This week in the guest chair, I’m joined by Tisha Thompson, the founder and CEO of LYS Beauty, the first Black-owned clean cosmetics brand to be carried at Sephora. Tisha shares her inspiring path from staff accountant and part-time makeup artist to leading her own beauty brand that launched during the pandemic and quickly sold out in 10 days. 

In this episode, Tisha breaks down how she strategically pivoted from finance to beauty marketing, cold-pitched Sephora with a bold email (before she even launched!), and developed products that center clean ingredients and inclusivity. Her brand LYS, short for Love Yourself, is not only disrupting the beauty space with triangle packaging and affirmational product names—but it’s also remained profitable every year since launch.

In this episode she shares:

• How she got her foot in the beauty industry using her finance background
• Why she took a demotion to pivot industries
• How personal loss and purpose led her to finally launch LYS Beauty
• What made Sephora say "yes" to a brand that hadn’t even launched yet
• How she developed 35 inclusive foundation shades with a clean formulation
• Why representation and self-love are at the heart of her business model

Highlights Include: 

00:00 Intro

02:10 How a staff accountant became a makeup artist

04:50 Taking a demotion to move into marketing

10:54 Losing her dad and finding the courage to launch

15:45 Cold-pitching Sephora and landing a deal pre-launch

20:00 What clean beauty means to her (and her skin)

27:00 Packaging, affirmations, and triangle symbolism

30:00 Navigating DEI backlash and economic shifts

45:00 Building a team and staying profitable

Check out episode 467 of Side Hustle Pro podcast out now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube.

Links mentioned in this episode

• LYS Beauty Website: https://lysbeauty.com
• LYS Instagram: https://instagram.com/lysbeautyofficial/
• Tisha’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/glamourgirl5/
• Cosmoprof: https://cosmoprofnorthamerica.com
• MakeUp In Trade Shows: https://makeup-in.com
• Luxepack: https://luxepack.com

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Join our Facebook Community

If you’re looking for a community of supportive side hustlers who are all working to take our businesses to the next level, join us here: http://sidehustlepro.co/facebook

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/glamourgirl5/
• LYS Beauty Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lysbeautyofficial

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This week in the guest chair, we’re spotlighting Marina Batliwalla, financial professional and host of the Banking on Girls podcast. Born in India, raised in Australia, and now based in LA, Marina joined Podcast Moguls to launch a show centered around financial literacy for women and girls—and she’s done just that, all while working full-time.

Marina shares how she overcame mindset hurdles to get started, leveraged her platform to speak at the United Nations, and is now piloting financial education workshops for mothers and daughters.

• How she found her voice and confidence through Podcast Moguls
• Why financial literacy needs to start before the age of 7
• The early media skills she brought from her radio days in Sydney
• How her show opened doors to speak at global institutions
• Why she’s now looking at B2B opportunities for her educational workshops

• 00:00 Intro
• 02:25 From actuary to advocate: Marina’s global journey
• 05:20 How a Girl Scout badge sparked her podcast vision
• 12:30 Naming her podcast Banking on Girls and protecting the brand
• 15:00 Defining her perfect listener: mothers raising daughters
• 22:00 Workshop pilot programs and future monetization strategies
• 31:00 Leveraging her podcast to attend the United Nations
• 40:00 How Marina got over her fear of marketing

Check out episode 465 of Side Hustle Pro podcast out now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube

Links mentioned in this episode

• Banking on Girls Podcast – https://www.bankingongirls.com 
• United Nations Commission on the Status of Women – https://www.unwomen.org/en/csw 
• Cherie Blair Foundation for Women – https://cherieblairfoundation.org
• Scouting America– https://www.scouting.org
• Stock Market Game – https://www.stockmarketgame.org

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Join our Facebook Community

If you’re looking for a community of supportive side hustlers who are all working to take our businesses to the next level, join us here: http://sidehustlepro.co/facebook

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This week in the guest chair we have Marty McDonald, founder of Elle Olivia & Boss Women Media. Her background in corporate laid the foundation to launching Boss Women Media, the offline/online women’s empowerment community. After a challenging experience with giving birth to her first child, Marty translated that same idea of empowerment to launch Elle Olivia, a lifestyle brand for young Black and Brown girls.

