Podcasts about ladies who launch

Garry discusses more about the "Ladies Who Launch" on the Blue Origin. Plus, firefighters have to rescue a dog on a roof.

Ever wondered what it takes to turn a new client into a long-term relationship? In this episode, Alyssa and Dakota dive into crafting a successful onboarding process to execute clear deliverables on a structured timeline. From brainstorming creative concepts to executing multi-channel campaigns, we cover it all.Episode highlights: Creating a proper client onboarding process, transparency and communicating deliverables and timelines will lead to long-term client relationships. Here are items to provide to ensure a strong client onboarding experience: Preparation and Welcome:Send a personalized welcome email, introducing the main points of contact and outlining next steps.Share a welcome packet or client guide that includes your services, communication protocols, and project timeline. Kickoff Meeting:Hold an initial meeting to discuss the client's goals, expectations, and any pain points.Review the project scope, deliverables, timelines, and any relevant documentation. Setting Expectations:Clearly define roles and responsibilities on both sides.Establish preferred communication channels and frequency of updates. Gathering Information and Documentation:Collect any necessary files, branding guidelines, login credentials, or project-specific data.Use a checklist to ensure you have everything you need to start effectively. Project Plan and Milestones:Develop a clear project roadmap with key milestones and deadlines.Share the plan with the client to make sure everyone is aligned. Training and Support (if needed):Provide training on how to use client portals, collaboration tools, or project management systems.Offer resources and guides to make the process smoother. Ongoing Communication and Follow-Up:Maintain regular check-ins to update on progress and address any concerns.Gather feedback to continuously improve the experience and build trust.TakeawaysWork with clients that align with your valuesBe transparent about mistakes and any issues around timelines or budgetsEnsure all stakeholders are involved in the kick-off sessionCelebrate your winsIf you enjoyed this episode of Ladies Who Launch, please be sure to take a screenshot and share it on social media and tag us @ladieswholaunchpod OR, link us to a friend or colleague by sharing the episode. Also, please give us a review and a five-star rating if you love what we're putting down! Ladies Who Launch is a podcast for marketers by marketers. ladieswholaunchpod@gmail.comInstagram: @ladieswholaunchpodYour hosts:Dakota Kidby owns Social Centric, a digital marketing agency based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.  Instagram: @socialcentricincAlyssa Berry owns Alyssa Berry Communications, a boutique public relations agency based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Instagram: @aly_b_yycResources and links: Get in the queue for our new newsletter, dropping April 2025: https://gmail.us18.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=7ae9fd1fd06734635586825ce&id=4fcdb235baStay tuned to our Instagram for updates on episode drops, merch, newsletter drops, events and more: https://www.instagram.com/ladieswholaunchpod/__Transcript: Dakota Kidby: [00:00:08] Hey, hey, welcome to Ladies Who Launch, the podcast where we cut through the noise, ditch the fluff and get real about all things marketing.Alyssa Berry: [00:00:16] That's right, we are your host, Dakota and Alyssa, two entrepreneurs from Calgary who are here to serve up equal parts solid advice, industry banter, and a whole lot of unfiltered opinions.Dakota Kidby: [00:00:27] So grab your coffee, buckle up, and get ready for a podcast that's equal parts fun and real talk. Whether you're in the biz or just curious about what goes down behind the scenes of marketing, we've got you covered.Alyssa Berry: [00:00:38] Let's get to it. Welcome to Ladies Who Launch.Dakota Kidby: [00:00:46] Welcome back to another episode of the Ladies Who Launch. We are coming at you from a very cold Calgary, Alberta. Yes, that's right friends, it is March 29th and it snowed a lot. So that's the spring tease for you here in Alberta.Alyssa Berry: [00:01:03] Yeah. It's, uh, what? Fake? What do they call it, fake spring or?Dakota Kidby: [00:01:08] The fake spring.Alyssa Berry: [00:01:10] Here we are. Which is why Dakota... Yeah, which is why Dakota and I are in hoodies and hats today. Because it wasn't, it wasn't a day for venturing and getting ourselves suited up.Dakota Kidby: [00:01:23] No, but we endeavor to actually go for dinner after this. And, like, honestly, both of us are like, no, we're staying home. It's so cold. I shoveled, I think like three feet of snow off of my sidewalk today.Alyssa Berry: [00:01:34] It's not even like it's I mean, it's cold, it's chilly, but it's not cold cold. It's just lots of snow and it's that heavy, wet spring snow, which is the worst. Anyway.Dakota Kidby: [00:01:44] Absolutely. But today we want to talk to you guys about going behind the scenes of a successful marketing process. So basically, how to take a concept that a client would bring to you, whether you're in-house or an entrepreneur, and taking that concept to execution. And the reason we want to talk about this is something happened to me this week that I don't think has ever happened to me in my entire time running Social Centric. And it kind of got me thinking about my own processes and transparency in the sense that perhaps I need to be more clear about things sometimes. But I was thinking we could kick off with this because Alyssa hasn't heard the story yet.Alyssa Berry: [00:02:28] Please do.Dakota Kidby: [00:02:29] Okay. So without naming names, I had this really fantastic, cool business reach out to me and ask me for some support with their marketing. The very first thing that I do with a client when they come to me is I ask them if they have a plan. So do you have an overarching plan for your company or like a campaign that you want to run or a product that you want to launch? And I want to say like 98% of the time there is no plan in place, not even an overarching one. So from a due diligence and ethics standpoint, the very first thing that we do, even if we are just focusing on one tactic or solution, is we want to have some sort of a strategy or plan around that.Dakota Kidby: [00:03:12] And so I said to this person, okay, this is step one of our process. This is how this gets executed. And let me know how that sits and we can go from there. And I was very clear, I thought, from day one that it didn't include implementation. And anyway, we go through the process, we work together for three weeks. Great strategy, and of course, strategies always have a bit of a phased out approach. Right? So they can kind of come off as a bit of a timeline, but there's a lot of meat and juice in there that is the solution-oriented piece of what we're doing. And then from there, what will end up happening is clients will often come back to us and say, okay, great, now we need help executing. And so we would send them another contract, which is a different kind of contract and a price that would take care of that scope. And oftentimes we ask clients to sign up for a monthly fee because the project tends to be ongoing, just because it makes more sense from like a expectation standpoint on both sides. But other times we'll just do an hourly. So in this case, I proposed, of course, the monthly because there was a bunch of stuff that we needed to get done, and it was going to take probably about six months. Anyway, she came back and said, oh my God. I didn't realize that this strategy thing didn't include actual execution.Dakota Kidby: [00:04:32] And I was like, oh, well, what do you mean? And she's like, oh, I just like, I probably would not have invested in this had I not known that I was going to get actual help after. And I was like, oh, crap. So how I chose to handle it because first of all, I really respect and appreciate this person and I believe in their product, and I was kind of like, you know, I went back through all of our communications and like all of our agreements and everything like that. And I was like, you know, I'm pretty sure I was clear on this, but maybe I wasn't. And because they're a smaller business owner, perhaps this isn't actually, this isn't like the way I should be running this side of my business. So what I then ended up doing was spending a pretty solid chunk of time creating an actual like process and operation for specific businesses that have a lower budget. And it was like, you know what? Moving forward, I'm going to offer the strategy, but then I'm also going to offer some implementation because for organizations that don't have a huge budget, it might seem like a lot to just get that strategy piece done. So it was a really good learning experience for me because it helped me to like, add more value to this specific piece of my business, but also reminded me that clear-cut communication at every step of the way that is documented is a must.Alyssa Berry: [00:05:52] That is a tough lesson that I think many of us have experienced at some point, whether in our own business or otherwise. I think even in in-house, if you're working in-house, I think sometimes you'll get a, you'll move forward on a project or something, and suddenly your boss or director or something is like, this isn't what I asked you to do, or this isn't the direction and blah blah blah, and that you didn't keep copious notes or anything during the lead-up meetings. And so you have no recourse to be like, no, this is what we discussed and this is what I'm moving forward. So then you get yourself into a pickle. And I think that's just a good learning for everyone. But from a business perspective, I made that mistake early on in running a business and not having processes and like operationally set up from the get go and having very clear contracts. I think that's really where it needs to start with so many projects and even in-house projects like starting with a signed-off creative brief or a signed-off project brief, and then writing a business, it's like a signed-off contract that has very clear outlines of not just deliverables, but also expectations. So one of the things that I had to do in running my business is, I got into trouble moving, with people and clients expecting like proof changes after proof changes after proof changes. And of course, I'm paying for those because I'm paying the designer for their work. So then I'm eating that because I've already quoted the cost of the design to the client, now the designer is coming back to me and charging me for all these over and above changes, like when you're on, like, proof seven or something ridiculous.Alyssa Berry: [00:07:49] So I made that very clear in all my contracts that you get three proofs included in this cost and any more proofs or changes on any design, anything after that is charged at this X fee per hour or per 15 minutes or whatever, if I really wanted to be that. The other thing I added into mine from a process perspective too, and this is just a learning for anybody running their own business, is that I have specific wording in a clause in my contracts that states when our agreement and our contract is over, I'm not obligated to keep all of your stuff. You will get, you will have access to whatever you've done, and you have your folder and your documents. After 90 days, I can get rid of all of that. I'm not, I'm not your legal book, like your legal document holder. And I'm not responsible for anything that happens to anything after that, because I also got into a bit of a pickle with that in my business, too, where I had a complete computer meltdown and lost a whole bunch of files, and no clients ever came back to me and asked for any, like, I mean, but it was just my realization that, oh wait, I lost all of these files, and if anybody came back to me, I had no clear clause in my contract that I'm not responsible for housing your documents, nor should you want me to be either, because I am not a private closed circuit loop document holder situation here either. So.Dakota Kidby: [00:09:31] No. And you shouldn't have to give up that space on your computer or your drive. Unless they're an existing client.Alyssa Berry: [00:09:37] Yeah. So 90 days after our the end date of our contract, once you have everything that you get out of this, all of your file, whatever, you have no claim to anything, after that, that I may or may not have. So, it is interesting, and so when we get, when we talk about like process, like that was a process that we both found, but like that started at a contract stage so that we actually could go back and reference what we outlined and were clear or not clear about.Dakota Kidby: [00:10:14] Absolutely. And it's so funny because I run into that pickle, too, in the sense that we are mostly, you know, for the longest time, social media. And so I'll never forget one of our clients that we were parting ways with, and this was a sticky, toxic situation also, we weren't a fan of the client as they were leaving us. They had kind of taken advantage and been disrespectful and we didn't really leave on the best note, but they came back to me and said, I want all my social media graphics from the last three years. And I said, well, that's not part of our contract. And if you want them, you can go through your Facebook and get them. But now we do encourage our clients to start a Pro Canva account. We don't actually do work on our Canva account for clients for the most part, and then therefore they have access to all their graphics if they want to reuse them and stuff after we potentially part ways. And then that just helps us alleviate not having to make space on our drive, and giving them their Canva. Now, if a client says to us, well, we don't want to pay for that and we're using our Canva account, I've said to that we have a clear clause in our contract that they relinquish all, you know...Alyssa Berry: [00:11:32] Rights.Dakota Kidby: [00:11:32] Expectation that they would get. And then they also, if they ever did need us to do some sort of a downloading situation from social or our Canva for them onto a drive, it's like a $150 fee at the end of their contract for us to do that.Alyssa Berry: [00:11:47] Yeah.Dakota Kidby: [00:11:48] So that's just, we just explained that that's the transfer of file fee and process moving forward.Alyssa Berry: [00:11:55] It is interesting how things have changed, even in like the decade that I've had my business and sort of the expectations now and the amount of software that we all use and having, I was the same. I just used to do client work on my own pro Canva and it's like, yeah, don't do that anymore. Like, I'm not, I'm not, no, and even like ChatGPT. So most of us have business, are paying for business access to ChatGPT for various reasons, but then I think, is this like also something you could get called out on by using ChatGPT for client work? But then I'm like, ah, I use ChatGPT in my full time job all the time, so I'm like, I guess if a client really wanted to get all like nitpicky about it, like cool, but, I think there's a lot of things now that we're using that technically, I guess, could be breach of privacy in that way, because we're really putting client information into ChatGPT even if we're not using their names and stuff, we're still putting client information into ChatGPT. But then I'm like, eh, I do that for the company I work for, I put their, although they have their own corporate private ChatGPT whatever.Dakota Kidby: [00:13:18] But yeah that's another thing, like they have if, you know, and I think there will come a day where it's like you set up a suite of tools for a client and then you use that suite of tools and it's not, you know, far-fetched also for us to manage like a Hootsuite or a Metricool or a Sprout account that a client has, like, we give them that option, we say, hey, we can either use our Metricool, which will give you client access to, and you can see all your analytics in a live dashboard as well as, and that's been a godsend for me, to be honest, but they have access to everything. Or we can use your account, however, like if it doesn't have the capabilities that ours does, then, well.Alyssa Berry: [00:13:55] You just have to know that.Dakota Kidby: [00:13:57] Yeah, we'd recommend this software at this point, but yeah that kind of, yeah, like brings us to getting, we want you guys to get out your notebooks and pay attention because we're going to master the scenes of a successful marketing process from concept to execution. So, Alyssa, you want to kick it off with client onboarding?Alyssa Berry: [00:14:20] Onboarding. Yes.Dakota Kidby: [00:14:21] I feel like you're the best at this.Alyssa Berry: [00:14:24] It's, and it's taken a long time to get to this point, but again, as I said, through the trials and tribulations of me making mistakes and all of that stuff, but onboarding is really the most important step because the onboarding is the relationship. Not only the relationship that you're building personally with your client or, whether internal or external clients, because this relates to internal stakeholders from a business from a corporation perspective too if you're not running your own business, it helps set the parameters that help set the stage for what's going to happen. And ultimately, a successful onboarding process leads to a longer-term business relationship. And I have found in my time that the best onboarding processes that I've had with clients are the ones that ended up being, like clients that were like 3, 4 or 5 years long clients because they understood. And what that starts with is having clear objectives of what this relationship is for. Is this relationship for a social media channel refresh? Is this for a rebrand of my assets? Is this for the development of a communications plan? Is this for an internal communication strategy for your corporation? What is that clear thing that we are here to do?Dakota Kidby: [00:16:07] Like, why are you hiring me? Almost a reminder. Because sometimes clients like - and sorry to interrupt - but I find sometimes clients get really in their own heads, and they rush, I find, to find support. And then when it comes time to sign, it's that conversation of I didn't realize this is how much this cost. I didn't realize that that's what my perception of what I told you I needed, that's your perception. And so this is why that clear communication that Alyssa is talking about is so important, because you almost have to remind the client, like why they're getting into bed with you, so to speak.Alyssa Berry: [00:16:41] Right. And part of that is, is setting them and you up for success. And that means, as we were just sort of alluding to, getting them set up on all the tools that are required to complete this contractual obligation, and also ensuring that we have access to all accounts, information and personnel that we need access to at the beginning, and having those clear, that clear delineation right at the beginning, because that, and I've run into this many times with clients is like, they're like, they'll forget to give you their social media passwords or their Gmail accounts or all this stuff, and it's like, oh no, I'll get to that. You're going to get it today, you're going to get it today. And then like months have gone by and you haven't done any work because you can't access anything. And you, but that's also on me because I didn't set them up for that. In terms of creating, what I do with my clients is everyone gets their own Google file. So it'll be like XYZ Company, this is your Google file, here's the link, you have access to this, this is where all your assets are going to go. This is all your this is where your contracts going to live, this is where everything is going to go. And I will itemize everything, I'll make folders for contracts and documents and logos, whatever, but this is your domain, this is where everything is going to live.Alyssa Berry: [00:18:11] Nothing's going to live on your computer. Nothing's living on my computer. This is our space, and so you can't go and be like, oh, this isn't... So that's step one. Now I will say I don't use any like, Honeybook or any of those sort of like, what Dubsado or any of those sort of processing softwares, mainly because they're expensive and I've just never justified it. So I sort of set up my onboarding manually. Like, it's not a formal process, but like the first thing is they get a welcome package with a copy of the signed contract. And a little bit about me and who they're going to be working with. And this is the designer and this is, yeah, this is the writer that we have, and this is going to be the videographer working on your project, blah, blah, blah. Here's a little synopsis of who's who in the zoo here. So, and then I will then send a follow up email with like here are our key check in dates. So phase one check in date is this, and what's going to be discussed is the draft of this strategy check into is this with the first execution dates or I'll have key check in dates because this also sets the stage that they know they're not going to be emailing me 20 times a day.Dakota Kidby: [00:19:36] Yes, because that can be, that is always a problem.Alyssa Berry: [00:19:40] Right? It's like here's your key dates. Dakota Kidby: [00:19:40] But yeah. If you don't have those key dates, then, you know you fell short when you're getting five emails from the client or even just the question of where are you at right now? Where is this at? You don't want that question. You want to have yourself set up so tightly that the client doesn't have to ask. And that is top tier service.[00:20:00] Hey all, sorry for the interruption. Just wanting to remind you to please give us five stars and subscribe to our podcast wherever you listen to podcasts. Honestly guys, this is the way that we build our podcast. And if you're a supporter of Ladies Who Launch, we would really, really appreciate it if you could just give us those five stars and subscribe. Thanks, guys. Now back to the episode.Alyssa Berry: [00:20:19] And once that email with sort of those key dates and all that's in the calendar, then the email goes out about a strategy session or sort of a pre kind of get to know you, what's going on, getting a lay of the land with the client or manager or whoever you're working with. And that can be anything from a two hour session to a half day session to a full day session, depending on how many stakeholders need to be involved in that. Like I know some nonprofit organizations will have it as a full day because they'll want to bring some of their board members in, or some of their or even corporates might want to have some of their C-suite execs be a part of that to just get everyone on the same page before launching into the next phase of like, developing that strategy. So everybody's sort of been in the know of what the project is and what the key deliverables are and when those key deliverables will be delivered.Dakota Kidby: [00:21:17] Absolutely. And the other thing is, it's really funny, I have a girlfriend who works in change management, which is essentially when you come in and you are applying a process or a policy, or there's been a big change in an organization, so big, in fact, that you have to hire like a professional to come in and help manage all your stuff. And oftentimes, depending on the depth of the project, marketing can be very similar in that we have that, and same thing with being a lawyer. We have to almost open the business up and understand and diagnose what the gaps and the issues are before we can come up with proper solutions. And so that conversation that takes place prior to strategy or any sort of strategic planning is very crucial because without knowing what you need to know, like through whether it's a thorough questionnaire and conversation or what have you, it's very challenging to do your job properly.Alyssa Berry: [00:22:09] Agreed. The other thing I'm going to, the other thing I'm going to note before we sort of launch in is when to invoice for this. So I will send my first invoice before the discovery session or the strategy session or whatever you want to call it, because I've also run into issues where I have done work and then invoiced and then not gotten paid, where it's like I don't start work until I get paid for the first bit of work. So however you want to divide out your invoices, whether it's you paid 20%, 20%, whatever, or half and half or a percentage up front or whatever it is, however you want to lay out your invoicing strategy. But I would ensure that you get invoice, you invoice and get paid for any, especially at the beginning if you're out, like you're having to bring on external contractors or you've had to, like, upgrade a software system in order to be able to manage this client or whatever, that you're paid for that before you commence work.Dakota Kidby: [00:23:16] And I'm even going to take it, I'm going to take it a step further and say that we used to do work first and then get paid. And I just moved in January, January 1st, I moved into a new model. None of my clients had a problem with it at all. New clients haven't seemed to have a problem with it. When it comes to a strategy package that we are doing for a client, they must pay up front. And we will not book any sort of chat or conversation past our 30 minute like, client, you know, discovery call, like intro, yeah, we will not even book the discovery without the payment. In fact, I'm actually waiting on a client who sent the invoice to their accountant, which sometimes the accountants put you into a cycle, and I'm going to have to send a note on Monday being like, I'm sorry if you guys have a cycle, but like, this needs to be paid immediately. Otherwise I have to give up your date to someone else. And like, I just find when you have those boundaries, people respect you more and they are actually, like, more willing to work with you in some cases because it's like, oh, you value yourself and your time. You seem like you're in high demand. Cool. This is going to be worth my time. And so, and it just sets up that cadence and that expectation that, yes, I have very firm boundaries about my time and how I get paid. And even for our retainer clients, their invoices come out on the first of every month now, and we get paid before we do things. The other thing is, and actually, I will call out our wonderful producer, Alex, who does our podcast for teaching me this, like extra edits or late, things that come late, like for us, if we're doing, if we're cutting video for a client and they're sending us clips and we need them by a certain date to hit targets, getting really, really, really tough. And if they don't send things on time or they're, like, significantly stressing you out, then there's fees, right? Like, I've had to charge clients a few times for too many emails. It's like, I started literally billing for emails like lawyers do, because we had a client who'd send us 25 emails a week.Alyssa Berry: [00:25:16] Yeah, no. And I, and this is all learning too, that a lot of that can be alleviated during that onboarding phase that we talked about earlier, that those expectations are set up front, and that here's our check in dates, and other than that, I don't want to hear from you.Dakota Kidby: [00:25:35] Unless it's an emergency.Alyssa Berry: [00:25:36] Unless the house is on fire. Yeah.Dakota Kidby: [00:25:37] Or they have a question.Alyssa Berry: [00:25:39] Which is, yeah, why we're reiterating the importance of that onboarding process and those key dates and timelines of when things are going to happen because those dates and timelines are not just for you, they're for them as well, because as Dakota just alluded to, like, if they're late getting you things that you require to complete a deliverable, then you have the recourse to go back to them and a) either charge them for it or b) fire them or like let them go as clients, because that was clearly outlined in the onboarding process as to what the expectations are, both on me as the business owner and you as the client.Dakota Kidby: [00:26:22] Absolutely.Alyssa Berry: [00:26:22] And if either one of us reneges or or isn't able to.Dakota Kidby: [00:26:28] Fulfill our end of the bargain.Alyssa Berry: [00:26:29] Fulfill, then we both have the recourse to walk away.Dakota Kidby: [00:26:32] Absolutely. And so, yeah, I would say number one, as Alyssa has been saying, like your onboarding processes is everything. It really sets the stage for the respect, the boundaries and sort of the story of how things are going to go. The other thing I would highly recommend doing right off the bat, just so that it's out of the way, is getting the client into your invoicing software, making some notes or some sort of recourse around what you're doing for them, for your team, just like a client info document almost. And then during the onboarding, so we actually just overhauled our onboarding process and we're still working on massaging it. But what I do now is I pick one day a week and actually I do have a gal who helps with this, but when it's me doing it, I pick one day a week where I do admin, and actually Alyssa taught me this, and during that day it can be anything from filing to invoices to working on the business, whatever. I will say to a client, Kate, you have an onboarding session with us at 9 a.m. on Monday, this is what you need to have done for that onboarding session, get that welcome package together, send it to them ahead of time, and then you use that hour long session to get all their socials connected. Make sure everything's good in the back end, give them a bit of a warning that, hey, if your social media is, your connections are all screwy and someone's missing access and we have to do a bunch of like digging to fix stuff that does incur another fee.Dakota Kidby: [00:28:04] However, we're going to use this onboarding session to make sure you're all sorted and you kind of give them that foundational onboarding session, and then take that time as well to introduce them to the rest of the team. Just get them acquainted with how things are going to go. Get them acquainted with that timeline, give them their Google Link drive, make sure that they sign off on their contract, and make sure that that invoice is paid. And that's kind of what we're going to do moving forward with our clients. And they seem to really appreciate that. Because the other thing that I find that I run into and have run into in the past is the onboarding process can turn into a month long thing if you don't control it, similarly to what Alyssa had just said, right? So you want to try and get all that shit done right then and there. It should really be you have a 30 minute call with them, if they need more, they have to pay for an hour, right? Because sometimes clients just want some consultation time, they don't actually want to hire you. So that's how you alleviate that gap. And then from there, if they want more, then you book that onboarding call, you send them the documents, they make sure that they are committed pot committed to the to the process. And then from there you book things into your schedule. So Alyssa, how are you managing, like, I'm curious to understand how you, what your thoughts are on managing just like the relationship as it goes.Alyssa Berry: [00:29:29] What I found works the best is that I have one contact that I work with. There is one direct person that is assigned to me or whatever from your organization. I don't have the time or the inclination to deal with six people in your organization or in your business. And oh, but Sally does this and this. I don't care what Sally or Bobby or whatever do in your back end. You're going to make that, you're going to make sure that Sally and Bobby get Linda all the information, and Linda's the one that I'm going to, I'm going to deal with on a regular basis. Not that I don't love Sally and Bobby, but I, with multiple, multiple clients, I don't have time to, like, sift through your business Rolodex to figure out who I need to talk to to get something done. It's like no, one contact. And so me and Linda, we're going to be besties. And if Linda isn't getting what I need, then I'm going to be able to tell Linda. And I don't have to worry about informing Bobby and Sally, because I assume that Linda's going to inform Bobby and Sally or whoever needs to know. That's key one, is having a person or if you have to, two, like if they're married or something, whatever. But no more. I'm not working with your team of people. I do not care what they do. Don't. So that's step one. And the other thing to keep a relationship, or like whether it's an internal corporate relationship or an external business relationship, healthy is being very transparent. I have found that the minute as a business owner, if I've done something or I've missed something or whatever, and I've tried to like, figure it out and manage it on my end it just becomes...Dakota Kidby: [00:31:24] ... terrible. Hide it. No, I would just, but yeah, like you try to manage it yourself or, like, brush it under the rug. Absolutely not. You need to tell them immediately.Alyssa Berry: [00:31:32] Yeah. Transparency. And I expect that of them too. Like if Sally broke her leg and didn't get Linda the photos or whatever, cool. Just let me know. Like, we can work with that. I'm not, like, going to come down there and scream because Sally broke her leg. Like life happens, all that happens, we know that. And that's part of being in a good relationship, is being transparent to be like, hey, I messed up or oh crap, I missed this, I'm going to take care of it right now, blah, blah, blah. I mean, that happens in everyone's day to day life. Like, your husband forgot to go to the grocery store on the way home. Like you just, things happen, but you deal with it and you're transparent about it. So that's like sort of step two is being transparent about things that have happened and being transparent about great things too. Like being very quick to congratulate them on things or praise them on things or if they've got client of the month or, I don't know, like whatever stupid thing you can, stupid thing, but like, people like to also receive positive feedback. Like if every time that you're interacting with someone it's negative or it's to talk about something that went wrong, then that's also a bit of a detriment to a relationship. So make sure that you're like, I would do things like send Starbucks over to clients, like just or if I knew they were having a rough day, I'd like send them.Dakota Kidby: [00:33:01] A Skip the Dishes gift card.Alyssa Berry: [00:33:02] Or some DoorDash or Skip the Dishes or whatever. Because those...Dakota Kidby: [00:33:06] Like, celebrations. Like it's their birthday, like it's their company's birthday or...Alyssa Berry: [00:33:12] Yeah, anniversaries. Or like they just hired someone new, so send them some flowers, or someone's leaving and all those sorts of things matter. I would always keep notes of those kind of things in my calendar if I knew things were coming up or if clients I knew were going to a conference or they had a big presentation coming up or any of that kind of stuff, I would always like, put that in my calendar and send them a note or an email or like a text, be like, good luck, blah, blah, blah. So that's the other thing is that like always leading with the positive instead of the only time you're talking to them is if something went sideways. That's also the other thing. But in parallel to that, this is also a learning, is that your clients aren't your friends, just like your coworkers aren't your friends. You don't share personal information. You don't talk about your personal life. You don't talk about going on dates. Like there is a line, like this is still a professional relationship, and I don't care that they're the same age as you, or they're also single or whatever, it's professional because you don't know who they know, and the world is very small, and you don't ever want to be, like, bitching about a guy that you went on a date with but it turns out like that guy is like their cousin's best friend or something. Like, you have no idea who people know, right? So that's always a very clear line for me, is that you don't know anything about me. You know who I am. You know I do good work, you know, whatever. But you don't know what I do when we're not together, because it's none of your business. And I don't need to know anything about you either. And so that's sort of the number three too, is that be very, have very clear boundaries of client or even boss/staff or like internally, right. Like no one needs, no one wants to or should know about your personal issues.Dakota Kidby: [00:35:11] And if I could add like a what am I trying to say? You know what I mean. And yeah section to that, I would say enjoy your connections with people. Like, that's not to say that you can't have a conversation or something, but case in point, if somebody knows you too well, oftentimes meeting agendas will also get completely out of control. So and I'm...Alyssa Berry: [00:35:40] Totally off the rails.Dakota Kidby: [00:35:41] ... because I like to be friends with everybody. And I am a recovering people pleaser. So the other day, actually, I had the worst migraine of my life, I just like wasn't feeling great, but I, you know, I was at the meeting, showed up, it was all good. And my client and I well, she started talking about politics and...Alyssa Berry: [00:35:58] Oh, God, what is wrong with people?Dakota Kidby: [00:35:59] No, but we always, like, have conversations about politics. Like and we're buds and we, again, going against everything Alyssa said. But I do really love working with this client and like we do have a lot in common. So she and I do banter. But anyway, I literally had to say, I'm so sorry, but like, we only have an hour and I'm exhausted and I'm not feeling the greatest today. Do you think we can just get through this meeting? And then I have to go grab a coffee. Then we'll do our next thing that we have to do. And then I gotta go, like, and she was like, nope, no problem at all, all good, like so sorry. And I was like, no, no, it's fine. It's just that again, if you build that personal rapport with your clients, your objectives with getting work done are going to be more ineffective no matter how you swing it. It's the difference between coming in for an hour, meeting with your counselor, right, and then, like, going for wine with them and then having a meeting. So like, just differentiate those two things. If you want to go banter with your client because you find them interesting as a human being, separate it. Ask them to go for wine as a separate human being. Do you know what I mean? Or don't?Alyssa Berry: [00:36:59] See, I wouldn't even, I wouldn't even recommend that.Dakota Kidby: [00:37:02] But, I mean, I am friends with some of my clients, so like I have a different standpoint.Alyssa Berry: [00:37:05] But here's the thing, though. Like if that personal relationship goes south, what does that mean for your business relationship?Dakota Kidby: [00:37:12] I'm not close with them in that respect. I would say if the, like the personal relationship going south probably isn't a, I'm not like besties with any of my clients. I do have one client who I am pretty good friends with, that if she and I ever had a falling out and then like the contract, it wouldn't bother me because it'd be like, well, I don't really want to work with you anyway, but I will say I am, like, I do have a couple of other clients that like, I'll go, I would go and have a beer with them. But we have a very clear, like line in the sand that we both understand, if that makes sense. And they've just been with me for a really long time, so it's almost been impossible to not develop a friendship because we've been through more with each other than just the work. Like, I've seen them go through things and they've seen me go through things, we've had each other's backs, you know, that kind of stuff. And so sometimes it can be inevitable. But for the most part it, you really should look at it like a relationship with your psychologist. It's, you're there to get work done and you don't need to offer up any more of your time than that. And you're also not their therapist.Alyssa Berry: [00:38:18] No. And they're not your therapist.Dakota Kidby: [00:38:21] Absolutely.Alyssa Berry: [00:38:22] I'm going to caveat that politics talk for a second, because I think Dakota and I need to do an episode on this because when I said, oh, politics, what are you doing? Because, like, normally, like generally politics in a business meeting doesn't really come up. But I mean, and I've said this before in this podcast and like anybody could see, my political affiliations are fairly notable.Dakota Kidby: [00:38:48] Like, people know.Alyssa Berry: [00:38:48] People know my thoughts on things and people know.Dakota Kidby: [00:38:51] They know who you are.Alyssa Berry: [00:38:51] So I do have a caveat to the whole political thing because when people talk about like, oh, don't, don't ever share your politics or whatever online or like separate your personal and your business brand in that way, I'm like, no, because I have seen a lot of people on LinkedIn who I will know I'll never work with because of the shit that they post on LinkedIn of all places. Right? Like when did LinkedIn become Facebook? But that's a whole other conversation.Dakota Kidby: [00:39:21] It's true.Alyssa Berry: [00:39:22] Because, yeah, like they're raging Trumpers.Dakota Kidby: [00:39:26] And so are you saying it's a bad thing?Alyssa Berry: [00:39:28] White nationalists. No. I want to know. Now I know. So I, because I work with people who who align with my values, like I'm a person, no one should be separating their personal feelings or their values about things because of business. Like, and I've said this on this podcast before, but I'm a vegetarian, so I would never work with the like Canadian Beef Association and not because they're bad or that I, but I would have no idea what I would communicate about the Canadian Beef Association, because I don't eat it and I don't have any concept of it. So it's the same with like aligning myself with a Raging Trumper client. I would never do that because I have no interest in promoting whatever the heck you're doing or like you're Elon Muskness or whatever the hell. So I'm a big proponent of like, yeah, share your political leanings like as a personal person, personal person, online so I can know because it's a good way to weed out, and that maybe is an onboarding process too, is that I look at people's socials, I look and see like outside of their business. Because like if you're, if what you're representing on your business goes completely against who you are as a person and what you're promoting on your personal accounts, I also don't want to work with you.Alyssa Berry: [00:40:50] So, and people do that with me too, like, I mean, I'm sure there's people who are like, oh my God, you're like a raging leftist. I'm like, I'm not really a leftist, but I guess if you're like a Trumper, that would seem appropriate. But yeah, I don't want to work with you. Like, yeah, you can weed me out too, like, have at her. So that's the other thing is like, yeah, not being like all besties and like therapists with your clients, but also working with people who you align with and align with your values is really important, because if you're trying to fit a square peg in a round hole, like if you're like, can you imagine, like working with, like an anti-abortion organization?Dakota Kidby: [00:41:27] And even if I was like managing their like working on a strategy for call it like their flower shop, and I found out that they were like doing that on the weekend, I would just feel really uncomfortable and I wouldn't want to be aligned with it. That's the other thing. Yeah, like we've had a couple of clients over the years contact us to work with them. And just like the alignment wasn't there based off of a value standpoint. So, but yeah, I think like the final thing I would leave with you guys in terms of, or that we would leave with you guys in terms of like the processes, that your exit process is just as important as your onboarding. So clients are going to go. Everything ends eventually. So just having a really thorough exit process as well, like a nice questionnaire or conversation around like how was the work? Could we have done anything better? Can we get our testimonial, whether it's like a video testimonial or a quote or we're going to prepare a case study. You know, we're going to put that on our website. We'd love for you to, like, spread the word when we post about it on LinkedIn and tag you. So just taking that opportunity to to get that word, and then a referral, maybe offering them like, hey, if you know, things went so well with us, so if you refer to us, we will give you, you know, 10% off your next service or, you know, we would really love a referral. So that's your opportunity.Alyssa Berry: [00:42:48] Yeah. And that's also where that whole piece about here's all of the stuff we worked on, there's your Google Drive, and after this, like I'm not responsible, so don't like send me an email in seven months. Be like, whatever. Can I get a copy of that? Like, yeah.Dakota Kidby: [00:43:05] And it's the opportunity to get removed off their social channels too, which you absolutely should do, and tell them to change their passwords.Alyssa Berry: [00:43:10] You need to get removed.Dakota Kidby: [00:43:11] Yeah. That's right.Alyssa Berry: [00:43:12] Yes. So I mean it's sort of closing the loop and like sending a nice thank you. I've done that in the past, too, for clients is like sent them a bottle of wine to their office or whatever as like a thanks for working with each other and blah, blah, blah, like, always those things because even if it didn't entirely end on the best terms, like if something happened or if maybe the contract ended early for various different reasons, like it wasn't someone's fault, it's just timing or budget or whatever, always be the bigger person because again, you don't know who people know.Dakota Kidby: [00:43:46] Always be the bigger person and just be professional. Stay in your lane, keep your head down. You know, live in your lane.Alyssa Berry: [00:43:55] And that's how, like, Dakota and I have had clients for three, four, five, whatever years. Like you treat people well and do good work, and they will stick around because even if they threaten, like and I've had clients threaten from time to time to be like, well, I think we're going to RFP for this, and I'm like, cool.Dakota Kidby: [00:44:13] Yeah, if you need some fresh blood, I get it. One thing I will say, though, someone, an old boss of mine taught me this, and I think it is some of the best advice I've ever gotten. She said to me, help people in a way that you would never expect anything back. And so I think just from a community standpoint, and if a client has left your roster, but maybe they reach out just for like a quick piece of advice, highly recommend knowing when to differentiate from like, okay, this, I'm going to give you this my time or, you know, or like, oh, it's a big ask so I have to charge for it. Like, I, Alyssa and I are big on like, being there for people where it's appropriate. And of course, this community, Ladies Who Launch is all about that. It's about supporting people who don't have sounding boards and teams, and they need community to thrive. And I'll never forget, I asked a fellow provider for some advice one time, and she was like, well, I'm very busy and I have kids and like, my time is very precious to me, so I do have to charge you for this hour that we're going to chat. And at the time, I remember I was livid. I was like, what a, you know, like, I can't believe she would charge. What the heck? Then as time went on and people started to ask me for things, it was like, oh yeah, a five minute conversation or connection point, no problem. An introduction, no problem. Quick piece of advice, absolutely no worries. Even if it is an hour long conversation, as long as it feels good in my gut. But there are opportunities where, yeah, it's completely appropriate to charge for your time as you become a subject matter expert in something. And now looking back, I'm like, you go, girl, I really shouldn't have been offended. So just knowing when it's time to lend a hand and just be kind versus, you know, charging for your time.Alyssa Berry: [00:46:08] Yeah. Because that's the other thing you learn as grizzled veterans and running businesses is that your time is worth a lot.Dakota Kidby: [00:46:15] It's worth something. Absolutely.Alyssa Berry: [00:46:17] And you can give that time away to the things that you value to give your time to. But for every rando who wants to have to pick your brain for half an hour...Dakota Kidby: [00:46:29] If you're getting those requests like 20 times a week. That being said, too, I will admit, like, I've even caught myself asking for too much sometimes from friends and people that I have in my circle. And yeah, it's, you know, you think that it's okay, but you do have to be respectful of people's time and stuff like that. So with that, we hope that this has been helpful and we would love to hear more from you guys. If you want to know, if you've had any like process mishaps or blow ups, we would love to hear from you guys. So just DM us on Instagram at Ladies Who Launch Pod or send us an email at Ladies Who Launch Pod at gmail.com and we'll see you in two weeks.Alyssa Berry: [00:47:14] Thanks for tuning in to another episode of Ladies Who Launch.Dakota Kidby: [00:47:18] Don't forget to hit the subscribe button and give us five stars anywhere you listen to podcasts. Honestly guys, if you can do that for us, we would be so thankful. It's how we grow our podcast and the more subscriptions and the more five stars we get, the better. So thank you so much for supporting us and we'll see you next time on Ladies Who Launch.

