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Emily Groden – How Watching a Netflix Food Show Led This Attorney Away From The Courtroom & Into The Kitchen

January 20, 2021 | By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

Emily Groden on She's Got Moxie with Joy Chudacoff

My guest today, Emily Groden, Founder & CEO of Evergreen, typically worked late at her law office in Chicago most nights, however, one evening she found herself at home watching a food show on Netflix.

What happened next changed the entire course of her career…and it involved sending a “cold” email to someone.

Fast forward to today, Evergreen, launched in early March 2020, in the midst of the pandemic, and is now in more than 49 Whole Foods locations in the Midwest, as well as many other Midwest stores.

On today’s show, Emily tells us all about her emotional journey of being in a start-up, why she started to distrust processed food, and how the show Chef’s Table changed her life. She talks about the importance of endurance, how her professional swimming background helped her in her life, 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 feel really lucky to have worked in a start-up environment prior to starting Evergreen myself.” – Emily Groden

Show Notes:

  • The story of how a late night “COLD” email changed her career trajectory
  • Why you should pay attention to CLUES (she had them along the way but ignored them)
  • The QUESTION you need to ask yourself before every business move
  • The story of the LAUNCH moment (a paper bag, paper plates, utensils and her toaster)
  • The QUICK decision she made when ALL Manufacturers said “NO”
  • Simple, NO-COST Tips on gaining Brand Awareness in a Start-up
  • How she gets through the really tough days – she shares the “Emotional Journey U”
  • Her Best ADVICE on just getting started (it involves a homemade jam story)

Building a start-up business is not a sprint, is a marathon.” – Emily Groden

Connect with Emily Groden:

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Evergreen

Define your principles on day one and then stick to them.” – Emily Groden

Jean Freeman – CEO of Zambezi & One of the Biggest Female-Owned Businesses in Los Angeles

December 2, 2020 | By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

Jean Freeman on She's Got Moxie with Joy ChudacoffJean Freeman is at the helm of one of the largest certified female-owned advertising agencies AND one of the biggest female-owned businesses in Los Angeles.

Jean has turned Zambezi into a thriving advertising agency with a revenue of projected 75 million dollars. She’s also become a leading advocate for the advancement of women in business.

On today’s show, Jean is going to share what being a CEO in a busy city like LA really means, her best productivity tips, how she manages a growing business while being a mom to two children under the age of 13, the importance of creating a sustainable business, and her criteria for decision-making in her business. She also talks about her business experience with NBA legend Kobe Bryant and the moment she was named a “Working Mother of the Year” by She Runs It!

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

In women’s entrepreneurship, we get to rewrite the rules of entrepreneurs.” – Jean Freeman

Show Notes:

  • Her business partnership with NBA legend Kobe Bryant
  • Why Corporate America does not support the needs of women in the workforce
  • How entrepreneurship runs in Jean’s family and what she has learned
  • The moment she recognized she was on to something with Zambezi
  • The benefits that come about when kids see their parents working
  • Tips on creating a sustainable business
  • The BEST strategy is always Actionable
  • Her advice on decision-making
  • Why Alignment is important in all aspects of business
  • And much, much moree

You are going to make some wrong calls, but that is ok, I think it’s more about how you respond to wrong calls.” – Jean Freeman

Connect with Jean Freeman:

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Zambezi

Align yourself properly with the types of businesses that will be long-term partners.” – Jean Freeman

Cindy Eckert – Creator of “The Little Pink Pill” (Female Viagra) and Selling Her Company For 1 Billion Dollars

November 11, 2020 | By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

Cindy Eckert on She's Got Moxie with Joy Chudacoff

When she realized that there were 26 medications for men’s pleasure and not one single solution for women, my guest Cindy Eckert, thought “this is Ridiculous!”

Cindy set out to create “the little pink pill” (currently the #1 prescribed treatment for low sexual desire in women).

Cindy is the true definition of what I call “moxie.” Not only is she the creator of the pink pill and the founder of The Pink Ceiling, but she has also built and sold two pharmaceutical companies (including Sprout Pharmaceuticals, which she sold for more than $1 BILLION – yes, that’s a B, Ladies).

Called by Fortune as a “tireless force of nature,” Cindy lets us in on some intimate details of her life and entrepreneurial path. She talks about her unique upbringing, how she worked to overcome the stigma around women’s pleasure while creating the Pink Pill, her tip to taking advantage of life’s opportunities, her thoughts on the pandemic, and more.