In this episode she shares:

• How she landed her brand Elle Olivia in over 400 Target locations nationwide within the first year of launching
• How she strategically re-invested revenue from side hustling into her businesses 
• How she oversees a multi-city Black Girl Magic Tour, the annual Boss Woman of the Year Summit, and serves a loyal community of more than 100,000 women

Highlights Include:

00:00 Intro

02:38 Navigating corporate America 

11:30 Pitching to Sugarfina

14:32 Launching Boss Women Media

16:52 Monetizing the business & impactful collaboration

27:43 Staying nimble and pivoting at the right time

34:02 Navigating a challenging pregnancy 

38:10 Creating a brand for Black and Brown girls

48:18 The power of a strong team

54:00 Tips for entrepreneurs 

Check out episode 465 of Side Hustle Pro podcast out now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube

Links mentioned in this episode

• Marty’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/martytmcdonald/ 
• Boss Women Media Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bosswomenmedia/ 
• Boss Women Media Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bosswomenmedia/ 
• Elle Olivia Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shopelleolivia/ 
• Elle Olivia Website: https://shopelleolivia.com/ 
• Elle Olivia at Target: https://www.target.com/b/elle-olivia/-/N-q643le95h07 
• Sugarfina: https://www.sugarfina.com/  
• Power Thoughts Devotional: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/power-thoughts-devotional/id715337851 

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If you’re looking for a community of supportive side hustlers who are all working to take our businesses to the next level, join us here: http://sidehustlepro.co/facebook

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This week in the guest chair, we have Monique R. Shields, executive coach, entrepreneur, and founder of Claimed, a program dedicated to helping high-achieving Black mothers unlock their next chapter. In this episode, Monique shares her inspiring journey from corporate to coaching and the lessons she’s learned along the way. She discusses the power of releasing limiting beliefs, why investing in yourself is key to growth, and how motherhood led to her decision to take ownership of her time and career.

In this episode she shares:

• The importance of creating space for Black women, especially mothers, to thrive and build without compromising themselves
• The mindset shifts needed to elevate your business and life to the next level
• How transitioning from corporate to entrepreneurship gave her the freedom she needed

Highlights include:

00:00 Intro

05:00 The importance of relationships in early career transitions

07:30 Background in publishing and banking 

12:00 Transition into executive coaching & the influence of motherhood 

19:00 Raising her rates and investing in herself

24:35 How to navigate seasons of burnout and pressure

29:03 Tips for women entrepreneurs transitioning into full-time business ownership

34:20 The launch of her program, Claimed, for Black mothers

40:00 The power of releasing limiting beliefs and moving beyond survival mode

1:00:00 Tips for entrepreneurs

Watch episode 464 on YouTube and listen on all podcast apps

Links mentioned in this episode

• Monique’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moniquershields/ 
• Monique’s Website: https://moniquershields.com/ 
• Monique’s Podcast: https://moniquershields.com/podcast/ 
• Side Hustle Pro: https://sidehustlepro.co/ 

Click here to subscribe via RSS feed (non-iTunes feed): http://sidehustlepro.libsyn.com/rss

Join our Facebook Community

If you’re looking for a community of supportive side hustlers who are all working to take our businesses to the next level, join us here: http://sidehustlepro.co/facebook

• Monique’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moniquershields/ 
• Monique’s Website: https://moniquershields.com/ 

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This week in the guest chair we have Maekaeda Gibbons, Trinidad-born founder & CEO of Brown Sugar Babe, the cult-favorite fragrance and body-care brand whose body oils like Wild Card and Rich Auntie just keep selling out.

 In this episode she shares:

• Turning a $300 paycheck into a side hustle that now ships 10,000+ orders a month 
• Her exact growth playbook: pop-ups at Atlanta’s Ponce City Market, a 20,000-member Facebook group, and influencer collaborations that went viral on the internet
• How she approaches exploring various side hustle ideas as a multi passionate side hustler

Highlights Include:

00:00 Intro

06:00 Personal connection to scent

09:00 Turning a business to a hobby

15:00 Marketing strategies

21:00 Financial growth and investment

30:00 Importance of discipline in business

40:00 Navigating debt

46:00 Breaking the stigma around money

53:00 Managing tariffs and business costs

55:00 Tips for entrepreneurs

Watch episode 463 on YouTube and listen on all podcast apps

Links mentioned in this episode

• Brown Sugar Babe Website: ttps://www.brownsugarbabe.net/ 
• Shopify (e-commerce platform) – https://shopify.com
• Ponce City Market Makers Market – https://poncecitymarket.com
• Asia Evans, Financial Therapist – @asiatherapy on Instagram
• Brown Sugar Babe Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brwnsugarbabe/ 

Click here to subscribe via RSS feed (non-iTunes feed): http://sidehustlepro.libsyn.com/rss

Join our Facebook Community

If you’re looking for a community of supportive side hustlers who are all working to take our businesses to the next level, join us here: http://sidehustlepro.co/facebook

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This week in the guest chair we have Raven Gibson, multidisciplinary designer and founder of the empowering apparel and lifestyle brand Legendary Roots. Getting her start in her dorm room, Raven takes us on her journey of delegation, negotiating with Fortune 500 retailers, and trusting that what’s for you will never pass you by.

