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Alli Webb & Meredith Quill – Hearts Be Still. Meet Becket & Quill Jewelry

March 3, 2021 | By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

She mastered the market when it comes to blowouts & massage! Now she’s back with a new jewelry line and partner in crime!

Serial entrepreneur, Alli Webb (co-founder of Drybar, co-founder of Squeeze) and Meredith Quill joined me on the show to talk about their new venture, Becket + Quill jewelry.

Alli has always looked for “affordable luxury” in business ventures and Becket + Quill fit the bill. Becket + Quill focuses on jewelry that’s “high end, not high spend.”

On today’s show, Alli talks about how she met Meredith and why she decided to get into the jewelry business. Meredith tell us about the moment she fell in love with jewelry for the first time and what it’s like to have a business partner.

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

The beauty of this business is that you can be wearing things that look very expensive, but really aren’t.” – Alli Webb

Show Notes:

  • Alli shares Why Jewelry and Why Now?
  • The #1 ingredient you MUST have to gain a sustainable, LOYAL following
  • What Alli looks for when evaluating a business opportunity
  • Details on their partnership and why opposites attract
  • The moment Meredith discovered that Jewelry was her true passion
  • Alli shares how a direct-to-consumer brand is so different from brick & mortar and the lessons she’s learning
  • How they both handle the “crawl into the fetal position, I’m never coming out” moments as a woman entrepreneur
  • Where they both Find Their Joy
  • Alli’s truth-telling on what it really takes to become a successful brand
  • And much, much more

Listening and being open to other ideas is important.” – Meredith Quill

Connect with Alli Webb & Meredith Quill:

Instagram | Becket + Quill

We have very different skillsets and we’re both very aware of that.” – Alli Webb

Jesse Draper Unplugged – Getting Real About What it Takes to Succeed With The CEO & Founder of Halogen Ventures

February 24, 2021 | By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

Jesse Draper is back for an encore! She was on the podcast back in 2018 and this time I had the pleasure of sharing her wisdom with the members of my private, online membership community, ALIGN online. It was SO good. I’m calling it, “Jesse Draper Unplugged.” She’s just raised $21M to invest in the next generation of female-founded businesses and on this episode, she takes a deep dive with us!

Jesse started her career in the entertainment industry and along the way discovered she had a “superpower” or maybe it was “x-ray vision” when it comes to knowing what it takes to be a winning idea in business. She started focusing on building an early stage venture capital fund focused on female-founded consumer technologies, which led to the creation of Halogen Ventures.

Jesse talks how she found her footing in the venture capital world, her best tips on pitching ideas to investors, the importance of insane optimism, and why you should always ask for feedback.

If you’re looking for investors or bootstrapping, this episode is for you.

You can be what you can see.” – Jesse Draper

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

For women, we are taught to give away money before we are taught to take risk with our money and that’s a problem.” – Jesse Draper

Show Notes:

  • How Jesse went from the entertainment industry to the venture capital world
  • Everyone suffers from Imposter Syndrome and why you need to just keep going
  • Her Insider “SECRETS” on pitching investors – PURE GOLD!
  • Why Jesse decided to focus on female-founders and her perspective on female-founder disruptors
  • 3 Must-Haves she looks for before giving the Green Light
  • The BIGGEST challenge for female founders (and her expert advice on how to overcome it)
  • Why asking for FEEDBACK is key
  • The Type of LEADER you have to become to succeed – BRILLIANT
  • The Essential ingredient to every business (you may be surprised!)

Bootstrap as long as you can.” – Jesse Draper

Connect with Jesse Draper:

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Halogen Ventures

You can’t do anything alone.” – Jesse Draper

Melissa Vitelli – From Fashion Photographer to Co-founder & CEO of Jar Goods

February 17, 2021 | By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

Melissa Vitelli on She's Got Moxie with Joy ChudacoffMy guest, Melissa Vitelli, had a successful career in fashion photography but she found her herself being drawn to the food industry through her hobby of vegetable gardening. She joined together with her sister-in-law Lauren and Jar Goods was born. They initially found success at Farmer’s Markets and this led them directly into the arms of Whole Foods.

On today’s show, Melissa talks about how she and her sister-in-law decided to take her father-in-law’s famous tomato sauce recipe and turn it into a thriving business. She shares how she brought her small side business into grocery stores across the country, some of her most pivotal moments as an entrepreneur, how she’s dealt with the challenges of entrepreneurship and more.

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

People who need quick foods, should not be relegated to low quality.” – Melissa Vitelli

Show Notes:

  • What it was like to move from Fashion photography to the FOOD industry
  • How their decision to go with mom-and-pop stores first before hitting the Big Guns of Whole Foods and AMAZON paid off
  • Why beginning in FARMERS MARKETS was their Golden Ticket
  • WHEN she realized she was on to something with her business
  • The moment she decided to add more flavors to the mix – she shares it’s the key to creating a BRAND Block
  • She’s learned it’s all about being CONSUMER CENTRIC
  • Her experience at the CHOBANI Food Incubator
  • Why Jar Goods decided to try a subscription model
  • Her perspective on why you shouldn’t listen to other people’s ADVICE
  • Where she Finds her Joy
  • And much, much morel

In order to do it, it doesn’t matter what industry, you have to be very risk tolerant.” – Melissa Vitelli

Connect with Melissa Vitelli:

Facebook | Instagram | Jar Goods

The creative juices are not going to flow if you force them.” – Melissa Vitelli

Jennifer Saxton – Founder & CEO, Tot Squad, From Cleaning Dirty Car Seats to Partnering With Walmart and Amazon

February 3, 2021 | By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

Jennifer Saxton on She's Got Moxie with Joy Chudacoff

From cleaning dirty car seats to partnering with Walmart and Amazon, she’s out to revolutionize the Baby Registry Business. It all started with cleaning dirty (Eew..) car seats.

