Leslie Youngblood and Catherine (Cat) Holt discuss the challenges and triumphs of women in leadership roles. Cat shares her journey from rising to VP at a young age to navigating the complexities of corporate culture, the importance of mentorship, and the need for women to take charge of their careers. They explore the significance of creating supportive work environments, the impact of societal expectations, and the courage it takes to pursue entrepreneurship. The conversation emphasizes the power of community, the necessity of self-advocacy, and the importance of listening to one's inner voice when making career decisions.

About Our Guest

• Catherine (Cat) Holt, Founder and Chief Brand Officer - Coologee
• Coologee Website
• Connect with Cat on LinkedIn

Key Takeaways

• Women need to stop waiting for opportunities and take action.
• Support from mentors and peers is crucial for success.
• Corporate environments can be hostile, especially for women.
• Bravery in entrepreneurship is essential for growth.
• Creating a positive work culture is vital for team success.
• Understanding the corporate game can help navigate challenges.
• Women often over-attribute control to external factors.
• It's important to find your own path and make changes when necessary.
• Building a remote-first business can foster flexibility and inclusivity.
• Community support is essential for personal and professional growth.

leadership, women in business, corporate culture, entrepreneurship, empowerment, mentorship, work-life balance, remote work, community support, personal growth

Host Leslie Youngblood speaks with Rachel Honeyman, founder of HoneyBeBold, about her entrepreneurial journey, the challenges she faced, and the strategies she implemented to turn her business around. Rachel shares her personal struggles with mental health and how they intertwined with her business journey. The conversation emphasizes the importance of support systems, finding the right coaching, and defining success on one's own terms. Rachel also discusses the significance of creating a sustainable content strategy and planning for the future.

About Our Guest

• Rachel Honeyman, founder of HoneyBeBold
• Connect with Rachel on LinkedIn
• HoneyBeBold Coaching program waitlist
• Bold Women in Business podcast
• Peter Giordanno III (Rachel's business coach mentioned)
• Diana Davis (Rachel's other business coach mentioned)

Key Takeaways

• Entrepreneurship can lead to personal growth and self-improvement.
• Setting clear financial goals can help guide business decisions.
• Support systems are crucial for navigating tough times in business.
• It's important to define success on your own terms.
• Creating a sustainable content strategy is key to attracting clients.
• Finding the right coach can provide valuable guidance and support.
• Assessing your business regularly helps identify areas for improvement.
• You can start small and build your business gradually.
• Building a meaningful business can provide a sense of purpose.

entrepreneurship, mental health, branding, content marketing, women entrepreneurs, business challenges, coaching, self-improvement, support systems, success strategies

Host Leslie Youngblood speaks with sisters Kitty and Coco, co-founders of Endora, a wellness gaming app designed to help millennial mothers combat anxiety and depression through nostalgic reflection. They share their personal journeys, the challenges of entrepreneurship, and the importance of community support. The conversation delves into their unique moon mission, which aims to send memories into space, and emphasizes the need for ethical tech in today's world. Kitty and Coco offer valuable advice for aspiring entrepreneurs, highlighting the significance of reflection and genuine connections in the startup landscape.

About Our Guests

• Kitty Bogle-Sherman and Coco Harmon, founders of Endora Technologies
• Endora Technologies website
• Endora app website 
• About the Endora Moon Mission
• Connect with Kitty on LinkedIn
• Connect with Coco on LinkedIn
• Follow Endora Technologies on LinkedIn 

Key Takeaways

• Endora is designed to help mothers combat anxiety and depression.
• Community support and pitch competitions are crucial for startups.
• Motherhood can enhance motivation and productivity in careers.
• Reflection is key to personal growth and innovation.
• The moon mission aims to send memories into space as a legacy.
• Ethical tech is essential for positive societal impact.
• Entrepreneurs should focus on genuine connections rather than just fundraising.
• It's important to release expectations and embrace the learning process.
• Diverse backgrounds can lead to innovative solutions in business.

In this episode of Serious Lady Business, host Leslie Youngblood speaks with Maria Haugen, founder of FoXX Health, a health tech app designed to empower women in managing their health. Maria shares her personal health journey that led to the creation of FoXX Health, highlighting the systemic issues women face in healthcare, including the dismissal of their symptoms. The conversation explores the development of the app, its features, and how it aims to improve communication between women and healthcare providers. Maria discusses the challenges of securing funding, the importance of community support, and her vision for the future of women's health. The episode emphasizes the need for women to trust their instincts and be proactive in their health journeys, while also encouraging aspiring entrepreneurs to validate their ideas beyond their immediate circles.

