Christina Stembel, Founder/CEO, Farmgirl Flowers – A $30 Million Business Started with $49,000 in Savings

August 21, 2019 | By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

You do not want to miss this interview.

Originally from Indiana, Christina Stembel found herself in Silicon Valley where it seemed everyone was an entrepreneur. It was while investigating why flowers are so expensive for her employer at the time, Christina started to see potential big bucks in the flower industry. No college degree but she did have 49K in savings and that’s how Farmgirl Flowers was planted firmly in the ground.

Christina shares all of her tips and transparent insights on how she grew Farmgirl Flowers from nothing to an estimated projected 30M this year. She talks about her grassroots marketing that has grown the company, why and how to get started without investor money, and much more.

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

I wanted to take an industry and be either the first innovator or the first one doing it a completely different way.” – Christina Stembel

Show Notes:

CURIOSITY does not kill the cat; This is how Christina started out
The SURPRISING thing that happened when she was down to her last $411
Smart, Simple, Effective Tips for Grass Roots MARKETING – Truly Brilliant
The Two Most ESSENTIAL Skills You Must Develop if You Want to Grow and Scale
Bank and credit card tips for FUNDING your business
Why women should STOP waiting for investor money in most cases
How she reacted when someone told her to STUNT her Growth and “wait for the industry to catch up to her”

I wanted to test the market. I did not want to give up a decade of my life for something that was never going to work.” – Christina Stembel

Connect with Christina Stembel:

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Farmgirl Flowers

I pivot all the time. We listen to our customers.” – Christina Stembel

Amy Nelson – CEO/Founder, The Riveter, Coworking Spaces Built By Women for Everyone

March 13, 2019 | By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

Amy Nelson up and left her corporate job (while pregnant with her THIRD daughter) for the entrepreneurial life and came up with the idea for The Riveter, a rapidly growing co-working space company with design and membership focused on women, but open to everyone.

Amy launched The Riveter in 2017 and the brand is experiencing rapid fire growth with locations popping up almost every day in metropolitan cities across the US. The Riveter’s growth has outpaced even WeWork’s first years and The Riveter recently closed a $15 million Series A Funding Round led by Alpha Edison.

You’ll absolutely love Amy’s energy and enthusiasm as she dives into how she transitioned from a successful career in law (including work with President Obama’s National Finance Committee and President Carter’s, The Carter Center) to launching The Riveter, how being a mom has made her a BETTER entrepreneur, her best productivity tips and more.

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

What I tend to do is really lean into the fact that I am a mother, rather than lean out of it.” – Amy Nelson

Show Notes:

Why she left a cozy corporate job while pregnant with her third daughter to launch The Riveter
How becoming a Mom changed her viewpoint on women & career opportunities
The FIRST Step she took to get started after she came up with the idea for The Riveter
The Event that PUSHED her to take the FINAL Leap
Why coworking spaces are becoming wildly popular
The SMARTEST MOVE Amy made when starting The Riveter (it’s not what you think I promise you)
WHY Collaboration is the ‘secret sauce’ to her early success
Her BIGGEST Challenge ( this is pure Gold)
What she did when someone advised her to HIDE HER PREGNANCY while fundraising
Why ASKING For Help is a muscle more women need to flex
How she manages her day while being CEO of a fast-paced growth company and raising soon-to-be four daughters
Her Go-To Apps to stay sane
What she did instead of giving up when it all seemed like too much
The advice she hears about being in startup mode that she DOES NOT agree with
And much much more

I think the more we have women building companies to make women’s lives better, the better our lives will be. And that is super exciting!” – Amy Nelson

Connect with Amy Nelson:

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | The Riveter | LinkedIn

The hardest thing is to just keep going at every turn when it gets hard, when it feels impossible, when people tell you that you can’t. And so much of it is just continuing to walk forward.” – Amy Nelson

Jesse Draper – From Talk Show Host to Investing in Women-Owned Businesses Through Halogen Ventures

December 5, 2018 | By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

When Jesse Draper created and began hosting the 2015 Emmy nominated television series, The Valley Girl Show, she discovered something interesting; it wasn’t easy to find women in business to interview!

This ‘discovery’ ultimately led Jesse to found Halogen Ventures, an early stage venture capital fund focused on female-founded consumer technologies.

Currently, Halogen Ventures, has made some great picks with theSkimm, Carbon 38, Sugarfina, and Hop Skip Drive as part of their portfolio, to name a few.

Listed by Marie Claire as one of the “50 Most Connected Women in America,” Jesse talks networking, investor pitching tips and why the childcare industry needs a makeover.

