Babe Crafted Podcast with Gina Moccio

Today we have Andrea Layne on the podcast. Andrea is a business and accountability coach, mom, and wife. After a successful career in the corporate world as an IT professional, Andrea started her first of several businesses. Today she looks back on a decade of learning and growing and shares how she’s found harmony in her personal and business life.

Today we have Rachel Luna on the podcast! I saw Rachel speak at Jenna Carelli’s event in Tampa 2 years ago and she absolutely changed my life. I’m excited for her to inspire you too! Rachel is an International Speaker, Best-Selling Author, Podcast Host, Former U.S. Marine, Cancer Thriver (yes. that’s a proper noun), and an incredible coach who helps her coaching clients move through fear and towards the life and business of their dreams.

Today we have Jennifer Bingham of Cru Cellars on the podcast. Jen and her husband Torrey celebrated 10 years in business last year. Together they are making their way towards their dream goal of becoming a recognized hospitality and restaurant group in Central Florida. Jen and her team are embarking on the exciting path of opening two more locations in the near future and I’m so excited for you to get to know her and her story. Jen has phenomenal tips on building a team and how to take steps towards creating and then smashing your goals.

Today we have Nelani Palomino of 11th Owl on the podcast! Nelani launched her design and branding company in the summer of 2017 and we met at a networking event for women I was co-hosting with Startup Sisters. I’m so glad we did because getting to see her pivot in her business and become a first-time mom has been an amazing treat. I’m excited for you to get to know Nelani and all of her facets.

Today we have Emily Benko on the podcast. Emily is a Personal Stylist and the Founder of Benko Dynamic Styling. She launched her business days after being let go at her styling position at Reformation in London due to the Coronavirus pandemic that began sweeping the world in early 2020. It was no surprise to her family that as she started her next chapter, she would decide to start her own company. Emily’s s grandfather, Edward, aka Pop-pop worked in the textile industry his whole life and if you ask her, Emily will tell you her business is a tribute to her Pop-pop.

Today we have LaShonda Brown on the podcast. LaShonda is known online as the Automation Queen. She is extremely passionate about helping solopreneurs leverage technology to grow their business and reclaim their time while they are in the bootstrapping phase of their careers. As a Top Level Squarespace Expert, she creates visually appealing, easy to update, Squarespace sites that convert. She also produces engaging, easy-to-follow tutorials on her YouTube channel, Bootstrap Biz Advice.

Today, we have Andrejka of Andrejka Photography on the podcast! She’s a photographer who splits her year between her hometown in Northern Michigan and St. Petersburg, Florida. Andrejka launched her business 14 years ago and has continued to be the ever-so-bubbly, bright beam of light and energy for her couples and the families she captures ever since. To say that Andrejka loves to travel is a huge understatement— she is bit by the travel bug often and makes travel both within the U.S. and internationally a huge priority. I can’t wait for you to hear more about her nomadic life and about how she’s built a business that gives her the chance to live her life on her own terms.

Today we have Christina Jones of Christina Jones Photography on the podcast! Christina is a branding photographer and launched her business in December of 2018. Less than two years into her entrepreneurship journey, she founded a second company called ColorJoy Stock, an inclusive brand and membership that celebrates women of all skin tones, sizes, and shapes. Christina helps women embrace who they are so they can confidently show up in their business and Instagram feeds and Christina is a wife and mom of two. I’m over the moon to have her here today to brighten our day, spill some tea, & share some boss insight.

Today we have Amy Braswell of PaperFinch Design on the podcast! I met Amy through our local Rising Tide Society chapter after she moved to the Tampa Bay area from Atlanta a few short years ago. PaperFinch is a wanderlust-inspired art and home decor company and Amy creates all of the designs, including the skylines she creates from scratch for clients of their hometowns all over the world. As a woman who has gone through infertility and the loss of her beloved stepfather while also trying to navigate the challenging waters of entrepreneurship, Amy has so much to share about overcoming challenges and making your way towards your best self.

Today we have Shana Dewitt on the podcast, a Knoxville, Tennessee-based Business Strategist & Coach. Shana was an Art Director for a Fortune 100 company before launching her first business 6 years ago. She whole heartedly believes that if you want deep personal growth, starting a business get you that. Take in Shana’s stories and strengthen your business’ foundation by sticking around for her mini workshop on how to “Write a Positioning Statement” in this episode!

