As part of the Morning Lazziness series about empowering women who encourage and do incredible things with their ideas in society, I had the pleasure of interviewing June Escalada.

June Escalada is the founder and creative force behind IllustratorHow, where she leverages her 12 years of design experience to guide users in mastering Adobe Illustrator.

Here’s what we found out about June‘s daily routine, followed by an exclusive Q+A.

Can you share the story behind your journey as an entrepreneur? What inspired you to start your own business?

My journey as an entrepreneur began with a passion for design and a desire to share that with others. After working as a graphic designer and creative director, I noticed a gap in accessible, high-quality education for Adobe Illustrator, which is such a foundational tool in our industry. I’ve always had a knack for explaining complex concepts in a simple way, and this inspired me to start IllustratorHow. I wanted to create a space where learners could not only learn how to use the software but also develop a deep understanding of design principles and how to apply them creatively.

What challenges have you faced as a woman in the business world, and how have you overcome them?

As a woman in the business world, especially in technology, I’ve encountered my share of biases and have had to work harder to prove my worth. I’ve overcome these challenges by staying true to my vision, building a strong brand reputation, and, most importantly, by producing results. I believe in letting my work speak for itself. Networking with like-minded individuals, advocating for other women, and constantly upskilling have also been crucial strategies in navigating these challenges.

How do you balance your professional and personal life as an entrepreneur?

Balancing professional and personal life is a continuous effort. I prioritize my tasks and set clear boundaries between work and personal time. I also believe in the power of delegation—trusting my team and outsourcing tasks when necessary. Additionally, I make sure to schedule downtime to recharge, which I find essential to maintaining my creativity and productivity.

What strategies have you found most effective for networking and building connections in your industry?

Building a genuine rapport has been my most effective strategy. Whether it’s through attending industry events, participating in design forums, or being active on social media, I always strive to engage meaningfully. Providing value to others rather than just seeking benefit has helped me establish strong and lasting connections.

How do you approach mentorship and seeking guidance in your entrepreneurial journey?

I actively seek out mentors who have strengths in areas where I’m looking to grow. I’m not shy about asking for advice and am always open to learning from others’ experiences. Reciprocally, I also mentor aspiring designers and entrepreneurs, which I find incredibly rewarding and enlightening.

Can you talk about a specific setback or failure you’ve experienced in your business, and how you bounced back from it?

Certainly, we once rolled out a new course feature that did not meet our community’s expectations. It was a humbling lesson in user research and UX design. We listened closely to the feedback, acted swiftly to make improvements, and communicated transparently with our users throughout the process. This setback reinforced the importance of community engagement and agile response to user needs.

In what ways do you prioritize diversity and inclusion within your company or startup?

Diversity and inclusion are threads that run throughout every aspect of my business, from hiring to the content we create. We aim to represent a myriad of voices and perspectives, ensuring that our team and learning materials are reflective of the diverse community we serve. It’s about creating an environment where everyone feels valued and has the opportunity to contribute and grow.

How do you stay motivated and resilient during tough times in your business?

My motivation comes from my learners and the difference IllustratorHow can make in their lives. Knowing that we’re providing valuable knowledge keeps me driven. Resilience, for me, is about staying focused on the bigger picture and learning from each obstacle instead of letting it derail our mission.

What advice would you give to other aspiring women entrepreneurs who are just starting out?

My advice would be to believe in your vision, know your worth, and be prepared to work hard. Seek support systems, be it in the form of mentors, peers, or communities. Remember, it’s not about perfection; it’s about progression and learning along the way. Embrace your unique perspective because that’s what will set your business apart.

Can you share a memorable success or milestone that you’ve achieved in your entrepreneurial career?

The vision for IllustratorHow was born out of a recognition that there were many people who desired to learn Adobe Illustrator but found the learning curve to be intimidating. Throughout my previous work as a creative director and a freelance graphic designer, I encountered countless individuals who were looking for comprehensive and comprehensible resources to refine their skills in graphic design and Adobe Illustrator specifically.
Reaching out and connecting with my students has been profoundly rewarding. I’ve seen them grow and develop their skills, and that’s the true measure of success for an instructional platform. To this day, the heartfelt testimonials of users who’ve transformed their careers by leveraging the skills they’ve learned on IllustratorHow remind me why I started this journey.

As part of the Morning Lazziness series about empowering women who encourage and do incredible things with their ideas in society, I had the pleasure of interviewing Ashley Akin.

Ashley Akin is the Head of Business Development of Willow & Ivy Press – the ultimate stylish greeting card brand with a touch of playfulness. Started as an extension of Leanin’ Tree greeting cards, Willow & Ivy is on a mission to make cool cards that keep people close and connected with fun and feminine images that feature a variety of playful touches like bold colors, glitter, and foil, as well as hints of humor that spread a little love wherever they go. All cards are made in the USA, use responsibly sourced paper and printing materials, and are curated by a team of all female writers, designers, and mentors. 

Here’s what we found out about Ashley‘s daily routine, followed by an exclusive Q+A.

Can you share the story behind your journey as an entrepreneur?

While I have helped create something new at Leanin’ Tree with Willow & Ivy Press, my journey has been somewhat different than a traditional “entrepreneur” as I was working within an established company. I started my career in strategy consulting where I developed a love for helping companies spark innovation, solve problems, and transform business processes. I had worked there for 3 years when I had the opportunity to join Leanin’ Tree and transition from a strategist into an operator role. The team at Leanin’ Tree was fully supportive of me acting as a “mini-entrepreneur” within the company, and I am so proud of the way our teams have come together to make Willow & Ivy Press a reality. 

What challenges have you faced as a woman in the business world, and how have you overcome them?

Early in my career, I once had a mentor point out that it was helpful to amplify the voices of other women in a room. I have found myself in challenging situations where my voice is not always heard. As I have advanced in my career, I try to look for situations where I can support other women and amplify their voices. Often, I find it can change the momentum of the conversation and empower others to share their thoughts. 

How do you balance your professional and personal life as an entrepreneur?

Since my journey has been a bit different than a traditional entrepreneur, I can’t necessarily say what worked for me will work for others, but I have found a few ways to keep a healthy division between my professional and personal life. I try to stay very organized with my daily, weekly, and monthly to-dos. I start each day by creating a list of the most important items to accomplish that day. With an endless to-do list and a finite amount of time each day, I find it important to create space and define success on a small scale. At the end of each day, I can disconnect knowing that I pushed progress forward. Additionally, I try to practice mindfulness in my personal life and stay present around family and friends. There will always be more projects and challenges awaiting me in my professional life, so I do my best to disconnect and enjoy my time outside of work to its fullest. 

What strategies have you found most effective for networking and building connections in your industry?

The greeting card industry is one of the most friendly, supportive, and well-connected industries you could find yourself in. Leanin’ Tree and Willow & Ivy Press is a member of the Greeting Card Association, or GCA, through which I have met countless other makers, suppliers, and retailers. If you are so lucky to find a supportive organization within your industry, I highly encourage you to join. I also find Instagram is a great way to build connections. We have met so many other makers through posts, stories, etc., and I love being able to follow and support their journeys.  

How do you approach mentorship and seeking guidance in your entrepreneurial journey?

I think mentorship is important across all industries. I have had countless mentors who have shaped me into the person I am today, and I am so appreciative of the time they have invested into my career growth. I find mentors by reaching out to senior leaders I have worked with and asking for their feedback and guidance. I also try to find colleagues in similar roles as mine. Peer mentorship is so valuable, and I have learned so much by talking with my peers who have navigated similar circumstances to my own. The team at Leanin’ Tree have been incredible mentors when bringing Willow & Ivy Press to life. I have learned so much from their long-standing experience in the industry and am grateful for their guidance and support. 

Can you talk about a specific setback or failure you’ve experienced in your business, and how you bounced back from it?

There have been many ups and downs throughout the launch journey, it’s hard to pick a specific one. We often reframed setbacks through the lens of a problem-solving framework. Instead of focusing on the issue, our team focused instead on how we could solve the issue. By keeping a forward-facing mindset, we were able to maintain momentum, which isn’t always easy when building something new. I try to continue to practice this mindset shift, looking for positive solutions instead of focusing on negative setbacks. 