Vice President J.D. Vance dropped the NCAA football championship trophy at a White House ceremony, CBS News anchor Gayle King kissed the ground after returning from space, President Trump's doctor says golfing is keeping him in good shape, and Sen. Bernie Sanders surprised the crowd at Coachella. Emmy- and Olivier Award-winning actor Sarah Snook tells Stephen how he prepared for the grueling challenge of starring in a one-woman Broadway play where she speaks 60,000 words and embodies 26 different characters. “The Picture of Dorian Gray” is playing now at the Music Box Theatre. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

fWotD Episode 2899: Dolly de Leon Welcome to Featured Wiki of the Day, your daily dose of knowledge from Wikipedia’s finest articles.The featured article for Saturday, 12 April 2025 is Dolly de Leon.Dolly Earnshaw de Leon (born April 12, 1969) is a Filipino actress. Known primarily for her work in independent films and theater, she has received numerous accolades, including a FAMAS Award, a Guldbagge Award, and a Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award, in addition to nominations for a Golden Globe Award and a BAFTA Award. British Vogue named her one of the 31 most famous stars in the world in 2023.After studying theater at the University of the Philippines Diliman, De Leon began acting on stage. Her earliest performances include local productions of The Merchant of Venice, Waiting for Godot, Old Times, and Medea. She made her film debut in Peque Gallaga's horror anthology Shake, Rattle & Roll III (1991) and was cast in small and uncredited roles throughout the 1990s and 2000s. De Leon made brief appearances in films and took on guest parts in television shows. Her breakthrough came in the crime drama Verdict (2019), for which she won a FAMAS Award for Best Supporting Actress. In 2021, she portrayed an aging sex worker in Lav Diaz's period drama History of Ha to positive reviews. She followed it with more assertive parts in Erik Matti's HBO television projects On the Job and Folklore.De Leon achieved international recognition and acclaim for starring as a toilet cleaner on a luxury yacht in Ruben Östlund's satirical black comedy Triangle of Sadness (2022), winning the Guldbagge Award and Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Performance. She received nominations for a Golden Globe Award and for a BAFTA Award for Best Supporting Actress, becoming the first Filipino to be nominated for the awards in any category. De Leon has since starred in the adult animated drama The Missing (2023)—for which she won a Cinemalaya Award for Best Supporting Actress—and the 2024 comedy dramas Between the Temples and Ghostlight. She is the co-founder of Ladies Who Launch, a social services group which supports disadvantaged communities.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 00:58 UTC on Saturday, 12 April 2025.For the full current version of the article, see Dolly de Leon on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm generative Ruth.

