Payroll is one of the trickiest parts of running a business, but for Christina Hageny, it became her calling. She first discovered payroll while working as an administrative assistant, and despite encouragement to move into HR, she stuck with it. In 2020, Christina launched her own firm, Valor Payroll Solutions, and today she helps small businesses handle payroll with ease and confidence.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and background

11:19 Payroll across different industries

13:31 Scaling the business 

17:58 Bootstrapping the business

20:34 Balancing work and life

25:32 Reflecting on the business

29:39 Advice for other entrepreneurs 

30:39 Closing and contact

00:00 Introduction and background

5:27 Overcoming nerves

8:15 Creating Farmer Nick

14:33 Managing a large business

19:49 Cause-based marketing

21:38 Building a National business

26:47 Reflecting on the business

29:18 Advice for other entrepreneurs

29:56 Closing and contact

Matt Remuzzi entered the accounting industry twenty-five years ago when he founded CapForge. What began as a solo venture launched from a spare bedroom in his home has since evolved into a thriving business. Today, CapForge employs a team of over 90 people who help more than a thousand clients grow their businesses and meet their obligations with professional bookkeeping support.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and background

13:30 Overcoming nerves

17:34 Maintaining quality while scaling

20:03 Pricing

23:27 Work-life balance

29:39 Reflecting on the business

31:48 Advice for other entrepreneurs

34:05 Closing and contact

Cat Lepetit has always had a deep love for the beach. After spending 20 years in the cosmetics industry, she felt it was time for a new chapter. That’s when the idea for Sun Drunk was born, a beach goods company focused on simplicity, peace of mind, and sustainability. With a mission to help protect our oceans and keep beaches clean, Sun Drunk is all about making it easier to enjoy the coast while caring for it too.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and background

7:48 Overcoming nerves

11:23 Designing the products

16:23 Building a customer base

19:56 Giving back

22:25 Overcoming stress

25:32 Looking back

28:02 Advice for other entrepreneurs 

29:57 Closing and contact

Justin Abrams is a lifelong salesman, with a career in the industry spanning over a decade. However, when Justin and his friend Michael tried to pivot into the tech startup space, they found they were facing challenges getting into market. It was at that point that the two were asked to design a web application. This opportunity turned into what would become Cause of a Kind, a successful web development company.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background

8:22 Overcoming nerves

11:25 Building the business

14:52 Using AI

19:23 Balancing life and work

26:26 Advice for other entrepreneurs

30:23 Closing and contact

Nikky Wainwright has been reselling anything since she was in college - books, clothing, shoes, you name it. However in 2020, in the midst of the pandemic, she noticed that while some businesses were suffering, reselling was going strong. It was at this point that she went all in on Diva’s Treasure Closet, a a luxury, designer, and vintage e-commerce business. Starting out online, Nikky has now opened her own boutique in Atlanta. 

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and background

6:46 Choosing your inventory

10:38 Social media strategy

15:50 Balancing life and work

20:24 Growing the business

22:53 Reflecting on the business

25:19 Advice for other entrepreneurs

27:42 Closing and contact

When Jaya Iyer couldn’t find science-themed dresses for her daughter, she realized that other parents must be feeling the frustration. Wanting to empower her daughter and others, she launched Svaha USA, a STEAM-based fashion brand that creates clothing for the entire family. What started as a mission to challenge gender stereotypes in kids' clothing has grown into a thriving business known for its bold, brainy designs.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and background

7:00 Challenges when starting the business

14:13 Creating the clothing

20:30 Fulfilling orders

23:18 Building a mission-driven brand

25:31 Balancing family and work

30:16 Reflecting on the business

31:34 Advice for other entrepreneurs

33:11 Closing and contact

Brittane Rowe is an off-Broadway actress by trade, but when the COVID-19 pandemic shut down Broadway, she found herself with time for deeper, more meaningful conversations with her family. Inspired by those moments, Brittane teamed up with her brother Brandon and sister-in-law Jane to create Awkward Games, a card game company designed to spark joy and strengthen relationships.

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Chapters

00:00 Introduction and background

8:10 Getting the first sales

9:31 Getting the product into stores

11:56 Overcoming nerves

14:48 Shark Tank

24:09 Game development

26:40 Balancing work and life

28:50 Running the business in NYC

31:43 Reflecting back on the business

34:07 Advice for other entrepreneurs

35:28 Closing and contact

Kwadwo Som-Pimpong founded Crafted Glory, a handcrafted furniture company, after buying his first home in Asheville, North Carolina. Drawing on his engineering background, he mastered the mechanics of furniture making and honed his craft. What began as a personal project has grown into a business that serves customers across the country. Today, Crafted Glory is known for its commitment to quality, craftsmanship, and thoughtful design.

-Chapters-

00:00 Introduction and background

6:29 Overcoming nerves

8:12 Pricing your work

10:22 Training as a woodworker 

16:30 Viewing the business longterm 

20:56 Balancing work and life

25:31 Finding a coach

31:50 Reflecting on the business

33:18 Advice for other entrepreneurs

34:37 Closing and contact

Erica Levin is a serial entrepreneur, having started three businesses in her life. During the pandemic, while her daughter was starting to eat solid foods, Erica decided to start making her own baby food that incorporated flavors from around the world and introduced allergens early. From there, she has built Globowl, a baby and toddler food company with a mission to inspire adventurous eating for life.

-Chapters-

00:00 Introduction and background

4:45 Starting Global

12:05 Overcoming nerves

13:05 Funding the business

16:23 Making mistakes

20:55 Entering the food space

23:41 Plans to grow the business

27:02 Mission-oriented brands

29:02 Work-life balance

32:25 Reflecting on the business

34:47 Closing and contact