The Small Business School

My guest today is Maureen Mwangi. She is the brand growth strategist behind some of America’s most beloved brands, like L'Oréal, Chobani, Dove, and Lays. She is the creator of Big Brand Academy, The Product Profit Lab, and Startward Consulting - a consulting firm dedicated to teaching product-based entrepreneurs the sales and marketing strategies they need to scale with scientific precision, so they can turn their product brands into household names. She shared more about her consulting business; its early stage and the clients she serves. We have also discussed more the strategies she learned working with big brands. We have also tackled the giant leap of e-commerce over the last year, as well as why eCommerce is the right channel for her product and business, and the most important marketing and sales strategies for each phase of a product-based business life cycle.

Today's Guest

Maureen Mwangi

Maureen Mwangi is the brand growth strategist behind some of America’s most beloved brands, like L'Oréal, Chobani, Dove, and Lays. She is the creator of Big Brand Academy, The Product Profit Lab, and Startward Consulting - a consulting firm dedicated to teaching product-based entrepreneurs the sales and marketing strategies they need to scale with scientific precision, so they can turn their product brands into household names. Maureen’s zone of genius is her rare ability to connect with a market and turn real data into brand growth strategies that drive multi-million dollar growth. Her non-profit organization Taji Foundation supports boys in Kenya to get the education they need to lift their families out of poverty and build generational wealth.

Website:

• https://www.startwardconsulting.com/
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Social Media:

• Facebook: @mauryn.mwangi
• Instagram: @maureenmwangiofficial
• LinkedIn: @maureenmwangi

My guest today is Shanynn Lee. She is the Win Without Pitching Director of Coaching. She spent a decade in senior marketing and communication roles in Fortune 500 companies before moving to a business development leadership role at a well-regarded Seattle design firm. We have discussed why pitching your services bad and what is the best alternative. She also shared the advantages of specializing when it comes to winning new business. We have also talked more about the Win Without Pitching book and the author Blair Enns. Lastly, she also shared the challenges she faced as the Director of Coaching of Win Without Pitching.

Today's Guest

Shanynn Lee

Shannyn Lee is the Win Without Pitching Director of Coaching. She spent a decade in senior marketing and communication roles in Fortune 500 companies before moving to a business development leadership role at a well-regarded Seattle design firm. She also spent four years at Catapult New Business where she worked with agencies of various disciplines and sizes, building and leading their business development programs. Her time on the front lines of agency business development coupled with many informative years on the client side has given Shannyn a unique perspective into what marketers are looking for in agencies and what agencies must be doing in order to compete and win. Shannyn’s empathetic and encouraging coaching skills have helped her clients translate the lofty Win Without Pitching ideas into real behavioral change with lasting results.

Website:

• https://www.winwithoutpitching.com/ 

Social Media:

• LinkedIn: @shanynnlee
• YouTube: Win Without Pitching

Links and Resources:

The Win Without Pitching Manifesto

My guest today is John Lefebvre. He is an author, musician, environmental and social activist, and philanthropist. He is also retired from practicing law. He came to public attention when his company landed the big one on the dot com wheel of fortune with NETeller, an online money transfer platform for the internet gambling industry, which did an IPO in 2003 and achieved a market cap of $2 billion. In 2007, he was arrested in America for dealings with that business. We have discussed the history of his business, his lowest point and the highest point in life, and his happiness. it was a really fun conversation with John and I think you are going to enjoy it!

Today's Guest

John Lefebvre

John Lefebvre is an author, musician, environmental and social activist, and philanthropist. He is also retired from practicing law. He came to public attention when his company landed the big one on the dot com wheel of fortune with NETeller, an online money transfer platform for the internet gambling industry, which did an IPO in 2003 and achieved a market cap of $2 billion. In 2007, they were arrested in America for that business. That does make a fascinating story, but now, he is mostly interested in our future. Although he came to public attention for winning the DotCom run for the roses, it was generosity that really caught peoples’ attention and kept it. Lots of people get rich, but sadly few pass it around. His focus is the responsibilities of freedom, including the responsibilities of wealth, and the principles that we might adopt to fulfill our promise as a thoughtful species.

