If you've ever avoided looking at your numbers, wondered whether to incorporate, or felt like chasing revenue goals was leaving you exhausted and broke, this episode is for you. Evie sits down with Stacey Millard, accountant, entrepreneur and founder of Thrive Accounting, who sold her first accounting firm for seven figures and has been helping creative and service-based business owners understand their money ever since. This conversation is equal parts practical and refreshing, and Stacey makes the numbers feel way less scary than you think.

In This Episode

• How Stacey built and sold her first accounting firm for seven figures (and what she learned from it)
• Why money is the circulation of your business, not the enemy
• The five pillars Stacey uses to help business owners set realistic financial goals
• Why chasing 10K months is probably the wrong goal for most entrepreneurs
• The truth about sole proprietor vs. corporation in Canada (and why incorporating too early can cost you more than it saves)
• What lag numbers vs. lead numbers actually mean and why both matter
• How to know if your margins are healthy (and what to do if they're not)
• The money habits every solopreneur should have in place
• Why scared money doesn't make money and how to get out of financial fear mode
• What genuine networking looks like and why going a mile wide hurts your business

Questions Answered in This Episode

• Should I incorporate my small business in Canada?
• What is the difference between a sole proprietor and a corporation in Canada?
• When does it make sense to incorporate in Canada?
• How do I set realistic revenue goals for my business?
• What are lag numbers and lead numbers in business?
• How do I know if my business is actually profitable?
• What should I track in my business finances as a solopreneur?
• How do I budget for my business expenses?
• What is profit margin and why does it matter?
• How do I stop avoiding my business finances?
• What accounting software should I use as a small business owner?
• Is Profit First worth it for Canadian business owners?
• How do I price my services to actually be profitable?
• How do I build a business that works without me?
• What skills do entrepreneurs actually need to succeed?
• How do I network authentically without feeling salesy?
• How do I get out of financial scarcity mindset as an entrepreneur?

Find Stacey On...

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stacey.millard/

Podcast: https://smallbusinessschool.buzzsprout.com/

Website: https://thriveaccounting.co/

Find Evie On...

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/evietavaresbranding/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/evie-tavares-352291258/

Website: https://www.evietavaresbranding.ca/

If you have something to sell but your emails feel pushy, salesy or just plain gross, this episode is for you. Evie breaks down her go-to launch email sequence, how to warm up your audience before the cart even opens and why legitimate urgency is not the same thing as sleazy marketing.

In This Episode

• Why your email launch sequence is only one piece of the puzzle
• How to warm up your audience before a launch starts
• The doors open email and what it needs to include
• Storytelling emails that take your audience from point A to point B
• How to handle objections without making it weird
• Using social proof and bonuses in your middle emails
• Why legitimate urgency is not sleazy and when to use it
• The post-launch email most people forget to send
• Where a sales page fits into your launch strategy
• The 10% conversion rule Amy Porterfield talks about

Questions Answered in This Episode

• How many emails do I need for a launch sequence?
• What should my first launch email say?
• How do I write a launch email sequence for a course or program?
• How do I create urgency in my emails without being manipulative?
• What is a sales page and do I need one for my launch?
• How do I handle objections in a launch email sequence?
• How do I warm up my email list before a launch?
• What do I send after a launch to people who didn't buy?
• How do I use storytelling in my launch emails?
• What is a realistic conversion rate for an email launch?
• How often should I email my list during a launch?

Mentioned in This Episode Try Flodesk and save 25% off your first year: https://flodesk.com/c/M2BGO5

Find Evie On... 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/evietavaresbranding/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/evie-tavares-352291258/ 

Website: https://www.evietavaresbranding.ca/

If you've ever lost yourself in motherhood and wondered how to find your way back, this episode is for you. Evie sits down with Crystal Shadwell, event planner, higher ed professional, mom and founder of Something Beyond Mom, to talk about why women need to stop putting themselves last, how to build community that actually fills your cup and what it really looks like to balance a side hustle, a full-time career and motherhood without burning out.

In This Episode

• How Crystal went from higher ed professional to founding Something Beyond Mom
• Why moms lose their identity in motherhood and what to do about it
• Getting into rooms before you feel ready and why it changes everything
• What a Something Beyond Mom event actually looks and feels like
• How Crystal burnt out running monthly events and what she changed
• Balancing a full-time job, entrepreneurship and motherhood
• Defining success on your own terms beyond six and seven figures
• The Team Crew podcast and how it strengthened Crystal's relationship

Questions Answered in This Episode

• How do I find myself again after becoming a mom?
• Is it okay to keep my side hustle while working a full-time job I love?
• How do I deal with mom guilt when taking time for myself?
• How do I build a community around my business?
• What does self-care actually look like for a busy mom?
• How do I avoid burnout when my business is growing fast?
• How do I define success in my business without comparing myself to others?
• How do I get into networking rooms when I feel too small or new?
• How do I balance a podcast with my partner and a busy family life?

