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Smart Women Smart Solutions

With Joy Chudacoff, Leading Expert on Business Success and Lifestyle Design For Women

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

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Gail Schenbaum on She's Got Moxie with Joy ChudacoffThis 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

Lori Caden – Belly Bandit Co-Founder and Entrepreneurial Powerhouse Creating Solutions for Women

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Lori Caden on She's Got Moxie with Joy Chudacoff

After a difficult moment in the cat litter aisle at Target that sent her running from the store, my guest Lori Caden, came to the conclusion that there had to be an easier way to look and feel better after childbirth.

Along with the collaboration of her two sisters, Lori co-founded their company, Belly Bandit, in 2008 and revolutionized the maternity world by introducing the first doctor-recommended, postpartum compression wrap. The Belly Bandit has had a major thumbs by Hollywood moms including Halle Berry, Jessica Alba and Kourtney Kardashian.

She’s full of energy and enthusiasm and additional new clothing lines, such as “Mother Tucker” are available online and also at Neiman Marcus.

 

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

All of our products are solution-based products.” – Lori Caden

Show Notes:

  • Lori’s embarrassing moment in Target that started the idea for Belly Bandit
  • How she got some early traction from major celebrity moms
  • The “old-school” marketing technique that put them on the map and helped them get noticed
  • The VERTICAL MARKET that Lori never expected to go into
  • How her new line, “Mother Tucker” shapewear came about
  • What it is like to be in business with her SISTERS
  • The 3 questions she asks herself before she says “yes!” to a new idea
  • And much, much more

Don’t be scared to ask for help to get to the next level.” – Lori Caden

Connect with Lori Caden:

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Belly Bandit

As soon as people started asking for it, we would cut and sew these samples and hand them out.” – Lori Caden

An opportunity of a lifetime. Nearly LOST.

| By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

Recently, someone I care deeply about, nearly missed an opportunity that COULD affect their potential future. You know what the error was? Lack of follow-up. Follow-up is something that anyone can do. It doesn’t matter how much (or how little) education you have, it doesn’t discriminate, and it levels the playing field.

Here’s another (deeper) reason I think people don’t follow-up: Fear of failure, Fear of the word No. “If I don’t follow-up, I’ll be spared the feeling of rejection.”

You didn’t start your business solely to make a lot of money. I know this because 100% of the women I work with and host on my podcast comment that it’s never about the money—it’s about solving a problem or filling an unmet need. Your highest contribution, in part, is bringing your creative ideas to the world.

I have never achieved Big LEAPS in my business from social media or just sitting at my desk staring into my laptop. The big income leaps (think 25% – 50%) have been born out of networking and cultivating collaborative relationships with people who embrace your genius, your highest contribution.

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Ellie Kanner and Lisa Solomon – Creating Their Own Game Plan

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Rainy afternoons can be challenging for moms with small children. Ellie Kanner was dealing with a rainy afternoon trying to keep her boys occupied when she got a BIG Idea. That’s when she immediately called her friend Lisa Solomon.

Ellie Kanner and Lisa Solomon met through their pre-school-aged boys, and later they came up with the idea to create The Game Plan Game, a game that helps children ponder the bigger questions in life.

Ellie is a renowned leader in the entertainment industry working as a talent agent, casting director, producer and director. She was responsible for casting the television pilots for “Friends,” “Sex and the City,” “Drew Carey,” along with a long list of other films that are household names. Recently, Ellie directed all 10 episodes of the short film series “Dropping the Soap” (for which Jane Lynch won an EMMY).

Meanwhile, Lisa is currently the Regional Manager for Los Angeles at Common Sense Media, the leading independent nonprofit organization dedicated to helping kids thrive in a world of media and technology. Prior to working with Common Sense, Lisa was a television producer with both CNN and CNBC Asia, based in Hong Kong. She started her career working for Nightline at ABC News.

They join me on today’s show to give some amazing tips about working together as co-founders, how they pulled off this project on top of their busy lives, and more.

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

We’ve had our moments when one of us may be down and another one may be up, and that’s the joy of our partnership.” – Lisa Solomon

Show Notes:

  • ONE essential you need on board to prevent you from giving up when you feel like throwing in the towel
  • Tips on how to make time to work on your passion project when you have super busy careers and a family
  • The SECRET to having a successful business partner
  • How to use “time cracks” to maximize your productivity
  • The ironic business advice that helped immensely
  • Important information to know before taking on a business partner
  • and MORE!

We knew what we wanted to do, but we didn’t know how to do it. And then at some point, you have to sort of take of breath and say ‘ok, what is the goal? What is the mission? What is the game plan?’, and that really helped us when we figured that out.” – Ellie Kanner

Connect with Ellie & Lisa:

Ellie Kanner | Lisa Solomon | The Game Plan Game

You may have 10 minutes in the car or 30 minutes between dinner and whatever you’re doing, and just really take advantage of those and think about what you can do in those time cracks to be more productive.” – Lisa Solomon

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

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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

‘She’s Got Moxie’ Podcast – Here’s The BEST of 2018…

| By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

I hope your holidays have been filled with magical moments. At this time of year, I find myself gravitating to content with the headline “the BEST of.” Whether it’s recipes, restaurants, wine or business, I enjoy consuming the BEST of everything.

That’s why I wanted to share The BEST of my ‘She’s Got Moxie’ podcast for 2018. Below you’ll find The TOP 10 Most Listened to Podcasts this year. Go here and listen now.

The holidays are the perfect time to catch up on all the wisdom and brilliance my guests share on the show. This will give you a chance to make some notes and add their genius tips to your business planning for 2019. I’m a bit of a podcast junkie so I find time to listen when I’m cooking, baking, wrapping gifts or walking my dog.

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

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Jesse Draper on She's Got Moxie with Joy Chudacoff

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

7 Business Essentials for Explosive Growth in 2019

| By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

You will cross the threshold to 2019 in less than 90 days.

Is your business ready?

Right now, you’re probably hard at work on accomplishing all the goals you set for yourself in 2018. And, you’re also probably beginning to ask yourself: “What changes or course-corrections do I need to make in order to start 2019 on a path to faster profits serving my treasured clients and customers?”

Your business or product is like a vehicle. You, the creator, the founder, are the driver of that vehicle.

On today’s show, I’ll walk you through the 7 Business Essentials for Explosive Business Growth and also how you can “fine tune” your leadership for uber success in 2019.

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

You need to make sure that you’re working in your genius and your highest level of creativity.” – Joy Chudacoff

Show Notes:

  • Simple tips to make sure you are accessing your GENIUS every day
  • The ONE thing you can easily do to bring more profit to your bottom line
  • The BEST strategy for your business
  • The INVISIBLE BLOCKS I see plague many women entrepreneurs and how they hold you back
  • Productivity Rituals to help you be at your best as a leader
  • WHY your business may be ‘satisfactorily underperforming’
  • How to build the team culture of your dreams
  • Your ticket to freedom as an entrepreneur
  • And much much more!

When you give yourself permission to take the time to prepare and plan for that next level of business growth, that next level of leadership, incredible leaps happen almost immediately.” – Joy Chudacoff

Links Mentioned:

It’s about being able to communicate that vision on a day-to-day, week-to-week basis to the people who are in this with you.” – Joy Chudacoff

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

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Edith Dorsen on She's Got Moxie with Joy Chudacoff

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

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