In this empowering episode of The City Girl Empower Hour, we sit down with Larissa Loden — artist, entrepreneur, and creative force behind Larissa Loden Inc. From her early days as an art teacher to founding a nationally recognized jewelry brand, Larissa shares the bold moves and pivotal moments that shaped her path.

We dig into:

· How Larissa made the courageous leap from teaching to full-time entrepreneurship

· Lessons learned from the early days of business (and what she'd do differently now)

· How her style and approach to jewelry design have evolved over time

· Carving out a niche in a saturated jewelry market — and standing out with authenticity

· The story behind the "Black Sheep" line and why representation in fashion matters

· Dealing with copycats in the age of fast fashion and online marketplaces

· Why she expanded from online-only to brick-and-mortar retail

· How sustainability, community, and giving back fuel the heartbeat of her business

· Common traps entrepreneurs fall into when scaling — and how to avoid them

· Larissa's advice for anyone dreaming of launching their own brand

· A sneak peek into what's next for her and the Larissa Loden brand

Whether you're an entrepreneur, a creative, or just someone looking for a little inspiration to take a bold leap, this conversation will leave you feeling fired up and ready to forge your own path.

Connect with Larissa:

· Website: larissaloden.com

· Instagram: @larissaloden

Connect with us:

· Social Media: @citygirlempowerhour, @citygirlcoffee, @thelakeandco, @thumbscookies

What happens when Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z all collide under one workplace roof? In this episode, we're diving into that exact question with Hannah Ubl—speaker, researcher, and co-founder of Good Company Consulting.

Whether you're a manager, a mentor, or just trying to survive your next Zoom meeting with four different generations—this episode is for you.

Hannah has spent her career helping organizations bridge generational divides to create workplaces that actually don't suck. From decoding why Gen Z's quiet quitting isn't so quiet, to understanding how global events shape who we become as adults, Hannah brings fresh, research-driven insights that are as entertaining as they are enlightening.

We talk about:

· Why the conversation about generational tension at work is more relevant than ever

· The cultural and societal forces shaping the next generation

· What companies get wrong when trying to "fix" Gen Z

· Her best advice for managers, leaders, and teammates navigating multi-generational teams

Plus, a sneak peek into her upcoming book all about Generation Z—and why it's not about pandering, but understanding.

Connect with Hannah:

Website: goodcompanyconsulting.com

Instagram: @goodcompanyconsulting

Books: Managing Millennials for Dummies | The Future of Work is Human

Connect with Us:

@citygirlempowerhour

@citygirlcoffee

@thumbscookies @thelakeandco

Welcome back to The City Girl Empower Hour! We're back and better than ever with a fresh format, bringing you even more inspiring stories of movers, shakers, and everyday champions making a difference.

This week, we're diving deep into financial literacy, resilience, and building the life you truly desire with powerhouse guest Shannon Foreman—a multi-passionate leader, CEO, and founder of both Forethought Planning and Shannon Foreman Co. Shannon is on a mission to help women take control of their financial future, create generational wealth, and step into their power.

In this episode, we chat about:

✨ The wildest artist and celebrity stories from Shannon's upbringing and how it shaped her path

✨ How to stay calm and protect your financial future in uncertain times

✨ The biggest money mistakes people make (and how to avoid them!)

✨ Why women must take control of their financial wellness

✨ The behind-the-scenes journey of writing her upcoming book

✨ Her biggest career challenges, wins, and lessons learned

If you've ever felt overwhelmed by finances or unsure of where to start, this conversation is for YOU. Shannon is breaking down complex topics in a way that empowers you to take action today.

Grab your favorite drink, tune in, and get ready to be inspired!

Connect with Shannon Foreman:

📌 Website: www.forethoughtplanning.com

📌 Instagram: @forethoughtplanning

📌 LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/foremanshannon

Stay Connected with The City Girl Empower Hour!