About Our Guest

• Maria Haugen, CEO and Founder
• Connect with Maria on LinkedIn
• FoXX Health website
• FoXX Health LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok

Key Takeaways

• FoXX Health was created to empower women in their health journeys.
• 93% of women experience dismissal of their symptoms in healthcare.
• Maria's personal health crisis inspired the development of FoXX Health.
• The app aims to improve communication between women and healthcare providers.
• User feedback is crucial for any app's development and success.
• Building a supportive community is essential for startups.
• Funding challenges are common for mission-driven companies.
• Positivity and resilience are key in entrepreneurship.
• The future of health tech is collaborative and inclusive.
• Women need to trust their instincts and advocate for their health.

FoXX Health, women's health, health tech, health app, healthcare disparities, self-advocacy, health tracking, women's empowerment, health journey, health data

In this episode of Serious Lady Business, host Leslie Youngblood engages in a heartfelt conversation with Minyang (MJ) Jiang, the Chief Strategy Officer at Credibly. MJ shares her inspiring journey from being an immigrant child to a successful executive, emphasizing the importance of resilience, self-inventory, and the power of asking questions in leadership. They discuss the challenges women face in male-dominated industries, the significance of mentorship, and the need for authenticity in storytelling. MJ also highlights her role in empowering small businesses through innovative financial solutions and her commitment to developing the next generation of leaders.

About Our Guest

• Minyang (MJ) Jiang, Chief Strategy Officer at Credibly
• Connect with MJ on LinkedIn
• Credibly - main website
• Credibly - AI website

Key Takeaways

• MJ's journey from immigrant to executive showcases resilience.
• Self-inventory is crucial for career growth and alignment.
• Asking questions is a powerful tool in leadership.
• Outsider perspectives can drive meaningful change.
• Women should challenge traditional gender norms in leadership.
• Creating a supportive environment is essential for female leaders.
• Authenticity in storytelling is vital for connection.
• Embracing flaws and failures is part of the hero's journey.
• Building a community of helpers fosters growth and support.
• Empowering small businesses is a mission-driven endeavor.

women in business, leadership, resilience, career growth, entrepreneurship, small business finance, generative AI, mentorship, female empowerment, personal development

In this Serious Lady Business conversation, Leslie talks with Kelly Hubbell, founder of Sage Haus, about why “moms need teams too” and how running a household like a business—complete with roles, systems, and support—can reclaim time, reduce burnout, and unlock growth at work and at home. Kelly shares how calculating her own “invisible labor” (about 22 hours/week) led her to hire a house manager/family assistant, then build Sage Haus to help other families do the same through tailored job descriptions, rigorous vetting, and a Home Systems Playbook that documents expectations so support can plug in seamlessly. They normalize household help across budgets, discuss practical first hires (meal prep, laundry, after-school coverage), and show the ripple effects on mental health, relationships, entrepreneurship, and community—framing this not as a luxury, but a high-ROI investment in family well-being.

About Our Guest

• Kelly Hubbell, Founder and CEO of Sage Haus
• Connect with Kelly on LinkedIn
• Sage Haus Website
• Sage Haus on Instagram
• Sage Haus on LinkedIn

Key Takeaways

• Invisible labor has a real cost: Kelly clocked ~22 extra hours/week managing home—unsustainable without added support. 
• Normalize the role: House managers/family assistants should be as accepted as cleaners or nannies—help at home is smart leadership, not a luxury. 
• Systems make support work: Sage Haus pairs vetted people with a Home Systems Playbook so expectations, routines, and standards are clear and repeatable.
• Start small, think ROI: Common first offloads—meal prep, laundry, childcare blocks—buy back hours and energy; treat it like an investment in your family and career.
• Entrepreneurship benefit is real: Offloading home ops creates capacity to start or scale a business, travel for clients, and be present with kids—without burning out.

This episode tracks the fearless, nonlinear creative path of Trinette Faint—from teen model in Chicago and Paris to Hollywood sets, six years at Google, published novelist, and now award-recognized screenwriter and filmmaker. Trinette credits her mother’s early “exposure therapy” to big cities and courageous self-advocacy for giving her the confidence to navigate new rooms, reset when needed (hello, palate-cleansing summer waiting tables in Maine), and keep choosing her own story—especially after a difficult year of loss, layoff, and recovery. That “dark winter” became rocket fuel: acting classes, screenwriting at UCLA, and the premiere of her short film Party Pants, a resonant portrait of midlife reinvention. The throughline? Don’t wait for permission. Follow the nudge, do the work, and let your creative legacy be something you live into—at any age.