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

26 medications for men and not a single one for women is ridiculous.” – Cindy Eckert

Show Notes:

  • How Cindy went from a Corporate Career to a Block Buster Success as an Entrepreneur
  • Why it’s essential to do what “Lights up your Soul” (it wasn’t about MONEY for Cindy)
  • The moment Cindy realized she had an opportunity to develop the first pharmaceutical product for women’s SEXUAL pleasure
  • How 2020 has RESET the entrepreneurial landscape for women – in a GOOD Way!
  • Why it’s important to be SPECIFIC in your biz contracts and how that one piece catapulted her to a whole new level in advocating for women
  • Where Success truly ORIGINATES from
  • Details on both The Pink Ceiling & The Pinkubator and how they are helping women elevate their entrepreneurial dreams
  • The most important mindset that Cindy has adopted in order to accelerate her journey as a woman in business

Success does not come from having all of the answers, it comes from having the courage.” – Cindy Eckert

Connect with Cindy Eckert:

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | The Pink Ceiling

Relentlessness is just the belief that you can get back up and you can find the way.” – Cindy Eckert

Kerrigan Behrens – From Wall Street to CBD with the Co-Founder of Sagely Naturals

October 21, 2020 | By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

Kerrigan Behrens on She's Got Moxie with Joy Chudacoff

My guest today, Kerrigan Behrens, co-founder of the CBD company, Sagely Naturals, shares her entrepreneurial journey from finance to CBD.

Kerrigan started her career in the financial market on Wall Street. Around this time, she developed persistent back pain that doctors couldn’t seem to diagnose. A friend told her about CBD and she became interested in trying it for pain relief. At first she doubted that CBD would be able to help her, but after trying some CBD honey (and feeling pain relief within 30-minutes), she changed her mind. The experience led Kerrigan to leave her career on Wall Street and embrace entrepreneurship and co-found Sagely Naturals.

On today’s show, Kerrigan shares how she and her co-founder bootstrapped their business with only 30k and how they made their business profitable in just 6 months. She shares the difference between CBD and THC, the medicinal benefits of CBD, and the first steps to create an approachable consumer brand, the importance of resilience, and much more.

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

We knew before we even started the company that there was a market for it.” – Kerrigan Behrens

Show Notes:

  • The FIRST step to create an approachable consumer brand
  • How she took the pain she was having and turned it into a passion
  • How she and her co-founder bootstrapped the business with 30K and made a PROFIT in just 6 months
  • She’s got Big INFLUENCERS like Cameron Diaz and Zoe Saldana loving the product
  • She realized that CBD needed a MAKEOVER and she was excited to take that on
  • The difference between CBD and THC
  • How Kerrigan took advantage of starting a company in Los Angeles
  • How they became the Top SELLING CBD Topical product in the country (they are in over 12,000 retail outlets now)
  • The key characteristics that have gotten Kerrigan through challenging times (while giving birth to her first child during the pandemic)
  • We talk a lot about the BEST Books we’ve read – the ones that are “real changemakers”
  • And much, much more…

For every success there are multiple failures.” – Kerrigan Behrens

Connect with Kerrigan Behrens:

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Sagely Naturals

Perfection is just not possible, so live with that realization and just take steps to make progress as you go.” – Kerrigan Behrens

Mikaila Ulmer – CEO & Founder of Me & The Bees Lemonade (She’s Celebrating a Decade in Business and She’s Only 15)

October 14, 2020 | By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

Mikaila Ulmer on She's Got Moxie

My guest today, Mikaila Ulmer, is back for interview #2! She was originally on the show back in August 2018. This is a special year for Mikaila because she is not only celebrating a decade in business but she’s also published her first book, Bee Fearless: Dream Like a Kid!

With her very positive “can-do” attitude, Mikaila tells us how getting stung by a bee twice in one week, led her on a journey to understand the importance of bees to the environment. Ultimately, this became the gateway for her to enter her lemonade into a local business fair. (Today, Me & the Bees Lemonade is sold in over 1,500 stores nationwide!)

She also shares her Shark Tank experience, as well as the moment she had to understand the legal side of entrepreneurship and the impact it can have on your brand.

