You don’t need a massive following to see real results on LinkedIn. In this episode of the Growth Department podcast, Chelsey sits down with Kayla Ihrig, founder of Writing From Nowhere, to uncover how entrepreneurs can grow their visibility and revenue on LinkedIn with just 30 minutes a day.

Kayla shares her best strategies for clear positioning, daily engagement, and creating content that builds genuine relationships instead of chasing algorithms. 

Whether you’ve avoided LinkedIn because it feels awkward or you’re ready to show up more consistently, this conversation will help you step confidently onto the digital dance floor.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• How to curate your feed so LinkedIn feels like the right room to be in
• Why commenting is the secret growth engine most people overlook
• How to update your profile so it attracts real opportunities (and media features!)
• The types of posts that actually build connection and engagement
• How to make the most of your 30 minutes a day on LinkedIn

Folks Kayla recommends following: 

• Nausheen I. Chen (public speaking/communication)
• Rahul Choudhary (email marketing) 
• Zoe Ashbridge (SEO) 
• Jasmin (Jay) Alić (LinkedIn/copywriting)
• Amelia Sordell (LinkedIn/personal branding) 
• Nick Broekema (content design) 
• Prakhar Sharma (LinkedIn) 
• Shoaib Ahmed (personal branding) 
• Magali De Reu (paid speaking) 
• Matt Barker (LinkedIn) 
• Rana EL Arnaout (LinkedIn)
• Phil Shorland (storytelling) 
• Lyssa Jackson (personal branding)
• Alefiya Khoraki (copywriting) 
• Najma D Abdi (content creation) 

Growth Department slows the conversation down so founders and business leaders can go further, faster.

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AI is changing marketing fast. Wes Towers used it to rebuild Uplift 360 and create the most profitable year in company history, all while doubling down on authenticity. 

In this episode of the Growth Department podcast, Chelsey and Wes break down the systems, content, and team moves that let a boutique agency serve construction brands at a higher level.

You will learn how Uplift 360 helps builders, trades, and materials companies show up in AI overviews and search. Wes walks through their shift to “search everywhere optimization,” why human touch points matter more than ever, and how simple founder-led content can outperform polished campaigns. 

If you lead a growing business and want AI to amplify your team rather than replace it, this conversation will give you a clear path.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• Practical ways to plug AI into your website workflow without losing authenticity.
• A framework for search everywhere optimization across Google, LLMs, and social discovery.
• Content plays that build trust, including voice guides, founder profiles, and rough project reels.
• How to retool WordPress stacks and SOPs so projects ship faster and sales stay steady.
  
  

Guest: Wes Towers, founder of Uplift 360. Uplift 360 specializes in high performing websites for construction related businesses; offerings include bespoke design and development, ongoing enhancements, targeted SEO, UX improvements, and full website audits.

You can reach out to him and follow his team here:

https://uplift360.com.au/
https://www.facebook.com/Uplift360Aus
https://x.com/uplift_360
https://www.instagram.com/uplift_360/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/westowers/
https://www.tiktok.com/@westowers

PS- here's the Australian Football team's website we were chatting about! 

https://www.geelongcats.com.au/

If you enjoy conversations like this, subscribe to the channel and share the episode with a founder friend. For growth tools and services, visit GrowthDepartment.com

Growth Department slows the conversation down so founders and business leaders can go further, faster.

If this episode helped you think differently, follow the show and share it with someone building alongside you.

Every founder and executive leader wants a high-performing team. But when cracks start to form in your company culture, performance and retention take the hit.

In this episode of the Growth Department podcast, Chelsey Reynolds sits down with Janice Brathwaite, CEO & founder of Workplace Transformations, creator of the Workplace Transformation Method™, and an expert in helping organizations diagnose and repair cultural breakdowns before they turn into business problems.

With over 17 years in healthcare and 10 years consulting with for-profit companies, Janice has guided leaders to identify hidden “culture debt,” rebuild trust, and create workplaces that attract and sustain top talent. Her five-pillar process—Diagnose, Align, Attract, Activate, and Sustain—has helped organizations nationwide move from surviving to thriving.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• How to spot the early warning signs of culture cracks before they widen
• Why communication and recognition are the twin engines of healthy teams
• How leaders can earn genuine buy-in and psychological safety across levels
• The five-step framework for transforming workplace culture with intention
• Why outside assessments can help you see what’s hiding under the rug

Meet our guest:

You can find Janice online on her website, LinkedIn, facebook, and instagram! 

Growth Department slows the conversation down so founders and business leaders can go further, faster.

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Clean data. Clear revenue. Is this dream-come-true world in a CRM possible?

In this episode of the Growth Department podcast, Chelsey Reynolds sits down with Jasz Joseph, Founder & HubSpot Strategist, human-centered growth advocate, and connector of people and opportunities. Jasz shares how lean teams can get more from HubSpot without adding more complexity.

