Entreprenista

Nikki Arensman is an entrepreneur, brand designer, and strategist. She was formerly the CEO and Co-founder of the women’s activewear company, Jiva Activewear. When she sold the company in 2017, Nikki transformed her talent and passion for branding into her own brand marketing agency, Nikki Arensman LLC. Through her business, she equips women entrepreneurs with the tools they need to turn what they’re passionate about into a profitable business and a beautiful brand.

Nikki joins us today to explain how to build a thriving business through killer branding. She shares why it’s important to begin right after you come up with a business idea and discusses the value of playing to your strengths when building a company. She describes the process of selling a company as well as how she discovered her passion for building brands. Nikki also underscores the role of mastering communication around a brand’s mission and offers advice for building a binge-worthy brand.

“Brand strategy allows you to present to your community, audience, and customers what they need and desire before they even know they need it.” - Nikki Arensman

This week’s takeaways from Entreprenista:

• The power of communities, groups, and networks
• The evolution of Nikki’s first business, Jiva, and how it led her to found her current business
• The lessons Nikki learned from starting her first company
• The process Nikki underwent to sell her business
• How Nikki discovered her passion for brand building and strategy
• What it’s like to work with a brand marketing agency
• The different branding services and strategies Nikki offers through her agency
• How to build a community of your brand’s supporters
• The biggest struggles and achievements of Nikki’s Entreprenista journey
• The importance of trying new things and opening up to risk
• How Nikki kept moving forward in the early days of her business despite rejections and hard times
• Why you don’t need a big team or a huge budget to make a business work

Resources Mentioned:

• Canva
• Squarespace
• Book: Everything Is Figureoutable by Marie Forleo

Our Favorite Quotes:

• “Brand strategy and brand design impact how businesses grow and how they get themselves out there.” - Nikki Arensman
• “Brand’s identity is showing up with your best foot forward; it’s dressing the part for what you want to do in this world.” - Nikki Arensman
• “When it comes to selling your business or exit plan, have patience, don’t be in a rush, make smart decisions, and find other people who have sold businesses before.” - Nikki Arensman

Connect with Nikki Arensman:

• Nikki Arensman Website
• Podcast: The Business of Branding
• Nikki Arensman LLC on LinkedIn
• Nikki Arensman on LinkedIn
• Nikki Arensman on Instagram
• Nikki Arensman on Facebook
• Nikki Arensman on Pinterest

Help More Female Entrepreneurs & Leaders Through the IFundWomen Campaign

We are thrilled to announce that our iFundWomen campaign is now live! We have supported so many women through Entreprenista, and we're excited to share this opportunity with you to support our campaign and continue to help women business owners and leaders.

Our funding goal is $100,000 - which means that every dollar counts. The best part? We've created incredible rewards that will help you as part of our campaign!

When you pledge to the iFundWomen Campaign, you’ll receive:

• An exclusive Entreprenista League Membership rate
• Dedicated Instagram and website features to promote you and your business
• Interviews on the Entreprenista podcast and our new podcast that's launching in 2022 - Startups In Stilettos
• One-on-one sessions with Stephanie or Courtney
• ...and so much more

Visit iFundWomen.com/Projects/Entreprenista to contribute any amount you feel comfortable with.

Seriously. Every dollar, every share, and every mention on social media to your network counts and is beyond appreciated. Thank you for supporting us and women everywhere.

If you’re looking to take your business to the next level:

Join our Entreprenista League community of women founders! You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded Entreprenistas who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, the opportunity to have your story featured on our website and social channels, and MORE!

Whether you’re looking to scale your existing business and want to make the right connections, or you’re thinking about finally taking the leap to launch your business, we’re here to give you access to a community of women who will celebrate your every step, and with whom you can share the candid reality of building a business from scratch.

Join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!

Say “Hello!” To DigiCards™ 

Are you ready to take your virtual team meetings to the next level? Are you tired of yelling “You’re on mute!” at your computer screen and letting the important points you were trying to make get lost?

If you’re tired of leading unproductive, distraction-filled team meetings, then it’s time for you to say “Hello!” to DigiCards. Each pack of virtual meeting cards include 20 color-coded professional cards designed to streamline your meeting communications while allowing each meeting to create an opportunity for collaboration and fun.

Say “Goodbye!” to waving your arms, being ignored, and frantically typing in the chat.

Start your next virtual meeting with DigiCards - the virtual meeting cards for entreprenistas.

To grab your deck of DigiCards and bring fun, engagement, and collaboration back into your team meetings, visit www.hellodigicards.com. Use the coupon code: Entreprenista10 to receive 10% off your first order.

Become An Entreprenista!

Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Entreprenista Podcast - the most fun business meeting for female founders, by female founders. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.

Apple Podcasts | TuneIn | Spotify | Stitcher | iHeart Radio | GooglePlay

Be sure to share your favorite episodes across social media to help us reach more amazing female founders, like you.

Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn and for more exclusive content, tips, and insight, join the Entreprenistas Facebook group and visit the SocialFly website.