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

Create a product that appeals to the most people, you can’t please everyone, so don’t try. Stay true to your mission and focus on helping your mission.” – Mikaila Ulmer

Show Notes:

  • How showcasing her lemonade in a local business fair when she was 4-years-old led to having her lemonade in over 1,500 stores today
  • Her simple, easy, first steps to get the word out about Me & the Bees Lemonade
  • She reminds us to always be minding our ABC’s! (Always Be Curious) This ONE attribute got her into her first restaurant.
  • What it was like to be a contestant on Shark Tank (her parents initially said NO when she was offered a spot) but her persistence paid off!
  • The importance of a hand-written “Thank You” note
  • Her “Face on the Bottle” moment and how that impacted her brand
  • What it’s like to be in online school during the pandemic while running a business
  • Understanding the “legal” side of entrepreneurship came early (she was only 8-years-old) and the important lesson she learned. “Lose the battle. Win the War.”

It’s not just about the products you sell, but the stories you tell.” – Mikaila Ulmer

Connect with Mikaila Ulmer:

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Me & the Bees

Don’t be discouraged by life’s little stings, get back up and spread your wings!” – Mikaila Ulmer

Lizanne Falsetto – Founder of thinkThin®, Pink Talented Angels, and a World Renowned Pioneer in the Health & Wellness Industry

October 7, 2020 | By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

Lizanne FalsettoLizanne Falsetto, Founder & Former CEO of thinkThin® is back! She was a guest on the show in 2018 and a lot has happened in the last two years! Lizanne sold her company for 217M (yep, million) so you’ll want to listen-in to all of her many gold nuggets in this episode!

Lizanne is a world-renowned pioneer in the health & wellness retail food space. Throughout her 20 year run with thinkThin®, she initiated the “gluten-free” conversation and developed the first high protein/sugar free product in that category. Lizanne has consistently been ahead of the times in identifying market and industry trends.

On today’s episode of ‘She’s Got Moxie’, Lizanne talks about her new organization, Pink Talented Angels (PTA) and how to find opportunities in a crisis, the importance of meditation, her tips to combining the emotional, mental and physical parts of your life to reach success, and much more.

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

The best brands really come from the authenticity of how they started.” – Lizanne Falsetto

Show Notes:

  • The most important QUESTION to ask yourself if you’re ready to scale (she should know; she sold her company for 217M)
  • How she got the idea to start thinkThin (it was based out of her own NEED)
  • The MOMENT she knew it was time to sell
  • Her BEST ADAVICE for women who are looking to build a business with the goal of selling
  • The brand new organization she has started to support WOMEN entrepreneurs
  • HOW to Build a Solid Brand During the Pandemic
  • Why Your STORY Matters so much, especially NOW
  • Advice she hears in the start-up arena that she DOES NOT agree with
  • Why EMOTIONS are good for decision-making
  • How she gets through the really TOUGH Days – PURE GOLD
  • The #1 ingredient you need to become a Strong LEADER
  • The advice she wished she would have had before that first trip to Tokyo as a model

When you run a career for 25 years, you make a lot of mistakes, and the best way to teach, is by giving the entrepreneur the messaging of what you did wrong.” – Lizanne Falsetto

Connect with Lizanne Falsetto:

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Lizanne Falsetto

You can stand in your feminine power as a female and still be heard.” – Lizanne Falsetto

Emily Raiber – Media Expert & Entrepreneur on Using Social Media to Enhance Your Business

September 16, 2020 | By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

Emily Raiber on She's Moxie with Joy Chudacoff

Emily Raiber, Founder & CEO of Emily Raiber Media, is an award-winning media professional with over a decade of experience producing television programming and content in both news and entertainment. She has worked with NBC, CNN, and FOX. As an experienced television professional, she has produced national, cable, live, local, and broadcast network programs.

She decided to hang her hat in the entrepreneurial arena and use her genius to help entrepreneurs expand their brand using the power of social media.

On today’s show, Emily shares that even though she worked for some of the most powerful networks in New York, she knew entrepreneurship was in her future. She also talks about how she harnessed the power of Instagram early on, her thoughts on the TikTok app, tips on how to get more attention on Instagram, advice for pricing your services, the importance of finding your team 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!