After years working for top HubSpot partner agencies, Jasz saw a pattern she couldn’t ignore. Companies were investing thousands in HubSpot and other marketing tech but weren’t seeing results. So in 2021, she launched her own consultancy with a mission to fix that. Today, she helps growth-minded teams turn messy CRMs into revenue machines through clarity, accountability, and strategy that actually drives sales.

You’ll hear how to:

• Move from spreadsheets to a fully functioning CRM
• Keep data clean without burning out your team
• Create automations that nurture prospects while you focus on closing
• Build dashboards that prove ROI in real dollars
• Integrate AI tools that make selling faster and smarter
  
  

Jasz shares real client stories, from small startups to $11M teams, showing how targeted automations generated an extra $1M in revenue. Chelsey adds a founder’s perspective on scaling with HubSpot—turning a small team and a clear system into exponential growth.

If you’ve ever felt like your CRM is just a spreadsheet with better branding, this episode will show you how to make it work for you.

✨ Learn more about Jasz at www.jaszrae.com
📈 Subscribe for weekly founder-focused growth playbooks.
🌐 Explore more at  GrowthDepartment.com

Growth Department slows the conversation down so founders and business leaders can go further, faster.

If this episode helped you think differently, follow the show and share it with someone building alongside you.

What if we could prove that prioritizing inclusion = a more profitable way to run your business?

In this episode of the Growth Department podcast, Chelsey talks with Joseph Santana, executive advisor, inclusion strategist, and host of the ERG PowerTalk® Podcast. Together, they explore how companies can move inclusion beyond HR checklists and turn it into a measurable business advantage.

Joe is the Chairman of the CDO PowerCircle and a trusted advisor to executives from companies that collectively generate nearly one trillion dollars in revenue. As a former line executive with multimillion-dollar P&L responsibility, he led inclusion across a 65,000-person enterprise and helped unlock hundreds of millions in revenue while strengthening culture and reducing costs.

Through his coaching and development programs for DEI leaders, Joe equips executives to connect inclusion directly to business outcomes. His approach turns inclusion into a true center of excellence that drives growth, efficiency, and shareholder value.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• How inclusion directly impacts retention, innovation, and revenue
• Ways to measure the business ROI of inclusive practices
• How to build an inclusion strategy that earns C-suite support
• The key differences between performative DEI and purposeful inclusion
• Why inclusion belongs at the center of your business, not just in HR

🎙️ Guest: Joseph Santana
Executive Advisor | Inclusion Strategist | Chairman, CDO PowerCircle | Host, ERG PowerTalk® Podcast

🔗 Connect with Joe: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joesantana/

#dei #inclusiveworkforce #profitable

Growth Department slows the conversation down so founders and business leaders can go further, faster.

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When culture feels confusing, growth stalls. In this episode of the Growth Department podcast, Chelsey sits down with organizational strategist and author Matthew Person to unpack why so many company cultures quietly break down and how his “Square Management System” helps leaders create alignment, trust, and scalable clarity.

Matthew brings nearly 25 years of experience helping companies create and capture enterprise value. He’s the creator of the proprietary Square Management System, and author of the upcoming book The Culture of Alignment. Matt has led global M&A strategy for high-growth SaaS businesses in addition to a decade in executive management for professional sports franchises, and he built his career around designing organizations that perform at their best.

Matthew introduces a concept he calls constrained independence: the idea that the most effective teams know exactly how much freedom they have to innovate, decide, and act. The result? Happier employees, faster decisions, and cultures that actually scale.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• How most “culture programs” miss the mark — and what to do instead
• Why alignment is the foundation of high performance
• The four sides of the “culture box” that keep teams moving fast and in sync
• How constrained independence creates trust and clarity at scale
• Why intentionally designing your culture fuels growth
  
  

If you're wondering how to start designing your company culture, this conversation offers creative ideas and simple steps to take to get started.

Follow Matt Person:

LinkedIn  |   TownSquare Advisors Website

Growth Department slows the conversation down so founders and business leaders can go further, faster.

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Growing a transferable business starts with clarity. In this episode of the Growth Department podcast, Chelsey Reynolds sits down with Stephen Wolford of Foresight Growth Advisors to explore what it takes to build a company that gives you freedom today and flexibility tomorrow.

Stephen shares how to remove owner dependency, improve financial visibility, and strengthen leadership so your business runs smoothly with or without you. You’ll hear how proactive planning turns exit readiness into an everyday strategy that drives both growth and value creation.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• How clean financials create clarity for decision-making and enterprise value
• Ways to reduce owner dependency and develop strong leadership teams
• A simple gap analysis to align profit, value, and personal wealth goals
• How to scale operations using data, enablement, and culture
• When to communicate long-term plans with your team and keep key people engaged

If you’re a founder or business owner looking for ways to scale with confidence and plan for the future, this episode is packed with practical advice you can apply today.

🎧 Subscribe to the Growth Department podcast for more founder-focused insights. Visit GrowthDepartment.com for resources that help you grow smarter and plan with purpose.