Today we have Kinsey Streib of Feel Good Social. I met Kinsey on Instagram and we bonded over a love of podcasting and social media. She lives in Vail, Colorado with her boyfriend and sweet pup and is a proud Enneagram 7. I’m excited to share Kinsey’s tips on creating captivating captions as well as how to find a way to embrace social media that fits you and your vibe. Have fun learning how to “Write Captivating Captions That Convert” with Kinsey! Her mini workshop is the bee’s knees!

Today we have Kristen Diaz of Vow + Vast on the show! I met Kristen almost exactly 1 year ago through Amy Braswell of PaperFinch Design and I’m glad I did because not only is she a phenomenal member of Babe Crafted, but she’s also my badass Virtual Assistant. She cares deeply about mental health and self care and helps her clients build sustainable businesses and schedules. Kristen is always making plans for her next trip and you can often find her offering some pets to any dog that crosses her path. Get excited for her mini workshop on how to “Manage Distractions in Your Business” so you can check off your to-do list and smash your goals!

Today we have Amanda Evans of Tight Ship on the podcast! Amanda set sail as a new business owner in the summer of 2018. Her goal was to create a virtual bookkeeping and soon to also cover accounting, business. She’s a 2019 working women of tampa bay seed money grant recipient and it’s no coincidence that her company is called Tight Ship- not only is the water a big part of her life, but she’s a former math teacher and definitely prides herself on being precise. Amanda loves being outdoors and you can often find her out on the family boat with her husband and two children.

Today we have Jessy Furniel of Adélie on the podcast! Jessy is a skincare formulator, entrepreneur, mother of 2 young daughters and 100% the babe behind the brand, Adelie. She’s currently celebrating 1 year in business and has smashed more goals in the last year that I can count. At the time of this recording we’re just a few months into 2020 and Adélie has won the Editors Award a second time for her Day Serum and she has won Best Night Serum. Not bad, huh?! I can’t wait for you to get to know this powerhouse of a woman through her stories, challenges, and humor.

Today we have Kadie Smith of Drop Cap Design on the podcast! Drop Cap Design is a branding studio for story-driven online businesses. Based in Montana, Kadie works on art direction and brand styling with digital entrepreneurs all over the world. In 2019, she launched a community called Enneagram for Entrepreneurs where she shares stories and insights about how personality plays a part in how we start and run our digital empires.

Heather Saunders of Ameriprise Financial is the kind of person you definitely want in your corner. She’s generous with her time & enthusiasm and you can often find her volunteering for a cause she’s passionate about or enjoying her favorite Tampa Heights restaurant with her hubby. Though she’ll tell you she’s not as well put together as you think— her commitment towards being accountable and smashing the goals she set for herself is truly amazing. Enjoy hearing about how she started her career in the financial industry and the tips she has for fellow introverts working hard to build a brand and business they’re proud of.

Melissa “Mel” Meredith is the Co-Founder of Content Creative and the Founder of Marketing With Mel. Most everyone calls her Mel and not only is she a Founding Member of Babe Crafted, but she’s also my neighbor. I am excited to introduce you to her story today. Mel’s career and approach to branding is inspiring and you’ll definitely wanna hear her epic mini workshop in the second half of this episode on creating a Content Strategy that speaks the love language of your Ideal Clients.

Bree of Authentic Edge Design is a wife, mom to two boys, a graphic designer and marketing strategist. She specializes in helping entrepreneurs in the health, wellness, and life coaching spaces design a brand and a business they love. She’s also been described as a marketing wingwoman, which is not only totally badass, but also completely true. Enjoy her stories and her mini workshop on gaining clarity & alignment in your business.

Theresa is a travel planner whose entrepreneur journey started 4 years ago. She’s a third generation business owner, total foodie, and lover of all things Lord of the Rings. I can’t wait for you to hear her advice on how to be a better communicator in your business as well as how holding a Madagascar Hissing Cockroach at the Florida State Fair helped her overcome her fear and self doubt.

Ann “Annie” Cox is the Founder & Lead Designer of the interior design firm and online shop, Ann Cox Design. Annie started her company 4 years ago and while she’ll be the first to tell you she’s still learning, she has a ton of amazing insight on how to keep evolving as you learn and grow. She’s inspired by color and the friends and family she often collaborates with. You can often find her surrounded by her 4 tiny dogs and with a glass of Sauvignon Blanc in hand. Have fun getting to know Annie through her business owner story & enjoy her mini workshop on how to curate a workspace that inspires you & helps you be your most productive self.

