Kim Kovacs – Founder/CEO of MyJane, Curated Cannabis Products Delivered to Your Front Door

September 11, 2019 | By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

When Kim Kovacs witnessed a close relative looking and acting 10 years younger (and relieved of the pain she had suffered for years from using opioids to combat the effects of cancer), she was intrigued. She found out this positive change and outlook on life was due to the use of cannabis products and at that moment, Kim decided to get serious and learn more about everything cannabis could do to help women.

Kim saw a void in the women’s cannabis space and decided to fill it by starting MyJane – a cannabis wellness community designed to help women feel better. MyJane sends a curated box of cannabis products right to your door delivered by women ambassadors who spend time educating each customer on the products.

On today’s show, Kim has a lot to share with you. She is a serial entrepreneur and investor across multiple sectors and has raised over $100 million in venture capital for companies that she has founded.

Kim talks about how MyJane got started, her best ACTION STEPS in growing MyJane thus far, her advice on fundraising, how the movie “Groundhog Day” gets her through tough times, and much, much more.

You can Subscribe and Listen to the Podcast on Apple Podcasts. And be sure to leave me a Rating and Review!

Let’s ask women what they want. Before we go ahead and do anything, let’s ask.” – Kim Kovacs

Show Notes:

How the name “MyJane” came about – it truly was a Perfect Storm
Why Kim decided to get her product DELIVERED in person by Female Brand Ambassadors
The GENIUS First Step Kim took that catapulted MyJane’s early growth – Simple & Easy
The MyJane model and WHY IT WORKS
The ONE thing MyJane is doing to ensure happy, loyal customers
Where your FOCUS has to be 24/7
Managing CASH FLOW in an extremely regulated industry
Her BIGGEST challenge
Why the movie “Groundhog Day” helps get her through the challenges of entrepreneurship
Her best advice on FUNDRAISING
The advice she hears being given in the entrepreneur arena that she doesn’t agree with
The Inventor versus the Entrepreneur Concept
Her Belief about Partnerships
What she wished someone would have told her BEFORE she entered the world of Entrepreneurship

Do your research as your fundraising. Find the right investors so you don’t spend time talking to people you don’t need to.” – Kim Kovacs

Connect with Kim Kovacs:

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | MyJane

Once you crack that conversation about cannabis then the flood gates are open to talk about other things and we’re freely (now) talking about different things that I don’t think women used to talk about.” – Kim Kovacs

Kelly Love – How a Summer “Detox” With Her BFF From College Led to The Start of Branch Basics

August 14, 2019 | By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

When Kelly Love’s college roommate, Allison Evans, started having health problems, which led to lots of medications with little or no relief, Kelly was concerned.

After graduation, Kelly and Allison decided to spend the summer with Allison’s “Aunt Marilee” doing a “detox.” Their eyes were opened wide when they began to learn about the harmful chemicals that people are exposed to everyday. It was during this summer experience, the three of them decided to start Branch Basics – a non-toxic cleaning product company to create a healthy home.

On today’s show, Kelly gets very vulnerable and transparent about her entrepreneurial journey thus far. She talks about what it was like to partner with her college roommate, how the company survived their biggest challenge (they even had to close for a bit), her advice on managing cash flow + more.

You can Subscribe and Listen to the Podcast on Apple Podcasts. And be sure to leave me a Rating and Review!

It is totally ok to figure it out as you go.” – Kelly Love

Show Notes:

Their philosophy on the easiest way to take that FIRST step to living a healthy life
Their initial product was an enormous success….until it wasn’t
How they handled the embarrassment of having to close their doors and what they did next that has created BLOCKBUSTER success today (MOST people would have given up)
How Branch Basics is riding the “minimalist” movement
Tips for finding the right manufacturer for your product
The BEST decision they’ve ever made after re-launching the company
How to handle CASH Flow decisions; simple, smart advice
The words of wisdom she wished someone would have shared with her early on – PURE GOLD

It needed to work as well or better than the conventional product or else people weren’t going to stick to it.” – Kelly Love

Connect with Kelly Love:

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Branch Basics

Just getting started and knowing that you’re going to improve over time is key.” – Kelly Love

Kate Torgersen – From a 4-Day Business Trip Disaster to Becoming The Founder & Creator of Milk Stork

May 8, 2019 | By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

When she was detained by TSA after a business trip and asked to drain the ice around her carry-on breast milk bag before she could enter the plane, Kate Torgersen knew she had to do something. Kate knew she wasn’t the only working mom dealing with this. She’d heard horror stories about moms in broom closets at the office pumping milk and she saw the need.

