Welcome back to Small Business School! In today’s episode, Staci sits down with Kristina Bartold, co-founder of The Social Snippet and High Vibe Women, to talk about all things event sponsorships.  Fresh off the High Vibe Women brunch in Ottawa, Staci and Kristina share a behind-the-scenes look at what actually makes sponsorships work (and why so many business owners get them wrong). This conversation is all about being intentional, protecting your budget, and choosing opportunities that truly align with your brand and goals.

Key topics covered:

• Who event sponsorships actually make sense for and who should skip them
• How to evaluate whether an event is the right fit for your brand
• What a real return on investment looks like beyond vanity metrics
• Why repetition builds recognition and how your energy in the room matters
• The importance of integrity and alignment in brand collaborations
• How to think strategically about swag bag sponsorships
• What it takes to stand out and succeed as an event vendor
• Why not every opportunity is a good opportunity even if it looks exciting

Event sponsorships aren’t about being everywhere, they’re about being in the right rooms, with the right people, for the right reasons. If you’ve ever wondered whether sponsoring an event is worth it, this episode will help you make smarter, more confident decisions. 

Connect with Kristina:

Instagram: @kristina.bartold 

Website: https://www.thesocialsnippet.com/

Community Podcast: https://communitypodcast.buzzsprout.com/

Staci's Links:
Instagram. Website.

In this episode of Small Business School, Staci breaks down the real, behind-the-scenes strategies that helped her husband Dan exceed his one-year sales and profit goals in just six months as a first-time franchise owner. This isn’t about hype or hustle culture — it’s about visibility, cash flow discipline, boundaries, and customer experience. Whether you’re launching a franchise, starting a service business, or trying to grow sustainably, these lessons apply far beyond franchising.

Key topics covered:

• Why “getting visible” beats perfect branding when you’re starting out
• The uncomfortable but powerful marketing moves most business owners avoid
• How understanding cash flow early prevents years of financial stress
• Why not all marketing spend is created equal and how to spot what actually works
• The role of boundaries, notifications, and work hours in preventing burnout
• How over-communicating expectations builds trust and saves time
• The small habits that quietly create massive customer loyalty
• Why success came from doing fewer things but doing them intentionally

Fast growth doesn’t come from doing everything, it comes from doing the right things consistently, protecting your cash flow, and building trust one interaction at a time. If this episode resonated, go back and listen to last week’s franchising conversation with Kim, and don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss what’s coming next.

Staci's Links:
Instagram. Website.

Welcome back to Small Business School! In today’s episode, Staci sits down with Kim Hiebert, CEO of Door Gurus, for a candid, behind-the-scenes conversation about franchising without the glossy brochure promises. Drawing from her experience as both a former franchisee and a current franchisor, Kim breaks down what most people don’t ask before buying into a franchise, where real value actually lives, and why support, integrity, and financial literacy matter far more than a recognizable logo.

Key topics covered:

• The biggest myths about franchising and why it’s never a “set it and forget it” business
• How to evaluate the real value exchange before buying into a franchise
• Why brand recognition alone doesn’t guarantee success (especially in small markets)
• What Kim’s experience as a franchisee taught her about building an ethical franchisor model
• The three non-negotiables Door Gurus built into their franchise structure and why they matter
• Why community, relationships, and reputation are becoming more powerful than rigid brand control
• The hidden risks of brick-and-mortar, inventory-heavy franchise models
• Why financial literacy, cash flow awareness, and understanding your numbers are essential
• How ongoing support (not just SOPs) determines long-term franchise success
• What to look for in a franchisor when things inevitably get hard

Franchising isn’t about buying a name, it’s about partnering with people who are invested in your success. This episode is a reminder to slow down, look past the logo, and choose business models built on integrity, support, and long-term sustainability.

Connect with Kim:

Instagram: @kimberley.hiebert @doorgurus.ca

Website: www.doorgurusfranchise.com

Staci's Links:
Instagram. Website.