Website:

• https://www.johnlefebvre.com

Social Media:

• Instagram: @thoughtfulspecies
• Facebook: @thoughtfulspecies

Links and Resources:

The Music of John Lefebvre

Writing By John Lefebvre

My Guest today is Seth Donlin he is the founder and principal strategist of Awen Coaching and we talk about a variety of different topics. We start off with imposter syndrome and we've talked about this on the show before, but I feel like each person has a little bit different take on it and Seth had some interesting facts that I found really surprising I think you're gonna find interesting as well. And then we talk about other things on the marketing side of things. We also talk about how to tell your story, whether it's through your website or social media or print ads or whatever it is, but how important it is to tell a story and and how you could do that. So all that and more today with my guest Seth Donlin.

Today's Guest

Seth Donlin

Seth Donlin is the Founder and Principal Strategist of Awen Coaching, a leadership and communications coaching practice specializing in helping service-based businesses and sport & fitness professionals build their authority, expand the reach of their message, and grow their business and income. A serial entrepreneur, Seth became a partner in his first business while still in undergrad, helping to build the alt-weekly into the largest weekly newspaper in the city. Awen Coaching is his third business, working closely with its sister agency, Awen A/F, a strategic marketing firm serving solopreneurs, startups, and small businesses. Together, both arms of the Awen brand are a result of their founder's undying passion for communications, entrepreneurship, and fitness. Seth is a long-time student of mixed martial arts and traditional Japanese combat arts, an avid trail runner and Obstacle Course Racing competitor, a budding mezcal connoisseur, and a rabid fan of the Boston Red Sox. A New Englander at heart, Seth now resides in beautiful Sonoma, California with his two foundling cats, the family dog, his awesome wife, and his amazing young daughter, who he is raising to one day become either president of the United States or owner of a Michelin-starred Irish pub.

Website:

• https://www.awencoaching.com/

Social Media:

• Instagram: @sethmdonlin
• Facebook: @sethdonlin
• LinkedIn: @sethdonlin
• Twitter: @SethDonlin
• Tiktok: @sethdonlin

My guest today is Mark Ritter. He is the CEO of MBFS and Nu Direction Lending and an expert in all things credit union and small business lending. We discuss the stages of his business; the early years, the biggest challenges, the best moments, and the mistakes and lessons he learned. We also discussed the process of small business loans, the advantages of approaching a credit union for a loan versus a traditional bank, the biggest mistake he sees small businesses make when looking for financing for their business, and his advice for someone who is just starting out and wanted to get a small business loan.

Today’s Guest

Mark Ritter

Mark Ritter is the CEO of MBFS and Nu Direction Lending. He is an expert in all things credit union and small business lending. Both organized are owned by credit unions and designed to help credit unions fund more loans to real estate investors and small business owners in their communities. In 2002, Mark started Members 1st Federal Credit Union’s business lending program as “one person and a desk” with no policies, products, staff, systems, or business members. That program grew to be one of the top ten in the nation in the number of loans, balances outstanding, and loan participation for federal credit unions. After ten years at Members 1st, he took on the challenge of being the CEO of a business lending credit union service organization (CUSO). Mark was the fifth CEO in five years for the organization, which lost money every month of its existence. In the past eight years at MBFS, Mark increased the number of credit unions the company services by over 8x, grew the revenue by 15x, and ensured positive cash flow every full year he’s been at the CUSO. More importantly, MBFS has helped countless credit union members gain the financing they need for small business and real estate investment needs.

