Startups in Stilettos

For new businesses or even businesses simply looking to expand, understanding the importance and benefits of setting a foundation that supports uninhibited growth is key. Carlyn’s experience in manifesting success in this area comes directly through creating businesses of her own from the ground up. Through this work, she often gets questions like: How do I scale my business to the next level? How do I set the stage for a greater level of growth within my company? In today’s special solo episode, Carlyn Bushman of Carlyn Bushman Consulting, takes us through her three key strategies for how to successfully scale your business to a level that works for you. After breaking down each secret for us, she goes on to share an essential exercise for implementing these tactics. Carlyn speaks on how these strategies have helped her while inspiring us to continue toward expanding in our evolution and beautifully weaving joy into the process. “Your business is you. People buy from people. We've heard that so many times. So as the leader of your business when you are thinking about scaling, do only what you can do.” - Carlyn Bushman This week on Startups in Stilettos: Carlyn shares the first key strategy: time blocking (2:15) Carlyn talks about how owning your calendar leads to the second key: CEO time (3:39) Carlyn explains the third and final key: delegation (6:41) Carlyn walks us through The Delegation Exercise (9:55) Carlyn speaks on how she personally uses the exercise (13:45) Carlyn provides a review of her three key strategies for scaling a business (15:12) Our Favorite Quotes: “So I would begin by designating a time on your calendar where you feel that you are at your absolute best. And don't think that you have to take it all at one time, you can block out CEO time, for 30 minutes, give yourself the luxury of just starting with 30 minutes.” - Carlyn Bushman “There's actually a lot less fun in doing this alone. It is so much more interesting when you can surround yourself with beautiful humans who are excited to contribute to your business. Don't take that away from them.” - Carlyn Bushman “When I say that there's also shiny object syndrome. And I am saying I can come up with lots of ideas. And I think I need to implement them all right now. Absolutely right now today because if I don't somebody else will, that's not actually the case, we can give them a home. So ‘No One Really Needs To Do It’ could also be a great home for you to asterisk those beautiful ideas and say, ‘You know what, we're going to look at that in Q2 of 2024. We're just gonna give that a little home right now.’ And that's okay, too.” - Carlyn Bushman “Embrace the progress over perfection.” - Carlyn Bushman Join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey! Connect with your Startups in Stilettos hosts: Jessica Abo on Instagram Jessica Abo on LinkedIn Learn more about Jessica Abo here Carlyn Bushman on Instagram Carlyn Bushman on LinkedIn Learn more about Carlyn Bushman here Get Featured on Startups in Stilettos Want a chance to be featured on Startups in Stilettos? We’re currently accepting applications from our Entreprenista League members to be featured on the show! Think of the Entreprenista League as your team members in what can be a lonely startup founder’s journey. You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded female startup founders who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, the opportunity to have your story featured on our website, social channels – and, of course, the Startups in Stilettos podcast – and so much MORE!

While Catalina Escallon is an artist, and by definition, a creative person, she realized that a lot of people did not view themselves that way as they got older. So she and her partner decided to start a studio that helps people realize that there are many ways to be creative. In today’s episode, we sit down with Catalina Escallon, the co-founder of Noodo, a studio that empowers creative moments through fun interactive workshops and activities that they offer to individuals, teams, and companies. She shares the mission behind Noodo, where the idea came from, her thoughts on creativity, and so much more. “We believe that everyone is creative. And it's something that we like to empower people to think about themselves that way.” - Catalina Escallon This week on Startups in Stilettos: Catalina talks about Noodo’s mission (1:48) Catalina shares about a client that had an aha moment with her (4:22) Catalina explains where the idea for Noodo came from (7:45) Catalina gives an example of questions she would ask clients (9:55) Catalina shares her thoughts on creativity (12:56) Carlyn and Jess talk about networking groups (18:45) Resources Mentioned: Google Sheets Google Slides Google Docs Miro QuickBooks Asana Our Favorite Quotes: “We've been doing most of these online. So it's even colder interaction at the beginning. And then you have these two Colombians that are like, our energy comes across in all of this. And that's what helped us along with the activities to kind of break the ice and get people flowing with us.” - Catalina Escallon “When I started to embroider people, and my friends would say, like, ‘Oh, I wish I could do what you do.’ And I was like, ‘you can totally do it.’ It's just like, remember, when we see artists or people doing a lot of powerful and beautiful things, they've been doing this for years. So anything you do, you need to keep doing it.” - Catalina Escallon “I do want people to feel that creative is not a word exclusive to us working in those industries. But it's something that we all have, and we all need to exercise.” - Catalina Escallon Join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey! Connect with Catalina Escallon: NoodoStudio.com Noodo on Instagram CatalinaEscallon.com Catalina Escallon on Instagram Connect with your Startups in Stilettos hosts: Jessica Abo on Instagram Jessica Abo on LinkedIn Learn more about Jessica Abo here Carlyn Bushman on Instagram Carlyn Bushman on LinkedIn Learn more about Carlyn Bushman here Get Featured on Startups in Stilettos Want a chance to be featured on Startups in Stilettos? We’re currently accepting applications from our Entreprenista League members to be featured on the show! Think of the Entreprenista League as your team members in what can be a lonely startup founder’s journey. You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded female startup founders who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, the opportunity to have your story featured on our website, social channels – and, of course, the Startups in Stilettos podcast – and so much MORE! Grow Your Startup with Startups in Stilettos Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of Startups in Stilettos, powered by the Entreprenista PodcastNetwork. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.

