powherfull inc startup stories

Hey hey hey Ladies! I have another beautiful treat for you in this episode with Katie Cooper, who is in live-time (Aug 2025) stepping back from her corporate gig to go deeper into her coaching business!! Katie has elementary aged kids, a job, a husband and a coaching business. She is very much an everyday woman, like you and me while so beautifully becoming MORE of herself by building self trust, taking safe steps forward and being so open to just how much she can create for herself in this lifetime.

Katie’s story begins in the world of occupational therapy, where she poured herself into caring for others—until the weight of burnout, motherhood, and the pandemic brought her to a breaking point. What came next was a courageous pivot: enrolling in health coaching school for her own healing, discovering her passion for helping moms regulate stress, and slowly but steadily building a coaching practice that aligns with her values.

We talk about:

💫 Redefining self-care as a necessity, not a luxury

💫 How to trust your gut and celebrate past wins when stepping into something new

💫 The power of gradual transitions—balancing stability while pursuing what lights you up. Especially this. She isn't quitting her job to coach full time, she is reducing her hours at her job to make more space for her coaching business. Conversations with her husband, looking at finances and planning the transition over time. I love this so much because it's far more relatable to the everyday life. And what really hit for me was Katie recognizing for two years she hedged until she could no longer keep false hope about her career advancing any further. She hit the wall at work, so the shift then had to become up to her.

Katie reminds us that entrepreneurship doesn’t have to be all-or-nothing, and that small, steady steps forward can add up to a whole new chapter. Don't judge and compare your story, rather really lean in to your own guidance and the safety you need to make the changes you want come true!!

Go hang out with Katie at:

www.katiecooperwellness.com

https://www.instagram.com/katiecooperwellness/

And please share this episode with one of your powherfull everyday besties!

I would love to HEAR from you, what shift did you feel from this episode? Send me a voice note!

It doesn't get more real than this, stick with us as we laugh and take photos of the tech glitch (which maybe did not like the add on to the intro!?? haha). The first two mins are raw, unfiltered and HILARIOUS. I am keeping it in on principle and as always - an example to not be perfect because your worth is not reliant on perfection!

Ok, so the amazing guest is Andrea Liebross, a coach, speaker and author of She Thinks Big, who joins us to share how her everyday life became her dream life, on top of marrying a physician! ha. Coaching was a calling, and it came once she hired a coach to help her.

Andrea takes us through her "origin story" and then defines the structure of her business, where she took baby steps and then big leaps (because ambitious women need both!). How she developed thought options in her coaching, her "climbing the mountain" analogy, her TRUST acronym and the "deeper dive" into the differences between a coach, consultant and counsellor.

She shares how her own “messy middle” taught her to stop waiting for the right time and start taking decisive action sooner, faster and with less excuses in the way.

So, ready to leap? This conversation will give you the courage to stop waiting and start building. Go follow Andrea from her one stop shop at: www.andreaslinks.com and take her up on her offer to have a 20 mins discovery call with you.

I would love to HEAR from you, what shift did you feel from this episode? Send me a voice note!

I am going to let you in on a not-so-secret because I need you to understand that passion and ability apply when you are in alignment. You don't need to be anything but who you are.

Nancy met her husband who owned and originally operated A'qto as a cycling clothing company. After he blogged about a beautiful ride, people reached out to ask about tours. Nancy helped Damian create the business we see today - amazing cycling tours in ITALY.

And here is the not-so-secret. NANCY DOES NOT CYCLE herself. And in fact that has made the business even better. Because they offer "non cycling partner" experiences as part, or parallel to the cycling tours. The spouses can come!

A trip with something for everyone, together. It's brilliant. I love this because it allow for complimentary skills and created a business so robust and unique, fully using the skills and talents and abilities of Nancy and Damian.

Nancy shares what it’s like to marry into a passion she didn’t share (cycling!) and how she carved her own unique path within the business she co-runs with her partner, Damian.

