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

My 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

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 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

Cathy Alessandra – Serial Entrepreneur, CEO & Founder of YES I CAN!

July 15, 2020 | By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

My guest today, Cathy Alessandra, is the real definition of a serial entrepreneur who has started and built several successful businesses to help women and families.

Cathy started her very first business in 1995 out of a need she saw in her community. From there, she caught the entrepreneurial “bug.”

Along the way, Cathy faced some life altering moments which included her son’s struggle with substance abuse, challenges in her marriage, and personal health concerns. She overcame those challenges by using her “YES I CAN” mantra and her daily rituals. Now, she has turned her mantra into a business, and she is currently the Founder & CEO of YES I CAN coaching.

On today’s podcast, Cathy talks all about her experience coaching women, the philosophy behind YES I CAN, her best productivity tips, and much more.

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

It was all built on a need of my own and figuring that other people needed it as well.” – Cathy Alessandra

Show Notes:

Great examples on Pivoting in business
The personal tools she used to move through a health challenge, her son’s substance abuse and an unraveling marriage – all at the same time
Cathy’s SECRET to overcoming challenges
The moment she got the idea to birth YES I CAN
Which daily routines helped her achieve success
Why Strategic YES’s and Abundant No’s have become a guiding light
Cathy’s best productivity tips as an entrepreneur
The Worst advice she hears in the Start-up arena

As my business has grown, I need to think ahead of the curve and outside of the box.” – Cathy Alessandra

Connect with Cathy Alessandra:

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Cathy Alessandra

Don’t worry about all the others. Be focused on who you are so that you attract people that are meant to work with you.” – Cathy Alessandra

Ashley Merrill – Taking a Deep Dive on The Process of Business Growth

December 4, 2019 | By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

“Things break all the time.” My guest today, Ashley Merrill, CEO & Founder of Lunya, the modern sleepwear for women, takes a deep dive into what it means to grow and scale a boot-strapped business. She’s had blockbuster growth over the last 18 months and on today’s episode she gets radically transparent about what the journey has been like.

IF you are looking to grow your business in 2020 and have a goal to hire an A+ Team and truly understand what it means to lead, do not miss this episode. Ashley breaks down her hiring process, step-by-step, as well as her thoughts on leadership.

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

Once everybody is in the spot that they are really going to be successful in and they know what they’re supposed to do, it is amazing what you’re able to accomplish.” – Ashley Merrill

Show Notes:

HOW she came up with the idea
How to create an A+ TEAM – she breaks this down step-by-step
WHY it’s essential to be tapped into your core client for all decisions
How she came to the decision to create a men’s line – Lahgo
Her BEST Action Steps to Create momentum that continues to build
How she pushes through when “everything is breaking with an endless stream of challenges”
Ashley’s KEY to productivity as a mom with young kids while growing a business
The way to think about HIRING when it comes to hiring junior and senior hires – the process is extremely different
Why Ashley feels getting uncomfortable and expressing humility with a team is ESSENTIAL but it’s not a sign of weakness
She’s discovered that LEADERSHIP is what happens when the chips are down
Why she gets up so early and why she feels it’s important to honor your energy rhythms

The big game-changers have been a lot of org adjustments and a lot of really wonderful hires.” – Ashley Merrill

Connect with Ashley Merrill:

Instagram | The Deep | Lahgo | Lunya

Early on in the brand a lot of it is about you personally and how much you can do as an entrepreneur. But as the company has grown, hiring has been what has really enabled us to grow – getting the right people in the right spots.” – Ashley Merrill

Power Positioning in 2020 – 9 Essential Leadership Skills For Success

October 30, 2019 | By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

She's Got Moxie Show

Today’s episode is all about nine leadership skills that you need to flex your Moxie muscle in 2020.

You’ll definitely want to listen in if you are interested in investor money because investors need to see that you are a strong leader and if you’re bootstrapping, you’ll need these skills to build an A+ team committed to your mission and vision!