Like many Entreprenistas, Meg left the corporate world once she had kids and started to work on her own. She had experience with web design, so that’s what she did, before she realized that having the perfect website is meaningless if no one finds it. So she dug in and learned everything there was to know about SEO and now she helps other business owners create websites that convert. In today’s episode, we sit down with Meg Clarke, founder of Clapping Dog Media, a digital media company that provides done-for-you and done-with-you SEO Services. She shares why SEO is important, the most important analytics in SEO, her thoughts on AI, and so much more. “So I dove into analytics and SEO and trying to figure out how in the world people get traffic to their website and traffic that's not spambots and not random people. It's like traffic that really converts. And so I dove into that and really enjoyed it, I also realized there was not a lot of other women doing it.” - Meg Clarke This week on Startups in Stilettos: Meg explains why SEO is important (2:03) Meg shares her opinion on press releases for SEO (6:49) Meg talks about the most important analytics for SEO (10:42) Meg shares where the name Clapping Dog came from (14:53) Meg explains the best thing to do for SEO today (20:48) Meg’s thoughts on AI (21:41) Meg explains how Clapping Dog Media operates (27:14) Resources Mentioned: Notion Our Favorite Quotes: “They're [Google] trying to get paid. And so because they're trying to get paid, we know that they are really looking for value, and spam links and pure engagement are all things that they look at.” - Meg Clarke “Organic traffic is the heart and soul of SEO.” - Meg Clarke “Stella, my dog at the time would get up and she would, I taught her to kind of, like, wag her tail and celebrate with me. So she felt like a co worker.” - Meg Clarke Join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey! Connect with Meg Clarke: ClappingDogMedia.com Clapping Dog Media on Instagram Clapping Dog Media on LinkedIn Connect with your Startups in Stilettos hosts: Jessica Abo on Instagram Jessica Abo on LinkedIn Learn more about Jessica Abo here Carlyn Bushman on Instagram Carlyn Bushman on LinkedIn Learn more about Carlyn Bushman here Get Featured on Startups in Stilettos Want a chance to be featured on Startups in Stilettos? We’re currently accepting applications from our Entreprenista League members to be featured on the show! Think of the Entreprenista League as your team members in what can be a lonely startup founder’s journey. You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded female startup founders who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, the opportunity to have your story featured on our website, social channels – and, of course, the Startups in Stilettos podcast – and so much MORE! Grow Your Startup with Startups in Stilettos Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of Startups in Stilettos, powered by the Entreprenista PodcastNetwork. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts. Apple Podcasts|TuneIn|GooglePlay|Stitcher|Spotify|iHeart Radio

Over the course of her business, Xindi has had to confront herself and get a grasp on who she is, what she stands for, and what she wants. But the ride hasn’t always been what she was expecting. Now she preaches leaning into the hard stuff and believing in yourself, and it seems to be working out well for her. In today’s episode, we sit down with Xindi Soh, founder and CEO of By Xindi, a studio offering a complete brand messaging and marketing transformation. She shares advice on creating a brand message, advice for new CEOs, her thoughts on social media and marketing, and so much more. “I feel like that makes a huge difference when you approach marketing from a place where you truly want to express what you are passionate about, rather than saying something for the sake of selling. - Xindi Soh This week on Startups in Stilettos: Xindi explains what a brand message is and gives advice on how to find your brand message (2:31) Xindi shares what she didn’t know before going into business (7:17) Xindi gives advice to new CEOs (9:08) Xindi talks about her biggest wins (10:51) Xindi weighs in on social media and its impact on marketing (15:46) Jess shares the relatable moment that has her bummed (18:14) Resources Mentioned: Notion Canva Our Favorite Quotes: “I feel like your brand message will evolve with you as a business owner, as well, like as humans, we're constantly growing.” - Xindi Soh “I think you are your biggest asset, for sure.” - Xindi Soh “But when you said the part about not wanting to navigate, that is where I would say to lean into that, navigate that more, discover that more, because whatever you're avoiding is ultimately what's gonna, like, help you hit the next level with what's going to help you break through.” - Xindi Soh Join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey! Connect with Xindi Soh: ByXindi.com Xindi Soh on Instagram Connect with your Startups in Stilettos hosts: Jessica Abo on Instagram Jessica Abo on LinkedIn Learn more about Jessica Abo here Carlyn Bushman on Instagram Carlyn Bushman on LinkedIn Learn more about Carlyn Bushman here Get Featured on Startups in Stilettos Want a chance to be featured on Startups in Stilettos? We’re currently accepting applications from our Entreprenista League members to be featured on the show! Think of the Entreprenista League as your team members in what can be a lonely startup founder’s journey. You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded female startup founders who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, the opportunity to have your story featured on our website, social channels – and, of course, the Startups in Stilettos podcast – and so much MORE! Grow Your Startup with Startups in Stilettos Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of Startups in Stilettos, powered by the Entreprenista PodcastNetwork. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts. Apple Podcasts|TuneIn|GooglePlay|Stitcher|Spotify|iHeart Radio Be sure to share your favorite episodes on social media to help us reach more startup founders, like you, and have a chance to win a one-on-one mentor and strategy session with Stephanie Cartin.

When Sally’s friends and family started having children, she looked for gifts that would be meaningful and lasting. As an artist, she decided to create watercolor name paintings. Soon, the commissions started flooding in and she had a proof of concept for a business. In today’s episode, we sit down with Sally King McBride, founder of The Letter Nest, a brand of educational and elevated alphabet art. She shares her biggest wins, how her parents fostered her abilities, the mission behind The Letter Nest, and so much more. “My parents always treated my artwork very seriously. And as an academic course for much of my schooling, and it was never thought of as ‘Oh, that's her side hustle,’ or, ‘Oh, that's her hobby.’ I can't stand that word. This was always my occupation. I treated it that way. And so do they.” - Sally King McBride This week on Startups in Stilettos: Sally tells us what she didn’t know before launching her business (3:09) Sally shares her biggest wins (5:11) Sally discusses how she knew to go full-time with the Letter Nest (7:30) Sally shares what her parents did to set her on the Entreprenista path (12:10) Sally goes in-depth about the interpersonal skills she has learned (15:29) Sally discusses the mission behind her business (17:27) Sally shares where she gets her inspiration from (20:11) Jess talks about how much free content to give away to your audience (23:02) Resources Mentioned: Shopify Klaviyo Adobe Creative Suite Planoly Our Favorite Quotes: “I took my first commission for professional painting when I was still in high school.” - Sally King McBride “My work is as much about the teaching as it is about the joy, and they have to go hand in hand or you will not get the child's engagement.” - Sally King McBride “There is a litmus test for whether there can be a full alphabet around something.” - Sally King McBride Join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey! Connect with Sally King McBride: TheLetterNest.com The Letter Nest on Instagram The Letter Nest on Pinterest The Letter Nest on TikTok Connect with your Startups in Stilettos hosts: Jessica Abo on Instagram Jessica Abo on LinkedIn Learn more about Jessica Abo here Carlyn Bushman on Instagram Carlyn Bushman on LinkedIn Learn more about Carlyn Bushman here Get Featured on Startups in Stilettos Want a chance to be featured on Startups in Stilettos? We’re currently accepting applications from our Entreprenista League members to be featured on the show! Think of the Entreprenista League as your team members in what can be a lonely startup founder’s journey. You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded female startup founders who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, the opportunity to have your story featured on our website, social channels – and, of course, the Startups in Stilettos podcast – and so much MORE! Grow Your Startup with Startups in Stilettos Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of Startups in Stilettos, powered by the Entreprenista PodcastNetwork. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.