Together, they’ve spent the last 10 years creating unforgettable cycling tours in Italy—and on the day of recording, they released a brand new Adventure Tour program that includes kayaking, yoga, ocean swimming, and more. Allowing the business to evolve and allowing Nancy and Damian to evolve even more deeply together.

🌿 In this episode, you’ll hear:

* The story of how Nancy and Damian met at a winery and built a life they love—between Italy and Australia

* Why Nancy never forced herself to become a cyclist—and how she still found deep fulfillment in the business

* What it takes to balance a romantic partnership and entrepreneurship with grace and joy

* How they trust their intuition and evolve their offerings as they grow

* A peek behind the scenes of launching something brand new (on the very day of recording!)

📍Tune in and be reminded: You don’t have to do what everyone else is doing to build something beautiful

I would love to HEAR from you, what shift did you feel from this episode? Send me a voice note!

Identity, Rest & Rebuilding: Molly’s Story of Letting Go and Becoming

In this deeply moving and faith-filled episode, Mia sits down with leadership coach and everyday woman, Molly, to talk about identity—how it’s formed, what happens when it unravels, and the grace that meets us in the rebuild.

Molly shares her powerful journey of transition when, during the height of COVID, her family returned to the U.S. after living abroad. With her daughter facing medical challenges and a successful business no longer aligned with her values, Molly stepped back. What followed was a divine reset—a reordering of life, work, and faith.

💫 In this episode, you’ll hear:

• How Molly released the pressure to achieve and embraced peace instead
• The identity crisis that led to a deeper anchoring in God’s truth
• How she and her husband reimagined parenting their daughter with special needs
• The courage it takes to let go of what once worked to receive what’s meant for now
• Molly’s mission to help Christian women lead with clarity, alignment, and wholeness

If you’ve ever asked yourself “Who am I now?” or felt your old identity no longer fits, this episode is your gentle reminder that transition isn’t failure—it’s formation.

✨ You are not behind. You’re becoming.

🎧 Listen now and tag a friend who’s navigating change. Let’s walk this out, together.

Follow Molly at:

www.facebook.com/molly.roets

www.instagram.com/mollyroets

www.facebook.com/groups/takebackyourday

I would love to HEAR from you, what shift did you feel from this episode? Send me a voice note!

Beyond the 9-to-5: Trying New Things, Finding New Joys with Urmi Hossain

In this inspiring episode, Mia sits down with the dynamic and multi-passionate Urmi Hossain—a woman who wears many hats, including self-published author, speaker, mentor, YouTuber, and full-time corporate professional. Together, they dive into what it really means to live a full, expansive life beyond the boundaries of a 9-to-5.

Urmi shares how reading Ikigai sparked a journey of self-discovery that led her to explore everything from blogging and mentoring to latte art and boxing. With no rigid plan and no formal coaching, she followed curiosity and built a deeply personal brand—one grounded in joy, courage, and authenticity.

💫 In this episode, you’ll hear:

How Urmi embraced life beyond her corporate identity

The power of building your personal brand with zero strategy but lots of soul

Why making room for small adventures leads to big self-awareness

The value of honouring your own path (even when it looks different)

A challenge to try something new—just for the fun of it

Whether you're craving more fulfillment or just a reminder that it’s okay to do things simply because they make you feel alive, this conversation will leave you encouraged and energized.

✨ Your joy doesn’t need a business plan. Sometimes, it just needs permission.

YOUR ASSIGNMENT - TRY SOMETHING NEW and then come share it with us!

You can follow Urmi at:

✧ Connect on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/urmihossain/

✧ Follow on Instagram: www.instagram.com/@urmamio

✧ Watch on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@urmihossain⁩

I would love to HEAR from you, what shift did you feel from this episode? Send me a voice note!

Becoming the Woman She Was Always Meant to Be

💫 What happens when life throws you curveball after curveball... and instead of breaking you, it builds you?

In this heart-filled, empowering episode, I sit down with the radiant Jackie Mott, a woman who knows what it means to start over, rise up, and rewrite her story—again and again.