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

When you’re looking for venture capital money, leadership is one of the things they look for.” – Joy Chudacoff

Show Notes:

Why great leadership is ESSENTIAL for growing & sustaining a business (it’s not just about the product or service)
Why being committed to solving problems is the key to resilience and LONGEVITY as a leader
How the BEST leaders make decisions
The importance of building a NETWORK
Why taking time for YOURSELF is key to being a great leader
The ONE thing that every leader struggles with
Why having empathy and humility is a must for great leaders (it doesn’t make you look WEAK, it actually strengthens your position)

The one thing that everybody struggles with, and I’ve had to learn it too, is communication.” – Joy Chudacoff

Isabelle Alonso – Feminist Author and Recipient of the Medal of Honor From the French Government for Her Work on Women’s Equality

October 23, 2019 | By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

Isabelle Alonso has a colorful life as an entrepreneur, feminist and author. She has published four feminists essays and seven novels including her latest novel Je Peux Me Passer De l’Aube (I can hold on without the dawn). Isabelle also appears regularly on the television series Je t’aime etc… where she is a commentator on culture and current news events.

Today’s show is a real treat as Isabelle tells us about her journey working towards women’s equality in France. She reframes the role of women in the workplace, what being a “feminist” actually means, the most powerful thing that a woman can do 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 do not consider myself as a woman of power. I’m not interested in power. I’m very much interested in being a woman of influence, and so that’s why I write books.” – Isabelle Alonso

Show Notes:

How she became a symbol of Feminism in France and as a result received the Medal of Honor from the French government for her work on Women’s Equality
The moment she realized there was an inequality (she was a young girl)
Isabelle’s thoughts on creating a more equitable workplace for women – women are punished instead of rewarded
Her Best Action Steps on creating awareness for women’s equality
Why she has a passion for writing books and feminist essays
Her realization about what it meant to be a woman entrepreneur
Where our focus needs to be and why it’s one of the most powerful things women can do
The #MeToo movement and what’s happening currently for women around the world
What feminism actually means to Isabelle

It is an individual adventure. But I really think that for women, they have to start with themselves.” – Isabelle Alonso

Connect with Isabelle Alonso:

Facebook | Twitter | Isabelle Alonso

All of the myth of the reality of masculinity is a prison for men.” – Isabelle Alonso

Christina Stembel, Founder/CEO, Farmgirl Flowers – A $30 Million Business Started with $49,000 in Savings

August 21, 2019 | By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

You do not want to miss this interview.

Originally from Indiana, Christina Stembel found herself in Silicon Valley where it seemed everyone was an entrepreneur. It was while investigating why flowers are so expensive for her employer at the time, Christina started to see potential big bucks in the flower industry. No college degree but she did have 49K in savings and that’s how Farmgirl Flowers was planted firmly in the ground.

Christina shares all of her tips and transparent insights on how she grew Farmgirl Flowers from nothing to an estimated projected 30M this year. She talks about her grassroots marketing that has grown the company, why and how to get started without investor money, 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 wanted to take an industry and be either the first innovator or the first one doing it a completely different way.” – Christina Stembel

Show Notes:

CURIOSITY does not kill the cat; This is how Christina started out
The SURPRISING thing that happened when she was down to her last $411
Smart, Simple, Effective Tips for Grass Roots MARKETING – Truly Brilliant
The Two Most ESSENTIAL Skills You Must Develop if You Want to Grow and Scale
Bank and credit card tips for FUNDING your business
Why women should STOP waiting for investor money in most cases
How she reacted when someone told her to STUNT her Growth and “wait for the industry to catch up to her”

I wanted to test the market. I did not want to give up a decade of my life for something that was never going to work.” – Christina Stembel

Connect with Christina Stembel:

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Farmgirl Flowers

I pivot all the time. We listen to our customers.” – Christina Stembel

Beata Kirr – A Wake Up Call For Women About Wealth Building

June 19, 2019 | By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

Beata Kirr on She's Got Moxie with Joy Chudacoff

In full disclosure, I met my guest Beata Kirr at a presentation that I was convinced was going to be fairly boring. I actually thought it was going to give me thirty minutes to scan my email feed and swipe right to delete : -). Guess what? I was wrong. Once I heard Beata share some of the most recent research on women and money, I put my phone away and grabbed a pen and paper.