What happens when self-storage becomes a space for transformation and empowerment?   In this episode, I sit down with Andrea Lafrechoux, Director of Real Estate at Avenir Properties, to talk about Montreal Mini Storage's newest location—and the bigger mission behind it. Andrea shares how their latest development is not just about lockers and square footage, but about creating meaningful spaces that support women entrepreneurs and community needs. From a co-working space dedicated to women to partnerships with Scotiabank and local artists, this project was built differently—with heart, purpose, and intention.   We explore how urban planning and adaptive reuse can reshape real estate's role in our lives, especially when companies truly listen to the community. Andrea also speaks about initiatives like “Ladies Who Launch” and how design choices—from lighting to layout—can create safer, more inclusive environments. This isn't just about storage. It's about building better spaces for real life.   What you will learn if you listen to the episode:   - Women leaders in real estate and storage - Building co-working spaces for women entrepreneurs - Montreal Mini Storage launches 24th location - How real estate can support community needs - Adaptive reuse in Quebec real estate projects - Self-storage as essential service in urban planning - Creating safe and inclusive spaces for business growth   SUPPORT US ON PATREON!    patreon.com/realestateeffect and become a part of our real estate family! You'll get access to exclusive content, monthly virtual meetings [Ask me anything!], special events, and more!   And please subscribe to the show, share it with a friend and send us feedback. Visit www.realestateeffect.ca and follow me on IG @monsaxel   Connect with Axel Monsaingeon:   Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/axel-monsaingeon-42577b28/ Website - https://www.realestateeffect.ca/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/realestateeffect/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/veryrealestateeffect/ Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCc8EYrmO1aVvVIgwT7AfNFw   Connect with Andrea Lafrechoux:   Website: montrealministorage.com | https://immeublesavenir.ca/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrea-lafrechoux-74ab7768/?originalSubdomain=ca   Do you have any questions about your real estate journey?   Whether you're curious about navigating the complexities of development projects, dealing with financial challenges, or anything in between, I'm here to delve into the topics that matter most to you.    I invite you to submit your questions by visiting our website at https://www.realestateeffect.ca/ and clicking on the 'Send Voicemail' widget on the right side.   Your inquiries will help shape our upcoming episodes, ensuring we cover the real estate issues you're most interested in. 

