Teacher Turned Entrepreneur

Sometimes the best things are also the scariest, as Danielle Barich can attest. She shares on this episode of She Turned Entrepreneur how she charted a big dream and made it happen by breaking it down into manageable steps. The process took intentionality and some bravery, but here’s the outcome: Danielle today is living in Paris, where she’s doing what she loves to do.

A creative and sensory strategist, Danielle consults primarily with boutiques and other businesses in the hospitality space as well as beauty products and services. She explains in this episode exactly what it means to have a sensory strategy – including the experience itself and how to use compelling design and marketing tools to bring it to life.

Picking up and moving to Paris wasn’t easy. There were moments that were hard and exhausting and discouraging. But navigating that reality also imparted a clear lesson: “It’s okay to be both thrilled and the most scared you’ve ever been in your life,” says Danielle. “And at the same time just to embrace the fear and know it’s going to be okay.”

Want to level up your sensory strategy? Or maybe just ask a question about Paris? You can book a complimentary discovery call with Danielle here.

Click here to listen to, rate and review this or previous She Turned Entrepreneur episodes.

Here are key takeaways from the conversation:

• Think about any of your early experiences with small businesses. Did you get a behind-the-scenes look at how books were kept, marketing was generated, employees hired? All of these are skills transferrable to your personal entrepreneurial launch.

• Bringing mindfulness to your brand and connecting it with rich sensory experiences engages target audiences like nothing else can.

• You don’t have to win the lottery. Big dreams can be broken into bite-size pieces that make them less intimidating and more manageable.

• You can fail many times and still be moving forward. Look at the down times as an education.

Here’s a quick look into the episode:

• About Danielle’s background and how her education in fashion and communications equipped her with valuable skill sets, in addition to those she picked up in event planning and other small businesses.

• At 23, Danielle started her first venture as a wedding planner and in short order was transitioning to consulting to help small (often women-run) businesses run better.

• Sensory Strategy and what it means in a pandemic world. Without bricks-and-mortar, the online competition was fierce. How to cultivate emotional connections and loyalty among customers.

• Examples of Sensory Marketing:

o Examining and getting intentional about packaging and branding design elements like color and key words. What sensory reactions do they evoke?

o Create content that tells compelling, evocative stories.

o Video is a great vehicle for showing texture and describing how something smells, sounds or feels.

o Other possibilities lie in branded items distributed through various channels or partners.

• Danielle’s ideal clients are in the hospitality sector, such as boutique hotels, restaurants and also beauty products/services in both digital and physical spaces.

• Moving to Paris gave Danielle a major shift and opportunity to leverage and incorporate all kinds of heightened sensory experiences.

• Sensory experience entails mindfulness and a holistic approach to business that ultimately creates a rich signature that will resonate with customers’ identities.

• Danielle’s portfolio of international businesses is expanding rapidly. She’s also long dreamed of opening a lingerie brand, which is ramping up to launch in the future.

• Advice for listeners who dream of ditching their day jobs:

o Danielle got some great ideas from "The Four-Hour Work Week: Escape the 9-5, Live Anywhere and Join the New Rich," by Tim Ferris:

 Chart your dreams.

 Research what each would cost to get started.

 Figure out what would be required to achieve your goal.

o Once you’ve identified the parameters of a dream, look for incremental steps to move you towards that goal.

• One thing that never changes: Nothing stays the same. Last year was a terrible one for Danielle business-wise and this year has been great!

About Danielle:

Danielle is a brand and sensory strategist specializing in luxury brand strategy and sensory brand experience. Danielle works with established brands, agencies and small businesses through contract, project work and private consulting. As a Brand Strategist, Danielle works with brands in the luxury, fashion, lifestyle and home space refining brand DNA, marketing strategy as well as web3 strategy for brands looking to enter the space in an authentic and value-driven way. As a Sensory Strategist, Danielle works with brands in the retail, e-commerce and hospitality industry, helping them elevate their brands by integrating a sensory experience throughout their brand touch points and consumer journey.

Connect with Danielle!

Website | LinkedIn | Instagram

Zencastr is an all-in-one podcast production suite that gives you studio quality audio and video without needing all the technical know-how. It records each guest locally, then uploads the crystal clear audio and video right into the suite so you have high-quality raw materials to work with.

Visit https://zen.ai/sheturnedentrepreneur and use Promo Code: sheturnedentrepreneur to receive 30% off a Zencastr Professional account.

More than 70% of households have a pet, which explains why there is a $100 billion – with a “b” – industry offering related services. What the co-founder of the franchise featured on this episode of She Turned Entrepreneur saw 18 years ago was simple: “We knew the business could be so much more than what it was,” says Amy Reed, whose vision for a multi-service, mobile pet service option is today a thriving franchise opportunity.

Pet sitters, walkers and groomers all in one, Woofies offer a 360-degree answer to pet care needs – many of which represent recurring business. Along with her co-founder Leslie Barron, Amy recognized early on the level of intimacy and trust involved. Pet owners are handing over security codes, keys and access to their homes, not to mention their beloved pets. That’s why Woofies franchises maintain a gold standard of customer service and reliability.

Another reason to become the owner of a Woofies franchise? All the furry friends! The model is adaptable, allowing owners to match their pet sitters with compatible pets and create ongoing relationships with the dogs that they groom. Franchise owners also receive a clear road map that speeds the process and prevents costly startup mistakes. Their intensive two-week training at headquarters in Ashburn, VA, covers every aspect of the business, from customer relations management and other tech systems to scheduling, hiring and marketing.

It’s pandemic-resistant. Recession-resistant. A member of the venerable Authority Brands family. The mobile nature of the business limits overhead and your van itself acts as a rolling billboard. Franchisees also have the fun of joining a community of pet-lovers, sponsoring popular “Yappy Hours” and other fun events. Establishing the Woofies model took time and a lot of trial and error. If you want to combine a love of animals and entrepreneurialism, you might be the perfect franchisee. Amy and Leslie learned the hard way – so that you don’t have to!