Beata Kirr is the National Managing Director in the Alliance Bernstein Chicago office. She was appointed Head of Private Client Core Asset Strategies of Bernstein in 2017. Beata is a member of Bernstein’s Private Client Investment Policy Group, which oversees strategic asset allocation for high-net-worth, nonprofit and family clients.

Beata has provided market commentary for the Chicago Tribune, WGN News, NPR and the Wall Street Journal. She is passionate about helping women investors succeed, and she speaks frequently to women’s groups nationally. Beata is also the host of “Bernstein Insights” Women & Wealth podcast series.

On today’s show, Beata dives into some surprising stats, how we as women can manage our wealth better, and more.

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

It is undeniable that women are a force to be reckoned with in terms of the financial decision-making power that they have.” – Beata Kirr

Show Notes:

The surprising facts about women creating wealth today – this is GREAT news!
Women continually say they’re not good with numbers but that’s not what the research shows
The THREE Critical numbers you need to know NOW
Startling facts about Women and WHY it’s essential that Women Need their Money to last longer
How to identify and rectify ACCIDENTAL SPENDING
You know your height & weight but do you know how much you are spending?
The 5 things women need to know about CREATING WEALTH
Easy to use Budget App suggestions to easily get going
Important information to consider when it comes to INSURANCE
What you can do today to get started on your path to wealth management – easy, doable steps to take Today
Why you need to keep your records up to date and FRESH. Beata shares a bit of a horror story here and I had a story too!

95% of women are going to be making the financial decisions for their households at some point in their lives – 95%!” – Beata Kirr

Connect with Beata:

Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn | Alliance Bernstein Women &Wealth

Next time you say ‘I’m going to do spring cleaning’ or hire someone to clean your windows, think about an audit of your assets at the same time.” – Beata Kirr

Nora Plesent – Creating a Market for Women in the Legal Field Seeking Creative and Flexible Career Options

June 12, 2019 | By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

When my guest today, Nora Plesent, was getting ready to take her maternity leave with her first child, a co-worker in the law firm commented, “Wouldn’t it be great if there was just a temporary lawyer we could hire?” Nora saw a problem and went out to create a SOLUTION.

Nora, along with her co-founders went on to create Lexolution – a company that provides contract legal services to Law Firms. What started out in a basement in Scarsdale, New York, has turned into offices across the country including Lexolution New York, Washington D.C., Richmond, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.

Today, Nora gives a very authentic interview about the process of growing her business while maintaining quality service, the hardest years when she first moved to LA and what she did to get through it, and the KEY ingredient to guaranteed growth if you want to expand into new cities.

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

We’ve done things slowly, in a sense, but we have grown. And we have done it in a way where we have really never had to worry about the management of the office itself.” – Nora Plesent

Show Notes:

How Nora turned a question from a co-worker into the focus of a company
The #1 ingredient you MUST Have when planning to expand to new cities
Why it has been difficult to manage QUALITY over QUANTITY
How Nora dealt with opening a brand-new market when she first moved to LA
Nora’s Best ADVICE for women on the entrepreneurial journey
How meditation has changed Nora’s life and her approach to business
Nora’s Brand-New Venture for women

We were all about quality, quality, quality. We had the boutique quality people out there and as other companies came into the market it was all about quantity.” – Nora Plesent

Connect with Nora Plesent:

Facebook | LinkedIn | Twitter | Lexolution

When I started meditating, I almost couldn’t even sit for five minutes because my life had been about moving, shaking, creating, doing.” – Nora Plesent

Show Notes:

Connect with Jesse Draper:

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Connect with Melissa Vitelli:

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Connect with Jean Freeman:

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Connect with Cathy Alessandra:

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Connect with Ashley Merrill:

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Connect with Isabelle Alonso:

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Connect with Christina Stembel:

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Connect with Beata:

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Connect with Nora Plesent:

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