Society in the digital space is becoming more and more broken but you can still show up authentically and fill gaps that people need to thrive. In this episode of Ladies Who Launch, the first back in 8 months, Alyssa and Dakota candidly discuss where they've been and what's coming down the pipeline for 2025 while diving into the depths of trolling, bad behaviour online, adding to the noise and what being yourself, scrappy or not will do for your brand if you show up as YOU and you only.Episode highlights:Taking the reins on your brand image, using social media for good, success mindset, brand, mental health, opinions on bad marketing, leadership and relationships.Takeaways:Social media can easily become a place for fear, half-truths and a place for hate but there is still a massive opportunity to outshine the b*llshit and add value.If you don't control your narrative, someone else will.Don't go online without a plan.Your brand is everything, so make it real.If you enjoyed this episode of Ladies Who Launch, please be sure to take a screenshot and share it on social media and tag us @ladieswholaunchpod OR, link us to a friend or colleague by sharing the episode. Also please make sure to give us a review and a five-star rating if you're loving what we're putting down!Resources and links:Get in queue for our new newsletter, dropping April 2025Stay tuned to our Instagram for updates on episode drops, merch, newsletter drops, events and more__Transcript:  Dakota Kidby: [00:00:02] Hey, hey, welcome to Ladies Who Launch, the podcast where we cut through the noise, ditch the fluff and get real about all things marketing. Alyssa Berry: [00:00:11] That's right, we are your hosts, Dakota and Alyssa, two entrepreneurs from Calgary who are here to serve up equal parts solid advice, industry banter, and a whole lot of unfiltered opinions. Dakota Kidby: [00:00:21] So grab your coffee, buckle up, and get ready for a podcast that's equal parts fun and real talk. Whether you're in the biz or just curious about what goes down behind the scenes of marketing, we've got you covered. Alyssa Berry: [00:00:33] Let's get to it. Welcome to Ladies Who Launch. Dakota Kidby: [00:00:40] We're back. Alyssa Berry: [00:00:42] Look who's back. Back again. Dakota Kidby: [00:00:45] The ladies are back. Tell a friend. Alyssa Berry: [00:00:49] Oh, my God, it's only been, what? Eight months. Here we are. Dakota Kidby: [00:00:54] We're back after an eight month hiatus. Welcome back to season five of Ladies Who launch. Alyssa Berry: [00:01:01] The eight month hiatus that was supposed to be like two. But Dakota and I are always on our own schedule, as many of our listeners know, so we are happy to be back, Dakota Kidby: [00:01:12] Happy to finally be back with you guys. And we have a brand new setup. We are now using new software, we have new tech, new equipment. We're going to be on YouTube. So we really look forward to taking Ladies Who Launch to the next level this year. Alyssa Berry: [00:01:28] Yes, and we did a rebrand too. So if you've been on our Instagram recently, you'll see we have a whole new logo brand we're coming out with. We're going to have new newsletter, new community events. We're back at it hardcore because we missed our community. And we know you guys missed us too. So.  Dakota Kidby: [00:01:46] Yeah, we got a lot of feedback from you guys over our hiatus that people were unimpressed that we were not recording. So we really appreciate your guys's support and we are very excited for season five of Ladies Who Launch. Alyssa Berry: [00:02:01] It's crazy it's season five, to be honest. Dakota Kidby: [00:02:03] I know. Yeah, so we started this, for those of you who are new to the podcast, Alyssa and myself started this podcast over Covid in 2020 as sort of an outlet to be able to get together as friends and be opinionated about all the things that we like to be opinionated about. And 90% of the time that is marketing, because we are both marketing professionals. I want to say 10% of the time it's everything else from period poverty to politics to what's going on in the world, to stuff that's going on in our city and so on and so forth. So.  Alyssa Berry: [00:02:40] And we will just pick up right where we left off. But we probably should give everyone a bit of an insight into what's gone on in these last eight months, both professionally and personally and all those sorts of things before we kind of dive back in. But we are still here. We are. We do still live in Calgary. Yeah, we both still have our own companies. We both still love our community. But some changes have happened. Dakota Kidby: [00:03:07] They have. Alyssa, do you want to go first? Alyssa Berry: [00:03:10] Yeah. I'm not going to delve too much into it because it's not really, well... I went to a bit of a dark side, and I took a full time gig back in August. The landscape for, I think everybody's going through this with small business and especially the sectors that I worked in, in tourism and culture were still having difficulty kind of coming back recovering from Covid. And I sort of had this moment of like, how much do I want to keep struggling with this? And I still do have my business and I still do work on the side. So don't think Alyssa Berry Communications has gone anywhere. I still work with clients and people that I love and, love doing work for them. But sometimes you need to be an adult and realize that sometimes a paycheck is necessary for whatever reasons. There's never any sense of failure or anything for any business person that has to make other arrangements, especially those of us that don't have spouses who can pick up the slack while the other is kind of struggling. So that's where I am. I'm not going to talk about it because obviously it's not for public consumption in that way, because this podcast is all about my business and me being a marketer and me being in the community. So that's still what we're going to focus on, because all of those things are still true. But yeah, that was sort of my big personal professional change for 2024 and into 2025. Dakota Kidby: [00:04:47] And we're all going to give you a big applaud because, applause, applause, because it's it's very hard to be brave a lot of the time, especially when you own your own business and you realize that you have to go elsewhere to make ends meet and pay the bills just because your particular audience isn't entirely there anymore. And so, yeah, I mean, I think it's been good for you in some ways as well. So, yeah, I just want to say, you know, I commend you for being brave, that's all. Alyssa Berry: [00:05:24] Yeah. And that's where we'll leave it. Dakota Kidby: [00:05:27] Okay. Got it. So, yeah, similarly, I really did some pretty massive work on myself over the last eight months, probably more than I ever have. I've talked about this a couple times in past episodes, and I just got very real with where I, where my life was going and where I want my life to go. And I also made some brave, scary decisions. So part of that included hiring pretty much a full team. So we now have like an operations team at Social Centric. We have back end web and full stack app and front end and back end web developers on our team. Um, and then we also have a full timer who is kind of my right hand woman. So I was very proud that I was able to pay salaries last year. But with that came some investment into the company to be able to do that. And then on top of that we also got very real about our client roster for the first time ever, I think. And we really looked at like, who do we actually want to work with and who just is not a fit for us professionally and personally, and we either amiably or... Well, no, they were all amiable, but we like we parted ways with them, either both of us parting ways or us parting ways and we just got very real about the types of clients that we want to work with moving forward. And we have only onboarded clients that make sense for us in 2025 so far. But I'll get real with you guys and say that that was really scary for me in the sense that I haven't been in debt in six, seven, probably eight years and debt really scares me for many reasons, and maybe we'll get into that in another episode. I have a family member who was really bad with money. Dakota Kidby: [00:07:26] My mom. And she ended up taking her life when I was 24 because of that and many other reasons. So I have a lot of inner wounding when it comes to debt and asking for help and any of that stuff. But the fact of the matter is, is if you're going to grow your business and scale up, you know, unless you have a bunch of seed money or people helping you or investors, you usually will have to go into a bit of debt. So that's been really interesting for me. Learning about getting grants, applying for lines of credit. And like actually growing the business in a way that a startup would grow because luckily for me, I never really had to do that. I had clients right out of the gate. But yeah, when you're supporting other people's salaries, you have a totally different responsibility. And so, yeah, we rebranded into a digital marketing house about two months ago, and we are very heavily overhauling our processes and our operations. We've made a lot of changes over the last couple of months. I've had to step into a bunch of different hats that I've never worn before, which has been really interesting. And I'm also learning a lot more about where I want to take not only Social Centric, but my own skill sets into the future. So.  Alyssa Berry: [00:08:44] Yeah, I think we need an episode on good and bad debt because I'm a believer that there's good debt to have, like a mortgage or investing in your company or investing in yourself, those kind of things. So yeah, that's probably a good conversation to have because people get super, super scared of investing in themselves or investing in their company, especially as women. [00:09:06] And we need to do [00:09:07] better at believing in ourselves. Dakota Kidby: [00:09:10] Absolutely. One thing I can say is there's one person that I'll always bet on in this world, and that's me. I do trust myself very, very deeply. That being said, to Alyssa's point, yeah, I do think an episode on that would be really great because I think when you start a business, you don't entirely understand the things that you need in order to be successful. And I was a bit chaotic and choppy over the last ten years in growing Social Centric. And there's absolutely nothing wrong with that. If there isn't even just a like a little bit of chaos, you probably aren't doing it right, or you're probably not taking risks. But I will say that had I had the knowledge that I have now, I probably would have gone about it a different way and I would have avoided a lot of burnout. Alyssa Berry: [00:10:01] But that's eight months in a nutshell, and that's why we were away longer than we intended. And just to give you, all of our listeners, especially those that kept messaging us and asking like, what's happening? Where are you guys? What are you coming back? What's going on? Just know that there's a lot of things going on. Dakota Kidby: [00:10:17] A lot going on. Yeah. Alyssa Berry: [00:10:18] In the background. And as we have been very candid about in this podcast from the get go, is that Ladies Who Launch is a passion project for us, and it's our own investments and our own time and money and all of those sorts of things. So sometimes when other things take priority, those passion projects just sort of have to be shelved for a little while while your actual adult things have to happen. And so I think we're both glad to be in a place where we are back. Dakota Kidby: [00:10:45] Yeah. We are. We're really happy to be in a place where we're back, and we do genuinely have a lot of really exciting things rolling out this year that we were going to talk about with you guys. We're going to be rolling out a really engaging, killer newsletter that's going to be full of phenomenal content, opportunities and opportunities to connect with us and others, and features of other women and marketers. And not only women, actually, probably everybody, that we think are awesome and that we want to share with you. And on top of that as well, we're going to be putting together a couple of in-person events in Calgary this year, which we're really excited about. And so we'll be offering that up to anybody who wants to attend. So if you're a listener that isn't in Calgary and you want to come down and hang out with us, that opportunity will be available this year. And we would love to meet you guys. So yeah. But other than that, we are coming off the heels of International Women's Day yesterday, and I wanted to kick off season five with you all by talking a little bit about authenticity and fake news on social media, because fuck me, I have seen so much bullshit on social media, especially the last couple of months, pertaining to not only just people like us, but also like, of course, with everything going down in the States and like a couple of celebrities have been really like kicking up dust on there over some of the stupidest shit I've ever seen. I personally, as someone who's in the digital marketing world, I'm having such a rough time understanding how we're using social media these days. And so I really wanted to unpack a few things with Alyssa on the podcast, because I thought it'd be really interesting. I want her opinion on a couple of things. I thought you guys would find it fun for us to banter about a few things, and then from there, I kind of want to dive into, well, how can you still use social media ethically and authentically in a world that is just wrought with trashy news and people pitting themselves and others against other people? Like, what do you, how is social media still relevant? Is it going away? Like, I want to talk about all of those things, but I'd like to use someone who's been all over the news lately as an example of the internet just being a trashy place. Dakota Kidby: [00:13:23] And Alyssa and I have very different opinions on this woman, which I think is going to make this very interesting. I hate to use this person as an example, because yes, they are a person of affluence. So I just want to like kick that off that this person is a person of affluence and they are very, she is a very wealthy woman who probably doesn't deserve all the hype. But that being said, I personally think Meghan Markle is, like, I think she's just a regular girl, just like Marie Antoinette was a regular girl, just like Anne Boleyn was a regular girl, just like Princess Diana was a regular girl. And does she have her demons and her blind spots? I'm sure she does. But first and foremost, I think she's been dealt a shitty fucking deck of cards personally. In the sense that what I see is this very genuine, kind-hearted woman who just wants to be a mum to her kids. She married this dude because she fell in love with him. Yes, he's a prince. Whatever. And what happened to her up in Britain, to me, is very, very much, resembles what happened to Diana and that, and I just think the whole, like the media up there and the media in particular that cover Palace news and whatever, the whole thing to me is just completely disgusting. I also don't entirely myself believe in the institution of the royals and the firm, as what people call it. I think it's all just a bunch of total bullshit. I think it's completely archaic and and I'm not surprised that the two of them like, left, and they just want to be normal. And like, I don't think there's anything wrong with that. Where I think Meghan fell short is after everything that went down, you know, after they got married and left, I don't really entirely see why she started this series on Netflix. Part of me wants to commend her for doing it because it's like, yeah, screw you, I'm still going to do what I want to do. Dakota Kidby: [00:15:38] But another part of me is like, okay, you didn't want more backlash, you didn't want more paparazzi coming after you, you didn't want more face time in the media. Why did you start this show? And then the problem with the show, in my opinion, if any of you have seen it, it's basically a cooking show that she does. It kind of reminds me of Marie Antoinette, and she's got her big palace out in Montecito, and then she bought this, like $8 million house to produce the show in. And it's very much like Marie's Hamlet in Versailles. I don't know if anyone's ever been there, but to me, it just reminds me of this opulent, disgusting wealth that, like, this woman who's been in the media for so many things that are not good, is now going to go buy this $8 million mansion to cook in and sprinkle flowers on things. And so I get where she's coming from. I think her heart's in the right place. She wants to share her joy with other people, but of course it's coming off as unrelatable and people are just tearing her apart. But what really kills me, and I'll let Alyssa interject in a moment here, what I don't like about this, and any woman or person who's in the media - and this happens to people who are in the public eye all the time, take Blake Lively, Anna Kendrick, all the people who've been in the public eye lately - these freaking bloggers who have made their careers and lifestyles off of literally like gathering videotape of these people and analyzing everything from like, their face changing from a smile to what they would call a mask. And then they pinpoint these people as narcissists and they just, it's their whole career to tear these people apart. And they just, and judge these people over like, things that they just would not know. It just makes me sick to my stomach. Anyway, that's my rant. [00:17:33] Hey y'all, sorry for the interruption. Just wanting to remind you to please give us five stars and subscribe to our podcast wherever you listen to podcasts. Honestly guys, this is the way that we build our podcast. And if you're a supporter of Ladies Who Launch, we would really, really appreciate it if you could just give us those five stars and subscribe. Thanks, guys. Now back to the episode. Alyssa Berry: [00:17:51] Okay. Uh, do you need a breath there? Dakota Kidby: [00:17:53] Yeah. I'm good. Okay. We're good. Alyssa Berry: [00:17:55] There was a lot going on there. Dakota Kidby: [00:17:56] There was a lot. Alyssa Berry: [00:17:57] Here's my thing with the Meghan Markle situation. And it's interesting that we are talking about this because I am a royalist. I'm a monarchist. And not because I think it isn't bullshit. Because, my grandma was and we, I remember I was like a little little kid for the Diana Charles wedding and like, we got up at my grandma's house and had at like four in the morning and had our crumpets and whatever, because my grandma's British and like, it was a very big part of. And I think a lot of the Diana situation for people sort of like revering Princess Diana, are all like sort of under the age of 35 because they didn't actually see all that went on during that time. Alyssa Berry: [00:18:38] And I mean, we can go into Diana in itself, but the Diana is an interesting parallel, because if you actually watch what's sort of taken place over the last six years, Meghan's used Diana as sort of her wedge to meet, first meet and then be with Harry. So I was a huge Meghan supporter. I thought she was awesome. I mean, who didn't watch Suits and like, I mean, I thought it was great. She was like, it was so cool to have a celebrity, like, be part of the royal family and like, oh, cool, whatever. I sort of bit of side-eyed during the wedding when, like, not a single member of her family was invited. I always find that a bit interesting. And I know people have family issues, but like, no one was there. Like, not a friend, not an anyone. And I always, I always have, and this is my own bias and I get that, but I always side-eye a little bit women who don't have close friendships. Because in order to have friends, you have to know how to be a friend. And I just always find women who have friends because, like, whether it's at work or they're always transactional in some way. But I always sort of look differently at women who just don't seem to have very solid, close girlfriends. Like, people talk about Serena Williams and all these people. Alyssa Berry: [00:19:59] It's like, yeah, she does know all these people, but they're not her girlfriends. They're not her people. And it was interesting to see at the wedding, like all of the celebrities that came, like, obviously the Beckhams are friends of the royal family, so that's different. But like George Clooney and his wife. Well, George Clooney publicly said like, oh, we thought we came because of her dad. Because of course her dad was well known. He was a lighting guy in Hollywood, so a lot of them knew him and were like, oh, we thought Thomas was going to be here. So when we got the invitation, we thought it was coming from him and blah blah, blah. So that's where I sort of like was like, what's going on here? But my biggest thing, and I mean them leaving whatever, she can say whatever she wants about the royal family, about them being racist. No one knows if any of that is true, because the royal family can never defend themselves against that. And even Harry has sort of backtracked from a lot of that stuff that they spewed out during Oprah. And it's interesting that Oprah has never made any comment about that interview since. And it's been scrubbed from her, like, TV thing, like she wants, because a lot of the things that they said in that were factually incorrect then about like, Archie not having a title which just based on where he and, well, now the little girl, whatever her name is, is in this line of succession, only the the children of the current monarch are titled or the grandchildren of the current monarch. Alyssa Berry: [00:21:19] And so now they are titled because now Charles is the monarch. But at the time they wouldn't be because they were not the immediate heirs to the throne. So saying those kind of things, like there were so many factually incorrect things that they were throwing out there that, like Oprah wouldn't know to push them on, but since then have come out as factually incorrect. So putting all that aside, because like as the Queen said, recollections vary. So moving on from that, I'm with you on I, look, I was really sort of rooting for them. And as I said, I was a big fan of hers. But since the, since them leaving and I think everyone had high like expectations of like, oh, this could be really good. Well, Harry does nothing. I'm not even sure what Prince Harry does now. I mean, he's been removed from his friends, his family, his job. Like he's not in the military anymore. I don't know what he does every day. So that's another side plot, whatever that is. But I had high hopes that, like, she would like, even go back to acting or be like... And it just seemed like it's so, it's all just like throwing stuff against the wall to see what sticks. Alyssa Berry: [00:22:34] Like, now we're in tradwife territory. And I have to say, like, if this was anyone but Meghan Markle in this Netflix TV show, people would be like, this is the fucking stupidest bullshit. But because it's Meghan Markle, people feel the need to defend it in some way. It's like, no, she's taking pretzels from a bag and putting it in another friggin plastic bag and putting a tag on it. And it's sort of reiterated my whole thing about like, she doesn't have friends because in that first episode where she's like going like, oh, Daniel's my oldest friend. And we've been like together, and he's done my makeup forever. But she didn't know he was left-handed when he started, when they started cutting the vegetables. And then he sort of made some, like, how close are you people? So everyone just sort of comes in and like, there's no sense of... And getting back to the authenticity thing, it's like, and people can rag on Martha Stewart and there's many reasons, but Martha Stewart was a rich housewife. She made her existence into her job. And Meghan isn't a rich housewife. She's rich, but she doesn't want to be a housewife. I mean, that's very obvious. So to make a show about being like a tradwife and like going out and like tending to your bees to then make candles, it's just like, who is the audience for this? I get it, some of the audience is just her people be like, whatever Meghan does, I'm going to watch cool, whatever. Alyssa Berry: [00:24:02] But I think the majority, from what I've sort of seen, the majority of people watching were hate watching it. And I'm like, is that really what you want to be like known for being the hate? I just, I don't know, like as a woman, and this is where we when you talk about being a narcissist, I think, she is a raging narcissist and I don't, she has all the tendencies of it in terms of not having solid relationships with people. Everything's always about her. Everything's my life is so hard and all these people are mean to me and like, never taking any responsibility, those are all very narcissistic behaviors. But, and I think I said this to you on one of our in our text chats when we were going back and forth about this show, is that women have a very difficult time seeing other women and their narcissistic behavior. We are very quick to point out men's narcissistic behavior, but we are very, we have a very difficult time pinpointing or associating women being narcissists, which they totally can be. And this is my own like pseudo psychoanalysis of the whole situation is that for a lot of women, they had narcissistic mothers, and the behavior of their moms with being controlling and being self-hating and being, like, how many mothers like telling you, like, you don't need a second plate, like all that sort of very selfish, controlling behavior and making everything your daughter's fault and making your life problems on your kids or on your daughter. Alyssa Berry: [00:25:34] Most women listening would be like, oh, yeah, it's totally my mom. Maybe not to that degree, but because we grew up with that and we see that in either our moms or women bosses that we've had. We are very, it's very difficult for us to step back and be like, wait a minute. Like, this isn't actually cool behavior. Like the other thing that's sort of related and how I sort of picked up on this interesting facets of Meghan's behavior is that she is so very, very careful about people, anyone seeing her kids, which I totally respect. No issues there. But the fact that like they hid the birth of Archie and they didn't announce it for days later. Like there's so many weird things there which just sort of like, was like, that's kind of strange, but like, even now. And that's cool. Nobody sees their kids. I totally get it. No issues there. But she also doesn't have any issue prancing other people's kids out for her own publicity, like showing up at the Uvalde shooting to like, comfort all the grieving parents in the parking lot and bringing flowers for a publicity stunt, or her and Harry going to Africa or Colombia and, like, traipsing around, like, underprivileged kids at orphanages and putting them on camera and being like, oh, aren't we great? Like, look at us here. Alyssa Berry: [00:26:55] Yeah, no problem exploiting other people's kids. But don't, God forbid, look at my kids. Like it's things like that that I just always side-eye. And she's just always sort of stepped in it in her own way. Again, I'm still hoping for the best here because I think, like, no one wants to think the worst of people. And I'm not one who wants to think the worst of people. But it gets back to that inauthentic thing. Like she is not authentically a rich housewife who is inviting friends over to enjoy her stuff. Like it's so obviously staged and acted. It's like just create a satiric, funny comedy about being a fake tradwife or whatever. Like, I think that would be a friggin funny show. But when you're, when you're making it a reality show, what is like, what actually is the thought process here? Dakota Kidby: [00:27:48] Oh, I have so many things to say. Okay, so first and foremost, I disagree that she doesn't have close girlfriends. I actually think she has a lot of close girlfriends. And... Alyssa Berry: [00:28:00] Where are they then? No one is stepping up for her. Dakota Kidby: [00:28:04] Abigail Spencer is stepping up for her. Mindy Kaling is stepping up for her. Alyssa Berry: [00:28:08] Mindy Kaling didn't even know her last name. Dakota Kidby: [00:28:11] So, fair enough. Fair enough. But I mean, here's the other thing all these people like, they probably don't see each other all the freaking time. Alyssa Berry: [00:28:20] It's transactional, and that's totally cool. Celebrities like, that's kind of the lifestyle. Like they have transactional relationships. You meet people on a set and you're besties and you do all the the show promotion together and oh my God, we're so besties. And look at us... Dakota Kidby: [00:28:34] But you're talking. She doesn't have like, an Alyssa and a Dakota. Alyssa Berry: [00:28:37] No. Dakota Kidby: [00:28:37] Or an Alyssa and a Karen or a Dakota and Lindsay. Alyssa Berry: [00:28:40] Yeah, because those people would be telling her, okay, let's just maybe take five steps back here and, like, assess what's happening and let's do this. Because even like their weird charitable organization that doesn't actually give out money. Yeah. Dakota Kidby: [00:28:57] The Archwell Foundation? Alyssa Berry: [00:28:58] Yeah. Dakota Kidby: [00:28:58] So that's what I thought Harry's job was, is I thought that's like he's doing that. Alyssa Berry: [00:29:03] In what way? Dakota Kidby: [00:29:05] And I don't know, I don't know. Alyssa Berry: [00:29:06] But that's the thing. Dakota Kidby: [00:29:07] I didn't go down that deep of a hole. Alyssa Berry: [00:29:08] They're doing all these things, like they kind of throw out all these things and, but what actually is the result of... Like, I just would like, I mean, yeah, I don't... The Harry things. Dakota Kidby: [00:29:18] This is kind of my point is like going back to the authenticity piece, whether you're somebody who already has a big public profile or not, anything you do online these days, like you better be doing it authentically because it'll get called out real quick if you're not. Alyssa Berry: [00:29:41] Really quickly. Dakota Kidby: [00:29:43] And social media is not only difficult to do now in the sense that there's a million steps. I'm not saying it has to be perfect or really good all of the time, but it has to be authentic. And what I mean by that is it's got to have a plan and a strategy and it's got to have some sort of a gap that it is filling to help, to actually help people with something. And if you don't, that's fine, like then it's probably just fodder. But there are channels that make fun of tradwives that are filling a gap for people because they're hilarious. Alyssa Berry: [00:30:26] They're hilarious. Dakota Kidby: [00:30:26] So you can be hilarious and fill a gap. But yeah, like, it is so unbelievably difficult these days to get seen, noticed, liked, followed on social. And so step number one, why are you even doing it? Like is it for to sell, to sell something? Is it to sell you as a human being, as a brand? What is it? And then how are you going to do it in a way that is authentically telling your story to fill a gap, right? And this is where Meghan missed the mark. She doesn't know her audience at all. Alyssa Berry: [00:31:02] No. Dakota Kidby: [00:31:03] Has no fucking clue who they are. Pardon my language. Alyssa Berry: [00:31:06] And also doesn't want to, I think, like, I don't think she's interested in the plebs and the poors and the people who would follow her. Like she's not interested in that. Dakota Kidby: [00:31:15] Yeah. And then the other thing, too, is she's put herself back into the line of fire after complaining for forever. And like, I watched Harry and Meghan over the weekend to do some like reconnaissance for this episode. And I got to tell you, that documentary definitely broke my heart in the sense that I just saw a woman like, a woman who fell in love. And I don't know if she lied about not knowing Harry. Alyssa and I have different perspectives on that. Alyssa Berry: [00:31:43] She totally knew him. She had Princess Diana posters all over her bedroom. Dakota Kidby: [00:31:47] Oh, wow. Okay. Alyssa Berry: [00:31:49] Yeah. Like, there's some lore of Meghan that, like, people choose to, whether they want to, whatever. She wears Diana's perfume. Like, it's all just a little weird. It's a little psycho-ish. Like. And the fact in his book when he said he sleeps next, like, with a thing of his mother's hair next to the bed. Like, there's so many, like, I think a lot of this more so does Harry. Dakota Kidby: [00:32:09] He does? Alyssa Berry: [00:32:10] Yeah. I have issues more with Harry, I think, than her. Like the fact that, like, he should have prepped her, like, why do you think it took like William, like seven, eight years to bring Catherine into the family. There is so much to learn. You need to know that they're ready for it. You want to make sure they're protected. He didn't do any of that. First of all, I mean, they were both in their late 30s, so it's not like we're talking about a 19 year old Diana, which was a whole other kettle of fish. Dakota Kidby: [00:32:36] Yes. Alyssa Berry: [00:32:37] He's an idiot. Like he didn't prepare her. He didn't, like he didn't explain like that like just even though the Queen's your grandma, like, we still curtsy to the Queen, like there's so many things that like. Dakota Kidby: [00:32:48] And that part on her new show or on the documentary, when she's like, she made fun of the curtsying process and he just looked livid. Alyssa Berry: [00:32:57] Livid.  Dakota Kidby: [00:32:58] Like, you don't do that. Like and that I respect, I respect tradition, I respect the Queen. Alyssa Berry: [00:33:03] Like, just know what you're doing. Like, you can think it's shit. Like, we could all think the royal family's... Dakota Kidby: [00:33:08] Don't do it on TV. Alyssa Berry: [00:33:09] And you're marrying into it. You made that decision. No one forced you. So the least you could do is like, pretend to like not, well, not even she could have pretended, she is an actress, but it's like, at least like...  Dakota Kidby: [00:33:23] Just respect it. Respect the tradition. You could literally say in the same breath, you know, I respect the tradition of this, but I disagree with it. Alyssa Berry: [00:33:32] Yeah. And you could have like because even at the time, like the Queen, when she met with the Queen at the beginning, the Queen was like, we think it's great you're here. And if you want to keep acting like, please do, like no one's going to, you don't have to, like, be a full time member if you don't want to. Like, so many concessions were made and she didn't... But it's like that's on fucking Harry. Again, pardon my language, but it's like he is a total idiot. And he has been for years. Like, does anyone remember the gong show at Cowboys in the late 90s with the strippers and the pool table and his time at CFB Suffield, and I was in high school at the time, or maybe not high school maybe, yeah, whatever, was legendary. Everybody in Medicine Hat knew, like he was a massive drug addict. Charles and William covered so much of his crap. It was his, it was the Queen that basically forced him into the military to be like, look, kid, you need to do something like, you are ridiculous. Dakota Kidby: [00:34:28] Out of control. Alyssa Berry: [00:34:29] Out of control. And so a lot of what I think went wrong was on him more so than her, but I think she fed into it. And then because she is an actress, then making it a bigger deal and making it a thing, thinking that you're going to get sympathy, which she did. But again, it's to a family that can't defend itself. So again, whatever they've said, no one knows if any of that's true or whatever is true, because the royal family can't ever come out and be like, no, she's full of shit. Or yeah, this might have happened, but it was more like this, because they don't do that, right? So it's an interesting, like it was kind of a bit of a perfect storm how all of that happened. And how it all spun off. But I agree with you that it's like, I had high expectations or hopes of what they would do with this, with their celebrity moving forward, and it's really just been a lot of nothing. Dakota Kidby: [00:35:30] 100%. Alyssa Berry: [00:35:31] And it's disappointing on all levels. But to me, Harry's the bigger idiot in this whole thing. But that's another conversation. Dakota Kidby: [00:35:38] That's another conversation for another day. Yeah. I think what irks me and what I've been struggling with lately is I don't, so I do digital and social media marketing for a living, but a lot of the time I absolutely detest what I see online, and it's actually been really good for my mental health because I've stopped scrolling and I just don't do it anymore because it's such a waste of my time. I'll try to, like, get the algorithm corrected to the point where only the things that I really want to see are showing up on my algorithm. So like people's podcasts that I listen listened to, advice that I like to get, that kind of thing, cooking, but other than that, like. Alyssa Berry: [00:36:20] It's so toxic. Dakota Kidby: [00:36:21] But it's still to this day, like, I still, because I'm in this space, I'll receive probably, I'll get served five ads a day about coaching and like, social media support and take my course and all that crap. And that whole world also drives me bananas, even though I do respect some people that do that, and I do access some people that do that really well. And I even have a business coach that does that for a living. That being said, the amount of bullshit that I get served on a daily basis, I can't frickin stand it. So if I can give you one big piece of advice for 2025 from the social media space, it is, as I've mentioned a number of times now, to be as authentic as possible. And what does that mean? Just be yourself. Like, be yourself. Speak your mind. Have an opinion, give a voice to issues and things that don't necessarily get airtime. Be contentious if you have to, right. Obviously if your brand is sensitive, you want to be careful about what you're spouting off. And sometimes politics can be a really tricky place, so just be a little careful with that. But if you want to make an impact, then feel free to talk about whatever you want. Just keep in mind that there will be haters and there will be trolls no matter what, no matter what. Alyssa Berry: [00:37:41] And I think that's what my advice to a Meghan Markle would be. Like, if you look at her Instagram now, like I think it's what was it, as ever, Meghan or whatever she changed it to, again, just terrible rebranding. Like that needs a whole other discussion about just the terrible rebranding. But her whole, her whole existence on social media is so heavily filtered and curated, I think it just also leads into that inauthenticity feeling. If she would have gone back to, like before she got married, she had that blog called The Tig or whatever it was called, and she had...  Dakota Kidby: [00:38:20] I love that brand. Alyssa Berry: [00:38:20] Right. So great, so great. She was authentic, she talked about, like, food she liked, but like, do that, but, like, just trying to be like, you're trying to be that, but in this weird filtered still like I'm a duchess sort of way. And it's like, you're like, just lean in to you authentically, like food and just talk about food and not have to have this whole pretense that you're going to cook it, like, make your own flower in the backyard or whatever. Like, no one's doing that. Stop it. So that's what I would say. And I mean, I would say that to any client that I have now. I mean, I understand that people have to sell things, whether you're a retail store or whether you're selling whatever, and that social media is a mechanism to do that. But if you watch some of the like most successful people on social media, they do just show up as themselves. Like that's why TikTok took off so much during Covid. It was just people in their living rooms making videos and doing silly dances and all those sorts of things. And so it's like...  Dakota Kidby: [00:39:25] Having fun. Alyssa Berry: [00:39:26] Having fun. Whatever. Like do that. Like even as a business, you can do that and just show up and just talk in your living room. Like, don't make your social media existence so polished and so filtered and oh my God, every hair on your head must be like photoshopped out before you post an image to Instagram or do a reel. It's like the whole fun of social media is that it's cuckoo bananas. Like, lean into that. Dakota Kidby: [00:39:53] People, people want scrappy. Alyssa Berry: [00:39:56] Yeah. Dakota Kidby: [00:39:57] And any of us business owners who are tuning in and Alyssa and myself, they know, we know that scrappiness is a massive part of starting a business or starting a brand. And when I say scrappiness, I mean there's chaos. There's shit that goes wrong. And it's the stuff that goes wrong that people value hearing about because they're dealing with it too. And they want to know that they're not alone. Nobody really, in today's day and age, wants to hear about how fucking perfect someone's life is, or how they went out and ground this einkorn flour to make these pancakes for their children and milked the cow like, yeah, there's that whole tradwife vibe going on, and sometimes I buy into it, but I think, like, actually one of my favorite brands... And people may come for me for saying this because a lot of people would say that she is very perfect and exudes this, but I really love Hannah, the ballerina farm lady. You know, like, yeah, she's a former ballerina. She does the pageant circuit. She's got, like her ten kids, she's got a hunky husband, she lives on the farm and they do cook every, like you know, they do cook their meals from scratch and whatever. Alyssa Berry: [00:41:10] She does, he doesn't do anything. I'm just going to put that in there. She does all of that. And he wanted those ten kids. She did not. But I'll leave it at that. Dakota Kidby: [00:41:19] Again, this is that fodder though that I just like...  Alyssa Berry: [00:41:22] But this is the whole thing is you're putting that out online. Your husband is a complete friggin moron. You're showing him being a complete friggin moron. I have every right to say that you are in this situation, well, a) because they're Mormon, but b) because your husband is rich and you can live that way because you're rich. Dakota Kidby: [00:41:40] That being said, I, like there's been many pieces of content she's put out talking about, like, do we cook every single meal this way? Absolutely not. Do you know how long it takes me to make this pumpkin stew that I do in the pumpkin? It takes me six hours. Sourdough bread takes this long, like, and, you know, most of the time. Alyssa Berry: [00:42:00] And I have three nannies.  Dakota Kidby: [00:42:02] Well. And if I had that many kids, I'd probably... Alyssa Berry: [00:42:05] Right. But like, let's just talk about it. Let's not pretend she's doing that all on her own. It's a business. Dakota Kidby: [00:42:09] And I don't think she does pretend that though. That's what I really respect, is she doesn't pretend. Alyssa Berry: [00:42:15] But you know who I am finding really effective on social media right now are Canadian businesses who are online and talking about the tariffs and shopping local and making adjustments and being like, Chapman ice cream, for example, just made a post online this week and their Canadian ice cream company, amazing company out of Ontario, treat their employees really great, all of that. And they said they're just going to eat whatever it costs them for these tariffs over like for the rest of the year or whatever. And they're looking at other supplier alternatives. So we're looking in Europe and other places to get supplies so that we can extricate ourselves from the US and not be... So that's all very authentic, interesting people struggling, being like, hey, I'm a small business that sells leggings online, and Amazon is kicking my ass. Like I saw one small business owner, it's Aro, A R O, I think, athletics and I think she's out of Ontario too, if not BC. Anyway, she sells like athleisure wear and she went on Amazon. She started selling her items on Amazon Canada and she just pulled from Amazon. And not because Amazon's awful, because we know it is, but she's getting, because there's no oversight from Amazon of what people are returning or what people are... So she is getting people returning items that they didn't buy from her, like their like socks or whatever, but because they had a shipping label or that they had ordered from her in the past, they're returning it to her and she has to eat the cost of that return from Amazon, even though it wasn't from her, like they're not her items. And so she's like, I'm just going to get off Amazon because there's no oversight of what... Dakota Kidby: [00:44:02] I've actually heard of that. Now that I think about it. Alyssa Berry: [00:44:04] She's now like, okay, so now I'm back. I'm just going to be selling on my website, doing all that. So hey, if you can support, this is what we're doing, blah, blah, blah, that's authentic. Like showing what's really going on behind the scenes in running a small business right now, especially small businesses in the clothing or retail sector in Canada that are making and supplying their own clothing here in Canada. And having to justify like one guy who's really great is Connor Curran, who runs who owns Local Laundry, which is a Calgary company. And him talking about like when people bitch at him about like, well, why is your hoodie like $70. He's like, well because we pay people. Dakota Kidby: [00:44:39] Yeah. We pay people fair wages. Alyssa Berry: [00:44:41] We pay people, like and it's made here in Canada. It's made by seamstresses. The fabric, all of that is Canadian. So people are now getting educated about that stuff. It's like, oh, I have no problem spending $70 on a hoodie that I can wear for the next 15 years if I know that. Dakota Kidby: [00:44:54] And that's a great way to show up authentically and be honest. Alyssa Berry: [00:44:57] So those are the kind of things like that are resonating right now, because that's just what's happening right now online. But that's just sort of a testament of what people want to see from people online is like, everything isn't great. You don't have to pretend it is. And talk about it. Dakota Kidby: [00:45:14] Don't pretend. I think some of my favorite videos over the last while have been, I really appreciate, as someone who has really bad seasonal depression, those like refresh videos where folks kind of get up in the morning on a Sunday and they're like, come, come for a depression, like I've come out of my depression, let's do a refresh together. And you go through the house and like, they clean everything and it like motivates you to go do that. Alyssa Berry: [00:45:37] I like that too. I like the ones that are the, what do they call it, the the late shift or the last shift where they make sure their kitchen and everything is clean before they go to bed at night. And I'm like, oh, I love that. I think it's called the late shift. Dakota Kidby: [00:45:49] Oh no, I haven't heard of that. Alyssa Berry: [00:45:50] So make sure all the toys are picked up and the the kitchen is cleaned before you go to bed because you can, you wake up and it's, you're in a better mood. Dakota Kidby: [00:45:56] And then you feel good. Alyssa Berry: [00:45:57] I love that stuff. I'm a sucker for all that kind of stuff. Dakota Kidby: [00:46:01] But yeah, just so yeah. Anyway, interesting stuff going down right now and yeah, so. But yeah, for our Canadian listeners, getting yourself educated around what's going on with tariffs and flipping the script on how you shop, very important right now. And we'll definitely talk about that in another episode coming up pretty soon here too. But yeah, other than that, I think we're out of time for today. So we appreciated having you guys listen in and we will see you in two weeks. Alyssa Berry: [00:46:34] Thanks for tuning in to another episode of Ladies Who Launch. 

