Mignon Francois – How She Turned $5 into $10 Million as the CEO & Founder of The Cupcake Collection

November 18, 2020 | By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

Mignon Francois on She's Got Moxie with Joy Chudacoff

My guest today, Mignon Francois, CEO & Founder of The Cupcake Collection, is a very enthusiastic and positive entrepreneur who turned a recipe that she received from her grandmother into a $10 million business.

Mignon was a stay-at-home mom who was tired of her children not being able to go on field trips because she did not have the extra money. At the time, she had no bakery experience, but she took her grandmother’s recipe, spent $5 on ingredients and the rest they say is history. Mignon’s business turned out to be a much bigger success than she could ever imagine.

On today’s show, Mignon shares the story of how The Cupcake Collection began its humble beginnings. She talks about the challenges that she has faced in her company, her “sampling” strategy, her actions steps to success, and more.

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

Overnight success takes 10 years.” – Mignon Francois

Show Notes:

The moment Mignon decided to turn an old recipe into a NEW idea
What MOTIVATED her to keep going every day despite the challenges
How she has grown and scaled her business from a start-up to being recognized as one of the TOP cupcake bakeries in the US with multiple locations
Why a “sampling” strategy is important for a product-based business
The really big gamble Mignon made as she bet on her success
What it has been like to maintain business during the pandemic

My action step was to stop waiting and start doing.” – Mignon Francois

Connect with Mignon Francois:

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | The Cupcake Collection

Everybody wants to be great, but nobody wants to get up at dawn.” – Mignon Francois

LaDawn Townsend – Strategic Advisor & CEO of The VOS Group

September 2, 2020 | By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

My guest today, LaDawn Townsend, understands entrepreneurial disappointment. She was turned down 35 times for a business loan before starting her business, The VOS Group.

In other words, LaDawn knows how to handle a “no” – which is one of the reasons why she created The VOS Group, a company that helps business owners increase their revenue and streamline processes to create a stable foundation that deepens the customer base.

LaDawn is trained in Six Sigma Green Belt process improvement and Technology Project Management, delivering quantifiable results for her clients. Her “career” started early on when she was growing up working alongside her family in their business.

On today’s podcast, LaDawn shares how she survived after getting so many no’s, the reason she kept her corporate job while growing her business, how she earned the trust of business owners, all the ups and downs of her trajectory and the challenges of being a black woman in business. She also talks about the importance of your company's annual numbers and how you should work under a positive vibration.

We also explore her thoughts on the Black Lives Matter movement and her ideas on how to approach race, diversity, and opportunities for minorities in our communities.

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

You are missing an element when you don't have diversity.” – LaDawn Townsend

Show Notes:

HOW she moved beyond 35 NO’s when asking for a business loan
How her “Trust Google” strategy helped figure out the next steps in her career
WHY she kept her corporate job while growing her business
The QUESTION people avoid that’s key to growth
Simple back-to-basics Tips on Growing your Side Hustle while working a F.T. Corporate job
How and when she knew it was time to leave her Corporate Job behind and “go for it” in her business
The difference between the busy work and the productive work in your business
How to earn the trust of business owners
Her thoughts on approaching racial bias, opportunities for minorities & how she’s processing this time in the world

Sometimes when we stay too long in one position, we need to be pushed into our purpose.” – LaDawn Townsend

Connect with LaDawn Townsend:

Facebook | LinkedIn | Twitter | LaDawn Townsend

Everyone has a relationship with money.” – LaDawn Townsend

Max Kater – Creating a Solution to Her Son’s Allergy as The Co-founder of Murchison-Hume Plant-Based Cleaning Supplies

October 9, 2019 | By Freedom Leave a Comment

My guest today, Max Kater, started her business because her son was having allergic reactions to their bathroom cleaning products and she knew that she had to do something.

With that, Max co-founded Murchison-Hume. Their Mission: We want to make products that are safe for people and planet, truly effective, beautiful to look at and a pleasure to use.

