# Total GirlBoss — Full Corpus > Total GirlBoss — the magazine of powerful women running businesses. Founder interviews, features, and the stories behind the women building what comes next. Tagline: Inspiring Stories to Go Get It. Founded 2019. --- ## She Started With $5,000. Ferrero Paid $850 Million for It. URL: https://totalgirlboss.com/elizabeth-stein-purely-elizabeth-ferrero-acquisition/ Section: Business · Published: 2026-09-12 TL;DR: Elizabeth Stein started Purely Elizabeth in 2009 with $5,000 in savings, selling a blueberry muffin mix she made in her Manhattan apartment after homemade samples outsold her nutrition-coaching practice at a 2008 triathlon. The Boulder, Colorado company grew into a granola, oatmeal and cereal brand sold nationwide, with sales more than doubling over the past two years, according to Ferrero's own announcement and Food Dive. In August 2026, Ferrero Group agreed to acquire Purely Elizabeth for an estimated $850 million — roughly 3.4 times trailing revenue, per Forbes, Inc. and New Hope Network — with Stein staying on as founder and CEO. Forbes and Inc. estimated she could net around $400 million after taxes from her stake. Elizabeth Stein wasn't trying to start a food company. She was a certified holistic nutrition coach and triathlete with about ten private clients, and in 2008 she brought homemade blueberry muffins — made with quinoa, chia seeds and coconut sugar — to a race to promote her coaching practice. The muffins outsold the pitch. People kept asking where to buy them, so Stein told them to sign up for her newsletter and she'd let them know. That mailing list became the start of [Purely Elizabeth](https://www.ferrero.com/int/en/news-stories/news/ferrero-group-to-acquire-purely-elizabeth), which she launched in 2009 with $5,000 from her own savings, mixing the first batches in her Manhattan apartment. Seventeen years later, that $5,000 bet is now part of one of the largest deals in natural foods this year. On August 14, 2026, [Ferrero Group announced](https://www.ferrero.com/int/en/news-stories/news/ferrero-group-to-acquire-purely-elizabeth) it was acquiring Purely Elizabeth, the Boulder, Colorado company Stein built from muffin mixes into a granola, oatmeal and cereal brand carried in tens of thousands of U.S. grocery stores. Ferrero didn't disclose a price, but [Forbes](https://www.forbes.com/sites/chloesorvino/2026/08/17/purely-elizabeth-founder-sells-to-ferrero-for-850-million-feel-the-fear-and-do-it-anyway/), [Inc.](https://www.inc.com/kevin-haynes/from-home-baked-muffins-to-850-million-elizabeth-stein-sells-purely-elizabeth/91392917) and [New Hope Network](https://www.newhope.com/investments/ferrero-group-acquires-purely-elizabeth-850-million-dollars-expand-breakfast-wellness-portfolio) each independently put the value at an estimated $850 million, roughly 3.4 times the company's trailing revenue. The number reflects real growth, not just a good story. [Food Dive reported](https://www.fooddive.com/news/ferrero-buys-purely-elizabeth-breakfast-better-for-you-expansion/827963/) that Purely Elizabeth's sales more than doubled over the past two years, hitting roughly $200 million in 2025 with a 2026 target above $300 million, driven partly by a newer line of protein-boosted granola. Ferrero's own announcement credited that momentum directly, with company president Giovanni Ferrero calling Purely Elizabeth's "portfolio of quality, tasty products... a great addition to Ferrero," and Ferrero Ice Cream and WK Kellogg Co. president Lapo Civiletti framing the deal as part of a "long-term strategy to invest in high-growth categories." The acquisition follows Ferrero's [$3.1 billion purchase of WK Kellogg Co.](https://www.fooddive.com/news/ferrero-buys-purely-elizabeth-breakfast-better-for-you-expansion/827963/) in 2025, giving the Italian chocolate giant both a legacy cereal aisle and a premium challenger brand under one roof. Stein isn't stepping back. She's staying on as founder and CEO, with Purely Elizabeth continuing to run as a standalone brand inside Ferrero. "Building Purely Elizabeth from an idea 17 years ago into the brand it is today has been one of the most rewarding journeys of my life," she said in [Ferrero's official announcement](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ferrero-group-to-acquire-purely-elizabeth-a-leading-us-modern-wellness-brand-302851234.html). "In Ferrero, we've found a family-owned company that believes deeply in what we've built and sees the tremendous opportunity still ahead," she added, in the same statement Ferrero also [published on its own site](https://www.ferrero.com/int/en/news-stories/news/ferrero-group-to-acquire-purely-elizabeth). Forbes' coverage of the deal ran under the headline "[Feel the fear and do it anyway](https://www.forbes.com/sites/chloesorvino/2026/08/17/purely-elizabeth-founder-sells-to-ferrero-for-850-million-feel-the-fear-and-do-it-anyway/)" — Stein's own description of the mindset that took her from a triathlon side table to a nine-figure exit. Both Forbes and Inc. estimated that Stein, who reportedly held onto roughly two-thirds ownership of the company through nearly two decades and multiple funding rounds, could net around $400 million after taxes from the sale. --- ## Her CEO Quit by Email. Jacq Tatelman Grew STATE Bags 10x Anyway. URL: https://totalgirlboss.com/jacq-tatelman-state-bags/ Section: Business · Published: 2026-09-05 TL;DR: Jacq and Scot Tatelman founded STATE Bags in 2013 on a buy-one-give-one model after watching kids at their nonprofit summer camp carry belongings in trash bags. In February 2020, their CEO resigned by email on a Sunday night just as shipments sat stranded overseas and back-to-school sales collapsed, per Forbes. Jacq Tatelman took over the company from home and retooled the product line for the moment — fanny packs paired with masks, campaigns about safe visits to grandparents — and grew revenue 10x during the pandemic, Forbes and Inc. reported. By 2025, STATE's back-to-school product drops were selling out fast enough that customers set alarms for launch day, per Entrepreneur. In January 2026, JPalmer Collective closed a $4 million line of credit with STATE Bags, replacing what the company described as a patchwork of short-term financing. Jacq and Scot Tatelman didn't set out to build a bag company. They started with a nonprofit — the Country Roads Foundation, sending underprivileged New York City kids to a summer camp in the Poconos — and it was there, watching some of those kids carry their belongings to camp in trash bags, that the idea for STATE Bags took shape: a backpack company where every purchase funds a fully stocked backpack, hand-delivered to a child in need. They launched it in 2013, built around that buy-one-give-one model and a program they call [#GiveBackPack](https://statebags.com/pages/faq). The company's defining moment, though, arrived on a Sunday night in February 2020, when Tatelman opened an email from her CEO — he was quitting. The timing could not have been worse: STATE's shipments were sitting stranded overseas as the earliest pandemic disruptions hit global freight, and back-to-school sales, a core chunk of the business, were evaporating in real time, according to [Forbes](https://www.forbes.com/sites/eshachhabra/2026/02/20/how-this-reluctant-founder-was-able-to-10x-her-revenue-in-the-pandemic/). Tatelman had never planned to be CEO. She became one anyway, running the company from home while the world locked down. What she did next was retool the product line for the moment rather than wait it out: fanny packs paired with cloth masks, marketing built around safe car trips to see grandparents, and a back-to-school push aimed at families stuck at home instead of in classrooms. Forbes and [Inc.](https://www.inc.com/annabel-burba/this-founder-didnt-want-to-become-ceo-when-she-did-revenue-grew-10x/91208752) both reported the result: STATE's revenue grew 10x during the pandemic under her leadership, a reluctant CEO turning a crisis into the company's biggest growth stretch. That momentum held. By 2025, STATE's back-to-school "cult" product drops were selling out quickly enough that customers told [Entrepreneur](https://www.entrepreneur.com/starting-a-business/businesss-cult-back-to-school-products-sell-out-so-fast/495493) they were setting alarms for launch day — a demand pattern Tatelman said builds "year after year." And the financing caught up to the growth: in January 2026, asset-based lender [JPalmer Collective closed a $4 million line of credit](https://www.abladvisor.com/articles/42311/jpalmer-collective-provides-4mm-line-of-credit-to-state-bags) with STATE Bags, which the company said replaced a patchwork of short-term financing with one reliable, growth-aligned facility. Thirteen years after two people mailing backpacks to campers started a company, the CEO nobody expected to run it is still the one steering where it goes next. --- ## Brynn Putnam Sold Mirror for $500M. Then She Started Over URL: https://totalgirlboss.com/brynn-putnam-board-game-console-after-mirror/ Section: Founders · Published: 2026-09-05 TL;DR: Brynn Putnam founded the connected-fitness startup Mirror in 2016 and sold it to Lululemon for $500 million in 2020 — Lululemon's first acquisition. In 2025 she launched Board, a hybrid board-game-and-video-game console, which has since sold into tens of thousands of homes across all 50 states and closed a $20 million Series A led by Union Square Ventures in June 2026. Brynn Putnam had already done the thing most founders spend a career chasing: she built a company from nothing and sold it for life-changing money. [Mirror](https://www.cnbc.com/2021/09/21/mirror-founder-brynn-putnam-to-step-down-as-ceo-lululemon-says.html), the wall-mounted connected-fitness startup she founded in 2016, raised $72 million and sold to Lululemon in 2020 for $500 million — [Lululemon's first-ever acquisition](https://insider.fitt.co/lululemon-acquires-mirror-500m/). Putnam, a Harvard graduate and former professional ballerina, stepped down as Mirror's CEO about a year after the deal closed. She could have stopped there. Instead, [she started over](https://techcrunch.com/2025/10/28/mirrors-founder-is-back-with-a-new-connected-screen-startup-a-gaming-device-called-board/) in a category she had no track record in: gaming hardware. Putnam unveiled [Board](https://medium.com/lerer-hippeau-ventures/please-welcome-board-the-first-ever-face-to-face-game-console-b90837a75d0d) publicly at TechCrunch Disrupt in October 2025 — a 24-inch touchscreen set in a wood-finish frame that uses sensors to recognize physical game pieces on its surface, pairing the tactile feel of a board game with the responsiveness of a video game. It launched with 12 original titles and roughly 50 physical pieces, priced around $499. The traction came fast. Board is now [in tens of thousands of homes across all 50 states](https://techcrunch.com/2026/06/02/board-the-new-game-startup-from-mirror-founder-brynn-putnam-raises-20m-has-already-sold-thousands/), plus schools, hospitals, and restaurants, and Putnam says 85% of customers average more than 30 play sessions a month — the kind of repeat-use number most hardware startups never see. Investors followed the traction: Board raised $15 million pre-launch from Lerer Hippeau (the same firm that led Mirror's original $3 million seed), First Round, and Box Group, then closed a $20 million Series A in June 2026 led by Union Square Ventures, with angel investors including Biz Stone, Tim Ferriss, and Scott Belsky. The new capital is funding an expansion from console into a full creator platform, including a title-building tool called Board Studio. Putnam has been direct about why she picked games for her second company: "We didn't want to make another screen to stare at — we wanted to build something that brings people back to each other." It's a different problem than the one Mirror solved, but the same instinct — building for genuine human connection, not just engagement — carried over. Selling a company for half a billion dollars would be enough validation for most founders to coast. Putnam used it as seed money for a harder bet. --- ## AI Tools for Women Entrepreneurs: What Actually Saves Time URL: https://totalgirlboss.com/ai-tools-for-women-entrepreneurs-2026/ Section: Leadership · Published: 2026-09-03 TL;DR: Women-owned businesses adopted AI at a lower rate than men-owned ones through 2025 — 17.2% versus 19.7%, a gap that's widened since 2019, per JPMorgan Chase Institute's analysis of Chase Business Banking data. Yet nearly 4 in 5 women entrepreneurs expect AI to shape their company's future, per Intuit QuickBooks' 2026 Women Entrepreneurs report. The fix isn't a dozen new subscriptions — it's a small stack (a writing assistant, a scheduling tool, a bookkeeping tool with AI categorization, a design tool) covering the hours-per-week tasks that don't require your specific judgment, while keeping legal, financial, and strategic calls in your own hands. Women-owned businesses adopted AI at a lower rate than men-owned ones through 2025 — 17.2% versus 19.7% — and the gap has been widening, not closing, according to [JPMorgan Chase Institute's analysis](https://www.jpmorganchase.com/institute/all-topics/business-growth-and-entrepreneurship/ai-adoption-gap-gender-generation-among-small-business-owners) of de-identified Chase Business Banking transaction data going back to 2019, when the gap was just 0.3 points. It's largest among the youngest owners: Gen Z men-owned businesses adopt AI at nearly 6 points higher than Gen Z women-owned ones. That's not a story about interest. Intuit QuickBooks' [2026 Women Entrepreneurs report](https://quickbooks.intuit.com/r/small-business-data/women-entrepreneurs-2026/) — a survey of 3,000 U.S. adults fielded in December 2025 — found nearly 4 in 5 women entrepreneurs expect AI to play a role in their company's future, and more than half say they're likely to use it to launch or formalize a business. Nearly half of women entrepreneurs run their business alone, as solopreneurs, which is exactly the setup where a few well-chosen tools save the most time relative to the alternative — doing it all manually, or not doing it at all. So the gap isn't appetite. It's more likely time, trust, and not knowing where to start. Here's a stack that doesn't require a technical background, organized by what it actually replaces on your to-do list — and, just as important, what it shouldn't touch. ## Start with the task, not the tool The mistake that burns the most time is downloading five AI apps before deciding what you're trying to get back. Work backward from your actual week instead: what's the task you do every week that doesn't require your specific judgment, just your time? That's the first thing to hand off. For most solopreneurs and small teams, that shortlist looks like: drafting emails, social captions, and first-pass copy; scheduling calls without the ten-message back-and-forth; categorizing transactions and chasing receipts; and building visual content without opening a design program from scratch. Four categories, four tools — not twelve. ## A writing and research assistant A general-purpose assistant — ChatGPT or Claude are the two most widely adopted — is the highest-leverage single tool for a one-person business, because writing touches almost everything: client emails, a sales page, a first draft of a policy, an outline for a talk. Use it for the first draft and the research pass, not the final version with your name on it; the time it saves is in getting from a blank page to something you can actually edit, which is most of the friction in writing anything. This is also where [reclaiming hours matters most for burnout](/founder-burnout-women-entrepreneurs/) specifically — the tasks that quietly eat an evening (a newsletter, a proposal, a set of show notes) are exactly the ones a drafting assistant shortens from an hour to fifteen minutes of editing. ## A scheduling tool that kills the back-and-forth Booking a call by email — "does Tuesday work?" "actually Wednesday" "what time?" — is a small tax that adds up across a week of client calls, interviews, and vendor conversations. Scheduling tools with AI-assisted availability (Calendly and similar tools now built into most calendar apps) remove that thread entirely: you send one link, the other person picks a slot, it's on both calendars. It's a small, unglamorous fix, and it's one of the few AI-adjacent tools that pays for itself the first week you use it. ## A bookkeeping tool that categorizes as you go Bookkeeping is the task most likely to get pushed to the end of the quarter, which is exactly when it becomes miserable. AI-assisted categorization in tools like QuickBooks flags and sorts transactions as they happen instead of leaving you to reconstruct three months of receipts in April. It won't replace an accountant for anything that actually matters at tax time — it just means you're not starting from zero when you talk to one. ## A design tool for the content you already have to make Once you're regularly posting, pitching, or building a [personal brand](/how-to-build-a-personal-brand-as-a-woman-entrepreneur/) around your business, design tools with AI features (Canva is the most widely used) turn "I need a slide deck" or "I need a social graphic" from a half-day task into a fifteen-minute one, using templates instead of a blank canvas. Add this once content creation is a weekly habit — not before, since an idle subscription saves nobody any time. ## Where AI should not make the call None of this is a case for handing over judgment along with the busywork. Contracts, terms of service, and anything with real legal weight need a lawyer's actual review — an AI draft is a starting point, not a substitute for one. The same goes for taxes: categorization tools help you stay organized, but the filing itself belongs to a professional who's accountable if it's wrong. And decisions about hiring, pricing, or which client to walk away from depend on context — your cash position, your capacity, your read on a relationship — that no tool has access to and shouldn't be trusted to weigh for you. The useful framing: AI is reliable at repetitive, low-stakes, first-draft work. It has no accountability for a wrong legal, financial, or strategic call — you do, and that's exactly the work worth keeping for yourself. ## The gap is closeable, not permanent A 2.5-point adoption gap sounds small until you multiply it by every hour it represents across a year of solo-run admin, drafting, and scheduling. It's also a gap that has nothing to do with ability — the same QuickBooks survey found the majority of women entrepreneurs already expect AI to matter to their business. The gap is about which four tools to open first, not whether the interest is there. Start with the task eating the most hours this week, pick one tool for it, and let the stack grow only as slowly as your actual habits do. ## Frequently asked questions **Do women entrepreneurs actually use AI less than men do?** Yes, measurably. JPMorgan Chase Institute analyzed de-identified Chase Business Banking transaction data from 2019 through 2025 and found male-owned businesses reached 19.7% AI-tool adoption versus 17.2% for women-owned businesses — a 2.5 percentage point gap that has widened from just 0.3 points in 2019. The gap is largest among Gen Z business owners and narrows significantly for Gen X and Baby Boomer owners. **Which AI tools should a solopreneur actually start with?** A general-purpose assistant like ChatGPT or Claude for drafting and research, a scheduling tool with AI features to kill the back-and-forth of booking calls, and a bookkeeping tool that auto-categorizes transactions. Add a design tool with AI features (like Canva) once content creation becomes a weekly task, not before. Most of these have a usable free tier — there's no need to commit to paid plans before you know which ones you'll actually keep opening. **What should AI not be trusted to do in a small business?