My guest Today, Jennifer Saxton, is zeroed in on the millennial mindset. “They don’t want more ‘stuff,’ they want more help, more experiences.”

With that knowledge, she created Tot Squad, a business that connects parents with the experts they need from pregnancy until early childhood.

It all started with Jennifer driving around in a van cleaning dirty car seats and today, she’s expanded the business locking arms with giants such as Walmart and Amazon.

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

Finding the right people on your team is always the hardest part.” – Jennifer Saxton

Show Notes:

  • How Jennifer honed in on what millennials VALUE Most and created a business around it
  • How she CONVINCED retailers not to take a cut of her profits (Brilliant)
  • How Tot Squad changed, emerged and EXPANDED as Jennifer became a mother
  • Jennifer’s mentality on getting into stores and why that was a WIN-WIN for everyone
  • What it was like for a slice of Tot Squad to get ACQUIRED during the Pandemic
  • The incident that left her on the side of the road IN TEARS
  • How her LEADERSHIP style has evolved
  • Her advice on WHY you should keep your DAY JOB (PURE Gold)
  • The advice she wished she would have had on her FIRST DAY as an entrepreneur

When you’re an entrepreneur you can’t work this hard if you don’t like the people that you work with and you don’t like what you’re doing.” – Jennifer Saxton

Connect with Jennifer Saxton:

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Tot Squad

With my team, I really focus on honing in on what your strengths are.” – Jennifer Saxton

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

Amy Luftig Viste – A Woman’s Perspective on Co-Owning a Winery in Los Angeles

January 13, 2021 | By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

Amy Luftig Viste on She's Got Moxie with Joy ChudacoffAmy Luftig is the co-owner of Angeleno Wine Company in Los Angeles. She began her career in public health, however, after moving west to Los Angeles and volunteering to help a winemaker during a “harvest” she found “love at first sight” (or in this case love at first harvest).

Amy fell head over heels with the day-to-day routine in the vineyard and decided that she should follow her dream. She started with an idea, a passion for vino and along with her partner, turned it into a business.

On today’s episode of She’s Got Moxie, Amy tells us all about her transformative internship experience, the wine history of California, and how she developed her knowledge in wine. She also talks about her journey to co-own the company, her perspective on running a successful Kickstarter campaign and her best action steps to get visibility, and more.

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

One of the things that you have to learn as a winemaker is to trust your instincts.” – Amy Luftig Viste

Show Notes:

  • The Clarifying QUESTION that changed everything for Amy (it is a question that EVERYONE should ask themselves)
  • She volunteered to work for free and through the process found her “true calling”
  • A great STORY on how she secured FUNDING for Angeleno Wine (it involves a ghost and pouring a bottle of wine on a grave!)
  • She takes you on her step-by-step grass roots journey – GEMS!
  • How they decided on their LOGO that sits squarely in the center of every bottle
  • The “Secret Sauce” to a Super Successful Kickstarter Campaign
  • What it is like to be one of the few women in a male dominated industry
  • The mentality Amy adopts to show up for her business each day
  • Her perspective on how to make a Business Partnership work
  • And So much more!

We literally started this with no money in our pocket.” – Amy Luftig Viste

Connect with Amy Luftig Viste:

Facebook | Instagram | Angeleno Wine Co.

The most important thing is to trust your business partner with your life.” – Amy Luftig Viste

2021 Will Favor Female Entrepreneurs ALIGNED in Their Power

January 6, 2021 | By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

It’s a fresh, New Year. I’m both eager and enthusiastic about all the possibilities.

Are you looking for the support of other established women entrepreneurs? Women that are positive, forward thinking, resilient & obsessively optimistic? We’ve got you covered in my private online membership community, ALIGN online.

We’re gearing up for an exciting 2021 and we’d love to have you join us for weekly Zoom gatherings, private forum to network & connect, TOP expert industry leader interviews where you can ask your most pressing questions.

https://AlignOnlineWithJoy.com

Listen in to my short 5-minute video below on more good news for women from the Wall Street Journal:

We’re taking applications now so if you’d like to learn more and jump on board, contact Kathy@SmartWomenSolutions.com or call/text 310-266-0416.

Read all about ALIGN online:

https://AlignOnlineWithJoy.com

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

It’s a NEW Era for Women – 2021 Will Favor the Female!

December 1, 2020 | By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

OR

 

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

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Recent Blog Posts

  • Alli Webb & Meredith Quill – Hearts Be Still. Meet Becket & Quill Jewelry
  • Jesse Draper Unplugged – Getting Real About What it Takes to Succeed With The CEO & Founder of Halogen Ventures
  • Melissa Vitelli – From Fashion Photographer to Co-founder & CEO of Jar Goods
  • Jennifer Saxton – Founder & CEO, Tot Squad, From Cleaning Dirty Car Seats to Partnering With Walmart and Amazon
  • Emily Groden – How Watching a Netflix Food Show Led This Attorney Away From The Courtroom & Into The Kitchen

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