It took Max four years to “crack the code” on safe home cleaners but she finally figured out a formula that actually works.

On today’s show, Max talks about how she got started, staying aligned with their brand’s values, her biggest challenges and how she got through them, and much more.

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

You have to really take stock and say ‘would I do this if I'm not going to see a salary for let's say – the next 10 weeks or really 10 months'.” – Max Kater

Show Notes:

The moment she knew she was on to something: “Honey, you better get yourself a little setup!”
A Step-by-Step Approach to get more visibility in the Media
How a hiring issue turned into a HUGE challenge for Murchison-Hume and nearly cost her the entire business (it took 18 months to recover)
Her BEST productivity tip (you don’t need any fancy technology for this one!)
How Max’s previous career as an editor has helped her as a business owner
Her GENIUS move to nail exactly who their core client is and analyze exactly what products to offer
Why the idea of balance is B.S. as a mother and entrepreneur

None of us really achieve that perfect balance. I haven't met her yet, so if you do, please tell me.” – Max Kater

Connect with Max Kater:

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Murchison-Hume

When sending your products to editors – just send the product so they can try it with a tiny blurb about why it is great.” – Max Kater

Gail Schenbaum – Achieving Massive Growth with the Umergency App in the Last 18 Months

August 28, 2019 | By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

This week, I'm having Gail Schenbaum, Founder & CEO of Umergency, back on the show as one of my encore interviews!

Gail was first on She's Got Moxie in March 2018 to talk about how she created the Umergency app for college students and their parents' in emergency situations.

After receiving a middle of the night phone call from her own daughter (who was in an ambulance) while she was across the country attending college, Gail knew that she had to do something to make it easier for parents to get in touch with their kids in emergency situations.

The Umergency app prepares and empowers college students, their parents, and extended families with the real-time tools they need to navigate through any emergency, health or safety situation at the touch of a button.

The content is college-specific, and comes pre-loaded with data for over 1200 colleges, including local emergency services, on-campus resources, trusted contacts, a GPS enabled urgent alert beacon, built-in access to national crisis hotlines, and the ability to upload secure copies of students’ insurance card and signed medical consent form.

Umergency removes confusion and chaos from an urgent situation, before it happens.

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

You still have to go back and trust your gut. But many times, people who know a lot in a certain area bring many ‘aha' moments to you.” – Gail Schenbaum

Show Notes:

How Umergency has achieved massive growth in the last 18 months
The staggering statistics about college students and ER visits and what parents really need to know
The creative “gorilla marketing” that Gail is using to gain brand awareness for the Umergency App
Gail discusses the things you must do to get your product or service in the hands of the right consumer
Gail's BIGGEST CHALLENGE and how she gets through it
The SECRET TOOL that has positively influenced Gail's life
Why Gail ASKS for advice often
The ADVICE she would give to entrepreneurs who are experiencing growth
How she makes DECISIONS for the business
And much, much more…

No matter how fast you're moving, don't forget to take time to plan. Because you can get lost in the details (especially with technology) and there is so many moving parts.” – Gail Schenbaum

Connect with Gail Schenbaum:

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Umergency

What really helps me is to connect with other entrepreneurs who are going through similar stuff.” – Gail Schenbaum

Heather Dominick – How to Succeed as a Highly Sensitive Entrepreneur

May 22, 2019 | By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

When my guest, Heather Dominick, hit the million-dollar mark – it wasn't a celebratory moment. She was burnt out, overwhelmed, and suspected that something wasn't quite right.

That's when Heather found out she was a Highly Sensitive Person, which is a trait that some people are born with. With that, Heather knew she had to figure out how to make entrepreneurship work for her. She became the founder and leader of the Highly Sensitive Entrepreneur® movement with her company, Business Miracles.