** Anything where being wrong is expensive or hard to undo: drafting contracts and legal terms without a lawyer's review, filing taxes without a professional's sign-off, and business-strategy or hiring decisions that depend on context only you have. AI is reliable at first drafts and repetitive admin. It has no accountability for a wrong legal or financial call — you do. --- ## Public Speaking for Women Entrepreneurs: Why the Fear Hits Harder URL: https://totalgirlboss.com/public-speaking-for-women-entrepreneurs/ Section: Leadership · Published: 2026-08-22 TL;DR: The National Institute of Mental Health's data on specific phobias — the category that includes glossophobia, fear of public speaking — show women affected at more than double the rate of men: 12.2% versus 5.8% in the past year. Chapman University's 2025 Survey of American Fears found roughly a third of Americans (33.7%) fear public speaking specifically. The fix isn't willpower: Harvard research found reframing pre-performance nerves as 'I am excited' — not trying to calm down — measurably improves how anxious people perform and how audiences rate them. Pair that with structured preparation and low-stakes reps, and the fear becomes manageable without ever fully disappearing. Here's a stat that reframes the "just get more confident" advice a lot of women in business get: according to the National Institute of Mental Health, women experience specific phobia — the diagnostic category that includes glossophobia, or fear of public speaking — at more than double the rate of men. Past-year prevalence sits at 12.2% for women versus 5.8% for men. And separately, Chapman University's 2025 Survey of American Fears, an annual academic study of a nationally representative sample, found that roughly a third of Americans (33.7%) fear public speaking specifically. If the invitation to speak on a panel, pitch a room, or guest on a podcast makes your stomach drop before your brain has even processed the opportunity, you're not uniquely bad at this. You're dealing with something that's both common and, per the data, unevenly distributed by gender — which makes it worth solving with something more specific than "just relax." ## Why this fear costs more than it looks like Public speaking isn't a side skill for a business owner — it's frequently the visibility mechanism itself. The podcast guest slot, the conference panel, the client pitch, the investor meeting, the video that actually gets watched: most of them run through some version of speaking in front of people, live or recorded. Avoiding the format doesn't just mean skipping a few uncomfortable minutes. It means opting out of a channel that [builds the personal brand](/how-to-build-a-personal-brand-as-a-woman-entrepreneur/) other people use to decide who they refer, hire, fund, or feature. That's the actual cost of letting the fear make the decision by default: not the discomfort in the moment, but the compounding effect of consistently being the person in the room who doesn't raise a hand. ## Stop trying to calm down — try getting excited instead The instinct almost everyone has before a nerve-wracking talk is to try to relax: deep breaths, a mental "you've got this," an attempt to talk the nervous system down. Harvard Business School researcher Alison Wood Brooks tested that instinct directly, and the result is one of the more useful findings in this space. In a 2014 study published in the *Journal of Experimental Psychology: General*, Brooks found that people who reframed their pre-performance anxiety as excitement — literally saying "I am excited" instead of attempting to calm down — performed better on public speaking, singing, and math tasks, and were rated by observers as more persuasive and effective. The mechanism is simpler than it sounds: anxiety and excitement produce nearly identical physical sensations — racing heart, heightened alertness, a jolt of adrenaline. The nervous system doesn't hand you a pre-labeled emotion; your brain assigns the label. "I'm anxious" tells your brain to treat the moment as a threat. "I'm excited" tells it the exact same physical state is an opportunity. Same body, different story, measurably different outcome. Next time the nerves show up before a talk, try saying it out loud, even quietly to yourself: "I am excited." It costs nothing to test and the research says it beats the version where you try to will the feeling away. ## Prepare the way that actually reduces anxiety Most fear around public speaking isn't really about the audience — it's about not trusting yourself to handle whatever happens once you're up there. That's a preparation problem, not a personality problem, and it responds to structure. Skip memorizing a script word for word; a single dropped line can derail someone who's relying on exact recall, and it reads as stiff even when it goes right. Instead, know your talk in three layers: the one sentence you'd say if you had ten seconds, the three points you'd hit with two minutes, and the full version with the stories and examples that make it land. Rehearse out loud, not just in your head — silently reviewing a talk and actually saying the words out loud use different parts of your brain, and only one of them tells you where you'll actually stumble. And walk in with an opening line you don't have to think of on the spot; the first ten seconds are the hardest ones to improvise and the easiest ones to prepare. This is the same logic behind [building an evidence file for imposter syndrome](/imposter-syndrome-women-in-business/): replace an in-the-moment performance you're not sure you can pull off with something you already built in advance, so you're not gambling on quick thinking under pressure. ## Build the skill in reps too small to be scary Confidence on stage isn't a trait some people are born with — it's built the same way any other skill is, through repetition small enough to survive a bad attempt. Waiting to feel ready before taking the big keynote or the investor pitch usually means waiting indefinitely, because that confidence tends to arrive after the reps, not before them. Start with the lowest-stakes version available: a two-minute update in a small internal meeting, a question asked out loud instead of typed in the chat, a guest slot on a friend's podcast, a five-minute talk at a small local meetup. None of those need to go perfectly. Their entire job is to lower the stakes of the next one, the same way [one real conversation lowers the stakes of the next one in a networking room](/how-to-network-as-an-introvert-women-entrepreneurs/). By the time the bigger stage shows up, it's not your first time managing the feeling — it's your twentieth. ## The fear doesn't have to disappear to stop running the show It's worth saying plainly: the goal isn't to reach a state where public speaking no longer produces any nerves. Even experienced, frequent speakers report pre-talk anxiety — the difference isn't the absence of the feeling, it's what they've learned to do with it. Reappraise the sensation, prepare in layers instead of by rote, and take the small rep instead of waiting for the big one to feel safe. None of that requires the fear to go away first. It just stops the fear from being the one making the decision about whether you show up. ## Frequently asked questions **Are women actually more afraid of public speaking than men?** The clearest data point comes from the National Institute of Mental Health, which tracks specific phobia — the diagnostic category that includes glossophobia, fear of public speaking. Past-year prevalence is 12.2% for women versus 5.8% for men, more than double. That's a broader category than public speaking alone, but it's the most rigorous gender breakdown available, and it lines up with what most women in business report anecdotally: the fear is real, common, and not evenly distributed. **Does trying to calm down before speaking actually work?** Not as well as the alternative, according to Harvard Business School researcher Alison Wood Brooks. Her 2014 study, published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, found that people who reframed pre-performance anxiety as excitement — saying "I am excited" rather than trying to calm down — performed better and were rated as more persuasive and effective speakers than people who tried to relax. Anxious energy and excited energy are physiologically almost identical; the difference is which label your brain attaches to it. **How common is the fear of public speaking, really?** Chapman University's Survey of American Fears — an annual, nationally representative academic survey — found in its 2025 wave that 33.7% of Americans reported fearing public speaking. That's roughly one in three people, which also means most rooms are full of people managing the same thing you are, whether or not it shows. **What's the single most effective way to get better at it?** Low-stakes repetition. Confidence in public speaking is built the same way any skill is: through reps that are small enough to survive a bad one. A five-minute update in a small meeting, a guest slot on a podcast, a two-minute intro at a local event — each one lowers the stakes of the next, which is a more reliable path than waiting to feel ready for the big stage first. --- ## Gloria Williams Turned Oprah's Tweet Into Footnanny URL: https://totalgirlboss.com/gloria-williams-footnanny/ Section: Founders · Published: 2026-08-20 TL;DR: Gloria Williams built her reputation as a Chicago nail technician and reflexologist, then spent close to 20 years as Oprah Winfrey's personal pedicurist. In 2012, a single tweet from Oprah about Williams' homemade foot cream drew thousands of requests and pushed Williams to turn it into the retail brand Footnanny. The line landed on Oprah's Favorite Things list ten times by 2023, struck a Costco deal in 2018, and opened its first Beverly Hills foot spa in 2021 with Oprah as its first client. In 2026, Footnanny is using AI tools to manage a national expansion into beauty distributors and salons, plus a new pet-care line. Gloria Williams didn't set out to build a beauty brand. She set out to be very, very good at pedicures. Trained as a nail technician and reflexologist in Chicago, she built her name the slow way — client by client, blending her own foot creams and soaking salts because nothing on a shelf did what she wanted them to do. That reputation eventually put her in front of the city's most famous resident, and for close to 20 years, Williams worked as [Oprah Winfrey's personal pedicurist](https://www.thepozcast.com/oprahs-personal-pedicurist-gloria-williams-the-story/). The business, as a business, started with a tweet. In 2012, Oprah posted about Williams' homemade foot cream, and the response was immediate: thousands of requests from people who had never met Williams and just wanted what Oprah had. [Small Business Trends](https://smallbiztrends.com/gloria-williams-footnanny-interview/) and [American Salon](https://www.americansalon.com/nails/brand-founder-found-success-staying-ten-toes-down) both point to that single post as the moment Williams stopped being a service provider with a side product and started being a founder with a supply-chain problem. She named the line Footnanny, packaged it, and started filling orders. What followed was the kind of validation most beauty founders spend a career chasing. Footnanny landed on [Oprah's Favorite Things list ten times by 2023](https://www.koin.com/business/press-releases/ein-presswire/665904991/footnanny-brand-founded-by-gloria-l-williams-selected-for-the-10th-time-as-one-of-oprahs-favorite-things-2023/), struck a [distribution deal with Costco in 2018](https://www.einpresswire.com/article/465505719/footnanny-ceo-gloria-l-williams-inks-a-deal-with-international-retail-giant-costco), and in 2021 opened its first standalone spa at the [Rodeo Collection in Beverly Hills — with Oprah as its first client](https://www.einpresswire.com/article/595466123/celebrity-pedicurist-gloria-l-williams-opens-footnanny-foot-spa-at-rodeo-collection-oprah-winfrey-is-the-first-client). Along the way, the client list grew well beyond Oprah, and Williams became a member of the [Forbes Business Council](https://councils.forbes.com/profile/Gloria-Williams-CEO-Founder-Footnanny-Inc/734ae180-821b-4fef-9176-d1fabbd051b0). Fourteen years after that first tweet, Footnanny is still a small operation scaling a big ambition. In a [December 2025 announcement of its 2026 expansion plans](https://markets.financialcontent.com/stocks/article/abnewswire-2025-12-24-beverly-hills-luxury-wellness-brand-footnanny-leverages-ai-innovation-to-support-ambitious-2026-expansion-plans), Williams said AI tools were letting her small team manage more without losing the brand's standards: "AI assistance allows us to manage this expansion efficiently while maintaining our standards." That expansion includes Footnanny Pets, a line launching in March 2026 aimed at the brand's core customers — many of them over 50 — and their animals. In June, Footnanny announced a [strategic partnership with JW Sales & Associates](https://www.pr.com/press-release/969268) to place its Footnanny4 Collection in beauty distributors and salons nationwide, with a booking app in the works to help customers find authorized Footnanny treatments wherever they are. Williams' path is a reminder that a founder story doesn't need a pitch deck to be real: she spent two decades perfecting a craft before a single tweet turned it into a company, and she's still building it one retail partnership at a time. --- ## Val Emanuel Built Rif Care After Her Own Hormone Crisis URL: https://totalgirlboss.com/val-emanuel-rif-care-hemp-period-products/ Section: Business · Published: 2026-08-18 TL;DR: In 2020, Val Emanuel found hormone imbalances and elevated heavy-metal levels in her own body after years of painful, irregular periods, and set out to build a hemp-fiber period pad when she couldn't find one on the market. She and childhood best friend Rebecca Caputo launched Rif Care in 2022; by 2025 it was in more than 200 retail stores, on track for over $1 million in sales, and had added Monday Swimwear founders Natasha Oakley and Devin Brugman as investors. In 2020, Val Emanuel went looking for an explanation for years of irregular, painful periods and migraines — and found one in her own bloodwork: hormone imbalances and elevated levels of heavy metals. She stripped her routine down to organic personal care products and, as someone who already liked working with hemp, went looking for a hemp-fiber period pad to add to it. There wasn't one. So she decided to build it herself, even after factory after factory told her it couldn't be done. It took about a year to get a crowdfunding campaign live. That's when her childhood best friend, [Rebecca Caputo](https://shoutoutla.com/meet-rebecca-caputo-co-founder-coo-of-rif-care/) — a biology graduate then working in a cancer diagnostics lab, who had dealt with her own hormone imbalance and infertility — saw the Kickstarter video on a lunch break and signed on. Caputo joined as co-founder and COO in 2022, and the two launched [Rif Care](https://rifcare.com/pages/about), among the first hemp-fiber menstrual pads to reach the market. The product is specific about what it leaves out. Rif Care's pads blend hemp fiber with certified organic cotton for the topsheet, use a chlorine-free core with no super-absorbent polymers, and finish with a biodegradable, sugar-based backsheet — no PFAS, no added fragrance. The line has since grown to include period underwear and 100% organic cotton tampons, all built around the same premise: period care shouldn't require a chemistry lesson to feel safe. That premise landed at a useful moment. A 2024 study in *Environmental International* tested tampons across two dozen brands and found measurable levels of toxic metals, including lead and arsenic, which fed a wave of coverage on chemical exposure in menstrual products and a run of new state laws — California has banned PFAS from menstrual products outright, and New York's ban takes effect in mid-2026. Rif Care's traction tracks that shift: its first investor was a C-suite executive at BlackRock, and in 2025 it added [Monday Swimwear founders Natasha Oakley and Devin Brugman](https://www.forbes.com/sites/yolarobert1/2025/05/02/natasha-oakley-and-devin-brugman-join-hemp-period-brand-rif-care-as-investors/) to its cap table. By Forbes' reporting, the company was on pace for more than $1 million in sales in 2025 and had its pads on shelves in over 200 retail stores. Emanuel's path to Rif Care started with a diagnosis nobody asked for and a product nobody would build. Two years and one very persistent childhood friendship later, it's on store shelves instead of a rejection pile. --- ## How to Build a Personal Brand as a Woman Entrepreneur URL: https://totalgirlboss.com/how-to-build-a-personal-brand-as-a-woman-entrepreneur/ Section: Leadership · Published: 2026-08-15 TL;DR: 74% of Americans say they're more likely to trust someone with an established personal brand than a company, per a 2021 Brand Builders Group / Center for Generational Kinetics study — and senior executives estimate 44% of their company's market value is attributable to their own reputation, per Weber Shandwick's CEO Reputation Premium study. The 2026 Edelman Trust Barometer backs this up structurally: people trust their employer (78%) far more than business in general (64%), and 73% expect the CEO to personally lead that trust-building. For a founder, a personal brand isn't vanity — it's the fastest lever you have to move trust, and it works with one platform, one clear throughline, and consistency over virality. Here's a number every founder should sit with: 74% of Americans say they're more likely to trust someone with an established personal brand than they are to trust a company, according to a 2021 study by Brand Builders Group and the Center for Generational Kinetics, which surveyed 1,005 U.S. adults weighted to Census demographics. Trust isn't defaulting to the logo anymore. It's defaulting to the person behind it. That's not just a marketing footnote if you're the founder. It's a lever. Weber Shandwick's CEO Reputation Premium study — based on a survey of more than 1,700 senior executives across 19 countries — found that executives estimate 44% of their company's market value is attributable to their own personal reputation, and 45% of the company's overall reputation traces back to the reputation of its CEO. You are already carrying a huge share of your business's trust on your own name, whether you've built that deliberately or not. The 2026 Edelman Trust Barometer explains why. "My employer" is now the most trusted institution measured, at 78% — 14 points ahead of business in general (64%) and 25 points ahead of government (53%). Trust has stopped flowing outward to big, abstract institutions and started flowing inward, to people who feel familiar and specific. Edelman found 73% of respondents expect the CEO personally to lead that trust-building, not delegate it to a comms team. None of that requires becoming an influencer. It requires treating your own visibility as infrastructure — the same way you'd treat a website or an email list — instead of something you'll get to once the "real" work is done. ## A personal brand is not a highlight reel The instinct most founders resist is the right instinct: nobody wants to become the person who's always selling. That resistance is actually pointing at bad personal branding, not personal branding itself. A highlight reel — launch announcements, press logos, revenue milestones — is marketing, and it reads as marketing. A personal brand is different: it's a consistent, recognizable point of view about the work you do, shown through the actual process, not just its outcomes. The three drafts that didn't work before the one that did. The client problem you solved and how you thought about it. The number that moved and the specific decision that moved it. That kind of content doesn't feel like bragging because it's useful to someone else facing the same problem — the promotion is incidental to the value. This is also the version that's sustainable. If your only content is wins, you run out of material the week nothing launches. If your content is your process, you have something to say every week, because the process never stops. ## Pick one platform and one throughline The single biggest reason personal branding stalls out isn't lack of ideas — it's spreading one idea across four platforms with no consistency on any of them. Pick the platform your actual customers or clients already spend time on, not the one that's trending in your feed. A B2B consultant belongs on LinkedIn before TikTok. A product founder selling direct to consumers may belong exactly the other way around. Then pick one throughline: the specific angle you're known for. Not "business owner" — that's a job title, not a brand. Something closer to "I show the real, unglamorous numbers behind bootstrapping a service business" or "I document what it actually costs to hire your first employee." A throughline gives every piece of content a reason to exist and gives your audience a reason to come back, because they know what they're going to get. Expand to a second platform only once the first one has a real rhythm — a following that shows up isn't a headcount, it's proof the throughline is working, which is worth more than presence on four platforms nobody's paying attention to. ## Build the plan that survives a busy week Consistency beats virality for personal brands, almost without exception — the founders who get results are the ones still posting in month four, not the ones who had one thing go viral in week one. That means the plan has to survive the weeks when the business itself is on fire. Two things make that realistic. First, batch: set aside one hour every one to two weeks to draft several posts at once, pulled directly from what you actually did that stretch — a decision you made, a mistake you caught, a client question you answered more than once. Second, repurpose: one client conversation can become a post, a caption, and a follow-up email without any of it feeling recycled to the person reading it, because they only see one version. If a week is genuinely too full to create anything new, that's fine — it's still better than posting something generic just to fill the slot. A recognizable point of view survives an occasional gap. It doesn't survive going bland. ## When it feels fake, that's usually [imposter syndrome](/imposter-syndrome-women-in-business/) talking, not a signal to stop Almost every founder hits a point where putting their name and face on their own opinions feels uncomfortable, even presumptuous — "who am I to post about this." That feeling is worth naming for what it is: a well-documented pattern, not evidence you shouldn't be doing this. The fix is the same one that works for [negotiating your rate](/how-to-negotiate-your-salary-as-a-woman/) or [walking into a room full of strangers](/how-to-network-as-an-introvert-women-entrepreneurs/) — start before you feel ready, and let the evidence (the replies, the clients who say "I saw your post about X," the inbound that didn't exist six months ago) do the convincing that a pep talk can't. Give it real time before judging whether it's working. Trust compounds; it doesn't spike. Plan on three to six months of consistent posting before you see it show up as inbound leads, press interest, or partnership offers — and expect the flattest, least-motivating stretch to land right before that compounding becomes visible, which is exactly when most people quit. ## Frequently asked questions **Do I actually need a personal brand if I already have a business page?** Yes, if you're the founder — the data shows people trust individuals more than companies. A 2021 Brand Builders Group / Center for Generational Kinetics study of 1,005 Americans found 74% are more likely to trust someone with an established personal brand than a business, and Weber Shandwick's CEO Reputation Premium study found senior executives attribute 44% of their company's market value to their own personal reputation. Your business page still matters; it just isn't where the trust gets built first. **Which platform should I start on?** Whichever one your actual customers or clients already use, not the one that's trending. Pick exactly one to start — a personal brand spread thin across four platforms with no consistency loses to one platform posted on every week. Expand only once the first one has a real rhythm. **How do I build a personal brand without it feeling like bragging?** Show the work, not just the win. A launch-day screenshot is a highlight reel; the three failed versions before it, the client problem it solved, or the number it moved is a personal brand. Documenting your actual process reads as useful, not as self-promotion, and it's also easier to sustain because you don't need a win every week to have something to post. **How long does it take before a personal brand actually does anything for the business?