In what ways do you prioritize diversity and inclusion within Willow & Ivy?

We try to prioritize diversity and inclusion in both our teams and product at Willow & Ivy Press. When developing our initial collection of greeting cards, it was important to us that our cards reflect a diverse range of designs and messages. We pour countless of hours and thought into our design decisions to ensure we speak to range of experiences in all our sending sentiments. Within Willow & Ivy Press, we are an all-women team of writers and designers with some having over 30+ years of experience in the industry and some having only a few years of experience in the industry. As a team, mentorship is our number one priority. We make it a point to ensure every voice is heard and to mentor the next generation of women. We continually focus on building a welcoming and inclusive team culture, and I am so lucky to work with such a strong, supportive team of women. 

How do you stay motivated and resilient during tough times in your business?

First and foremost, I try to speak honestly when tough times arise. Being honest helps build rapport and morale on teams, and I know I always feel less alone and more motivated when we are facing a challenge as a team rather than individuals. Personally, I try to set small goals and achieve small wins in times of low motivation. Small wins add up to big wins and create the momentum to keep pushing forward no matter how challenging or hard it may be. 

What advice would you give to other aspiring women entrepreneurs who are just starting out?

While I may not have had the traditional entrepreneurial experience, I would love to share what has helped me navigate a new industry and career journey –

• Ask questions early and often. Don’t be afraid to make it known that you are new or inexperienced. I have found that people are always willing to help and being honest with what you don’t know opens doors for others to help you. 
• Doing something new is scary, but you can do it. There have been many situations where I felt like I was in over my head. Keep pushing forward, ask for help, and don’t be afraid. You can do it, and once you have, you will continue to move on to even bigger challenges. 
• Remember, it’s all practice. I often repeat these words in my head when I am faced with a daunting task or challenge. No matter how large or intimidating the next step is, it’s always practice for something greater. 

Can you share a memorable success or milestone that you’ve achieved in your entrepreneurial career?

Launching Willow & Ivy Press on June 3^rd was a huge milestone for our team. It was a long journey from initial product development to production to launch, and I am so proud of how we made our dreams a reality. I realize this is just the very beginning of the journey with hopefully many more milestones along the way. I can’t wait for what’s next – we are just getting started!

Juggling demanding schedules, societal expectations, and the weight of leadership, women leaders often face the risk of burnout. However, recognizing this challenge, many are prioritizing self-care as a key to success. This isn’t about indulgence, but about taking charge of their well-being, ensuring they have the physical and mental stamina to lead effectively and inspire those around them. 

By incorporating self-care practices into their lives, women leaders are redefining what it means to be strong, proving that true leadership comes from a place of empowered wholeness.

Here, we have talked to some of the great women leaders to know their secret of self-care in this busy world. 

Taking Care Of Yourself Allows You To Be Your Best Self

As someone who works in a fast-paced industry, I’ve learned that taking care of myself is not only important for my own well-being but also for my employers and the team I’m leading. When I’m feeling rested, refreshed, and energized, I’m able to provide better service and support to our company. To me, self-care is all about making sure I’m in a good mental and physical state to do my job well. I’ve realized that when I neglect my own needs, I’m more prone to burnout, stress, and even making mistakes that can affect my clients. That’s why I prioritize self-care by taking breaks when I need them, practicing stress-relieving techniques, and making sure I’m getting enough rest and exercise.

Self-Care Isn’t Fluff

Don’t underestimate the power of self-care. It’s not just some fluffy concept; it’s a necessary ingredient for long-term success in any industry. While you’re out there hustling and keeping up with the fast pace, don’t forget to take breaks, set boundaries, and enjoy some downtime. Engage in activities that bring you joy, spend time with loved ones, and recharge your batteries. Trust me, incorporating these practices will make you more resilient and better equipped to handle the challenges and setbacks that come your way. Anna Parvatova (SNS Nails)

Make Self-Care the Foundation of Success

People say that in the relentless pursuit of entrepreneurial goals, self-care serves as an anchor to keep well-being afloat. Having worked immersed as the CEO of Imperial Alterations taught me one basic tenet: making time for health and mindfulness is not a luxury but a necessity if one desires long-term peak performance. That I can give powerful leadership to my team is already assured by the things which energize my spirit: yoga and meditation. It’s about nourishing the mind, body, and soul with activities that foster resilience and creativity. Ira Lysa (Imperial Alterations)

Setting the Priorities Right to Keep It All Together

Being a woman entrepreneur, it’s most important to prioritize things in the right order. Speaking of which, my personal belief is to take care of my mental & physical health before anything else because as it is rightly quoted you can’t pour from an empty mug. Being a woman balancing family and business needs can sometimes be challenging but making the right decisions and fulfilling our duties can only go right when our mind and body reside in a healthy state. Pratibha (Web3oclock)

Write Your Way to Peace

Creative writing, whether fiction or nonfiction, is often used as a form of therapy, and for good reason. Writing as a form of self-care has been proven to help women slow down their daily pace, reflect on things that bring them joy, and envision a brighter future. Published authors will often tell you that writing the book gave them so much more than just a manuscript—it changed their lives. The act of writing creates new pathways in our brains and allows us to process information in ways that talk therapy and coaching cannot. In today’s fast-paced world, the best thing you can do is create a space to be yourself. Writing, when done with intention, can give women the space they need to heal, grow, and thrive. Larissa Soehn (Next Page Publishing)

Artistic Escapes for Mental Clarity

As a woman entrepreneur, prioritizing well-being amidst a busy schedule is crucial. My approach to self-care that has been transformative for me is engaging in artistic activities. Painting, drawing, or even simple doodling can provide a meditative escape, allowing the mind to unwind and de-stress. These creative pursuits offer a break from the daily grind and foster a sense of accomplishment and joy. Embracing art as a form of self-care can rejuvenate your spirit and enhance your overall well-being, making you more resilient and focused in your entrepreneurial journey. Naomi (Flingster)

Recharging Through Monthly Escapes

Taking a long weekend each month to explore new cities like Jersey City or my own vibrant city of Toronto has been my secret to balancing the demands of running my own PR company. I can’t always be taking two weeks vacations oversees, but these “mini vacations” as I like to call them are more than just a break—they’re a vital part of my self-care routine. Whether I’m walking around new neighbourhoods, enjoying a nice meal at a new off-the-beaten-path restaurant or just doing a little shopping at a vintage boutique, these escapes recharge my creativity and rejuvenate my spirit. I return to work with renewed energy and clarity, ready to tackle new challenges. Natalia Buia (Gold Candor PR)

Balancing Responsibilities with Self-Care

In the current society, women leaders do not take enough time to care for themselves as they attend to their work and family responsibilities. But I understand that personal health is something that should be valued in order to maintain working efficiency and not get exhausted. Some of the ways I take care of myself are exercising, practicing meditation, and spending time with my family and friends. Specifically, I can mention that during one of the stress-related moments, I tried to express myself using a journal. Caring for oneself is not a luxury; it is the need of the hour in order to be the best version of ourselves for the team and our kin. Julia Lozanov

Create a Daily Ritual

Spend time each day focused on you. This may be quiet time for prayer or meditation or a time to journal what you are grateful for. You might opt to engage in self-anointing with pure essential oils like frankincense. Eat well and get good sleep. Remember, your body is your temple. Take care of you each and every day. Dr. DeeAnna Merz Nagel (deeannamerznagel)

The Importance of Self-Care for Leadership

In a world where the hustle is often glorified, it’s crucial for women leaders to prioritize self-care. Balancing professional responsibilities with personal well-being isn’t just about maintaining health; it’s about sustaining the energy and clarity needed to lead effectively. As leaders, our ability to care for ourselves directly influences our capacity to empower and inspire others. By setting an example in self-care, we not only enhance our own lives but also encourage a healthier, more balanced approach within our teams and organizations. Adding a daily or weekly self-care strategy to your schedule, much like a meeting, is essential. It might feel counterintuitive, but taking time to prioritize yourself can actually increase productivity and efficiency. Angela Ficken (ProgressWellness)

As part of the Morning Lazziness series about empowering women who encourage and do incredible things with their ideas in society, I had the pleasure of interviewing Andrea Bloom.