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

Really be willing to do the work to know who you are and how it is that you are meant to serve through your business.” – Heather Dominick

Show Notes:

What it means to be a highly sensitive entrepreneur
Heather offers INSIGHT on how to spot if you might be a highly sensitive entrepreneur
How “pushing” challenges the highly sensitive person
Her BEST Tips and coping strategies for entrepreneurs who are highly sensitive
How COPING can turn into CREATING for the highly sensitive entrepreneur
Why being highly sensitive can actually be a STRENGTH for entrepreneurs
Her most EFFECTIVE step to grow her business – BRILLIANT and surprising!
The ADVICE she hears about entrepreneurship that she absolutely DOESN'T agree with (“it’s shaming and manipulative”)
How to see yourself differently in order to overcome challenges of being a highly sensitive entrepreneur
Why Heather LOVES Pineapples and the meaningful significance they provide to her business

I remind myself daily how absolutely smack-down privileged I am to be able to be working in this space and energy of creation on a day-to-day basis.” – Heather Dominick

Connect with Heather Dominick:

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Business Miracles

I don't know it all and I'm not supposed to know it all, again, definitely not before taking action.” – Heather Dominick

Melissa Ben-Ishay – How Getting Fired From an Advertising Job Was The BEST Thing That Could Happen to Her

October 31, 2018 | By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

After getting fired from her advertising job, Melissa Ben-Ishay went home and baked some cupcakes (her go-to daily staple). Turns out this was the BEST action step she could have taken. Today, Baked by Melissa, the New York City-based brand is famous for its signature, bite-size cupcakes and treats that are only 50 calories each!

Passionate about baking since childhood with the idea that people should taste a cupcake “guilt free,” she decided to do what she loved and launched Baked by Melissa in 2008.

She’s absolutely hilarious and what I love most is her complete transparency.

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

You can do anything and anyone who tells you otherwise is small.” – Melissa Ben-Ishay

Show Notes:

HOW she started out in her apartment
How she prepared for her first BIG moment with a well-known Caterer in NY
The moment she knew she was on to something
Her ‘Disruption’ moment – what gave her the “advantage”
The MOST important mindset a woman entrepreneur with a family can have
How she went from her apartment to 14 stores sprinkled around NYC
Why it was hard to RELINQUISH CONTROL in her business
The great advice that Melissa’s Dad gave her when things got hard
Why starting and ending her day with her family is a PRIORITY
What she did on days when she felt like a fraud
What she sees as the essential ingredient in a startup business
Her biggest challenge and how she handles it
How and why YOU CAN DO ANYTHING

There is actually a very, very specific attitude that built this company, which is seeing challenges as opportunities to learn and grow.” – Melissa Ben-Ishay

Connect with Melissa Ben-Ishay:

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Baked by Melissa

You have to kind of embody the person you want to be.” – Melissa Ben-Ishay

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

Lisa Sugar – How a Blogging Side Hustle Turned into POPSUGAR, a Multi-Million Dollar Media Company

April 11, 2018 | By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

Lisa Sugar really disliked her job but unlike so many, she did something about it. After starting a personal blog that went viral (we’re talking over 1 million followers in 1 year), Lisa Sugar knew that she was on to something. She ditched her day job and not long after, her husband did too.

Currently, POPSUGAR is now the #1 lifestyle brand for young women, and has just introduced a brand new beauty line.

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

Saying yes has led to great things.” – Lisa Sugar

Show Notes:

Lisa’s STRATEGY on how she went from 1 follower to 1 million in less than a year
WHY you should never rely on Advertising as a major source of Revenue
WHY now was the perfect time for POPSUGAR to launch a beauty line
What it was like to give birth to her first child while growing a fast-paced media empire
Why you should WORK HARD & PLAY NICE
The POPSUGAR PRINCIPLES & Why her Team relies on this
Why Lisa wrote her book, “Power Your Happy”
Why Lisa says YES when she’s making decisions
The valuable lesson she learned when she strayed away from her core business
Her BEST (quite simple) advice for women entrepreneurs
and much, much more