📲 Follow us on Instagram: @citygirlempowerhour @citygrilcoffee @thumbscookies @thelakeandcompany

⭐ If you loved this episode, please subscribe, rate & review! It helps us keep bringing you powerful stories and conversations.

💬 Loved this episode? Leave us a review & share with a friend!#CityGirlEmpowerHour #FinancialFreedom #WomenAndWealth #MoneyMindset

Welcome back to The City Girl Empower Hour! We're kicking off a brand-new season with an exciting transformation! Join host Alyza James, founder of City Girl Coffee, alongside her dynamic new co-hosts—Robyn Frank (Founder of Thumbs Cookies) and Megan Kellin (serial entrepreneur and media powerhouse).

In this special premiere episode, we're reintroducing The Empower Hour with a fresh format that amplifies the voices of trailblazers, innovators, and everyday champions making an impact in their communities. We'll dive into why we've joined forces, how this evolution fosters deeper connections, and what you can expect from this season of inspiring conversations.

So, grab your favorite beverage and settle in—because we're just getting started!

Follow, subscribe, and stay connected for more empowering stories! #CityGirlEmpowerHour #WomenInBusiness #Trailblazers

@citygirlcoffee @thelakeandcompany @thumbscookies

A perfect ending to season 3, this week we're excited to share Jen Gilhoi's experiences, and the 'saving grace' coffee has had in her journey, now her beverage of choice! Jen's 20 plus years in Minneapolis and St. Paul as a marketing and communications professional have helped make her an advocate and creator for healthy social experiences that decentralize alcohol, as a result of the challenges she's navigated.

She is the epitome of what a positive alcohol-free lifestyle can lead to. A seasoned strategist and founder of Sparktrack and Zero Proof Collective, we will use her experiences to dig deep into shedding the shame and the empowerment sobriety has resulted in regaining power to take her life back. Her soon to be launched Tedx talk brings awareness to alcohol misuse and the power of uncoupling its use with activities.

So grab your favorite cup of coffee and sit back and listen. It is worth what you will learn about the power of a no-foam americano and cold brew has on one's journey to conquer an addiction to alcohol.

Join City Girl Coffee in following @jengilhoi and @sobernotsomber_ @zeroproofcollective on Instagram and @zeroproofcollective on Facebook, LinkedIn: jengilhoi company: zeroproofcollective and Twitter @zeroproofMSP on Twitter. hashtags: #sobernotsomber #tedxtalks #tedxspeaker #tedxedina

The well-known phrase 'it takes a village to raise a child' could not hold truer when it comes to the support that mothers need in raising their children. Being a mom is overwhelming, to say the least. No mother is fully prepared for the emotions that come with postpartum, or in the years to come. Don't throw in the towel, help is out there!

Just in time for Mother's Day, our guest this week, Stephanie Flies, is the mother of 3 girls and the CEO and Founder of City Mom Collective, an online community and website providing a positive voice for motherhood by connecting moms to resources and parenting perspectives unique to their communities. She considers herself the OG of connecting and empowering local moms via parenting blogs and websites. Listen as we discuss the catalyst for City Mom Collective, her role of overseeing their national network and the vast importance of connecting with your local community, either through connections with other moms or local businesses, and so much more.

Follow Steph @citymomcollective @stephanie.flies on Instagram and City Mom Collective on Facebook. Be sure to support Alyza on Facebook and Instagram @CityGirlCoffee and @CityGirlEmpowerhour or visit us at www.citygirlcoffee.com to learn more.

Do you enjoy a nice cabernet or a cold glass of Rosé? Or maybe you wish you could take a permanent trip to wine country?? Our guest this week has carved out a little piece of Napa Valley on a main street in Minnesota. Born and raised in Minnesota, Ali moved to California & fell in love with wine and wanted to bring a slice of the Golden State back to the Midwest. The Vine Room is a fun welcoming wine bar also offering workshops & wine education classes; The Vine Shop next door is a curated bottle shop focusing on sustainably produced domestic wines and has the coolest wine club around!