** Plan on 3 to 6 months of consistent posting before it meaningfully moves inbound leads, press, or partnerships — trust compounds, it doesn't spike. The founders who quit early almost always quit during that flat middle stretch, right before the compounding becomes visible. --- ## Founder Burnout: The Warning Signs — and What Actually Helps URL: https://totalgirlboss.com/founder-burnout-women-entrepreneurs/ Section: Culture · Published: 2026-08-11 TL;DR: 45% of women report feeling burned out at work, per a February 2026 CNBC/SurveyMonkey survey of 3,048 women — and burnout is one of the reasons women cite for leaving a job to start a business. The catch: a business has no HR department, no PTO policy, and no manager covering for you, so the same patterns that caused job burnout — no boundaries, doing everything yourself, tying your worth to output — recreate it inside the business unless you deliberately build against them. The fix isn't working less in a vacuum; it's building recovery, delegation, and a support system into the business itself, not treating them as rewards for later. Here's a number that should complicate the "just start a business" advice a lot of burned-out women get: 45% of women report feeling burned out at work, according to a CNBC/SurveyMonkey "Women at Work" survey conducted February 10–16, 2026 among 3,048 women. Those women, when burned out, are far less satisfied with their jobs than their non-burned-out peers (80% vs. 96%) and far more likely to have already left, or be seriously considering leaving, in the past year. A meaningful share of them will leave by starting a business. Burnout is one of the reasons women cite for becoming entrepreneurs in the first place, alongside wanting more control and more flexibility. And that's where the story gets complicated, because a business doesn't come with an HR department, a manager who reassigns your work when you're underwater, or a PTO policy that exists on paper even when nobody uses it. The exact patterns that burned you out at the job — no boundaries, doing everything yourself, treating exhaustion as a badge of commitment — don't disappear when you become the boss. They just lose every guardrail that used to slow them down. This isn't an argument against starting a business. It's an argument for building recovery into it on purpose, because nothing else will. ## Founder burnout doesn't announce itself as exhaustion first The version of burnout most people picture — collapsed on the couch, unable to get up — is usually a late-stage symptom, not an early one. The earlier signs are cognitive and emotional, and they're easy to misread as a bad week rather than a pattern. Decisions that used to take five minutes start taking an hour, because you no longer trust your own judgment enough to just make the call. A client's minor complaint or a small missed deadline triggers a reaction that's out of proportion to the actual problem. Work that used to feel like yours starts to feel like something happening to you — a treadmill instead of a business you're building. None of these show up on a to-do list, which is exactly why founders tend to catch burnout only once it's already affecting the business: a client relationship handled badly, a launch pushed for the third time, a hiring decision made out of exhaustion instead of judgment. ## The trap: escaping burnout by rebuilding it from scratch If burnout was part of what pushed you out of a job, it's worth naming the trap directly: the habits that got you burned out there are usually still with you when you start something of your own, and a new business will happily let you repeat every one of them without a manager, a colleague, or an HR policy in the way. At a job, someone eventually noticed. A manager reassigned the workload, a colleague covered a sick day, a review flagged the pattern before it became a crisis. None of that infrastructure exists by default in a business you built yourself — you have to build the equivalent into it, deliberately, or every one of those old habits runs unchecked. That's the actual risk of founder burnout: not that it's more intense than job burnout, but that it has no natural circuit breaker unless you install one. ## Delegate the task you're most sure only you can do The fastest test of whether a business is actually dependent on you, or just habituated to you, is to hand off the one task you're most convinced only you can do — imperfectly, if that's what it takes — and watch what happens. Most founders discover the business survives the handoff better than expected, and that the real obstacle wasn't capability on the other end. It was a habit of control on this one. Start small if the idea of a full handoff feels impossible: one recurring task, documented once, given to someone else for a month. The point isn't efficiency. It's proof, which is the only thing that actually loosens the grip that "nobody else can do this" has on a founder's schedule. ## Recovery has to be scheduled, not left over "Take a break when things calm down" doesn't work for founders, because things reliably don't calm down — there's always a next launch, a next client, a next fire. Recovery time that depends on the business going quiet first will get postponed indefinitely, because businesses that are actually working rarely go quiet. The fix is to schedule recovery the same way you'd schedule a client call: on the calendar, with a start and end time, treated as non-negotiable rather than optional. It doesn't need to be a vacation — a protected two hours with no laptop, a day genuinely offline once a week, a hard stop time most evenings — but it needs to exist on the calendar before the week fills in around it, not after. ## Build the support system before you need it Isolation is one of the more underrated drivers of founder burnout, especially for solo founders who don't have a team absorbing part of the emotional weight of every hard decision. The same [networking instinct that builds a business's referral pipeline](/how-to-network-as-an-introvert-women-entrepreneurs/) also builds the thing that catches burnout before it's a crisis: a small group of people — a peer circle, a mentor, even one other founder — who understand the specific weight of running something where the outcome is genuinely yours to carry. This matters for the same reason [naming imposter syndrome out loud takes its power away](/imposter-syndrome-women-in-business/): burnout compounds in silence and eases the moment it's said to someone who actually understands the role, rather than someone who means well but has never carried a P&L alone. Build that relationship before you're in crisis, not while you're in it — it's much easier to reach out to a group you're already part of than to build one from nothing in a bad week. ## When it stops responding to rest Most founder burnout responds, at least partially, to real changes: delegation, scheduled recovery, a support system. If none of that moves the needle — if a weekend off, a lighter week, or a handed-off task changes nothing — or if it comes with persistent low mood, hopelessness, or physical symptoms that don't resolve, that's no longer something a better schedule fixes. That's the point to talk to a therapist or a doctor, not the point to try a new productivity system. Treating it as a discipline problem past that stage usually just delays the help that actually works. Founder burnout isn't proof you're not cut out for this. It's proof you built something with no guardrails around it yet. The founders who last aren't the ones who never hit it — they're the ones who stopped treating rest, delegation, and a support system as rewards for later and started treating them as part of how the business runs. ## Frequently asked questions **What are the early signs of founder burnout?** Before exhaustion, most founders notice a change in judgment and reaction, not just energy: decisions that used to take five minutes start taking an hour, small setbacks trigger a disproportionate reaction, and tasks you used to enjoy start feeling like they're happening to you. Physical exhaustion is usually a late-stage sign — the earlier ones are cognitive and emotional, which is why founders miss them until the business itself starts to slip. **Is founder burnout different from regular job burnout?** Yes, in one structural way: an employee's burnout is partly absorbed by the organization around them — a manager reassigns work, HR flags the pattern, PTO exists on paper. A founder has none of that built in by default. If a solo founder stops, revenue often stops too, which removes the natural circuit breaker that catches burnout in a traditional job and makes it look, from the outside, like the founder simply cares more. **How do you prevent burnout when the business genuinely can't run without you?** Start by finding the one task that's hardest to hand off and hand it off anyway, even imperfectly — that single delegation usually reveals the business was more dependent on habit than on necessity. Then build recovery time into the calendar the same way you'd schedule a client call, not as whatever's left over. And build a support system before you need it: a peer group, a mentor, or even one other founder who understands the specific isolation of the role, since most burnout compounds in isolation and eases the moment it's said out loud to someone who gets it. **When does founder burnout need more than better habits?** When it stops responding to rest. If a weekend off, a delegated task, or a lighter week doesn't move the needle at all, or if it comes with persistent low mood, hopelessness, or physical symptoms that don't resolve, that's past what a schedule change fixes — a therapist or doctor is the right next step, not another productivity system. --- ## How to Network as an Introvert: A Playbook for Entrepreneurs URL: https://totalgirlboss.com/how-to-network-as-an-introvert-women-entrepreneurs/ Section: Leadership · Published: 2026-08-08 TL;DR: Networking isn't optional small talk — most capital and opportunity still moves through warm introductions, and all-female founding teams received just 1.1% of VC dollars in 2025 per PitchBook. Introverts (roughly a third to half of any room, per Susan Cain's research) don't need to out-mingle anyone to fix that. Trade mixers for one-on-ones, prepare three specific questions before you walk in, join a small recurring group instead of a rotating crowd, and let the follow-up — where introverts have a real edge — do the relationship-building the room didn't. Female-founded companies raised a record $73.6 billion in U.S. venture capital in 2025 — 27.7% of the total, according to PitchBook's *2025 US All In* report. That headline number is doing some heavy lifting: more than $30 billion of it came from two mega-rounds (Anthropic and Scale AI). Strip those out and the share drops to 17.2%. Strip it down further, to startups founded entirely by women, and the number is 1.1%. That gap isn't only a pitch-deck problem. A large share of early deal flow — the intro that gets you the meeting before you have traction to justify it — still runs on warm introductions: a founder who knows an investor, a client who knows a client, a mentor who makes a call. Which means the network you build before you need anything from it is not a soft skill. It's infrastructure. Here's the part nobody tells introverted women: none of that requires becoming the person who works a room of 200 strangers. It requires a different system — one that plays to how you actually operate instead of copying advice built for someone who is energized by open bars and name tags. ## The room isn't the point — the room is one format Susan Cain's research on temperament puts introverts at roughly a third to half of any given group, depending on the room. If you dread the mixer, you are not an edge case being asked to adapt to the "real" way business gets done — you're a third to half of the people in that room, most of whom are also faking it. The mixer is one networking format, not the definition of networking. What it's actually optimized for is breadth: meeting the most people in the least time. If your business doesn't need breadth right now — if it needs three strong relationships instead of thirty weak ones — the mixer is the wrong tool, not a test you failed. ## Trade the mixer for the meeting The highest-leverage move available to an introvert is refusing to compete on the extrovert's turf. Instead of the room of 50, ask for the coffee with one. A direct message that says "I'd love 20 minutes to hear how you approached [specific thing they did]" outperforms a name-tag conversation almost every time, because it gives both people something a crowded room can't: focus. This isn't a workaround — it's frequently the better strategy even for extroverts. One real conversation with someone who remembers you afterward beats ten handshakes that blur together by the following week. Set a standing goal of three to five real conversations a month instead of a headcount of "people met," and the entire activity stops feeling like a performance. ## Do the homework the room won't reward Extroverted networking runs on quick, in-the-moment charisma. Introverted networking runs on preparation, and preparation is a skill you can build on your own time, before anyone's watching. Before any conversation — coffee, call, or the five minutes you'll get at an event — know three specific things about the person: what they've built, one recent thing they said publicly, and one honest reason you want to talk to them. Walk in with two or three real questions instead of an elevator pitch. People can tell the difference between a question that was written for them and one that could've been asked of anyone, and the specific version is the one that gets remembered — and referred. This is the same instinct behind [building an evidence file for imposter syndrome](/imposter-syndrome-women-in-business/): you're replacing in-the-moment performance with something you prepared in advance, so you're not relying on a skill — quick charm under pressure — that was never your strength to begin with. ## Build a rotation, not a room A recurring small group — a mastermind, a founder circle, a monthly dinner of five to eight people — does more for an introvert's network over a year than a dozen one-off mixers, for a simple reason: familiarity compounds. The tenth conversation with someone you already trust produces a referral or a real answer. The first conversation with a stranger, in a loud room, rarely does either. If one doesn't exist in your industry or city, the fix isn't to force yourself into more mixers — it's to start the group. Invite four or five people you've had one genuinely good conversation with to a recurring standing call or dinner. You'll spend less total time networking and get more out of it, because you've replaced constant cold-starts with a relationship you only have to build once. ## The follow-up is where you actually win This is the part of networking that rewards introverts specifically, and most people skip it. A room full of new contacts is worth nothing if none of them remember you by Thursday — and the follow-up doesn't require reading a room in real time. It requires having actually listened, which introverts are frequently better at than the person working the room was. Send a note within 48 hours. Reference one specific thing from the conversation — not "great meeting you," but the actual detail: the client problem they mentioned, the book they recommended, the intro they offered. Then make the next step small and specific: not "let's grab coffee sometime," but "would Tuesday at 2 or Thursday at 10 work for 20 minutes?" Vague asks die in someone's inbox. Specific ones get answered. ## When the big room is unavoidable Some events you can't route around — an industry conference, a client's holiday party, a founder summit where the people you need to meet are all in one place at one time. For those, time-box it: decide in advance that you're staying 90 minutes and leaving with three real conversations, not that you're staying until the room empties. Arrive early, when the room is smaller and quieter and easier to actually talk to people in. Have one specific person or two you want to find, and treat the rest of the event as optional. And give yourself explicit permission to leave once you've had your three conversations — a shorter night with three real connections beats a long one with thirty forgettable ones, and nobody at that event is tracking how long you stayed. ## Frequently asked questions **Do introverts actually network worse than extroverts?** Not worse — differently. Studies on networking behavior consistently find introverts build fewer but deeper connections, while extroverts build more, shallower ones. Deep, low-volume networks produce trust and referrals just as reliably as wide, high-volume ones; they just don't look like "good networking" in a crowded room, which is a presentation problem, not a results problem. **Why does networking matter this much for women entrepreneurs specifically?** Because so much of business — funding, client referrals, board seats, press — still moves through warm introductions rather than open applications. PitchBook's 2025 data shows female-founded companies raised 27.7% of VC dollars, but that figure is skewed by a handful of mega-rounds; strip those out and it drops to 17.2%, and all-female founding teams received just 1.1%. Referral networks are part of why the gap persists, which makes deliberately building one a business decision, not a social one. **What's the single highest-leverage networking habit for an introvert?** The follow-up. Introverts often out-perform extroverts here because a thoughtful, specific written note doesn't require reading a room in real time — it just requires having actually listened. Send it within 48 hours, reference one concrete detail from the conversation, and give the person an easy, low-effort way to say yes to the next step. --- ## Returnship Programs: A Real Guide to Restarting Your Career URL: https://totalgirlboss.com/returnship-programs-guide-women-career-break/ Section: Leadership · Published: 2026-08-06 TL;DR: A returnship is a paid, structured program — usually 8 to 16 weeks — built specifically to re-hire professionals after a career break, with mentorship and a track record of converting into full-time offers. Goldman Sachs launched the first one in 2008; more than 100 companies including Amazon, JPMorgan Chase, Cisco, and EY now run them. Hire rates run 50–100% depending on the program, and returning hires are retained at 70%+. Apply through the company's own returnship page, not the general careers portal, and lead your resume with what you did during the break, not around it. If you've been out of paid work for a year or more — for a kid, a parent, a health issue, a layoff, or just a pause you needed — you already know the resume problem. The gap draws attention before anything else on the page does, and a lot of applicant tracking systems are built to filter it out automatically. Harvard Business School research published in 2021 found that 43–48% of employers using an ATS screened out otherwise-qualified candidates for a resume gap of six months or more, before a human ever looked at the file. The workaround isn't hiding the gap better. It's applying somewhere that isn't screening for it in the first place — and that somewhere now has a name, a track record, and more than a hundred companies running it. ## What a returnship actually is A returnship is a paid, fixed-length program — usually 8 to 16 weeks — built specifically to re-hire professionals coming off an extended career break. You do real project work, get assigned a mentor, and go through the program alongside other people who also stepped away and came back. Crucially, most returnships are explicitly designed as a pipeline into a full-time offer, not a one-off gig: the program itself is the interview. Goldman Sachs ran the first one in 2008, growing it out of an internal conference the year before focused on why capable people — disproportionately women — weren't returning to finance after a break. The bank trademarked the name "Returnship," and the format has since been adopted, under various names, across finance, tech, consulting, and healthcare. ## It's not an internship, and it's not entry-level The distinction matters because it changes how you should apply. An internship assumes you're new to the field. A returnship assumes the opposite — that you already have the experience, and the break is the only thing standing between you and a role at or near your prior level. Programs are staffed by mid-career and senior professionals, not new grads, and the mentor relationship is built around translating your existing skill set back into the current version of the role, not teaching you the basics. That's also why your application should look different from a standard one. Lead with what you built or ran before the break and what you did during it — a certification, freelance work, board or volunteer leadership, a business you ran on the side. [Side hustles that kept skills sharp during a break](/side-hustles-for-women-that-scale/) are a legitimate line on a returnship application, not something to leave off. Programs are specifically looking for people who used the time deliberately, even if "deliberately" just meant staying current. ## Who's actually running these The list has grown well past Goldman Sachs. Amazon, JPMorgan Chase, Cisco, EY, Pfizer, and Workday all run named returnship or career-reentry programs, and organizations like iRelaunch and Path Forward work directly with employers to set them up — iRelaunch alone has helped build or expand programs at more than 100 companies and runs a community of roughly 125,000 people who've gone through a career relaunch. The practical tip: don't search the general careers page. Search "[company name] returnship" directly, since most companies list these on a standalone page separate from their main job board, and the general portal's filters often aren't built to surface a returner-specific role at all. ## The actual odds This is the part worth knowing before you apply, because it changes how you should think about the process. According to iRelaunch's tracking of the category, hire-through rates — the share of program participants who get a full-time offer at the end — run anywhere from 50% to 100%, depending on the specific program and year. That's a wide range, but even the low end beats a cold application into a black-box ATS. And the employers aren't just hiring generously and hoping: return-to-work hires are retained at rates of 70% to over 90%, which is why companies keep running these programs year over year instead of treating them as a one-time PR move. ## Naming the break helps more than hiding it For years the standard advice was to soften or bury a resume gap. That's shifting. In March 2022, LinkedIn added a formal "Career Break" option to the experience section of every profile, with specific categories — caregiving, health, layoff, full-time parenting, relocation, and others — so the gap shows up as a labeled entry instead of a blank space a recruiter has to guess about. It's a small platform change, but it reflects the same shift returnship programs are built on: naming the break directly reads as more credible than working around it, especially to a program built for exactly this situation. If [imposter syndrome](/imposter-syndrome-women-in-business/) is telling you the break makes you a weaker candidate than someone who never left, the returnship data says otherwise — these programs exist precisely because employers decided the experience you already have outweighs the time away. ## If there's no program in your industry yet Not every field has a formal returnship pipeline — they're most established in finance, tech, and consulting. If yours doesn't have one, the move is to build the equivalent yourself: reach out directly to a former manager or client for contract work that gets you back into recent, citable output, and treat the first few months back as your own informal returnship — a defined re-entry period with a specific goal, not an open-ended job search. When you do get to the negotiation stage, [know your numbers before you walk in](/how-to-negotiate-your-salary-as-a-woman/) — returning hires routinely under-ask, and the same anchoring rules apply whether or not the offer came through a formal program. The break was never the disqualifying fact you were afraid it was. It's now, at more than 100 companies, the specific thing they're hiring for. ## Frequently asked questions **What is a returnship, exactly?