In this episode of Small Business School, Staci is diving into a major shift she sees coming for entrepreneurs as we head into 2026. With AI making information instantly accessible, what really matters now isn’t what you know — it’s how you serve, connect, and give people their time back. This episode is all about rethinking value, letting go of burnout culture, and building businesses that feel good for both you and your customers.

Key topics covered:

• Why information is no longer the differentiator and what actually is
• How AI is changing buying behavior and raising the bar for service providers
• The growing importance of solving the “time gap” for your customers
• Why connection, customer experience, and thought leadership can’t be replaced
• What it means to build a business that supports your health and your clients as we move into 2026

As we move into 2026, the businesses that will thrive aren’t the ones chasing more information or louder marketing, but the ones that lead with connection, thoughtful service, and real human impact. 

Staci's Links:
Instagram. Website.

Welcome back to Small Business School! In today’s episode, Staci sits down with award-winning brand strategist Lianne Cawley, founder of Chapter 35, to unpack what branding really means in today’s business landscape. From building a brand that drives trust and longevity to navigating growth, motherhood, and a life-changing health diagnosis, this conversation goes far beyond logos and colour palettes. If you’ve ever wondered how to create a brand that actually connects and evolves with you — this episode is for you.

Key topics covered:

• Why great branding isn’t about aesthetics alone and how story, values, and alignment create long-term customer loyalty
• How Lianne grew her branding studio from a solo venture to a collaborative team, and why leadership evolves with business growth
• The difference between visibility and longevity and why brands with attention don’t always last
• How a brand audit can uncover misalignment between your intentions and how your business is actually experienced
• Why authenticity matters more than ever in the age of AI and how to use technology without losing the human side of your brand

This episode is a powerful reminder that branding is about more than how your business looks, it’s about how it feels, connects, and evolves. 

Connect with Lianne:

Instagram: @chapter35.ca @liannecharlene

Website: www.chapter35.ca

Staci's Links:
Instagram. Website.

In today’s episode, Staci delivers a bold but timely perspective on one of the most overused pieces of business advice heading into 2026: “Find power partners.” While partnerships are often positioned as the solution to social media burnout and slow growth, Staci explains why power partners and affiliates are failing most businesses and what needs to come first.

This episode breaks down the hard truth about leverage, clout, and momentum, and offers a refreshing, grounded approach to building relationships that actually lead to referrals, visibility, and long-term growth.

Key topics covered:

• Why power partnerships don’t create clout, they only leverage what already exists
• The real difference between affiliates and power partners (and why both often disappoint)
• What leverage actually means in business and why effort alone doesn’t count
• Why most cold pitches for partnerships quietly fail before they start
• How strong relationships outperform paid referrals every time
• What successful power partners exchange instead of money
• Why partnerships reward momentum — they never replace it

Power partnerships aren’t the shortcut to growth. They are the reward for momentum you’ve already built. Focus on becoming valuable, reliable, and useful first, and the right partnerships will follow naturally.

Staci's Links:
Instagram. Website.

Welcome back to Small Business School! In today’s joint episode, Staci Millard and Kristina Bartold (Co-founder of The Social Snippet, and Community Podcast Host) pull back the curtain on what truly makes a great podcast guest — and how podcast guesting can be a powerful strategy for visibility, authority, and business growth when done well.

Recorded in Ottawa during a High Five Women gathering, this candid conversation dives into what podcast hosts look for, why most pitches miss the mark, and how business owners can stop chasing podcast appearances and start using guesting intentionally to build real relationships, credibility, and ROI.

If you’ve ever said, “I want to be on more podcasts,” but weren’t sure how to turn that into actual opportunities, this episode is for you.

Key topics covered:

• Why saying “I want to be on more podcasts” isn’t a strategy and what to say instead
• What podcast hosts actually look for when choosing guests
• How unclear messaging can hurt your credibility as a guest
• Why warm introductions outperform cold pitching every time
• The biggest mistakes guests make after an episode goes live
• Whether paying to be on podcasts is ever worth it
• How to position yourself as a thought leader instead of a commodity
• What turns a good guest into someone hosts eagerly refer again and again

Podcast guesting isn’t about being everywhere. It’s about being in the right rooms, with the right message, serving the right audience. When done with clarity and intention, one great podcast appearance can open more doors than a hundred cold pitches.