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

If it is not fulfilling one of my priorities for that particular day or week, I have to re-prioritize.” – Jesse Draper

Show Notes:

HOW being the creator and host of “The Valley Girl Show” illuminated some startling stats on women in business
The 3 ‘ingredients’ she looks for in a company when making an investment decision
WHY she Loves it when she doesn’t understand something
Her BEST Tips on pitching your idea to investors
The real truth about Networking
Why Perfection is a deal killer
COLD emails are not dead – Jesse has proof
How she kept going after hearing 110 NO’S
How she stays PRODUCTIVE as a mom of two under the age of 4 while running a fast-paced business
Jesse’s ideas for Bulldozing the CHILDCARE industry in America
Why networking HAS NOT gone out of style
Why being “uncomfortable” is the best place to be
And much, much more

Get out there and do it. Meet as many people as you can, and send cold emails.” – Jesse Draper

Connect with Jesse Draper:

Twitter | Instagram | Lady Bosses Podcast | Halogen Ventures | Facebook

Do something that makes you uncomfortable every day.” – Jesse Draper

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

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

Mikaila Ulmer – CEO of Me & The Bees Lemonade – Turning a Bee Sting Into a Business (Oh, and by the way, she’s 13 years old!)

August 22, 2018 | By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

My guest today, Mikaila Ulmer, is probably one of the youngest entrepreneurs you’ve ever heard of. When she was just four years old, she was stung not once, but twice, in one week. What happened after the bee sting is nothing short of miraculous.

Mikaila’s parents were determined to take this bee sting experience and turn it into a positive, so they encouraged Mikaila to do some research on bees. And rest, as they say, is history.

Armed with her Great Granny Helen’s lemonade recipe, this 13 year-old CEO (yes, she’s 13) has taken the lemonade world by storm.

This year alone, Me & The Bees Lemonade, has sold over 360,000 bottles of their four flavors of lemonade in 28 states.

She’s been on Shark Tank and is a regular texting friend of Daymond John. Her advice is powerful and timely and I promise, you will forget that you’re listening to a 13 year-old. Her words of advice are simple, yet spot on for what it takes to succeed in today’s market.

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

You should start small. And that is really important so you know that your customers want the product and that they’re going to go out there and purchase it.” – Mikaila Ulmer

Show Notes:

What happened after she got stung twice by two bees in a week – this was the beginning of Me & The Bees Lemonade
The importance of just getting out there and doing it – start small
How she snagged a spot on SHARK TANK
How she navigates school, homework, hanging with friends and running a company
Her incredible Superpower – this was pure gold and you will see the simple but powerful message in this
How Mikaila has used her business to help SAVE THE BEES
And much, much more

I kind of initially started to get this toy that I wanted, but I decided to keep on going, and that’s how I got to where I am now.” – Mikaila Ulmer

Connect with Mikaila Ulmer:

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Me & the Bees Lemonade

Find your passion or a cause that you can use your company to help save, or to do good as well as make a profit.” – Mikaila Ulmer

Edith Dorsen – Founder of the Women’s Venture Capital Fund – Getting Funding Into The Hands of More Women Entrepreneurs

August 15, 2018 | By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

FACT: 95% of venture capital is granted to companies where senior leadership does not include any women.

My guest today, Edith Dorsen, along with her partner, got mad and then they got busy taking action to change this statistic.

On today’s show, Edith talks about how she started this business, tips for the best pitch, the most challenging moment in her career so far, and more.

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

The singular most important thing to execute on a good idea is having a core team around you because no successful company is built on the back of a single individual.” – Edith Dorsen

Show Notes:

How many “pitches” VC’s hear before choosing ONE
HOW to make your entrepreneurial idea more “Venture Worth”
The MOST important ingredient for a successful pitch (HINT: it’s not the Big Idea)
The UPS & DOWNS of dealing with partnerships and GREAT advice for those seeking partners
The most CHALLENGING MOMENT in her career thus far
Typical advice that a lot of startups are given that she doesn’t agree with
What type of entrepreneurs work with the Women’s Venture Capital Fund
Her BEST Book Recommendation
And much, much more

When you build companies that include a diverse senior leadership, you’re building stronger companies that perform better.” – Edith Dorsen

Connect with Edith Dorsen:

LinkedIn | WomensVCFund II

The decisions need to be weighed properly and probably made more slowly before you make a commitment that takes a long time to unwind if it’s not the right one.” – Edith Dorsen

Julie Deane (Part 2 of 2) – She Took Less Than $1000 and Turned it Into Millions (in 5 years) With the Idea for What Would Become The Cambridge Satchel Company

May 30, 2018 | By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

Last week’s Episode with Julie Deane, Founder and CEO of Cambridge Satchel, was spilling over with entrepreneurial gold and wisdom from a woman who owns every aspect of what it takes to build a multi-million dollar empire.

This week’s Episode (Part 2 of 2), Julie opens up even deeper and reveals how she managed being in “survival mode” trying to keep a company afloat, dissolving a marriage and staying present for two teenage children.

Julie and I talk deeply about feminine energy and how different “energies” are playing a role in a woman’s life – both at home and at work. We also look at what I call “the unconscious emotional triggers” and how this can be a major trap that women fall into.