** A returnship is a paid, fixed-length program — typically 8 to 16 weeks — designed for professionals re-entering the workforce after a career break of a year or more, for any reason (caregiving, health, layoff, relocation, or a deliberate pause). It combines real project work with structured mentorship, and most programs are explicitly built to convert participants into full-time roles at the end. **Which companies run returnship programs?** Goldman Sachs ran the first one in 2008 and trademarked the term "Returnship." More than 100 companies now run their own versions, including Amazon, JPMorgan Chase, Cisco, EY, Pfizer, and Workday. Most post them on a dedicated returnship or "career reentry" page rather than the general careers site — search "[company name] returnship" directly rather than relying on the main job board. **Do returnships actually turn into full-time jobs?** Often, yes. According to iRelaunch, the organization that has tracked return-to-work programs since the category's founding, hire-through rates range from 50% to 100% depending on the program and year, and companies that hire through these pipelines retain those employees at rates of 70% to over 90% — above general industry retention averages. --- ## Imposter Syndrome in Business: How to Beat It URL: https://totalgirlboss.com/imposter-syndrome-women-in-business/ Section: Leadership · Published: 2026-08-04 TL;DR: 75% of executive women report experiencing imposter syndrome, per KPMG's 2020 Women's Leadership Summit report — most say they believe it hits women harder than men. The fix isn't more confidence; it's evidence. Build a running record of your wins, separate the feeling of fraudulence from the fact of your track record, and treat competence as something you build, not something you're finally handed. Say the feeling out loud to someone one step ahead of you — it loses power the moment it's not a secret. Here's the number that should end the "just be more confident" advice for good: 75% of executive women say they've personally experienced imposter syndrome, according to KPMG's 2020 Women's Leadership Summit report, which surveyed 750 high-performing women one or two steps from the C-suite. These aren't early-career women waiting to prove themselves. They're the ones who already did. If you've built a business, closed a client, or gotten the promotion and still feel like you're one bad quarter from being exposed as a fraud, you're not broken and you're not behind. You're in the majority. ## The data nobody wants to admit The KPMG report didn't just measure whether women feel this way — it measured how they explain it. 85% of the women surveyed believed imposter syndrome is more commonly experienced by women in corporate America than by men. 81% said they put more pressure on themselves not to fail than they believed their male peers did. 74% believed their male counterparts simply don't carry the same weight of self-doubt. Whether or not men privately feel the identical thing (some research suggests they do, just less often and less intensely), what matters here is the practical result: women in leadership and business are operating with an extra tax that has nothing to do with their actual competence. That tax shows up as under-charging, under-negotiating, and turning down opportunities you were qualified for six months before you finally said yes. ## Name the pattern — it's older and better-studied than you think The term "impostor phenomenon" was coined in 1978 by psychologists Pauline Clance and Suzanne Imes, who noticed a specific pattern in high-achieving women: despite clear external evidence of competence — degrees, promotions, praise, results — they remained privately convinced they were frauds who'd somehow fooled everyone, and lived in quiet fear of being "found out." That description from 1978 reads like it was written yesterday. Which is the point: this isn't a personal flaw you failed to grow out of. It's a well-documented pattern with a name, a body of research behind it, and — more usefully — known ways to interrupt it. ## Build the evidence file The instinct is to fight a feeling with a feeling — to try to talk yourself into confidence. That rarely works, because imposter syndrome isn't a logic problem you can argue your way out of in the moment. It's a discounting problem: real evidence of your competence exists, and in the moment of doubt, you're simply not weighing it. The fix is to make the evidence impossible to ignore. Keep a running, dated document — a note, a spreadsheet, whatever you'll actually use — and log concrete wins as they happen: the client who renewed without being asked, the pitch that landed, the problem only you knew how to solve, the number you hit. Not vague impressions. Specific, dated, factual entries. The point isn't to read it once and feel better. It's to have it open the next time you're about to talk yourself out of raising your rate, applying for the opportunity, or taking the meeting — so you're arguing against a feeling with a document instead of with more feelings. This matters most at exactly the moments imposter syndrome shows up to sabotage you: right before you [negotiate your salary](/how-to-negotiate-your-salary-as-a-woman/), right before you [set your rate](/how-to-price-your-services-as-a-woman-entrepreneur/), right before you pitch a client who feels one size too big. Those are also the moments where undercharging and under-asking quietly become a habit — not because the market said no, but because you talked yourself out of asking at all. ## Competence is a skill you're building, not a bar you clear once Part of what makes imposter syndrome so persistent is the assumption that competence is a finish line — that at some point you'll finally "arrive" and the doubt will stop. It doesn't work that way for anyone, at any level. Every stage of growth puts you back at the edge of your skill, which is exactly where the feeling of not-quite-qualified lives. Reframe it: feeling in over your head is not evidence you don't belong. It's the normal sensation of doing something at the edge of what you've done before — which is the only way anything gets built. The people you assume have it figured out are, in most cases, at their own edge too. They've just stopped treating the feeling as proof of anything. ## Say it out loud Imposter syndrome thrives in private. It loses a surprising amount of power the moment you say the actual sentence — "I feel like I'm about to be found out" — to someone else, especially someone a few steps ahead of you. Two things tend to happen. First, you find out almost everyone who looks confident has said some version of that sentence too, often about the exact achievement you're intimidated by. Second, saying it out loud forces you to hear how disconnected it is from the facts in front of you — which is much easier to notice in your own voice than in your own head. You don't need a therapist for this (though that helps if the feeling is constant rather than situational). A mentor, a peer a stage ahead, or a founder group where the norm is honesty over performance all work. The goal isn't sympathy. It's a reality check from someone who has your evidence file, or one just like it, and can hold it up next to the feeling. The fraud you're afraid of being caught as does not exist. The evidence already proves it. Your job is to start using it. ## Frequently asked questions **How common is imposter syndrome among women in business?** Very. KPMG's 2020 Women's Leadership Summit report surveyed 750 high-performing executive women and found 75% had personally experienced imposter syndrome at some point in their career. 85% believed it was commonly experienced by women in corporate America specifically, and 81% said they put more pressure on themselves not to fail than they believed their male counterparts did. **What's the actual definition of imposter syndrome?** Psychologists Pauline Clance and Suzanne Imes coined the term "impostor phenomenon" in 1978 to describe high-achieving people who, despite external evidence of their competence, remain convinced they're a fraud and fear being "found out." It's not a diagnosis — it's a well-documented pattern of discounting your own evidence of success. **What actually helps with imposter syndrome, beyond just "being more confident"?** Confidence is a symptom, not the fix. What works: keeping a running, dated log of concrete wins so you have evidence to argue against the feeling in the moment it shows up; naming the feeling out loud to someone who's already where you're trying to go; and treating competence as a skill you're building rather than a threshold you either have or don't. All three replace a vague feeling with something specific enough to counter. --- ## Grants for Women Over 40 Starting a Business in 2026 URL: https://totalgirlboss.com/grants-for-women-over-40-starting-a-business-2026/ Section: Money · Published: 2026-08-01 TL;DR: No major grant program is restricted to women over 40 or 50 specifically — but none of the well-known ones cap your age either. The Girlboss Foundation, which once ran an age-agnostic grant tied to the Girlboss brand, stopped awarding grants around 2019 and isn't a live option. What is live in 2026: the Amber Grant (no age or revenue floor), the Hey Helen Grant ($10K, deadline August 30, 2026), the Her Agenda Breakthrough Grant ($5K, deadline September 18, 2026, requires 1+ year in business), the Tory Burch Foundation Fellows ($75K+ revenue required — a realistic bar for a second-act founder), and free SCORE mentoring plus SBA microloans up to $50,000. Research on founder age backs this up: the average founder behind the fastest-growing U.S. startups is 45. If you searched for a grant made specifically for women over 40, or women over 50, here's the direct answer: it doesn't exist. Not from the SBA, not from a major foundation, not from any of the well-known women's business grants active in 2026. What you may be remembering is the Girlboss Foundation — the grant program tied to Sophia Amoruso's Girlboss brand, which awarded $15,000 twice a year to women entrepreneurs in design, fashion, music, and the arts. It ran from around 2014 to 2019. It isn't issuing grants anymore, and there's no indication it's coming back. If that's what you were looking for, it's a dead end — but not a discouraging one, because the real picture is better than the search result you were hoping to find. Here's the part that should change how you're thinking about this: none of the major grants active right now put an age ceiling on who can apply. You're not locked out of the Amber Grant, the Hey Helen Grant, or the Tory Burch Foundation Fellows because you're 45 or 58. The only real question is whether your business meets each program's actual requirements — revenue, time in operation, location — which have nothing to do with your age. ## The data says starting later works in your favor This isn't a consolation. It's a research finding. MIT professor Pierre Azoulay and his co-authors studied 2.7 million U.S. business founders using Census Bureau and IRS data and found that the average age of founders behind the fastest-growing 0.1% of startups is 45. Among founders whose companies went on to hire at least one employee — a meaningful marker of real traction — the average age was 42. The "20-something founder" story that dominates startup media is a statistical outlier, not the norm. AARP's most recent workforce research found that among people 50 and older who were planning a job change in 2025, 16% said they planned to start their own business — nearly double the 9% who said the same in 2024. And Forbes reported in early 2026 that women now own more than 40% of U.S. businesses, a share that grew 12% between 2022 and 2025 — nearly double the growth rate of businesses owned by men. None of this erases the real friction of starting later — mortgages, dependents, less runway for a business to find its footing. But it does mean the fear that funders see age as a liability isn't backed by how the money actually moves. ## The grants worth applying to in 2026 These are open to any eligible woman-owned business, regardless of age. The ones that fit a second-act founder especially well are the ones that reward exactly what years of work experience gives you: a track record, industry knowledge, and often a revenue base that a 23-year-old founder simply hasn't had time to build yet. **Amber Grant — WomensNet.** Three $10,000 grants awarded every month, plus a $50,000 year-end grant pulled from that year's monthly winners. No age requirement, no revenue floor — it explicitly accepts pre-revenue and idea-stage businesses. $15 application fee, with a waiver available if you can't cover it. This is the lowest-friction grant on this list and worth applying to on a rolling basis. **Hey Helen Grant.** A newer program from Visionaries: $10,000 in unrestricted cash for U.S.-based, women-owned businesses under $1 million in annual revenue. The next 2026 deadline is August 30, after which awards move to a monthly cycle. Nonbinary applicants are also welcome; nonprofits are not eligible. **Her Agenda Breakthrough Grant.** $5,000 for U.S.-based women entrepreneurs who are at least 18 and have been operating their business for at least a year. The 2026 deadline is September 18. That one-year-in-business requirement is a bar many second-act founders — who often self-fund the first year rather than launch cold — clear more easily than an earlier-stage applicant would. **Tory Burch Foundation Fellows Program.** $5,000, plus an interest-free Kiva loan and a year of structured mentorship, workshops, and a peer network. The catch — and the point — is the $75,000+ annual revenue requirement. That's a real bar, but it's also one that rewards an established, credible business over a pitch deck. If you've spent a decade in your industry before starting this business, you are exactly the applicant this program is built for. **IFundWomen Universal Application.** Free, rolling, and open to businesses at any stage. Submit one application and IFundWomen matches you to active grants from corporate partners like Visa, American Express, and adidas as they become available — no age question anywhere in the form. ## What to lean on that a younger founder doesn't have Grant reviewers are reading hundreds of applications that all say some version of "passionate first-time founder." What you're bringing instead: **A specific track record.** Twenty years in operations, sales, healthcare, education, or whatever your career was — that's not background noise, it's the reason your business plan should be more credible than a founder with zero industry experience. Say so directly in your application, with numbers. **A network you've already built.** Former colleagues, industry contacts, and clients from your prior career are a faster path to your first customers than a cold-start founder has. If a grant application asks about your go-to-market plan, this is your real answer. **The option to self-fund the early stretch.** Not every second-act founder has savings to draw on, but many do — and if you can cover the pre-revenue period yourself, you clear the "in business for one year" requirements that gate some of the higher-value grants, like the Her Agenda Breakthrough Grant, faster than someone starting from zero. ## Where to start this month Apply to the Amber Grant now — it's free of any real barrier to entry and resets monthly, so there's no reason to wait for a "perfect" month to submit. Put the Hey Helen (August 30) and Her Agenda Breakthrough Grant (September 18) deadlines directly in your calendar. If your business already clears $75,000 in revenue, add the Tory Burch Foundation Fellows application window to your fall to-do list. Pair every application with a free SCORE mentor — the nonprofit, SBA-affiliated mentoring network has no age requirement and no cost, and a second pair of eyes on your application from someone with grant-review experience often makes the difference. If you need capital beyond what grants provide, an SBA microloan (up to $50,000, issued through community-based nonprofit lenders) is typically more accessible than a bank loan for a newer business. The grant you were searching for by age doesn't exist. The ones that don't care about your age, and that reward exactly what a longer career gives you, do. Apply to those. For the full landscape of grants available to women-owned businesses at any stage, see our [complete guide to grants for women-owned businesses in 2026](/grants-for-women-owned-businesses-2026/). ## Frequently asked questions **Is there a grant specifically for women over 40 or 50?** Not from a major, currently active program. Search interest in this phrase likely traces back to the Girlboss Foundation, which awarded $15,000 grants to women entrepreneurs from around 2014 to 2019 and became associated with the broader "girlboss" search term — but it stopped issuing grants years ago and is not a live application option in 2026. The upside: while no program is built exclusively for this age group, none of the major grants (Amber Grant, Hey Helen, Her Agenda Breakthrough Grant, Tory Burch Foundation Fellows, IFundWomen) impose an upper age limit either. Your age is not a disqualifier on any of them. **Is it harder to get startup funding as an older founder?** The data doesn't support that fear. Research from MIT and the U.S. Census Bureau found the average age of founders behind the fastest-growing 0.1% of U.S. startups is 45, and the average age of founders who go on to hire employees is 42. AARP reports that among 50-plus workers planning a job change in 2025, 16% were planning to start their own business, up from 9% in 2024. Grant reviewers and lenders weigh your business plan, your numbers, and your relevant experience — not your birth year. **What grants can women over 40 or 50 actually apply for in 2026?** The Amber Grant from WomensNet (three $10,000 awards monthly, no age or revenue requirement, $15 application fee), the Hey Helen Grant ($10,000, deadline August 30, 2026, businesses under $1M in revenue), the Her Agenda Breakthrough Grant ($5,000, deadline September 18, 2026, requires at least one year in business — a bar many second-act founders already clear), the Tory Burch Foundation Fellows Program ($5,000 plus a year of mentorship, requires $75,000+ in annual revenue), and IFundWomen's free Universal Application, which matches you to corporate-partner grants on a rolling basis. **What funding options exist besides grants for women starting a business later in life?