Click here to listen to, rate and review this or previous She Turned Entrepreneur episodes.

Here are key takeaways from the conversation:

• Shoot for the stars! If you see a niche that could be so much more, think big about how you might grow and expand a business sector with new services or a twist.

• People say you’re crazy to quit your corporate job? Could mean you’re exactly on track!

• Authority Brands is a powerful parent company for home-related franchise services.

• The franchise model affords a nice balance between entrepreneurial independence and guardrails to build in success.

• Want a marketing twofer? Mobile services out of vans double as rolling advertisements.

Here’s a quick look into the episode:

• Woofies came to be in 2004 – the brainchild of two neighbors looking for pet care in an industry that was sparse.

• Seeing a need and having a passion, Amy and her co-founder Leslie Barron quit their corporate jobs and dove into reinventing pet care.

• They started walking dogs seven days a week and building a reputation, family by family, for being trustworthy and reliable. Customers who were relocating wanted to know how to find a similar service in their new zip codes.

• A Decision Point: How to grow the business – with more corporate locations or a franchise model?

• In 2018, Woofies launched its first franchise and in 2022 became part of the Authority Brands family, which is taking Woofies from a local to national profile.

• What Woofies provides:

o Dog walking (a great recurring revenue stream)

o Pet sitting (in-house or overnight at a sitter’s house)

o Grooming (another great recurring revenue stream)

• Woofies Differentiator: Pet sitting is not usually offered by services providing grooming or dog walking. But Amy has found that the three elements are all mutually reinforcing and synergistic. The more involvement, the deeper the bond with pet owners.

• Ideal Franchisees:

o #1: Understand and share a passion for pets.

o #2: Have some amount of business acumen and the operational ability to coordinate and maximize various Woofies services.

o #3: Know customer service and how to manage human resources.

o #4: Value community, service, charity events and marketing through good will!

• What it looks like to join the Woofies family:

o A two-week training at headquarters in Ashburn, VA.

o Hands-on help learning customer relations management systems, scheduling and live practice with new client consults.

o “We try to make it as comprehensive and hands-on as possible!”

o Subsequent to training, there are weekly and monthly follow-up calls and supplemental field support.

o Franchise owners are the ultimate customer, so the Woofies ethic is all about tending to their success and satisfaction first.

• Why being part of the Authority Brands family was pivotal: Amy and her partner wanted access to the most sophisticated resources possible to support franchisees.

• The franchise model offers a balance between entrepreneurial independence and the know-how and experience acquired over time in developing the brand.

• Initial Investment: The one-time franchise fee is $48,500, which is included in overall startup costs that run between $115,000-$200,000 (somewhat dependent on whether the franchisee works from home the first year). The mobile nature of the business reduces overhead while the van itself acts as a marketing tool. Royalties are 6.5% with a 1% brand marketing fee.

• Interested in owning a Woofies franchise? Here’s the baseline:

o A net worth of at least $350,000-$400,000.

o Liquid capital of $70,000-$80,000.

• About the vans: Most people don’t buy them outright. There is a lease option through Authority Brands.

• The best part of being a Woofies franchisee? Hands down the interaction with pets. Being able to create your own independent business is icing on the cake!

• It’s an incredible time to be part of the $100 billion pet industry!

To learn more about Woofies or other franchise opportunities, click here to set up a call.

Zencastr is an all-in-one podcast production suite that gives you studio quality audio and video without needing all the technical know-how. It records each guest locally, then uploads the crystal clear audio and video right into the suite so you have high-quality raw materials to work with.

Visit https://zen.ai/sheturnedentrepreneur and use Promo Code: sheturnedentrepreneur to receive 30% off a Zencastr Professional account.

An entrepreneurial success story? We’ll drink to that! On this episode of She Turned Entrepreneur we learn how wine expert Nia Ruth traded in a job that was fine for a venture that lit her up inside. What started out as a hobby turned into something more as Nia built her knowledge base with college-level courses and traveled the world, exploring vineyards of all kinds. She also became a columnist on the subject for San Diego Magazine, offered advice via social media and, well, before long she had de facto started a wine consulting business!

Nia Ruth Wine, an experiential wine club, was born of pure exhilaration. Featuring premium boutique wines that you won’t find at any grocery store, Nia revels in selecting a range of unique varietals from small producers to be delivered right to her members’ doorsteps each month. Virtual monthly tastings provide a platform for enthusiasts to come together, get acquainted and learn the stories behind each of the featured wines.

It’s a win-win-win! Not only do members discover a whole new frontier, the winemakers welcome the exposure to customers who might otherwise never have known about them. To make the trifecta complete, Nia incorporates her PhD studies and previous career as a social welfare consultant in an incredibly positive way: Each month $1 per membership goes to the featured winemakers, who are then free to donate proceeds to the nonprofit of their choice.

Nia of course has had her share of challenges along the way, but she shares with us some great tips (for instance, podcasts can be a great source of educational information and how-to tricks for learning startup tools). She’s encouraging us to trust what feels good and skip what doesn’t. Says Nia: Just try! If you fail, fail quickly. Then get back up again!

Click here to join Nia’s wine club and expand your knowledge base, refine your palate, meet small producers and discover your favorite wines!

Click here to listen to, rate and review this or previous She Turned Entrepreneur episodes.

Here are key takeaways from the conversation:

• Even if you’ve got a PhD and career in progress, it’s possible to make an about-face.

• Finding a niche and then filling it is a fantastic entrepreneurial formula.

• That “little” hobby of yours? Could it be a business? Time to think creatively!

• Trying to figure out how to market? Podcasts are a great learning resource!

• If you’ve got an idea, don’t be afraid. Give it a try. Make a modest investment.

Here’s a quick look into the episode:

• Starting out on a pre-determined, academic path that led to a PhD and consulting in the social work space, Nia’s growing interest in wine over time organically evolved from a hobby into a passion into a venture she couldn’t resist.

• Nia explains how she got the idea for her unique and experiential wine club.

