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

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

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

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 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, 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

Marilyn O’Toole – Demystifying The College Application Process

July 22, 2020 | By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

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

Bibi Goldstein – CEO and Founder of Buying Time, Virtual Assistant Services for Your Business

June 17, 2020 | By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

My guest today, Bibi Goldstein, started her business 13 years ago to do personal errands for time-starved families. Her initial vision was walking your dog, picking up dry-cleaning and other tasks that busy families never seem to get to. Fast forward 13 years, Buying Time LLC has grown and morphed into something much bigger and her ideal clients today are entrepreneurs.

She quickly discovered there was a high demand for virtual support among small business owners so she jumped on board.

On today’s show, Bibi tells us all about how staying open to changes brought great success in her business. She also shares tips to maximize your cash flow, how to best engage with your support system, 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 want it to be some place where people want to work. It is not just about the hourly amount that they’re making.” – Bibi Goldstein

Show Notes:

The One ACTION Step she took that catapulted her business to another level – this will surprise you
Why “shedding some weight” in her business was a tough but smart move
How the BEST decision she made for her business was also the HARDEST
The importance of STAYING OPEN to changes in your business
Why you must make friends with your NUMBERS
WHAT keeps her motivated as an entrepreneur after 13 years in business
The interesting change she sees coming out of the pandemic in her industry
The advice she hears in the start-up arena that makes her stomach turn

A virtual assistant can do anything that an in person assistant can do, except get you coffee.” – Bibi Goldstein

Connect with Bibi Goldstein:

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Buying Time

When you hire Buying Time you are hiring eight people with eight different skill sets.” – Bibi Goldstein

Amy Franko – Selling During The ‘Restart’ With The Author of The Modern Seller

May 20, 2020 | By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

Today’s guest, Amy Franko, is back on the show to do an encore interview!

Amy is an entrepreneur and best-selling author of the award-winning book, The Modern Seller. She was originally a guest on She’s Got Moxie, July 24, 2019, but a lot has changed since then. I brought Amy back to share with us how to ease into the sales and how to feel comfortable and confident as businesses start to reopen across the nation.

On today’s episode of ‘She’s Got Moxie,’ Amy talks about the first steps you can take to approach your clients NOW. She also shares with us the main principles of The Modern Seller, what she has been doing to help manage this challenging time, her plans for the future, and much more.

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

Perhaps our own internal approaches and our mindsets need to change with everything that’s happening in the world, but the way in which we work with our client as a trusted advisor that doesn’t change.” – Amy Franko

Show Notes:

WHY taking on the role of an “Ambassador” is the Key Right Now
The 5 principles of the modern seller
The 3X metric and why you need to get on board with this
Why putting a microscope on your BEST clients is the BEST use of your TIME
Why “shrinking or hiding” is the absolute worst decision to make
Excellent clarifying questions to help you, help your clients
The other “R” word that leads directly to REVENUE
The MOST IMPORTANT skill that an entrepreneur needs to build
The power of the strong network
How to build strategic partnerships and stronger relationships

People with a strong network rise above the noise.” – Amy Franko

Connect with Amy Franko:

LinkedIn | Twitter | Amy Franko

Find ways to continue staying forward in your market so that you are still seen as a thought leader, and you are still seen as the resilient entrepreneur and business owner.” – Amy Franko

Dr. Heather Kunen – Co-Founder of Beam Street, the Walk-In drybar for Oral Wellness

April 29, 2020 | By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

My guest today, Dr. Heather Kunen, is a Co-Founder of Beam Street Dentistry.

Her infectious energy and can-do attitude is a breath of fresh air.

Dr. Heather Kunen started her career working as an orthodontist, but early on, she recognized that there was a market for just the top three most-requested dental services – clean teeth, white teeth, and straight teeth. Heather and her co-founders were able to create a business model that focused on offering ONLY these three services at an affordable price.

Beam Street is the first dental “studio” in New York City which makes going to the dentist easy, affordable, convenient, and quick. They took a page from the drybar and their motto is: Clean teeth. White teeth. Straight teeth. That’s it. They figured if it worked for hair, it might work for teeth too!

On today’s show, Dr. Kunen shares with us the challenges of starting a new business, why it is so important to understand what the consumers want, the actions steps she took to grow her business, her marketing tactics, and more.