If you are doing a little bit on all of those channels and really not succeeding in any of them, you need to scale back and concentrate in one that will give you results.” – Emily Raiber

Show Notes:

  • How to use social media to ENHANCE your business
  • Her best advice on where to FOCUS your energy when it comes to social media – PRICELESS!
  • Her thoughts on WHY it’s Essential to price your products and services well
  • The BEST social media platform to use for your business
  • Her 4 TOP TIPS to attract attention and gain followers on Instagram
  • How and why HASHTAGS are key
  • Her advice on what to do when you feel like giving up – PURE GOLD!
  • The challenges working mothers are facing trying to run a business while NAVIGATING online school for kids
  • The SILVER Lining she has discovered in 2020

A lot of things will come up and you have to move on from them very quickly and bounce back.” – Emily Raiber

Connect with Emily Raiber:

 Instagram | Emily Raiber Media

You have to find your joy and you have to be present for your family.” – Emily Raiber

Bethany McDaniel – Launching a Business With Just $250 – CEO & Founder of Primally Pure

September 9, 2020 | By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

Bethany McDaniel on She's Got Moxie with Joy ChudacoffAfter struggling with acne and skin sensitivity as a teenager, my guest Bethany McDaniel, CEO & Founder of Primally Pure decided to dive deep into the power of real food & natural ingredients. In her deep research and self-education process, she uncovered the knowledge that there were a lot of toxic ingredients found in deodorant which led her on a journey to make her own. She found something that worked for her but unfortunately, her hubby wasn’t too excited to try it so she had to get busy and find another way to win him over. This is when Primally Pure, was born.

On this episode, Bethany talks about how she started her business with only $250, as well as her deodorant tube disaster of 2017 – which was a good reminder of the ebb & flow of entrepreneurial life. Bethany also talks about her best action steps, how contacting influencers helped her grow her business, 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’m a firm believer that you can do so much with very little.” – Bethany McDaniel

Show Notes:

  • How her early days as a staff WRITER got her thinking about owning her own biz
  • WHY she chose Deodorant as her first product (Her hubby wasn’t too excited)
  • How a $250 purchase got the ball ROLLING to a multi-million dollar company
  • The #1 ingredient to her early success (I love the SIMPLICITY of this)
  • How her LEADERSHIP has changed from the early days
  • The 2017 Deodorant Tube DISASTER that taught her an important life lesson
  • The Business ADVICE she hears that she absolutely does not agree with

Knowing what it is to be an entrepreneur, there are always going to be struggles and things rarely go as planned.” – Bethany McDaniel

Connect with Bethany McDaniel:

Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Primally Pure

It’s like this puzzle that you constantly have to tweak and figure it out all the time.” – Bethany McDaniel

LaDawn Townsend – Strategic Advisor & CEO of The VOS Group

September 2, 2020 | By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

LaDawn Townsend on She's Got Moxie with Joy Chudacoff

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

Marilyn O’Toole – Demystifying The College Application Process

July 22, 2020 | By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

Marilyn O'Toole on She's Got Moxie with Joy Chudacoff

I’m thrilled to have Marilyn O’Toole, CEP (Certified Educational Planner) & Founder of The College Consortium, as my guest on today’s show.

Marilyn is an Independent Educational Consultant and College Counselor. Marilyn has been a Site Coordinator for Johns Hopkins University, Center for Talented Youth since 2005 and has been the keynote speaker at Johns Hopkins University CTY “Pathways to College” programs at UC Berkeley, UCLA, Pomona College, University of San Francisco, and University of San Diego.

In other words, she knows what she’s talking about when it comes to preparing high school students for college.

On today’s episode, Marilyn demystifies the confusing college process and shares a ton of free resources with us. Marilyn and I also talk about the changes and challenges that high school students will experience while applying for colleges during the pandemic, the importance of a powerful essay, the factors that colleges consider impressive in an application during this time, and much more.

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

If you really love the school, be able to express that on and in your essay.” – Marilyn O’Toole

Show Notes:

  • A fresh new look at the college application process for students in 2021 & beyond
  • The silver lining that has taken place for students during the Pandemic
  • Critical questions parents need answers to before dropping their kids on campus this fall
  • What colleges will be focused on NOW when reviewing applications
  • A plethora of FREE Resources to help students to do virtual tours and apply to colleges
  • How to use the quarantine period to your advantage as a college-bound senior
  • Why SAT and ACT scores are no longer required for many colleges & what Marilyn thinks about this
  • Insights on how the Pandemic has changed the learning “experience” for students
  • The near future for Community Colleges – great food for thought here…
  • A personal story Marilyn shares about her own experience being a parent of a child headed to college

One of the problems that community colleges are going to experience is the quantity of people enrolling and the limited budget that we have regionally on state, local or in the city.” – Marilyn O’Toole

Connect with Marilyn O’Toole:

Facebook | LinkedIn | The College Consortium

I always suggest to students – do your research.” – Marilyn O’Toole

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