In this episode she shares:

• How she uses art to speak up and invites her community to set healthy boundaries
• The moment she got serious about QuickBooks, hired a CPA, learned her metrics, and embraced FIRE principles to build a sustainable, profitable business.
• The systems that keep burnout at bay, and her gratitude‑driven approach to growth

Highlights include: 

00:00 Intro

3:50 Shifting from medicine to art

10:00 Scaling a side hustle

20:00 Importance of early support

24:00 Managing and learning business finance

33:00 Marketing strategies

39:00 Retail partnerships

43:00 Maintaining a work/life balance

52:00 Tips for entrepreneurs 

Watch episode 462 on YouTube and listen on all podcast apps

Links mentioned in this episode

• Legendary Rootz website – https://legendaryrootz.com 
• Instagram / TikTok / Threads – @legendaryrootz
• Target – https://www.target.com 
• Shopify – https://www.shopify.com 
• PayPal – https://www.paypal.com 
• Figma – https://www.figma.com 
• ClickUp – https://www.clickup.com 
• QuickBooks – https://quickbooks.intuit.com 
• Tumblr – https://www.tumblr.com 
• Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes – https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Year-of-Yes/Shonda-Rhimes/9781476777122 

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If you’re looking for a community of supportive side hustlers who are all working to take our businesses to the next level, join us here: http://sidehustlepro.co/facebook

Side Hustle Pro – @sidehustlepro

#SideHustlePro

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This week in the guest chair we have Rachel Rodgers—entrepreneur, coach, and bestselling author of We Should All Be Millionaires. She's back on the show with powerful insights to help side hustlers and full-time entrepreneurs alike build sustainable wealth and stop playing small.

In this episode, she shares:

• How to make real “money moves” instead of hiding behind busy work
• The mindset shifts needed to overcome imposter syndrome and take bold action
• Why outsourcing your life first can unlock growth in your business
• Her step-by-step approach to building a million-dollar business with a strong team and systems to build wealth with confidence

Highlights include: 

00:00 Intro

04:00 Transitioning from law to passion projects

11:40 Building life and business teams

14:00 Balancing outsourcing and income

16:45 Reframing selling as helping

24:00 Importance of announcing your business

30:00 Embracing growth and change

37:00 Structuring a mastermind program

46:00 Investing in yourself is key

50:00 Helping Gen Z build wealth

53:00 Tips for entrepreneurs

Watch episode 461 on YouTube and listen on all podcast apps

Links mentioned in this episode

• Rachel’s first SHP episode: https://youtu.be/a_8Kyku41GE 
• Rachel’s website: https://rachelrodgers.com/
• Rachel’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachrodgersesq/ 
• Future Millionaire book: https://futuremillionairebook.com/ 
• The Four Hour Work Week: https://www.amazon.com/4-Hour-Workweek-Escape-Live-Anywhere/dp/0307465357 
• The Big Leap: https://www.harpercollins.com/products/the-big-leap-gay-hendricks 
• We Should All Be Millionaires: https://www.harpercollinsleadership.com/9781400221684/we-should-all-be-millionaires/ 

Click here to subscribe via RSS feed (non-iTunes feed): http://sidehustlepro.libsyn.com/rss

Join our Facebook Community

If you’re looking for a community of supportive side hustlers who are all working to take our businesses to the next level, join us here: http://sidehustlepro.co/facebook

• Rachel’s website: https://rachelrodgers.com/
• Rachel’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachrodgersesq/ 

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This week I’m excited to chat with someone I go way back with, Sheena McCullers. Sheena is the founder of Della’s Beauty Supply. Della’s was launched to bring a much-needed sense of belonging for BIPOC beauty lovers in Ann Arbor, MI. After moving from Brooklyn, Sheena saw a need for a place for people who look like her and took a chance on opening a storefront. 