Nikki Arensman is an entrepreneur, brand designer, and strategist. She was formerly the CEO and Co-founder of the women’s activewear company, Jiva Activewear. When she sold the company in 2017, Nikki transformed her talent and passion for branding into her own brand marketing agency, Nikki Arensman LLC. Through her business, she equips women entrepreneurs with the tools they need to turn what they’re passionate about into a profitable business and a beautiful brand.

Nikki joins us today to explain how to build a thriving business through killer branding. She shares why it’s important to begin right after you come up with a business idea and discusses the value of playing to your strengths when building a company. She describes the process of selling a company as well as how she discovered her passion for building brands. Nikki also underscores the role of mastering communication around a brand’s mission and offers advice for building a binge-worthy brand.

“Brand strategy allows you to present to your community, audience, and customers what they need and desire before they even know they need it.” - Nikki Arensman

This week’s takeaways from Entreprenista:

The power of communities, groups, and networksThe evolution of Nikki’s first business, Jiva, and how it led her to found her current businessThe lessons Nikki learned from starting her first companyThe process Nikki underwent to sell her businessHow Nikki discovered her passion for brand building and strategyWhat it’s like to work with a brand marketing agencyThe different branding services and strategies Nikki offers through her agencyHow to build a community of your brand’s supportersThe biggest struggles and achievements of Nikki’s Entreprenista journeyThe importance of trying new things and opening up to riskHow Nikki kept moving forward in the early days of her business despite rejections and hard timesWhy you don’t need a big team or a huge budget to make a business work

Resources Mentioned:

CanvaSquarespaceBook: Everything Is Figureoutable by Marie Forleo

Our Favorite Quotes:

“Brand strategy and brand design impact how businesses grow and how they get themselves out there.” - Nikki Arensman“Brand’s identity is showing up with your best foot forward; it’s dressing the part for what you want to do in this world.” - Nikki Arensman“When it comes to selling your business or exit plan, have patience, don’t be in a rush, make smart decisions, and find other people who have sold businesses before.” - Nikki Arensman

Connect with Nikki Arensman:

Nikki Arensman WebsitePodcast: The Business of BrandingNikki Arensman LLC on LinkedInNikki Arensman on LinkedInNikki Arensman on InstagramNikki Arensman on FacebookNikki Arensman on Pinterest

Help More Female Entrepreneurs & Leaders Through the IFundWomen Campaign

We are thrilled to announce that our iFundWomen campaign is now live! We have supported so many women through Entreprenista, and we're excited to share this opportunity with you to support our campaign and continue to help women business owners and leaders. 

Our funding goal is $100,000 - which means that every dollar counts. The best part? We've created incredible rewards that will help you as part of our campaign! 

When you pledge to the iFundWomen Campaign, you’ll receive:

An exclusive Entreprenista League Membership rateDedicated Instagram and website features to promote you and your businessInterviews on the Entreprenista podcast and our new podcast that's launching in 2022 - Startups In StilettosOne-on-one sessions with Stephanie or Courtney...and so much more

Madeline Fraser is the CEO and Founder of Gemist, the first mobile app to allow users to design jewelry and try it on at home before purchasing it. Having grown problem-solving tech startups in the past, Madeline founded Gemist to turn the custom jewelry process into something personal and modern for consumers. Before creating Gemist, Madeline served as the CMO and Co-founder of the tech companies, ZOOM Interiors and Hutch. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts, Interior Design, and Architecture at George Washington University in 2014.

Madeline joins us today to share her advice on weathering the fundraising process. She discusses the lessons she learned from co-founding her previous two companies and describes what it was like to pitch in Shark Tank. She explains how the founder of Tinder became her mentor and why failures turn us into stronger business owners. She also outlines how venture capitalists invest during the pandemic and underscores the importance of building a network with other founders.

“Fundraising is networking and tapping into the founder network.” - Madeline Fraser

This week’s takeaways from Entreprenista:

• Madeline’s background as an Entreprenista and how she turned her passion for design into a business
• Her experience collaborating with the CEO of Tinder
• What it means to found a company and Gemist’s backstory
• How mistakes and failure help us become stronger people and business owners
• Figuring out your brand’s point of difference and making a splash in the market
• Turning an idea into a brand and the steps Madeline took toward launching Gemist
• Madeline’s tips for navigating the fundraising process
• The value of creating a network with other founders
• Madeline’s strategies for starting the fundraising process and keeping track of her network
• The challenges of fundraising during the COVID-19 pandemic
• How venture capitalists have shifted their investing mindset during the pandemic
• Being your own cheerleader and the role of self-care in the fundraising process

Resources Mentioned:

• Streak
• Slack

Our Favorite Quotes:

• “Fail fast, fix fast, and learn fast.” - Madeline Fraser
• “Understanding consumer behavior and making things easier is everything for the digital consumer in a tech world.” - Madeline Fraser
• “Sometimes, the best thing you can walk away with is a new connection and a new introduction, so keep talking to 10 people a day when you’re in the thick of fundraising.” - Madeline Fraser

Connect with Madeline Fraser:

• Gemist
• Gemist on LinkedIn
• Gemist on Instagram
• Gemist on Facebook
• Madeline Fraser on LinkedIn
• Madeline Fraser on Instagram

Help More Female Entrepreneurs & Leaders Through the IFundWomen Campaign

We are thrilled to announce that our iFundWomen campaign is now live! We have supported so many women through Entreprenista, and we're excited to share this opportunity with you to support our campaign and continue to help women business owners and leaders.