Marilynn realized after the pandemic that the standard American way of working was on the way out. Many people, women in particular, wanted to maintain the flexibility that they had become accustomed to. So she decided to take her decade of commercial real estate experience to create a community that would benefit landlords and workers alike. In today’s episode, we sit down with Marilynn Joyner, founder and CEO of Her Workplace, which is a physical and digital career community for women who are at the beginning or mid level stages of their careers to build relationships, exchange knowledge and share stories. She shares where the idea for Her Workplace came from, how she knew it was time to leave her corporate job, her thoughts on the future of work, and so much more. “I really wanted to be able to meet women and provide them with a platform that is easily accessible, not as expensive. And it's just super easy for them to tap into while having the opportunity to access a co-working space where you can meet and network with other women while getting integrated with all of our trainings, professional development tools, and all of our events.” - Marilynn Joyner This week on Startups in Stilettos: Marilynn shares where the idea for Her Workplace came from (2:48) Marilynn talks about the real estate aspect of Her Workplace (5:59) Marilynn discusses her biggest wins (9:52) Marilynn shares when she knew it was time to leave her job (12:07) Marilynn talks about the future of work (18:05) Jessica and Carlyn talk about their mishaps (20:25) Carlyn shares exciting news (25:29) Resources Mentioned: Notion Pipedrive Clickup Our Favorite Quotes: “It just got to the point where I was just getting frustrated with being one of the only women and seeing how many women dropped out of the workforce during the pandemic.” - Marilynn Joyner “I think flexibility is key. Employees need flexibility. I think that the nine to five Monday through Friday in the office is gone. I think that we're moving towards a four day work week, similar to what some European countries have been testing and implementing.” - Marilynn Joyner “I'm most proud of my education. I've been in commercial real estate for almost 10 years. I got my masters from Georgetown University in real estate to just up my game and to learn financial modeling and to learn about investments from a landlord's perspective. And then I went on to get my MBA from Columbia Business School.” - Marilynn Joyner Join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey! Connect with Marilynn Joyner: HerWorkplace.com Her Workplace on Instagram Connect with your Startups in Stilettos hosts: Jessica Abo on Instagram Jessica Abo on LinkedIn Learn more about Jessica Abo here Carlyn Bushman on Instagram Carlyn Bushman on LinkedIn Learn more about Carlyn Bushman here Get Featured on Startups in Stilettos Want a chance to be featured on Startups in Stilettos? We’re currently accepting applications from our Entreprenista League members to be featured on the show! Think of the Entreprenista League as your team members in what can be a lonely startup founder’s journey. You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded female startup founders who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, the opportunity to have your story featured on our website, social channels – and, of course, the Startups in Stilettos podcast – and so much MORE!

Afton moved to Italy with her husband and realized how difficult it was to find a job when she didn’t know the language. So she decided to start freelancing to make money. After a few years, she realized her specialty was with design and strategy, so she decided to open her own business. In today’s episode, we sit down with Afton Negrea, digital strategist and designer. She shares when she knew it was time to start her business, what she is most proud of, how to launch a course, and so much more. “I like to think of myself as the Swiss Army knife for your business. It's really I'm looking at it from all different angles. But first and foremost, I'm a digital strategist. So I really like to have a strategic idea in mind for your business and where you are, where you're going and how you're going to get there.” - Afton Negrea This week on Startups in Stilettos: Afton shares how she combined designing and strategy into one (4:12) Afton discusses what she had to learn in business (5:35) Afton talks about when she knew she was going to step out on her own (9:17) Afton shares what she is proud of (15:54) Afton discusses how to launch a course or services (17:30) Carlyn, Jessica, and Afton talk about pricing your services (22:27) Resources Mentioned: Asana Nifty Project Management Slack Kajabi Descript Our Favorite Quotes: “I think I've always known that I meant to do my own thing. And I've always been that person who's gone the extra mile in any job that I've done.” - Afton Negrea “What I've tried to encourage my clients to do is take it back to the olden days, let's like, take it back to the 90s, for example, when it was the bomb.com.” - Afton Negrea “I know this is cliche, but I am very proud of my clients when I see them when I really, really am. Because I feel like I'm birthing a baby with them and the baby is growing, you know, and I really love to see it come to life.” - Afton Negrea Join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey! Connect with Afton Negrea: AftonNegrea.com Afton Negrea on Instagram Afton Negrea on LinkedIn Connect with your Startups in Stilettos hosts: Jessica Abo on Instagram Jessica Abo on LinkedIn Learn more about Jessica Abo here Carlyn Bushman on Instagram Carlyn Bushman on LinkedIn Learn more about Carlyn Bushman here Get Featured on Startups in Stilettos Want a chance to be featured on Startups in Stilettos? We’re currently accepting applications from our Entreprenista League members to be featured on the show! Think of the Entreprenista League as your team members in what can be a lonely startup founder’s journey. You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded female startup founders who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, the opportunity to have your story featured on our website, social channels – and, of course, the Startups in Stilettos podcast – and so much MORE!

Ten years ago, Allison was working a grueling schedule (which she still does), and relied heavily on copious amounts of caffeine to just survive. After finding herself experiencing negative effects due to the caffeine content, she cut it out for herbal tea. She decided to open her business to share the positivity that she found through a caffeine-free lifestyle. In today’s episode, we sit down with Allison Ullo, founder of Leaves of Leisure, a luxury herbal tea brand that focuses on the ritual of tea. Allison shares with us where the idea came from to start Leaves of Leisure, how she balances her business while working full-time, her proudest moments, and so much more. “I really started to experiment and mix my own teas and sort of, like, got really into this idea of like, ‘I can cure anything or make myself feel anything based on, like, the brew of tea that I create.’ So that's really where the idea behind the brand kind of came.” - Allison Ullo This week on Startups in Stilettos: Allison talks about the purpose and idea behind of Leaves of Leisure (1:51) Allison shares what she didn’t know about the tea business (6:35) Allison discusses her wins (8:45) Allison talks about how she balances her business with working full time (10:53) Allison shares her proudest moments (16:36) Jessica and Carlyn shares their wins (20:04) Resources Mentioned: Canva Klaviyo Shipbob Our Favorite Quotes: “So I just was like, ‘I'm going to cut it out. I'm not going to drink caffeine anymore.’ And as soon as I stopped drinking it, I went through these horrific withdrawals, sweating, anxiety, jitters, like, I felt like I couldn't even function throughout the day. It was sort of like my aha moment.” - Allison Ullo “But I think the best thing you can do for yourself is to time block and habit stack, you have to really decide how you're going to spend each hour of your day and really map it out.” - Allison Ullo “Tea is one of those things that really is like if you're drinking it with no sugar and nothing in it, like, it's just pure benefits.” - Allison Ullo Join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey! Connect with Allison Ullo: LeavesOfLeisure.com Leaves of Leisure on Instagram Leaves of Leisure on Facebook Connect with your Startups in Stilettos hosts: Jessica Abo on Instagram Jessica Abo on LinkedIn Learn more about Jessica Abo here Carlyn Bushman on Instagram Carlyn Bushman on LinkedIn Learn more about Carlyn Bushman here Get Featured on Startups in Stilettos Want a chance to be featured on Startups in Stilettos? We’re currently accepting applications from our Entreprenista League members to be featured on the show! Think of the Entreprenista League as your team members in what can be a lonely startup founder’s journey. You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded female startup founders who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, the opportunity to have your story featured on our website, social channels – and, of course, the Startups in Stilettos podcast – and so much MORE! Grow Your Startup with Startups in Stilettos Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of Startups in Stilettos, powered by the Entreprenista PodcastNetwork. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts. Apple Podcasts|TuneIn|GooglePlay|Stitcher|Spotify|iHeart Radio Be sure to share your favorite episodes on social media to help us reach more startup founders, like you, and have a chance to win a one-on-one mentor and strategy session with Stephanie Cartin. Join us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. And for even more exclusive content and information – and to get access to the 8 Secrets to Success in Your Business video course and worksheet – visit our website.

