Mimir

In this episode I’m sitting down with Rebecca Mazzara who is the founder of Calita, an intimates line for women, made from natural fibers to prevent health issues like UTIs, and ethically manufactured. Our conversation is perfect for any of my girls dreaming of starting an e-commerce brand.

We’re talking about her journey starting Calita after working at Shopify. She’s sharing what she learned while there and how that helped her build Calita. One thing we bond over is the importance of nailing down shipping strategies and rates. I’ve learned through my 9-5 how complicated shipping is for any business, and especially for small startups, you need to understand this stuff to get a hold on your margins.

Rebecca also shares her experience with early ideating and manufacturing. She emphasizes the need to focus on solving a specific problem and not trying to be everything to everyone. She also highlights the value of attending conferences to learn as much as you can about your industry in a short amount of time. It’s really the best strategy if you’re early in ideation.

The meat of our conversation centers around marketing, which both Rebecca and I are obsessed with. She was able to build a really strong Instagram community before launch, so naturally I had to ask her seven million questions about that, so you guys can learn exactly how to replicate that. We are also talking about her recent journey using TikTok to grow. Everything from what kind of content has gone viral for her, how frequently to post, and algorithm tips and tricks.

Rebecca also gets vulnerable about her challenges when launching new products and we agree that being data obsessed is so important for all areas of the business.

Here are the key takeaways from the episode:

Connect with Rebecca:

Calita’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/calitaintimates/

Rebecca’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rebecca_mazzara/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@calitaintimates?lang=en

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-mazzara-6479864a/

Connect with Maddie

In this episode I’m sitting down with Jennifer Cain Birkmose who is co-founder of Viva Valet, a platform providing trusted services for elders. She has years of experience in healthcare ranging from work with the WHO, World Bank, even Pharma. It was really interesting getting her perspective on working with big organizations versus small business in terms of change enacted. The meat of our conversation centers around how to conduct really great product research before building the product.

We also get into defining company values and cementing culture early on. It’s the one thing that won’t change even if your product or service iterates. Culture is the oxygen that surrounds us, and it goes beyond words on a poster. It's embodied by leaders through language, stories, symbols, and interactions. Defining and living by your company's values and culture is key to success and growth. Culture is more than words on a poster; it's embodied by leaders through language, stories, symbols, and interactions.

One of the big reasons I was excited to chat with Jennifer is because of her passion for improv. I wanted to learn what values and skills that craft has taught her in her entrepreneurial career. Jennifer highlights that Improv is a life skill that positively impacts confidence and speaking abilities. It teaches presence, listening, humility, and failing with joy. Improv helps form connections, build teams quickly, and nurtures creative thinking. Improv provides tools to overcome hurdles and handle confrontation.

We talk about what great leadership looks like. How you will never grow beyond the amount of feedback you’re willing to receive. Also a leader, your job is to be a stable presence and create a an environment which others feel confident expressing their thoughts and inspiring them to do their best. These are tools that improv teaches.

Connect with Jennifer:

Company: www.vivavalet.com

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-cain-birkmose-ab05a6/

Instagram: www.instagram.com/jcbirk

Ted talks: https://www.ted.com/search?q=jennifer cain birkmose

Connect with Maddie

In this episode, I’m sitting down with Susan Bryant who has over two decades of experience as a CPA, or certified public accountant. She’s also a certified tax planner helping business owners strategically navigate tax planning and accounting. As CEO and Co-Founder of Unboxed Advisors, she has a wealth [ 😉 ] of knowledge to share regarding the intricacies of business taxing and accounting.

It is my life mission to set my business up correctly, from the beginning, so as I scale I don’t have to go back and fix now costly errors. So I asked Susan to go through all the questions she gets from early entrepreneurs and also the common mistakes she sees. She’s breaking down all the basics. Everything from which entity you should be setting up, how you need to be filing your taxes, what it actually means to write something off, to the aesthetics of financial records. We’re also talking about the importance and significance of different finance roles. So, if your CFO is just really your BFF, you definitely need this episode.

One of the main takeaways that I learned from Susan is that accounting is a discipline. It’s one of those things that as founders, we don’t want to do, but really should be doing every day to make our lives easier going forward. Also, if you’re going out to investors it’s incredibly important to have your finances buttoned up, or else you’re going to leave a poor impression despite the quality of your idea.

This episode is jam packed with tangible tips and is perfect for my early stage entrepreneurs. So, open your notes app or grab a pen and let’s dive in.