Meet Entrepreneur and Boutique Owner, Danielle Ferrari of Valhalla Resale. Danielle is big on 3 things: sustainability, knowing your numbers, and supporting the women around her. She launched Valhalla in February of 2017 and is celebrating 3 years in business with a thriving community of members and has her sights set on opening her second location within the next year. Take a dive into her business story & take some of her sustainability tips on your journey with you!

Welcome to Season 2, Episode 3 of Babe Behind The Brand! Get to know Salma Benkabbou of The Benkabbou Law Firm. Salma launched her law firm in the Fall of 2014. You might also know her on Instagram as The Millennial Business Lawyer. She is a big advocate for protecting your business and intellectual property and loves to educate the business community with tips she shares online as well as in person workshops around Tampa Bay. Salma is a tough cookie with a super kind and compassionate side and has helped me on more than one occasion to make sure my business is protected by way of trademarks and copyrights.

Rosana Rivera is half of the heart & brains being Xilo Mexican and Kofe Tampa. Rosana brings joy to any situation and makes everyone around her feel heard & special. At the time of our recording, her episode of Beat Bobby Flay had not yet aired. I’m so pleased to say that we can now shout from the rooftops that she Beat Bobby Flay with her tasty Beef Empanadas in an episode called ‘It Must’ve Been Love’. Enjoy getting to hear about her experience as a serial entrepreneur, being officially a Food Network Chef, & her mini workshop about how to rock budgeting in your business. 

Cherry is the head photographer of ByCherry Photography based in Santa Barbara, California. She specializes in wedding, elopements, and boudoir. For the past 11 years, Cherry has loved photographing couples in love, families growing, and helping entrepreneurs create their brands. In the first episode of season 2, Cherry shares how she’s used email automation to build a thriving business and reach her ideal client, aka brides hosting destination weddings in the city she loves. Enjoy getting to know Cherry’s story and how you can use these tools to reach your ideal client, too.

Today we have Copywriter and Content Strategist, Erika Vidal Holmes. Erika empowers her clients to embrace who they are and get really clear on what they bring to the table by helping them painlessly answer the common question of, “so what do you do?” by giving them the permission they often need to just be themselves and stop trying to be something else they THINK they should be. She does this with excellent copy and some fun & relatable pop culture sprinkled in. Be sure to tune in to her mini workshop on 'How to Uncover Your Secret Sauce' after her interview!

Francessca Randall is passionate about her family and helping families find their forever homes. In her episode she shares about how she transitioned from a public school teacher to a real estate agent. It wasn’t easy, but she made it happen and she’s often in the top 5 rank at her broker, Lombardo Team Real Estate. She shares about being a mom & a business owner and how’s she continued to set boundaries so she can be the woman she wants to be, once who’s taking care of herself, her family, & her clients. In her mini workshop, Francessca shares tips on how to curate your client experience. No two clients are exactly the same, so you want to make sure they feel heard & special from the get-go!

Leona Thriftola is the Founder of Indie Roller, a unique online membership for product-based creative entrepreneurs. Leona is a maker, a mom, a coach, and creator of a colorful, wonderful world with lots of real talk and self care generously added in. She’s amazing at launching new products, building community, & inspiring others to step into their creative genius. Take a listen to her amazing episode to soak up some rainbow vibes and take in her 3 tips on escaping the burnout loop. 

There are so many decisions entrepreneurs make along their journey. Get a peek into how Rosie Davies-Smith of LFA defined her niche, why she decided to start a second business called PR Dispatch, & her 3 top tips on how you can kickstart your own PR strategy for your business. I had the chance to interview Rosie in person at the LFA headquarters in London and getting the chance to know how she and her team navigated naysayers when she unveiled transparent pricing for PR and so much more was such a special treat. I know you're going to take so much inspiration & insight away from her interview. Enjoy her words and know that we're cheering you on in your journey as well. 