Jodi Klaristenfeld was introduced to the NICU world when she delivered her daughter at 28 weeks. She knew soon after she wanted to help other preemie families navigate that road a little easier, so she dug in and started a business doing just that. In today’s episode, we sit down with Jodi Klaristenfeld, founder of FLRRiSH, a company that offers coaching and support for parents of preemies. Jodi shares about how her daughter’s birth inspired her to start FLRRiSH, what she’s most proud of, the stigmas preemies face, and so much more. “I figured other people must be struggling the way I was, and still am to some extent, and I just want to make that road easier for someone than it was for myself and my husband.” - Jodi Klaristenfeld This week on Startups in Stilettos: Jodi shares how she came up with the idea for FLRRiSH (3:50) Jodi talks all about her challenges and wins (5:09) Jodi discusses what she’s most proud of (11:08) Jodi goes in-depth about the experience of having a child in the NICU (13:17) Jodi talks about the many stigmas around children who are born premature (17:26) Carlyn shares her thoughts on needing a business website (21:14) Resources Mentioned: Google Drive Dropbox Our Favorite Quotes: “What I've realized with FLRRiSH is something that my dad said is that people buy from you because they like you. They believe in you and they believe in your story. They can go and buy services from so many places. But if you're passionate and you demonstrate to people why they should buy from you, then they will.” - Jodi Klaristenfeld “My mom said, ‘I could have told you that you were going to tell me that months ago.’ And I said to her, ‘Well, how did you know that?’ And she said, ‘I knew that the way I knew your first week from law school, you were never going to practice law. I'm your mother.’” - Jodi Klaristenfeld “My OB told me that on, I think, day four, he's like ‘Jodi, show up for yourself, process what's going on, because you don't even know the half of it. And once you do that, you can be there for your daughter.’” - Jodi Klaristenfeld Join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey! Connect with Jodi Klaristenfeld: FLRRiSH on Instagram FLRRiSH.com Jodi Klaristenfeld on LinkedIn Connect with your Startups in Stilettos hosts: Jessica Abo on Instagram Jessica Abo on LinkedIn Learn more about Jessica Abo here Carlyn Bushman on Instagram Carlyn Bushman on LinkedIn Learn more about Carlyn Bushman here Get Featured on Startups in Stilettos Want a chance to be featured on Startups in Stilettos? We’re currently accepting applications from our Entreprenista League members to be featured on the show! Think of the Entreprenista League as your team members in what can be a lonely startup founder’s journey. You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded female startup founders who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, the opportunity to have your story featured on our website, social channels – and, of course, the Startups in Stilettos podcast – and so much MORE! Grow Your Startup with Startups in Stilettos Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of Startups in Stilettos, powered by the Entreprenista PodcastNetwork. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts. Apple Podcasts|TuneIn|GooglePlay|Stitcher|Spotify|iHeart Radio Be sure to share your favorite episodes on social media to help us reach more startup founders, like you, and have a chance to win a one-on-one mentor and strategy session with Stephanie Cartin. Join us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. And for even more exclusive content and information – and to get access to the 8 Secrets to Success in Your Business video course and worksheet – visit our website.

Ronica had made it to the mecca of her industry––becoming a White House correspondent. But during her second pregnancy, she realized she wanted to prioritize her family, so she decided to start her own PR business. In today’s episode, we sit down with Ronica Cleary, founder and CEO of Cleary Strategies, an agency that provides public relations, media placements, and crisis management to leaders and corporations. She shares why she left TV to start her business, the things she has learned, what hiring her for PR would look like for her clients, and so much more. “We help them [clients] earn media placements in television, radio, print, digital and podcast. But I do like to say our specialty and the thing we do most often for our clients that really differentiates us from other PR agencies is our ability to secure TV placements for our clients.” - Ronica Cleary This week on Startups in Stilettos: Ronica details what Cleary Strategies does (2:23) Ronica shares why she left TV to start her business (3:21) Ronica talks about the things she has learned (6:37) Ronica discusses when she knew it was time to leave her job to start Cleary Strategies (11:23) Ronica explains what PR looks like for her and her clients (15:00) Ronica shares her win for the week (21:49) Our Favorite Quotes: “I had some really great advice from a former producer of mine, who said, you know, ‘you made it to the White House, you've made it to cover the White House in about five to eight years of television reporting and politics.’ You know, he said, ‘You did it. Some people it takes a lifetime. So it just feels like the time that you can check that off your list and start something new and creative that fulfills you.’” - Ronica Cleary “I say motherhood––having three children––and running a business. Both are not for the faint of heart.” - Ronica Cleary “You can't really be a White House correspondent and run like a PR agency on the side.” - Ronica Cleary Connect with Ronica Cleary: Ronica on Instagram Ronica on LinkedIn Ronica on Twitter ClearyStrategies.com Connect with your Startups in Stilettos hosts: Carlyn Bushman on Instagram Carlyn Bushman on LinkedIn Learn more about Carlyn Bushman here Jessica Abo on Instagram Jessica Abo on LinkedIn Learn more about Jessica Abo here Get Featured on Startups in Stilettos Want a chance to be featured on Startups in Stilettos? We’re currently accepting applications from our Entreprenista League members to be featured on the show! Think of the Entreprenista League as your team members in what can be a lonely startup founder’s journey. You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded female startup founders who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, the opportunity to have your story featured on our website, social channels – and, of course, the Startups in Stilettos podcast – and so much MORE! Join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!