** SCORE, a nonprofit partner of the Small Business Administration, offers free one-on-one mentoring from experienced business volunteers — no age restriction, no cost. The SBA microloan program provides up to $50,000 in financing through community-based nonprofit lenders, often with more flexible underwriting than a traditional bank loan. Both are worth pairing with grant applications rather than treating as a fallback. --- ## WBENC Certification: Cost, Eligibility, and Worth in 2026 URL: https://totalgirlboss.com/wbenc-certification-women-owned-business-guide-2026/ Section: Money · Published: 2026-07-30 TL;DR: WBENC (Women's Business Enterprise National Council) is the largest third-party certifier of women-owned businesses in the U.S., recognized by 500+ corporations — mostly Fortune 500 — for supplier diversity programs. To qualify, your business must be at least 51% women-owned with women as the principal decision-makers, documented in your governing agreements. The annual fee is tiered by revenue, from $350 (under $1M) to $1,250 ($50M+), and covers both application and yearly recertification. It's a different program from the SBA's WOSB certification, which is free but limited to federal contracting — WBENC can process both together. Certification is worth it if your customers or target customers are large corporations or government agencies with formal supplier diversity spend; it's not worth it if you sell mostly direct-to-consumer or to other small businesses. There is a specific kind of frustration in being a women-owned business that's real, growing, and completely invisible to the corporations that could become your biggest customers. You check the "woman-owned" box on a vendor form. Nobody verifies it. Nobody cares. The RFP goes to whoever the procurement team already knows. WBENC certification exists to fix exactly that problem — by replacing your self-reported checkbox with a credential that over 500 corporations, most of them Fortune 500, have already agreed to trust. It is not a grant, a loan, or free money. It is closer to a professional license: a one-time proof, renewed annually, that opens doors that stay closed to unverified businesses. It's also not automatic, not instant, and not free. Here's exactly what it is, what it costs, and how to tell if it's worth your time before you start the application. ## What WBENC certification actually is The Women's Business Enterprise National Council is the largest third-party certifier of women-owned businesses in the United States. More than 18,000 businesses currently hold the certification, and over 500 corporations — the majority of them Fortune 500 — use WBENC status as a qualifying credential in their supplier diversity programs. Supplier diversity programs are real budget lines, not PR gestures. Large corporations set procurement targets for spending with certified diverse-owned vendors, and their sourcing teams actively search certification directories to fill those targets. Being certified doesn't guarantee a contract — it gets your business in front of buyers who are specifically looking for you. WBENC certification is administered regionally through 14 Regional Partner Organizations (RPOs) around the country, which handle the application review and site visits for businesses in their territory. ## Who's actually eligible The eligibility bar is narrower than most founders expect. To qualify, your business must be: - **At least 51% owned** by one or more women who are U.S. citizens or legal resident permanent aliens - **Controlled and operated** by the woman/women owner(s) — meaning they hold the highest officer position, make the day-to-day and long-term decisions, and aren't a figurehead for a business actually run by someone else - **Documented as such** in your governing paperwork — your operating agreement, bylaws, or partnership agreement need to clearly show unrestricted control by the woman owner. If your formation documents don't reflect that (a common issue for businesses that raised outside capital or added partners after formation), you'll need to amend them before applying There's no revenue floor and no size cap — a two-person LLC and a 200-person company can both apply. That's the key difference from the federal WOSB program, which only covers businesses that meet SBA small-business size standards. (If your business structure itself is still an open question, work through [LLC vs. sole proprietorship](/llc-vs-sole-proprietorship-women-entrepreneurs/) first — WBENC needs clean governing documents, and a sole proprietorship doesn't produce the operating agreement certifiers are looking for.) ## What it costs in 2026 WBENC charges a single annual fee that covers both your initial application and each year's recertification, based on your business's gross annual revenue: | Annual gross revenue | Fee | |---|---| | Under $1 million | $350 | | $1 million – $5 million | $500 | | $5 million – $10 million | $750 | | $10 million – $50 million | $1,000 | | $50 million and over | $1,250 | Recertification uses the same fee schedule, based on your most recent federal tax return. Effective July 1, 2026, a 3% processing fee applies if you pay by credit card — worth knowing before you submit. If cost is the barrier, ask your Regional Partner Organization directly: some offer fee assistance or scholarships for first-time applicants under $500,000 in revenue, and it's a five-minute email to find out if yours does. ## How the application actually works Certification runs through WBENC's online portal, WBENCLink2.0. You'll create a profile, complete the business information sections, and upload documentation covering ownership, financial structure, personnel, and governance — think formation documents, ownership records, resumes of key leadership, and financial statements. After submission, expect two review stages: 1. **Completeness review** by RPO staff — typically 2 to 4 weeks, checking that your documentation is complete and consistent 2. **Certification committee review** — an anonymous volunteer committee evaluates the full application, generally taking about 30 days Budget six to eight weeks from submission to decision, and have your formation documents, cap table, and financials organized before you start — incomplete submissions are the single biggest cause of delay. ## WBENC vs. WOSB: the confusion almost everyone has These two credentials get conflated constantly, and the difference matters for what you're actually trying to win. **WOSB (Women-Owned Small Business)** is a free certification issued directly by the SBA. It only unlocks eligibility for the federal WOSB Contracting Program — it does nothing for state, county, city, transportation-agency, or private-sector corporate contracts, and it's capped to businesses meeting SBA small-business size standards for their industry. **WBENC** has no size cap and is the credential private-sector corporations actually recognize in their supplier diversity scorecards. If your growth plan runs through corporate vendor relationships rather than federal contracts, WBENC is the one that matters. The good news: you don't have to choose. WBENC processes WOSB certification as a complimentary part of its standard application, so most founders apply for both at once through their regional WBENC office. If you're granted WOSB status this way, there's one more step — submitting your WBENC-issued WOSB certificate into the SBA's MySBA Certifications system — to actually participate in federal WOSB contracting opportunities. ## Is it actually worth it for your business? Certification is a tool for a specific job: winning corporate and government supplier relationships. It is not a growth strategy on its own, and it's a genuinely bad use of $350–$1,250 and six weeks of paperwork if that's not who you're selling to. **It's likely worth it if:** - Your customers are, or realistically could be, large corporations, hospital systems, universities, or government agencies with named supplier diversity programs — retail, manufacturing, IT services, professional services, marketing, construction subcontracting, and logistics all run large formal programs - You've confirmed at least one or two target buyers actually have a supplier diversity team (check their vendor or "doing business with us" page — most publish it) - You have the bandwidth to show up to matchmaking events and actually pursue the relationships certification opens, not just collect the badge **It's probably not worth it yet if:** - You sell direct-to-consumer, through marketplaces, or primarily to other small businesses - You're pre-revenue or your formation documents don't currently show unrestricted control by the woman owner — fix the paperwork first, then apply - You don't have anyone on your team who can spend time on corporate business-development relationships once you're certified If corporate contracting is a few years off, [grants for women-owned businesses](/grants-for-women-owned-businesses-2026/) are the faster near-term source of non-dilutive capital — and [strong business credit](/how-to-build-business-credit-women-entrepreneurs/) will matter for both paths regardless. The certification badge does nothing by itself. It's the corporate relationships you build after certification — at WBENC regional matchmaking events, national conferences, and one-on-one supplier meetings — that turn a credential into revenue. If you're not going to invest in that follow-through, the badge alone isn't worth the fee. ## How to prepare before you apply Do these before you open WBENCLink2.0, and the six-to-eight-week timeline gets meaningfully shorter: 1. **Read your operating agreement or bylaws now.** If they don't clearly show a woman owner holding unrestricted control, amend them before you apply — this is the single most common reason applications stall. 2. **Confirm your target buyers have supplier diversity programs.** A quick search of "[company name] supplier diversity" tells you in minutes whether certification will actually be visible to the customers you want. 3. **Gather your financials and ownership records early.** Tax returns, cap table, formation documents — have them ready rather than scrambling once the completeness review flags a gap. 4. **Ask about WOSB at the same time.** If federal contracting is on your roadmap too, request WOSB processing alongside your WBENC application — it's the same paperwork, done once. Certification is a real investment of time and a modest amount of money, and it's not the right move for every founder. But for a woman-owned business built to sell into corporate or government supply chains, it's one of the highest-leverage credentials available — a verified answer, instead of a checkbox, to the question of who actually owns your business. ## Frequently asked questions **What is WBENC certification?** WBENC (Women's Business Enterprise National Council) is the largest third-party certifier of women-owned businesses in the United States. More than 18,000 businesses hold WBENC certification, and over 500 corporations — most of them Fortune 500 — use it as a qualifying credential in their supplier diversity programs. Certification signals to corporate and government buyers that your ownership and control have been independently verified, not just self-reported. **How much does WBENC certification cost in 2026?** WBENC charges one annual fee that covers both the initial application and yearly recertification, tiered by your business's gross annual revenue: $350 for under $1 million, $500 for $1–5 million, $750 for $5–10 million, $1,000 for $10–50 million, and $1,250 for $50 million and over. Effective July 1, 2026, a 3% processing fee applies to applications paid by credit card. Some regional partner organizations offer fee assistance for first-time applicants under $500,000 in revenue. **What's the difference between WBENC and WOSB certification?** WOSB (Women-Owned Small Business) is a free certification run directly by the SBA, but it only applies to federal government contracting and only to businesses that meet SBA small-business size standards — it doesn't help with state, local, or private-sector corporate contracts. WBENC has no size cap and is the credential corporations recognize for private-sector supplier diversity programs. WBENC also processes WOSB certification as part of its standard application at no extra charge, so most founders apply for both at once through a WBENC regional partner organization. **Is WBENC certification worth it for a small business?** It depends entirely on who buys from you. If your customers are — or could be — large corporations or government agencies with formal supplier diversity programs (retail, manufacturing, professional services, tech vendors, construction subcontracting), certification opens a door that self-reporting your ownership never will. If you sell direct-to-consumer, to other small businesses, or in an industry without formal supplier diversity spend, the certification fee and paperwork likely won't pay for themselves. Confirm at least one or two target buyers actually have a supplier diversity program before you apply. --- ## Tax Write-Offs Every Self-Employed Woman Should Claim in 2026 URL: https://totalgirlboss.com/tax-write-offs-self-employed-women-2026/ Section: Money · Published: 2026-07-28 TL;DR: Self-employed women can deduct: 50% of self-employment taxes paid; home office expenses (simplified method: $5 per square foot, up to $1,500/year); 100% of self-employed health insurance premiums; retirement contributions to a SEP IRA or Solo 401(k); the business-use portion of phone and internet; all legitimate business expenses (software, tools, subscriptions, marketing); 50% of business meal costs; professional development (courses, coaching, conferences); and professional services (accounting, legal). Most self-employed women leave thousands on the table each year by not claiming the full set. There is a specific kind of overpayment that doesn't feel like overpayment because nobody ever points it out: the taxes self-employed women pay on income they had every legal right to shelter. Salaried employees get automatic payroll deductions, employer benefits, and sometimes a financial advisor buried in the HR portal. Self-employed women get a blank Schedule C and the assumption that they'll figure it out. Most don't — not because the rules are complicated, but because nobody walks through them plainly. The result is thousands of dollars flowing to the IRS each year that should have stayed in the business. Here is every deduction you are entitled to in 2026, and why each one matters. ## The self-employment tax deduction Before anything else, this one. If you're self-employed, you pay both the employee and employer portions of Social Security and Medicare taxes — 15.3% on your net earnings, compared to the 7.65% a salaried employee pays. The IRS lets you deduct 50% of the self-employment taxes you paid as an adjustment to income. This comes off your adjusted gross income before you even start on business expenses. It's automatic if you're paying SE taxes, but only if you claim it. Take it every year. ## Home office deduction If you have a space in your home used regularly and exclusively for business, you can deduct it. Two methods: **Simplified method:** Multiply your office's square footage (up to 300 sq ft) by $5. Maximum deduction: $1,500 per year. No documentation beyond knowing your square footage. **Actual expense method:** Calculate the percentage of your home's total square footage that your office occupies. Apply that percentage to all qualifying home costs — rent or mortgage interest, utilities, insurance, internet, repairs. This method typically produces a larger deduction but requires receipts and records. The exclusivity requirement is strict. A dedicated office with a door qualifies. A kitchen table where you also eat dinner does not. ## Self-employed health insurance premiums This is the deduction most self-employed women either don't know about or underuse. If you pay health insurance premiums out of pocket — not through a spouse's employer plan — you can deduct 100% of those premiums for yourself, your spouse, and your dependents. Medical, dental, and vision all qualify. Qualified long-term care premiums do as well. Two conditions: your business must have generated a net profit for the year, and you must not have been eligible to enroll in an employer-sponsored plan through another job or a spouse's employer. This deduction comes off your adjusted gross income on Schedule 1 of your Form 1040. That matters because it reduces your AGI — which affects other income-based calculations — not just your taxable income. For a self-employed woman paying $500 a month in premiums, that's $6,000 in deductible expenses. It's significant, and it belongs to you. ## Retirement contributions Every dollar you contribute to a qualifying retirement account reduces your taxable income dollar for dollar. A SEP IRA lets you contribute up to 25% of your net self-employment income (up to $72,000 in 2026). A Solo 401(k) has the same overall ceiling and additional flexibility at lower income levels. Both give you a substantial deduction today while building your financial security for later. If you haven't opened a retirement account for your business yet, the tax deduction is a compelling argument to start. For the full breakdown of which account to open first, see our guide to retirement accounts for self-employed women. ## Business expenses: what qualifies The IRS rule for business expenses is that they must be "ordinary and necessary" — common for your type of business and helpful for operating it. Within that standard, the range is broader than most self-employed women realize: **Software and subscriptions:** Project management tools, design software, accounting platforms, CRM systems, email marketing tools, social scheduling apps — all deductible if used for business. **Website and domain costs:** Hosting, domain registration, website maintenance, and design fees are fully deductible. **Marketing and advertising:** Social media ads, email campaigns, promotional materials, branded content, contractor fees for marketing work — all qualify. **Office supplies:** Paper, notebooks, pens, printer ink, postage, anything purchased to operate your workspace. **Professional services:** Accounting fees, bookkeeping, legal consultations, business coaching — deductible as ordinary business expenses. **Business banking and merchant fees:** Monthly bank account fees, credit card processing fees, and payment platform fees are business expenses. A business credit card used exclusively for business makes this documentation nearly automatic. ## Phone and internet The business-use percentage of your phone and internet bills is deductible. If 60% of your phone usage is business — client calls, email, platforms, communication — then 60% of the monthly bill is a business expense. Most self-employed women find their business use is higher than they initially estimate once they count everything: client communication, social media management, project tools, and cloud-based work all count. Use a consistent, defensible percentage and apply it every month. ## Business travel When you travel to meet clients, attend conferences, visit vendors, or conduct market research, those costs are deductible. Qualifying expenses include airfare, hotels, ground transportation, and meals during the trip. Vehicle use for business travel can be deducted at the IRS standard mileage rate (updated annually; check IRS.gov for the current figure) or through the actual expense method. Keep a mileage log with dates, destinations, and business purposes — the IRS requires it. For trips that combine business and personal time, only the business-purpose days and directly associated costs are deductible. A conference plus a personal extension? The conference portion qualifies; the vacation days don't. ## Professional development Courses, conferences, workshops, certifications, business books, trade publications, and coaching fees are deductible — as long as they relate to your current work or skills. Training for a new, unrelated career does not qualify. Professional development is one of the most underused deductions for self-employed women. Online courses, annual conferences, and coaching fees accumulate to real money, and every dollar is a business expense. ## Client and business meals Business meals with clients, prospects, vendors, or partners are 50% deductible. The meal must have a genuine business purpose, and that purpose should be documented at the time — who attended and what was discussed. The practical approach: note the attendees and business topic on the receipt the same day. That's what transforms a restaurant charge into a tax deduction. ## What the women who overpay do differently **They skip small deductions.** A $30-a-month software subscription is $360 a year. Twenty subscriptions is $7,200. Small deductions compound quickly. **They use personal accounts for business expenses.** Commingled accounts make it nearly impossible to separate costs at tax time and invite scrutiny. A dedicated business bank account and a business credit card are the two simplest compliance moves available. **They estimate without records.** The IRS requires documentation for business deductions. "I think I spent about that amount" is not documentation. Receipts, bank statements, and invoices are. **They don't work with a CPA.** A qualified accountant who works with self-employed clients will almost always find deductions you'd have missed and save more than the fee. This is not where DIY pays off. ## The bottom line Self-employment taxes are real and significant. But the tax code gives self-employed women a corresponding set of deductions that — when fully claimed — substantially reduce that liability. The SE tax deduction, home office, health insurance premiums, retirement contributions, and ordinary business expenses are not aggressive strategies. They are the baseline of what you are owed. The only question is whether you claim them. --- ## Frequently asked questions **What tax deductions can self-employed women take in 2026?** Self-employed women can deduct: 50% of self-employment taxes paid, home office expenses (simplified method: $5 per square foot up to 300 sq ft), 100% of self-employed health insurance premiums, retirement contributions to a SEP IRA or Solo 401(k), the business-use portion of phone and internet, all ordinary and necessary business expenses (software, subscriptions, tools, marketing, advertising), 50% of business meal costs, professional development (courses, conferences, books, coaching), and professional services including accounting and legal fees. **How does the home office deduction work for self-employed women?** There are two methods. The simplified method lets you deduct $5 per square foot of your home office, up to a maximum of 300 square feet — a maximum deduction of $1,500 per year. The actual expense method deducts the percentage of all home expenses (rent, utilities, insurance, internet) proportional to your office's share of your home's square footage. The actual method often yields a larger deduction but requires more documentation. Your home office must be used regularly and exclusively for business — a desk in your bedroom where you also sleep does not qualify. **Can self-employed women deduct health insurance premiums?** Yes — and this is one of the most valuable deductions available to self-employed women. You can deduct 100% of health insurance premiums for yourself, your spouse, and your dependents. This includes medical, dental, and vision insurance, as well as qualified long-term care premiums. The deduction applies as long as your business generated a net profit and you were not eligible to enroll in an employer-sponsored plan through a spouse or other employer. It is taken on Schedule 1 of your Form 1040 — not Schedule C — which means it reduces your adjusted gross income, not just your taxable income. **What counts as a legitimate business expense for self-employed women?