Find Crystal On... Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crystalshadwell/ Something Beyond Mom: https://www.instagram.com/somethingbeyondmom/ Website: https://www.crystalshadwell.com/ Something Beyond Mom Events: https://somethingbeyondmom.myflodesk.com/ltdro3j2gy Something Beyond Mom Retreat Waitlist: https://www.crystalshadwell.com/retreat

Find Evie On... Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/evietavaresbranding/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/evie-tavares-352291258/ Website: https://www.evietavaresbranding.ca/

Two podcast hosts walk into a women's business conference...

Evie and Kelsey Reidl of the Rain or Shine podcast sit down for a candid debrief on the This Mother Means Business event in Burlington. From the stories that hit different to the mic drop moments you'll want to write down, this episode is a masterclass in what happens when women in business get real with each other.

In This Episode

• Why networking events still matter (even when you already know everyone in the room)
• The "day in the life" panel question that turned into the most relatable conversation of the day
• Dr. Tracy's take on shame, visibility and why showing up in your business feels so vulnerable as a mom
• The story you're telling yourself that's quietly blocking your creativity and growth
• Julie Cole's train analogy and what it means for your business decisions right now
• Why following your audience matters more than staying loyal to a platform
• How AI is reducing the mental load for moms in business and why now is the time to start
• The one quote from the event that Evie hasn't stopped thinking about

Questions Answered in This Episode

• How do I balance being a mom and running a business without burning out?
• Why does showing up online feel so vulnerable as a female entrepreneur?
• How do I know when to quit something in my business that isn't working?
• How can I use AI to reduce mental load as a mom and business owner?
• How do I follow up after a networking event without feeling salesy?
• What are the best business events for women entrepreneurs in Canada?
• How do I stop telling myself stories that hold my business back?
• How do I know which social media platform is right for my business?
• How do I make space for creativity when I have no time?
• What does sustainable business growth actually look like for moms?

Quotes From This Episode

"I love what I do, but I need to love me more." — Anora West

"The longer you're on a train in the wrong direction, the more expensive it is to get back." — Julie Cole

"If it only lives in your head, it's already costing you." — Johanna (AI keynote speaker)

"The people who win at AI didn't start first. They started smart." — Kelsey Reidl

Mentioned in This Episode

This Mother Means Business Event hosted by Laura Sinclair: https://www.thismothermeansbusiness.com/

Rain or Shine Podcast with Kelsey Reidl: https://www.kelseyreidl.com/podcast

Find Kelsey On...

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kelseyreidl/

Website: www.kelseyreidl.com

Find Evie On...

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/evietavaresbranding/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/evie-tavares-352291258/

Website: https://www.evietavaresbranding.ca/

If you've been putting off your welcome sequence or starting every first email with your entire life story, this episode is for you. Evie breaks down her go-to three-email welcome sequence, how to improve deliverability from day one and why training your audience to engage early is one of the most underrated moves in email marketing.

In This Episode

• What a welcome sequence is and who needs one
• The biggest mistake people make in email one
• Evie's three-email welcome sequence breakdown
• How to improve email deliverability right from the start
• The cadence Evie recommends and how to use analytics to tweak it
• Why your emails need to sound like YOU, not ChatGPT
• Evie's honest review of Flodesk and a listener discount

Questions Answered in This Episode

• What is a welcome sequence and do I need one?
• What should my first email to new subscribers say?
• How do I write a welcome sequence for my coaching or service business?
• How do I improve my email deliverability?
• How often should I send welcome emails?
• How do I write emails that actually sound like me?
• What is Flodesk and is it worth it for small business owners?

Mentioned in This Episode 

Try Flodesk and save 25% off your first year:  https://flodesk.com/c/M2BGO5

Find Evie On... Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/evietavaresbranding/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/evie-tavares-352291258/ 

Website: https://www.evietavaresbranding.ca/

If you've ever undercharged, overbooked yourself or wondered whether investing in your photography business is actually worth it, this episode is for you.

I'm sitting down with Melissa Shearer, a Burlington-based family, maternity and birth photographer who has been building her business for 10 years. And she is not holding back. Melissa shares the real story behind going from rock bottom to running a fully booked luxury photography brand, and what she wishes she had known in year one.

We talk about the pricing trap that burns so many photographers out before they ever really get started, why investing in yourself is non-negotiable and how becoming a mom completely changed the way Melissa shows up for her clients.

