beard Co. started from a personal need and became a national brand
• The storytelling strategy that transformed ordinary grooming products into collectible experiences
• What it's like running a business with your spouse
• How Megan navigates leadership as a woman in a male-dominated industry
• The challenges and rewards of bootstrapping a company from the ground up
• Why community building has been critical to Fable's growth
• Lessons learned from making only $7,000 in their first year
• How they scaled to millions in annual revenue and earned spots on the Inc. 5000 list
• Their approach to balancing business ownership and parenting
• Marketing strategies that helped fuel growth through Facebook, Meta, Google, and organic content

Key Takeaway

"You don't need permission to lead. Whether you're building a company, raising a family, or doing both at the same time, confidence grows through action."

Connect with Megan Gray & Fable

Instagram:

• @fablebeautybytheprincess
• @fablebeardco
• @theprincessfbc

Websites:

• FableBeauty.com
• FableBeardCo.com

Connect with Camille:

• Instagram: @CamilleWalker.co
• Podcast: @CallMeCEOPodcast

Try the 5-minute routine tomorrow and tag @CallMeCEOPodcast on Instagram with your biggest takeaway.

Schedule a free discovery call with Camille!

https://calendly.com/callmeceopodcast/discovery-call-with-camille 

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What if you didn’t need a tech background, investors, or a perfectly mapped-out plan to build a real app?

In this episode of Call Me CEO, Camille sits down with K Botkin, a millennial mom of two and corporate leader who turned a personal frustration into a powerful solution for modern motherhood.

With zero coding experience, K taught herself how to build Kin—an AI-powered assistant designed specifically for moms carrying the mental load of everyday life. What started as a late-night idea at her kitchen table quickly became a fully launched app helping women simplify meal planning, grocery shopping, scheduling, budgeting, and more.

Together, they dive into:

• What it really looks like to build a tech product as a non-technical founder
• The mental load of motherhood and why it sparked the creation of Kin
• How AI can actually simplify life for moms instead of overwhelm them
• Building confidence when you don’t feel “qualified”
• The reality of creating something after bedtime, between work, and real life
• Why the future of AI belongs to everyday moms—not just tech experts

K also shares how resistance from traditional workplace systems pushed her to explore AI independently, and how she began building tools not just for herself—but for moms everywhere who feel like they’re constantly trying to “do it all.”

This is a conversation about motherhood, innovation, and what becomes possible when you stop waiting to feel ready.

About the Guest:

K Botkin is a millennial mom of two young boys, full-time corporate leader, and founder of Kinyoudoitall. She is the creator of Kin, an AI assistant app designed to help moms reduce the mental load of daily life through meal planning, scheduling, budgeting, and more.

She also runs the kinyoudoitall.com blog and community, where she teaches non-technical moms how to use AI in practical, everyday ways.

Resources & Links:

Instagram: https://instagram.com/kinyoudoitall
Website: https://kinyoudoitall.com
Free AI 101 Guide for Moms: https://stan.store/kinyoudoitall
Download Kin (iOS): https://apps.apple.com/us/app/kin-ai-assistant-for-moms/id6763621685
Download Kin (Android): https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.kinyoudoitall.kin

Connect with Camille:

• Instagram: @CamilleWalker.co
• Podcast: @CallMeCEOPodcast

Try the 5-minute routine tomorrow and tag @CallMeCEOPodcast on Instagram with your biggest takeaway.

Schedule a free discovery call with Camille!

https://calendly.com/callmeceopodcast/discovery-call-with-camille