The day after that disastrous event, Kate Torgersen decided to create Milk Stork, the FIRST and ONLY breast milk travel solution for working moms. She called her dad with the business idea to provide a service to help mothers easily ship their breast milk home, and with that, the idea was born.

Kate’s mom-led innovation and entrepreneurship have been chronicled in publications such as the Harvard Business Review, New York Magazine, Lifehacker, Fortune and Travel + Leisure.

You can Subscribe and Listen to the Podcast on Apple Podcasts. And be sure to leave me a Rating and Review!

My north star for the whole thing was that it had to be a two minute experience for moms in the hotel room and it had to be a two-minute experience placing an order.” – Kate Torgersen

Show Notes:

Kate knew she needed a “2-minute experience” for her idea to work
How she took her “DISRUPTIVE” idea and broke it down into manageable pieces in the beginning
The moment she knew she was on to something….it was right after she “flipped the switch”
Milk Stork was a side hustle for three years….she kept her day job at Cliff Bar for a long time (true inspiration for women who have a business idea but they aren’t quite ready to leave their day job)
The surprise phone call Kate received while in her mini-van that changed EVERYTHING
How Milk Stork tapped into an ENTERPRISE market
The KEY to gaining TRACTION
What it means to be a “painkiller not a vitamin” – BRILLIANT
Her Cash Flow Metaphor – GENIUS
What Kate does to recover from entrepreneurial fatigue
WHY she went about hiring differently than most other companies
The BIG Difference in having a career and owning a business
The advice she wished someone would have shared with her early on

If you don’t have good operations in place, traction can become a problem.” – Kate Torgersen

Connect with Kate Torgersen:

Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Milk Stork

Once we launched and got that first order, I knew that was never going to be quitting. There was no quitting because once you get traction you can’t quit. It is kind of like being a parent. Once you give birth, there is not really an ‘out’.” – Kate Torgersen

Sadie Lincoln – How Growing Up In a Circle Surrounded by Women Helped Shape the Wildly Successful Franchise barre3

January 16, 2019 | By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

What struck me most during this interview was her grounded nature and assured sense of purpose. A quiet power.

In the late ’60s and early ’70s, Sadie’s mom and her four best friends joined together to create a village to support their children around their common core values. They intentionally broke the nuclear family mold.

My guest today, Sadie Lincoln, had an early vision to franchise barre3, a fitness company focused on teaching people to be balanced in body and empowered from within when she was writing the business plan (along with her husband who’s also her business partner).

Their flagship studio opened in Portland, Oregon in 2008. Today, barre3 has grown to include more than 140 franchise studios powered by female entrepreneurs (and a few good men!), plus they now have an online-workout streaming-subscriber base in 98+ countries.

What was once a workout has turned into a movement followed by millions of people around the globe.

On today’s show, Sadie talks about what it’s really like to work with her husband (in business and at home), the philosophy she was raised with and how that has influenced her, her brilliant tips on managing cash flow and so much more.

You can Subscribe and Listen to the Podcast on Apple Podcasts. And be sure to leave me a Rating and Review!

I say a lot of times people come into barre3 wanting a hard body, and they leave with a wise body.” – Sadie Lincoln

Show Notes:

How she went from 1 studio to over 140 Today
Why her franchising ‘agreements’ are different from most and why the difference makes them so effective
Her brilliant method for attracting the RIGHT franchisees (it’s sort of foolproof!)
What happened on August 12, 2008, at 5:45 pm that changed Sadie’s life (this blew me away)
How she dealt with the most DIFFICULT Times. She did feel like giving up some days, “I want to throw in the towel and get the hell out of here!”
How she ‘struggles with the juggle’ all women face. She’s CEO of a fast-growing franchise and a mother of two
How her ‘unconventional’ upbringing has affected her life and entrepreneurial journey
Her SIMPLE FORMULA for managing cash flow – Brilliant!
Why Sadie doesn’t’ give ADVICE
The KEY to working effectively with her husband as a co-founder
Her biggest Challenge growing from 1 studio to over 140

We are really interested (and continue to be interested) in the pursuit of balance.” – Sadie Lincoln

Connect with Sadie Lincoln:

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | barre3

The juggle is not going to go away, the struggle is not going to go away and frankly, I don’t have control all the time over all of that. But what I do have control over is being calm and honest and purpose-driven.” – Sadie Lincoln

Sarah Naseer – Creating Good Products That Help Feed The World

November 7, 2018 | By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

They’ve provided meals to over 100M (yep, you read that right) children in 63 countries. How? Wait for it…selling handbags.