Plus, Melissa spills some exciting tea about a brand new community she is building for photographers called the Mother Clickers Collective. You do not want to miss this one.

In This Episode We Cover:

• How Melissa accidentally started her photography business after shooting her best friend's wedding in New Zealand
• Why she pivoted from weddings to motherhood, maternity and birth photography and how that decision changed everything
• The pricing trap that leads new photographers straight to burnout (and how to avoid it)
• What "cost of doing business" actually means and why every photographer needs to know their numbers
• Why investing in mentorship and education is one of the highest-return moves you can make in your business
• What "laid back luxury" means in practice and how Melissa's client experience sets her apart
• How motherhood has made her a better photographer and a more empathetic business owner
• The one mindset block holding most photographers back from growing their business
• What she is building with the Mother Clickers Collective and why it matters

Questions Answered in This Episode:

• How do I price my photography services without undercharging?
• How do I calculate my cost of doing business as a photographer?
• How do I avoid burnout as a photographer?
• How do I build a sustainable photography business while raising kids?
• Is it worth investing in photography mentorship or education?
• How do I attract higher paying photography clients?
• How do I transition from budget clients to luxury clients?
• How do I deal with imposter syndrome as a photographer?
• How do I create a better client experience as a photographer?
• How do I grow my photography business without working seven days a week?
• When should I hire help in my photography business?

Connect with Melissa:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melissashearerphotography/ Mother Clickers Collective: https://www.instagram.com/motherclickers/ Website: https://melissashearerphotography.com

Connect with Evie:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/evietavaresbranding/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/evie-tavares-352291258/ Website: https://www.evietavaresbranding.ca/

In this engaging conversation, Evie Tavares and Kristina Bartold explore the vital difference between building a community and merely growing an audience. Kristina shares her insights on the importance of genuine connections, the evolution of her High Vibe Women events, and the impact of authenticity in business. They discuss the challenges of scaling a business, the significance of mentorship, and the future of marketing in a community-driven landscape. Kristina also reflects on her personal growth as a new mother and her aspirations for future collaborations.

Find Kristina on… 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristina.bartold/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristinabartold/

Website - The Social Snippet: https://www.thesocialsnippet.com/

Website - High Vibe Women: https://www.highvibewomen.ca/october-2026-event

Save on the next High Vibe Women event with the code EVIE50  *code is only active AFTER Friday March 20th.

Find Evie on… 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/evietavaresbranding/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/evie-tavares-352291258/

Website: https://www.evietavaresbranding.ca/

Takeaways

Community is about genuine connections, not just numbers.

Building a community requires reciprocity and willingness to help others.

Events should focus on impact and creating meaningful connections.

Authenticity in business leads to stronger relationships and trust.

Scaling a business involves managing people and expectations.

Investing in mentorship is crucial, but action is what drives results.

Networking is about building relationships, not just finding clients.

The future of marketing will focus on community engagement and trust.

Ali Hicks-Wright Episode mentioned on scaling:  https://communitypodcast.buzzsprout.com/2011831/episodes/13852482-personalized-approaches-to-business-scaling-with-ali-hicks-wright

Chapters

00:00 Building Authentic Communities

03:10 The Power of Reciprocity

05:56 Creating Impactful Events

08:58 The Evolution of High Vibe Women

11:35 The Importance of Depth in Networking

14:36 Navigating Community Dynamics

17:11 Learning from Each Other

20:11 Adapting Event Formats

22:45 Finding Your Community

32:33 Navigating Networking Events

37:21 The Importance of Community and Connection

39:26 Scaling Challenges in Business

43:29 Finding Balance in Business Growth

46:52 Investing in Mentorship and Learning

50:42 The Power of Community Over Mentorship

51:20 High Vibe Women Events and Community Engagement

58:04 Introduction and Welcome

58:36 Encouragement to Share and Subscribe

Keywords

community, audience, networking, events, authenticity, business growth, mentorship, marketing, women empowerment, social media

Summary

Evie Tavares shares her detailed experience and key insights from the High Vibe Women event, highlighting networking, personal growth, and practical business tips.