Our funding goal is $100,000 - which means that every dollar counts. The best part? We've created incredible rewards that will help you as part of our campaign!

When you pledge to the iFundWomen Campaign, you’ll receive:

• An exclusive Entreprenista League Membership rate
• Dedicated Instagram and website features to promote you and your business
• Interviews on the Entreprenista podcast and our new podcast that's launching in 2022 - Startups In Stilettos
• One-on-one sessions with Stephanie or Courtney
• ...and so much more

Visit iFundWomen.com/Projects/Entreprenista to contribute any amount you feel comfortable with.

Seriously. Every dollar, every share, and every mention on social media to your network counts and is beyond appreciated. Thank you for supporting us and women everywhere.

Today’s episode is brought to you by: ANISA Beauty Brushes

ANISA Beauty understands that what touches your skin matters. ANISA designs each brush through cruelty-free, vegan and sustainably responsible practices to elevate your skincare and makeup routines from hands-on to hands-free. The innovative design of these skin care and makeup brushes offer versatile application and fiber flexibility to achieve a great look - each and every time.

Head over to ANISABeauty.com and use the code Entreprenista50 at checkout to unlock the power of self-expression today.

Entreprenista has also teamed up with ANISA Beauty for an exciting giveaway! Enter to win the entire ANISA beauty collection and an Entreprenista League one-year membership! Visit Entreprenista.com/ANISABeauty to enter by December 15.

Good luck!

If you’re looking to take your business to the next level:

Join our Entreprenista League community of women founders! You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded Entreprenistas who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, the opportunity to have your story featured on our website and social channels, and MORE!

Whether you’re looking to scale your existing business and want to make the right connections, or you’re thinking about finally taking the leap to launch your business, we’re here to give you access to a community of women who will celebrate your every step, and with whom you can share the candid reality of building a business from scratch.

Join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!

Become An Entreprenista!

Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Entreprenista Podcast - the most fun business meeting for female founders, by female founders. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.

Apple Podcasts | TuneIn | Spotify | Stitcher | iHeart Radio | GooglePlay

Be sure to share your favorite episodes across social media to help us reach more amazing female founders, like you.

Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn and for more exclusive content, tips, and insight, join the Entreprenistas Facebook group and visit the SocialFly website.

Madeline Fraser is the CEO and Founder of Gemist, the first mobile app to allow users to design jewelry and try it on at home before purchasing it. Having grown problem-solving tech startups in the past, Madeline founded Gemist to turn the custom jewelry process into something personal and modern for consumers. Before creating Gemist, Madeline served as the CMO and Co-founder of the tech companies, ZOOM Interiors and Hutch. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts, Interior Design, and Architecture at George Washington University in 2014.

Madeline joins us today to share her advice on weathering the fundraising process. She discusses the lessons she learned from co-founding her previous two companies and describes what it was like to pitch in Shark Tank. She explains how the founder of Tinder became her mentor and why failures turn us into stronger business owners. She also outlines how venture capitalists invest during the pandemic and underscores the importance of building a network with other founders.

“Fundraising is networking and tapping into the founder network.” - Madeline Fraser

This week’s takeaways from Entreprenista:

Madeline’s background as an Entreprenista and how she turned her passion for design into a businessHer experience collaborating with the CEO of TinderWhat it means to found a company and Gemist’s backstoryHow mistakes and failure help us become stronger people and business ownersFiguring out your brand’s point of difference and making a splash in the marketTurning an idea into a brand and the steps Madeline took toward launching GemistMadeline’s tips for navigating the fundraising processThe value of creating a network with other foundersMadeline’s strategies for starting the fundraising process and keeping track of her networkThe challenges of fundraising during the COVID-19 pandemicHow venture capitalists have shifted their investing mindset during the pandemicBeing your own cheerleader and the role of self-care in the fundraising process

Resources Mentioned:

StreakSlack

Our Favorite Quotes:

“Fail fast, fix fast, and learn fast.” - Madeline Fraser“Understanding consumer behavior and making things easier is everything for the digital consumer in a tech world.” - Madeline Fraser“Sometimes, the best thing you can walk away with is a new connection and a new introduction, so keep talking to 10 people a day when you’re in the thick of fundraising.” - Madeline Fraser

Connect with Madeline Fraser:

GemistGemist on LinkedInGemist on InstagramGemist on FacebookMadeline Fraser on LinkedInMadeline Fraser on Instagram

Help More Female Entrepreneurs & Leaders Through the IFundWomen Campaign

We are thrilled to announce that our iFundWomen campaign is now live! We have supported so many women through Entreprenista, and we're excited to share this opportunity with you to support our campaign and continue to help women business owners and leaders. 

Our funding goal is $100,000 - which means that every dollar counts. The best part? We've created incredible rewards that will help you as part of our campaign! 