Andrea is a seasoned healthcare executive and entrepreneur with 30 years of experience in the healthcare industry in various product development, marketing, international market expansion, business development, and consulting roles. She is a mission-driven leader determined to flip the paradigm of healthcare by placing the consumer at the center — empowering people to be active participants in their health and well-being. In her role as CEO, Andrea has elevated ConnectWell to be an essential digital health ecosystem partner for companies and organizations that are redesigning healthcare delivery. She is a sought out speaker and panelist, has spoken at Stanford and UC Berkeley business schools, has been published in TedEd, and serves on the HR.com Employee Well-being Advisory Board.

ConnectWell is a leading-edge provider of digital health and wellness content that is science-based and designed for a consumer audience. ConnectWell selectively curates health content from trusted sources to provide the latest standard of care guidelines and scientific findings on health, wellness, disease management, and nutrition. Content is packaged for digital delivery with rich graphic elements, and written for a wide-ranging consumer audience. A broad scope of healthcare providers, health engagement platforms, benefit providers, employers, libraries, and communities license ConnectWell’s content for integration into their platforms to scale health literacy and engage their populations in their health and well-being.

Andrea received a BA in Economics from University of California, Berkeley and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Here’s what we found out about Andrea’s daily routine, followed by an exclusive Q+A.

Can you share the story behind your journey as an entrepreneur? What inspired you to start your own business?

I had been working in the healthcare industry and spent almost a decade at Johnson & Johnson in their diabetes device division.

But it was not until I was working as an independent consultant to the medical device industry, when I had more space to process what was going on in the healthcare system and think more independently. When you work for a company, you are hired to use your brainpower to support the company’s goals and objectives, not to say “our healthcare system is dysfunctional, let’s see how we can change the incentives and support improved health outcomes”. Companies are typically focused on increasing market share, accelerating growth, increasing profits, and delivering value to their shareholders.

It was during this time when I was free to think for myself and question the existing paradigm of healthcare and when I started to shift my thinking:

The typical first line of treatment in our healthcare system is to treat the symptom rather than the root cause of the disease. For example in Type 2 diabetes, when a person is given drugs to manage diabetes without the individual changing their lifestyle in a meaningful way (diet and exercise) – their  disease will continue to progress, they will need more medication, eventually need insulin and they will likely end up having serious comorbidities as a result of the progression of their illness including: nerve damage, loss of vision, kidney and heart problems, and possible lower limb amputation.

I had my Aha moment when I was volunteering at Bearskin Meadow Camp, a diabetes camp for children with Type 1 diabetes, during family week. Type 1 diabetes is not something that people can prevent. It is an incurable autoimmune disease that typically impacts children and young adults and results in their inability to product insulin. The treatment requires around the clock self-management around blood glucose monitoring, insulin delivery, diet and exercise.

At the camp, I participated in the educational forums with the parents on diet, nutrition and disease management. It was at these educational forums where my light bulb moment occurred and I realized that if families can learn how to manage Type 1 diabetes which can be life-threatening if not controlled well, families who are not impacted by Type 1 diabetes can learn how to take care of each other to prevent metabolic syndrome, prediabetes, and Type 2 diabetes, and reduce obesity. Each day People with Type 1 make decisions that impact their health and as a result they typically are much healthier than people with Type 2 diabetes who acquired their illness after many years of an unhealthy lifestyle. People with Type 1 diabetes do not have the luxury of not paying attention to their health as it can be life-threatening and perhaps this is a gift because they take care of their health continuously. This concept of self-care is something we need to instill in every person – that our bodies need care and are not to be neglected.

Thus I founded ConnectWell and that has been my career focus since 2010.

What challenges have you faced as a woman in the business world, and how have you overcome them? 

All of them – sexual harassment, gender discrimination, underemployment, pay inequity, pregnancy discrimination, you name it, I have experienced it. Putting myself at the helm of a company through founding it and leading it has eliminated all issues around gender. People want to work with the Founder & CEO of a company and therefore they need to get over any of their gender biases to gain access. I encourage more women to run for public office and found companies so that they don’t have barriers created by other people holding them back.

How do you balance your professional and personal life as an entrepreneur?

Schedule flexibility is key to create the spaces in life where you can provide adequate attention to your personal life. I work tremendous hours, but I set my schedule and make sure that personal life is also a priority.

What strategies have you found most effective for networking and building connections in your industry?

Attending conferences (virtual or in-person), webinars, forums and networking at these conferences with like-minded people when there is an intersection in the work we are doing.

How do you approach mentorship and seeking guidance in your entrepreneurial journey?

My spouse is an entrepreneur and he is on the board of my company – so I have a built-in coach.

Can you talk about a specific setback or failure you’ve experienced in your business, and how you bounced back from it?

As an entrepreneur there are so many setbacks that it is just part of the deal. We try to ensure that our company is resilient and that is what gets us through each challenge.

In what ways do you prioritize diversity and inclusion within your company or startup?

People in our industry are diverse and broad thinkers, so it is not difficult to create a diverse team.

How do you stay motivated and resilient during tough times in your business?

Staying focused on the Mission of ConnectWell keeps me going. Our team is dedicated to helping empower people in their health and well-being through scaling health literacy. Knowing that what we do ultimately is helping people live better lives keeps us stay motivated.

What advice would you give to other aspiring women entrepreneurs who are just starting out?

Stay open to evolving your business as new inputs and opportunities arise.

Can you share a memorable success or milestone that you’ve achieved in your entrepreneurial career?

Entering the Library Channel was a key milestone for ConnectWell. We did this because a head librarian asked for a meeting with ConnectWell and after our demo she insisted that we serve public libraries as ConnectWell was better than anything she was able to license for her library. It is so validating for our team when people come to us and tell us how our product can serve their customer base.

As part of the Morning Lazziness series about empowering women who encourage and do incredible things with their ideas in society, I had the pleasure of interviewing Paige Arnof-Fenn.

Paige Arnof-Fenn is the founder & CEO of global marketing and branding firm Mavens & Moguls based in Cambridge, MA.  Her clients include Microsoft, Virgin, The New York Times Company, Colgate, venture-backed startups, and nonprofit organizations.  She graduated from Stanford University and Harvard Business School.  Paige serves on several Boards and is a popular speaker and columnist who has written for Entrepreneur and Forbes. 

Here’s what we found out about Paige’s daily routine, followed by an exclusive Q+A.

Can you share the story behind your journey as an entrepreneur? What inspired you to start your own business?  

I started a global branding and digital marketing firm 22 years ago in Cambridge, MA.  I did not plan on starting a company.  I always wanted to go work for a large multi-national business and be a Fortune 500 CEO.  When I was a student I looked at leaders like Meg Whitman & Ursula Burns as  my role models.  I started my career on Wall Street in the 80s and had a successful career in Corporate America at companies like Procter & Gamble and Coca-Cola and worked at 3 different tech startups as the head of marketing, all had positive exits.  I became an entrepreneur and took the leap right after 9/11 when the company I worked for cut their marketing.  I had nothing to lose.  I knew I had made it when Harvard wrote 2 case studies on my business a few years after I started it, we were very early to pioneer sharing resources on the marketing front (before my company it was really only done with HR, legal and accounting/finance). 

What challenges have you faced as a woman in the business world, and how have you overcome them?  

My biggest challenge early on was that the people you start with are not always the ones who grow with you.  The hardest lesson I learned when I started my company is not getting rid of weak people earlier than I did in the first few years of my business.  I spent more time managing them than finding new customers.  I knew in my gut they were not up to snuff but out of loyalty to them I let them hang around much longer than they should have.  It would have been better for everyone to let them go as soon as the signs were there.  They became more insecure and threatened as we grew which was not productive for the team.  As soon as I let them go the culture got stronger and the bar higher.  “A” team people like to be surrounded by other stars.  It is true that you should hire slowly and fire quickly.  I did not make that mistake again later on so learned it well the first time.  I wish I had known it even earlier though but lesson learned for sure!  

How do you balance your professional and personal life as an entrepreneur?  

