Lovie breaks down the essentials of building a business tech stack, emphasizing how the right tools can save time, cut costs, and help small businesses compete with larger companies. She guides listeners through categories of business tools, from communication to finance, and offers practical tips for selecting and integrating the right software.

• What is a business tech stack?
• Categories of essential business tools
• How to choose the right tools for your business
• Cost-saving tips for small business software
• Integrating tools for seamless operations

00:00 Introduction to Business Tech Stacks

02:51 Understanding the Importance of a Tech Stack

06:04 Core Components of a Business Tech Stack

08:02 Communication Tools for Small Businesses

• Business tech stack
• Choosing the right tools
• AI Prompt to Get Started

• Zoho - Free option for Google Workspace that allows you to use your custom company URL.
• Connecteam - HR employee management, free for life option.
• HoneyBook - Cost contract, proposals and client portal.
• We Are Indy - Free for life option. Contract, Proposal & Client Portal
• HubSpot CRM - Customer Relationship Management
• Canva - Graphics tool
• Wave - Accounting software
• FreshBooks - Accounting software
• Content 360 - Content scheduling tool

AI Prompt to Get Started

"I'm a [type of business] just starting to formalize my business. I'm currently using [list current tools]. I need help building a simple, affordable tech stack for: [contracts & invoicing, payments, accounting, file storage, and audience building.] Recommend beginner-friendly tools and explain why each one fits my situation."

YouTube - @ItsJustBusinessLovie

Substack - lovieijb.substack.com

Facebook - @JustBusinessLovie 

TikTok - @tlc_Lovie 

business tech stack, small business tools, software integration, business automation, customer management, marketing tools, finance software, business growth

"Your business tech stack is like your digital engine."

"Canva is a versatile tool for design and social media."

"Choose finance tools that are easy to use and integrate."

What Does Real Growth Look Like? Leadership, Nonprofits, and Maternal Care with Lakeesha Harris.

Most people see the result. This episode is about the work behind it.

In this episode of It's Just Business with Lovie, we sit down with Lakeesha Harris, Executive Director of Chicago Volunteer Doulas and founder of Duenola, to talk about what growth actually looks like when you are leading a nonprofit, advocating for mothers and building something meaningful while real life keeps moving.

This is not a conversation about overnight success. It is about the kind of growth that is personal, spiritual and strategic all at the same time.

We get into the critical role doulas play in maternal care, what it means to truly advocate for mothers during and after childbirth and why that support is more essential than most people realize. Lakeesha also shares what it takes to lead an organization with purpose, handle expanding responsibility and stay grounded when the work gets hard.

If you are a nonprofit leader, a birth worker, a mother or someone building something that actually matters, this conversation is for you.

In this episode we cover:

• What real growth looks like behind the scenes of nonprofit leadership
• The role of doulas in maternal care and why advocacy during childbirth matters
• Personal, spiritual and business growth and how they intersect
• How to build something meaningful without losing yourself in the process
• Doula training, certifications and how to get started in the field

Keywords: doula training, maternal care, nonprofit leadership, Chicago Volunteer Doulas, birth support, DUENOLA, postpartum care, women's health, nonprofit growth, purposeful business, It's Just Business with Lovie

In this episode, Lovie discusses the impact of emotional business decisions and shares a five-step framework for making high-stakes decisions. She emphasizes the importance of setting clear business boundaries to protect relationships, revenue, and peace of mind.

Takeaways

• Emotional decisions cost money and create resentment
• Clear business boundaries protect relationships, revenue, and peace of mind

Chapters

• 00:00 Making Business Decisions Without Emotions
• 08:29 Setting Clear Business Boundaries