• An entrepreneurial venture made sense on a number of levels:

o As a way to leverage the deep wine expertise she had acquired.

o As an opportunity to introduce people to wines they would otherwise never find.

o For the flexibility and freedom with lifestyle choices it would afford.

• A Day in the Life:

o Danielle starts first thing by responding to email, refreshing social media and generating content for postings.

o After that? It’s often wine tastings and outreach to wineries.

• About how Nia’s wine club works:

o Each month members receive three bottles of wine, specially chosen to represent a variety of grapes, regions and styles.

o Wines are delivered right to your door.

o The wines come from boutique vineyards with which Nia has a relationship (nothing you could find at the grocery store).

o The club includes a live online forum through which members can get to know each other and the featured vintners, who share the stories behind their wines.

o Nia provides materials to help members get comfortable with the language around wine, which emboldens them to share their opinions!

• A big part of Nia’s mission is to support small wineries by introducing them to people all around the country who would otherwise never be exposed.

• Nia has built her background in social welfare into her business model by setting aside $1 per member each month for the featured winery to donate to a favorite nonprofit.

• About Bumps in the Road. Nia’s biggest challenges have been:

o No marketing background, which put her on a steep learning curve.

o No roadmap as to what comes next as the business evolves and develops.

• Advice for entrepreneurs starting out:

o If you have an idea, don’t be afraid. Just give it a try!

o Trust your gut and do what feels right, even if it means saying no.

• Recommended Resources:

o Podcast: Marketing Made Easy with Amy Porterfield. Great practical tips.

o Podcast: Entrepreneurs on Fire. Inspirational stories!

o Podcast: Nia is a fan of Dori and She Turned Entrepreneur.

About Nia:

Nia is a wine-loving psychologist turned Wine Expert and Wine Club Founder. While completing her PhD in psychology research at NYU and working for several years consulting in the social welfare space, she fell completely in love with wine. She took her first introductory wine course at San Diego State University in 2018, and has since completed her WSET levels 2 and 3, started blogging about wine, become the wine columnist at San Diego Magazine and traveled far and wide visiting vineyards throughout Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece, South Africa, Morocco, Croatia, Israel, Mexico and across the U.S.

Connect with Nia!

Website | Instagram | Blog

Zencastr is an all-in-one podcast production suite that gives you studio quality audio and video without needing all the technical know-how. It records each guest locally, then uploads the crystal clear audio and video right into the suite so you have high-quality raw materials to work with.

Visit https://zen.ai/sheturnedentrepreneur and use Promo Code: sheturnedentrepreneur to receive 30% off a Zencastr Professional account.

For many, taking that initial leap and giving up the steady paycheck is enough to keep entrepreneurial impulses in a holding pattern. Not so for Stacia Aashna, a life coach and certified hypnotherapist who took the pandemic as an opportunity to make the break. She quit her corporate sales job because “it was worth it to give up the comfort of a salary and a paycheck to build my dream.” On this episode of She Turned Entrepreneur we learn about the power of hypnotherapy and what it means to commit 100% to that thing that makes your heart sing.

Having developed a thriving practice on the side, it felt like a privilege to go all-in on serving people with results that were transformational. Stacia blends various modalities in order to achieve long-lasting results. Her focus includes:

• Inner Child Healing

• Therapeutic Imagery

• NLP

• IFS (Internal Family Systems)

• Age Regression Therapy

• Mindfulness

• Hypnosis

• Breathwork

• Journaling

The goal is to help people who are stuck in behaviors or mindsets that do not serve. Danielle facilitates personal healing, working through the negativity that can keep us from pursuing our best lives. It has been a joyful experience to devote herself full-time to coaching and hypnotherapeutic work, but Stacia cautions that launching a business doesn’t come without bumps. She offers important advice about how to navigate the challenges any startup venture will face. “The entrepreneurial journey is not an easy upward slope,” she says. “It’s okay if it’s not always great. That’s going to happen.”

If you’d like to know more about the community Stacia is building and the tools that are available, click here to sign up for her newsletter, a master class or one-to-one coaching session.

Click here to listen to, rate and review this or previous She Turned Entrepreneur episodes.

Here are key takeaways from the conversation:

• Pandemic for many people proved an inflection point and opportunity to pursue freedom.

• Afraid to give up your day job? You’re in good company. Every entrepreneur hesitates before making the leap!

• Hypnotherapy can be very effective for people stuck in a negative behavior or mindset.

• The subconscious is powerful and cannot be overruled by hypnotherapeutic suggestion.

• Marketing through education may not reap immediate rewards, but it generates long-term good will, interest and commitment.

• Is something inside you trying to be heard? Listen to those entrepreneurial whispers!

• If you’re feeling overwhelmed, hire a coach to help you set up key startup systems!

• Community and mentors are essential to building a successful venture. Don’t go it alone!

Here’s a quick look into the episode:

• Stacia dipped a toe into several entrepreneurial projects in her 20s as well as sales work in the corporate sector with her life coaching and hypnotherapy practice as a side hustle.

• In the midst of pandemic, Stacia dared to quit her steady paycheck and take a leap to “build a dream.” Approaching her mid-30s she was fully an entrepreneur.

• The more she worked with clients, the more Stacia felt called to serve and wanted to up her game accordingly.

• About what Stacia offers her clients:

o One-on-one hypnosis sessions for everything from healing trauma to smoking cessation.

o A six-month coach training program that combines life coaching, hypnotherapy and a therapy model known as Internal Family Systems.

• Debunking Myths about Hypnotherapy:

o It’s NOT a form of mind control or parlor trick.

o All hypnosis is self-hypnosis.

o Our subconscious protects us from straying into territory that feels unsafe.

o Licensed hypnotherapists are bound by a very specific code of ethics.

• Stacia shares one of her success stories: A woman who had struggled with a life-long stuttering issue that resolved through their hypnotherapy sessions.

• Other conditions and situations that Stacia treats:

o Childhood trauma

o Insomnia

o Smoking cessation (made easy!)