As an entrepreneur, you are always on, and now, with everyone working hybrid/remotely and social media and technology going 24/7, it can be tough at times to stay energized and focused.  For me, I know when I feel my creative juices drying up or I am often tired or unmotivated, it is time to shake things up.  The key is to find ways to stay fresh and excited without being able to get away from your job.  Like most small business owners and entrepreneurs, there are never enough hours in the day to fit everything in, so when something has to give, it is usually time I have allocated for myself to exercise or just relax.  A mentor once told me that to be successful “me time” is not a luxury or pampering, it is maintenance!  I try to lead my team by example, respecting my time on the calendar, and taking myself as seriously as I take my most important clients is the least I can do for self-care because if I am not at my peak performance I am not going to be useful to anyone else either so I have learned to create more balance by:          

Giving myself permission to say no.  Whether it means sleeping in (no to an alarm clock), meditating, taking a walk, delegating more work or just turning off your phone and computer (no I will respond later on my own schedule), simple acts of letting yourself relax and enjoy the moment are the very best gifts you can give yourself.   It is about touching people in meaningful ways which may mean being less busy not more.  

Disconnecting from technology periodically and focus on cultivating human, face to face relationships. Even meeting for virtual coffee or drinks can accomplish so much more than e-mail exchanges, social media posts, etc.  I have found that building relationships is what drives my business and technology supports them once they are solidified.  Technology helps advance the conversation but it will never replace the human interaction that builds trust over time.  

To be more balanced I also try to find creative ways to multi task that incorporates work and exercise.  When I worked at large companies they had gyms at the office or groups who walked at lunch but when you are an entrepreneur you have to get creative to find balance.  Instead of meeting up with local colleagues at a coffee shop, over a meal or chatting with them on the phone, I meet them for a walk so you can catch up while you are getting some exercise too.  You’ll feel great after, the time will fly & it will be a fun activity to share.  It works with customers too, I have clients who play golf so we have met at a driving range instead of the office to discuss things especially when you are trying to think outside the box.  A change in venue is always nice and you feel so much better when you are moving and not trapped behind your desk.  The other tips I like to incorporate are taking public transportation when possible, parking at the far end of the lot and walking as well as taking the stairs instead of the elevator, it adds up to a lot of extra steps and movement if you do it every day.

What strategies have you found most effective for networking and building connections in your industry?  

Most of my business comes from networking.  We are social in nature so have pivoted to a hybrid model of mostly online events for networking to meet prospective clients/customers, employers, employees, thought leaders, etc.  For the foreseeable future we will continue to build our networks starting with LinkedIn to add credibility and transparency when you know the people you are meeting or working with know people in common.  LinkedIn has become more than an online resume or rolodex, it is the foundation for building trusted relationships in the digital economy.  Now it is about quality more than quantity though.  We’re attending fewer in person events but getting much more bang from them today.  Less is more now. 

The bar to attend in-person events is higher now post-pandemic, so we have to be more prepared to get as much value as possible by being together.   By starting with LinkedIn, you don’t have to wait for a physical networking event to make meaningful business connections.   You get one chance to make a great first impression so make sure every section of your LinkedIn profile is complete, with no blank spaces or gaps.  Include a professional head shot and powerful headline followed by a summary with highlights of your personal brand, what you do well and how you can benefit potential clients or employers. Keep this section brief and easy to skim for best results.  Keywords are a great way to help professionals in your industry find your profile and strategic keywords in your profile give you an advantage in networking too.  To present yourself as an expert in your industry post interesting and educational content by sharing a great article you’ve read recently or if you truly want to make valuable connections and represent yourself as a talented thought leader in your industry, you should be crafting your own articles on LinkedIn.

In the digital age e-mail is still very effective and a big part of my communications strategy.  Here are a few tips leveraging technology that have worked successfully for me:

*  If you have a contact in common who mentioned the person to you I start the e-mail with a subject line of “XYZ suggested we connect” so that even if they do not recognize my name in their inbox XYZ should ring a bell.  If you saw them speak at a conference or read an article they wrote you can tailor the subject line to that such as “Loved your piece on ____ in HuffPo!” or “Great talk at the conference this week!” 

*  Then I check them out on LinkedIn and let them know in the e-mail that “I see we also have # connections in common” to make me seem more familiar to them.

*  Then I explain why I would like to connect to bridge the intro and suggest we set up a call at their convenience.

It usually works and it shows I have done my homework and am respectful of their time.  Another tip is that the worst time to make a cold call to prospects in any region is 8-10am when everyone is rushing to work and preparing for the day but the worst time to call is the best time to e-mail. Once employees are at work, the first hour is generally spent checking e-mails and organizing the day. During this hour, your e-mail has a higher chance of visibility. Sending an e-mail during their transit period places your e-mail on top, and would be among the first they see as they open their inbox. E-mails that are sent late in the evening or early morning have a chance of being buried/missed.

How do you approach mentorship and seeking guidance in your entrepreneurial journey? 

I have had great mentors and champions throughout my career.  In my corporate life I had bosses, senior women or alums from my alma maters who took me under their wings to help me advance and show me the ropes   As a small business owner mentors can also be invaluable sources of inspiration, advice, encouragement and can help you avoid rookie mistakes (with hiring, fundraising, etc.) when you are starting out.  They can also make key introductions so that you avoid getting burned by service providers or potential investors who have mixed reputations.  I have seen several situations where a lot of time and money could have been wasted but was not.  

There are times whenyou need cheerleaders/butt kickers/people who can be counted on for tough love and others to help expand your footprint/elevate your profile in the community.Accountability is so important and having mentors you trust for judgment/advice who have your best interests in mind is priceless.  Mentors aren’t meant to last forever as your business evolves and your needs change you need to reevaluate your mentors too.   Don’t become too reliant on any one or two mentors it is important to get several people’s perspectives and feedback.   When you find the right ones though it is magic.  For me their advice has helped me be thick skinned, brave, kind and smart which has helped me succeed  as an entrepreneur.  I am eternally grateful for their support and advice over the years and for taking me under their wings to help me advance and show me the ropes.  

Mentors have different strengths and connections that can help.  Having people to keep you grounded and humble is critical too, it is easy to lose perspective when you are launching a new business.   Entrepreneurship can be consuming if you aren’t careful.  In my experience it takes a village to launch and build a successful startup.  I have mentored a number of employees and people starting their careers over the years.  Mentoring can be a wonderful experience on both sides of the equation.    It is important to both give back and pay it forward to honor the people who mentored me.  It creates a virtuous circle and chain to make the new generation part of the continuum.  The best mentors are generous with their time/advice/network, patient, kind, and tell you what you need to hear.  They share setbacks as well as success from their  own experience.

In my experience the best way to do it is organically by getting to know potential mentors over time through casual exchanges,  lunches, coffees, e-mails, etc. and then once a history and relationship is there only then share with them how valuable their advice and counsel has been to you and tell them you have considered them a mentor and champion for a while and see how they react.  That usually leads to formalizing the relationship if all goes well.  

Can you talk about a specific setback or failure you’ve experienced in your business, and how you bounced back from it?  

For the first 5 years I was scared to go on vacation for fear all my hard work would unravel.  Then my world changed when my in-laws, father, mom and stepdad all started to get sick and I wanted to be there for them.  They all lived thousands of miles away so I started to work less.  After years of decline they each died about 8 months apart (7 people in 6 years) and I became executrix which is like having another job at times.  So I had to take very good care of myself or I would not have been helpful to anyone else.  I moved up by working out every day.  I started planning me time on my calendar.  I became more comfortable with white space in my day and stopped over scheduling myself.  And guess what?  My business did not suffer, in fact it has become stronger.  We moved up the food chain and have better clients.  

Through something bad came something good.  I do not think I could ever go back.  I am so much happier and more productive as an entrepreneur than I ever was working for others.  It is all about controlling your calendar.  I no longer try to squeeze in more meetings or hit multiple events at night.   As an entrepreneur, I can be selective.  Less really is more.  I’ve chosen quality over quantity.  It sounds trivial but it is true.  I created a platform to do work I enjoy and feel energized by.  I feel I have found my purpose because I used to work all the time and life was passing me by.  I got raises and promotions but I was all work and no play and I did not feel fulfilled.  Since starting my business I have joined boards and volunteered at several organizations.  I am a mentor to the next generation of leaders and have helped build a very successful anti-bullying program  that >200,000 middle school aged kids have gone through.  As a marketing consultant I am able to write articles, contribute to books and speak at events to share my experience and lessons learned.   