In this episode, we chat with Traci DeForge who has over three decades of expertise in Broadcast Media, Executive Management, and Fortune 500 Business Consulting. Traci DeForge is the founder of Produce Your Podcast, a premier podcast consulting and production agency that incorporates podcasting into the digital marketing strategy of B2B and B2C companies.  With a diverse career spanning startups to Fortune 500 giants like Google and Hilton, she's renowned for business development insights that drive innovation. As CEO of Ladies Who Launch, Traci pioneered the Franchise Media Model, supporting women-owned businesses. An international podcast expert and speaker, she created the Podcast Management Academy, the industry's only Podcast Management Certification Program and co-founded the Podcast Professionals Association.  Traci hosts the ”Growth Accelerator Podcast”, “Journey to There” and co-hosts the popular "Ask Brien Radio Show" in Los Angeles. Recognized by ABC, NBC, CNN, CTV, and American Express Open, Traci is a proud member of the Rolling Stone Culture Council where she leads the Podcast Member Program. We interviewed her about utilizing podcasts to enhance a practice's brand and engagement with their patient community, strategies to use in podcasts to generate new patient leads and improve appointment booking rates, and much more. Med Rank Interactive: https://medrankinteractive.com/   Website: https://produceyourpodcast.com/  Social links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracilongdeforge/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/produceyourpodcast/ Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/tracideforge YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@produceyourpodcast #healthcaredigitalmarketingpodcast #tracideforge #lamarhull #produceyourpodcast #medrankinteractive #doctorpodcast #practicesprodcast #dentalpodcast #generatingleadspodcasts

Serena Williams shares how life has been since she stepped back from professional tennis and talks about baby Adira. Plus, a candid conversation and the inspiration behind Jamie Lee Curtis' new children's book. And, powerhouse Shiza Sha-Head shares how her experiences as a social activist shaped her entrepreneurial spirit.

It's summertime, and Dakota and Alyssa need to relax and enjoy the short season. We are taking an extended break but will return with some updates in the fall.Have a great summer, everyone!Ladies Who Launch is a podcast for women entrepreneurs who want to run successful businesses without the “hustle.”ladieswholaunchpod@gmail.comInstagram: @ladieswholaunchpodYour Hosts:Dakota Kidby is owner of Social Centric, a digital marketing agency based in Calgary, Alberta. Instagram: @socialcentriccoAlyssa Berry is owner of Alyssa Berry Communications, a boutique public relations agency based in Calgary, Alberta. Instagram: @aly_b_yyc

We told you we had more to say. In the follow-up to episodes 109 and 110, Dakota and Alyssa continue the discussion on how to set up your business and personal life to travel and live in other countries. Whether it's taxes, accommodations or even building a community in a new country, there are many items to check off when deciding to move abroad. The ladies delve into those topics and others as they provide insights on their travel and how they make it work while running successful businesses.Ladies Who Launch is a podcast for women entrepreneurs who want to run successful businesses without the “hustle.”ladieswholaunchpod@gmail.comInstagram: @ladieswholaunchpodYour Hosts:Dakota Kidby is owner of Social Centric, a digital marketing agency based in Calgary, Alberta. Instagram: @socialcentriccoAlyssa Berry is owner of Alyssa Berry Communications, a boutique public relations agency based in Calgary, Alberta. Instagram: @aly_b_yyc

This is part two of a two-parterThis week on Real Housewives of New Jersey, Danielle has her twelfth launch party for her terribly designed clothing line, Rachel brings even more charisma to our screens, and Joe Gorga pats himself on the back for being nice to some gays. Watch this recap on video and listen to all of our bonus episodes at Patreon.com/watchwhatcrappensSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This is part one of a two-part recapThis week on Real Housewives of New Jersey, Danielle has her twelfth launch party for her terribly designed clothing line, Rachel brings even more charisma to our screens, and Joe Gorga pats himself on the back for being nice to some gays. Watch this recap on video and listen to all of our bonus episodes at Patreon.com/watchwhatcrappensSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Small businesses need to be acutely aware of their cash flow. This leads to many hiring consultants for specific project work over the more costly and labour-intensive hiring of staff. When looking to work with a consultant it is important to set clear expectations and understand what you are paying for. As a consultant, you must provide clear deliverables, a proper breakdown of fees and expenses, and check-in points throughout the project. The relationship between consultants and their clients is both professional and friendly. Sometimes discussions around fees and expectations can be difficult. Alyssa and Dakota provide insights on how they outline these items to be successful both for the client and the consultant.Ladies Who Launch is a podcast for women entrepreneurs who want to run successful businesses without the “hustle.”ladieswholaunchpod@gmail.comInstagram: @ladieswholaunchpodYour Hosts:Dakota Kidby is owner of Social Centric, a digital marketing agency based in Calgary, Alberta. Instagram: @socialcentriccoAlyssa Berry is owner of Alyssa Berry Communications, a boutique public relations agency based in Calgary, Alberta. Instagram: @aly_b_yyc

As an interior designer or business owner, you may have seen your peers hosting podcasts and wondered if you should do the same. But will it lead to sales? Is it worth it? And do you really need to be on camera? Today's guest, Traci DeForge, is a podcast expert and has lots of insight on why every interior designer should have a podcast. Stay tuned! With over 30 years of expertise in Broadcast Media, Executive Management, and Fortune 500 Business Consulting, Traci DeForge is the founder of Produce Your Podcast, a premier podcast consulting and production agency. With a diverse career spanning, she's renowned for business development insights that drive innovation. As CEO of Ladies Who Launch, she pioneered the Franchise Media Model, supporting women-owned businesses & also co-founded the Podcast Professionals Association. ***

We all have dreams and plans but are you working towards them or just trying to get through the day? Dakota is back from Portugal and has made some large life decisions, as happens sometimes on vacation. Is what you're doing right now what you want to be doing in five or ten years? What about where you're living? Is it a means to an end or your end game? Join Dakota and Alyssa as they discuss their plans for their lives over the next years and the actionable items they will take to get there, with some great stories from Portugal added for flavour. Ladies Who Launch is a podcast for women entrepreneurs who want to run successful businesses without the “hustle.”ladieswholaunchpod@gmail.comInstagram: @ladieswholaunchpodYour Hosts:Dakota Kidby is owner of Social Centric, a digital marketing agency based in Calgary, Alberta. Instagram: @socialcentriccoAlyssa Berry is owner of Alyssa Berry Communications, a boutique public relations agency based in Calgary, Alberta. Instagram: @aly_b_yyc

Feminine vs. masculine. The ultimate push and pull. Women can struggle to decide when to lean into either form; especially in the business world. As per Pause Mediation ”Masculine energy is characterised by DOING and achieving and is molded by logic and reason. The feminine is more intuitive, oriented towards receiving and allowing, and characterised by BEING. When these energies are balanced, we experience a greater sense of harmony and fulfilment.”All humans have both sides of these energies, but understanding when and how to lean into each can make your personal and business relationships healthier.Ladies Who Launch is a podcast for women entrepreneurs who want to run successful businesses without the “hustle.”ladieswholaunchpod@gmail.comInstagram: @ladieswholaunchpodYour Hosts:Dakota Kidby is owner of Social Centric, a digital marketing agency based in Calgary, Alberta. Instagram: @socialcentriccoAlyssa Berry is owner of Alyssa Berry Communications, a boutique public relations agency based in Calgary, Alberta. Instagram: @aly_b_yyc

My guest this week on “I HAVE TODAY with Diane Forster” is the incredible Felena Hanson. Felena calls herself “unemployable” after her position was eliminated in 2003.  She became an entrepreneur back then…and she's never looked back! When Felena launched her first business, Perspective Marketing, she found her passion for supporting other female entrepreneurs through leadership roles with several professional women's organizations, including Women's Global Network and Ladies Who Launch. In 2010, Felena recognized the trend of the gig economy and the rise of coworking spaces. After nine months of research, she saw a gap in the market for a space that was especially welcoming to women. She launched her first coworking space in San Diego, California, in 2011 and has since built six additional locations across the country. Hera Hub, named after the Greek Goddess of Women, still stands out in the sea of thousands of coworking spaces. This is not only due to its spa-inspired elements but also because of the robust business support.  In addition to in-person, community-building events, the online platform provides members with daily mentoring, accountability, and educational sessions to keep them connected and productive.  Over the last decade, Hera Hub and its family of brands have helped over 13,000 women start or grow their businesses.  Felena is on a mission to reach over 20,000 women. Felena is a published author and international speaker.  Her book, “Flight Club – Rebel, Reinvent, and Thrive: How to Launch Your Dream Business” is available on Amazon. And…on top of all this…Felena had a catastrophic accident in her twenties that it's a miracle she is alive talk about today! Join us for a lively conversation as Felena shares her wisdom and advice to being a women business owner TODAY!

It was The Tortured Poets Department release day so Alyssa and Dakota got sidetracked into the Taylor Swift rabbit hole. No one can argue she is a marketing genius so two marketers discussing her excellence in that area is no surprise. What is interesting is that Taylor has notoriously had a rough go on the relationship front, as seen in her lyrics but she may have found her “end game” which has eluded both Alyssa and Dakota to date. As is their style, Alyssa and Dakota dig into the relationship wringer and wonder why it's so difficult to find a man who can step up to meet them instead of always feeling they need to step down.Ladies Who Launch is a podcast for women entrepreneurs who want to run successful businesses without the “hustle.”ladieswholaunchpod@gmail.comInstagram: @ladieswholaunchpodYour Hosts:Dakota Kidby is owner of Social Centric, a digital marketing agency based in Calgary, Alberta. Instagram: @socialcentriccoAlyssa Berry is owner of Alyssa Berry Communications, a boutique public relations agency based in Calgary, Alberta. Instagram: @aly_b_yyc

We all have been in those situations of having to pull off a major event, campaign or project. Going over and above is a normal part of business life, but when it becomes a regular occurrence, it is exhausting and inefficient. Ensuring client success should not come at the expense of your physical and mental health. Alyssa and Dakota discuss examples of playing the hero with their clients and provide insights on how they are making adjustments to their businesses to reflect their offerings and get out of the day-to-day operational activities of their clients and why you should too.Ladies Who Launch is a podcast for women entrepreneurs who want to run successful businesses without the “hustle.”ladieswholaunchpod@gmail.comInstagram: @ladieswholaunchpodYour Hosts:Dakota Kidby is owner of Social Centric, a digital marketing agency based in Calgary, Alberta. Instagram: @socialcentriccoAlyssa Berry is owner of Alyssa Berry Communications, a boutique public relations agency based in Calgary, Alberta. Instagram: @aly_b_yyc

On March 26th 2024, we hosted “From Northern Ireland to the C-Suite of Silicon Valley: A Discussion With Sarah Friar” in New York City. ​Sarah Friar is Chief Executive Officer of Nextdoor where she leads a team that revolutionizes the way people connect and build community. Before joining Nextdoor, Sarah served as CFO at Square, SVP of Finance & Strategy at Salesforce, and lead software analyst and Business Unit Leader at Goldman Sachs.  ​While serving as CFO at Square, Sarah launched its initial public offering in 2015 and added $30B in market cap. She sits on the boards of directors of Walmart and ConsenSys, as well as the advisory boards of HOPE Global and the Blavatnik School of Government. She is the co-founder of Ladies Who Launch, a nonprofit that celebrates and empowers women and non-binary entrepreneurs. Sarah earned her MEng in Metallurgy, Economics, and Management from the University of Oxford and her MBA from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business, where she graduated as an Arjay Miller scholar. She holds an honorary doctorate from Ulster University and in 2019 was granted an OBE from Queen Elizabeth II for services to entrepreneurship.  ​Sarah is from Northern Ireland, has lived in South Africa, and now lives in Northern California with her husband and two children. This episode is a live-recording of the event with Sarah, in conversation with Digital Irish and CNN Underscored's Rachel Quigley.

With the recent news of Jay Shetty's background being fabricated, it's clear we don't do enough vetting of wellness and self-help creators. Well, actually we don't do well with vetting any influencers. We know influencer marketing is a billion-dollar industry but what do we really know about who is selling us products? Or courses? Or supplements? This week Alyssa and Dakota delve into the Jay Shetty mess, along with discussing how consumers can do better with determining who is behind many of these large influencer accounts while learning how to push through the layers of misinformation and even how to be a better influencer yourself. Ladies Who Launch is a podcast for women entrepreneurs who want to run successful businesses without the “hustle.”ladieswholaunchpod@gmail.comInstagram: @ladieswholaunchpodYour Hosts:Dakota Kidby is owner of Social Centric, a digital marketing agency based in Calgary, Alberta. Instagram: @socialcentriccoAlyssa Berry is owner of Alyssa Berry Communications, a boutique public relations agency based in Calgary, Alberta. Instagram: @aly_b_yyc

Every person has values and views on the world and society. You don't need to hide those values when running a business, you can lean into those values to attract clients and customers to benefit your business. Join Alyssa and Dakota as they talk about analysing when it's time to walk away from some clients and how to pitch for work that best reflects your business values. Here are some tips for pitching your business: Creating a specific, relevant and memorable value proposition. Researching your “perfect” client through their website, articles and industry contacts. Creating a visually appealing capabilities package that highlights your expertise, case studies and testimonials. Following up shows professionalism and commitment to the opportunity.Ladies Who Launch is a podcast for women entrepreneurs who want to run successful businesses without the “hustle.”ladieswholaunchpod@gmail.comInstagram: @ladieswholaunchpodYour Hosts:Dakota Kidby is owner of Social Centric, a digital marketing agency based in Calgary, Alberta. Instagram: @socialcentriccoAlyssa Berry is owner of Alyssa Berry Communications, a boutique public relations agency based in Calgary, Alberta. Instagram: @aly_b_yyc

Hoda and Jenna share a few things that they're really loving now. Also, Hilary Swank joins the show to catch up and talk about life as a mother. Plus, the story behind Allison Ellsworth, the woman who created the popular drink “Poppi.” And, Executive Beauty Director at “Bustle,” Faith Xue, shares tips on how to refresh your beauty care routine. 

The one where we talk about our periods

Ingrid Michaelson is back to tell us about bringing “The Notebook the Musical” to Broadway after announcing it on Hoda and Jenna back in 2019. Also, this International Women's Day meet social activist Shiza Shahid who is changing the way we cook. Plus, check out some of our favorite women-owned businesses. And, honor some of the most inspirational women in a new trivia game called “Hall of Femme.”