About Our Guest

Stephen Wolford is a growth advisor to lower middle market and SMB business owners. He is a CEPA who brings decades of experience across finance, operations, and go-to-market. Stephen is a former partner within the Microsoft, NetSuite, Sage, and Workday ecosystems. He specializes in turning exit planning into a strategic journey that maximizes enterprise value and aligns with the owner’s vision.

Stephen’s methodology connects the personal, financial, and business dimensions of an owner’s life to create a clear roadmap to desired outcomes. Beyond exit planning, he and his team provide Growth Advisory and Execution services that pinpoint high-impact optimization opportunities with strong ROI. They lead assessment, planning, and implementation so owners can stay focused on daily priorities while value-enhancing initiatives move forward.

If you’d like to connect, visit https://www.foresightga.com/ or find him on Linkedin here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephenrwolford/

Specialties: Exit and succession planning. Exit readiness. Growth strategy and execution. Strategic planning. Finance and accounting. SaaS. Cloud technologies. ERP. CPM. BI. Startup operations. Sales and marketing. Employee performance and well-being. Outsourcing and in-house operations. Project management. Leadership coaching. Business development.

Growth Department slows the conversation down so founders and business leaders can go further, faster.

If this episode helped you think differently, follow the show and share it with someone building alongside you.

What if your brand could become the trusted voice your audience looks for first? In this episode of the Growth Department podcast, Arias WebsterBerry shares how he built multiple businesses by shifting from random acts of marketing to conversations at scale.

He breaks down Social Authority, his blend of smart PR and consistent content, and shows how creative-first thinking gives founders a real growth edge. You’ll hear his incredible journey from homelessness to running arena-sized campaigns and how his systems mindset powers Launch Ignition AI and the Content Cannon method. This conversation is all about structure over stress and growth through clarity.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• How to build Social Authority with content and third-party validation
• How to have real conversations at scale without sounding automated
• Why creative-first campaigns lower CAC and lift conversion
• How to use avatars to keep your voice consistent as you grow
• Frameworks that replace firefighting, including Content Cannon and Launch Ignition AI

You’ll walk away with a sharper plan to earn attention, build trust, and scale with confidence.

About the Guest

Arias WebsterBerry is an entrepreneur, author, speaker, and trainer dedicated to helping founders grow with structure and confidence. As CEO of WebsterBerry Marketing and Ignite Funnels, he helps businesses scale with smart systems and creative-first marketing.

He is also the founder of Launch Ignition: Business Accelerator, where he empowers entrepreneurs to turn ideas into action. Arias is the author of Content Cannon, a practical guide to turning one focused session into a month of high-converting content. His passion is helping African-American businesses rise and thrive through stronger systems, sharper strategies, and stories that build trust.

Follow Arias and his teams:

WebsterBerry Marketing: https://www.websterberrymarketing.com
Launch Ignition AI: https://www.launchignition.ai
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ariaswebsterberry
Instagram: @AriasWebsterBerry
Facebook: Arias WebsterBerry

Growth Department slows the conversation down so founders and business leaders can go further, faster.

If this episode helped you think differently, follow the show and share it with someone building alongside you.

In this episode of the Growth Department podcast, Liora Dudar shares how she co-founded Overtone haircare in a kitchen, grew it into a nationally loved, eight-figure e-commerce brand, and led it through a successful exit. Now as a coach, she helps founders navigate how to clarify their mission, set and hold accountability, and lead with resilience. We dig into people-first leadership, values that guide decisions, and the power of learning in public as an entrepreneur. Plus... a cool founder story woven in there!

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• How to turn mission, vision, and values into daily decisions that build trust
• Why year three is a pivotal shift from doer to leader and how to communicate at scale
• Practical ways to reconnect with your business when the spark fades
• How to balance strategy with accountability and repair when things go sideways

Learn more about Liora's journey from photography and activism, to co-founding and growing a wildly successful haircare company, to coaching other founders on their journeys. Follow her on LinkedIn here.

Growth Department slows the conversation down so founders and business leaders can go further, faster.

If this episode helped you think differently, follow the show and share it with someone building alongside you.

Budgeting season is here, and it’s more than just numbers in a spreadsheet. In this episode of the Growth Department podcast, Marcus Rien joins Chelsey Reynolds to walk founders and leadership teams through a practical, people-first approach to building a 2026 budget. From setting sales goals to holding teams accountable, Marcus shares how to create a process that inspires confidence and alignment across the company.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• How to evaluate this year’s results before planning for 2026
• Why collaboration between sales, operations, and finance leaders creates stronger budgets
• The risks of sandbagging and how to design incentive programs that motivate performance
• How fractional CPAs and CFOs can sharpen your budget and reduce blind spots
• Why your people, not just your numbers, should be the foundation of every budget

Follow Marcus on LinkedIn here

Learn more about getting part time help with budgeting from WavesCPAs here

Growth Department slows the conversation down so founders and business leaders can go further, faster.

If this episode helped you think differently, follow the show and share it with someone building alongside you.