Smart Women Smart Solutions

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

Amber Duncan – Serial Entrepreneur & CEO of Shop Jackie

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Amber Duncan on She's Got Moxie with Joy Chudacoff

Both Amber and her husband were mortgage brokers when the bottom dropped out of the real estate market. Overnight, she found herself pregnant with her fifth child and standing in line for WIC government benefits to maintain food and nutrition for her family.

Fast forward to today, Amber Duncan now owns 17 companies including a debt consolidation company, Reduce My Debts, two Gigi’s Cupcakes franchises and Shop Jackie, a high-end personal shopping experience for women, delivered right to your front door.

In this episode, Jackie explains how you can connect with a customer and why it’s the most important aspect of being successful in business. She also reveals some of her best leadership tips and shares why you should never wait for perfection.

Listen in to this episode to find out how to grow a new business, ways to increase your business’s visibility, and how Shop Jackie works.

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

Everything that I’ve done has been born out of failure.” – Amber Duncan

Show Notes:

  • How Shop Jackie was started out of Amber’s FRUSTRATION
  • Where the name JACKIE came from – love this story & reminds me of my Mom!
  • How Amber is DISRUPTING the online personal styling industry making it BOTH scalable & personal
  • Amber went from college dropout to owning 17 businesses
  • Simple strategies on how Amber went from “broke, eating Mac n’ Cheese every day” to wildly successful
  • Her Go-To Action Step that she takes every day to keep her ALIGNED as a wife, mother to five and entrepreneur
  • Her Superpower
  • Her ADVICE on what you need to know when you get started – PURE GOLD and it’s just ONE Word.

I don’t get stuck, I turn quickly.” – Amber Duncan

Connect with Amber Duncan:

Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Reduce My Debts| Shop Jackie

Investing in yourself is the best investment you can make.” – Amber Duncan

Elise Rosenstock – From The Kitchen Table in Cleveland to 1M on QVC

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Elise Rosenstock on She's Got Moxie with Joy Chudacoff

Today’s remarkable guest, Elise Rosenstock, started her jewelry business over 20 years ago at her kitchen table with only $300 (she confesses it was her “date night” money). Now, Elyse Ryan Jewelry is in big brand stores across the country from Saks to Bloomingdales to QVC and HSN. She’s using her successes to make a lasting impact in the lives of those around her.

Elise shares a great story about why she’s affectionately been called “The Lemonade Stand Lady” and insists she has found success in trusting that people just want access to the real you.

Listen in to today’s episode as Elise talks about the two things you need to grow, how to go from the kitchen table to a manufacturer, and why reinvention is so popular.

To snag a 15% discount on any of Elise’s fabulous jewelry, our listeners can use the code ‘MOXIE‘ at checkout on her website.

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

I had the sales and marketing in my blood, but I had to be able to do it in a way that people were going to believe in me and my product.” – Elise Rosenstock

Show Notes:

  • How she went from her kitchen table to big brands SAKS, Bloomingdales, QVC & HSN
  • Simple, easy tips (anyone can do it) on how she grew visibility for her jewelry line
  • How she raised over 1M on QVC and became known as “The Lemonade Stand Lady”
  • The most challenging aspect of being a business owner – CONTROL
  • The ONE Thing you should always pay close attention to
  • The KEY to staying in business for the long-term
  • Her ADVICE on how she gets through those really tough days
  • Details on her new line, “WRISTROCKS”
  • And much, much more…

If you have an idea, don’t expect it to happen overnight.” – Elise Rosenstock

Connect with Elise Rosenstock:

Facebook | Instagram | QVC | ElyseRyan

Surround yourself with mom-preneurs. I do that every day.” – Elise Rosenstock

Jessica Chang – Transforming Childcare in the US

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Jessica Chang on She's Got Moxie with Joy Chudacoff

Jessica Chang is on a mission to transform childcare in the U.S.

She is an entrepreneur, CEO, and Co-founder of WeeCare, the largest network of childcare providers in the US (in only 5 years!). After having her first child, she struggled with navigating the childcare options available in her area and found that she was not alone in her dissatisfaction. So she decided to do something about it.

Bringing conscientious change to an industry that so desperately needs it, WeeCare is not only making affordable and world-class daycare accessible to all families, but they are also empowering individuals, especially women, by helping them start and operate their own daycare business through their “Business in a Box” formula.

Listen in as Jessica talks about her pivot during the pandemic, how to get out of bed on difficult days, and the worst startup advice she’s ever heard.

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

If I could figure out how to save one school, maybe I could figure out how to save more schools.” – Jessica Chang

Show Notes:

  • How Jessica created the LARGEST Network of Childcare Providers in the US (In only 5 Years!)
  • How she UNCOVERED the biggest challenge and SOLVED it
  • Jessica shares the “Business in a BOX” Formula she developed that’s transforming the industry
  • The “Fever Free” Initiative that helped WeeCare Pivot during the Pandemic
  • Her ADVICE to entrepreneurs that will surely be unpopular with INVESTORS
  • Her DREAM to get more Employers into the Childcare Conversation
  • And much, much more!

When it comes to early childcare, it’s not a one-sided problem. You’ve actually got to be able to sustain both sides.” – Jessica Chang

Connect with Jessica Chang:

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | WeeCare

When I realized my own personal constraints, I actually became really interested in the early childcare space.” – Jessica Chang

Charlene Simon – The Art of Juggling Soaps, Cosmetics & Cupcakes

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Charlene Simon on She's Got Moxie with Joy Chudacoff

She left school at 15 and had her three children by the time she was 20.

Today Charlene Simon is the real definition of a “serial” entrepreneur. She’s the CEO & Founder of three successful brands: Bathhouse Soapery & Caldarium, Fat Bottom Girl’s Cupcakes and Villainess Beauty.

It all started in San Diego in 2000 when Charlene walked into a soap shop that had real, live, breathing goats out back. She was mesmerized. She spent hours in the local library teaching herself the chemistry of soap making.

In 2009 (not a great year for the economy), she remembered her boss saying once, “You have to strike on real estate in a recession.” So she took $700 (all the money she had) and she went for it. She opened her first Bathhouse Soapery & Caldarium.

It’s been a wild ride and one that continues to spiral upward for this straight-talking entrepreneur who makes all her decisions on “feelings.”

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

“The fear is fuel.” – Charlene Simon

Show Notes:

  • Why starting a business in a RECESSION was her BIG Break (it was the perfect time)
  • Why FEELINGS matter most to her when making decisions (she needs to feel the JOY)
  • Why CUPCAKE WARS kept calling her to be a contestant on the show – it had to do with a T-Shirt
  • Her Most DIFFICULT Business Moment – (two blocks down the street)
  • GENIUS Advice on how to handle COMPETITION
  • Her “BUFFET” Analogy (what are you hungry for?)
  • TIPS on Dealing with CRITICISM
  • And much, much more!

“Competition is nothing; I don’t even look at other people.” – Charlene Simon

Connect with Charlene Simon:

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Bathhouse Soapery & Caldarium

“If it doesn’t bring me joy, I know not to touch it.” – Charlene Simon

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

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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

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

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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

Mignon Francois – How She Turned $5 into $10 Million as the CEO & Founder of The Cupcake Collection

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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

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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

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

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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

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