• Marketing strategies Stacia deploys to reaching out to clients through education:

o Daily posts on social media, long-form pieces and videos.

o Sister Circles: Relaxation exercises in a supportive space.

o Podcast appearances.

o Master classes and group presentations.

o Pro bono offerings for those who need an introduction to the practice.

• Giving back is very important to Stacia, who grew up without a lot of resources.

• Entrepreneurial Obstacles:

o Decoupling from old narratives that do not serve.

o Finding 100% resolve and confidence.

o Getting past the safety and community provided by a corporate job.

o Establishing the practical tools for running an independent business.

• On the Horizon: Stacia is focused on building out her team and creating a robust, holistic online program to expand her reach.

• Advice for listeners at the start of their entrepreneurial journey:

o Follow your heart, listen to your gut and trust yourself.

o Actively seek out community and mentors with valuable tools to offer.

o Be patient. There will be days and weeks that are challenging.

o Trust the process!

• Recommended Reading:

o "The Big Leap: Conquer Your Hidden Fear and Take Life to the Next Level," by Gay Hendricks. A practical and inspiring guide for people looking to align with their purpose.

About Stacia:

Stacia is a Life Coach, a Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist, Past Life Regression Therapist and a Registered Yoga Teacher. She graduated from the Southwest Institute of Healing Arts, where she studied hypnotherapy, neurolinguistic programming and life coaching. She received her degree in Clinical Hypnotherapy from the American Council for Hypnotherapy Examiners (ACHE), as well as the International Hypnosis Federation (IHF). Stacia is a Past Life Regression Therapist and a Registered Yoga Teacher with a specialty in working with victims of trauma. In addition, she is certified in the Covington Method for treatment of anxiety through the Hypnosis Institute International School, and she is trained in the Gottman Method for couples therapy. Stacia has over ten years of experience working in the field and doing therapeutic work. Through her work, she utilizes proven techniques including: therapeutic imagery, meditation, inner child work, regression therapy, neurolinguistic programming, breathwork and yoga. Stacia is available for individual sessions as well as group settings.

Connect with Stacia!

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Blog

Zencastr is an all-in-one podcast production suite that gives you studio quality audio and video without needing all the technical know-how. It records each guest locally, then uploads the crystal clear audio and video right into the suite so you have high-quality raw materials to work with.

Visit https://zen.ai/sheturnedentrepreneur and use Promo Code: sheturnedentrepreneur to receive 30% off a Zencastr Professional account.

Are you one of those people who love real estate, would love to invest but don’t know how to get in the game? The HomeVestors franchise network may be just the point of entry you need and for more reasons than you might imagine. As featured on this episode of She Turned Entrepreneur, the Dallas-based cash home buying network offers differentiators that make it an industry standout with some 1,200 franchisees across 170 U.S. markets. Tanice Myers, a franchise owner in Spokane, WA, shares her journey from tech sales to real estate entrepreneur and Lauren Midgley, Franchise Growth Director at HomeVestors, highlights the many benefits of affiliating with “We buy ugly homes” brand.

Franchisees buy homes in distress, “as is” and for cash, offering sellers a gentle and stress-free alternative to marketing their problem homes. The model provides HomeVestors owners a full complement of training tools and support, including intensive field support from knowledgeable Development Agents, lead generation and access to preferred lenders willing to finance up to 100% of purchase and repairs. Additionally, the franchise network itself is a tremendous resource and source of support for entrepreneurs just starting out.

Could you be a good fit? Lauren shares some of the characteristics (like empathy and people skills) that make for ideal franchise owners. Women tend to do great and real estate experience is in no way a requirement.

Click here to listen to, rate and review this or previous She Turned Entrepreneur episodes.

Here are key takeaways from the conversation:

• Branding is everything! Mascots and catchy logos go a long way toward visibility!

• Developing a reputation and profile is gold when it comes to differentiating.

• When it comes to franchises, competitors are up against a proven system that gives customers confidence.

• At the end of the day, sales is more about you than what it is you’re selling!

• Franchise models offer a network of resources and shared experience that is unavailable to independent businesses.

• Have your eye on a franchise opportunity, but lack the core skill set? Consider hiring someone with the expertise to help you establish the business.

• Franchise models offer a great way to take an entrepreneurial risk while benefiting from the support of a tried-and-true network and system.

Here’s a quick look into the episode:

• About Lauren’s franchising background as well as her work as an author and professional speaker specializing in business coaching for small businesses.

• About Tanice’s experience prior to becoming a HomeVestor franchisee, including 23 years of technology sales at the enterprise level. She loved it but was in search of something different, and especially something with a real estate bent.

• What is HomeVestors? They buy houses in ugly situations! Formed in 1996, the company purchases properties from owners who want a fast sale and instant cash.

• HomeVestors has about 1,200 franchisees in 170 markets across the country with 125,000 homes acquired over the past two decades. They are the No. 1 cash homebuyer.

• A day in the life of a HomeVestor franchisee looks like:

o It’s variable!

o You can be an independent/individual owner or grow a team.

o Initially it’s about taking phone calls and generating leads on “ugly homes.”

o Field work to understand the market and scout properties.

o Milestones and timelines are an important component of successful operations.

• Real estate decisions are made at the franchisee level, so individual owners choose whether to flip, hold or rent properties.

• About the competition: Lauren says there’s lots – and HomeVestors doesn’t mind. It pushes both franchise owners and the company as a whole to look for differentiators and push themselves to build upon and leverage brand recognition and reputation.

• About the training and support HomeVestors provides franchise owners:

o A weeklong training in Dallas that includes new franchise owners and veteran staff.

o Virtual training.

o Two annual conference events for all franchise owners.

o Weekly podcasts and other support materials.

• HomeVestors’ Differentiators:

o Development Agents who mentor new franchisees in the field and ensure their success.

o The network of HomeVestors is a huge investment resource that franchisees can access for advice on a range of real estate issues.

o Lead generation through top-of-mind, highly visible branding and advertising.

o Preferred lenders that work closely with franchisees and are willing to lend 100% of the house purchase as well as repairs.