Tona Bell's addiction to her work led to a cycle of burn out and hospital visits. She realized she needed to make a change and there was no time like the present. Fast forward to today and she's the proud Proprietress of The Paper Seahorse and 2 retail shops filled with gorgeous paper goods, vintage typewriters, unique gifts, and yes–Mindfulness. Hear about Tona's journey as she closed the chapter on the agency she had built up over nearly 20 years with her husband behind and started a new chapter where she put herself & her health first. Tona is full of wonderful stories & her mini workshop at the end on how to bring Mindfulness to your daily life is solid gold.    

Ryann Halo of Salon Halo has overcome more challenges than you can really shake a stick at. The trajectory of her life changed immensely when she experienced the loss of her father and brother unexpectedly. She felt lost, became unable to stay on track with her education and dropped out of high school. However, her life changed when she started working as a hair stylist’s assistant, washing hair and sweeping the floors. Her grandparents helped her get tuition funds and transportation so she could attend hair school. Fast forward to today, and she’s the proud owner of two bustling salons with a focus on continued education and giving back to the community, as well as creating truly beautiful hair styles & color (obviously!). I hope you enjoy getting to know her and the tips she shares in her mini workshop on ‘How to Create a Culture of Abundance’ in your business. Your team is a huge asset, and if they feel supported, they’re going to support your clients.

Travel is a huge influence on Jessica, ka JB. She spent the bulk of 2018 in Seattle and Portugal and shares some stories about her vagabond lifestyle, including a scary one about a brush with human traffickers in a Southern town in Portugal. On a lighter note, she’s super passionate about helping brands better communicate who they are through design and marketing and has one wild card after another up her sleeve. She’ll inspire you to go after whatever you find interesting and wonderful no matter the preconceived notions you have about who you’re supposed to be or what you’re supposed to like. JB’s mini worksop topic is 3 steps to revamp your business wardrobe.

Kristin’s story is grounded in tons of good humor and with her being completely open to trial & error. She’s very passionate about going after the clients and projects she believes in and shares insight into how she transitioned away from wedding photography and into product photography. Her “I’m not afraid of getting left on unread” attitude will keep you laughing and ability to cold pitch like a boss has made all the difference in her transition and will inspire you to step outside of your comfort zone. Kristin’s mini workshop is 3 steps towards developing an identity for your brand.

Natasha’s story is all about being intuitive and finding her own flow, both as a business owner and a woman. She’s very open about her love for travel and one of her biggest pieces of happiness since launching her business is the ability to work from anywhere. She spent a month in Portugal this year and she’s mastered the balance of being polished & branded while also very real & approachable on social media. Natasha’s mini workshop topic is 3 steps towards batch-working social media for your business.

Photography wasn’t the original plan for Ashlee, but once she realized how passionate she had always been about imagery, it was a no brainer. Now she’s 7 years into being a photography business owner and she’s continuing to evolve and embrace who she is as a photographer. Her colorful, larger-than-life style has come to be known very well in Tampa Bay and she prides herself on how she’s learned to be in the moment while also having a strong vision for her work & clients. Ashlee’s mini workshop topic is 3 steps towards creating the perfect about page for your business.

Despite Alyssa Gay being from a family of entrepreneurs, she didn't think she would follow in their path and strike it out on her own. But after working with other agencies she realized she truly did have the passion & vision for entrepreneurship. Alyssa Gay Consulting launched officially in early 2018 and she's been growing her team and helping local business owners in the Sarasota area optimize their websites, brand, & more. In this episode Alyssa teaches us some SEO basics and shares how she converts potential clients into ongoing, loyal ones.

Ten years ago, Rana Tierney was working in the insurance industry and feeling completely uninspired. She picked up her father’s camera at a family reunion and everything changed. A spark ignited. Even though she’d discovered her passion, small businesses haven’t always been ‘community over competition’-minded, so she had a difficult experience breaking into the wedding industry as a brand new photographer. Rana shares about her transition from wedding photographer to senior portrait photographer as well as 3 tips on how to break into your industry. 

Ilana & Kelly have been best friends since they were 13 years old! Fast forward to today and not only do they have a thriving company together, but they still finish each other’s sandwiches. Hear about their leaps of faith, how they look out for one another, & how they created the first wedding pet care company in the U.S.

Nobody puts Sheila in the corner! Sheila Vaske is a serial entrepreneur who is passionate about her family & spreading positivity. Hear about how she went from being a ‘deli girl’ after college to launching V’enza, a giftable brand of jewelry and accessories.