COVID has definitely made me and my business more resilient, too.  Pivoting to online meetings, webinars, etc., is a smart and productive way for companies to continue to have conversations that educate and inform, build relationships, and move forward during uncertain periods.  So, first and foremost, I have learned to help small businesses to be flexible and open-minded so we can keep working together during the crisis and create more flexible capacity as we advance.  In my experience, resilience is the key trait for entrepreneurial success which has lead me to focus on:

Persistence/determination — a lot of people tell you no (investors, board, customers, etc.) so you have to be driven and learn to say no to distractions you cannot pursue every opportunity so be selective and concentrate on only those ideas with the greatest potential say no to everything else

• Learning — intensely curious and always looking for the next way to make something better
• Listening — to customers, critics, feedback, the market and your team to show respect for great talent and ideas 
• Communication — there has never been a more important time to provide accurate, empathetic communication with transparency, truthfulness and timeliness
• Strong moral compass — you cannot compromise on ethics and values 
• Bonus — great sense humor and fun to work with 
• These are what makes the biggest difference between success and failure I think because the road is always bumpy and you know you will have to overcome obstacles along the way.  With resilience you increase  the odds to pivot, recover and succeed.  

In what ways do you prioritize diversity and inclusion within your company or startup? 

My company’s mission is to bring world class marketing talent and expertise to organizations that want to make a difference in the world regardless of size or budget.  We believe every  organization deserves the right words and pictures to tell their story in compelling ways.  Including diverse perspectives leads to the best results and most impact in my experience.  Your core values  should be reflected in your branding because people choose to do business with companies that align with their own values, so this information needs to be visible to them.  It is important to me to stay true to my core beliefs. Loyalty is one of my core values—loyalty to self and to others whom I respect. It’s important to me to gauge how many colleagues and clients come back and refer us to those who trust them. Being true to the mission of the organization and delivering superior experiences matter to me a lot too. Having the confidence to walk away from a client or colleague who’s diluting the equity in your brand is tough, but it’s necessary sometimes. You must always be authentic to the essence of your brand and surround yourself with people who reinforce your brand and its values–not tarnish it.  For me, relationships matter. Quality encounters matter. Honesty, consistency, authenticity and integrity matter. The experience and the journey matter a lot too. Focus on what matters to you and get rid of things that don’t.

How do you stay motivated and resilient during tough times in your business?  

I stay motivated through a combination of curiosity, connecting, caffeine and communication.  I love asking lots of questions and solving problems so when I meet interesting people I can’t help jumping in with ideas to help them thrive plus I hate to waste time.   I have always loved fixing things and helping out where I can.  I love the challenge of cracking the code to see what works.  I am motivated by insatiable curiosity.   More challenges create more opportunities.     

What advice would you give to other aspiring women entrepreneurs who are just starting out?   

Find mentors and pursue areas that energize and excite you to learn more then look for a company doing work you find genuinely exciting and interesting with smart people you can learn from.  Jump in and roll up your sleeves, come in early and stay late.  Work really hard and build a great reputation for having a strong work ethic and being fun and easy to work with.  In my experience when you are curious and ask a lot of questions people appreciate working with smart people who enjoy learning.  Pay your dues, get great experience learning from smart people in well run organizations who train and develop your skills so you will be prepared and set yourself up for success.  Great career opportunities tend to follow great teams and talent so I have found when you learn from the best doors open and interesting career options appear.

You need to learn to love networking.  Networking may sound old fashioned in these high tech days but it still works.  Whether you  work in B2B or B2C everything is really P2P person to person.  Most of my business comes from networking.  My rule is that you should network in person during the business day and do it online after hours.   People do business with people they know, like and trust so you have to get out there to build your reputation online and off.  Prospective customers and jobs can come from anyone anywhere anytime so you should always be on your best behavior & make a great lasting impression.  Be nice to everyone & make friends before you need them, you never know who is in or will be in a position to help!  Find a buddy to go to events with and tag team, you have to get out there.

I have always tried to work with people and organizations with a growth mindset, it is a happier and more positive and productive environment in my experience.  Growth mindset people are successful because they never stop learning and experimenting, they are focused on the future and see opportunities ahead by creating a culture of learning and growth.   It takes effort and a commitment to excellence for people to continually learn/grow especially now in a remote/hybrid environment. I do not think there is one silver bullet to keep your skills sharp and fresh, I recommend using a combination of reading and learning online and off, attending conferences and talks, networking, newsletters from influencers, TED talks, podcasts, finding mentors and listening to all feedback good and bad.  To stay relevant and keep growing I try to prioritize professional development to keep skills fresh and stay on top of new trends and technologies.

Can you share a memorable success or milestone that you’ve achieved in your entrepreneurial career?  

Our success is our clients’ success.  I want to be recognized by the impact we have not the awards we have won.   I am very proud of the work we have done for organizations across many categories and geographies.  We branded and launched a conference as part of the Sundance Film Festival to “invest in media that matters,”  we created a major fundraising opportunity for a nonprofit celebrating a milestone anniversary for helping people live productive lives with AIDS, we rebranded and renamed 2 social service agencies that help people with mental disabilities and we rebranded and elevated the profile and awareness of a for-profit organization that is an intensive family and community-based treatment program that focuses on addressing all environmental systems that impact chronic and violent juvenile offenders — their homes and families, schools and teachers, neighborhoods and friends.  These are all great organizations that are better off today because of our work and that is incredibly fulfilling.  However the one client I am most proud of is an industrial products company based in New Orleans that we started working with just before Katrina and continued to work with them for years after.  Our work with them spanned many areas and we were able to “keep the trains moving” post-Katrina when their biggest trade show of the year was happening and they ended up as the belle of the ball there, our branding work for them helped them recruit great talent after the storm, the tag line we created for them helped them solidify their message and in conjunction with the branding messages we developed for them, stand out from the pack of competitors.  I grew up in New Orleans so helping a local business means a lot to me even though I have not lived there since college.  

As part of the Morning Lazziness series about empowering women who encourage and do incredible things with their ideas in society, I had the pleasure of interviewing Elizabeth Nelson.

Elizabeth Nelson, the founder of Farm Fueled Nutrition, is a wife, mom, and advocate for the power of whole foods in promoting wellness and longevity. After experiencing personal loss due to illness and disease, Elizabeth was inspired to create a business that encourages others to live healthy, long lives. At 52 years old, she is passionate about helping other women feel better and stronger about their bodies.

Here’s what we found out about Elizabeth‘s daily routine, followed by an exclusive Q+A.

Can you share the story behind your journey as an entrepreneur? What inspired you to start your own business?  

The inspiration behind my journey in founding Farm Fueled Nutrition stems from a personal experience of losing friends and family to illness and disease. This profound loss ignited a desire to give back and make a positive impact in the field of health and wellness. Growing up in Iowa, where farming is a part of my heritage, I developed a deep appreciation for the connection between food and well-being. Now being a small food grower in NW Montana, I created Farm Fueled Nutrition as a platform to inspire others to grow their own food and embrace the healing power of nutritious, farm-fresh ingredients.

What challenges have you faced as a woman in the business world, and how have you overcome them?

As a woman in the e-commerce industry with a superfood greens product, my biggest challenge is the intense competition. The superfood greens market is big with competitors right now, making it crucial to stand out and differentiate myself and my brand. However, by leveraging my expertise, knowing my exact demographics, conducting thorough market research, building a strong brand, and networking with like-minded individuals, I feel like I am overcoming these challenges and thriving in the e-commerce space.

How do you balance your professional and personal life as an entrepreneur?

Balancing my personal and professional life as an entrepreneur can be demanding, yet it’s the most rewarding thing I’ve done for myself. After struggling with loss and loneliness after the death of my parents and 2 closest friends, finding something I’m passionate about became my biggest endeavor.  I run a homestead and my husband travels for work; I even homeschooled our kids for a few years so I knew I could balance life well as an entrepreneur. I work really hard and love the accountability of needing to get things done every day.

What strategies have you found most effective for networking and building connections in your industry?