• Who is the ideal HomeVestors franchisee?

o A people person who can enter a seller’s home and be empathetic,

o A creative problem-solver.

o A go-getter.

o A strong sales background isn’t necessary so much as people skills.

o Only about 50% of franchisees have a real estate background.

o Women do particularly well in the real estate space because of their ability to connect well with people.

• Initial Franchise Fees: Associate Level $39,000 is and Full Level is $80,000. Ongoing monthly fees and transaction fees based on volume and royalties based on level. The recommended amount of liquid net worth is $90,000-$100,000. The biggest operating expense is advertising.

• Advice from Tanice: If real estate is something you want to do, don’t hold yourself back!

• Advice from Lauren: If you’re looking to build wealth and enjoy flexibility, believe in yourself enough to get out of your comfort zone and take an entrepreneurial risk!

Zencastr is an all-in-one podcast production suite that gives you studio quality audio and video without needing all the technical know-how. It records each guest locally, then uploads the crystal clear audio and video right into the suite so you have high-quality raw materials to work with.

Visit https://zen.ai/sheturnedentrepreneur and use Promo Code: sheturnedentrepreneur to receive 30% off a Zencastr Professional account.

Once she figured out that being the next “Oprah” wasn’t for her, Allie Martin quickly moved onto the right fast-track. A “visibility expert” who knows the public relations business inside and out, she found her niche by understanding what she did best and how her particular skill sets could be leveraged to help raise people’s profiles. As president of Fame and Fortune Brand Management, Allie is especially committed to helping female entrepreneurs find an authentic voice. On this episode of She Turned Entrepreneur we learn why it’s so important – and pays such recurring dividends – to foster a media presence. Not only does it raise your brand’s profile, it also provides you multiple opportunities to repurpose whatever exposure across all kinds of additional platforms. Turn your appearance on a morning show into a YouTube clip, promote an upcoming feature story on your LinkedIn profile or put together a blog post about your behind-the-scenes interview experience.

Fame and Fortune Brand Management offers an array of tools to help raise your profile – from crafting your company’s story to pitching media outlets, scheduling interviews and researching background materials to provide journalists. Lucky for us, Allie is also sharing DIY options for those on a budget. She walks us through things to bear in mind when promoting our businesses and tips for prepping for interviews and taming any nerves! Wherever you are in your entrepreneurial journey, you have a story to tell!

Want to hear more from Allie? Check out Selfish, her podcast about the practice and importance of self-care through the eyes of entrepreneurs.

Click here to listen to, rate and review this or previous She Turned Entrepreneur episodes.

Here are key takeaways from the conversation:

• That career that has always been your dream? It’s okay to discover you need something different; something that in reality feels like a better fit.

• Are you going a mile a minute? Perhaps you need to outsource your public relations function to professionals who can shape your story and market your pitch.

• You don’t want to give an interview that seems canned or memorized, but careful preparation will yield confident, relaxed, composed responses.

• You did a great interview? Don’t be shy! Repurpose it for promotion in other contexts, like a blog post or podcast appearance, Tweet or LinkedIn comment.

• Tell your story! Regardless what sector you’re in or the type of venture you’re launching, it’s critical to create a narrative that defines your brand.

Here’s a quick look into the episode:

• Allie started out with plans to become the next “Oprah,” but in fairly short order figured out that public relations was a better fit for her temperament and native skill set.

• One of Allie’s passions is telling stories – especially those of women entrepreneurs!

• The tools that Fame and Fortune Brand Management offers:

o Identifying media outlets.

o Researching and writing pitches.

o Creating narratives.

o Branding and profile building.

o Positioning as an industry expert.

o Setting up interviews with high-profile media.

• Journalists are always riding trends, which talented PR professionals know how to capture and package in the service of their clients.

• Tips for listeners who are DIY publicists:

o Craft several concise “elevator pitches” that summarize your professional insight or expertise.

o Create a list of talking points.

o Offer suggested questions that journalists might ask.

o Provide background, stats and recent research to help journalists do their jobs.

• Allie’s Tips for Nervous Interview Subjects:

o Research interviewers to understand the style and tone of their podcasts, articles, etc.

o Write out how you would answer a variety of questions.

o Read the answers you’ve composed, listening to yourself and feeling what’s awkward and not.

o Record yourself to see objectively how you sound.

o Practice brings comfort! You don’t want to be canned, but rehearsing sets up a desirable level of familiarity and fluency with any given topic.

• What is the ultimate goal when you secure media exposure?

o Always plan to offer a compelling Call to Action – a further resource, giveaway or other interactive opportunity that will drive web traffic.

o Actionable tips that can be accessed and added to through other post-interview follow-up – especially at social media platforms like Instagram or Facebook.

o Leverage interviews as a vehicle for promoting your business in other forums – through a podcast or a behind-the-scenes blog post or a YouTube video.

o The more you promote and circulate pieces in which you’re featured, the more desirable you are to journalists in pursuit of “clicks” and traffic.

• About Allie’s podcast, Selfish, which focuses on entrepreneurs and how they can best manage all-important self-care in a chaotic world.

• Recommended Reading:

o "Obsessed: Building a Brand People Love from Day One," by Emily Heyward.

About Allie:

Allie Hembree Martin is a visibility expert and entrepreneur with an award-winning podcast, Selfish. She has been leading the charge in digital visibility since 2019 when she started her company Fame and Fortune. She loves helping people find success in their own journeys because she knows that feeling - the thrill of bringing your dream to life!

Zencastr is an all-in-one podcast production suite that gives you studio quality audio and video without needing all the technical know-how. It records each guest locally, then uploads the crystal clear audio and video right into the suite so you have high-quality raw materials to work with.

Visit https://zen.ai/sheturnedentrepreneur and use Promo Code: sheturnedentrepreneur to receive 30% off a Zencastr Professional account.