Today’s podcast is about entrepreneurship, but it’s also a PSA. My guest, Sarah Naseer, joins us to talk about FEED, a socially conscious company working every day to fight the war against hunger in a tangible way.

Sarah, President of FEED, oversees business development and growth strategies related to product marketing and merchandising. You’ll love what she has to say about how FEED has built an amazing company while changing the world!

You can Subscribe and Listen to the Podcast on Apple Podcasts. And be sure to leave me a Rating and Review!

Do your best to really push through whatever decision you decided to go with.” – Sarah Naseer

Show Notes:

WHY the company chose BAGS instead of shoes, clothing or jewelry
The GENIUS decision to put a Number on every bag and what the number means
What the proceeds from ONE BAG can do for a child
How Focusing on Collaborations and Partnerships early on were the BIGGEST & BEST Key Strategies
Why COMMUNITY is an essential ingredient in the mission of any business today
Why being both Focused & Nimble are core to their everyday teamwork
Managing CASH FLOW while still giving back

Women owe it to themselves to go into every meeting, every opportunity, every pitch, with confidence, and you don’t need to apologize for it.” – Sarah Naseer

Connect with Sarah Naseer:

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | FEED Projects

You are your best advocate.” – Sarah Naseer

Ianthe Mauro – From SNL to Telling Stories Through Fragrance as the Founder & CEO of Objects With Purpose Candles

October 17, 2018 | By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

Ladies, you do not want to miss this interview. It’s real, raw and illuminating : -).

She was dealing with a serious health challenge combined with going through a divorce. Ianthe Mauro, CEO & Founder of Objects With Purpose Candles found that lighting a candle was the one action step she could take every day to soothe her soul.

But an interesting thing occurred during this time. Ianthe soon found out that the ingredients used to manufacture many candles weren’t good for her. So she did what most entrepreneurial women do; she saw a problem and she set out to solve it. It’s been over a decade now and the results have been amazing.

Ianthe’s candles have appeared in the Oscar Swag bag, The Hollywood Medium, The Today Show with Kathie Lee and Hoda, Dr. Oz, Let’s Make a Deal and The Price Is Right. Her candles have become the “go to” gift in Hollywood.

You can Subscribe and Listen to the Podcast on Apple Podcasts. And be sure to leave me a Rating and Review!

I’m allowing myself to be ok just focusing on a few things in my business rather than trying to do everything at once.” – Ianthe Mauro

Show Notes:

How going through both an illness and a divorce put her on a path to creating her own eco-friendly luxury candle.
How she made her very FIRST candle.
Her BEST Action Steps to be featured in major media and have her candles in over 200 stores.
The tried and true marketing method that got her noticed in Hollywood.
WHY taking imperfect Action is Key to Growth.
How she became known as the “scent expert.”
How she continues to overcome her Biggest Business CHALLENGE.
The MOMENT she almost gave up (this is vulnerable, transparent and involves $24 and “fancy glass” milk bottles.)
Her Best PRODUCTIVITY TIPS.
AND MUCH, MUCH MORE.

‘No’ is extremely powerful.” – Ianthe Mauro

Connect with Ianthe Mauro:

Facebook | YouTube | Twitter | Objects With Purpose

Fragrance is an opportunity for me to tell the story in a product that is outside of me.” – Ianthe Mauro

Jessica Principe – From Dreading Her Shower Shave to Founder & CEO of All Girl Shave Club

September 12, 2018 | By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

Great ideas come to many people in the shower, and that was absolutely true for the Founder & CEO of All Girl Shave Club, Jessica Principe.

All Girl Shave Club is a subscription service and online store started in 2016. In the first 12 months, the company had blockbuster growth (surpassing the six-figure mark in sales) and now serves customers in all 50 states and Canada.

What started out as a passion project to transform the chore of shaving into a treat, has become a female-focused shaving and grooming business. Ladies who join the club receive high quality, premium razors, coupled with unique, specialty shaving and body products in the mail every other month.

On today’s show, Jessica talks about her company’s rapid growth, secrets to cash flow, and her best tips for women entrepreneurs while juggling a family.

You can Subscribe and Listen to the Podcast on Apple Podcasts. And be sure to leave me a Rating and Review!