About Our Guest

• Trinette Faint, Founder/Screenwriter/Actress
• Learn more about Trinette
• Connect with Trinette on LinkedIn
• Party Pants Movie
• Floor 51 Productions

Key Takeaways

• Exposure builds courage. Early trips to Chicago and a mom who modeled self-advocacy taught Trinette to move confidently through the world. 
• Your path isn’t linear. Strategic resets (Maine, Colorado) created space for clarity and unexpected opportunities in photography and modeling. 
• Rejection is a rep. Modeling’s “no’s” trained resilience—essential for creative and career pivots. 
• Make choices that only need to make sense to you. If the move feels right, it’s valid—even if others don’t see it yet. 
• Community is part of the work. Mentoring young women and building in-person networks (Shea Faint) amplifies impact and opens doors. 
• Dark seasons can be catalysts. Job loss and recovery became the opening for screenwriting, acting, and the Party Pants premiere. 
• Legacy is daily. Keep learning, keep making, and keep telling the truth of where you are—because that’s the work that resonates.

Leslie Youngblood and Andrea Liebross explore the journey of women entrepreneurs, emphasizing the importance of coaching, community support, and the need for belief and structure in achieving business success. They discuss the challenges of the 'messy middle' in entrepreneurship, the significance of visualizing one's future self, and the necessity of taking massive action to overcome fear and achieve goals. Andrea shares insights from her own experiences, including the process of writing a book and the value of integrating work and life rather than striving for balance. The episode concludes with a discussion on the importance of community and the resources available for women looking to grow their businesses.

About Our Guest

• Andrea Liebross, Founder, Speaker, Author, Business Coach and Life Balance Architect
• www.andrealiebross.com
• Learn more and purchase Andrea's book
• Learn more about Andrea's Ascension Coaching Cohort 
• Connect with Andrea on LinkedIn

Key Takeaways

• Coaching helps women gain clarity and confidence.
• The messy middle is a crucial phase for entrepreneurs.
• Investing in a coach can provide strategic support.
• Belief and structure are essential for business success.
• Writing a book clarifies your ideas and serves as a marketing tool.
• Visualizing your future self can guide your actions.
• Women often fall into passive action instead of taking massive action.
• Community support is vital for overcoming loneliness in entrepreneurship.
• Work-life integration is more realistic than balance.
• Taking action despite fear is key to progress.

coaching, women entrepreneurs, empowerment, business strategy, mindset, community support, work-life integration, belief, action, personal growth

Host Leslie Youngblood speaks with Alyssa Carrier, founder and CEO of AC Disaster Consulting. They discuss Alyssa's journey into disaster management, the importance of compassion in the industry, and the challenges of navigating a male-dominated field. Alyssa shares her insights on building a diverse team, aligning mission with profitability, and the unique strengths women bring to emergency management. The conversation also touches on the significance of trusting one's gut in business decisions, the day-to-day realities of disaster consulting, and the inspiration drawn from icons like Taylor Swift. Alyssa offers valuable advice for young women entrepreneurs and reflects on her legacy and future goals.

About Our Guest

• Alyssa Carrier, Founder + Chief Executive Officer, AC Disaster Consulting
• AC Disaster Consulting Website
• Connect with Alyssa on LinkedIn
• Follow ACDC on LinkedIn
• Follow ACDC on Instagram

Key Takeaways

• Alyssa was inspired to enter disaster management after 9/11.
• Compassion is essential in emergency management.
• The industry has historically been male-dominated.
• Alyssa aims to create a diverse and inclusive team.
• Aligning mission with profitability is crucial for success.
• Women bring unique strengths to emergency management roles.
• Trusting your gut is important in business decisions.
• Disaster consulting involves unpredictable challenges.
• Leadership requires authenticity and vulnerability.
• Alyssa emphasizes the importance of cash reserves for entrepreneurs.

Host Leslie Youngblood engages in a deep conversation with Margaret Brower, a renowned coach in the catering and venue sales industry. They explore Margaret's journey from being uncertain about her career path to becoming a successful consultant. The discussion highlights the importance of recognizing patterns in sales, the unique pressures faced by middle management, and the power of observation in leadership. They also delve into the significance of adaptability versus performance, the necessity of embracing change, and the importance of naming one's wins to foster growth and confidence in business.

About Our Guest

• Margaret Brower, Founder and CEO, Rainmaker Sales and Marketing Group
• Rainmaker Sales and Marketing Group website
• Rainmaker Sales and Marketing Group on Instagram

Key Takeaways

• One conversation can truly change a life.
• Leap and the net will find you.
• Observation sharpens your intuition.
• You can have many different eras in your life.
• The way you speak to yourself is really important.
• You don't need permission to choose a new path.
• The more you recognize your repeatable brilliance, the easier it becomes to build on.
• You can be many things, and life is not linear.