Finding people who are really living and breathing that world and bringing them in so that they can be the experts, so that they can shine and share that knowledge, is really important.” – Lisa Sugar

Connect with Lisa Sugar:

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | POPSUGAR

I think it is really important to play nice both to competitors and co-workers who come and go, because you never know what’s going to happen next.” – Lisa Sugar

Carrie Tice – From Corporate to Cannabis and Known as The “Mary Kay of Marijuana”

March 21, 2018 | By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

Carrie Tice, founder and CEO of Octavia Wellness is innovative, energetic and passionate. Her mother had been diagnosed several years ago with Alzheimer’s and through a somewhat humorous experience Carrie discovered the benefits of cannabis for seniors.

The results were so life-changing that Carrie and her mother decided to take a big moxie move; Carrie resigned from her high-tech corporate job and she and her mother together sold their Victorian home on Octavia Street in San Francisco to kick-start Octavia Wellness. Octavia Wellness focuses on providing seniors and cannabis beginners with customized cannabis therapies.

On today's show, Carrie shares some amazing business tips and stories. She’s funny, clever, powerful and passionate.

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

Since legalization, we are seeing that more professionals are wanting to get into this program, getting on our educational platform and learning about cannabis.” – Carrie Tice

Show Notes:

How CBD can influence health for SENIORS
Her transition from Corporate Tech to Entrepreneur
How she’s building a company in an industry with LOTS of challenges and constant change
WHY she made the decision to train ‘wellness consultants’ and focus on the senior citizen population
The FIRST Step she took to get started
Her Genius Beta Move
WHY strategy is critical to your success
How she handles the Ups and Downs of a startup
Carrie's best PRODUCTIVITY TIPS
How to SOLVE problems on the go – both innovative and inspiring
Much, much more

Take care of yourself and then you actually are in a better place to be a smart CEO.” – Carrie Tice

Connect with Carrie Tice:

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Octavia Wellness

Let’s stay true to what our skill set is – it has served us pretty well!” – Carrie Tice

9 Game-Changing Tips for Women Entrepreneurs in 2014

December 19, 2013 | By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

12-19-13Article 2014

At the end of each year, I take an inventory of my life and business to shine a light on what proved to be most effective for me.

Here are my top nine timely tips for women entrepreneurs who are ready to make a Big Leap in 2014:

1. Exercise Empathy – If you have a dream of making a difference in the world or desire a leadership role, empathy is a valuable tool you'll need along the way. As the great leader Stephan Covey said, “Seek first to understand.” Understanding and acknowledging someone else's situation is the foundation to change.

2. Make Decisions – Set a goal to become a quick decision maker. Remember, money likes speed so your ability to make quick decisions will serve you well in business. Do your research but at some point, call time and decide.

Mignon Francois – How She Turned $5 into $10 Million as the CEO & Founder of The Cupcake Collection

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 Mignon Francois:

LaDawn Townsend – Strategic Advisor & CEO of The VOS Group

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 LaDawn Townsend:

Max Kater – Creating a Solution to Her Son’s Allergy as The Co-founder of Murchison-Hume Plant-Based Cleaning Supplies

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 Max Kater:

Heather Dominick – How to Succeed as a Highly Sensitive Entrepreneur

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 Heather Dominick:

Melissa Ben-Ishay – How Getting Fired From an Advertising Job Was The BEST Thing That Could Happen to Her

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 Melissa Ben-Ishay:

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:

Lisa Sugar – How a Blogging Side Hustle Turned into POPSUGAR, a Multi-Million Dollar Media 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 Lisa Sugar:

Carrie Tice – From Corporate to Cannabis and Known as The “Mary Kay of Marijuana”

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 Carrie Tice:

9 Game-Changing Tips for Women Entrepreneurs in 2014

Strategy & Consulting

Recent Blog Posts

We’d Love to Connect!