** The IRS standard is "ordinary and necessary" — the expense must be common for your type of business and helpful for conducting it. Examples include software subscriptions (design tools, project management, accounting software), domain names and website hosting, professional services (accountants, bookkeepers, attorneys), marketing and advertising, business-related education, trade publications and business books, office supplies, and business travel. Expenses must be for business purposes only. When an expense has both personal and business components — like a cell phone — only the business-use percentage is deductible. --- ## How to Price Your Services as a Woman Entrepreneur URL: https://totalgirlboss.com/how-to-price-your-services-as-a-woman-entrepreneur/ Section: Money · Published: 2026-07-25 TL;DR: Most women service business owners undercharge by 30–50% because they skip the math. The fix: (1) calculate your floor rate — annual income target + taxes + business expenses, divided by real billable hours (900–1,200/year, not 2,080). (2) Check market rates and position yourself in the top third. (3) Move toward value-based pricing by anchoring to outcomes, not time. Raise rates annually. Most clients who are a good fit will stay. Here is the pricing mistake that costs women service business owners more money than almost anything else: They set a rate before they do the math. They look at what competitors charge. They think about what sounds reasonable to say out loud in a sales call. They worry about being too expensive. They land on a number that feels safe — and then discover, six months in, that safe was 30 to 50 percent below what they actually needed to cover taxes, business costs, unpaid admin time, and slow months. The undercharging epidemic among women entrepreneurs is real. But it's not primarily a confidence problem. It's a math problem. Fix the math, and the confidence follows. ## The floor rate formula Most rates are set backward. People start with what feels acceptable and work backward to justify it. The right direction is the opposite: start with what you need, and build outward to what you charge. **Annual income target.** This is what you want to take home, after taxes. Not revenue. Not gross. What hits your bank account and stays there. Be honest with yourself. If you need $75,000 a year to live your life well, start there. **Tax load.** Self-employment taxes (Social Security and Medicare, currently 15.3% of net self-employment income) plus federal income tax plus state income tax typically consume 30–35% of gross self-employment income for most brackets. Add this to your income target. If you want $75,000 in your pocket, you need to gross roughly $107,000–$115,000 before taxes, depending on your state. **Business expenses.** Software, equipment, insurance, professional development, accounting, marketing tools, subscriptions. If you haven't tracked these, pull three months of statements and annualize. Most solo service businesses spend $3,000–$15,000 per year here. **Annual revenue requirement = income target + taxes + business expenses.** **Billable hours.** Here is where almost everyone goes wrong. They calculate based on 40 hours a week, 52 weeks a year — 2,080 hours. They do not bill 2,080 hours. A solo operator realistically bills 900 to 1,200 hours per year. The rest goes to marketing, sales calls, client management, admin, professional development, sick days, and the weeks when the pipeline goes quiet. **Floor rate = annual revenue requirement ÷ annual billable hours.** If you need $100,000 in gross revenue and you bill 1,000 hours, your floor rate is $100 per hour. That number is not your rate — it's the floor below which you are losing money on every hour you work. Your rate starts at the floor and moves up from there. ## Why market rates don't replace the math Looking at what competitors charge is useful, but only after you've done your own numbers. Here's why: if a competitor set their rate by looking at other competitors, and those competitors did the same, you may be anchoring to a figure that has been passed around an industry for years without anyone verifying it covers actual costs. Use market rates as a calibration check, not a starting point. Once you know your floor, verify you're priced in the top third of your market range — not the middle, and not the bottom. The bottom of any market rate range is where the most overworked and underpaid practitioners live. The top is where the people with the strongest results and least availability live. That is where you want to be. If your floor rate is above the market ceiling, that's critical information: it means you need to raise your income expectations, cut your costs, or shift into a higher-value market. Billing 1,000 hours at $100 generates the same revenue as billing 500 hours at $200. The path to real financial freedom in a service business is almost always fewer clients paying more — not more hours worked at the same rate. ## The shift to value-based pricing Hourly rates have a hard ceiling: there are only so many hours in a day. The unlock that changes the math for service business owners is pricing based on outcomes rather than time. Value-based pricing means anchoring your fee to what the work is worth to the client, not how long it takes you to do it. A few examples of what this looks like in practice: A social media manager charging $75 per hour for 10 hours of monthly work earns $750 per client per month. Packaged as "full social media management — 4 posts per week, strategy, and monthly reporting" priced at $2,000 per month, the same work earns 2.7x more — and the client experience often feels more premium, not less, because they're buying a result rather than a clock. A business coach charging $200 per hour earns $1,600 for eight sessions. The same coach offering a "90-day business growth intensive" at $4,500 earns 2.8x more. The client isn't buying hours; they're buying a transformation. A copywriter who prices per word or per hour undersells dramatically relative to one who prices a sales page at $3,000–$7,000 flat, because the client is paying for the conversions the page will drive, not the word count. You don't have to abandon hourly billing entirely. But moving even one or two of your core services to a fixed-price package model — defined scope, defined outcome, defined price — changes the financial picture meaningfully. Package pricing also reduces scope creep, shortens the sales conversation, and shifts the client relationship from "how long will this take?" to "what result am I getting?" ## Raising your rates: when and how The first rate increase is the hardest. After that, it becomes a standard business practice — like updating your software or reviewing your contracts. Here is when to do it: **When you're regularly booked out.** If you're turning away work or have a waitlist, demand has outpaced supply. That's the definition of a market signal for higher prices. **When you've held the same rate for more than a year.** Your costs have risen. If your rates haven't, your real income has gone down in purchasing power terms. **When you feel resentment in client relationships.** Resentment in a service business is almost always a pricing signal. If you're dreading work you used to enjoy, it's often because the rate has dropped below what the work is worth to you. **Once a year, as a scheduled practice.** The cleanest version of a rate increase isn't reactive — it's systematic. Review and adjust every January, and give current clients 30 days' notice before the new rate takes effect. ### The rate increase email Here is the entire email. Nothing more is needed: > Hi [Name], > > I want to let you know that my rates are increasing, effective [date]. Going forward, [service] will be priced at [new rate]. Projects already in progress will continue at our current rate through completion. > > I've valued working with you and hope to continue. Please let me know if you have any questions. You do not need to justify the number, explain your rising costs, or pre-apologize. Businesses raise their prices. Clients expect it. The ones who are a good fit will stay; the ones who leave over a rate adjustment were likely to become difficult clients regardless of price. ## The hidden cost of undercharging Beyond the lost revenue, undercharging has a second consequence that's harder to see: it attracts the wrong clients. Clients who expect the lowest price tend to be the most demanding. They push on scope, question every line item, and treat the relationship as a negotiation rather than a partnership. Clients who pay well tend to be the opposite — they have resources, they understand that quality costs something, and they tend to be genuinely enjoyable to work with. Your pricing filters your client roster. A higher rate won't price every good client out — it will price the high-maintenance ones out, and make room for clients whose expectations actually match yours. That is a feature, not a risk. Do the math. Set the floor. Price above it. Raise it every year. The clients worth having will be there. ## Frequently asked questions **Why do women tend to undercharge for their services?** The most common cause isn't lack of confidence — it's skipping the math. Most women who undercharge set rates based on what sounds acceptable, what a client mentioned, or what a competitor charges, without calculating their actual cost floor. When you factor in taxes, business expenses, unpaid admin time, sick days, and slow months, a rate that felt reasonable often turns out to be below break-even. The fix is building your rate from the floor up, not backward from what feels safe to say out loud. **How do I calculate what to charge for my services?** Start with your annual income target — what you want to take home after taxes. Add 30–35% for self-employment taxes (Social Security + Medicare + federal + state). Add your annual business expenses (software, equipment, professional development, insurance). Then estimate your real billable hours per year — typically 900–1,200 hours for a solo operator working 40-hour weeks, because roughly half your time goes to admin, marketing, client management, and business development. Divide your total annual costs by your billable hours. That number is your floor, not your rate. Your rate starts there and goes up based on market positioning and value delivered. **When should I raise my rates?** Raise your rates when your roster is at or near capacity, when the cost of living has risen and your rates haven't, when you're regularly booked out 2–4 weeks, and once a year as a baseline practice. The fact that some clients might leave is not a reason to stay underpriced — some will leave, some will stay, and the gap is typically filled by clients who value your work at the new rate. A rate increase requires nothing more than professional notice and a new invoice. **What is value-based pricing and is it better than hourly rates?** Value-based pricing means charging based on the outcome you deliver rather than the hours you spend. A copywriter who charges $150/hour for a sales page that takes four hours earns $600. The same page might drive $50,000 in product sales for the client — value-based pricing anchors the fee to business impact, often making the project $2,500–$7,500 regardless of hours. Not every service lends itself to clean value-based pricing, but moving in that direction almost always results in higher rates for the same work. --- ## Retirement Accounts for Self-Employed Women: What to Open First URL: https://totalgirlboss.com/retirement-accounts-self-employed-women-2026/ Section: Money · Published: 2026-07-23 TL;DR: Self-employed women have four main retirement account options in 2026: SEP IRA (up to $72,000, simplest to open), Solo 401(k) (up to $72,000, best for maximizing contributions at mid-range income), Roth IRA (after-tax, income-limited, good for tax diversification), and SIMPLE IRA (if you have employees). Most solo founders should start with either a SEP IRA or Solo 401(k) — the right one depends on how much of your income you want to shelter. Every dollar you contribute reduces your taxable income, which means the IRS is effectively subsidizing your retirement. Here is what nobody told you when you went out on your own: the moment you became self-employed, retirement planning became entirely your problem. No HR department. No automatic 401(k) enrollment. No employer match. No one setting aside money on your behalf while you focus on the business. If you don't set it up, it doesn't happen — and the default for too many women entrepreneurs is to tell themselves they'll figure it out later, when the business is more stable. The business is never quite stable enough. Later becomes never. And in the meantime, the IRS collects taxes on income that could have been sheltered. Here is what the data says about where that leads: women retire with approximately 39% less in savings than men do. Women are more likely than men — 50% versus 47% — to have no retirement savings at all. The gap is worst for self-employed women, who don't have access to the payroll-deducted, employer-matched systems that at least nudge salaried workers toward saving. The good news is that the accounts available to self-employed women are genuinely excellent. The limits are high, the tax benefits are real, and getting started takes less than an hour. Here is exactly what your options are in 2026. ## The accounts available to self-employed women ### SEP IRA — the simplest place to start **2026 contribution limit:** Up to $72,000, or 25% of net self-employment compensation, whichever is lower **Tax treatment:** Pre-tax contributions, taxed at withdrawal in retirement **Best for:** Solo founders who want a simple setup and meaningful contribution room **Filing requirement:** None (unless you hire employees) A SEP — Simplified Employee Pension — is exactly what the name promises: the simplest path to meaningful retirement contributions for self-employed people. You open one with any major brokerage (Fidelity, Vanguard, Schwab), make a contribution, and deduct it from your taxable income. That's the whole thing. The contribution ceiling of $72,000 sounds enormous — and it is — but the 25% rule limits how much most self-employed people can actually contribute. The way the IRS calculates self-employment income for SEP IRA purposes (after deducting half of your self-employment tax) means the effective contribution rate is closer to 20% of your gross net profit. At $100,000 in net self-employment income, you can contribute roughly $18,587. At $200,000, roughly $37,174. You need net self-employment income of about $360,000 to reach the $72,000 cap. Every dollar you contribute comes directly off your taxable income. If you're in the 22% federal tax bracket, a $10,000 SEP IRA contribution saves you $2,200 in federal taxes this year, plus state income taxes if applicable. The IRS is effectively co-investing in your retirement. If you have employees, be aware: a SEP IRA requires you to contribute the same percentage of compensation for all eligible employees as you contribute for yourself. For solo operators, this doesn't matter. If you have W-2 employees, this distinction changes the math significantly — talk to a CPA before opening one. ### Solo 401(k) — best for higher contributions at mid-range income **2026 contribution limit:** Up to $72,000 ($80,000 if age 50+; $83,250 for ages 60–63 under SECURE 2.0) **Employee deferral component:** Up to $24,500 (under 50), $32,500 (age 50+) **Tax treatment:** Pre-tax traditional contributions, or Roth option if the plan permits **Best for:** Solo founders who want to maximize contributions and are comfortable with slightly more paperwork **Filing requirement:** Annual Form 5500-EZ once plan assets exceed $250,000 A Solo 401(k) — also called an Individual 401(k) or Self-Employed 401(k) — is the account that lets you wear two hats at once: employer and employee. As the employee, you can defer up to $24,500 of your income into the account in 2026. As the employer, you can contribute up to 25% of your net self-employment compensation on top of that. This two-layer structure is why the Solo 401(k) outperforms the SEP IRA at lower income levels. At $60,000 in net self-employment income, a SEP IRA would allow roughly $11,152. A Solo 401(k) would allow that same employer contribution plus up to $24,500 in employee deferral — potentially reaching $35,000+ total, depending on your income. The Solo 401(k) wins by a wide margin for founders in the $50,000–$150,000 income range who want to shelter as much as possible. The tradeoffs are real. Setting up a Solo 401(k) requires more paperwork than a SEP IRA. If your plan assets exceed $250,000, you must file Form 5500-EZ with the IRS annually. And Solo 401(k) plans are only available to businesses with no full-time employees other than the owner and their spouse. Many Solo 401(k) plans also offer a Roth option — meaning you can make after-tax employee deferrals that grow and withdraw tax-free. If you expect to be in a higher tax bracket in retirement than you are today, the Roth Solo 401(k) option is worth modeling. ### Roth IRA — tax-free growth, income limits apply **2026 contribution limit:** $7,500 (under age 50), $8,600 (age 50+) **Tax treatment:** After-tax contributions; tax-free growth and qualified withdrawals **Best for:** Founders earlier in their career, or those who want tax diversification **Income limit:** Contributions begin phasing out above $150,000 for single filers in 2026 A Roth IRA is the mirror image of a SEP IRA or traditional Solo 401(k). You pay taxes on the money before it goes in — no immediate deduction — but everything inside the account grows tax-free and comes out tax-free in retirement. If your income is on the lower end today but you expect it to rise significantly, a Roth IRA locks in your current tax rate on those contributions. The contribution limits are lower than a SEP IRA or Solo 401(k), but a Roth IRA is entirely separate — you can fund both a SEP IRA and a Roth IRA in the same year. This is a form of tax diversification: some money sheltered today (pre-tax), some money taxed today (Roth), which gives you options about which account to draw from depending on your tax situation when you retire. The income limit is the main constraint. Single filers with modified adjusted gross income above $150,000 begin to see their Roth contribution limit phase out, and it disappears entirely above $165,000 (2026 figures; confirm with IRS.gov as these adjust annually). At higher income levels, there's a workaround — the "backdoor Roth IRA" — but that strategy involves nuances worth reviewing with a CPA before executing. ### SIMPLE IRA — only if you have employees **2026 contribution limit:** $17,600 employee deferral; employers must contribute either a 2% non-elective contribution or a 3% match **Best for:** Self-employed women with a small number of W-2 employees If you have employees and want to offer them a retirement benefit, the SIMPLE IRA is designed for businesses with 100 or fewer employees. It's less complex than a full 401(k) plan but requires employer contributions on behalf of employees. For solo operators, the SEP IRA and Solo 401(k) are better choices — don't open a SIMPLE IRA just for yourself. ## Which one should you open first? The answer depends on two things: how simple you want it, and how much you want to contribute this year. **Open a SEP IRA if:** You want the fastest path to meaningful contributions with zero administrative overhead. You can open one at any brokerage in under an hour and contribute up to April 15 of the following year (including extensions). It is the default choice for founders who want to solve retirement today and revisit optimization later. **Open a Solo 401(k) if:** You want to maximize contributions on a lower self-employment income, or you want the option to make Roth contributions inside the account. Note that the Solo 401(k) must be established by December 31 of the tax year you want to contribute for — unlike the SEP IRA, you cannot open it retroactively. Plan ahead. **Add a Roth IRA regardless:** If your income falls under the phase-out threshold, a Roth IRA is worth funding every year in addition to your primary pre-tax account. The tax-free growth over decades is significant, and the flexibility to withdraw contributions (not gains) penalty-free before retirement provides a form of financial buffer most retirement accounts don't. ## The tax math that makes this urgent This is the part most women miss until a CPA shows them the numbers. Self-employment income is taxed at two levels: regular income tax and self-employment tax (15.3% on the first $176,100 of net self-employment income in 2026, dropping to 2.9% above that). Retirement contributions to a SEP IRA or traditional Solo 401(k) reduce only your income tax — not your self-employment tax — but that reduction is still significant. A woman netting $80,000 in self-employment income who contributes $15,000 to a SEP IRA reduces her taxable income to $65,000. If she's in the 22% federal bracket, that's $3,300 in federal taxes saved. In California or New York, state income tax savings push that figure higher. Over a career, the tax savings alone — compounded alongside the investment returns — make retirement contributions one of the highest-ROI financial moves available to any self-employed person. ## The one thing that actually stops women from doing this It's not confusion about the accounts. It's the belief that there's not enough left over after business expenses and taxes. Here is the reframe: the contribution comes before taxes, not after. If you earn $80,000 in net profit and contribute $15,000 to a SEP IRA, your taxable income is $65,000. You don't find the $15,000 after taxes — you reduce the bill taxes make, and the IRS partially funds your retirement in the process. If you can afford to pay taxes on $80,000, you can afford to contribute to retirement. The question is whether you do it now, voluntarily, with a tax break — or wait until retirement and live on whatever's left. The women who retire with options started young and started simply. They didn't wait for a perfect income level. They opened the account, made the contribution they could afford, and raised it as the business grew. Open the account. Do it this quarter. Your future self is running a bigger business than you are now — make sure she has the financial infrastructure to match. ## Frequently asked questions **What is the best retirement account for self-employed women?** For most solo founders and freelancers, the choice is between a SEP IRA and a Solo 401(k). The SEP IRA wins on simplicity — it takes about 15 minutes to open and has no annual filing requirement. The Solo 401(k) wins on contribution flexibility at lower income levels, because it allows an employee deferral on top of an employer contribution. If you're earning $100,000 or more in self-employment income and want to shelter as much as possible, model both options with a CPA. If you want the simplest possible path, open a SEP IRA today. **How much can I contribute to a SEP IRA in 2026?** The 2026 SEP IRA limit is $72,000, or up to 25% of your net self-employment compensation — whichever is lower. For a self-employed person earning $100,000 in net profit, the maximum SEP IRA contribution is approximately $18,587 (the 25% calculation works differently for self-employment income due to the self-employment tax deduction). At $200,000 net profit, the contribution limit is approximately $37,174. Only at very high income levels does a SEP IRA reach the $72,000 cap. **What is the difference between a SEP IRA and a Solo 401(k)?