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

The key is figure out who are we targeting, and then, how do we best way reach those people?” – Dr. Heather Kunen

Show Notes:

Her “lightbulb” moment that led to rapid-fire reach and quick brand awareness with their target market
She knew her target markets problem and she figured out a solution
The importance of listening to consumers
The concrete steps that lead to a greater goal
The challenges of developing a new idea
How to recognize a new business opportunity
Ways to adapt your business model in difficult circumstances

Taking small concrete steps towards an ultimate goal I think is the most effective way to get something accomplished.”- Dr. Heather Kunen

Connect with Dr. Heather Kunen:

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Beam Street

It is important to find your voice, stick to your voice, and be confident in yourself.” – Dr. Heather Kunen

Natalie Mackey – From Finance to Beauty as the CEO & Co-Founder of Winky Lux

April 15, 2020 | By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

I’m delighted to share Natalie Mackey, CEO & Co-founder of Winky Lux, Luxury and Cruelty-Free Cosmetics, with you.

Natalie started out in finance, however, when she looked around and couldn’t find anyone she aspired to be like, she knew it was time to pick a new path. She ended up initially in the beauty industry as a consultant and that experience catapulted her into co-founding Winky Lux Cosmetics with a long-time friend.

In just 5 years, Winky Lux has become a successful brand partnering with top retailers we all know including Nordstrom, Ulta, Macy’s, Bloomingdales and most recently, Target. Winky Lux has a physical store in New York City and more coming soon. Within the first 18 months, the company generated $4 million in sales as a bootstrapped company.

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

You’re never quite sure until you get it into the hands of the customer.” – Natalie Mackey

Show Notes:

How and why she transitioned from Finance to Beauty
Why how you start is never where you end up – don’t be afraid to course-correct from your original idea
The Story of HOW she SOLD OUT the entire product line during her first visit to Beauty Con
WHY every business should go through a “Stress-Test” in the early days – it makes the brand stronger
The SECRETS to Winky Lux’s current success
She reveals her “secret sauce” and the smartest decision she made when choosing a manufacturer – this was pure GOLD
The surprising advice she disagrees with in the startup arena

The best move that I’ve made is to hire great people.” – Natalie Mackey

Connect with Natalie Mackey:

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Winky Lux

You don’t have to know everything.” – Natalie Mackey

Stacy Blackman – Serial Entrepreneur and CEO/Founder of Stryke Club Acne-Fighting Skincare

April 1, 2020 | By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

My guest Stacy Blackman, CEO and founder of Stryke Club, is truly a serial entrepreneur.

She’s been at the helm of three different (quite successful) start-up companies in three different industries – wedding, MBA consulting and now skin-care for teenage boys.

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

No one really knows the way, we are all flying a little bit blind.” – Stacy Blackman

Show Notes:

The #1 QUESTION to ask yourself before diving into your next venture
How 9/11 shaped her second start-up and what we can learn in this time of COVID-19
The one “HABIT” she had to break to keep going every day
Why we always need to be ready to PIVOT
How you can make the most of difficult situations
How to build a VIRTUAL team committed to your business vision – there’s one ESSENTIAL Ingredient

I’m very organized and I really do map out most of my day.” – Stacy Blackman

Connect with Stacy Blackman:

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Stacy Blackman

Begin before you are ready.” – Stacy Blackman

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:

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

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 Cindy Eckert:

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

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 Lizanne Falsetto:

Marilyn O’Toole – Demystifying The College Application Process

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 Marilyn O’Toole:

Bibi Goldstein – CEO and Founder of Buying Time, Virtual Assistant Services for Your Business

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 Bibi Goldstein:

Amy Franko – Selling During The ‘Restart’ With The Author of The Modern Seller

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 Franko:

Dr. Heather Kunen – Co-Founder of Beam Street, the Walk-In drybar for Oral Wellness

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 Dr. Heather Kunen:

Natalie Mackey – From Finance to Beauty as the CEO & Co-Founder of Winky Lux

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 Natalie Mackey:

Stacy Blackman – Serial Entrepreneur and CEO/Founder of Stryke Club Acne-Fighting Skincare

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 Stacy Blackman:

Strategy & Consulting

Recent Blog Posts

We’d Love to Connect!