Keywords

High Vibe Women, networking, personal growth, business tips, event recap, entrepreneurship, self-care, scaling business, community building

Find Evie on… 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/evietavaresbranding/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/evie-tavares-352291258/

Website: https://www.evietavaresbranding.ca/

Key  topics

• Networking and genuine connections
• Practical business growth tips
• Self-care and mindset for entrepreneurs

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to High Vibe Women Event

01:49 Growth and Evolution of the Event

02:58 VIP Night Experience

06:24 Full-Day Event Overview

08:25 Keynote Speakers and Insights

12:25 Networking and Building Connections

14:55 Workshops and Breakout Sessions

16:17 Live Podcast Experiences

17:21 Closing Keynote and Reflections

21:48 Final Thoughts and Takeaways

24:57 Introduction and Welcome

25:20 Encouragement to Share and Subscribe

Resources

High Vibe Women - https://www.highvibewomen.ca/

Kristina and Maria (Social Snippet) - https://www.instagram.com/kristina.bartold/ and https://www.instagram.com/_mariatassi/

High Vibe Women Online Community | Save on your first month - https://high-vibe-women.circle.so/checkout/online-community?affiliate_code=cbc364

In this conversation, Laura Sinclair shares her journey from corporate marketing to becoming a mom entrepreneur, discussing the unique challenges faced by mothers in business. She emphasizes the importance of redefining motherhood, asking for help, and the significance of mindset in achieving business success. Laura also highlights the need for sustainable growth, the role of relationships in client acquisition, and the value of authenticity in mentorship. The discussion concludes with insights on celebrating achievements and defining personal success in a way that aligns with individual goals.

Find Laura on… 

Instagram (Laura Sinclair): https://www.instagram.com/itslaurasinclair/

Instagram (This Mother Means Business): https://www.instagram.com/thismothermeansbusiness/

Website: https://www.thismothermeansbusiness.com/

Join me at This Mother Means Business Live on April 1st: https://www.thismothermeansbusiness.com/tmmb-2026?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMjU2MjgxMDQwNTU4AAGnzOkpA6FlgA8SLGH_fipkeUpkGudfNFnF0FeRxJl0Z4S_UPOupeWPVbj1Utw_aem__swx74AUO-ox5Pn_W6BnDA

Find Evie on… 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/evietavaresbranding/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/evie-tavares-352291258/

Website: https://www.evietavaresbranding.ca/

Key Takeaways

• Laura Sinclair transitioned from corporate marketing to mom entrepreneurship.
• Balancing motherhood and business is like managing two full-time jobs.
• It's essential to redefine what being a good mom means personally.
• Asking for help is crucial to avoid burnout.
• Delegation can significantly lighten the mental load.
• Mindset plays a critical role in business success.
• Sustainable growth looks different for everyone, especially moms.
• Relationships are key to client acquisition, not just social media.
• Authenticity in mentorship fosters a deeper connection.
• Celebrating small achievements can enhance motivation and joy in business.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Mom Entrepreneurship

10:00 Redefining Motherhood and Asking for Help

15:04 Delegation and the Importance of Support

19:59 Sustainable Growth in Business

29:10 The Importance of Patience in Business Growth

36:03 The Role of Mentorship in Business Success

44:44 Authenticity in Business: Sharing Wins and Losses

51:40 Connecting with Laura: Upcoming Events and Rapid Fire Questions

Keywords

mom entrepreneurs, business strategy, motherhood, mindset, delegation, sustainable growth, client acquisition, mentorship, authenticity, work-life balance

In this episode, Evie Tavares shares her insights on attending networking events, particularly the High Vibe Women event. She discusses her mindset going into these events, emphasizing the importance of community building and personal growth over sales. Evie highlights her preparation strategies, including self-care and creating a peaceful environment before the event. During the event, she focuses on genuine connections and engagement, while also taking notes for follow-up. After the event, she reflects on her experiences and emphasizes the importance of processing information and nurturing relationships.

Find Evie on… 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/evietavaresbranding/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/evie-tavares-352291258/

Website: https://www.evietavaresbranding.ca/

High Vibe Women: https://www.highvibewomen.ca/march-2026-event (Use EVIE50 for a discount on the next event) 

This Mother Means Business: https://www.thismothermeansbusiness.com/tmmb-2026

WAVE Events for Women: https://www.kelseyreidl.com/paris2026

Key Takeaways

Events are helpful for growing your community.

Approach events with a curiosity mindset.

Self-care is crucial before attending events.

It's okay to walk into events alone.

Taking notes helps in remembering connections.

Follow up genuinely after events.

Not everything learned at events needs to be applied.

Leave time to process information after events.

In-person connections are valuable for business.

Embrace the energy of networking events.

Chapters

00:00 Kickoff to High Vibe Women Events

05:30 Preparation and Self-Care Before Events

10:46 Reflection and Follow-Up After Events

13:22 Introduction and Welcome

13:45 Encouragement to Share and Subscribe

Keywords

networking, women in business, personal growth, mindset, community building, event preparation, self-care, follow-up strategies, High Vibe Women, in-person connection