Website:

• https://www.mbfs.org

Social Media:

• LinkedIn: @markrittermbfs

My today's guest is Rachel Eubanks she is a Copywriter and the founder of Inspire To Engage. I pick Rachel's brain about all things, copywriting and she gives some great information about fear a small business owner and you're just starting out and trying to develop your style and tone of the copy that you want from your brand. What are some steps you can take to do that. And then if you're to a point where you want to outsource that copywriting to someone like Rachel, what can you do to set that person up for success, how do you best communicate the style and tone that you're looking forward to your copywriter. She also gives helpful tips to structure social media post to improve engagement. All that and a lot more with Rachel Eubanks.

Today's Guest

Rachel Eubanks

Rachel Eubanks is a copywriter that sees the writing potential in every small business owner. After all, who knows their businesses better than the people who live and breathe them every day? Rachel's also a mom, wife, daughter, podcast host and former public school teacher who realizes that an educator is the ultimate marketer. She drinks too much caffeine (a problem she's working on) and loves fresh flowers in her house. You can learn more about Rachel, her copywriting services and podcast at her site - inspiretoengage.com.

Website:

• https://www.inspiretoengage.com/

Social Media:

• Instagram: @inspiretoengage
• Facebook: @inspiretoengage
• LinkedIn: @racheleubanks

Links and Resources:

• Podcast: Inspire to Engage

My Guest today is Ciara Stockeland she is a Serial Entrepreneur and Profit First Certified Coach. She has so much experience in scaling businesses about some of the things you can do to scale a business, and we also talk about if your goal is to sell your business, how do you even go about doing that, what are some things you can do to prepare the business, to put it up for sale.  She love helping inventory based businesses understand their numbers while helping them build strategies for growth and also helping to make more sales without extra overhead, crazy spending, added stress, or complicated tech. So all of that and a lot more with Ciara Stockeland.

Today's Guest

Ciara Stockeland

Ciara Stockeland, has owned and operated businesses since her early teens. As a serial entrepreneur, her business mindset and tenacity led her to opening her first store, Mama Mia, a high-end maternity store located in Fargo, ND in 2006. Shortly after, she developed and opened MODE a designer outlet store located next to Mama Mia. In 2008, Ciara chose to merge her two concepts into MODE and developed the concept into a franchise. Her vast experience in both retail and wholesale industries led her to launch the first to market wholesale subscription box for boutique retailers, which she built and sold within 18 months. Most recently Ciara has launched the Boutique Workshop, a coaching program for retailers. Ciara has been recognized as a Small Business Champion through SCORE and most recently was awarded the Outstanding Franchise Small Business Award. She is active with SCORE, an organization that is the largest network of expert business mentors across the nation. Additionally, Ciara has been an active member of the International Franchise Association and an advocate for small businesses with her seat on the United States Chamber of Commerce Small Business Council. She has twice had the opportunity to testify before two U.S. Senate Committees regarding the “joint employer” standard for businesses and its effect on small businesses and franchises. Additionally, in 2015 she represented small businesses at a White House Summit on Worker Voice and again in 2018 for a Summit on Economics. Through her coaching program, the Boutique Workshop, Ciara strives to motivate boutique owners to dream big and build simply. She was recognized by Prairie Business Magazine in 2015 as a recipient of the 40 under 40 for her leadership in business and its 2016 40 Under 40 Women in Business. She currently resides in Grand Forks, ND with her husband Jim, their two amazing children Harrison and Isabella and her Great Pyrenees Bentley.

Website:

• https://ciarastockeland.com/
• https://www.theboutiqueworkshop.com/

Social Media:

• Instagram1: @ciarastockeland,
• Instagram2: @joinboutiqueworkshop
• Facebook: @ciarastockeland
• LinkedIn: @ciarastockeland

Links and Resources:

• Free: Inventory Genius Masterclass

My today's guest is Scott Schober he is a Cybersecurity and Wireless Technology expert. Scott talk about the target breach that happened years ago, that's when everybody started really pouring resources into Cybersecurity and making sure of their safety. We also talk about small business and what can small businesses do to keep themselves safe. I asked him on what we can do to help and protect some of the family members whether it's a Parents, Grandparents or other older generation for people that might be after their data. I was really amazed and surprised by Scott's answer and I think  you'll be surprised as well by a lot more great information.