After struggling with infertility for three years, all Jess Milanes wanted was to create a space to discuss openly and honestly about women’s health issues, so she started a podcast. Little did she know that that would lead to her discovering a newfound love for the podcasting medium. Then she decided to help others with starting their podcasts. In today’s episode, we sit down with Jess Milanes, founder of Smart Podcast Solutions, a podcast launch and management company. She shares how she knew it was time to leave corporate, what private podcasts are, the new management system she’s using, and so much more. “I just loved the podcasting medium. I love talking to people. And I have a background in systems and I'm just really technologically inclined. And so I thought what better way to marry my love of podcasting, my love of systems and my love of people, and bring it all together and support women in starting their own podcast.” - Jess Milanes Hello, Entreprenistas! New Year, new team! Many of you may remember Carlyn Bushman’s episode a few months back, well, now she joins us as a co-host! Please give her the warmest of welcomes. This week on Startups in Stilettos: Jess tells us about Smart Podcast Solutions (2:50) Jess shares how she knew it was the right time to leave corporate (6:36) Jess discusses what she is most proud of (11:01) Jess gives us the scoop on what private podcasts are (12:33) Jess shares the new management system she’s building out (17:30) Jessica and Carlyn discuss the questions they’ve recently been asked (20:23) Resources Mentioned: Clickup Google Drive Dubsado Excel Airtable Drip www.Entreprenista.com/join Our Favorite Quotes: “Up until the day that I was leaving, I still didn't know that I was making the right choice. And it was really interesting. The Universe kind of told me that I was because two days after my last day at the bank, they were acquired, and I would have been laid off anyway.” - Jess Milanes “So there's this really great idea of using these private podcasts as a way to understand who are your superfans, and who's really warmed up to buy from you, and whatever you are putting out into the world.” - Jess Milanes “I really felt that there needed to be a platform for women to openly discuss their women's health issues. And it was all around providing representation and support.” - Jess Milanes Connect with Jess Milanes: Jess on Instagram www.SmartPodcastSolutions.com Jess on LinkedIn Connect with your Startups in Stilettos hosts: Stephanie Cartin on Instagram Stephanie Cartin on LinkedIn Jessica Abo on Instagram Jessica Abo on LinkedIn Carlyn Bushman on Instagram Carlyn Bushman on LinkedIn Learn more about Jessica Abo here Get Featured on Startups in Stilettos Want a chance to be featured on Startups in Stilettos? We’re currently accepting applications from our Entreprenista League members to be featured on the show! Think of the Entreprenista League as your team members in what can be a lonely startup founder’s journey. You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded female startup founders who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, the opportunity to have your story featured on our website, social channels – and, of course, the Startups in Stilettos podcast – and so much MORE! Join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!

Like many Entreprenistas, motherhood changed the course of Pam’s life in a way she didn’t expect. She was happy living out her 20s dreams of being a TV correspondent until she became a mom of two, then she realized her priorities had shifted, so she started Hustle Like A Mom. In today’s episode, we sit down with Pam Pekerman, serial Entreprenista, author of Edit to Expand Planner, and creator of Hustle Like A Mom. She shares what inspired her to start her business, her lessons when starting out, why she created a planner, and so much more. “I can't be the only woman in her early 30s among my peers who was like, ‘Oh, I don't know what's going on here. I think there might be a different path.’ And so I started an interview series of women that I said were doing, creating, and redefining what it means to be a working mom. Everybody was excited. We had the interview series. But really, it wasn't until 2019, where I was like ‘I think this should be more.’” - Pam Pekerman This week on Startups in Stilettos: Pam shares how Hustle like a Mom came to be (2:00) Why knowing who your “one person” is is the most important thing (4:27) Pam gives some great tips for beginning Entreprenistas (6:30) Pam explains why she created her Edit to Expand Planner (12:29) Pam answers the question, ‘how do you know entrepreneurship is right for you?’ (22:00) Resources Mentioned: Trello Canva Excel Edit to Expand Planner Instagram TikTok Print Tech Our Favorite Quotes: “It's okay to not know, it's not okay to not ask questions.” - Pam Pekerman “Focus on your shot.” - Pam Pekerman “​​I think sometimes entrepreneurs can get really anxious because they hear the information from every direction. I always say, like, ‘you don't have to eat the whole menu at the restaurant.’” - Pam Pekerman Connect with Pam Pekerman: Hustle like a Mom on Instagram Pam Pekerman on Instagram HustleLikeAMom.com Connect with your Startups in Stilettos hosts: Stephanie Cartin on Instagram Stephanie Cartin on LinkedIn Jessica Abo on Instagram Jessica Abo on LinkedIn Learn more about Jessica Abo here Get Featured on Startups in Stilettos Want a chance to be featured on Startups in Stilettos? We’re currently accepting applications from our Entreprenista League members to be featured on the show! Think of the Entreprenista League as your team members in what can be a lonely startup founder’s journey. You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded female startup founders who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, the opportunity to have your story featured on our website, social channels – and, of course, the Startups in Stilettos podcast – and so much MORE! Join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!

Sri-Lanka born, Australia raised Ginni has had quite the diverse career path. She had a broadcast radio show in Australia for years, she worked on airplanes, she started her own podcast, and currently she owns a podcast producing company that produces nearly 100 shows each year. And now, she’s here to help. In today’s episode, we sit down with Ginni Saraswati, founder and CEO of Ginni Media, the go-to all-in-one shop for podcast producing. She shares why she moved across the world with only five clients when she went full-time with her podcasting company, she gives tips for starting a podcast, she tells us about the exciting new original shows she’s producing, and so much more. “So I came to America with five clients, all based in the East Coast. And I thought, ‘Okay, what could change if I go all in?’ and I quickly found out that a lot changed when I went all in. And the company, we started off with five clients, and now we're up to over 80 that we've produced or currently produce for throughout the year. But we've launched over 300 podcasts. So it's been quite a journey.” - Ginni Saraswati This week on Startups in Stilettos: Ginni shares what caused her to start Ginni Media (1:42) Ginni talks about how she knew it was the right time to go full-time (4:39) When Ginni decided to invest in herself and a business coach (12:09) Ginni gives advice for starting a podcast (16:58) Ginni asks Stephanie three questions (20:34) Ginni shares how the Entreprenista League has helped her business (27:04) Ginni talks about the podcasting event she’s hosting for the Entreprenista League (27:56) Ginni gives a taste of the exciting things coming to Ginni Media in the coming year (28:52) Resources Mentioned: Asana Monday.com Tadam Our Favorite Quotes: “I was doing podcasting as a side hustle while I was building airplanes.” - Ginni Saraswati “A lot of brown culture is predicated on what people think and ‘what will they think?’ But I'm like, Well, we know what people think I'm just gonna keep walking forward, like, ‘what else can you do at this point?’” - Ginni Saraswati “What we forget about with audio media, or podcasting is just how intimate it is. Unlike video or reading or text or anything like that you're literally in someone's ear. So the impact or the influence is greater.” - Ginni Saraswati Connect with Ginni Saraswati: GinniMedia.com Ginni Media on Instagram Ginni Media on LinkedIn Connect with your Startups in Stilettos hosts: Stephanie Cartin on Instagram Stephanie Cartin on LinkedIn Jessica Abo on Instagram Jessica Abo on LinkedIn Learn more about Jessica Abo here Get Featured on Startups in Stilettos Want a chance to be featured on Startups in Stilettos? We’re currently accepting applications from our Entreprenista League members to be featured on the show! Think of the Entreprenista League as your team members in what can be a lonely startup founder’s journey. You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded female startup founders who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, the opportunity to have your story featured on our website, social channels – and, of course, the Startups in Stilettos podcast – and so much MORE! Join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!