When you pledge to the iFundWomen Campaign, you’ll receive:

An exclusive Entreprenista League Membership rateDedicated Instagram and website features to promote you and your businessInterviews on the Entreprenista podcast and our new podcast that's launching in 2022 - Startups In StilettosOne-on-one sessions with Stephanie or Courtney...and so much more

Visit iFundWomen.com/Projects/Entreprenista to contribute any amount you feel comfortable with. 

Sandra Abdallah-Kohn is the CEO of MAM Baby, an organization dedicated to providing babies with the best start in life while making parents’ lives easier. Sandy brings more than 20 years of senior management expertise from working with several brands prior to MAM Baby. One of these brands is L’Oreal, where she worked for almost 15 years and served as Vice President for Business Development and Ecommerce and Multi-Channel before moving on to become the Senior Vice President and General Manager of Centric Brands in 2018.

Sandy joins us today to discuss how MAM Baby is leading the baby category revolution by making the consumer journey easier. She explains how MAM Baby is striving to give the category a “makeover” and build a community around their products. She shares why she trusts intuition in business and what it’s like to navigate the day-to-day of a CEO. She also reveals three ways to shift your organization’s culture for the better and her advice on breaking into a consumer product category for the first time.

“The number one source of information for moms is other moms. It requires a grassroots approach, and connecting authentically can refer your products to other moms.” - Sandra Abdallah-Kohn

This week’s takeaways from Entreprenista:

• Sandy’s career journey, from selling a cigarette brand and working at L’Oreal to becoming the CEO of MAM Baby
• Why Sandy focused on people and culture on her first few days as the CEO of MAM Baby
• What surprised Sandy about the baby category
• What she learned from working at L’Oreal about being authentic at the workplace
• Sandy’s advice on changing the culture of an organization
• The value of a grassroots marketing approach and building brand love
• Why Sandy dislikes the CEO title
• How Sandy evaluates job applicants to see if they’re a culture fit
• MAM Baby’s “Path to Parenthood” campaign
• The rigorous process MAM Baby products go under to ensure safety and quality
• MAM Baby’s market research efforts and how to break into a new consumer product category
• The power of “word-of-mom” and Sandy’s insight on reaching out and connecting with mom consumers
• Why mom influencers on social media are powerful for marketing efforts
• The reason Sandy believes in work/life “flow” and not “balance”
• Building trust and connection with your team while working remotely
• What being an Entreprenista means for Sandy

Our Favorite Quotes:

• “The baby category needs a remodel. It’s hard for a mom to figure out what she needs, and we need to help her decide better.” - Sandra Abdallah-Kohn
• “It takes every person to drive change; you need to articulate the mission of the organization and lead by example.” - Sandra Abdallah-Kohn
• “The future of ads is influencer content—it’s so much more authentic.” - Sandra Abdallah-Kohn

Connect with Sandra Abdallah-Kohn:

• MAM Baby
• MAM Baby on LinkedIn
• MAM Baby on Instagram
• MAM Baby on Facebook
• MAM Baby on YouTube
• Sandra Abdallah-Kohn on LinkedIn

Help More Female Entrepreneurs & Leaders Through the IFundWomen Campaign

We are thrilled to announce that our iFundWomen campaign is now live! We have supported so many women through Entreprenista, and we're excited to share this opportunity with you to support our campaign and continue to help women business owners and leaders.

Our funding goal is $100,000 - which means that every dollar counts. The best part? We've created incredible rewards that will help you as part of our campaign!

When you pledge to the iFundWomen Campaign, you’ll receive:

• An exclusive Entreprenista League Membership rate
• Dedicated Instagram and website features to promote you and your business
• Interviews on the Entreprenista podcast and our new podcast that's launching in 2022 - Startups In Stilettos
• One-on-one sessions with Stephanie or Courtney
• ...and so much more

Visit iFundWomen.com/Projects/Entreprenista to contribute any amount you feel comfortable with.

Seriously. Every dollar, every share, and every mention on social media to your network counts and is beyond appreciated. Thank you for supporting us and women everywhere.

Today’s episode is brought to you by: ANISA Beauty Brushes

ANISA Beauty understands that what touches your skin matters. ANISA designs each brush through cruelty-free, vegan and sustainably responsible practices to elevate your skincare and makeup routines from hands-on to hands-free. The innovative design of these skin care and makeup brushes offer versatile application and fiber flexibility to achieve a great look - each and every time.

Head over to ANISABeauty.com and use the code Entreprenista50 at checkout to unlock the power of self-expression today.

Entreprenista has also teamed up with ANISA Beauty for an exciting giveaway! Enter to win the entire ANISA beauty collection and an Entreprenista League one-year membership! Visit Entreprenista.com/ANISABeauty to enter by December 15.

Good luck!

If you’re looking to take your business to the next level:

Join our Entreprenista League community of women founders! You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded Entreprenistas who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, the opportunity to have your story featured on our website and social channels, and MORE!

Whether you’re looking to scale your existing business and want to make the right connections, or you’re thinking about finally taking the leap to launch your business, we’re here to give you access to a community of women who will celebrate your every step, and with whom you can share the candid reality of building a business from scratch.