This is probably my favorite part of the business. I love networking and sharing my story. I believe my story is what sets me apart and what’s unique to my brand. Farm Fueled Nutrition was birthed through the pain of loss and finding hope again. I have met so many amazing people on this journey and I’m super excited for all the opportunities to connect while waiting to happen.

How do you approach mentorship and seeking guidance in your entrepreneurial journey?

I actually reached out to a coaching company in the beginning stages which really helped me narrow down my product and gave me direction with amazing resources. I think everyone needs a coach at different stages during the entrepreneurial journey. The contacts, resources, guidance, accountability, all play apart in my continual success; and the coaches have now become friends. Every business owner knows you can’t do it alone.  

Can you talk about a specific setback or failure you’ve experienced in your business, and how you bounced back from it?

For me it’s always about moving forward, I think the hard times developed that tenacity in me. Yeah, I have days when everything doesn’t seem to be going right, and I just tell myself ‘I’m still learning’. We had a house fire a few years ago, renters put hot coals on our back porch and completely destroyed our house that my husband and I spent 6 years building. We spent most of the last 2 years rebuilding it together, while at the same time building this brand. I know how important it is to keep going.

How do you stay motivated and resilient during tough times in your business?

Like I said, tough times have been a part of my life, so I’ve had to be resilient. I have a pretty powerful WHY?, and that is my main motivation. I believe when you work for something bigger than yourself, it makes you stronger. I have gained a lot of inner strength through loss which makes it easier to deal with the hard times in business. I have a lot of people who are no longer with me that are a reminder of why I am working so hard. Their spirit encourages me every day.

In what ways do you prioritize diversity and inclusion within your company or startup?

I work with a lot of different people, and in this business of e-commerce, most people work from home so you don’t really know their backgrounds. I work with people from all around the world, different races and cultures, and I love the diversity. 

What advice would you give to other aspiring women entrepreneurs who are just starting out?

I have a new coaching program too where I encourage women to pursue their dreams. There will always be something, and there is never the ‘right’ time. I have 2 things that have gotten me to where I am. 1) taken from Mel Robbins, “The 5 Second Rule”, as soon as you dream it, do it. Don’t let that moment go by. And 2) Do one hard thing everyday! That’s my rule, I created!  If you can get past that one hard thing that you created to be hard in your mind, you will succeed.  One day at a time!

Can you share a memorable success or milestone that you’ve achieved in your entrepreneurial career?

Everything I’ve done this past year has been a memorable milestone. When you first start out, it is all a dream. But little by little, each contact I made created new opportunities. One person led me to the next!  And here I am now, over one year later, in retail shops, selling all across the country, and even have a sponsorship with NASCAR. I have an article in NASCAR Magazine coming out in a few weeks. Take the chance. And create something amazing!

As part of the Morning Lazziness series about empowering women who encourage and do incredible things with their ideas in society, I had the pleasure of interviewing Caroline Smith.

Caroline Smith started her business, The Introverted Misfit, to help socially awkward and anxious people create fulfilling personal and work relationships by improving their social and communication skills. After about a decade of being frustrated, depressed, and unsatisfied with how much her lack of social skills was stunting her personal and eventually her professional growth, she had had enough of constantly avoiding social outings just to prevent potential social interactions with people and being viewed as that extremely shy and socially awkward woman that won’t even look people in the eye. Because she was able to overcome her social and communication skills deficits with education and practice, she sought out to help anyone struggling with socializing and finding community learn how to connect with others, create fruitful relationships, and live a full life.

Here’s what we found out about Carolina’s daily routine, followed by an exclusive Q+A.

Can you share the story behind your journey as an entrepreneur? What inspired you to start your own business?

Since I was a child, my parents began to notice some very noticeable differences in the way I communicated and socialized with my peers versus how other kids my age socialized and made friends; it was clear to them that I had some pretty severe deficits in my communication skills. Worse yet, these differences didn’t seem to be getting better with age and maturity as they had expected. This led them to seek professional help for me when I was a teenager which led to my diagnosis with high-functioning Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD), a neurological disorder that affects how people interact with others, communicate, learn, and behave. 

In my case, ASD manifested in me displaying socially awkward tendencies that made it very difficult for me to make friends throughout all of my schooling years and the first few years of my professional life as a software engineer. All of those factors were the source of social anxiety that made me so scared of social interactions that I would do anything just to avoid attention to the extent that I was severely limiting my personal and professional growth.

Fast forward some years later, and I took the necessary steps to overcome my severe social awkwardness which consequently cured my social anxiety, and that inspired me to launch my business, The Introverted Misfit, so that I could help anyone – with or without a disorder – improve their lives by overcoming social awkwardness and the social anxiety that often comes with it.

What challenges have you faced as a woman in the business world, and how have you overcome them?

Although I know there are women out there who may face some stigma and bias in the business world and those problems may arise further along in my entrepreneurial journey, I’ve been lucky enough thus far in my career to have a network of professionals that believe in my business enough to give me and my ideas support and space in the industry. I believe in myself enough that if and when challenges arise relating to being a woman entrepreneur, I can face them head on just like any other challenge I’ve overcome.

How do you balance your professional and personal life as an entrepreneur? I think it’s a little different in my case, because since my business pertains to a disorder that I will live with for the rest of my life, I feel like my business and my personal life are indistinguishable a lot of the time. I’m constantly having to remind myself not to behave in a way that will make others perceive me as socially awkward, closed-off, or unaware of my behavior, which is really the whole premise of my business, so by default my mind is always in business mode. 

Generally, though, I’d say I balance my professional and personal life by doing things that I genuinely enjoy which have nothing to do with work, like gardening, going for long walks with my phone on silent, hanging out with friends and family, trying new dinner recipes, doing puzzles, and reading. I also have rules about not checking business emails or website sales on the weekends and/or when I’m spending time with friends and family.

What strategies have you found most effective for networking and building connections in your industry?

At this stage in my entrepreneurial journey, I’ve found that hosting my own podcast, guest appearing on other people’s podcasts, and doing social media outreach have been great ways to network within my industry. My podcast Small Talk for Big Connections gives me more visibility among my industry peers because a lot of them also have podcasts and are therefore always looking for other podcasters with whom they can collaborate, and it’s also a way to gain credibility in my industry because my peers can hear that I have valuable and insightful commentary about common topics in our realm.

I also participate in my industry as much as I can with social media outreach. This includes leaving insightful comments on people’s posts, videos, and other forms of content. This approach has helped me build a strong rapport with other business owners and potential clients, which has allowed me to make a handful of high-quality connections with peers less than a year into starting my business.

How do you approach mentorship and seeking guidance in your entrepreneurial journey?

I always try to approach seeking guidance from mentors with both confidence and humility. When you’re asking someone you admire for wisdom, I think it’s important to come from a place of respect and humility so that they know you appreciate their expertise, but I also don’t think you have to lower your own value and abilities to do that; in fact, I think maintaining a healthy level of confidence makes it known that you’re admiration is coming from a genuine place and not just trying to flatter them.

Can you talk about a specific setback or failure you’ve experienced in your business, and how you bounced back from it?

I’d say a major setback that prevented me from moving my business forward when I was just starting was underestimating the value of networking and collaborating. I went into it thinking that I could establish a name for myself without anyone else’s help, which I can admit was a pretentious attitude to have. Now that I’ve moved past that mindset of trying to do everything alone, I’ve gotten to see the value that comes when other credible business owners in your industry endorse you and trust you enough to share your work with their audience. Nobody gets ahead in this world alone, especially not as an entrepreneur.

In what ways do you prioritize diversity and inclusion within your company or startup?

Although I am a solopreneur, I aim to collaborate with a wide variety of business owners with different backgrounds, experiences, ages, and identities via my  podcast. When it comes to my field of communication and social skills improvement, I believe everyone has something valuable to offer the conversation because we all are expected to work well with each other in one form or fashion, whether it’s at school, at your job, in a community service gig, at the grocery store, or anywhere.

How do you stay motivated and resilient during tough times in your business?

I use my long term goals as motivation to not get discouraged; I remind myself that the work I do with my business is important to the world and this period of struggle will not last forever; and I take things one day at a time by asking myself, “What is one thing I can accomplish today that will get me closer to helping my audience in some way, and eventually closing a sale?”