Julia Xu was always entrepreneurial, but she had no idea that she would one day run four businesses. However, each one started naturally after the previous one she started. Today, she runs a consulting business, a home office shop, an ecommerce shop, and an automated product sourcing platform. In today’s episode, we talk with Julia Xu–founder of USourced, ReSourcery, Multitasky, and Julia Xu Consulting–to find out how she balances it all, the importance of the right friendships, how to decide if fundraising is right, and so much more. “So I don’t feel like work is work, work is life in a way where I’m actually building something that I truly believe in, and I’m truly passionate about, and I wouldn’t be anywhere else, I would rather just be working on this.” – Julia Xu This week on Startups in Stilettos: Julia shares about each of her companies (1:06) Julia talks about her corporate background and how it led to her starting four businesses (2:05) Julia shares how she manages her time (6:05) Julia, Jessica, and Stephanie talk about the importance of finding the right romantic partner as business owners (11:34) Julia talks about how to decide if fundraising is right for your business (14:59) Jessica and Stephanie share how they decided to start their businesses (20:15) Resources Mentioned: CRON Superhuman Notion Air Table Our Favorite Quotes: “Now getting all those ‘dream jobs,’ I realized I actually lost an initial self who had more ambition and wanted to create my own thing.” – Julia Xu “By saying no, and by turning down things, you’re only opening up yourself to things that actually add value and positivity to your life.” – Julia Xu Connect with Julia Xu: Julia Xu on LinkedIn Julia Xu on Instagram Multitasky on Instagram ReSourcery on Instagram Julia Xu Consulting on Instagram USourced.com Connect with your Startups in Stilettos hosts: Stephanie Cartin on Instagram Stephanie Cartin on LinkedIn Jessica Abo on Instagram Jessica Abo on LinkedIn Learn more about Jessica Abo here Get Featured on Startups in Stilettos Want a chance to be featured on Startups in Stilettos? We’re currently accepting applications from our Entreprenista League members to be featured on the show! Think of the Entreprenista League as your team members in what can be a lonely startup founder’s journey. You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded female startup founders who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, the opportunity to have your story featured on our website, social channels – and, of course, the Startups in Stilettos podcast – and so much MORE! Join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey! Grow Your Startup with Startups in Stilettos Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of Startups in Stilettos, powered by the Entreprenista PodcastNetwork. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts. Be sure to share your favorite episodes on social media to help us reach more startup founders, like you, and have a chance to win a one-on-one mentor and strategy session with Stephanie Cartin. Join us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. And for even more exclusive content and information – and to get access to the 8 Secrets to Success in Your Business video course and worksheet – visit our website.

Dr. Najwa Javed was on a girls trip when the idea for her footwear business was born. Everyone but her had foot pain and it was then that she knew she had to do something. E’MAR was born soon after. In today’s episode, we sit down with Dr. Najwa Javed, founder of E’MAR, a revolutionary footwear brand that blends luxury and comfort into one. She talks with us about raising capital, balancing everything, being an introverted Entreprenista, and so much more. ““​​So I decided that I was just going to use my medical expertise, and figure that like, okay, if you’re in a high heel, what should your foot do? What is your posture doing? Where are your pain points? How can I fix it?” – Dr. Najwa Javed This week on Startups in Stilettos: Dr. Najwa talks about her background and where her idea for E’MAR came from (4:02) Dr. Najwa talks about raising capital (9:56) Dr. Najwa shares how she balances being a mom and running a business while being a doctor (15:15) Dr. Najwa talks about her team (18:26) Dr. Najwa shares how she got E’MAR in front of retailers (20:42) Stephanie and Dr. Najwa talk about being introverted Entreprenistas (25:12) Resources Mentioned: Shopify Google Suite Dropbox Notion Canva Photoshop Adobe Suite Our Favorite Quotes: “Everybody was in pain except me. And they were like, ‘this is ridiculous. How come you don’t have any pain?’ And I was like, ‘oh, it’s because like, I know how to buy heels from my feet.’ So they were like, ‘you have to teach us, you have to teach us, you have to teach everybody.’ It started like that. Just teaching somebody how to buy heels, how to wear heels.” – Dr. Najwa Javed “My company has been built on this ability to actually test my products on patients, which is just so amazing.” – Dr. Najwa Javed “So a no is always a yes to me. Because you can make it better.” – Dr. Najwa Javed Connect with Dr. Najwa Javed : E’MAR on Instagram ShopEMAR.com Dr. Najwa on Instagram E’MAR at Nordstrom Connect with your Startups in Stilettos hosts: Stephanie Cartin on Instagram Stephanie Cartin on LinkedIn Jessica Abo on Instagram Jessica Abo on LinkedIn Learn more about Jessica Abo here Get Featured on Startups in Stilettos Want a chance to be featured on Startups in Stilettos? We’re currently accepting applications from our Entreprenista League members to be featured on the show! Think of the Entreprenista League as your team members in what can be a lonely startup founder’s journey. You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded female startup founders who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, the opportunity to have your story featured on our website, social channels – and, of course, the Startups in Stilettos podcast – and so much MORE! Join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey! Grow Your Startup with Startups in Stilettos Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of Startups in Stilettos, powered by the Entreprenista PodcastNetwork. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts. Apple Podcasts|TuneIn|GooglePlay|Stitcher|Spotify|iHeart Radio Be sure to share your favorite episodes on social media to help us reach more startup founders, like you, and have a chance to win a one-on-one mentor and strategy session with Stephanie Cartin. Join us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. And for even more exclusive content and information – and to get access to the 8 Secrets to Success in Your Business video course and worksheet – visit our website.