Sometimes we need to become the help we wish we could find. That was the case for Leslie Rochelle, an intuitive leadership coach and mentor who came up in a male-dominated energy industry that lacked female role models. Rather than shy away from executive opportunity, Leslie instead leaned into the challenge by seeking out the tools necessary to step into her full power. She went on an adventure, blending personal development with spirituality with an array of leadership insights. Today she shares the foundational truths she acquired by coaching women in pursuit of their most authentic, self-confident voices. She supports new as well as mid-career leaders alike, unlocking inner knowing and guiding their journey along the path from Good to Great to Exceptional to Phenomenal.

Leslie’s coaching includes leadership audits, one-to-one mentoring, printable eBooks and guides. But most of all this is a program based in seeing women who feel exhausted or overwhelmed – women experiencing what Leslie herself has struggled with so intimately. She helps us figure out the “whys” that motivate us and spiritual pillars that nourish our dreams. Are we trying to prove something? Be seen? Substitute hustle for heart flow? Leslie’s coaching is all about answering deep questions. The process transitions women leaders into a place of power, a steady knowing and sense of clarity that fuels both life and career. It’s okay to feel burned out. The question is: What do you intend to do about it?

Learn more about Leslie’s coaching platform and read testimonials about her work here.

Click here to listen to, rate and review this or previous She Turned Entrepreneur episodes.

Here are key takeaways from the conversation:

• Sometimes the change you must make has nothing to do with what’s going on externally. It’s all about investigating your own internal equation.

• It’s okay occasionally to close the door, have a little cry and then get going again.

• Our ability to shine depends in large part on connecting with our “heart space” – and a deep knowing that is beyond logical, rational thought.

• The ability to empathize and be authentic is your superpower!

• Spirituality can be a critical tool for defining purpose and focusing energy.

• Look for the lesson in everything. There’s always one in there somewhere!

Here’s a quick look into the episode:

• Leslie has spent more than a decade in the heavily male-dominated corporate energy sector.

• A leadership role that came over the transom proved a huge stretch, particularly because Leslie was trying to adapt without any available female role models in whose steps she could follow.

• Trying to conform with a highly driven, intense, unrelenting corporate ethos ultimately left Leslie burned out and depleted.

• To come back from her total exhaustion, Leslie embarked on a path towards more self-awareness and serenity. Once she’d explored and mastered many modalities, she felt called to offer other women the kind of support she herself could have used.

• Leslie has changed roles within the energy conglomerate, but is still onsite and able to help women coming up behind her in various corporate roles.

• Through her coaching, Leslie offers corporate clients a framework to discover:

o Who they are at a “soul level.”

o Where their true desire lies and what it will take to get there.

o Strategies for improving corporate performance and decision-making.

• Thoughtful reflection and deep introspection are foundational: Many people struggle to get out of their logical minds and into the intuitive “heart space” that makes us human.

• Tips for (Re)defining Leadership:

o Always start with clarity as to why you want to be in any given leadership role.

o Ask yourself the tough “why” questions:

 Do you want this role because it’s a next step on a preordained path?

 Do you want this role out of an ego-driven desire for power or control?

 Do you want a more impactful role or opportunity to change and inspire?

o Continue drilling down on questions that will uncover a source of feeling.

• Feeling overwhelmed or intimidated?

o Recognize what sets you apart. What’s your personal value-add and place to shine?

o Figure out what you can do or offer that no one else can.

o Your differentiators are your superpowers, including an ability to connect personally with colleagues.

• Leaders must always bear in mind that their most valuable assets are people – a resource that is best leveraged through empathy and honesty.

• Leslie has juggled multiple impressive roles but also recognizes that she can’t run perpetually in sixth gear. She knows how to step back, re-center and downshift to cruise more comfortably in fourth gear.

• Spirituality is one of Leslie key foundational pillars.

• Reading recommendations for aspiring leaders:

o "Dare to Lead," by Brene Brown.

o "Leaders Eat Less," by Simon Sinek.

About Leslie:

Leslie is an Intuitive Leadership Coach & Mentor with a specific focus on leaders new to the leadership space whether that be corporate or entrepreneurial. She supports a multi-billion dollar company and has become the go-to support for new & emerging female leaders. Leslie is an active mentor, mentee & facilitator. Her vast experience & knowledge in overcoming personal obstacles to become her ideal leader allows her to support her clients in a meaningful way. Through a variety of disciplines best described as a lovely combination of life and leadership coaching, personal development, NLP and Time Line Therapy beautifully sprinkled with aspects of spirituality. The benefits experienced by her clients are an increase in self-awareness, confidence and leadership impact that results in ease & flow in their lives & careers.

Zencastr is an all-in-one podcast production suite that gives you studio quality audio and video without needing all the technical know-how. It records each guest locally, then uploads the crystal clear audio and video right into the suite so you have high-quality raw materials to work with.

Visit https://zen.ai/sheturnedentrepreneur and use Promo Code: sheturnedentrepreneur to receive 30% off a Zencastr Professional account.

Having children turned out to be an invitation for Jaya Aiyar to revisit a childhood passion that had been pushed aside by her career in tech project management: Art! Inspired to share her love of all things creative, Jaya came up with a totally unique franchise concept: She is the founder and CEO of Créatif, a branded art studio tailored for today’s data-driven world. It’s a place where parents and children, groups of all types and sizes, can get in touch with the joy of painting a ceramic piece or working with an unfinished piece of wood. People have been known to refer to the Créatif esthetic – blond woods, clean lines and pastel colors – as an “Apple Store for Kids.” It’s a community space where art meets technology!

Jaya shares the details behind the unusual suite of proprietary tools Créatif provides franchisees, including intensive ongoing support that enables them to hit the ground running.

In addition to onsite training and help with maketing, franchise owners receive access to software that streamlines store operations, tracks customer analytics, manages customer relationships and accelerates productivity. There are also hundreds of online video art lessons, step-by-step guides and sample images. Even the most art-challenged of entrepreneurs are set up for success. It’s all about having a passion for people – and for sharing happiness. If you’re looking for a franchise opportunity that is family-friendly, offers great hours and brings joy every day, Créatif may be what you’ve been looking for!

Click here to listen to, rate and review this or previous She Turned Entrepreneur episodes.