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

If I don’t take those opportunities now, they might not come again. They might not come again when I’ve decided, ‘Oh maybe I’m brave enough now.’ So grab it when it comes.” – Julie Deane

Show Notes:

The one simple QUESTION that stumped Julie when she found herself in “survival mode”
WHY she finally decided to embrace her “inner goddess”
The moment Julie knew it was time to “get back to basics” and let go of her EGO – this is GENIUS & not to be missed if you’re serious about growing a company that has staying power
The classic MISTAKE Julie sees women entrepreneurs making over & over again – BEST Learning moment for sure
The ONE thing you must have when you are PITCHING your idea to persuade others to pull out their checkbooks to fund your BIG idea
Julie’s adventures in online dating and how “Grace” was born (funny & hilarious, Julie describes in detail her encounter with a French/Latin dinner date)
And much, much more…

I either don’t care about something because it is not important, or I really care about something because it is important. And there isn’t a middle ground.” – Julie Deane

Connect with Julie Deane:

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | The Cambridge Satchel Company

You don’t want to be a business person in all aspects of your life, because actually that becomes deeply unattractive.” – Julie Deane

Tami Halton Pardee – Founder & CEO of the #1 Leading Sales Team in Los Angeles, Selling Over 3 Billion Dollars in Real Estate

April 25, 2018 | By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

Tami Halton Pardee has broken all residential sales records in LA, selling over $3 billion in residential real estate since 2005 despite a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis
and raising four children.

As Founder & CEO of Halton Pardee + Partners, Inc., Tami has built a concierge real estate company that understands the life-changing decisions that come with buying a home.

Apart from being a leader in the real estate industry, Tami founded a philanthropic project called the Life Change Warriors program, and it recently surpassed $1 million in community donations.

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

Time is really the only asset that you can never get back, and I think it is even more valuable than money.” – Tami Halton Pardee

Show Notes:

Tami’s 20 Minute Rule – a business game changer
The incident that turned Tami from an “aggressive leader” to one of gratitude and love
Why the simple act of following up can make the biggest difference
Why she DANCES ON A LIFEGUARD STAND every single morning
Tips to cultivating her “work family” company culture
The acronym that her Team lives by
Why “SLEEPING ON IT” is key
Her Biggest Challenge
What Tami loves to do when she travels – this will surprise you
Why you have to get comfortable with being uncomfortable
The success of her Life Change Warriors philanthropy project
How relationships have been absolutely VITAL to Tami’s business
And much, much more

Why not plan our life on purpose? We plan our vacations, we plan all these things, but we don’t plan our life.” – Tami Halton Pardee

Connect with Tami Halton Pardee:

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Life Change Warriors | Halton Pardee + Partners

The most important thing is actually living in the moment when you’re working and making the work be joyful.” – Tami Halton Pardee

Anna Zornosa – How a Humorous (& compromising!) Department Store Dressing Room Experience Led Anna to Birth Ruby Ribbon

April 18, 2018 | By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

My guest today, Anna Zornosa, knew she had to do something after a disastrous experience in a dressing room that left her in a very compromised position – literally.

Known as a serial entrepreneur, Anna became the founder and CEO of Ruby Ribbon, a social selling shapewear company dedicated to helping women feel good and look good while also offering a great side hustle for income.

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

I give myself a list so that I can surrender to the doing of the list when there is a lot of noise in my own head about what the next step is.” – Anna Zornosa

Show Notes:

Why Anna decided to use social selling to get the word out about Ruby Ribbon
How she came up with the name Ruby Ribbon
How women really feel about shapewear
Why it’s critical to understand the needs of your CORE CUSTOMER
The moment she knew she was on to something – there were tears of Joy!
The two things that make a woman in business Unstoppable
Her Biggest Challenge – she was blind-sided by this one!
Her BEST advice for when you feel like giving up
The most important first step you should take when thinking about starting a business
And much, much more!

I believe that confidence is critical for women in so many different ways.” – Anna Zornosa

Connect with Anna Zornosa:

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | RUBY RIBBON

How do you create an army that’s able to connect with the customer and offer her personal service? It’s going to have to be a completely different retail channel because no retail channel today can actually do it.” – Anna Zornosa

Christina Stembel, Founder/CEO, Farmgirl Flowers – A $30 Million Business Started with $49,000 in Savings

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 Christina Stembel:

Amy Nelson – CEO/Founder, The Riveter, Coworking Spaces Built By Women for Everyone

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 Amy Nelson:

Jesse Draper – From Talk Show Host to Investing in Women-Owned Businesses Through Halogen Ventures

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 Jesse Draper:

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:

Mikaila Ulmer – CEO of Me & The Bees Lemonade – Turning a Bee Sting Into a Business (Oh, and by the way, she’s 13 years old!)

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 Mikaila Ulmer:

Edith Dorsen – Founder of the Women’s Venture Capital Fund – Getting Funding Into The Hands of More Women Entrepreneurs

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 Edith Dorsen:

Julie Deane (Part 2 of 2) – She Took Less Than $1000 and Turned it Into Millions (in 5 years) With the Idea for What Would Become The Cambridge Satchel 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 Julie Deane:

Tami Halton Pardee – Founder & CEO of the #1 Leading Sales Team in Los Angeles, Selling Over 3 Billion Dollars in Real Estate

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 Tami Halton Pardee:

Strategy & Consulting

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