Diana Arango is a law graduate and self-proclaimed serial entrepreneur. She graduated from the University of The Andes with a Bachelor in Law before attending Fordham University School of Law where she completed her Masters of Laws in International Business and Trade Law. Diana then spent some time working in a variety of impressive roles, mostly within the real estate sector, before eventually starting her business, Chefpost. On this episode, Diana walks us through her experience in starting Chefpost. She shares a bit about the inspiration behind the business, what challenges she faced, and how she was able to overcome them. “I think it’s very important as a founder and a CEO, you do not need to know everything very well. But you need to understand different aspects of the business because that way you can outsource and delegate, knowing a little bit about what you’re delegating.” – Diana Arango This week on Startups in Stilettos: What it was that inspired Diana to start Chefpost (1:12) How Diana turned her dream of Chefpost into a reality (2:08) How Diana was able to balance her personal life with starting a new business (3:30) The ways in which Diana chose to finance Chefpost (6:23) Diana’s tips on fundraising for business (8:45) The biggest lesson Diana learned in starting Chefpost (13:47) How to build your PR strategy based on your type of business (15:54) What the Entreprenista League has meant to Diana and the ways in which she’s benefited from it (22:22) Resources Mentioned: Dream Ventures The Entreprenista League Our Favorite Quotes: “I like business, I’m entrepreneur-minded. And I am always business analyzing everything. So where there is a problem, I always try to find the business solution to it.” – Diana Arango “I think that happens to all entrepreneurs, that you’re so passionate about [your business] that you still work extra hours and it doesn’t feel that hard.” – Diana Arango “A lot of sacrifices, all of our savings, went into the business but we just believed so much that this was gonna work that it was the only option.” – Diana Arango Connect with Diana Arango: Chefpost Chefpost on Instagram Chefpost on Facebook Diana Arango on LinkedIn Diana Arango on Instagram Connect with your Startups in Stilettos hosts: Stephanie Cartin on Instagram Stephanie Cartin on LinkedIn Jessica Abo on Instagram Jessica Abo on LinkedIn Learn more about Jessica Abo here Get Featured on Startups in Stilettos Want a chance to be featured on Startups in Stilettos? We’re currently accepting applications from our Entreprenista League members to be featured on the show! Think of the Entreprenista League as your team members in what can be a lonely startup founder’s journey. You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded female startup founders who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, the opportunity to have your story featured on our website, social channels – and, of course, the Startups in Stilettos podcast – and so much MORE! Join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey! Grow Your Startup with Startups in Stilettos Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of Startups in Stilettos, powered by the Entreprenista PodcastNetwork. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.

Elisa Molina is the founder and CEO of COVEDOZA, a go-to marketplace for women to feel empowered, validated, and confident through art. Elisa is passionate about helping female artists and people of color bolster their artistic influence while generating passive income. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Business from the State University of New York College at Buffelo, a Bachelor’s degree in Business from the Florida International University College of Business, and has previously served in the Peace Corps in San Jose and Costa Rica. Elisa joins us today to share the humble beginnings of her company and how her experience in the Peace Corps inspired her to support and empower female artists and creatives. We discuss the challenges she faced while learning about import and export laws and how she developed a revenue-sharing model that supported the artisans she collaborated. Elisa shares how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted her business and her experience with crowdfunding and applying for small business COVID-19 relief grants. She shares tips for creating your first crowdfunding campaign and how she leveraged LinkedIn to promote her campaign. We also discuss PR strategies for increasing your brand awareness and the pros and cons of using H.E.R.O. as part of your PR strategy. “There are tons of opportunities and tools available for women entrepreneurs to apply for grants.” – Elisa Molina If you’re looking to take your business to the next level, join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey! This week on Startups in Stilettos: What inspired Elisa to launch COVEDOZA From ideation to launch: How Elisa initially began collaborating with international artisans How Elisa educated herself on navigating import and shipping challenges with international suppliers How Elisa created a revenue-sharing model to support the artisans as well as her company What kept Elisa inspired and motivated to continue building COVENDOZA Applying for grants and creating a crowdfunding campaign Tips for creating your first crowdfunding campaign Marketing strategies Elisa used to promote her business Understanding how grants work and how Elisa used the grand funds to grow her COVEDOZA How to find small business grants in your area and state Strategies to increase brand awareness and identifying the best ways to connect with reporters What’s next for COVEDOZA and the inspiration behind the “It’s Me Season” apparel collection Resources Mentioned: GoFundMe Small Business Relief Initiative iFundWomen iFundWomen of Color Shopify Google Drive Hello Alice Funded Help a Reporter Out Google Alerts Our Favorite Quotes: “Don’t focus on perfecting. Focus on getting started. Launch it and as you go – as you learn, as you continue to raise funds – you will have an opportunity to always update your campaign.” – Elisa Molina “I noticed that the more grants I applied for, the better I was getting at pitching my business and injecting passion and mission.” – Elisa Molina “If we do not prioritize ourselves, we cannot take care of others.” – Elisa Molina Connect with Elisa Molina: COVEDOZA Email: Elisa@covedoza.com COVEDOZA on LinkedIn COVEDOZA on Instagram COVEDOZA on Facebook COVEDOZA on Twitter COVEDOZA on YouTube Elisa Molina on LinkedIn Connect with your Startups in Stilettos hosts! Stephanie Cartin on Instagram Stephanie Cartin on LinkedIn Jessica Abo on Instagram Jessica Abo on LinkedIn Learn more about Jessica Abo here

Jill Apgar is the founder of Coco Beans, a luxury bedding and sleepwear brand offering luxurious silk crib sheets and pillow cases using the world’s softest, most innovative fabrics that families can trust. The company is best known for their machine-washable, 100% silk crib sheets. Following a forced layoff from her corporate career in 2020, Jill launched her company with a desire to source the best crib sheet fabrics that not only felt luxurious to the skin, but also helped reduced tangled hair for children and adults. Jill holds a Bachelor’s degree in Applied Economics and Management from Cornell University and is a member of the Board of Directors for Harper’s Corner Foundation, Inc. She has over 12 years of experience in the corporate retail merchandising industry with some of the most iconic brands, including Abercrombie & Fitch and Victoria Secret. Jill joins us today to share what it was like to launch a luxury bedding and sleepwear company during a worldwide pandemic. She shares the initial steps she took to launch her company and why it’s important to learn from your mistakes and failures as well as your successes. We discuss how her personal painpoint led to launching the company and the value of networking and pushing yourself out of your comfort zone. Jill shares her experience with crowdfunding and how her products have evolved over the last two years. We also discuss tips for being ‘media-ready’ and ‘camera-ready’ as a new startup founder and how to craft your startup story to have the most impact. “For 30 to 45 days, you’re selling. If you want to be successful at that – you need a strategy and marketing plan.” – Jill Apgar If you’re looking to take your business to the next level, join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey! This week on Startups in Stilettos: How a painpoint in Jill’s personal life led to launching the Coco Beans company What it was like to launch a new business during the pandemic The importance of learning from your mistakes and failures as well as your successes The initial steps Jill took to launch her business The value of networking, pushing yourself out of your comfort zone, and keeping yourself accountable Bootstrapping the product development costs and how Jill financed the launch of her business The lessons Jill learned while raising money to launch her business What kept Jill going despite facing challenges and setbacks The process of creating the Coco Beans brand How the Coco Beans products have evolved over the last two years Embracing and understanding your inherent strengths as an entrepreneur The PR journey and how Jill promoted her product The value of joining a business community of like-minded entrepreneurs Tips for being media and camera ready as a new startup founder How to craft your startup story and identify what to include and what to leave out What’s next for Coco Beans Resources Mentioned: Columbus College of Arts & Design Shopify Klaviyo Email Marketing Our Favorite Quotes: “You have to start somewhere.” – Jill Apgar “Have a day-by-day marketing strategy to get you through that crowdfunding campaign.” – Jill Apgar “Understand what you are inherently good at as an entrepreneur, and find people to fill the gaps.” – Jill Apgar Connect with Jill Apgar: Coco Beans – use Promo Code: Entreprenista15 to get 15% off your first order! Coco Beans on LinkedIn Coco Beans on Instagram Coco Beans on Facebook Coco Beans on Twitter Jill Apgar on LinkedIn Connect with your Startups in Stilettos hosts! Stephanie Cartin on Instagram Stephanie Cartin on LinkedIn Jessica Abo on Instagram Jessica Abo on LinkedIn Learn more about Jessica Abo here