Connect with Susan:

Official Site of Tax-Free Wealth - A Book By Tom Wheelwright, CPA (taxfreewealthbook.com)

Business Resources | Break Out of the CPA Box (unboxedadvisors.com)

Connect with Maddie

In this episode I’m sitting down with Kaycie Romanello who started her own digital marketing agency after being laid off. Kaycie shares the challenges she faced and how crucial it was for her to trust her intuition and be open to different solutions. It was really interesting to hear that even though she started her business based on a skillset she was very comfortable with flexing, she still had to learn how to better target her ideal client and how to communicate in a way that turned sales. Overall, Kaycie's story highlights the resilience and determination required to succeed as an entrepreneur.

Kaycie and I explore the importance of being secure in your own path. The whole reason we are entrepreneurs is because we were never bound by societal expectations. But, people will tell you you’re crazy, or social media will tell you exactly the right or wrong way to make money. So it’s crucial to remember that it’s your own journey, and this is where intuition and being open minded comes into play.

Kaycie gets deep on the challenges and realities of being an entrepreneur. She’s totally honest about the fact that right now she might not leave her room for the whole day. We talk about how to embrace the ‘fuck it’ mentality to navigate through fear, failure, and constant comparison. We encourage all entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs to trust the process, embrace failure as a learning opportunity, and focus on your own journey.

Connect with Kaycie:

Website

LinkedIn

Connect with Maddie

In this episode I’m sitting down with Will Hedrick who is the founder of myCharity. Will is such a genuine guy and it was a real pleasure to get to know him. We’re chatting about his entrepreneurial journey starting from a custom furniture company at 17, to real estate in college and now his tech platform.

One of the reasons I was excited to pick Will’s brain is because he is an unusual tech founder: his company is non-profit. I’ve always geeked out over b-corp certified companies and the idea of non-profits, but in practice I wasn’t sure how that actually worked. We cover the logistics and financial challenges and rewards of running a nonprofit, and how we as individuals can have a real impact in solving global problems. We explore a future where all companies are focused on growth in a way that’s not profit oriented, but solution oriented. Basically, is there a way for business owners and employees to live comfortably financially, scale, and yet still be technically non-profit? It’s something I’m incredibly curious about.

This was a really fun conversation because it gave us the space to explore what the world could look like if we all focused on what really mattered and did things differently just because we could. There has never been a better time to solve big problems and there has never been a better pool of talent to get the job done. So if you’re impact driven, growth oriented, or interested in learning more about non-profits, then do I have the episode for you.

Here are the key takeaways from the episode:

Connect with Will:

Website: https://www.mycharity.app/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mycharity.app/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mycharityapp

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mycharityapp/

Connect with Maddie

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In this episode I’m sitting down with Karolina Rzadkowolska who is the best-selling author of Euphoric: Ditch Alcohol and Gain a Happier, More Confident You. She’s also the owner of Euphoric AF a consulting & speaking company and also podcast host. Karolina shares her journey of writing a book and starting a business after giving up alcohol for dry January. What she came to realize is that alcohol numbed her emotions and prevented her from pursuing her dreams. By taking a break from alcohol, she was able to reconnect with her passions and build a successful career.

Our conversation highlights what I’ve been thinking forever, that we as a society need to break free from from the societal lies around work and success, and to embrace creating a career that aligns with one's passions and values.

Karolina emphasizes the importance of sitting with negative emotions and using them as a motivator for personal growth. Not only will you be a happier individual but it’s the catalyst to a positive feedback loop that unlocks fulfillment, greater career opportunities and so much more. Karolina articulates intuition and how to live life in fulfillment in a way that I have been trying to for such a long time. This is probably one of the most important episodes I have ever had the pleasure of being a part of.

I’m also asking Karolina to get deep on her experience from writing a book to building a successful business. She’s an unusual guest for me because she got a traditional publishing gig with Harper Collins, but she also built a business around her book simultaneously. I think she’s a genius for capitalizing on her book in this way and all authors need to hear this. 86% of Americans want to write a book, so I know some of you out there listening have this dream, so this is an episode you will not want to miss.

I cannot WAIT to get into this chat, it’s definitely one of my new favorites, and if you’re growth oriented, I think this episode will make you feel SO seen. So, I’m going to stop talking so we can get into it.

Connect with Karolina:

www.euphoricbook.com

www.euphoricaf.com

www.instagram.com/euphoric.af

Connect with Maddie

In this episode I’m sitting down with Amy Singleton who is Co-Founder or HITE Digital. This is probably the MOST illuminating conversation I’ve had to date about marketing. Later in the episode she’s breaking down the basics of SEO in a way that’s so clear and understandable. So, if you’ve been drowning in SEO hell, then this episode is perfect for you.