Join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!

Become An Entreprenista!

Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Entreprenista Podcast - the most fun business meeting for female founders, by female founders. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.

Apple Podcasts | TuneIn | Spotify | Stitcher | iHeart Radio | GooglePlay

Be sure to share your favorite episodes across social media to help us reach more amazing female founders, like you.

Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn and for more exclusive content, tips, and insight, join the Entreprenistas Facebook group and visit the SocialFly website.

Sandra Abdallah-Kohn is the CEO of MAM Baby, an organization dedicated to providing babies with the best start in life while making parents’ lives easier. Sandy brings more than 20 years of senior management expertise from working with several brands prior to MAM Baby. One of these brands is L’Oreal, where she worked for almost 15 years and served as Vice President for Business Development and Ecommerce and Multi-Channel before moving on to become the Senior Vice President and General Manager of Centric Brands in 2018.

Sandy joins us today to discuss how MAM Baby is leading the baby category revolution by making the consumer journey easier. She explains how MAM Baby is striving to give the category a “makeover” and build a community around their products. She shares why she trusts intuition in business and what it’s like to navigate the day-to-day of a CEO. She also reveals three ways to shift your organization’s culture for the better and her advice on breaking into a consumer product category for the first time.

“The number one source of information for moms is other moms. It requires a grassroots approach, and connecting authentically can refer your products to other moms.” - Sandra Abdallah-Kohn

This week’s takeaways from Entreprenista:

Sandy’s career journey, from selling a cigarette brand and working at L’Oreal to becoming the CEO of MAM BabyWhy Sandy focused on people and culture on her first few days as the CEO of MAM BabyWhat surprised Sandy about the baby categoryWhat she learned from working at L’Oreal about being authentic at the workplaceSandy’s advice on changing the culture of an organizationThe value of a grassroots marketing approach and building brand loveWhy Sandy dislikes the CEO titleHow Sandy evaluates job applicants to see if they’re a culture fitMAM Baby’s “Path to Parenthood” campaignThe rigorous process MAM Baby products go under to ensure safety and qualityMAM Baby’s market research efforts and how to break into a new consumer product categoryThe power of “word-of-mom” and Sandy’s insight on reaching out and connecting with mom consumersWhy mom influencers on social media are powerful for marketing effortsThe reason Sandy believes in work/life “flow” and not “balance”Building trust and connection with your team while working remotelyWhat being an Entreprenista means for Sandy

Our Favorite Quotes:

“The baby category needs a remodel. It’s hard for a mom to figure out what she needs, and we need to help her decide better.” - Sandra Abdallah-Kohn“It takes every person to drive change; you need to articulate the mission of the organization and lead by example.” - Sandra Abdallah-Kohn“The future of ads is influencer content—it’s so much more authentic.” - Sandra Abdallah-Kohn

Connect with Sandra Abdallah-Kohn:

MAM BabyMAM Baby on LinkedInMAM Baby on InstagramMAM Baby on FacebookMAM Baby on YouTubeSandra Abdallah-Kohn on LinkedIn

Help More Female Entrepreneurs & Leaders Through the IFundWomen Campaign

We are thrilled to announce that our iFundWomen campaign is now live! We have supported so many women through Entreprenista, and we're excited to share this opportunity with you to support our campaign and continue to help women business owners and leaders. 

Our funding goal is $100,000 - which means that every dollar counts. The best part? We've created incredible rewards that will help you as part of our campaign! 

When you pledge to the iFundWomen Campaign, you’ll receive:

An exclusive Entreprenista League Membership rateDedicated Instagram and website features to promote you and your businessInterviews on the Entreprenista podcast and our new podcast that's l...

Tiffany Dufu is the Founder and CEO of The Cru, an organization of women helping each other thrive. Listed among Entrepreneur’s 100 Powerful Women and Fast Company’s League of Extraordinary Women, Tiffany is fiercely committed to empowering women and girls. In addition to raising roughly $20 million for the advancement of women, she has helped found a girls’ middle school, headed a national womens’ leadership organization, and served as the Chief Leadership Officer at Levo, a social good tech startup that elevates women in the workforce. At The Cru, Tiffany helps a diverse group of mid-level and senior professionals find their inspiration, accountability partners, and community.

Tiffany joins us today to discuss how The Cru is empowering Entreprenistas by helping them find their support network. She explains how she and her team are harnessing the ingenuity and creativity of women and girls for the benefit of everyone. She divulges why she’s obsessed with understanding what matters most to women. Tiffany also highlights how the power of positive affirmation can fuel your life’s work and shares the lessons she learned from positioning herself as a thought leader.