I’m really realistic about the time that it takes to accomplish things, and that helps me stay motivated.” – Jessica Principe

Show Notes:

The FIRST Step Jessica took BEFORE launching All Girl Shave Club – Genius!
The moment she knew she was on to something
Her Biggest Challenge (she’s learned that every new level of growth brings a new challenge)
Why it’s ok to start SLOW
How she managed cash flow during an intense time of growth (simple, doable strategies!)
The time she went into what felt like a three-day coma over a difficult business dilemma
Jessica shares some wise words from a mentor during a very dark time
Why focusing on a specific niche is the key to dramatic growth
Her BEST advice for women who want to just Go For It (you may be surprised here)
Her favorite app for productivity
And much, much more!

There’s nothing wrong with starting your business while your working full-time, and you don’t want to quit your job too early when you’re not generating enough income.” – Jessica Principe

Connect with Jessica Principe:

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | All Girl Shave Club

It is ok not to get everything done overnight. It is ok to take your time, to make strategic decisions and give yourself time to think through things.” – Jessica Principe

Dr. Renee Dua – The Founder and CMO of Heal, the NEW On Demand App That Brings the Doctor to Your Front Door

May 9, 2018 | By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

Knock, Knock! The Doctor is here! After a scary experience (and an 8-hour wait in the emergency room) with her then seven-month-old son, my guest today, Dr. Renee Dua, decided there must be a better way to see a doctor when you need medical care. From there, Heal.com was born.

Dr. Dua is a licensed physician practicing nephrology, internal medicine, and hypertension. She created Heal to make life easier for busy parents and adults to get world-class primary care in the comfort, convenience and privacy of their home or office.

You can Subscribe and Listen to the Podcast on Apple Podcasts. And be sure to leave me a Rating and Review!

This is a problem that no one has really solved before. The idea that you deliver “on demand” a professional that is highly skilled. No one has solved that problem, and that is a problem that we are trying to solve in this company.” – Dr. Renee Dua

Show Notes:

How the Heal App brings a doctor to your home
How she made the move from being a physician to a Founder of an On-Demand App company
Her Biggest Challenge in running a digital App company
Why every Heal doctor shows up at your door with a medical assistant
Why the ER is actually the WORST place to be when you are sick
Her BEST Action Steps to growing an online platform
How she manages CASH Flow decisions
How she handles Frustration
Her TIP to gain perspective and live in the moment
Her Best ADVICE on what to do when someone says NO to your idea
And much, much more…

The way we spend money – we are responsible, we are thoughtful, and we make mistakes. I’ll say that and I’m sure every business owner does, and I am no different. I make lots of mistakes and it is a bummer. We have to learn from those mistakes and not make them again.” – Dr. Renee Dua

Connect with Dr. Renee Dua:

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Heal

If I can make it through the next 5 minutes, then I can make it through the next hour, and I can make it through the next day. That’s how I look at frustration in general – I try to get through little bits at a time. And then suddenly before you know it, you get some good news.” – Dr. Renee Dua

Koel Thomae – How Cold-Calling a Dairy Farmer Turned Into a $170 Million Yoghurt Company

March 28, 2018 | By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

On a trip home to Australia, Koel Thomae discovered a homemade yoghurt in a beach town corner shop, and she knew this was an entrepreneurial moment.

Inspired to bring the best-tasting yoghurt to the United States, Koel couldn’t stop thinking about the velvet tasting yoghurt that would one day become Noosa Yoghurt.

After cold-calling a fourth-generation dairy farmer in Colorado, Koel partnered with ‘Farmer’ Graves and brought Noosa Yoghurt to life.

What started in small farmers markets and local Whole Foods stores has led Noosa to be sold in 25,000 stores nationwide.

You can Subscribe and Listen to the Podcast on Apple Podcasts. And be sure to leave me a Rating and Review!

It is certainly ok to evolve things, but don’t ever get too far away from that core fundamental reason why you started the brand.” – Koel Thomae

Show Notes:

How a visit to Noosa, Australia led Koel to go on an entrepreneurial adventure
How her obsession with this yoghurt led her to a three-hour lunch that ultimately got her a “loose license” for the yoghurt
What it was like to QUIT her day JOB and jump right into her entrepreneurial idea
Why Koel took her life savings and put them into her business
WHY you should never over-think an idea
HOW she diverted Whole Foods attention when they initially didn’t like her packaging
Why she decided to pull out of a market that Noosa wasn’t ready for
A Deep Conversation on Cash Flow – pure gold
How Koel stayed PRODUCTIVE while building a business and raising a newborn
The ONE question Koel asks herself to stay on track every day
And much much more

I would say that if finance is not your strong suit, then get some really smart people who do know that and learn it really quickly.” – Koel Thomae