Here are key takeaways from the conversation:

• Is your “secret” passion also the gateway to potential entrepreneurial magic?

• Regardless the type of business, tech-driven elements can broaden opportunity and ways for potential clients or customers to engage.

• Keep in mind from the start: Potential long-term revenue streams and opportunities for replicating experiences that generate income.

• The top franchisors prioritize training and support because their corporate success correlates directly with the outcomes experienced by their franchise startup owners.

• Regardless the type of franchise, having the right mix of personality traits and marketing strengths usually matters more than any special business expertise or experience.

• Creativity is a happy business! Créatif customers come in a good mood and are predisposed to have fun. Which makes the job itself fun!

Here’s a quick look into the episode:

• How Jaya went from doing art with her kids to making art the center of a unique franchise model.

• A key differentiator: Créatif incorporates technology within the art space in a completely fresh and unique way.

• Créatif deploys a tech-driven model that includes guided imagery and a purpose-driven studio software suite that builds in consistency.

• Créatif franchisees have multiple different revenue streams to leverage:

o Walk-in business (with pottery, canvas, unfinished wood and other options).

o Birthday parties

o Summer camps

o Corporate events

o Virtual classes

o Paint gifts sets

o eGift cards

o Senior-junior joint art classes

o Subscription-based membership

• Training and support for new Créatif franchisees consists of:

o National partnering to create studio sites.

o Contracting referrals for design/execution.

o A comprehensive operations manual.

o Onsite and online training components.

o Hands-on oversight on an ongoing basis.

o Procedural lists.

o Marketing materials and support.

• Are you a potential Créatif franchisee? You needn’t be an art pro. Just someone who:

o Is social and can communicate enthusiasm for art.

o Enjoys working with kids and families.

o Aspires to excellence and improving each day.

o Holds a positive mindset suited to entrepreneurial highs and lows.

o Has the ability to market, partner, network and get the word out.

• Initial franchise fee: $45,000, which covers the training component. Total all-in generally ranges from $184,000-$308,000 to get a studio of about 800 square feet up and running.

• Créatif offers an amazing work-life balance as well as a business model that is all about generating happiness for customers and franchise owners alike!

To learn more about Creatif or other franchise opportunities, click here to set up a call.

Zencastr is an all-in-one podcast production suite that gives you studio quality audio and video without needing all the technical know-how. It records each guest locally, then uploads the crystal clear audio and video right into the suite so you have high-quality raw materials to work with.

Visit https://zen.ai/sheturnedentrepreneur and use Promo Code: sheturnedentrepreneur to receive 30% off a Zencastr Professional account.

The vision is there. The passion, too! But where are you going to find the time to launch your new business – especially when so many logistics stand in the way? Jeannine Thompson, CEO of FireLaunch, has been there and explains on this episode of She Turned Entrepreneur how she once wished for a resource like … well … her! As a nurse transitioning out of high-stress burnout towards her dream of helping others as a coach, the path seemed straightforward. But, as we all know, a lot of variables go into getting any kind of venture up and running. Mastering all the necessary technologies, platforms and systems can be paralyzing. If you’re feeling stuck or overwhelmed, this is the show for you!

FireLaunch offers entrepreneurs – especially women in the coaching space – the full complement of tools to get their practices up and running. Fast! In under three months, you’ll go from articulating your vision to witnessing it all coming to life. Jeannine and her team take care of all the things that can really bog us down, both technologically and creatively. Among the services they offer: Logo design, website content, email marketing templates, lead generation, social media management and more. You’ll enjoy learning why you don’t have to figure it all out for yourself. Jeannine is here to provide the very service she once so badly wished for – and could not find – when she was trying to get her coaching business established. She’s the knowledgeable and savvy friend you want in your corner!

Click here if you’d like to book a free discovery call with Jeannine to discuss your business goals and how FireLaunch can help you achieve them!

Click here to listen to, rate and review this or previous She Turned Entrepreneur episodes.

Here are key takeaways from the conversation:

• Sometimes the seeds of the business you’re meant to launch are hidden in a need you yourself have been unable to fill with what’s currently available.

• If your offering isn’t already out there, stay the course. You can create your own category of business!

• It’s okay to pivot. Sometimes you have to go through things that don’t work out in order to reach the thing that does.

• Technology can be a huge time sink. You don’t have to wrestle with – or learn – it all.

• Self-doubt and Imposter Syndrome are common among many of us just starting out, which is why it’s so important to have a pro in our corner! Inertia can otherwise set in.

• Another plus in asking for support? Your business will grow exponentially faster.

• Find yourself stuck in first gear? Try writing down daily goals (or just a single goal) the night before and then commit – right from the start of the day – to getting the job done.

Here’s a quick look into the episode:

• As a stressed-out nurse with a sleep disorder who knew she needed to make a change, Jeannine started researching options for using her skill set in an entrepreneurial way.

• Health coaching made sense on every level. It was a process that involved a huge (if creative) learning curve and opportunity to explore what Jeannine did and didn’t enjoy.

• Technology over time started to become overwhelming and Jeannine just wanted a friend – someone who could come over and help her identify what was important, tools that were useful and how to access them. She wanted something she couldn’t find – and her new coaching niche was born!

• The way Jeannine works to help coaching businesses launch:

o First she elicits the dream – what is it that you want to build?

o Within a matter of weeks, Jeannine and her team provide the plan and take care of all the start-up necessities: logo, branding, website copy, lead magnet creation, building out email marketing templates and CRM, social media content.

o Skills that might take years to assimilate are immediately unleashed.

o No need to reinvent the wheel or waste hours figuring things out.

• An added bonus to using Jeannine’s holistic approach: You don’t have to rely on a piecemeal network of untested freelancers to fill holes in your startup framework.

• Jeannine’s model is based on that of a project manager (or even a general contractor) orchestrating the various elements that ultimately come together to create your dream.

• Weekly one-on-one meetings ensure that the vision is being realized and that the entrepreneur has ample opportunity to participate and weigh in with feedback.