In this episode she shares:

• How intentionally creating a community through word of mouth was the foundation to building her customer base
• The startup costs and how she’s been able to be profitable in the first year
• The importance of working a full-time job where she was supported enough to be transparent about needing space to focus on expanding Della’s 

Highlights Include: 

00:00 Intro

08:16 Exploring different side hustles

14:16 Navigating a new city

18:43 Filling the need for a beauty supply

23:18 Startup planning and costs

27:55 Creating a community 

30:01 Curating events and collaborations

35:02 Running a storefront as a side hustle

41:20 Expanding and creating a cultural hub

46:43 Setting the tone for the future of the store

56:19 Tips for entrepreneurs

Check out episode 460 of Side Hustle Pro podcast out now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube

Links Mentioned: 

• Auntie Della’s Website: https://auntiedellas.com/
• Auntie Della’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/auntiedellas/ 
• Auntie Della’s TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@auntiedellas 
• Virtual Assistant: https://theindemandva.com/ 

Listen on:

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/side-hustle-pro/id1126021323

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/13qDj08lBR4ymzGhXIKy8t?si=8daf52a57e054042 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/sidehustlepro

Click here to subscribe via RSS feed (non-iTunes feed): http://sidehustlepro.libsyn.com/rss

Affiliate Disclosure: I may be an affiliate for products that I recommend or share. If you purchase those items through my links, I may earn a commission. You will not pay more when you use my links.

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This week in the guest chair we have Kristen Dunning, founder and CEO of Gently Soap - a bathing brand built on her self-developed herbal infusions. 

An MBA grad, Kristen hails from a rare five generations of Black Alabama farmers, and she’s continuing the legacy by bringing joy back to bathing experiences for people with sensitive skin, using the medicinal properties of plants.

In this episode she shares:

• Her vigorous passion and research that landed her on Shark Tank
• Her secret sauce to having a rate of 78% repeat customers
• How she won over 300K in investment capital and has a trajectory of $1.2M in sales

Highlights Include:

00:00 Intro

03:24 Generations of Black farmers

06:38 Struggle with eczema

08:45 Studying horticulture and agriculture

14:10 Staring Gently Soaps

18:03 Transitioning to selling at markets

21:31 Importance of formulating for sensitive skin

28:56 Sales growth and Shark Tank impact

32:55 High margins and sales 

39:49 Marketing strategies

44:03 Tips for entrepreneurs 

Check out episode 459 of Side Hustle Pro podcast out now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube

Links mentioned in this episode

• Gently Soap Website: https://gentlysoap.com/ 
• Gently Soap Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gentlysoap/
• Kristen’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/professionalplantgirl/ 
• Kristen’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristendunning/  
• Shark Tank episode: https://gentlysoap.com/pages/shark-tank 
• Aveeno start-up pitch competition: https://www.aveeno.com/startup-collective 
• Thirteen Lune: https://thirteenlune.com/ 
• Tech Stars: https://www.techstars.com/ 

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If you’re looking for a community of supportive side hustlers who are all working to take our businesses to the next level, join us here: http://sidehustlepro.co/facebook

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This week I’m back with a solo episode where I’m giving you the tools to make money with your podcast. When I became a full-time podcaster in 2017, I focused on my revenue streams like brand partnerships, sponsorships, courses, and VIP programs, leading to having over 10 million episode downloads to date. I’m here to help you get your podcast to that same level. 

In this episode I’m sharing:

• Effective Marketing: How you’re going to optimize content planning and to get people to consistently see what you are offering 
• Thinking Outside the Box: Exploring non-traditional sponsorships and multi-channel packages like retreats to generate revenue beyond just downloads
• Creating Value: How to produce content and services that your audience genuinely wants to pay for

Highlights Include:

00:00 Intro

02:49 The Importance of Podcast Setup

05:15 Narrowing Down Your Podcast Topics

09:50 Understanding and Serving Your Audience

14:33 Creating a Content Plan

16:39 Effective Marketing Strategies

19:00 Consistent Marketing Practices

21:24 Thinking Outside the Box for Sponsorships

25:54 Create Content People Want to Pay For

28:17 Recap and Action Steps

To learn more about making money from your podcast, join my next live class. Register at sidehustlepro.co/class.

Check out episode 458 of Side Hustle Pro podcast out now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube

Links mentioned in this episode

• Riverside (Use code ‘hustlepro’): https://riverside.fm/ 
• Podcast Moguls: http://sidehustlepro.co/join  
• Lori Tharps SHP episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3EsWprSGu4 
• Launching Podcast Moguls 2.0: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3d-wkYAcsLo&t=1s 
• Free newsletter: http://sidehustlepro.co/newsletter 
• You Are a Badass by Jen Sincero: https://jensincero.com/ 

Click here to subscribe via RSS feed (non-iTunes feed): http://sidehustlepro.libsyn.com/rss

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If you’re looking for a community of supportive side hustlers who are all working to take our businesses to the next level, join us here: http://sidehustlepro.co/facebook

Side Hustle Pro – @sidehustlepro

#SideHustlePro

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