** Both have the same 2026 contribution ceiling ($72,000). The key difference is how you get there. A SEP IRA only allows employer contributions — calculated as a percentage of your net self-employment income. A Solo 401(k) allows both an employee salary deferral (up to $24,500 in 2026, or $32,500 if you're 50 or older) plus an employer contribution of up to 25% of compensation. This means at lower income levels, the Solo 401(k) lets you contribute more in dollar terms. The tradeoff: a Solo 401(k) requires more administrative setup and, once assets exceed $250,000, an annual Form 5500-EZ filing with the IRS. **Can I have both a SEP IRA and a Roth IRA?** Yes — these are separate account types with separate contribution limits. Roth IRA contributions ($7,500 in 2026, or $8,600 if you're 50 or older) come out of after-tax money and don't reduce your taxable income today. SEP IRA contributions reduce your taxable income now but are taxed as ordinary income when withdrawn in retirement. Holding both creates tax diversification: some money taxed now at potentially lower rates, some money sheltered today and taxed in retirement. Income limits apply to Roth IRA contributions — they begin phasing out above $150,000 for single filers in 2026. --- ## LLC vs. Sole Proprietorship: Which Is Right for Your Business? URL: https://totalgirlboss.com/llc-vs-sole-proprietorship-women-entrepreneurs/ Section: Money · Published: 2026-07-21 TL;DR: A sole proprietorship is automatic and free — but you have zero liability protection and your personal assets are on the line if something goes wrong. An LLC separates you from your business legally, limits your personal exposure, and costs $50–$500 to form depending on your state. For most women running any client-facing business, freelance operation, or anything with contracts and liability, the LLC is worth it. Sole proprietorships work best for true testing-the-waters situations where the cost of setup exceeds realistic near-term risk. Here is the decision most women entrepreneurs make before they've thought it through: they start doing business, don't register anything, and spend months — sometimes years — operating as an accidental sole proprietor with no liability protection and no real separation between their personal finances and their business. It works fine, until it doesn't. The LLC vs. sole proprietorship question is not complicated once you understand what you're actually choosing between. This is what you need to know to make the right call for where you are right now. ## What a sole proprietorship actually is A sole proprietorship is not something you form. It's what you are by default when you start doing business as an individual without registering a legal entity. You freelance — you're a sole proprietor. You sell products on Etsy under your own name — you're a sole proprietor. You start consulting and invoice your first client — you're a sole proprietor. No paperwork, no fees, nothing to file. That simplicity is real and it matters, especially when you're testing a business idea and don't yet know if it will generate enough revenue to justify the overhead of a formal structure. The downside is also real: there is zero legal separation between you and your business. Your personal bank account, your savings, your home — all of it is exposed if your business gets sued, can't pay a vendor, or ends up in a contract dispute that goes badly. If you need to operate under a business name rather than your own, you file a DBA (Doing Business As) — also called a fictitious business name — with your county or state. That lets you use a business name without forming a legal entity. It costs very little and doesn't provide any liability protection. ## What an LLC actually is An LLC — Limited Liability Company — is a formal legal entity you register with your state. You file Articles of Organization, pay a formation fee (typically $50 to $500 depending on your state), and from that point forward the LLC is a separate legal person in the eyes of the law. That separation is the point. If your LLC gets sued, the lawsuit names the LLC — not you personally. If your business can't pay a debt, creditors generally can't come after your personal assets. That liability shield is the main reason to form one, and for most businesses with any real client contact, contracts, or potential for things to go wrong, it's worth the setup cost. A few important clarifications: **The liability protection is not absolute.** Courts can "pierce the corporate veil" — ignore the LLC structure and hold you personally liable — if you fail to maintain the separation. That means keeping a dedicated business bank account, not commingling personal and business funds, and honoring the LLC's formalities (operating agreement, separate records). The protection is real but it requires you to actually run the business like a separate entity. **An LLC is not a corporation.** It doesn't have shareholders, a board of directors, or the same compliance requirements as a C-corp or S-corp. It's a flexible structure designed specifically for small businesses and solo operators. **Single-member LLCs are common and straightforward.** You can form an LLC as the sole owner. Nothing requires a co-founder or business partner. ## The tax picture for each This is where most explanations get confusing. Let's be direct. **Sole proprietorship:** Your business income and expenses flow to Schedule C on your personal tax return. You pay self-employment tax — currently 15.3% — on your net profit. You pay it on all net profit, not just what you pay yourself. **Single-member LLC (default):** By default, the IRS treats a single-member LLC identically to a sole proprietorship for tax purposes. The LLC is a "disregarded entity." Same Schedule C filing, same self-employment tax treatment. Forming an LLC does not, by itself, change your taxes. **LLC electing S-corp status:** This is where the tax picture diverges. If your LLC is generating meaningful profit — roughly $50,000 or more annually is the common threshold — you can elect to be taxed as an S-corp. That requires paying yourself a reasonable W-2 salary and running formal payroll, but profit distributions above your salary aren't subject to payroll taxes. The savings can be significant at higher income levels. This is a conversation to have with a CPA before electing — the math is specific to your situation. The bottom line: if you're choosing between a sole proprietorship and an LLC purely for tax reasons at early revenue levels, the difference is minimal. The real driver of the LLC decision is liability protection, not taxes. ## When a sole proprietorship is the right call There are real situations where the sole proprietorship is the sensible choice: - You're testing a business idea with low financial stakes and no clients who could sue you - Your total startup runway is short and the setup cost of an LLC would strain it - You're earning very modest income and the risk exposure is genuinely low — a weekend craft market, for example, rather than a consulting practice handling client data - You're about to move or aren't sure which state you'll be operating from (LLCs are state-specific; you'd need to register in the new state or pay foreign qualification fees) The key word is *genuinely* low risk. If you're working with clients under contracts, handling sensitive data, providing advice that people rely on, or running any service business where a mistake could have real consequences — "I'll just be a sole proprietor for now" is a risk calculation, not a decision. ## When you should form the LLC Form the LLC when: **You have paying clients and contracts.** The moment someone is paying you and there's an expectation of deliverables, you have liability exposure. An unhappy client, a dispute over scope, an accusation of negligence — these are all easier to face when your personal assets aren't on the table. **You're holding business assets.** Equipment, inventory, intellectual property, a business bank account with real money in it — these are reasons to have a legal entity that owns them. **You want a business bank account with a business name.** Banks require an EIN and formation documents to open an account in a business name. Having the LLC makes this clean. **You're building something intended to grow.** An LLC is easier to bring in partners into, easier to sell, and signals to clients and vendors that you're running a real business. **You're in a high-liability field.** Health and wellness, financial advice, consulting, legal-adjacent services, anything where bad advice could cause real harm — form the LLC before your first client, not after. ## How to actually form one The process is more straightforward than most people expect: 1. **Choose your state.** In most cases, register in the state where you actually do business, not Delaware or Wyoming (those are for large companies with complex structures; the popular advice to incorporate there is usually wrong for small businesses). 2. **Choose a name.** Search your state's business name database to confirm availability. Your LLC name typically must include "LLC" or "Limited Liability Company." 3. **File Articles of Organization.** This is the document you submit to your state's Secretary of State office. Many states let you do this online. Pay the filing fee. 4. **Get an EIN.** An Employer Identification Number from the IRS is free and takes minutes at IRS.gov. You'll need it to open a business bank account, hire contractors, and eventually file taxes. 5. **Write an operating agreement.** Not legally required in every state, but essential. This document specifies how the LLC is managed, how profits are distributed, and what happens if you bring in a partner later. Even as a single-member LLC, have one. 6. **Open a dedicated business bank account.** This is not optional if you want the liability protection to hold. Commingling personal and business funds is the fastest path to losing the protection the LLC is supposed to give you. 7. **Check your annual report requirements.** Most states require you to file an annual or biennial report and pay a fee to keep the LLC in good standing. Calendar this. A lapsed LLC loses its protections. Total cost for a straightforward single-state LLC: typically $100 to $300 in filing fees plus your time. If you use a registered agent service to keep your home address off public records (worth considering if you're operating from home), add $50 to $150 per year. ## The decision framework If you are in the earliest possible stage — thinking about the idea, not yet serving clients, no revenue — a sole proprietorship is a reasonable starting point while you validate the concept. The moment you take your first paid client, enter a contract, or start accumulating real assets in the business, you should have the LLC. The cost of forming one is a few hundred dollars. The cost of defending a lawsuit as a sole proprietor, where your personal finances are fully exposed, is significantly higher. Most women who have been doing business for a few years and look back at starting as sole proprietors say the same thing: they wish they'd formed the LLC first. The paperwork is light. The protection is real. And operating with a legal entity from the start teaches you to treat your business like a business — which, as it turns out, is the most valuable habit you can build. ## Frequently asked questions **What is the difference between an LLC and a sole proprietorship?** A sole proprietorship is the default structure — you start doing business and you are the business, with no legal separation between you and it. An LLC (Limited Liability Company) is a formal entity registered with your state that legally separates you from your business. The core difference: as a sole proprietor, your personal assets (savings, home, car) are exposed if your business is sued or can't pay its debts. As an LLC owner, the liability typically stays with the business. **Do I need to file paperwork to start a sole proprietorship?** No. A sole proprietorship forms automatically the moment you begin doing business as an individual. You may need a local business license or a DBA (Doing Business As) registration to operate under a name other than your own, but there is no state registration required and no formation fee. **How much does it cost to form an LLC?** State filing fees for LLCs typically range from $50 to $500, with most states landing between $100 and $200. Some states — California and Massachusetts among them — charge higher fees or impose annual franchise taxes. You'll also need to file an annual report in most states, which carries its own fee. Using a registered agent service adds $50–$150 per year. **Is an LLC taxed differently than a sole proprietorship?** By default, a single-member LLC is taxed identically to a sole proprietorship — your business profit flows to your personal tax return on Schedule C, and you pay self-employment tax on all net profit. The difference appears when your LLC elects S-corp status (generally worth considering at roughly $50,000+ in net profit annually), which can reduce self-employment taxes by splitting income between a W-2 salary and profit distributions. A sole proprietorship cannot make this election. **Can I switch from a sole proprietorship to an LLC later?** Yes. Many women start as sole proprietors to test their business idea, then form an LLC once they have consistent clients or revenue. You file Articles of Organization with your state, pay the formation fee, open a new business bank account in the LLC's name, update your contracts, and notify relevant parties. The transition is straightforward — just don't wait until after something goes wrong to make the move. --- ## How to Build Business Credit as a Woman Entrepreneur URL: https://totalgirlboss.com/how-to-build-business-credit-women-entrepreneurs/ Section: Money · Published: 2026-07-18 TL;DR: Building business credit requires five things in order: a properly formed legal entity with its own EIN and business bank account, a D-U-N-S number from Dun & Bradstreet, vendor trade lines (net-30 accounts) that report to business credit bureaus, a business credit card paid in full monthly, and consistent on-time payment history. Most women can establish a basic business credit file within three to six months. A PAYDEX score of 80 or above is considered good by most lenders. Here is what most women do when they need business funding: they use their personal credit score. It works — until it doesn't. Personal credit has a ceiling. It mixes your business risk into your personal financial profile. It limits how much you can borrow and what rate you pay. And it means that if the business has a hard year, the fallout lands on your personal credit report, not a separate business file. Business credit is the solution. It is a separate credit identity for your business — scored, reported, and used by lenders and vendors independently of anything on your personal return. It takes time to build, but the compounding effect of doing it right is access to more capital, better terms, and a financial infrastructure that can grow with the business. Here is how to build it from zero. ## Why this matters specifically for women-owned businesses Women-owned businesses are one of the fastest-growing segments of the U.S. economy and still face well-documented disparities in access to capital. The founders who navigate this best are almost always the ones who do two things: establish a clean separation between personal and business finances, and build a business credit file strong enough to speak for itself. A strong business credit profile does not eliminate every barrier, but it removes some of the biggest ones. When a lender can pull a business credit report that shows a track record of on-time payments, a real legal entity, and an established banking history, the conversation shifts. You are no longer asking them to bet on you personally. You are showing them a business that has already demonstrated it pays its bills. ## Step 1: Lay the legal foundation Before any credit bureau or vendor can build a file on your business, your business needs to exist as a legal entity — separate from you. **Form an LLC or corporation.** A sole proprietorship does not get its own credit profile. You need a legal entity — most women start with a single-member LLC. File in your state and get your articles of organization. **Get an EIN from the IRS.** An Employer Identification Number is your business's tax ID — the equivalent of a Social Security number for your company. Apply at IRS.gov at no cost. You need this before you can open a business bank account or establish most business credit accounts. **Open a dedicated business bank account.** This is non-negotiable. Business credit bureaus look for a consistent business banking relationship. Mixing business and personal finances is also the fastest way to lose the liability protection your LLC provides. Use this account for all business income and expenses from day one. **Get a dedicated business phone number and address.** These do not have to be expensive — a Google Voice number works for many early-stage businesses, and your LLC's registered agent address handles the legal address requirement. What matters is that your business contact information is consistent across every account, directory, and vendor relationship you open. ## Step 2: Register with Dun & Bradstreet Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) is the largest and most widely used business credit bureau. The D-U-N-S number — a unique nine-digit identifier D&B assigns to your business — is the key that unlocks your D&B credit file. Go to the D&B website and search for your business. If a file does not exist yet (it won't if you're just starting), register to get your D-U-N-S number assigned. The process is free and typically takes a few business days. Once your number is assigned, your business has a file — now you need to put something in it. **Experian Business and Equifax Business** also maintain separate business credit files. Lenders often pull from multiple bureaus, so your goal is to build a payment history that shows up across all of them. Vendor accounts and business credit cards that report to multiple bureaus do this automatically. ## Step 3: Open net-30 vendor accounts Net-30 accounts are trade lines where you buy products or services on credit and pay the full balance within 30 days. When your vendor reports your payment history to business credit bureaus, those on-time payments build your credit file. The key is finding vendors that actually report. Not every supplier does. Vendors commonly cited as reporting to one or more business credit bureaus include Quill (office supplies), Uline (shipping and packaging), and Grainger (industrial supplies and tools). There are also services designed specifically for business credit-building that report to multiple bureaus. **Open three to five of these accounts in your first 90 days.** Buy what your business actually needs. Pay early — 5 to 7 days before the due date, not just on the due date. Early payment maximizes your PAYDEX score. Let the payment history accumulate. Pay **early**, not just on time. The PAYDEX score gives maximum points for payment received before the due date. On-time payment scores well; early payment scores better. ## Step 4: Get a business credit card A business credit card serves two purposes: it builds your business credit file with the issuer (and potentially with business credit bureaus), and it creates a clean separation between business and personal spending. Most major issuers offer business credit cards. In the early stages, these often require a personal credit check and personal guarantee. That is normal and expected. As your business credit history grows, some issuers will eventually underwrite on business credit alone. Use the card for business expenses. Pay the full balance every month. Do not carry a balance — the interest costs more than the credit-building benefit is worth. Think of it as a tool for building your payment history, not a source of financing. ## Step 5: Pay everything early, every time Business credit scoring — particularly the PAYDEX score — is almost entirely about payment behavior. There are no shortcuts here. The businesses with strong credit files simply paid their bills consistently, for long enough, that the score reflects it. Set up automatic payments wherever you can. Build a calendar reminder for any account that doesn't allow autopay. The goal is zero late payments, ever. A single late payment on a small net-30 account does not ruin your credit profile, but a pattern of late payments will stall your score and flag your file to prospective lenders. ## Step 6: Monitor your business credit reports You can check your business credit reports through D&B, Experian Business, and Equifax Business. Some services offer free or low-cost monitoring; others charge for full access. Check your reports every quarter, especially in the first year. Look for errors — incorrect payment dates, wrong company information, accounts that aren't yours — and dispute anything inaccurate. Also confirm that accounts you have opened are actually showing up. Not every vendor reports consistently, and knowing which ones are building your file is worth tracking. ## How long does this actually take? A realistic timeline: **Months 1–2:** Legal foundation in place (LLC, EIN, business bank account, business phone). D-U-N-S number registered. Two to three net-30 vendor accounts opened and first purchases made. **Months 3–4:** First payments reported to business credit bureaus. Your business credit file starts to have content. Continue paying everything early. **Months 5–6:** A basic credit file is established. You may see your PAYDEX score appear. Apply for a business credit card if you haven't already. Some lenders will now have something to pull. **Month 12+:** A year of consistent on-time and early payment history is when your business credit profile becomes genuinely useful as a standalone funding tool. This is when some lenders will underwrite without requiring a personal guarantee. The women who get here fastest are not the ones who found a shortcut — they're the ones who started month one with all five accounts open and never missed a payment. ## Two things that will stall your progress **Mixing personal and business finances.** Using your personal bank account for business income, or your business account for personal expenses, muddies the credit picture and undermines the legal separation your LLC provides. Keep them separate, always. **Applying for too many accounts too quickly.