City Girl Empower Host and City Girl Coffee founder Alyza Bohbot James and Ali talk all things Wine in the episode. From navigating the pandemic to debunking common wine myths, answering the questions we're all thinking but too scared to admit we don't know the answers to, and more!

Follow Ali @vineroom.co and @vineshop.co on Facebook and Instagram or visit their website https://www.vinewineco.com/ to learn more about upcoming events and to learn more about joining their wine club. Be sure to support Alyza on Facebook and Instagram @CityGirlCoffee and @CityGirlEmpowerhour or visit us at www.citygirlcoffee.com to learn more.

It's a song, it's a saying… but have you ever wondered what it really means to "put your money where your mouth is?" Our guest this week not only talks the talk, but has been walking the walk for more than 40 years by investing in transformative futures of women and girls.

Gloria Perez, the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Women's Foundation of Minnesota, the first statewide women's foundation in the country, has become one of the country's leading experts in two-generation strategies to reduce poverty. Since they were founded in 1983, the Women's Foundation has distributed more than $45 million through community investments supporting ongoing research on the status of women and girls in Minnesota; advocating for public policy resulting in greater economic security and safety for women and their families; and investing in organizations and leaders who are leading in gender and racial justice to benefit all families and communities.

Follow Gloria and the Women's Foundation of Minnesota @WomensFndnMN on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter or on LinkedIn and support Alyza on Facebook and Instagram at @CityGirlCoffee and @CityGirlEmpower Hour. Be sure to like and share this podcast with your coffee-loving friends.

Every entrepreneur has been there. Balancing the health of your business with your personal health and the wellbeing of the many employees, customers and partners who depend on your business every day.

It's especially difficult for entrepreneurs with mission-driven businesses who balance an obligation to the bottom line with the goal to make a meaningful difference in the world.

City Girl Empower Hour host and City Girl Coffee Founder Alyza Bohbot James discusses this delicate balance with Carley Kammerer, Founder and Executive Director of Wildflyer Coffee. Founded in 2017, Wildflyer is a social services enterprise that addresses youth homelessness through a program centered around two Twin Cities coffee shops. City Girl Coffee empowers women of coffee through sustainable sourcing from women-owned and operated farms.

Hear how Carley and Alyza address these challenges and learn about how you can support women throughout the coffee value chain by checking out the City Girl Coffee x Wildflyer Coffee collaboration in celebration of Women's History Month.

Follow Carly and Wildflyer Coffee at @Wildflyercoffee on Instagram and Facebook and support Alyza on Facebook and Instagram at @CityGirlCoffee and @CityGirlEmpower Hour. Be sure to like and share this podcast with your coffee-loving friends.

#coffee #coffeeshop #entrepreneurship #entreprenista #people #youth #business #mission #support #women #homelessness #minneapolis #collaboration #balance #advice #welbeing #health #empowerment #citygirlcoffee #wildflyercoffee #twincities #doinggood #socialenterprise

Have you ever climbed to the top of a mountain, paused to look around and realized you're only half-way to the summit? Or picked a dozen dandelions in your yard, only to find twice as many have grown back in their place? Welcome to the life of an entrepreneur!

Jaime Teats, Author, Founder & CEO of professional consulting firm Keystone Group International, is our guest for episode 41 of City Girl Empower Hour with host and City Girl Coffee founder Alyza Bohbot James.

Join Jaime and Alyza as they get real about the highs and lows of entrepreneurship, the power of making mistakes, riding the wave, and Jaime's recent experience climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro.

Connect with Jaime on Facebook and Instagram at @keystonegroupintl and on LinkedIn. And follow, like and share her adventures and company. You can also connect with Alyza on Facebook and Instagram at @CityGirlEmpowerHour and @City Girl Coffee

#business #entrepreneurs #womenbosses #girlbosses #citygirlcoffee #leadership #consulting #enterpreneurship #author #hiking #entrepreneurslife