What advice would you give to other aspiring women entrepreneurs who are just starting out?

Quickly get rid of the mindset that your entrepreneurial journey will have immediate success; it’s a recipe for being disappointed and unmotivated. Starting a business from the ground up really is a long term game, and if you enter with the mindset that things are going to be easy and/or fast, you’ll always doubt yourself and your abilities when things don’t go as planned. Progress is usually slow and steady, but if you’re patient, put in the work, and network/collaborate with people in your industry, you’ll see the rewards eventually. In regards to starting your own business, I’ve come to find that the old saying is true: nothing worth having or worth doing comes easy.

Can you share a memorable success or milestone that you’ve achieved in your entrepreneurial career?

My most memorable milestone thus far in my journey wasn’t even making my first sale; it was booking my first guest podcast collaboration just 1 month into starting to do industry outreach. It was the first time someone known as a trusted expert in my industry saw the value in what I was doing with my business, and from that point on, I’ve carried a new level of confidence and motivation in my entrepreneurial journey. No matter how down and out I feel about what I have to offer the world, I just think back to that time when I first felt that my services and ideas had been publicly validated.

As part of the Morning Lazziness series about empowering women who encourage and do incredible things with their ideas in society, I had the pleasure of interviewing Nancy Barkley.

With over 25 years of experience in the travel and event planning industry, Nancy Barkley is a distinguished professional who took the entrepreneurial leap in 2005. She founded Honeymoons and Get-A-Ways, a Philadelphia-based agency that prides itself on crafting unique and memorable weddings and events across the globe. Nancy’s commitment to delivering exceptional, personalized experiences has earned her a reputation for excellence.

Nancy’s profound impact on the industry has garnered recognition from prestigious directories such as Marquis Who’s Who. Her expertise and insights have been sought after by major media outlets, including Forbes, The New York Times, CNN, and MSN, where she has shared her knowledge and experience.

As an international speaker and moderator, Nancy’s reach extends beyond the confines of event planning. She engages with diverse audiences, from wedding planners and travel agents to consumers and fellow industry professionals. Her presentations delve into a variety of topics, all aimed at connecting with her audience on a deeper level, providing valuable insights, and inspiring them with her innovative approach.

Beyond her professional endeavors, Nancy is deeply invested in philanthropy. She actively supports causes that advance education, healthcare, environmental conservation, and human rights. Her ability to build strong relationships with clients and colleagues alike ignites her creativity and drives her success. This collaborative spirit has been a key factor in her ability to continuously innovate and adapt in the dynamic world of event planning.

Here’s what we found out about Nancy’s daily routine, followed by an exclusive Q+A.

Can you share the story behind your journey as an entrepreneur? What inspired you to start your own business?  

In 2005, I found myself at a crossroads. My career in corporate America was steeped in a culture of rigidity, which posed a significant challenge for me as a working mother of three boys. The relentless demands of the corporate world left little space for the work-life harmony I yearned for.

This realization sparked a transformative decision. I chose to step away from the predictability of a 9-to-5 job to embark on an entrepreneurial adventure with Honeymoons and Get-A-Ways. It was a bold step, driven by the desire to master my schedule and create a nurturing environment for my family.

My venture into entrepreneurship wasn’t just about personal fulfillment—it was about crafting a service that resonates with the dreams of couples across the globe. Specializing in tailor-made weddings, honeymoons, elopements, and vow renewals, Honeymoons and Get-A-Ways stands as a testament to the power of passion and perseverance, offering bespoke experiences that celebrate love without borders.

What challenges have you faced as a woman in the business world, and how have you overcome them?

Throughout my career, I’ve navigated through a myriad of conventional, male-dominated paradigms. With unwavering grace and a perpetual smile, I’ve confronted these norms directly. My approach has always been to maintain the highest degree of respect and professionalism. I am a staunch advocate of the principle that true competence is defined by one’s knowledge and the adept execution of tasks, all of which are firmly rooted in diligent work and rich experience. This, I believe, is the quintessential ‘style’ that transcends all others.”

How do you balance your professional and personal life as an entrepreneur?

Striking the perfect equilibrium between professional endeavors and personal life is an art form, particularly as an entrepreneur. The mantra ‘family first’ resonates deeply with me and was a pivotal reason behind the inception of my own enterprise. Establishing clear boundaries and carving out moments of solitude are essential steps on this journey. As both a mother and a business proprietor, I’ve learned that to serve others effectively, I must first replenish my own reserves. It’s imperative to pause and rejuvenate, for running on empty benefits no one. Self-care is not just a luxury; it is a necessity that empowers me to be my best self for those around me.

What strategies have you found most effective for networking and building connections in your industry?

As a professional dedicated to the global event planning industry, I’ve discovered that actively participating in international conferences and speaking engagements offers unparalleled opportunities for building meaningful connections. These interactions are the cornerstone of my business, providing valuable collaborations and insights.

Nevertheless, I recognize that networking isn’t confined to physical events alone. Platforms like LinkedIn have been instrumental in expanding my professional network, offering a plethora of business connections. Additionally, I actively seek out virtual events that present opportunities for engagement and collaboration, ensuring a diverse and robust professional network.

How do you approach mentorship and seeking guidance in your entrepreneurial journey?

When I embarked on my entrepreneurial journey in 2005, I brought with me a wealth of experience in corporate travel and event planning. However, it’s crucial to understand that expertise in a field doesn’t necessarily equate to business acumen. Recognizing this, I pursued small business education and sought mentorship from seasoned entrepreneurs. This foundational step was instrumental in my success.

Today, I find myself in the privileged position of being a mentor. I have the honor of guiding aspiring entrepreneurs through the intricacies of starting their own ventures and navigating the entrepreneurial landscape. It’s a role I embrace with the same fervor I had when I first began.

Can you talk about a specific setback or failure you’ve experienced in your business, and how you bounced back from it?

Reflecting on my entrepreneurial journey, one notable challenge I encountered was the rapid expansion of my business, which I affectionately term ‘growing pains.’ Launching with zero clientele and building from the ground up, I was unprepared for the swift surge in growth that soon followed. This necessitated a swift pivot to scaling operations.

The learning curve was steep as I navigated the complexities of assembling a team. It was imperative to find individuals who not only shared my dedication and work ethic but also resonated with my vision for the company. The turning point came when I successfully formed a cohesive team committed to fostering our collective growth.

In what ways do you prioritize diversity and inclusion within your company or startup?

My business specializes in orchestrating global events and destination weddings. I am an avid speaker on cultural fluency and write about how destination wedding are a magical blend of love and local traditions, offering couples a chance to honor the cultural heritage of their wedding locale. My expertise lies in celebrating the union of love and culture within the enchanting realm of destination weddings, which is a hallmark of my professional portfolio.

How do you stay motivated and resilient during tough times in your business?

Resilience is the cornerstone of success in the travel and event industry. In the face of adversity, it’s essential to maintain a positive outlook, embrace innovative thinking, and continue to advance. The ability to adapt and evolve with the ever-changing landscape is paramount, as is learning the art of the strategic pivot to navigate through challenging times

What advice would you give to other aspiring women entrepreneurs who are just starting out?

Embarking on an entrepreneurial journey is an exhilarating endeavor, and the cornerstone of this venture is undoubtedly a robust business plan. Crafting a comprehensive business plan is not just a step; it’s a strategic blueprint that guides your path forward.

Even if you’re a seasoned expert in your field, running a business is a different ballgame. I strongly recommend enrolling in business courses to bridge any gaps in your entrepreneurial skill set. In the nascent stages of your business, it’s essential to have a grasp on various facets of the trade—from marketing and sales to business development, social media strategies, insurance, licensing, and the intricacies of incorporating your company.

Moreover, seek out a mentor who resonates with your vision. A mentor’s wisdom can illuminate your path, and their experience can help you navigate the complexities of entrepreneurship. Don’t hesitate to ask questions; curiosity is the fuel for learning and growth.

Can you share a memorable success or milestone that you’ve achieved in your entrepreneurial career?

One of the most memorable milestones in my career occurred 15 years ago when I was invited to speak publicly in New York City. Addressing a large audience for the first time was a daunting prospect, and I was incredibly nervous. Despite my extensive knowledge on “How to Plan a Successful Destination Wedding,” public speaking was uncharted territory for me.