Connect with Kristina:

Instagram: @kristina.bartold 

Website: https://www.thesocialsnippet.com/

Community Podcast: https://communitypodcast.buzzsprout.com/

Staci's Links:
Instagram. Website.

Welcome back to Small Business School! In today’s episode, Staci sits down with podcast strategist Kristina Bartold, co-founder of The Social Snippet, to talk about why podcasting keeps coming up in every business room and how to actually make it work for your business.

From ROI and authority to guests, funnels, and monetization myths, this episode pulls back the curtain on what podcasting really looks like behind the scenes. If you’ve ever wondered whether a podcast is worth the time, this conversation will help you decide strategically, not emotionally.

Key topics covered:

• Why podcasting can outperform social media for trust, longevity, and authority
• The biggest mistake business owners make when choosing podcast guests
• How podcasts quietly become one of the strongest networking tools in business
• What a profitable podcast funnel actually looks like (and when ads matter)
• Why small, loyal audiences often outperform “big name” celebrity guests

Podcasting isn’t about chasing charts or celebrity guests. It’s about clarity, consistency, and serving the right audience. When done intentionally, a podcast becomes a long-term business asset that builds trust, relationships, and opportunity over time.

Connect with Kristina:

Instagram: @kristina.bartold 

Website: https://www.thesocialsnippet.com/

Community Podcast: https://communitypodcast.buzzsprout.com/

Mentioned in Episode:

Mini Mic - https://amzn.to/4iIjFBJ

Staci's Links:
Instagram. Website.

Welcome back to Small Business School! In today’s episode, Staci sits down with copywriter Evie Tavares to unpack what ethical, emotion-led copywriting really looks like  and why trust matters more than tactics in today’s marketing landscape.

From ditching false urgency to navigating AI without losing your voice, this conversation is a refreshing reminder that selling doesn’t have to feel manipulative to be effective. If you’ve ever struggled with “selling with confidence,” this episode will shift how you think about words, value, and connection.

Key topics covered:

• What copywriting actually is and how it differs from content writing
• Why trust-based marketing outperforms scarcity-driven tactics long term
• How false urgency and “pain-point poking” quietly erode your brand
• When it makes sense to outsource copywriting and what to do first
• How AI and ChatGPT are changing discoverability (and what consistency has to do with it)

Good copy isn’t about pressure, it’s about clarity, empathy, and confidence in the value you bring. When your words are aligned with your beliefs, selling becomes an act of service, not persuasion.

Connect with Evie:

Instagram: @evietavaresbranding

Website: evietavaresbranding.ca

Brand Voice Guide: https://evietavaresbranding.myflodesk.com/hzgkbrldyb

Email Starter Kit: 

https://evietavaresbranding.myflodesk.com/emailstarterkit

Staci's Links:
Instagram. Website.

As 2025 comes to a close, this final solo episode of Small Business School is a heartfelt reminder that leadership isn’t always about pushing forward, sometimes it’s about knowing when to pause.

In this short but powerful solo episode, Staci shares why she’s intentionally stepping back for the final weeks of the year and invites listeners to do the same. With calendars already overflowing and expectations piling up, this conversation reframes rest as a strategic, thoughtful decision…not a failure of consistency.

Key topics covered:

• Why living life and business at full capacity leaves no room to breathe
• How to identify what’s a glass ball versus a rubber ball in your life
• When consistency supports growth — and when it quietly creates burnout
• Why end-of-year pressure often leads to the same annual “blow up”
• How pausing now can create more intentional momentum in the new year

Until next year, whether you’re energized by planning or craving rest, know that you’re exactly where you need to be.

Challenge:

Ask yourself:

• What am I holding onto right now simply because I always have?
• If I paused this for a few weeks, would anything truly break?

Choose one thing that can be set down temporarily and give yourself permission to do so without guilt.

Staci's Links:
Instagram. Website.