From teen motherhood and welfare, to loss, heartbreak, and renewal, Jackie shares her personal journey with honesty, grit, and grace. Her story is full of truth bombs, tender moments, and mindset shifts that will make you rethink what’s really possible.

💥 Inside this episode:

How the “worst” thing can become your greatest turning point

What Jackie calls your subliminal soundtrack—and how to change it

Why vulnerability is a strength (and a secret weapon for connection)

What it looks like to love yourself fiercely—even when life gets messy

How showing up fully in everyday moments can lead to unexpected joy

This is one of those conversations where you’ll laugh, tear up, and walk away lighter—like someone just reminded you that you’re doing better than you think.

💖 Tune in and let Jackie’s story pour into your soul.

She’s proof that transformation doesn’t always come in big, shiny packages—it often looks like dishes, divorce, deep breaths, and choosing yourself one day at a time.

🎧 Listen now + share with a woman you love.

And go hang out witht Jackie here and there!

https://jackiemott.com/

https://www.youtube.com/@jackiemottmindsetempowerment

https://www.facebook.com/JackieMottMindsetandEmpowermentExpert/

https://www.instagram.com/jackiemottmindsetempowerment/

I would love to HEAR from you, what shift did you feel from this episode? Send me a voice note!

This is such a genuine heartfelt conversation. While I would say Kirstin's business success is vastly different than mine, our hearts and souls saw each other. So let that be a reminder to your safety of who you are. You don't need to prove it "on paper". Kirstin, with all of her business accomplishments, is still very much a real woman, with a gentle heart creating a reality of what she wants - impact, fulfilment, money, fun and growth.

She knows where she has challenges, she trusts her skills, and she feels deeply safe to be all of who she is.

She has written a book, she has restored her body from two auto immune afflictions, she has built multiple businesses online and brick and mortar. She once had a team of 28 employees....Some very real outcomes to discovering what she can do by who she can be.

She learned firsthand that success means nothing if burnout takes over. Now, she guides high achievers to master sales, resilience, and balance. With 30+ years of experience, she knows this with 100% certainty: if selling feels hard, you’re doing it wrong.

You can follow her along at:

www.facebook.com/kirstin.carey

www.linkedin.com/in/kirstincarey/

www.evolveminded.com/

And opt into her freebie here: The 7 Biggest Sales Mistakes Costing You High Ticket Clients - and How to Fix Them

https://evolveminded.com/7mistakes

I would love to HEAR from you, what shift did you feel from this episode? Send me a voice note!

Leading with Intuition, Integrity, and Impact

In this powherfull episode of Startup Stories, Jensen Savage clearly articulates what it means to "follow your soul." She thought she wanted to grow up to be a corporate lawyer, and while she was pursuing that, she was also working in social media and marketing. Life delivered her a "reverse engineered" example of what the results of her vision could be and she decided NAH that's not for me!! The outfall was years of recalibrating and creating a new vision, one that filled her sense of purpose and accomplishment.

Jensen leaned into curiosity and intuition—and found herself on the path to entrepreneurship.

Founding Savage Growth Partners became more than just starting an agency—it became a mission. Her firm helps service-based businesses grow with clarity, intention, and holistic strategy, blending marketing, operations, sales, and finance to build sustainable and sellable companies.

Throughout this conversation, Jensen opens up about the values that guide her—integrity, service, and deep alignment with her purpose. She reminds us that success isn’t just about numbers; it’s about fulfillment, growth, and building something that reflects who you truly are.

If you’ve ever felt the tension between what looks good on paper and what feels right in your spirit, this episode is your permission slip. Jensen’s story is a beautiful example of what happens when women trust their gut, honour their values, and lead with both wisdom and heart (AND WITH SYSTEMS!!! Ladies get the systems in place!).

🎧 Tune in and be inspired to follow your own inner knowing—because that’s where true growth begins.

Website: savagegrowthpartners.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jensensavag%D0%B5/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thejensensavage/

I would love to HEAR from you, what shift did you feel from this episode? Send me a voice note!