“Your Entreprenista journey is never a solo journey; it’s a team sport.” - Tiffany Dufu

This week’s takeaways from Entreprenista:

• Tiffany’s background and her journey to founding The Cru
• How to turn an idea and mission into a business
• How Tiffany’s personal experiences shaped her life’s purpose to empower women and children
• The power of positive affirmations and naming the voices in our heads
• Identifying the profile of someone who can guide you through the fundraising process
• How Tiffany is building her team at The Cru
• Best practices for remotely managing a team
• How Tiffany conducts Zoom interviews and the questions she asks job applicants
• The biggest challenges Tiffany met in launching The Cru
• The lessons she learned from going through the fundraising process
• The role of storytelling in the fundraising process
• How to evaluate a support group’s efficacy

Resources Mentioned:

• Black Women Talk Tech
• Donut
• Podcast: The Pitch
• Book: Venture Deals: Be Smarter Than Your Lawyer and Venture Capitalist by Brad Feld and Jason Mendelson

Our Favorite Quotes:

• “If you want something you’ve never had before, you’ll have to do something you’ve never done before.” - Tiffany Dufu
• “It’s the consistency of your message, the source of your message, and your commitment to your message that allow people to recognize your authenticity.” - Tiffany Dufu
• “Start with what matters to you. The source of your purpose and power is what will allow you to withstand all the challenges that come with entrepreneurship.” - Tiffany Dufu

Connect with Tiffany Dufu:

• Tiffany Dufu Website
• The Cru
• The Cru on LinkedIn
• The Cru on Instagram
• The Cru on Facebook
• The Cru on Twitter
• Tiffany Dufu on LinkedIn
• Tiffany Dufu on Instagram
• Tiffany Dufu on Facebook
• Tiffany Dufu on Twitter

Help More Female Entrepreneurs & Leaders Through the IFundWomen Campaign

We are thrilled to announce that our iFundWomen campaign is now live! We have supported so many women through Entreprenista, and we're excited to share this opportunity with you to support our campaign and continue to help women business owners and leaders.

Our funding goal is $100,000 - which means that every dollar counts. The best part? We've created incredible rewards that will help you as part of our campaign!

When you pledge to the iFundWomen Campaign, you’ll receive:

• An exclusive Entreprenista League Membership rate
• Dedicated Instagram and website features to promote you and your business
• Interviews on the Entreprenista podcast and our new podcast that's launching in 2022 - Startups In Stilettos
• One-on-one sessions with Stephanie or Courtney
• ...and so much more

Visit iFundWomen.com/Projects/Entreprenista to contribute any amount you feel comfortable with.

Seriously. Every dollar, every share, and every mention on social media to your network counts and is beyond appreciated. Thank you for supporting us and women everywhere.

Today’s episode is brought to you by: ANISA Beauty Brushes

ANISA Beauty understands that what touches your skin matters. ANISA designs each brush through cruelty-free, vegan and sustainably responsible practices to elevate your skincare and makeup routines from hands-on to hands-free. The innovative design of these skin care and makeup brushes offer versatile application and fiber flexibility to achieve a great look - each and every time.

Head over to ANISABeauty.com and use the code Entreprenista50 at checkout to unlock the power of self-expression today.

Entreprenista has also teamed up with ANISA Beauty for an exciting giveaway! Enter to win the entire ANISA beauty collection and an Entreprenista League one-year membership! Visit Entreprenista.com/ANISABeauty to enter by December 15.

Good luck!

If you’re looking to take your business to the next level:

Join our Entreprenista League community of women founders! You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded Entreprenistas who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, the opportunity to have your story featured on our website and social channels, and MORE!

Whether you’re looking to scale your existing business and want to make the right connections, or you’re thinking about finally taking the leap to launch your business, we’re here to give you access to a community of women who will celebrate your every step, and with whom you can share the candid reality of building a business from scratch.

Join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!

Become An Entreprenista!

Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Entreprenista Podcast - the most fun business meeting for female founders, by female founders. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.

Apple Podcasts | TuneIn | Spotify | Stitcher | iHeart Radio | GooglePlay

Be sure to share your favorite episodes across social media to help us reach more amazing female founders, like you.

Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn and for more exclusive content, tips, and insight, join the Entreprenistas Facebook group and visit the SocialFly website.

Tiffany Dufu is the Founder and CEO of The Cru, an organization of women helping each other thrive. Listed among Entrepreneur’s 100 Powerful Women and Fast Company’s League of Extraordinary Women, Tiffany is fiercely committed to empowering women and girls. In addition to raising roughly $20 million for the advancement of women, she has helped found a girls’ middle school, headed a national womens’ leadership organization, and served as the Chief Leadership Officer at Levo, a social good tech startup that elevates women in the workforce. At The Cru, Tiffany helps a diverse group of mid-level and senior professionals find their inspiration, accountability partners, and community.

Tiffany joins us today to discuss how The Cru is empowering Entreprenistas by helping them find their support network. She explains how she and her team are harnessing the ingenuity and creativity of women and girls for the benefit of everyone. She divulges why she’s obsessed with understanding what matters most to women. Tiffany also highlights how the power of positive affirmation can fuel your life’s work and shares the lessons she learned from positioning herself as a thought leader.