Determined to succeed, I diligently prepared and practiced, ultimately taking a leap of faith. The session turned out to be a resounding success. Not only did it lead to new business opportunities, but it also paved the way for my career as a global public speaker.

As part of the Morning Lazziness series about empowering women who encourage and do incredible things with their ideas in society, I had the pleasure of interviewing Rosa Sarmento

Rosa is a quirky Latina — born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil — now living in Mexico as a digital nomad, agency owner, and podcast manager. Rosa founded Ideablossoms, a boutique podcast agency for women leaders that has produced and released over 800 podcast episodes!

Her clients are subject-matter experts and industry top voices turned top-rated podcasters. She started her business back in 2019 using a borrowed laptop and grew it into a remote—and diverse team of 6—podcasting agency with a current roster of 13 clients. Not to say a soon-to-be six-figure business in 2024. 

Rosa is a Projector, Enneagram Type 6 (The Loyal Guardian) and her top 5 Clifton Strengths are Relator, Intellection, Positivity, Maximizer, and Self-Assurance. 

When she’s not doing podcast magic, you’ll probably find her on a beach, sipping some coconut water and sunbathing. That’s her happy place!

Here’s what we found out about Rosa’a daily routine, followed by an exclusive Q+A.

Can you share the story behind your journey as an entrepreneur? What inspired you to start your own business?

This is a long story that started back in 2015, but I’ll try to keep it short and sweet. I was born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. That’s where I went to school and spent the first few years of my career. 

I’m actually a fashion designer by trade and I worked in the fashion industry for about 6 years back in Brazil before making the bold decision to move abroad. I still love fashion, the way I see it, fashion is art, self-expression. But I did not love the industry, the crazy deadlines, the lack of work-life balance, and the absurd produced driven by fast fashion.

So, in 2015, I couldn’t shake that feeling anymore, that something wasn’t quite right. That’s when I started traveling, seeking answers and signs in various parts of the world. In that year alone, I grabbed everything I had in savings and went to the UK, Ireland, the Netherlands, Greece, Chile, Bolivia, and Peru. 

In Chile, I met my now husband, and in 2017 we started our life together. In 2019, I convinced him to move to Vietnam. Experiencing Asia was a big dream of mine. There, I was able to travel some more and add a few more countries to my adventure list: Japan, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, China, and Cambodia. 

And that’s where it happened. After leaving my home country and a career in fashion in a self-discovery quest for answers around the world, it was in Vietnam I finally found the answers to some of the most important questions I had been asking myself: 

How do I want to live my life? How can I contribute to the world? What am I really good at?

And on a regular Saturday morning, as I was searching online for a place to have breakfast in Da Nang, I first encountered the term podcast management. It was in a blog, the author was also living in Da Nang, Vietnam, as a digital nomad and she briefly mentioned how she started working online as a virtual assistant offering a variety of different services, podcast management was one of them.

It sounded like something I could do. Something I would enjoy doing. I knew I could be creative and resourceful. And I knew I was a fast learner.

I started my podcast management business using a borrowed laptop in November of 2019. Back then, I was only doing some freelancing gigs. In the next year, I started Ideablossoms LLC and niched down to podcast launch and podcast management. In 2021, we grew into a remote—and now diverse team of 6—podcasting agency with a current roster of 13 clients. Not to say a soon-to-be six-figure business in 2024.

What challenges have you faced as a woman in the business world, and how have you overcome them?

My biggest challenges were internal ones. Coming from a developing country, speaking English as a second language, I was constantly doubting myself and comparing myself. I knew I could do it, but at the same time, I didn’t allow myself to dream big.

If you don’t see it, if you don’t believe in it, you’ll hardly ever get to that place you truly want to go. There’s a quote from Henry Ford, “Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t–you’re right.”

So, I started to work on myself. I worked with a couple of therapists who really helped me. They also had online businesses so they could really understand the struggles, the ups and downs, the triggers, and the insecurities. They helped me see more clearly, they helped me celebrate more (and therefore acknowledge all the things I was capable of), and they gave me the tools to support myself through challenging times.

It’s ongoing work, it never stops. But I know myself so deeply now. I can make decisions with clarity and confidence as I know they no longer come from a place of fear, they come from a place of knowing.

How do you balance your professional and personal life as an entrepreneur?

I work from home, my husband works from home, so I’m not going to lie. There are days that professional and personal get mixed and matched in a way I did not intend to. But what helped me move away from crazy hours and burnout was this: clear boundaries. 

Boundaries for myself actually. 

We have our office hours and that’s when we work. Period. I’m also very strict about weekends, that’s my sacred time for rest and recharge. 

What strategies have you found most effective for networking and building connections in your industry?

It all starts with my clients. Even before they’re clients. I want to get to know them and what’s going on in their lives, I follow them on social media, I catch up often, I’m constantly asking questions and listening to what they have to say. I know each client we have on a personal level, and I’m proud of that.

All my networking comes from my clients. And it grows from there. There’s this ripple effect. They’re always referring to me when they talk about their podcasts, which brings people my way, they speak in rooms and stages when I’m not there, we’re engaging on social media and other folks join the conversation, I see someone leave a comment in one of their posts that resonate with me and I start a conversation. 

I try to not overthink it. Networking for me is about being human, sharing, getting to know people. What comes from that is always a bonus.

How do you approach mentorship and seeking guidance in your entrepreneurial journey?

I seek to be in rooms with like-minded people who are also running online businesses. I seek mentorship from those business owners a few steps ahead, the ones who have worked on themselves just as much as they’ve worked on their businesses. 

I seek guidance from folks who understand the external and internal, professional and personal challenges of running a business and being the face of it. The ones who tried many different paths, are innovative, have many lessons to share, and are deeply empathetic.

Can you talk about a specific setback or failure you’ve experienced in your business, and how you bounced back from it?

In the early stages of the agency, I allowed for one client to be 70% of our income and capacity. It was a big client with many different platforms, and we were doing much more than podcast management for her. Eventually, that client decided to go on a different direction, quite common with online businesses as the online world changes incredibly fast and we have to adapt and innovate to keep up.

That was a big blow and I had to confront some of those old fears and thoughts about my worth. But looking back now, I’m beyond grateful that happened. Because of that blow, I gained more clarity on the type of business model I wanted, and the type of service we could really excel at. It also pushed me out of my comfort zone to try new offers, new packages, new messaging. If that had never happened, I don’t think I’d be experiencing the type of success I am now.

In what ways do you prioritize diversity and inclusion within your company or startup?

All of our operations are 100% remote, this allows us to give opportunities to people that come from different countries and backgrounds. And I love that! Those different minds coming together can create magic. We have team members in Brazil, Argentina, South Africa, and the US. 

We’re passionate about creating opportunities for remote work that is truly flexible and fairly compensated based on skills, responsibilities, and experience, not location. 

We provide trainings and ongoing feedback for each new team member so they can continue to learn and develop their skills.

How do you stay motivated and resilient during tough times in your business?

I focus on gratitude. That always helps me and grounds me. 

I focus on the clients we have who appreciate us and trust us to deliver their important work to the world. I focus on each team member and how hard they work to get the best content out there. I focus on everything good the business has brought into my life. And I focused on how far I’ve gotten, professionally and personally. There’s so much to be grateful for if we take the time to look and reflect. 

What advice would you give to other aspiring women entrepreneurs who are just starting out?

Just keep going. No matter the pace. 

Go slow if you need to. Rest if you need to. Pivot and try something new if you want to. Hit the gas and hustle if you want to. Just keep going forward. Even the difficult times that suck now, we’ll prove to be invaluable lessons later… If you take the time to look back, reflect, and be grateful for each moment that brought you to today.

Can you share a memorable success or milestone that you’ve achieved in your entrepreneurial career?

Building a team. We’re now six people at Ideablossoms working behind the scenes to release top-rated podcast episodes. 

That’s always my #1 success story. Being able to create a different life for myself is amazing, no question about it. But providing the opportunity for location freedom, time freedom, and financial freedom to other people makes me feel very proud. I know the impact that can have, I was there once. And the ripple effects of that, I can’t even imagine.