When Carlyn stepped into Entrepreneurship to be closer to her four children, she thought it would be easy. After her first business came to an end, she realized her real passion was in helping other women grow their businesses, thus she created Carlyn Bushman Consulting. In today's episode, we sit down with Carlyn Bushman, founder of Carlyn Bushman Consulting, a consulting firm that helps women grow their businesses and define their success. Carlyn shares why she switched business models, what her business looks like today, what helped her business explode, and so much more. "I work with women who are just starting out. And I typically do that through a workshop, POP Academy, it is very popular. And that is a workshop that I hold where it takes you from six steps, and we go through it together. And it really gets you grounded in your business." - Carlyn Bushman This week on Startups in Stilettos: Carlyn talks about her background and what made her start her business (1:40) What made Carlyn switch to a different business model after 2 years in business (6:51) Carlyn shares what her business looks like today (10:42) What helped Carlyn fast-track her business (12:32) Stephanie and Carlyn talk about managing social media (22:12) Stephanie and Carlyn discuss adspend (26:57) Resources Mentioned: AirTable DashLane Klipfolio Smart Cue Our Favorite Quotes: "You have to be very intentional with your schedule when dropping into entrepreneurship as well." - Carlyn Bushman "So I would advise anybody who's in a partnership, definitely drop in and make sure you have a tight exit agreement." - Carlyn Bushman "So if I think about your business, I'm figuring out what comes next, then what's next, then what's next and how to put it all together. It's the visual that I've come up with lately, because I cannot not think about your business. And it really matters to me." - Carlyn Bushman Connect with Carlyn Bushman: CarlynBushmanConsulting.com Carlyn on LinkedIn Carlyn on Instagram Carlyn on Facebook Carlyn on TikTok Connect with your Startups in Stilettos hosts: Stephanie Cartin on Instagram Stephanie Cartin on LinkedIn Jessica Abo on Instagram Jessica Abo on LinkedIn Learn more about Jessica Abo here Get Featured on Startups in Stilettos Want a chance to be featured on Startups in Stilettos? We’re currently accepting applications from our Entreprenista League members to be featured on the show! Think of the Entreprenista League as your team members in what can be a lonely startup founder’s journey. You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded female startup founders who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, the opportunity to have your story featured on our website, social channels – and, of course, the Startups in Stilettos podcast – and so much MORE! Join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey! Grow Your Startup with Startups in Stilettos Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of Startups in Stilettos, powered by the Entreprenista PodcastNetwork. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts. Be sure to share your favorite episodes on social media to help us reach more startup founders, like you, and have a chance to win a one-on-one mentor and strategy session with Stephanie Cartin. Join us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. And for even more exclusive content and information – and to get access to the 8 Secrets to Success in Your Business video course and worksheet – visit our website.

As a life-long teacher, Caitlin knew from a young age that her calling was helping children. So she started tutoring, then that turned into educational consulting. Once the pandemic hit, business exploded as more schools needed her consulting for remote learning. Today, she’s about to take her business nationwide. In today’s episode, we sit down with Caitlin Meister, founding director of The Greer Meister Group, a New York City based private tutoring and educational consulting practice. She shares tips for helping children learn, how she navigated the rapid growth from the pandemic, what she is most proud of, and so much more. “Then something really amazing happened because it became bigger than just being about my son, because I started to talk to other parents. And I was helping them figure out how their kids learned best when I realized that this was something I could give to other moms.” - Caitlin Meister This week on Startups in Stilettos: Caitlin shares where the idea for The Greer Meister Group came from (1:52) Caitlin gives tips to help children learn (4:10) Caitlin explains the hardest part of rapidly growing (9:02) Caitlin’s top business tool tip (15:06) What Caitlin is most proud of (16:48) Caitlin discusses her ideal clients (17:44) Stephanie and Caitlin discuss scaling and marketing businesses (20:43) Resources Mentioned: WhatsApp Our Favorite Quotes: “Never dismissing them and saying, ‘Oh, you're too young to know the answer to that,’ right? A five year old is not going to be ready for the same answer that a 15 year old might be ready for but there's always a developmentally appropriate way to answer a child's question.” - Caitlin Meister “The biggest thing that makes it all feel worthwhile is every time another mom tells me that we're changing her family's lives, it doesn't get more fulfilling than that.” - Caitlin Meister “I mean, that kind of external recognition feels really good. I mean, I'm not gonna, I'm not gonna say that it doesn't. And also, there was a part of me that couldn't really stop and enjoy it and focus on it. Because we were running full steam.” - Caitlin Meister Connect with Caitlin Meister: JoyfullyLearning.com Joyfully Learning on Instagram Caitlin on Instagram Connect with your Startups in Stilettos hosts: Stephanie Cartin on Instagram Stephanie Cartin on LinkedIn Jessica Abo on Instagram Jessica Abo on LinkedIn Learn more about Jessica Abo here Get Featured on Startups in Stilettos Want a chance to be featured on Startups in Stilettos? We’re currently accepting applications from our Entreprenista League members to be featured on the show! Think of the Entreprenista League as your team members in what can be a lonely startup founder’s journey. You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded female startup founders who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, the opportunity to have your story featured on our website, social channels – and, of course, the Startups in Stilettos podcast – and so much MORE! Join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey! Grow Your Startup with Startups in Stilettos Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of Startups in Stilettos, powered by the Entreprenista PodcastNetwork. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts. Apple Podcasts|TuneIn|GooglePlay|Stitcher|Spotify|iHeart Radio Be sure to share your favorite episodes on social media to help us reach more startup founders, like you, and have a chance to win a one-on-one mentor and strategy session with Stephanie Cartin.