This woman is living in the reality she desired. Her entrepreneurial journey started AFTER she quit her job. With savings in the bank Jennifer gave herself freedom to get to know herself through creative pursuits. One thing really did lead to another BUT Jennifer was actively directing her choices, her actions and making her own opportunities. Self advocating, after years in corporate safely and complacently NOT doing that or being that version of herself. (Ahem - anything is possible if you decide and take action!)

Jennifer has that "it" factor - confidence, visionary mindset, creative strategy. Her company, Shoott, took five years to hit profitability, now grossing $10M annually serving in 60 cities with 750+ photographers (at 7 years and counting). Shoott is a photography booking platform connecting clients with vetted photographers for affordable and exceptional shoots.

I love this so much - she scaled, sustainably and structured. This is tangible business building, CEO Mindset level. And she keeps bringing more of herself into the business - heart, sustainable hustle, excellent team members and a whole lot of wisdom. From creative pivots to scaling with integrity, this convo is packed with golden nuggets for anyone navigating entrepreneurship—especially women carving their own path.

✨ We dive into:

The business model behind Shoot and how it actually* works

* What it really takes to go from corporate to creative (hello reinvention!)

* Lessons in hiring, team-building, and leading with self-awareness

* Why self-advocacy, community, and not waiting to be “picked” matters more than ever

How Jennifer became Forbes Next 1000, Brit & Co AAPI 30, and Entreprenista 100—and why you should nominate yourself too*

If you are in the USA you can book with code POWHERFULL for 15% off an order of 10+ photos booked at shoott.com

https://shoott.com

www.facebook.com/shoottphotos

www.instagram.com/shoottphotos

www.instagram.com/jenjentsay

www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-tsay-1a65711/

And look at her own the stage on Elevator Pitch, Season 11: https://dai.ly/x940dby

I would love to HEAR from you, what shift did you feel from this episode? Send me a voice note!

From Corporate Climb to Personal Power with Sasha Elezovski

In this soul-stirring and truth-telling episode, Sasha joins me to share her beautifully messy and powerful journey from corporate powerhouse to purpose-driven entrepreneur. After navigating a tough divorce and awakening to a deeper sense of self, Sasha made the bold leap to entrepreneurship—not just to pay the bills, but to prove (ahem) a certain someone very, very wrong. 😏 (herself mostly - no drama here loves!!).

She doesn't hold back as we talk about the unspoken challenges women face in corporate—negotiating salaries, setting boundaries without guilt, and trying way too hard to be seen as “enough” all while managing a home life and parenthood too!! If you’ve ever felt like you're climbing a ladder that’s leaning on the wrong wall, this convo will meet you right where you are.

We also dive into Sasha’s vision for helping other women glow up in corporate life without burning out. From her upcoming newsletter, “The Corporate Glow Up,” to a possible “Lean In” style circle of real-talk and real support, Sasha’s here for the woman who wants both the corner office and her peace.

Oh, and we couldn’t skip the juggling act—Sasha gets candid about balancing motherhood, business, and boundaries (hint: burnout is not a badge of honour).

This one’s for every woman who's ever whispered to herself, “There’s got to be more than this.” There is. And we’re talking about it.

Subscribe to Sasha's newsletter to Glow Up your life + career at:

https://www.thecorporateglowup.com/

And tag along with her on socials at:

www.linkedin.com/in/sasha-elezovski-coach-consultant-for-women/

www.instagram.com/sashathecareercoach/

https://www.facebook.com/sasha.elezovski

Ready to work with me and see how this everyday woman runs a podcast with incredible guests (some way out my league yet here we are serving through the heart!), building a coaching practice, working full time and momming, among a few other things - yet feeling spacious, peaceful and fulfilled? Because I know you want the things but also want your life. And that is what we figure out together. Just reach out, I am not salesly or pushy. I am here for you, heart to heart.

www.facebook.com/powherfullinc

www.instagram.com/powherfullinc

www.linkedin.com/in/powherfullinc

I would love to HEAR from you, what shift did you feel from this episode? Send me a voice note!