Four years, 100 episodes, thousands of hours of conversations. Dakota and Alyssa look back at the evolution of Ladies Who Launch since its inception in 2020 and provide their insights on favourite episodes and guests. It's been both exhilarating and exhausting to navigate the world of podcasts. Who knew there were so many ways to record and host episodes? Prepping and scheduling guests is almost a full-time job. Why would anyone keep doing it? Well…passion. Dakota and Alyssa started Ladies Who Launch in April 2020 as an outlet to survive the first months of COVID-19. Neither of them anticipated they would still be here four years later. The debates, conversations and emotional releases that LWL has provided are cathartic. Thank you to everyone who has listened to episodes while walking the dog, making dinner, or even wearing AirPods at your work cubicle. Your continued support makes Ladies Who Launch more than Dakota and Alyssa could ever have imagined. Ladies Who Launch is a podcast for women entrepreneurs who want to run successful businesses without the “hustle.”ladieswholaunchpod@gmail.comInstagram: @ladieswholaunchpodYour Hosts:Dakota Kidby is owner of Social Centric, a digital marketing agency based in Calgary, Alberta. Instagram: @socialcentriccoAlyssa Berry is owner of Alyssa Berry Communications, a boutique public relations agency based in Calgary, Alberta. Instagram: @aly_b_yyc

Joy Fan, Founder & CEO of Re/tell, shared the story behind her title with us on February 7, 2024.Joy Fan is a 2x founder, operator, and urbanist - democratizing access to affordable real estate.Previously, Joy popularized the pop-up retail industry as a founding member of Storefront - the largest marketplace for short-term retail with over 150,000 brands (acquired in 2016).Joy is known for building consumer enablement technology, and created the "retail-as-a-service" model adopted by thousands of DTC brands, REITS, mall operators, developers, and landlords; is an active committee advisor for Women in Proptech and a part of Mayor Eric Adam's NYC Small Business Advisory Commission.Today, with the height of the pandemic leaving cities vacant; small businesses crushed with displacements, and online brands competing for expensive digital ad space (moving 20% of marketing spend to physical retail) – the $17 Trillion Real Estate industry is due for further disruption.Joy and her team built a B2B marketplace + booking platform that lands online/DTC brands into shared retail by instantly matching them with their end consumer (a $120 Billion dollar annual opportunity).Re/tell has oversubscribed brand partners, a growing waitlist, e-commerce marketplace partners (Verishop, Marmalade, Pattern Brands, Sharma Brands, We Are Women Owned, Ladies Who Launch, New York Naturally), enterprise space partners (Jamestown, Brookfield, Westfield), BID (Business Improvement District) demand from 3 major cities, and an official partnership with New York Mayor Eric Adams and NYC/EDC to drive economic growth and innovation.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/women-to-watch-r/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Who are the ladies behind Ladies Who Launch?Ladies Who Launch started in 2020 as a COVID project and now 100 episodes and 10,000 downloads later, we wanted to re-introduce ourselves to the thousands of new listeners we have acquired over the last four years. Join Alyssa and Dakota as they talk about their businesses and who they are when they aren't on the mics. And don't forget the Ladies Who Launch mascot, Bailey, who always steals the show.Ladies Who Launch is a podcast for women entrepreneurs who want to run successful businesses without the “hustle.”ladieswholaunchpod@gmail.comInstagram: @ladieswholaunchpodYour Hosts:Dakota Kidby is owner of Social Centric, a digital marketing agency based in Calgary, Alberta. Instagram: @socialcentriccoAlyssa Berry is owner of Alyssa Berry Communications, a boutique public relations agency based in Calgary, Alberta. Instagram: @aly_b_yyc

Welcome back to the Ladies Who Launch podcast, where your favourite co-hosts, Alyssa and Dakota, are ready to kick off 2024 with a bang! In today's episode, we're not just reintroducing ourselves, but we're also diving deep into why traditional goal setting is taking a backseat and how nurturing your innate strengths can lead to unprecedented success. Plus, we're spilling the beans on the exciting plans Ladies Who Launch has in store for you this year. So, grab your favourite beverage, settle in, and let's launch into this insightful journey together!1.     Reintroduction to Your Co-HostsMeet the ladies who launch and how we got here!2.     Breaking the Mold: Why Goals Are Out The pitfalls of traditional goal settingPersonal anecdotes from Alyssa and Dakota about goal-setting challengesShifting the focus from goals to growth3.     Embracing Strengths: The New Success MantraWhy nourishing what you're already good at is keyExpert insights on leveraging personal strengths for successReal-life success stories from our community4.     Ladies Who Launch: Our Vision for 2024 Exciting new initiatives and projectsUpcoming events and workshops you won't want to miss!How we're evolving to serve our community better Ladies Who Launch is a podcast for women entrepreneurs who want to run successful businesses without the “hustle.”ladieswholaunchpod@gmail.comInstagram: @ladieswholaunchpodYour Hosts:Dakota Kidby is owner of Social Centric, a digital marketing agency based in Calgary, Alberta. Instagram: @socialcentriccoAlyssa Berry is owner of Alyssa Berry Communications, a boutique public relations agency based in Calgary, Alberta. Instagram: @aly_b_yyc

Alyssa and DK recount our slightly stressful 2023 and talk the year ahead!Ladies Who Launch is a podcast for women entrepreneurs who want to run successful businesses without the “hustle.”ladieswholaunchpod@gmail.comInstagram: @ladieswholaunchpodYour Hosts:Dakota Kidby is owner of Social Centric, a digital marketing agency based in Calgary, Alberta. Instagram: @socialcentriccoAlyssa Berry is owner of Alyssa Berry Communications, a boutique public relations agency based in Calgary, Alberta. Instagram: @aly_b_yyc

After a somewhat sleepless night on the Ladies Who Launch, the team head back to Sparrow HQ for their meeting with the CEO. Juniper learns a personal lesson. Tiddles faces up to Bethany Durant. And Jaz revisits some old memories...CONTENT WARNINGS! Swearing, rude humour, the misery of corporate exploitationYOUR PLAYERS! Your GM is Sara Keep. Becs Watson plays Jaz Vell, Jen Blundell plays Juniper Poutine and Helen Gaffney plays Tiddles.THE GAME! Thirsty Sword Lesbians is a game by April Kit Walsh.CONTACT US! Roll Plus Heart are on Twitter and Facebook @RollPlusHeart and on Mastodon @rollplusheart@dice.camp. You can also email us at rollplusheart@gmail.com. More information about us, the show and the games we have played can be found at rollplusheart.co.uk.PATREON! We have a Patreon, featuring bonus audio content and regular exclusive merch. Sign up from just £1 a month.MERCH! We also have merch available through redbubble.com.SOCIAL MEDIA! Sara: @PenguinPanic. Becs: @Starling_Dust. Jen: @JenBlundell.OTHER CONTENT! Jen and Sara also play on the D&D actual play podcast Quest Fantastic, and Jen hosts the film review podcast Jen and the Film Critic. Becs sells beautiful art via Kofi.OUR MUSIC! Our theme music was composed by David Shaw (Instagram and Twitch @DSComposing and Facebook @composerdavidshaw). Music mixing and mastering was by Mark Anderson.All other music and sound effects from Epidemic Sound and Zapsplat.Show editing by Jen Blundell and Helen Gaffney.

We all struggle with negative self-talk throughout our lives and careers. How you deal with that talk can be your greatest success.In this episode, Dakota and Alyssa discuss their struggles in 2023, how they are overcoming the toxic relationship with their thoughts and sharing their biggest “failures.”Ladies Who Launch is a podcast for women entrepreneurs who want to run successful businesses without the “hustle.”ladieswholaunchpod@gmail.comInstagram: @ladieswholaunchpodYour Hosts:Dakota Kidby is owner of Social Centric, a digital marketing agency based in Calgary, Alberta. Instagram: @socialcentriccoAlyssa Berry is owner of Alyssa Berry Communications, a boutique public relations agency based in Calgary, Alberta. Instagram: @aly_b_yyc

Aly B and DK are BURNT OUT! We're taking a two week break and we'll be back on Dec 6th. Ladies Who Launch is a podcast for women entrepreneurs who want to run successful businesses without the “hustle.”ladieswholaunchpod@gmail.comInstagram: @ladieswholaunchpodYour Hosts:Dakota Kidby is owner of Social Centric, a digital marketing agency based in Calgary, Alberta. Instagram: @socialcentriccoAlyssa Berry is owner of Alyssa Berry Communications, a boutique public relations agency based in Calgary, Alberta. Instagram: @aly_b_yyc

Join Dakota for this mini-episode to go over best practices and trial and error in how to solo-prenuer with a back-up plan.Ladies Who Launch is a podcast for women entrepreneurs who want to run successful businesses without the “hustle.”ladieswholaunchpod@gmail.comInstagram: @ladieswholaunchpodYour Hosts:Dakota Kidby is owner of Social Centric, a digital marketing agency based in Calgary, Alberta. Instagram: @socialcentriccoAlyssa Berry is owner of Alyssa Berry Communications, a boutique public relations agency based in Calgary, Alberta. Instagram: @aly_b_yyc

Join us for a conversation with Logan Aguirre, Publisher of 417 Magazine! Tune in as we talk about bringing your unique energy to #417land, recap this year's Ladies Who Launch event, Logan's recent sabbatical, and more. Special thanks to Mercy Hospital Springfield for sponsoring the Leadership Springfield "Plugged In" episodes.

Women are notoriously unwilling to reach for the next rung of success. Whether in your career by not feeling you're qualified for that promotion, in your life by making the decision to travel or move to better your lifestyle or even as an entrepreneur as imposter syndrome raises its head, women need to step up and showcase their badassery (yes, that is a word.) Understanding that not only are you qualified and deserving of success but that you are OWED that success is the first step in living your best life. Alyssa and Dakota talk about why it's on you to make sure your mindset lines up with your success goals.Ladies Who Launch is a podcast for women entrepreneurs who want to run successful businesses without the “hustle.”ladieswholaunchpod@gmail.comInstagram: @ladieswholaunchpodYour Hosts:Dakota Kidby is owner of Social Centric, a digital marketing agency based in Calgary, Alberta. Instagram: @socialcentriccoAlyssa Berry is owner of Alyssa Berry Communications, a boutique public relations agency based in Calgary, Alberta. Instagram: @aly_b_yyc

What is a mental fast and how can it help alleviate all the digital noise? Let's be honest, we are all addicted to our phones. Whether it is checking emails, watching videos or obsessively checking social media we can all use an extended break from our digital existence. Alyssa and Dakota explore the emerging trend of mental fasts and how they can help you calm your mind, get away from all the noise and feel a little more grounded.Ladies Who Launch is a podcast for women entrepreneurs who want to run successful businesses without the “hustle.”ladieswholaunchpod@gmail.comInstagram: @ladieswholaunchpodYour Hosts:Dakota Kidby is owner of Social Centric, a digital marketing agency based in Calgary, Alberta. Instagram: @socialcentriccoAlyssa Berry is owner of Alyssa Berry Communications, a boutique public relations agency based in Calgary, Alberta. Instagram: @aly_b_yyc

“What is happening with social media?” is a question that most of us are asking ourselves daily. It seems that the tech giants and their cuckoo CEOs are doing everything they can to ruin our existence. At the time of recording, Twitter was still Twitter (let's not discuss X) and Threads had just been released. Dakota and Alyssa discuss the downfall of Twitter and whether its new competitor is worth hopping onto or take a more wait and see approach. We know algorithms are a constant struggle but now it's becoming more difficult to even decide what platforms to be on and how to use them. Join us as we delve into (well, rant about) the current state of social media and whether it may be time to start culling the herd.Ladies Who Launch is a podcast for women entrepreneurs who want to run successful businesses without the “hustle.”ladieswholaunchpod@gmail.comInstagram: @ladieswholaunchpodYour Hosts:Dakota Kidby is owner of Social Centric, a digital marketing agency based in Calgary, Alberta. Instagram: @socialcentriccoAlyssa Berry is owner of Alyssa Berry Communications, a boutique public relations agency based in Calgary, Alberta. Instagram: @aly_b_yyc

Many of us are feeling in a rut. The pandemic has “ended” for many but for entrepreneurs, business may not be back to normal. Sometimes making big life decisions are what need to happen to shake out of the feeling of stagnation. In this episode, Alyssa reveals a very large decision she is making to benefit her future, which may surprise many of our regular listeners. If you are feeling like your life and/or business is needs a wake up call, you will want to tune in to this one. Ladies Who Launch is a podcast for women entrepreneurs who want to run successful businesses without the “hustle.”ladieswholaunchpod@gmail.comInstagram: @ladieswholaunchpodYour Hosts:Dakota Kidby is owner of Social Centric, a digital marketing agency based in Calgary, Alberta. Instagram: @socialcentriccoAlyssa Berry is owner of Alyssa Berry Communications, a boutique public relations agency based in Calgary, Alberta. Instagram: @aly_b_yyc

Join us in this listicle style episode where we discuss five major things you didn't know you needed when starting a business. We understand listicles are a bit out of date but it worked best for our brains today! Also enjoy Alyssa and Dakota being real and escaping the microscope for some laughs today! PS: do you also use pimple patches?Ladies Who Launch is a podcast for women entrepreneurs who want to run successful businesses without the “hustle.” Ladies Who Launchladieswholaunchpod@gmail.comInstagram: @ladieswholaunchpodDakota Kidby is owner of Social Centric, a digital marketing agency based in Calgary, Alberta. Instagram: @socialcentriccoAlyssa Berry is owner of Alyssa Berry Communications, a boutique public relations agency

Let's get real about mental health challenges, the onslaught of ADHD diagnosis in the past few years and open up about how our brains really work. It's terrifying to talk about our feelings and rather, listen to a T-Swift song about our inner demons. But you know what? Screw it. Let's get real. In this episode of Ladies who Launch, Alyssa and Dakota discuss Dakota's newly discovered and diagnosed ADHD, the root lightbulb moment she finally realized - oh damn, there really is something I need to address - and more on why this topic is both fascinating and needs to be discussed. Ladies Who Launch is a podcast for women entrepreneurs who want to run successful businesses without the “hustle.” Ladies Who Launchladieswholaunchpod@gmail.comInstagram: @ladieswholaunchpodDakota Kidby is owner of Social Centric, a digital marketing agency based in Calgary, Alberta. Instagram: @socialcentriccoAlyssa Berry is owner of Alyssa Berry Communications, a boutique public relations agency based in Calgary, Alberta. Instagram: @aly_b_yyc 

This week in the guest chair we have Kalyn Johnson Chandler. Starting as a career lawyer in big law, then transitioning to fashion, Kalyn has now evolved into a full time artist and entrepreneur as the founder of Effie's Paper: Stationery & Whatnot, a lifestyle brand empowering women and presenting on-trend accessories for work, travel and daily life.  In this episode she shares: How she seamlessly transitioned from field to field through confidence and discipline  How she learned entrepreneurial skills through self-teaching, mentors, and business programs How having a solid business model, attending events and making connections landed her products in Walmart Check out this episode and others on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube This episode is brought to you by:  HubSpot Podcast Network- The audio destination for business professionals with content designed to help you listen, learn, and grow. Listen to Side Hustle Pro and more shows on the HubSpot Podcast Network, at https://www.hubspot.com/podcastnetwork.  Links mentioned in this episode Effie's Paper Website: https://effiespaper.com/  Effie's Paper Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/Cjy4BN_OiVH/  Kalyn's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/Cjy4BN_OiVH/  E-Myth Book: https://www.amazon.com/Myth-Revisited-Small-Businesses-About/dp/0887307280  Ladies Who Launch: https://www.ladieswholaunch.org/  10,000 Small Businesses Program: https://www.goldmansachs.com/citizenship/10000-small-businesses/US/index.html  Click here to subscribe via RSS feed (non-iTunes feed): http://sidehustlepro.libsyn.com/rss Announcements Join our Facebook Community If you're looking for a community of supportive side hustlers who are all working to take our businesses to the next level, join us here: http://sidehustlepro.co/facebook Guest Social Media Info Kalyn's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/Cjy4BN_OiVH/  Effie's Paper Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/Cjy4BN_OiVH/   

It it well-known that Alyssa and Dakota are no fans of New Year's resolutions but are big proponents of continual goal setting throughout the year as situations change.June always seems chaotic when dealing with clients, staff or management. Parents are pre-occupied with end of school celebrations and graduations, while most are planning their vacations. Trying to get project deliverables completed can be difficult. It makes the perfect time to sit down with your clients or staff to set clear priorities to the end of the year and create clear timelines for the summer to ensure projects move forward throughout vacation season. Alyssa and Dakota provide insight on tools and resources they use for mid-year check ins and even provide some context on difficult conversations they have had with clients and themselves. The company mentioned by Dakota that hampions the power and potential of cognitive diversity within teamschampions the power and potential of cognitive diversity within teams is https://emergeneticscanada.com/Ladies Who Launch is a podcast for women entrepreneurs who want to run successful businesses without the “hustle.” Ladies Who Launchladieswholaunchpod@gmail.comInstagram: @ladieswholaunchpodDakota Kidby is owner of Social Centric, a digital marketing agency based in Calgary, Alberta. Instagram: @socialcentriccoAlyssa Berry is owner of Alyssa Berry Communications, a boutique public relations agency based in Calgary, Alberta. Instagram: @aly_b_yyc

Running a business is more than just your five year business plan. It is managing day to day priorities, timelines and never ending tasks which can become overwhelming and exhausting. In this week's episode Dakota and Alyssa delve into effective strategies to increase your productivity to grow your business.Key topicsLeaning into AI to save time, help with ideation and content creationUtilizing a virtual assistant or intern to take over the administrative tasks that are filling your to do listWhy the days of hourly billing are overYou don't need to be running on empty to feel accomplished. Remember, work smarter, not harder. Ladies Who Launch is a podcast for women entrepreneurs who want to run successful businesses without the “hustle.” Ladies Who Launchladieswholaunchpod@gmail.comInstagram: @ladieswholaunchpodDakota Kidby is owner of Social Centric, a digital marketing agency based in Calgary, Alberta. Instagram: @socialcentriccoAlyssa Berry is owner of Alyssa Berry Communications, a boutique public relations agency based in Calgary, Alberta. Instagram: @aly_b_yyc

When Saveria's fulfilling dream job disappeared, she knew she had to do something to get it back. Her solution was to launch AdventurUs Women and create life-changing experiences for women in the outdoors. The only problem was it was the fall of 2019, and the world was about to be flipped on its head. Join us today for a special interview with Saveria to hear how she navigated this journey, where it all started, and how being a Ladies Who Launch recipient has helped make this dream possible. Learn more about Saveria and AdventurUs Women:Adventuruswomen.comhttps://www.instagram.com/adventuruswomen/?hl=enladieswholaunch.orgOur Sponsors:* Check out Green Chef and use my code asp250 for a great deal: https://www.greenchef.com/asp250* Check out Oris Watches: https://www.oris.ch* Check out Roark and use my code ASP15 for a great deal: https://roark.com/* Check out Shopify and use my code asp for a great deal: https://www.shopify.com/aspSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/adventure-sports-podcast/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

When Saveria's fulfilling dream job disappeared, she knew she had to do something to get it back. Her solution was to launch AdventurUs Women and create life-changing experiences for women in the outdoors. The only problem was it was the fall of 2019, and the world was about to be flipped on its head. Join us today for a special interview with Saveria to hear how she navigated this journey, where it all started, and how being a Ladies Who Launch recipient has helped make this dream possible.Learn more about Saveria and Ladies who Launch at adventuruswomen.com and ladieswholaunch.orgTry Trailblazer and all other Athletic Brewing non-alcoholic craft beers here. 

ANgela BAssett DID THE THING, Jamie Lee is all of us, and your woman kings, Reit, Nick and Jones, Jess have a lot to say about it! After a close read of Ariana DeBose's BAFTAs rap (featuring selections from Jess' 7th grade Broadway rap), Nick and Jess break it down. Soft launches versus a hard launches, the celebrity they would have the best banter with on their talk show, and whether or not “Look What You Made Me Do (Taylor's Version)” *actually* leaked. Here's to the ladies who launch! And rap! And DID THE THING! Follow @theverdictpod on Instagram and Twitter, and like, review, and subscribe wherever you listen! 

Today, Beth Chesterton welcomes Stacy Taubman to the ABC to CEO: Preparing for the Possibility Podcast. Stacy is the Founder and CEO of Spritz Media based in Denver and has a proven track record for building profitable businesses. Stacy has been a guest on Good Morning America, NBC News and featured in numerous publications including Bloomberg and ELLE Magazine. She's received many awards for innovation and business leadership.In this episode, Stacy shares a better way to view your weaknesses, advice for dealing with setbacks, and the strengths that introverts bring to leadership.An accomplished speaker, mentor, and business leader, Stacy has interviewed some of the best: Jenna Bush Hager and Barbara Pierce Bush, Sarah Friar the CEO of Nextdoor, fashion designer and business mogul Nicole Miller, as well as top leadership at Wells Fargo, IKEA, Microsoft, the Girl Scouts, Ladies Who Launch — among many others. She also dazzles in her Ted Talk.As Founder/CEO of Spritz Media, Stacy draws on her decades of entrepreneurial and marketing success to help aesthetic practices and brands grow their businesses using the highest ROI social media marketing strategy: short-form video content. Platforms like TikTok and Instagram are powerful tools to grow a company's bottom line, but creating content that breaks through to ideal clients is time consuming and requires skillful strategy. That's why Spritz Media has a team of the most talented TikTok and Reels creators and specializes in short-form video content creation for top brands in the aesthetics industry. Follow us to learn more at ABC to CEO.ABC To CEOPrepares young women for the possibility of becoming not just a leader but the leaderFirmly believes that when more women are at the top, there will be a tipping point that will make equality possibleIs a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organizationABC to CEO: Preparing for the Possibility Podcast is produced by Amanda Taran. 