But before we chat about all things marketing, Amy shares her journey from being a registered nurse to becoming an entrepreneur. After facing health issues and a career setback, Amy was confronted with some truths that were hard to swallow surrounding her sense of identity. After she found peace and strength in herself, she and her husband decided to start a digital marketing agency to serve their community. They realized the need for trustworthy and effective marketing services and set out to provide a better solution.

In our chat, Amy emphasizes the importance of finding and understanding your ideal client and better than anyone else. You do that through being curious, being empathetic, and being a damn good listener. This is how you will attract clients, instead of chase them. Amy, like myself, also highlights the value of continuous learning and being open to new ideas and iterations in business. Her company has seen insane growth in a short span of time because they’ve been infinitely curious and networked to create a supportive community that they can lean on and learn from.

This conversation is truly illuminating and it took SEO from being this big, incomprehensible monster, to being clear and easy to manage. She’s giving you some amazing tangible tips that you can implement into your existing or brand new website. You’ll want to grab a pen because there’s a ton of great learnings in this episode.

Connect with Amy:

Get her FREE website audit video: a few minute screen share video of her team going over their website to show areas of opportunity to improve rankings & conversions. Enter your information & website URL on the form at www.amysingleton.net & my team will record their video & deliver it back via email.

LinkedIn

Facebook

Instagram

YouTube

TikTok

Connect with Maddie

In this solo episode I’m getting deep on time management. Time is the one commodity we can’t buy more of, so it’s your greatest weapon as a person, and especially as a business owner. I’m sharing my exact templates I use to set up my days and weeks for maximum productivity and efficiency.

But before you can start planning and scheduling, you need to first understand exactly how you’re spending your time. I’m walking through the audit process I learned from business coaches and other entrepreneurs. This will not only get you at least 30% of your time back, but it will also show you the tasks that only YOU can do, and should therefore be focusing your energy on.

This is a quick and dirty episode, but it’s really the only one you need for managing your time. It’s SO important to be managing your time, not just so you can bust out more work. But I truly believe that when you know how to manage your time you will be less stressed and happier as a result.

So, if time management is your weakness, this episode will turn it into your strength. Here’s the key takeaways:

The exact planner I use

Connect with Maddie

In this episode I’m sitting down with Alana Digby, a serial entrepreneur. She truly does it all. She’s the founder of Booty Boost, Elk Collection, Digby Tribe, and Co-founder and Co-Host of My Founder Hub (check out my interview with Sonia, the other co-founder). She’s also a new mom and working full time as a paralegal. Safe to say she’s got a lot going on. She is an incredible example of those entrepreneurs that somehow seem to juggle a million different things.

In our conversation, Alana is opening up about her experience thus far. She’s honest in saying that some days are tougher than others. This episode is a reality check for aspiring entrepreneurs into what it’s actually like to be a founder. How can entrepreneurs do everything? Sometimes they can’t, but it all comes down to time management.

Alana and I are kindred spirits when it comes to time management. In our chat we get granular about how to plan your time effectively. But also how to know when to scale back and re-prioritize as your life evolves.

Also, because Alana is a product queen, I couldn’t let her go without getting all her wisdom on all things e-commerce. Think of this episode as your one on one with an e-commerce expert. We chat everything from manufacturing, to marketing, to online sales. This episode is perfect for all my girlies who have thought about launching their own brand online. Everything from how the business operates, to how it fits into your personal life.

Be sure to stay tuned till the end for an exclusive discount code for Alana’s brand booty boost.

Connect with Alana:

Booty Boost

Instagram

Greta Course and foundr courses mentioned

Connect with Maddie

In this episode I’m sitting down with Alan Lazaros who is CEO & Co-Host of Next Level University Podcast, which is a heart-driven but no bullshit approach to holistic self-improvement for entrepreneurs…. I knew we would get along really well.

Alan shares his personal story and insights on trauma and personal growth. In typical Alan fashion, our frank and honest conversation covers topics like overcoming trauma to be your most fulfilled self. We get deep on comparison and how it affects us. To compare, is to be human, and there can be benefits but, like everything in life there can also be downfalls. We talk about how important it is to surround yourself with people who truly want you to succeed and thrive.

Alan gives some really interesting insights on self-improvement, having the courage to live your authentic life, and the five archetypes of people and how they each interact and affect each other. This in particular will help you learn to deal with haters and keep your side of the street clean, if you know what I mean.

We close on a discussion of how to life a life aligned with what fulfills you, and how that will always lead you to longterm success. Some of you may not like this conversation, but I know the real ones will really enjoy it. I think a lot of you will leave feeling really energized and confident in yourselves. But you’ll have to let me know…

Here are the key takeaways from the episode:

Connect with Alan:

Facebook

Instagram ⁠

LinkedIn

Connect with Maddie