• FireLaunch provides its startup service to all kinds of companies, but Jeannine is especially knowledgeable about the coaching industry and frequently works with women in the space (with whom she empathizes, having been there herself).

• The biggest challenges that confront would-be entrepreneurs:

o Lack of time and constrained resources.

o Figuring out the right technologies.

o Imposter Syndrome.

• Jeannine’s Best Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs:

o Don’t try to do it all on your own.

o Doing it without help doesn’t save money in the long run.

o Don’t let things you hate doing (which for Jeannine was figuring out technology) sap the joy out of the original vision and passion.

o Get rid of the tasks you don’t like doing in order to preserve excitement and momentum.

• About Goal-setting:

o Don’t limit yourself to so-called “realistic” goals.

o Dream big and go for things that really excite you, even if in little steps.

o Write it all down! Codify in black and white what you intend to do, daily and beyond. It helps to set goals for your day the night before.

• What’s the key to chasing dreams on our own terms? Jeannine believes:

o We need to condition ourselves to dream bigger than we have in the past.

o Think big! It’s a matter of striding forward confidently.

o If we take one step at a time, the path forward will always open up to greet us.

• Recommended Reading:

o "Awaken the Giant Within: How to Take Immediate Control of Your Mental, Emotional, Physical and Financial Destiny!" By Tony Robbins. An author whose work speaks to her, which is why Jeannine makes it a point to reread often.

o "Designing Your Life: Build a Life that Works for You," by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans. It’s a great book for brainstorming and creating a go-forward framework.

Zencastr is an all-in-one podcast production suite that gives you studio quality audio and video without needing all the technical know-how. It records each guest locally, then uploads the crystal clear audio and video right into the suite so you have high-quality raw materials to work with.

Visit https://zen.ai/sheturnedentrepreneur and use Promo Code: sheturnedentrepreneur to receive 30% off a Zencastr Professional account.

Do you ever feel stuck or like you can’t get out of your own way? Lisa Moore, Founder and CEO of Success Tangent, has a suggestion for you: Change up your mindset. This episode of She Turned Entrepreneur is focused on subtle – and not so subtle – shifts we can make in the ways we talk to ourselves or assess business challenges. Lisa and her team at Success Tangent teach solopreneurs, entrepreneurs and small business people of all kinds new approaches to stubborn challenges, whether looking at business development as an iterative process or taking a time-out with watercolors as a neurological channel to creative problem-solving.

Lisa offers a unique methodology based on industrial and organizational psychology research she compiled while completing a master’s degree at Harvard. Her special sauce is the ability to distill metrics and abstract concepts into actionable steps towards realizable goals. She also empowers entrepreneurs at all stages to give themselves a break, step back and really assess strengths, weaknesses and available resources. A path forward is always there – if you deploy that all-important growth mindset. Leveraging her “people operations” skills, Lisa is here to share innovative new strategies designed to help us achieve our goals, both professionally and personally.

You’ll appreciate Lisa’s Top Tips for aspiring entrepreneurs as well as practical strategies for anyone experiencing overwhelm or burnout.

Ready to change your mindset? Get started by booking a free 30-minute consultation here with the code: NewYearNewYou. You can also sign up for Lisa’s newsletter by clicking here. Lisa is also offering newsletter subscribers a free download of her guide, Criticism: Why It Hurts and What to Do About It.

Click here to listen to, rate and review this or previous She Turned Entrepreneur episodes.

Here are key takeaways from the conversation:

• Did you fall into your niche? Or were you led? Probably some of both!

• Entrepreneurs and small businesses need marketing services at affordable price points.

• Want more traction? Acknowledge strengths, define weaknesses, create an action plan.

• A lot of what solopreneurs and entrepreneurs do is iterative, incorporating real-time adjustments as information becomes available.

• Key Advice: Simply try to be a better version of yourself tomorrow than you were today.

• Feeling stuck? Find a creative hobby that can transport you away from business temporarily into a more peaceful, mindful, connected realm.

• Networks and outside opinions can be helpful, but remember that your journey is uniquely your own and not a template of anyone else’s.

• Don’t beat yourself up! If you’re trying, you are succeeding!

• Understand that there will be fallow seasons. It’s just a law of nature that some periods bear more fruit than others.

Here’s a quick look into the episode:

• About Lisa’s “people operations” background in the corporate sector, a return to graduate school and research into “growth mindset” that translated seamlessly as a methodology for businesses negotiating pandemic times.

• While data-driven decision-making is important, Lisa brings a different element with educational content that trains and provides workplace cultures with tools to support a “growth mindset” approach to both evaluations and growth strategy.

• “Mindset” coaching is similar to life coaching, with workshops and trainings available to foster integration.

• Success Tangent’s client base primarily caters to solopreneurs and small businesses that need help getting traction.

• Top Tips for Entrepreneurs:

o Metrics can be discouraging, but remember that they aren’t qualitative.

o Widen the lens you use to evaluate your performance and measure success.

o Recognize what you’re doing well and where you need improvement – then create an action plan that breaks it all down.

o Things that don’t work still have value. Business success is incremental and can require many iterations in order to get the formula right.

• Advice for entrepreneurs who are feeling overwhelmed:

o Step back and take a break.

o There can be a law of diminishing returns at play, so know when to stop.

o Regroup! Step away and do something creative to cleanse the mind.

o Make a list of what’s going well and what isn’t. Then articulate actionable steps to try, execute, adjust, then try again.

o Experimentation over time generally moves every problem towards resolution.

o Don’t succumb to negative self-talk or defeatism. If you’re trying, you’re succeeding.

o Remember: You’re only in competition with yourself.

o Little setbacks are not the end of the world. Keep perspective!

• Neurology tells us: It’s important to let our brains have a rest, recharge and regenerate.

Zencastr is an all-in-one podcast production suite that gives you studio quality audio and video without needing all the technical know-how. It records each guest locally, then uploads the crystal clear audio and video right into the suite so you have high-quality raw materials to work with.

Visit https://zen.ai/sheturnedentrepreneur and use Promo Code: sheturnedentrepreneur to receive 30% off a Zencastr Professional account.