Sarah Friar learned about the power of community from an early age. Growing up in Northern Ireland during a time of tremendous violence showed her the importance of finding common ground and taught her how to create resilience from within, both of which are lessons that she continues to live by today. Even in moments of fear and despair, Sarah was able to find her resilience and take risks throughout her career.After checking all the boxes that she thought would lead her to become a partner at Goldman Sachs, Sarah received the news that she wouldn't be getting the promotion she had been striving for. She could have stayed at Goldman, but her husband said something to her that she couldn't shake — losing the promotion has set her free. From there, Sarah considered what she's good at, what she's passionate about, and what the world needs, which ultimately led her to her current role. As the CEO of Nextdoor, a hyperlocal social networking service for neighborhoods, Sarah is now working to strengthen the power of community — a reflection of her lessons learned early on.In this episode, Randall and Sarah discuss how curiosity and resilience are the keys to finding your path; how finding common ground can unlock social capital that allows you to get things done in the world; advice to women today who are working in a sexist environment; what to do when you aren't passionate about your work but are making good money; why searching for an emotional connection helps to build stronger companies; why you should be taking risks in your career frequently; the role politics has in the workspace; how to use moments of failure to help you rise; and more… Topics include: -The power of community-Why it's necessary to do the nitty-gritty work-Why it is important to learn both inside and outside of the classroom-The importance of finding purpose at work-How to use your fears to spur you into action-Whether or not you should have a plan B-Why extreme preparation matters -Prioritizing mental health-Why job hopping is a red flag-How to strike the right work-life balance-The secret side of philanthropy-Why having a diversity of experience is advantageousSarah Friar is the chief executive officer of Nextdoor, the neighborhood network that connects neighborhood stakeholders, including neighbors, businesses, and public services, online and in real life to build stronger, more vibrant, and resilient neighborhoods.Prior to Nextdoor, Sarah served as the chief financial officer at Square. Under Sarah's leadership, the company launched its initial public offering in 2015 and added $30 billion in market capitalization.Before her tenure at Square, Sarah served as senior vice president of finance & strategy at Salesforce. Sarah also held executive roles at Goldman Sachs, as well as leadership positions at McKinsey in both London and South Africa. She is a Fellow of the inaugural class of the Finance Leaders Fellowship Program, a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network, and co-founder of Ladies Who Launch, a network that mentors and inspires women entrepreneurs and business owners.Sarah grew up in Northern Ireland and earned her MEng in Metallurgy, Economics, and Management from the University of Oxford and her MBA from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business, where she graduated as an Arjay Miller scholar. Resources mentioned:NextdoorBooks mentioned: Range: Why Generalists Tr

Finding your passion is the most important aspect of of starting a business. You know what they say, "love what you do and you'll never work a day in your life." Felena Hanson found her passion, supporting other female entrepreneurs through leadership roles with severalprofessional women's organizations, including creating Hera Hub, a female-focused co-working places around the country, Ladies Who Launch, and her book, “Flight Club – Rebel, Reinvent, and Thrive: How to Launch Your Dream Business." Felena is a long-time entrepreneur and marketing maven.  Her 20 year career has spanned from technology start-ups to digital marketing agencies. Some of her former clients include DirecTV, Epson, CNN, and Union Bank. Today, Felena teaches, coaches, and only does what she has a passion for, because she doesn't want to work another day in her life.Learn More About Hera Hub

Finding your passion is the most important aspect of of starting a business. You know what they say, "love what you do and you'll never work a day in your life." Felena Hanson found her passion, supporting other female entrepreneurs through leadership roles with severalprofessional women's organizations, including creating Hera Hub, a female-focused co-working places around the country, Ladies Who Launch, and her book, “Flight Club – Rebel, Reinvent, and Thrive: How to Launch Your Dream Business." Felena is a long-time entrepreneur and marketing maven.  Her 20 year career has spanned from technology start-ups to digital marketing agencies. Some of her former clients include DirecTV, Epson, CNN, and Union Bank. Today, Felena teaches, coaches, and only does what she has a passion for, because she doesn't want to work another day in her life.Learn More About Hera Hub

Sarah Friar learned about the power of community from an early age. Growing up in Northern Ireland during a time of tremendous violence showed her the importance of finding common ground and taught her how to create resilience from within, both of which are lessons that she continues to live by today. Even in moments of fear and despair, Sarah was able to find her resilience and take risks throughout her career.After checking all the boxes that she thought would lead her to become a partner at Goldman Sachs, Sarah received the news that she wouldn't be getting the promotion she had been striving for. She could have stayed at Goldman, but her husband said something to her that she couldn't shake — losing the promotion has set her free. From there, Sarah considered what she's good at, what she's passionate about, and what the world needs, which ultimately led her to her current role. As the CEO of Nextdoor, a hyperlocal social networking service for neighborhoods, Sarah is now working to strengthen the power of community — a reflection of her lessons learned early on.In this episode, Randall and Sarah discuss how curiosity and resilience are the keys to finding your path; how finding common ground can unlock social capital that allows you to get things done in the world; advice to women today who are working in a sexist environment; what to do when you aren't passionate about your work but are making good money; why searching for an emotional connection helps to build stronger companies; why you should be taking risks in your career frequently; the role politics has in the workspace; how to use moments of failure to help you rise; and more… Topics include: -The power of community-Why it's necessary to do the nitty-gritty work-Why it is important to learn both inside and outside of the classroom-The importance of finding purpose at work-How to use your fears to spur you into action-Whether or not you should have a plan B-Why extreme preparation matters -Prioritizing mental health-Why job hopping is a red flag-How to strike the right work-life balance-The secret side of philanthropy-Why having a diversity of experience is advantageousSarah Friar is the chief executive officer of Nextdoor, the neighborhood network that connects neighborhood stakeholders, including neighbors, businesses, and public services, online and in real life to build stronger, more vibrant, and resilient neighborhoods.Prior to Nextdoor, Sarah served as the chief financial officer at Square. Under Sarah's leadership, the company launched its initial public offering in 2015 and added $30 billion in market capitalization.Before her tenure at Square, Sarah served as senior vice president of finance & strategy at Salesforce. Sarah also held executive roles at Goldman Sachs, as well as leadership positions at McKinsey in both London and South Africa. She is a Fellow of the inaugural class of the Finance Leaders Fellowship Program, a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network, and co-founder of Ladies Who Launch, a network that mentors and inspires women entrepreneurs and business owners.Sarah grew up in Northern Ireland and earned her MEng in Metallurgy, Economics, and Management from the University of Oxford and her MBA from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business, where she graduated as an Arjay Miller scholar. Resources mentioned:NextdoorBooks mentioned: Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized W

Heather Kennedy never thought her career would look like 20+ years with the same company. Why did she stay? Because of The Home Depot's unwavering commitment to its customers, its associates, and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Join us this week as hosts Dee Martin and Yasmin Nelson sit down with The Home Depot's Vice President of Government Relations, Heather Kennedy, while she breaks down her 20 years of consistent growth and leadership with The Home Depot. Heather gives advice on how to be a successful lobbyist, including her important work on navigating Congress, critical supply chains, and the pandemic. If you're curious about her proudest career moment, tune in!   Heather also dives into her professional and personal commitment to diversity and education, including The Home Depot's partnership with Women Who Code and Ladies Who Launch, a nonprofit dedicated to elevating and empowering women and non-binary business owners.

Hunter & Lexi Pence joins Tolbert & Copes to discuss Pineapple Labs and their coffee charity with "Ladies who Launch" See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hunter & Lexi Pence joins Tolbert & Copes to discuss Pineapple Labs and their coffee charity with "Ladies who Launch" See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hailing from Rock Island, Illinois, Brea is the oldest of four having three younger brothers looking up to her. Her talent for basketball was apparent at an early age and on full display by the time she was in high school. She was named Illinois Ms. Basketball three times, was the Gatorade Illinois Player of the Year another three times, a McDonald's All-American, and the number 3 wing player in the country her senior year. After compiling a ridiculous amount of offers, Brea selected the University of South Carolina where she continues her dominance today. Her team is currently the #1 ranked women's NCAA basketball team with high hopes of making it to the tournament finals after a nail-biting loss to Stanford in the college basketball national tournament. Listen in to today's episode to hear how Brea manages to stay at the top of her game, without compromise.Check out Trailblazer, our brew made by the amazing women here at Athletic Brewing for another toast to Women's History Month! 100% of profits will be donated to initiatives encouraging women and non-binary people in the brewing industry like the Pink Boots Society, Ladies Who Launch and the Women's International Beer Summit. Buy it here. 

My guest today is Sarah Friar, the CEO of Nextdoor, which connects people in local neighborhoods together. Sarah's CV sparkles with impressive achievements at interesting businesses, and we spend a lot of time in this conversation thinking through what excellence looks like as a CEO, CFO, equity analyst, and board member. The rest of our discussion is focused on Nextdoor and how the soon-to-be public business is fostering connections between people and businesses in their local areas.   I do this podcast so I get to meet and learn from people like Sarah. I could have talked to her for hours. I hope you enjoy this great conversation with Sarah Friar as much as I did.   For the full show notes, transcript, and links to the best content to learn more, check out the episode page here.   ------   This episode is brought to you by Canalyst. Canalyst is the leading destination for public company data and analysis. If you've been scrambling to keep up with the deluge of IPOs and SPACs these days, Canalyst has models on Robinhood, Marqeta, Grab, and everything in between. Learn more and try Canalyst for yourself at canalyst.com/patrick. ------   At WatchBox, the world's finest watches are at your fingertips with an ever-expanding collection of luxury timepieces, all certified authentic and collector quality. WatchBox's global team of expert client advisors is ready to help you find the watch you've always wanted. Step into the collector's circle at thewatchbox.com/patrick   ------   Invest Like the Best is a property of Colossus, LLC. For more episodes of Invest Like the Best, visit joincolossus.com/episodes.    Past guests include Tobi Lutke, Kevin Systrom, Mike Krieger, John Collison, Kat Cole, Marc Andreessen, Matthew Ball, Bill Gurley, Anu Hariharan, Ben Thompson, and many more.   Stay up to date on all our podcasts by signing up to Colossus Weekly, our quick dive every Sunday highlighting the top business and investing concepts from our podcasts and the best of what we read that week. Sign up here.   Follow us on Twitter: @patrick_oshag | @JoinColossus   Show Notes [00:03:03] - [First question] - What makes an excellent equity analyst [00:05:51] - Things Sarah does differently as an operator because she was an investor [00:08:29] - Key factors that make a great CFO [00:09:31] - The role of the CFO in regards to capital allocation as a company grows [00:11:50] - What convinced her to join Salesforce and Square [00:14:45] - The initial spark and appeal that led her to join Nextdoor [00:17:35] - Existing problems with ‘community' and how they approach fixing them [00:21:36] - Interesting and compelling data points about in-person interactions [00:23:54] - Network density as a driving factor of product quality [00:26:43] - What gives Nextdoor a unique angle against some of its existing competitors  [00:28:51] - Thoughts on platform leakage and user retention [00:30:57] - Successful strategies for deploying Nextdoor in a new country [00:35:32] - Having a feed and trying to avoid creating echo chambers [00:37:04] - Some of the biggest mistakes they've made while trying to grow [00:38:49] - Options for a business model and thoughts on advertising  [00:43:25] - The importance of scale, advertising, and their relationship dynamic [00:45:55] - Ways she's learned to effectively steer the businesses strategy [00:49:48] - Why she doesn't like titles  [00:51:07] - Key levers that will allow Nextdoor to succeed in the future [00:53:35] - How advertisers evaluate platforms like Nextdoor compared to Google or Facebook [00:57:19] - What a successful board member looks like and how she's learned to be one [00:59:34] - Leading with transparency and empathy [01:02:00] - An overview of what Ladies Who Launch is and what they do [01:03:57] - Way to educate our children about finance and encourage financial literacy [01:07:51] - Making your platforms welcoming and guiding users away from conflict [01:10:30] - The kindest thing anyone has ever done for her 

83. Diane OBrien guides the ‘ladies who launch' business ideas from their homes! Join headhuntinghousewives.com for free inspiration, support , & guidance! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/dianeobrien/support

Linda welcomes all five of the women entrepreneurs behind New Vibes Wine Co. to the podcast for the second part of their exclusive interview. . Before COVID-19, balancing careers and family life was already a struggle for many women of all ages. The unexpected disruptions that came along with the pandemic pushed us all to step outside our comfort zones. Working remotely, being furloughed, monitoring our children's online education, and worrying about the health and safety of loved ones certainly caught us all feeling unprepared and overwhelmed. So now that the scramble to survive and thrive has endured for almost a year, where is this growing urge to do something new fit into our lives? How do we balance the fine line of socializing, entertaining, and traveling while ensuring our health? Perhaps the answer is as simple as bringing these experiences into our homes. Or, maybe the current crisis is pushing you to reevaluate your previous “balance” and pivot careers, travel somewhere you may have not considered previously, or just… slow… down… While we all hope our post-pandemic lives will bring back familiarity and normalcy, why not embrace new vibes now? New Vibes Wine Co. passionately feels drinking wine is meant to be a joyous occasion. After all, even simple wins like putting away the last load of laundry, are cause to pop a bottle! As five women business owners, our BIGGEST win happened while our respective businesses were facing the same challenges as so many small businesses throughout the country. Every two weeks we met as accountability partners to discuss plans for growth, efficiency, and big picture goal setting. It was during the doldrums of COVID spring that focused discussions often turned to new-biz daydreaming. There was a restlessness to start something new together. Looking around the conference room, we realized together we all possessed diverse talents and experience as well as a passion for wine. How could we create the semblance of local experiences we were all craving. And how could we develop an escape while at home where no one leaves the house… ever?  Our in-person “Ladies Who Launch” bimonthly meetings soon turned into weekly deep-dive business planning sessions via Zoom. Amanda Berry and Jesika Young made quick work of our business filings and began crunching numbers. Erica Outlaw peeled back the curtains of the wine industry and laid out our business model. Jessica Bledsoe and Becky Duncan spearheaded marketing and product development. It was a focused frenzy of ideas, action, and wine drinking… we needed to sample to understand what to offer! Soon, as you're celebrating new times ahead, new vibes of opportunities present, new wines to discover, we are excited to “wine down” with you. Let's all embrace the possibility of new opportunities in 2021! . FB - @NewVibesWine IG - @NewVibesWine thenewwinegirl.com . www.execuity.com linda@execuity.com FB - @Execuity

Alyssa and Dakota were fangirling hard as they welcomed City of Calgary Councillor and Mayoral candidate Jyoti Gondek to Ladies Who Launch. Jyoti shares insightful stories of growing up an immigrant in Manitoba, being an entrepreneur, and choosing to enter the political ring. This is a "must listen" episode for everyone who is deciding how they can serve their community with authenticity and compassion. -Follow us on Instagram (@ladieswholaunchpod), and Facebook (LadiesWhoLaunchPod), or email us at ladieswholaunchpod@gmail.com to find out more about us and be notified when new episodes release!

Linda welcomes all five of the women entrepreneurs behind New Vibes Wine Co. to the podcast for the first of a two part episode. . Before COVID-19, balancing careers and family life was already a struggle for many women of all ages. The unexpected disruptions that came along with the pandemic pushed us all to step outside our comfort zones. Working remotely, being furloughed, monitoring our children's online education, and worrying about the health and safety of loved ones certainly caught us all feeling unprepared and overwhelmed. So now that the scramble to survive and thrive has endured for almost a year, where is this growing urge to do something new fit into our lives? How do we balance the fine line of socializing, entertaining, and traveling while ensuring our health? Perhaps the answer is as simple as bringing these experiences into our homes. Or, maybe the current crisis is pushing you to reevaluate your previous “balance” and pivot careers, travel somewhere you may have not considered previously, or just… slow… down… While we all hope our post-pandemic lives will bring back familiarity and normalcy, why not embrace new vibes now? New Vibes Wine Co. passionately feels drinking wine is meant to be a joyous occasion. After all, even simple wins like putting away the last load of laundry, are cause to pop a bottle! As five women business owners, our BIGGEST win happened while our respective businesses were facing the same challenges as so many small businesses throughout the country. Every two weeks we met as accountability partners to discuss plans for growth, efficiency, and big picture goal setting. It was during the doldrums of COVID spring that focused discussions often turned to new-biz daydreaming. There was a restlessness to start something new together. Looking around the conference room, we realized together we all possessed diverse talents and experience as well as a passion for wine. How could we create the semblance of local experiences we were all craving. And how could we develop an escape while at home where no one leaves the house… ever?  Our in-person “Ladies Who Launch” bimonthly meetings soon turned into weekly deep-dive business planning sessions via Zoom. Amanda Berry and Jesika Young made quick work of our business filings and began crunching numbers. Erica Outlaw peeled back the curtains of the wine industry and laid out our business model. Jessica Bledsoe and Becky Duncan spearheaded marketing and product development. It was a focused frenzy of ideas, action, and wine drinking… we needed to sample to understand what to offer! Soon, as you're celebrating new times ahead, new vibes of opportunities present, new wines to discover, we are excited to “wine down” with you. Let's all embrace the possibility of new opportunities in 2021! . FB - @NewVibesWine IG - @NewVibesWine thenewwinegirl.com . www.execuity.com linda@execuity.com FB - @Execuity

Meet Miriam Drori, author of Social Anxiety Revealed, the newly published Style and the Solitary, and more.  Hear us talk about:  The inspiration for writing Social Anxiety Revealed  What the writing process was like (reaching out to contributors, etc.) What Miriam learn anything about herself and social anxiety while writing the book What Miriam hopes readers will take away from the book How social anxiety has impacted Miriam's life? What Miriam wishes other people knew about social anxiety What Mariam would tell a younger version of herself about social anxiety? And more! Mentioned in the episode: 1. Where to buy Social Anxiety Revealed Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1022795 Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/social-anxiety-revealed-miriam-drori/1126948726 Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/ww/en/ebook/social-anxiety-revealed 2. Where to find Miriam online:  Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, Pinterest, Instagram, Wattpad, website/blog, Amazon page 3. Ladies Who Launch – a free joint online event with Miriam and two other authors on May 6, 2021. 4. Miriam's social anxiety YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEubaiBisss 5. Miriam's author page on her publisher's site: http://www.darkstroke.com/dark-stroke/miriam-drori/ --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/yoursocialanxietybestie/message

We have a special one for you today! Because this topic is near and dear to my heart... We are joined by someone who has built a community of millions of women entrepreneurs to lift each other up... And she has some ah-mazing tips on how you can build YOUR OWN tribe... AND how we can all help EACH OTHER become a success! If you've been following me at all, then you know just how important these two things are in realizing explosive growth in your biz! So if you've been looking into how to build your own tribe + how you can support other female entrepreneurs (because as we know, karma is not only a b*tch but can absolutely also be a gift), then you've gotta listen to this podcast episode with our special guest Julie Kikla. Julie's career has spanned across private equity, digital media, content and VR platform, sports, health and wellness, cannabis, and women entrepreneurship with the key theme of being at the front line of high growth companies with mission-driven brands. She currently serves as the Executive Director at Ladies who Launch, a non-profit based in San Francisco to provide women an unfair advantage when launching and growing their own companies. Get involved in Ladies Who Launch at Join Deirdre & Bona - the founders of Growth Boss - as they put into practice the growth strategies and secrets they teach their eCommerce clients, taking their own e-commerce businesses from $0 to 6-figures! If you like what you're hearing on this podcast (or even if you don't!), please leave us a review here! If you're looking to grow your own eCommerce business, join the 4-day Sell Now & Sell Out Bootcamp If you want your FREE copy of The Traffic Formula book (just pay shipping), grab it here now If you're looking for more growth secrets, subscribe to my YouTube channel Instagram: @thegrowthboss Facebook: facebook.com/thegrowthboss Facebook group: facebook.com/groups/growthboss Any questions, please email hi@thegrowthboss.com

To Grace Cheng, founder and CEO of Kintsugi, access to mental healthcare is a top priority. In this episode, Grace dives into the history of her app, Kintsugi, and how her innovative technology uses the tone of one's voice to score clinical depression and anxiety. Grace can be found on twitter, @grehce, and you can keep up with future Real Talk episodes at https://www.ladieswholaunch.org/realtalk.

To close out Season One of Real Talk, Rani is joined by Sarah Friar, Co-founder of LWL and CEO of Nextdoor. In this episode, Sarah acknowledges the many pivots required this year and dives into what this meant for her personally, Nextdoor, and Ladies Who Launch. Listen in to hear her vision for LWL, her advice for all business owners today, and why she always carries lip gloss with her!