“Your Entreprenista journey is never a solo journey; it’s a team sport.” - Tiffany Dufu

This week’s takeaways from Entreprenista:

Tiffany’s background and her journey to founding The CruHow to turn an idea and mission into a businessHow Tiffany’s personal experiences shaped her life’s purpose to empower women and childrenThe power of positive affirmations and naming the voices in our headsIdentifying the profile of someone who can guide you through the fundraising processHow Tiffany is building her team at The CruBest practices for remotely managing a teamHow Tiffany conducts Zoom interviews and the questions she asks job applicantsThe biggest challenges Tiffany met in launching The CruThe lessons she learned from going through the fundraising processThe role of storytelling in the fundraising processHow to evaluate a support group’s efficacy

Resources Mentioned:

Black Women Talk TechDonutPodcast: The PitchBook: Venture Deals: Be Smarter Than Your Lawyer and Venture Capitalist by Brad Feld and Jason Mendelson

Our Favorite Quotes:

“If you want something you’ve never had before, you’ll have to do something you’ve never done before.” - Tiffany Dufu“It’s the consistency of your message, the source of your message, and your commitment to your message that allow people to recognize your authenticity.” - Tiffany Dufu“Start with what matters to you. The source of your purpose and power is what will allow you to withstand all the challenges that come with entrepreneurship.” - Tiffany Dufu

Connect with Tiffany Dufu:

Tiffany Dufu WebsiteThe CruThe Cru on LinkedInThe Cru on InstagramThe Cru on FacebookThe Cru on TwitterTiffany Dufu on LinkedInTiffany Dufu on InstagramTiffany Dufu on FacebookTiffany Dufu on Twitter

Help More Female Entrepreneurs & Leaders Through the IFundWomen Campaign

We are thrilled to announce that our iFundWomen campaign is now live! We have supported so many women through Entreprenista, and we're excited to share this opportunity with you to support our campaign and continue to help women business owners and leaders. 

Our funding goal is $100,000 - which means that every dollar counts. The best part? We've created incredible rewards that will help you as part of our campaign! 

When you pledge to the iFundWomen Campaign, you’ll receive:

An exclusive Entreprenista League Membership rateDedicated Instagram and website features to promote you and your businessInt...

Anisa Telwar Kaicker is the CEO and Founder of Anisa International, Inc., the only woman-owned brush manufacturer in the world. In 2019, Anisa—driven by her belief that all people have the right to look and feel beautiful—launched the ANISA Beauty line of innovative and sustainable beauty and skincare tools. In addition to her work as CEO, Anisa is a passionate advocate of social justice. Through her Anisa Advocacy program, she and her team support organizations at the forefront of challenging racial inequality.

Anisa joins us today to discuss finding the competitive advantage that sets your brand apart. She explains how she has navigated her business through unforeseen circumstances and describes what it takes to run a manufacturing company. She shares her tips on using makeup and skincare brushes.  Anisa also highlights the role of influencers in the beauty industry and underscores her company’s dedication to women empowerment, gender equality, and social justice.

“For us to succeed, we have to be original and create something that doesn’t exist.” - Anisa Telwar Kaicker

This week’s takeaways from Entreprenista:

• The spark that led Anisa to start her own company
• What her mother taught her about business strategy
• What running a manufacturing company is like for Anisa
• The role of quality and transparency in a manufacturing company
• The importance of having contracts and agreements between business partners
• Launching the ANISA Beauty brand and how it strives to make a difference in the world
• The role of influencers in building a beauty brand
• How Anisa divides her time between managing her brand and handling operations
• What Anisa learned about launching a direct-to-consumer brand
• How a “grassroots” entrepreneur is different from a venture capitalist
• Anisa’s philanthropic work
• Why recognizing what you bring to the table and celebrating your wins are important
• What being an Entreprenista means to Anisa

Resources Mentioned:

• Canva

Our Favorite Quotes:

• “You have to prepare for the wheels to fall off the bus. There’s no such thing as a 50/50 partnership—someone has to be in control.” - Anisa Telwar Kaicker
• “What’s great about a brand is you don’t need a huge team; you just need the right information and metrics.” - Anisa Telwar Kaicker
• “A small customer will take as much energy as a large customer, so go for bigger opportunities.” - Anisa Telwar Kaicker

Connect with Anisa Telwar Kaicker:

• ANISA Beauty
• ANISA Beauty on Facebook
• ANISA Beauty on Pinterest
• ANISA Beauty on Instagram
• Anisa International, Inc.
• Anisa International, Inc. on LinkedIn
• Anisa International, Inc. on Facebook
• Anisa Telwar Kaicker on LinkedIn
• Anisa Telwar Kaicker on Facebook
• Anisa Telwar Kaicker on Instagram
• Anisa Telwar Kaicker on YouTube

Help More Female Entrepreneurs & Leaders Through the IFundWomen Campaign

We are thrilled to announce that our iFundWomen campaign is now live! We have supported so many women through Entreprenista, and we're excited to share this opportunity with you to support our campaign and continue to help women business owners and leaders.

Our funding goal is $100,000 - which means that every dollar counts. The best part? We've created incredible rewards that will help you as part of our campaign!