Connect with Koel Thomae:

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn| noosa

Very simple productivity – tasks lists and really understanding what is the priority from what will most impact your business.” – Koel Thomae

Alyza Bohbot – From Crop to Cup, Empowering Women Worldwide with City Girl Coffee

February 21, 2018 | By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

My guest today, Alyza Bohbot, has some serious moxie. After taking the reins of her family business, Alyza was searching for a way to differentiate her coffee company while connecting with women. What she discovered along the way was surprising and out of that discovery, City Girl Coffee was born. Besides being seriously good coffee, City Girl’s mission is tied to women’s empowerment in the coffee trade industry where women do more than 70% of the work in the fields but rarely get any financial control.

City Girl Coffee sources as many beans as possible from women coffee farmers throughout the world and a portion of every sale goes right back to support women’s organizations worldwide.

Featured in Forbes, Delta Sky Magazine, Better Homes and Gardens, and Star Tribune, Alyza has been named one of Minnesota’s “Women Who Lead.” She’s also a recipient of the Minneapolis Business Journal’s 2017 “40 Under 40” Award.

Alyza is funny, real, raw and boldly powerful. You’ll love this interview!

You can Subscribe and Listen to the Podcast on Apple Podcasts. And be sure to leave me a Rating and Review!

I knew if I cared about this then the likelihood of other people caring about this was probably pretty significant. It really was something that I felt strongly about since conception.” – Alyza Bohbot

Show Notes:

The SHOCKING discovery that led Alyza to birth City Girl Coffee
TIPS on how to gain traction in the saturated food and beverage product industry
WHY Alyza GIVES BACK through her business
Her BEST Business action steps
ADVICE on cash flow in a seasonal business
What Alyza did instead of GIVING UP at a time when she faced a huge challenge
The ONE Thing She Focuses on
Her BEST productivity Tips

Never think that you have all the answers. Never think that you know it all. Because you never know what little tidbit of information might just be the key piece that turns your business and takes it into a completely new trajectory that you never knew existed.” – Alyza Bohbot

Connect with Alyza Bohbot:

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | City Girl Coffee

“By coming out and from the get-go really making people understand that what we’re doing is much larger than just a coffee company, that was enough to get us that initial publicity and initial media attention.” – Alyza Bohbot

Kim Kovacs – Founder/CEO of MyJane, Curated Cannabis Products Delivered to Your Front Door

You can Subscribe and Listen to the Podcast on Apple Podcasts. And be sure to leave me a Rating and Review!

Show Notes:

Connect with Kim Kovacs:

Kelly Love – How a Summer “Detox” With Her BFF From College Led to The Start of Branch Basics

You can Subscribe and Listen to the Podcast on Apple Podcasts. And be sure to leave me a Rating and Review!

Show Notes:

Connect with Kelly Love:

Kate Torgersen – From a 4-Day Business Trip Disaster to Becoming The Founder & Creator of Milk Stork

You can Subscribe and Listen to the Podcast on Apple Podcasts. And be sure to leave me a Rating and Review!

Show Notes:

Connect with Kate Torgersen:

Sadie Lincoln – How Growing Up In a Circle Surrounded by Women Helped Shape the Wildly Successful Franchise barre3

You can Subscribe and Listen to the Podcast on Apple Podcasts. And be sure to leave me a Rating and Review!

Show Notes:

Connect with Sadie Lincoln:

Ianthe Mauro – From SNL to Telling Stories Through Fragrance as the Founder & CEO of Objects With Purpose Candles

You can Subscribe and Listen to the Podcast on Apple Podcasts. And be sure to leave me a Rating and Review!

Show Notes:

Connect with Ianthe Mauro:

Jessica Principe – From Dreading Her Shower Shave to Founder & CEO of All Girl Shave Club

You can Subscribe and Listen to the Podcast on Apple Podcasts. And be sure to leave me a Rating and Review!

Show Notes:

Connect with Jessica Principe:

Dr. Renee Dua – The Founder and CMO of Heal, the NEW On Demand App That Brings the Doctor to Your Front Door

You can Subscribe and Listen to the Podcast on Apple Podcasts. And be sure to leave me a Rating and Review!

Show Notes:

Connect with Dr. Renee Dua:

Koel Thomae – How Cold-Calling a Dairy Farmer Turned Into a $170 Million Yoghurt Company

You can Subscribe and Listen to the Podcast on Apple Podcasts. And be sure to leave me a Rating and Review!

Show Notes:

Connect with Koel Thomae:

Strategy & Consulting

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