In December 2018, Sarah Friar was named CEO of Nextdoor, the world's largest private social network for neighborhoods. Prior to leading Nextdoor, she was CFO of Square and SVP of Finance & Strategy at Salesforce. She serves on the boards of Walmart and Slack, and is the co-founder of Ladies Who Launch, a nonprofit that celebrates and empowers women entrepreneurs. In this conversation with Stanford professor Tom Byers, she discusses what attracted her to Nextdoor, and explores how she aims to amplify helpful, neighborly behavior on a social network.

Life Coach Kristy Hinds helps us navigate toward the good. We're talking everything from what a life coach is to the benefits of having one to adding value on a daily basis including on social media to Ladies Who Launch. We're also talking people who stand in supermarkets during a pandemic screaming into their phones there is no food on the shelves when there is plenty of food on the shelves. It's all perspective, people. And that's where we find the good.

In December 2018, Sarah Friar was named CEO of Nextdoor, the world’s largest private social network for neighborhoods. Prior to leading Nextdoor, she was CFO of Square and SVP of Finance & Strategy at Salesforce. She serves on the boards of Walmart and Slack, and is the co-founder of Ladies Who Launch, a nonprofit that celebrates and empowers women entrepreneurs. In this conversation with Stanford professor Tom Byers, she discusses what attracted her to Nextdoor, and explores how she aims to amplify helpful, neighborly behavior on a social network.

Cadran moved to the West Coast and called herself a "Y Combinator fan kid." As a former women engineer, she was keen to build a virtual community for more female engineers like herself.. enter: Elpha!While Elpha started as a side project, the online community for women in tech has hosted over 35,000 women worldwide. Listen now to hear Cadran's journey from building and rapidly the Elpha community, how they have pivoted during the pandemic, and her message for Michelle Obama!Tune in to more Real Talk episodes for community, inspiration and education at www.ladieswholaunch.org

Do you want to work in tech? This week I chatted to Cecilia Harvey, CEO of Hyve Dynamics, a pioneering sensory technology company and also founder of the communities Tech Women Today and Ladies Who Launch all about the work she does in helping support women in technology roles and female entrepreneurs. www.ceciliaharvey.com www.hyvedynamics.com 

Think you know what it takes to hack your career growth? Think again. In this episode, Vivian details her mindset on how she went from a junior role in the Beauty industry to pivoting to Technology to working directly with C-level executives.Additionally, get the inside scoop on Vivian's business, Rise, and why flexible, work-from-anywhere projects and opportunities are the future of work & career advancement.

Theresa began her career in the US Army, serving during the 2008 Iraq war and led the Only Ground-Combat Brigade during the Iraq Surge to bring every soldier home safely. As an Army Veteran, she discusses how she defines leadership and reflects on the recent passing of Vanessa Guillen who also served at Fort Hood.In this segment, we learn about Theresa's pivot from the US Army to founding her own business, Puppy Mama. Get an inside look on how Theresa has built her stealth community and the inner work we must do to be truly resilient.

Sushi, Rihanna and wine can lead to amazing ideas. LWL sits down with Kalina, founder of The UnapologeTECH Podcast, to learn how she gained the experience and courage to go and launch her new platform for women of color and allies in tech."To be Black, a woman, and a marketing leader in Tech. Dare to see the world through my lens?" We are all in. Tune in to her her story, subscribe to her podcast, and heads up! She is looking for some ladies willing to help her out with her passion project!

Mimi is the CEO and Founder of Perfect Strangers, a team on a mission to band together to serve the most vulnerable members of our communities through meal delivery. Mimi is not new to the entrepreneurial space and was formerly working on her startup Willo that focused on fixing the complex problems of financial aid.In this episode, Mimi shares her pivot from Willo to Perfect Strangers, experiences as the daughter of refugees, and how we can all think about uplifting communities during these challenging times.

As a professional goalkeeper, Olympic medalist, and 2-time world champion in Water Polo, Jaime shares her unique insight in the pressures of perfection and her liberating journey to living a fulfilling and authentic life on one's own terms.Now, Jaime focuses her time on her business: Happy Vibes, with the vision of elevating well-being with tangible reminders for mindful living, through one on one sessions, group workshops, and public speaking. Listen in to hear about Jamie's journey from the Olympics to running her own business and how her definition of fulfillment changed along the way.

Alyssa Kuchta launched f.y.b jewelry right after graduating from undergrad. From trunk shows to partnering with retail stores, Alyssa dives into her journey of creating a vision for her business, simplifying her focus, and executing on it.Alyssa also looks back to how she was able to embrace hardship, develop her confidence as an entrepreneur, and find the beauty in her journey, all of which made her more focused on growing f.y.b. Put in a pair of headphones to hear about Alyssa's advice on how to think about competitors and more!

We get it, we started this cast in a weird time, so here it is, the ladies behind the cast and what we're all about!Learn more about Alyssa Berry and Dakota Kidby, their businesses and why we chose to start the Ladies who Launch.-Follow us on Instagram (@ladieswholaunchpod), and Facebook (LadiesWhoLaunchPod), or email us at ladieswholaunchpod@gmail.com to find out more about us and be notified when new episodes release!

From investment banker to lacrosse coach - that’s right, lacrosse coach!- to office assistant, Cassie Abel has worn many hats during her career and learned about the magic of teamwork very early on. Cassie’s leap of faith into entrepreneurship came after an unexpected relocation to what she thought was her dream job. Now, Cassie is the founder of Wild Rye, a women’s clothing brand focused on serving outdoor women. Cassie also leads Women Led Wednesday and encourages all entrepreneurs to spend thoughtfully to support women-led businesses.In this episode, we sit down with Cassie to hear about her journey founding WildRye, her experiences as a covid survivor, journey as a new mom, and most recently, being selected as a Tory Burch fellowship recipient.

As part of our 2020 Pride features, Adelle Renaud, Founder of Peau De Loup shares her founder journey from the department stores looking for a great fitting shirt to where she wants to take Peau De Loup next. Dive in with us as we cover her proudest moment, her advice for other queer founders and how to fight for your brand and keep going.

The year is 2001 and 10 new housemates are about to begin their Big Brother adventure. In this episode, we welcome Penny, Elizabeth, Stuart, Helen, Bubble, Paul, Brian, Narinder, Amma and Dean to the house and believe me, the glow up is real. Join us as we dive into the nostalgic sensation that was Big Brother UK season 2.

Sarah Friar and I talk about how to figure out where you need to hire people in your business, how to use your strengths and weaknesses to your advantage, the best ways to lead, and much more.

Cece sits down with the founder and creator of the cult-favorite body and self-care brand, Tarabusi Creek! Steph (steph_anoodle) and Cece will talk about what it's like to start a small business, overcoming your biggest fears to launch a small business, and what moments are truly monumental when you're growing a passion! They'll laugh and speak transparently about haters and trolls, major growing pains and lessons, as well as how to overcome the initial awkwardness of self-promotion. From gains and goals, these two are ladies who launch! follow us on twitter: Host: Cece, @meanlittleasian Podcast: @chasing_clout www.streamchasingclout.com Guest: Steph, @steph_anoodle Tarabusi Creek, @tarabusicreek www.tarabusicreek.com Cover art by Lily Tran instagram.com/lillil.art --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

An extra show this week! An informal one. Lindsay and previous guest on the show KM Shea (also known as Kitty) ended up launching new urban fantasy series on the same day. They were emailing…Continue ReadingSFA Bonus – Ladies Who Launch: Lindsay, Andrea, and KM Shea talk about their recent series launches

Lauren Fennema used to have a pretty cush job working at Huckberry, a discovery-first online retailer for guys. She got to work with hundreds of emerging brands, telling their story and getting their products into the hands of new fans.She always loved her job, then had this moment when she realized, "wait, how rad would this be if it existed for women, too?" That voice grew stronger until she left after nearly 5 years to go build Confidants, a discovery-first online retailer and digital magazine for women.LWL had the immense pleasure (over a glass of sauvignon blanc) to sit down with Lauren and grill her on the first 12 - 18 months of launching her business. Pop those ear buds in and take a listen and hear what her experience was like, how she leaned on her community for favors and what was her high moment (as well as her “Oh. My. God. moment”. A few other tips and tricks from Lauren below as well!https://www.ladieswholaunch.org/featured-founders-blog/2020/3/17/confidants

Michelle Terry, former Vice Chair of the Destin Chamber of Commerce Community & Tourism Development Committee, joins us on the microphone. Michelle was recently awarded the James D. Neilson Sr. Award for Volunteer Service from the Destin Chamber of Commerce for spearheading two new committees in our community this year - the Tourism Committee and “Ladies Who Launch”.

How do you raise capital and secure investment? It’s just one of the questions we were able to ask Sarah Friar, one of the most respected executives in Silicon Valley. She’s worked as CFO of Square, SVP of Finance and Strategy at Salesforce, Goldman Sachs, McKinsey and her most recent role is as CEO of Nextdoor, a trusted communications platform to grow local communities, which operates in over 11 countries and connects more than 200,000 neighbourhoods.  Sarah recently raised over US$170 million for Nextdoor, with the company now valued at over US$2 billion. In addition to her vast experience she has a side hustle - Ladies Who Launch. Join us in one of the rare chats where we get to hear the inspiration and straight up lessons from someone truly at the top of their game. Find out more about the show and join the gang at www.ladybrains.com.au Follow us on Instagram at lady.brains  

It was a great second year for Biz 417's Ladies Who Launch but for me it was tough to top the first year. The keynote speaker in 2018 was Laura Vanderkam, one of my favorite authors, speakers and podcasters. Her book Off The Clock: Feel Less Busy While Getting More Done inspired me to ask her dinner and she said yes! That's a great story in itself, but you'll have to listen to the show to find out how I almost gave her a concussion. Also on this week's show, I'll share the best ever networking tips for sober introverts and ask for your help with a new segment featuring my favorite hashtags.

It's finally here! Welcome to the launch of the Forty Thrive podcast, the show specially created for you, a woman over 40 who's tired of the status quo and ready to take clear, simple steps toward a better life. Are you feeling a bit behind on your life's timeline? Meet Forty Thrive contest winner (and guest co-host) Heather Stewart. Heather, who has lived through a stint as a 40 year old intern, run multiple marathons and career changes that would make anyone curl up and cry, is hilarious, candid and living proof that 40 can be just the beginning. Meet Heather and 1300+ women over 40 in the Forty Thrive community! Click here to download... Subscribe to the Forty Thrive podcast so you don't miss an episode!

Season 1, Episode 9 This episode is by and for the ladies- Tech Ladies, that is! But can surely be enjoyed by everyone alike. Hear guest speaker Michele Serro share valuable advice for anyone looking to build a company. Learn more about Tech Ladies here. Read our companion piece post here. Follow us on social media: FB IG Twitter This episode of Builders was hosted and produced by Laila Oweda. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/betaworks-builders/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/betaworks-builders/support

Amy Swift is a Brand Strategist, Copy Writer and Founder of AmySwift.com as well as the Founder of SMARTY. Her secret sauce lies in helping brands to unpack and restructure their messaging. Amy has been cultivating community and conversations around female entrepreneurship long before it was popular. First through Ladies Who Launch, where she co-authored a book and ran the West Coast region. Eventually, Amy pivoted to launch SMARTY a community platform that supported female-owned small businesses. While working hard to grow SMARTY, and continuing her work as a brand strategist, Amy decided that her family needed a change. They transplanted to Manchester by the Sea to slow down, but life had other plans. Amy became severely ill and surviving became the only goal. During Amy’s time of healing, she was able to step back and redefine how she wanted to structure her life and work. The wisdom that emerged from that season of life is evident. Amy’s insight and advice is a breath of fresh air in the midst of the booming conversations surrounding female entrepreneurship. She surprises us with advice not to “follow your passion” but rather, “pay attention to what interests you.” Please follow Amy at @SMARTYAmy on Twitter. Also, go to www.AmySwift.com to see Amy’s portfolio and ways to work with her. You can read her blog at www.SmartyPeople.com. Don't forget to follow us at @libertyforher on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. Please let us know your thoughts about this episode by using the hashtag #libertysessions and please rate and review us—it helps to know if this podcast is inspiring and equipping you to launch and grow your ventures.

Next week marks the start of Global Entrepreneurship Week – seven days celebrated around the world, with events designed to recognize and encourage more people to think more seriously about starting companies and organizations. Across the state, universities will be holding a series of events – 12 of the 16 public universities in North Carolina have entrepreneurship centers that will be participating. At NC State, the Entrepreneurship Initiative will be holding a “shark tank”-like event. And they’ll be holding a special event called “Ladies Who Launch” to celebrate women entrepreneurs. Women are still a minority when it comes to starting companies, so acknowledging the problem and celebrating success matters a lot. This week, we talk with Emily Neville, an undergraduate political science major at NC State, AND co-founder of an enterprise called Reborn Clothing Co. She is so passionate about her company she talked to us in the middle of a cold, so be patient about her cough. Then listen for some really good insights on the kind of thinking you need to do to launch a new idea, or to do entrepreneurship in rural places. You’ll also learn about textile waste and slow fashion. And if you stick with it till the end, you may get an idea for the perfect holiday gift.

Before we could get into any of the episodes, we had to cover the hitting news of both The Real Housewives of Orange County and The Real Housewives of New Jersey. While Shannon and David are ending (shocker?) Teresa Guidice has been spotted with a new man...even though Joe is still her hubby. That, and we get into the shows themselves, including The Real Housewives of Dallas.  Time Codes! RHOC- 11:40 / RHONJ- 28:27 / RHOD- 55:13 Talk to us! Twitter:https://twitter.com/friendsrh (@FriendsRH) Evan: https://twitter.com/evanslead (@EvanSlead) Joe: https://twitter.com/joebgh (@JoeBGH) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FriendsRH/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/friendsoftherealhousewives/ (@Friendsoftherealhousewives)

AFTERBUZZ TV -- The Real Housewives of Dallas edition, is a weekly "after show" for fans of Bravo's The Real Housewives of Dallas. In this show, hosts Grant Rutter, Rachel Robillard, Jessie Zahner. and Richie Skye discuss episode 11. ABOUT REAL HOUSEWIVES OF DALLAS: The Real Housewives of Dallas (abbreviated RHOD) is an American reality television series on Bravo. The show was developed as the ninth installment of The Real Housewives franchise. It will focus on the personal and professional lives of several women living in Dallas, Texas, including Cary Deuber, Tiffany Hendra, Stephanie Hollman, LeeAnne Locken, and Brandi Redmond, with Marie Reyes in a recurring capacity. Subscribe to our NEW YouTube Channels: Drama - https://www.youtube.com/afterbuzztvdrama Comedy - http://www.youtube.com/c/AfterBuzzTVComedy Animation - http://www.youtube.com/c/AfterBuzzTVAnimation Featured & Original - htt --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

The Wealthy Wednesday Show is building a movement to empower Woman Entrepreneurs. It is our aim to inspire and help heart-centered, goal orientated woman entrepreneurs to build her dream business, do what she loves to do while making this world a better place in the process. Get ready for more money, more freedom and more joy in your life as you are awakened, inspired and transformed. Pamela Vandervoort is a dating and relationship expert. She has a bachelor’s degree in communication studies and a master’s degree in spiritual psychology. Pamela created Dating for True Love to help women date to meet their true love and create a happy, healthy fulfilling and empowering relationship. In this high-tech world that has inundated singles with so many choices, it can be hard to find a clear pathway to love, Pamela's proven system has helped hundreds of women find lasting love.  She has been featured by Blog Talk Radio, SW Experts, Amazing Women of Power Radio, National Association of Professional Women, Ladies Who Launch, Who’s Who Worldwide, SelfGrowth and YourTango. Website: http://www.datingfortruelove.com/ Free Gift: Girl's Guide to the Unavailable Man: Debunking the Myth so You Can Find Happiness in Love http://datingfortruelove.com/ebook/  

Pamela Vandervoort is a dating and relationship expert. She has a bachelor’s degree in communication studies and a master’s degree in spiritual psychology. Pamela created Dating for True Love to help women date to meet their true love and create a happy, healthy fulfilling and empowering relationship. In this high-tech world that has inundated singles with so many choices, it can be hard to find a clear pathway to love, Pamela's proven system has helped hundreds of women attract find lasting love. She has been featured by Blog Talk Radio, SW Experts, National Association of Professional, Amazing Women of Power Radio, Ladies Who Launch, Who’s Who Worldwide, SelfGrowth and YourTango.

Known as The Small Biz Swiss Army Knife, Alaia Williams joined The Coaching Parlour podcast to talk about, Mindful Planning, Resources, Running your  Business & Career, and oh yeah…the X-Files Reboot! In this episode of The Coaching Parlour podcast had a very left brain and time management & productivity conversation with Alaia Williams,  Business Strategist, Entrepreneur, Networker, TV Junkie, and founder of annual conference and podcast, At The Helm! Join us as we converse about the importance of embracing  a weekly planning routine that will help you become more productive, happier, and bring you closer to the results you are aiming for in addition to... On a Mental, Emotional, and Physical level, What Alaia believes prevents people from getting to the heart of their tasks and getting it done. How one Identify that breakthrough to help them change their habits/behaviors to help them optimize their time and tasks, and eventually reaching their goals. How an individual can create an efficient systems that allows them to get the most out of job searching, networking, and their role as an employee, or small business owner. Her thought process when she created “The Next 12 Months Planner” Tips on how one can optimize the planner, such as the monthly review, weekly planner, Marketing Tracker, annual review etc.   ...and more! About Alaia Williams   Alaia Williams is a business operations strategist, speaker and community cultivator. She connects business owners with the exact resources they need to optimize their business and life. As the creator of The Entrepreneur Connection (a 900 member strong networking group in Los Angeles), Alaia knows first-hand that when people connect in community to learn and grow, their businesses get exactly what they need to thrive. The Entrepreneur Connection has garnered support from Delivering Happiness, HP, GE, Amex OPEN, and The Microsoft Store. As the Founder of the At the Helm: Women in Biz Conference, Alaia brings her leadership experience of coordinating over 150 business events that have been attended by thousands of small business owners and professionals to the national forefront. Her passion to serve women business owners has led her to create a national At the Helm meetup tour and launch the At the Helm Podcast in 2013. She has often been referred to by many as the “Small Biz Swiss Army Knife.” When she's not creating connections that count with her conferences, she's helping her clients create practical business systems, identify new revenue and growth opportunities, and create and execute their social media strategies. Alaia can also be found center stage speaking or training in her areas of expertise. She has spoken at the West Hollywood Women's Leadership Conference, Ladies Who Launch, Charles Schwab, Podcast Movement, Raytheon, and more. She has also been featured in two books, Twitter Power and In Belly of the Fail Whale. To access show notes, visit: www.danielleholdman.com/023 To access free ecourse, visit: www.danielleholdman.com/mypurpose Want private coaching, learn more here: http://danielleholdman.com/coaching/ Need an intuitive/laser coaching reading, sign up here: http://danielleholdman.com/laser-readings **New for 2016 **Wanna join us on facebook? visit: www.facebook.com/dtecoaching  

Maria Ross "returns" to chat about avoiding the comparison trap. She is the founder of Red Slice, a marketing and branding consultancy, which helps craft branding and marketing strategies for Silicon Valley start-ups, global software firms, Internet companies, entertainment powerhouses and consumer businesses — including Business Objects (an SAP company), Discovery Networks and Monster.com — and create communication and training strategies for Fortune 1000 clients at Accenture. Maria is a frequent guest writer for many business and lifestyle outlets such as Entpreneur.com, American Express OPEN Forum, Microsoft Small Business UK, CRAVE, IntoWine and Life By Me and been featured on MSNBC, ABC News, NPR and in Entrepreneur, Seattle Business, and Columbus CEO.  She offers practical and punchy insight on talk radio and podcasts and delighted live audiences at such places as BlogHer, NAWBO, Women in Consulting, The New York Times Small Business Summit, The Chamber of Commerce, Small Business Administration, Ladies Who Launch, and Savor the Success. Website: www.red-slice.com Twitter: @redslice