Today's Guest

Scott Schober

Scott Schober is the President and CEO of Berkeley Varitronics Systems, a 49-years-old, New Jersey-based provider of advanced, world-class wireless test and security solutions. He is the author of three best-selling security books: Hacked Again, Cybersecurity is Everybody’s Business, and Senior Cyber. Scott is a highly sought-after author and expert for live security events, media appearances, and commentary on the topics of ransomware, wireless threats, drone surveillance and hacking, cybersecurity for consumers, and small business. He is often seen on ABC News, Bloomberg TV, Al Jazeera America, CBS This Morning News, CNN, Fox Business, and many more networks. Scott also serves as the CSO and Chief Media Commentator for Cybersecurity Ventures and sits on several cyber advisory boards for various companies.

Website:

• https://scottschober.com

Social Media:

• Instagram: @ScottBVS
• Facebook: @scottschober
• LinkedIn: @scottschober
• Twitter: @scottschober
• YouTube: Scott Schober

Links and Resources:

• Cybersecurity Products
• Cybersecurity Books
• Hacked Again T-Shirt
• Hacked Again Bundle
• Senior Cyber: Best Security Practices

My Guest today is Annie P. Ruggles a founder of the Non Sleazy Sales Academy. She has a great personality. We have a great conversation as she talk about how to best position your business, she also gives a lot of actionable tips on how to overcome sales avoidance and why it even happens to begin with. Annie is the daughter of an award-winning motivational speaker and an always-ahead-of-his-time business strategist, and the granddaughter of a legendary used-car salesman, a perspicacious wordsmith, a singing waiter, and a cafeteria caterer with a raving fan base. So definitely she was literally born for this. I also asked her about the “Know, Like, Trust” marketing method and how we can implement it in our sales system.

Today's Guest

Annie P. Ruggles

For almost a decade, Annie P. Ruggles has harnessed her Hulk-like disdain for hard-sales, tacky self-promotion, and overly competitive sleazeballs as inspiration to help people find better ways to grow their small businesses. As the Founder & Dean of The Non-Sleazy Sales Academy, she's guided hundreds of people toward making deeper connections, lasting impressions, and friendlier, more lucrative transactions and conversations.

Website:

• http://www.anniepruggles.com

Social Media:

• Instagram: @anniepruggles
• Facebook: @anniepruggles
• LinkedIn: @anniepruggles
• YouTube: Annie P. Ruggles and the Non-Sleazy Sales Academy

Links and Resources:

• Free Masterclass
• Sales For Empaths

My Guest today is Janis Isaman she is a movement specialist and the founder of My Body Couture. She talks about her transition from the corporate world and a job and career that had really nothing to do with health into the health profession and how that came about, along with different things and treatments. Janis run a business that dedicated on helping people feel better, move better and live better and also work with people who have pains. She crafted a business for a solution to a problem that she once had, and take a chance to help, a chance to learn and a chance to connect.

Today's Guest

Janis Isaman

Janis Isaman, founder of My Body Couture, helps people feel better in their body. Like most business owners today, she sees clients online and in person, and her speciality is helping people rid themselves of pain. She’s highly certified in both fitness and nutrition modalities and has been quoted as a lifestyle expert in Reader’s Digest, Prevention and Woman’s Health. But she’s not just a textbook of knowledge with a wall full of certifications. She’s a very real person, who has lived through her own lifestyle and body challenges. In her one to one sessions, she therefore provides practical solutions for her clients, taking the time to get to know their lifestyle challenges and provide reasonable solutions with her lively personality and approachable manner. This is a woman you want to know!

Website:

• https://www.mybodycouture.com/

Social Media:

• Instagram: @mybodycouture
• Facebook: @mybodycouture
• LinkedIn: @mybodycouture
• Twitter: @mybodycouture
• YouTube: Janis Isaman

Links and Resources:

• My Body Couture Shop