When you pledge to the iFundWomen Campaign, you’ll receive:

• An exclusive Entreprenista League Membership rate
• Dedicated Instagram and website features to promote you and your business
• Interviews on the Entreprenista podcast and our new podcast that's launching in 2022 - Startups In Stilettos
• One-on-one sessions with Stephanie or Courtney
• ...and so much more

Visit iFundWomen.com/Projects/Entreprenista to contribute any amount you feel comfortable with.

Seriously. Every dollar, every share, and every mention on social media to your network counts and is beyond appreciated. Thank you for supporting us and women everywhere.

Today’s episode is brought to you by: ANISA Beauty Brushes

ANISA Beauty understands that what touches your skin matters. ANISA designs each brush through cruelty-free, vegan and sustainably responsible practices to elevate your skincare and makeup routines from hands-on to hands-free. The innovative design of these skin care and makeup brushes offer versatile application and fiber flexibility to achieve a great look - each and every time.

Head over to ANISABeauty.com and use the code Entreprenista50 at checkout to unlock the power of self-expression today.

Entreprenista has also teamed up with ANISA Beauty for an exciting giveaway! Enter to win the entire ANISA beauty collection and an Entreprenista League one-year membership! Visit Entreprenista.com/ANISABeauty to enter by December 15.

Good luck!

If you’re looking to take your business to the next level:

Join our Entreprenista League community of women founders! You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded Entreprenistas who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, the opportunity to have your story featured on our website and social channels, and MORE!

Whether you’re looking to scale your existing business and want to make the right connections, or you’re thinking about finally taking the leap to launch your business, we’re here to give you access to a community of women who will celebrate your every step, and with whom you can share the candid reality of building a business from scratch.

Join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!

Become An Entreprenista!

Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Entreprenista Podcast - the most fun business meeting for female founders, by female founders. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.

Apple Podcasts | TuneIn | Spotify | Stitcher | iHeart Radio | GooglePlay

Be sure to share your favorite episodes across social media to help us reach more amazing female founders, like you.

Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn and for more exclusive content, tips, and insight, join the Entreprenistas Facebook group and visit the SocialFly website.

Anisa Telwar Kaicker is the CEO and Founder of Anisa International, Inc., the only woman-owned brush manufacturer in the world. In 2019, Anisa—driven by her belief that all people have the right to look and feel beautiful—launched the ANISA Beauty line of innovative and sustainable beauty and skincare tools. In addition to her work as CEO, Anisa is a passionate advocate of social justice. Through her Anisa Advocacy program, she and her team support organizations at the forefront of challenging racial inequality.

Anisa joins us today to discuss finding the competitive advantage that sets your brand apart. She explains how she has navigated her business through unforeseen circumstances and describes what it takes to run a manufacturing company. She shares her tips on using makeup and skincare brushes. Anisa also highlights the role of influencers in the beauty industry and underscores her company’s dedication to women empowerment, gender equality, and social justice.

“For us to succeed, we have to be original and create something that doesn’t exist.” - Anisa Telwar Kaicker

This week’s takeaways from Entreprenista:

The spark that led Anisa to start her own companyWhat her mother taught her about business strategyWhat running a manufacturing company is like for AnisaThe role of quality and transparency in a manufacturing companyThe importance of having contracts and agreements between business partnersLaunching the ANISA Beauty brand and how it strives to make a difference in the worldThe role of influencers in building a beauty brandHow Anisa divides her time between managing her brand and handling operationsWhat Anisa learned about launching a direct-to-consumer brandHow a “grassroots” entrepreneur is different from a venture capitalistAnisa’s philanthropic workWhy recognizing what you bring to the table and celebrating your wins are importantWhat being an Entreprenista means to Anisa

Resources Mentioned:

Canva

Our Favorite Quotes:

“You have to prepare for the wheels to fall off the bus. There’s no such thing as a 50/50 partnership—someone has to be in control.” - Anisa Telwar Kaicker“What’s great about a brand is you don’t need a huge team; you just need the right information and metrics.” - Anisa Telwar Kaicker“A small customer will take as much energy as a large customer, so go for bigger opportunities.” - Anisa Telwar Kaicker

Connect with Anisa Telwar Kaicker:

ANISA BeautyANISA Beauty on FacebookANISA Beauty on PinterestANISA Beauty on InstagramAnisa International, Inc.Anisa International, Inc. on LinkedInAnisa International, Inc. on FacebookAnisa Telwar Kaicker on LinkedInAnisa Telwar Kaicker on FacebookAnisa Telwar Kaicker on InstagramAnisa Telwar Kaicker on YouTube

Help More Female Entrepreneurs & Leaders Through the IFundWomen Campaign

We are thrilled to announce that our iFundWomen campaign is now live! We have supported so many women through Entreprenista, and we're excited to share this opportunity with you to support our campaign and continue to help women business owners and leaders. 

Our funding goal is $100,000 - which means that every dollar counts. The best part? We've created incredible rewards that will help you as part of our campaign! 

When you pledge to the iFundWomen Campaign, you’ll receive:

An exclusive Entreprenista League Membership rateDedicated Instagram and website features to promote you and your businessInterviews on the Entreprenista podcast and our new podcast that's launching in 2022 - Startups In StilettosOne-on-one sessions with Stephanie or Courtney...and so much more