** Opening many credit accounts in a short window can look risky to bureaus. Three to five well-chosen vendor accounts in your first 90 days is plenty. Build history with those before adding more. ## Resources worth knowing The SBA's network of Women's Business Centers — more than 140 locations nationwide — provides free or low-cost business counseling, including guidance on financing and credit-building. SCORE, a nonprofit network of volunteer business mentors, is also free and has chapters across the country. Both are underused by women who could benefit from them. If your business qualifies, the SBA's Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) Federal Contracting Program opens access to federal contracts set aside for women-owned businesses. Strong business financials, including a credible credit profile, are part of what makes you competitive there. Business credit is not fast, but it is straightforward. The women who build it do the same steps in order and pay their bills before they are due. Start this month, and a year from now your business will have a financial identity strong enough to stand on its own. ## Frequently asked questions **How do I start building business credit from scratch?** Start with the legal foundation: register your business as an LLC or corporation, get an EIN from the IRS, open a dedicated business bank account, and get a business phone number and address. Then register with Dun & Bradstreet to get your D-U-N-S number, open net-30 vendor accounts with suppliers that report to business credit bureaus, and pay every account early. Most businesses can establish a basic credit file within three to six months of consistent on-time payments. **What is a PAYDEX score and what score do I need?** The PAYDEX score is Dun & Bradstreet's business credit score, rated from 0 to 100. A score of 80 or above means you consistently pay on time or early and is considered good by most lenders and vendors. Scores above 80 indicate early payment. Building to 80+ within your first year is a realistic target if you pay all business accounts early from the start. **What are net-30 vendor accounts and which ones report to business credit bureaus?** Net-30 accounts are trade lines where you buy on credit and pay the full balance within 30 days. When the vendor reports your payment history to business credit bureaus, those on-time payments build your credit file. Vendors commonly cited as reporting to business bureaus include Quill, Uline, and Grainger. Paying 5 to 7 days before the due date — not just on time — maximizes your PAYDEX score. **Does building business credit require a personal credit check?** For your initial vendor trade lines and your D-U-N-S registration, no personal credit check is typically required. However, most business credit cards and bank loans will require a personal guarantee and personal credit check early on, before your business credit history is established. As your business credit file grows, some lenders will eventually underwrite on business credit alone — but expect personal credit to be part of the picture in your first year or two. --- ## How to Pay Yourself as a Business Owner: A No-Confusion Guide URL: https://totalgirlboss.com/how-to-pay-yourself-as-a-business-owner/ Section: Money · Published: 2026-07-16 TL;DR: How you pay yourself depends on your business structure: sole props and single-member LLCs use an owner's draw (you owe SE tax on all net profit regardless), while S-corps require a reasonable W-2 salary plus optional distributions (only the salary portion faces payroll taxes). Open a separate business account, set aside 25–30% for taxes, and pay yourself on a schedule rather than on instinct. Here is the thing about paying yourself that nobody tells you when you start a business: the way you transfer money out of your business account has real legal and tax consequences — and most women figure this out for the first time when their CPA tells them they owe several thousand dollars they didn't plan for. This is not a complicated topic. It feels that way because it touches business structure, the IRS, and personal finance all at once. But the rules are actually straightforward once you understand which box your business sits in. Let's do that now. ## Your business structure determines everything The method you use to pay yourself is not a preference — it flows directly from how your business is legally structured. Get this wrong and you create either a tax problem or a compliance problem. Get it right and you have a clean, repeatable system. **Sole proprietorship:** You and the business are the same legal entity. You cannot pay yourself a salary. The mechanism is an owner's draw: you transfer money from the business account to your personal account. Simple in practice, but important to understand the tax implication (more on that below). **Single-member LLC (default taxation):** Same as a sole proprietorship from a tax standpoint. The IRS calls this a "disregarded entity." You take owner's draws, not a salary. Your profits flow to your personal tax return on Schedule C. **Multi-member LLC:** Partners pay themselves via guaranteed payments or profit distributions, based on the operating agreement. Each partner's share of profits flows to their personal return. **LLC electing S-corp taxation:** You are now an employee of your own company. You must pay yourself a reasonable W-2 salary, run formal payroll, and can also take additional profit distributions on top of your salary. **C-corporation:** You are also an employee and receive a salary. C-corps have a more complex tax structure (corporate tax rate applies to profits before distributions) that is less common for small women-owned businesses and outside the scope of this guide. ## The owner's draw: how it works and what it costs If you are a sole proprietor or a default single-member LLC, the owner's draw is your only option — and it is simpler than it sounds. An owner's draw is a transfer from your business checking account to your personal checking account. There is no withholding. No paycheck. No W-2 at year end. You just move the money and record it as an owner's draw in your accounting software. **The tax reality:** The IRS taxes you on your total net business profit — not on what you draw. If your business earns $120,000 in net profit and you only draw $60,000 to live on, you still owe self-employment tax on all $120,000. This is the single most important thing to understand about the owner's draw model. Self-employment tax is 15.3% (12.4% Social Security + 2.9% Medicare) on top of your ordinary income tax. For most single-member LLC owners, the effective combined tax rate lands somewhere between 25% and 40% depending on total income and deductions. The rule of thumb: set aside at least 25–30% of every dollar your business earns, before you spend any of it, in a dedicated tax savings account. ## The S-corp salary: the structure that can save you real money Electing S-corp taxation is a move that makes financial sense once your business reaches a certain profit level — but it comes with compliance requirements that are worth understanding before you make the switch. Here is how it works: as an S-corp, you are required to pay yourself a reasonable W-2 salary for the work you do in the business. You run payroll, withhold taxes, and receive a W-2 just like any employee. Any profit left over after your salary can be taken as a shareholder distribution — and those distributions are not subject to Social Security or Medicare taxes (only ordinary income tax applies). The tax math: if your S-corp earns $150,000 in net profit and you pay yourself a $75,000 salary, you pay payroll taxes on $75,000. The remaining $75,000 you take as a distribution is taxed as ordinary income but skips the 15.3% payroll tax. At those numbers, the savings can be meaningful — potentially $10,000 or more per year compared to the sole proprietorship model. **When does S-corp make sense?** The general guideline most CPAs use: when your LLC is netting roughly $50,000 or more per year in profit. Below that threshold, the cost of running formal payroll — software, bookkeeping, quarterly filings — often exceeds the tax savings. **The compliance catch:** "Reasonable compensation" is an IRS requirement with real audit consequences. You cannot pay yourself $10,000 in salary and take $140,000 in distributions to avoid payroll taxes — the IRS will reclassify the distributions as wages and assess back taxes plus penalties. Your salary must reflect what you would pay an employee to do the work you do. Use industry salary data to support your number and document your rationale. S-corp election requires filing Form 2553 with the IRS. There are deadlines, so work with a CPA before doing this — the timing matters. ## How much should you actually pay yourself? There is no universal formula, but there is a useful framework. **Start with your personal needs:** Add up your monthly living expenses — rent, food, utilities, insurance, debt payments, savings goals. That floor is the minimum your business needs to pay you for your work to make sense. **Look at what the business can sustain:** If your business earns $6,000 per month net and your personal needs are $4,500, you have margin. If your needs exceed what the business currently earns, that's a cash flow signal, not a pay-yourself signal — your personal expenses do not change what the business can afford. **Build toward a real number:** Many small business owners start by paying themselves 30–50% of net profit and reinvesting the rest for growth. As revenue stabilizes, that percentage can increase. The key is consistency: paying yourself on a regular schedule (weekly, biweekly, or monthly) rather than whenever you feel like it. **Raise your pay as the business grows.** You built a business. As revenue increases, your compensation should increase with it. Many founders forget to revisit this and end up running a profitable business while underpaying themselves for years. ## The non-negotiables of setup **Separate business bank account.** If you do not have one, open one today. Commingling personal and business finances makes bookkeeping harder, creates legal risk for LLC owners (it can undermine your liability protection), and turns tax season into an audit nightmare. Most business checking accounts require an EIN, which you can get free from the IRS website in minutes. **Accounting software.** QuickBooks Self-Employed, Wave (free), or FreshBooks are all solid options for small businesses. Record every owner's draw. This is your paper trail. **A tax savings account.** Open a second business savings account and transfer 25–30% of every payment you receive into it. Do not touch it except to pay estimated quarterly taxes (due in April, June, September, and January for most self-employed people). This one habit eliminates the most common financial crisis of early-stage business owners. **A payment schedule.** Decide on a day — the 1st and 15th of every month, every Friday, whatever fits your cash flow — and pay yourself on that schedule. Irregular draws that happen "when I need it" make it impossible to manage business cash flow and personal finances simultaneously. ## The mistake that costs the most The most expensive pay-yourself mistake is not choosing the wrong structure or the wrong amount. It is having no system at all. Founders who transfer money from their business account whenever they need cash — without recording it, without a schedule, without setting aside taxes — end up facing a bill from the IRS that arrives as a shock. They often discover they owe more than they have, because the business account doubled as a personal slush fund and the profit they earned was already spent. The fix is not complicated. A separate account, a scheduled transfer, and a tax savings rule of 25–30% covers 90% of the problem. Add a conversation with a CPA once a year to make sure your structure still fits your income level, and you are in better shape than most. You built something. Pay yourself accordingly — and do it with a system. ## Frequently asked questions **What is the difference between an owner's draw and a salary for a business owner?** An owner's draw is a transfer of profit from your business account to your personal account — no payroll taxes are withheld, but you owe self-employment tax (15.3%) on your total net business profit regardless of how much you draw. A salary means you are an employee of your own business, payroll taxes are withheld and remitted, and you receive a W-2. Sole proprietors and default LLCs can only take a draw; S-corp owners are required to pay themselves a reasonable salary. **How much should I pay myself as a business owner?** A practical starting point: calculate your personal living expenses, add a small buffer, and make that your baseline draw or salary. As profit grows, increase your pay in line with the business's trajectory — not ahead of it. Many small business owners start by paying themselves 30–50% of net profit and reinvesting the rest. What matters most is consistency: a regular, scheduled payment is better than ad hoc withdrawals that blur your financial picture. **When should an LLC elect S-corp status to save on taxes?** The S-corp election typically makes financial sense when your LLC is netting roughly $50,000 or more in profit per year. At that level, the payroll tax savings on the distribution portion of your income often exceed the cost of running formal payroll. Below that threshold, the accounting and compliance costs of S-corp status usually offset the savings. Talk to a CPA before electing — the math is specific to your income level and business expenses. **What do I need to set up to pay myself correctly as a business owner?** The non-negotiables: a dedicated business bank account (separate from personal), a system for tracking income and expenses, and a consistent payment schedule. If you are a sole proprietor or LLC, set up the business account, establish a recurring transfer date, and open a separate savings account for taxes. If you are running payroll as an S-corp, use payroll software or a service (Gusto, OnPay, or a bookkeeper) rather than managing it manually. --- ## The Best Grants for Women-Owned Businesses in 2026 URL: https://totalgirlboss.com/grants-for-women-owned-businesses-2026/ Section: Money · Published: 2026-07-14 TL;DR: The highest-value grants for women-owned businesses in 2026 include the Amber Grant ($10K monthly, $50K year-end, rolling applications), the Tory Burch Foundation Fellows ($5K + mentorship), IFundWomen's Universal Application (free, rolling, corporate partners), HerRise Microgrant ($1K monthly, good for early-stage), and the Cartier Women's Initiative ($30K–$100K for impact businesses). Treat every application like a business pitch: quantify your results, be specific about your ask, and show exactly how the money moves the needle. Here is a fact most people do not know: there are programs set up specifically to give free money to women-owned businesses, and the application barrier is often lower than you think. Not free in the "too good to be true" sense. Free in the "this is a competitive application you have to earn" sense. The women who win grants treat them like a pitch, not a lottery. They know their numbers, they match their story to what the grantor cares about, and they apply consistently over time. The women who don't win are usually the ones who applied once to five programs with the same copy-pasted answer and moved on. This is the guide for the first group. ## Why grants beat loans for early-stage businesses A loan requires repayment, usually with interest, and puts a liability on your balance sheet. A grant does not. Beyond the money itself, winning a competitive grant is a form of third-party validation — it says a credible organization reviewed your business and bet on you. That validation opens doors with investors, partners, and future funders in a way that a line of credit doesn't. The catch is that grants take time, competition is real, and not every program is actively distributing funds at any given moment. The strategy that works is treating grant applications as a recurring part of your business development calendar — not a one-time sprint when cash gets tight. ## The grants worth your time in 2026 ### Amber Grant — WomensNet **Amount:** Three $10,000 grants per month; $50,000 year-end grants **Who it's for:** Women-owned businesses (US or Canada), including pre-revenue and idea-stage **Application fee:** $15 **Cycle:** Rolling monthly applications This is the most accessible recurring grant program in the country for women entrepreneurs. WomensNet awards three $10,000 grants every calendar month: one for any business type, one specifically for startups, and one for a rotating business category. Every monthly winner automatically becomes eligible for the $50,000 year-end grant, which is selected in December. The application is intentionally short — you describe your business and what you'd do with the money. No ten-page business plan. The $15 fee is the only cost. WomensNet even offers a fee waiver for founders who can't cover it. If you are a women-owned business and you haven't applied for this one, apply this month. At $10,000 a month across three winners, odds are better than most programs. ### IFundWomen Universal Grant Application **Amount:** Varies by corporate partner **Who it's for:** Women-owned businesses at any stage **Application fee:** Free **Cycle:** Rolling, with new partner grants added regularly IFundWomen runs a marketplace model: submit one Universal Application and get matched to active grants from corporate partners including Visa, American Express, Neutrogena, adidas, and others. You don't apply to each one separately — the platform routes your application to programs you're eligible for. This is the closest thing to a "set it and run" approach in the grants landscape. It's free to apply, the partners rotate, and a single application can surface multiple opportunities. Create a profile, complete the Universal Application, and check back regularly as new partners come on. ### HerRise Microgrant **Amount:** $1,000 per month **Who it's for:** U.S.-based, women-owned businesses (51%+ ownership) generating under $1 million in annual revenue **Application fee:** $15 **Cycle:** Rolling monthly If $1,000 sounds small, remember that it often covers exactly what holds early-stage businesses back: a domain, a professional website, inventory, a booth at a market, or a month of software tools. HerRise awards one microgrant per month to a for-profit, majority women-owned business. Applications are rolling and accepted monthly. This one has a lower competition threshold than the larger programs, which makes it a smart one to apply for consistently while building toward bigger awards. ### Tory Burch Foundation Fellows Program **Amount:** $5,000 grant + access to an interest-free Kiva loan + year-long mentorship program **Who it's for:** Women entrepreneurs in the U.S. with at least $75,000 in annual revenue **Application fee:** None **Cycle:** Annual (application window typically opens in fall) This is not just a grant — it's a year-long program. Tory Burch Foundation selects 50 women entrepreneurs annually and gives each access to workshops, expert coaching, a community of peers, a $5,000 business grant, and an interest-free Kiva loan. The mentorship and network effects are arguably more valuable than the cash. The revenue requirement ($75,000+ annually) means this one is for women who already have a business generating real income. If you're not there yet, put it on the roadmap. The 2026 cohort has already been selected; applications for the 2027 program will open in fall 2026. ### Cartier Women's Initiative **Amount:** $100,000 (first place), $60,000 (second), $30,000 (third) per regional category **Who it's for:** Women-owned, women-led impact businesses globally; 1–6 years of operations; at least 1 year of revenue **Application fee:** None **Cycle:** Annual This is the most prestigious grant on this list. The Cartier Women's Initiative identifies women entrepreneurs building businesses that drive social or environmental impact. Winners receive substantial capital alongside a fellowship that includes INSEAD business education, leadership training, media coaching, and a network of alumni founders. The 2026 fellows were announced in March 2026. Applications for the 2027 edition typically open in the fall — watch the Cartier Women's Initiative website directly. If your business has a mission component and you've been operating for at least a year, this is worth the effort of a strong application. ### BMO Celebrating Women Grant Program **Amount:** $10,000 per winner **Who it's for:** Women entrepreneurs in Canada and the U.S. **Application fee:** None **Cycle:** Annual BMO's program awards $10,000 each to fifteen entrepreneurs across the U.S. and Canada. It runs on an annual cycle. Check BMO's business banking pages for the current round's dates and eligibility requirements. ## How to write a grant application that wins The applications that lose are generic. The applications that win are specific. **Match your story to the grantor's mission.** A grant program focused on social impact does not want to hear primarily about your revenue projections. A program focused on startup growth does not want a lengthy history of your childhood dream — it wants to know what you're building and how fast it can move. Read what each organization says they care about. Then write about that, using your business as the example. **Quantify everything you can.** "We help women" is not a pitch. "We have served 340 women across three states, with 82% reporting measurable career advancement within twelve months" is a pitch. Grant reviewers read hundreds of applications. Numbers anchor your story and prove you know your own business. **Be specific about how you will use the money.** Don't say "to grow the business." Say "to hire our first part-time operations contractor ($2,400) and cover inventory for our Q4 product launch ($5,600), which positions us to hit $120,000 in revenue this year, up from $78,000 last year." Grantors want confidence that the money accomplishes something real. Show them the path. **Tell a human story, briefly.** The data earns the yes; the story makes them want to say yes. One or two sentences about why you built this business, written with honesty rather than performance, go further than three paragraphs of buzzwords. **Apply more than once.** Most women who win a grant have applied for that same program — or similar ones — multiple times. Rejection is information. Winning is a result of repeated, refined attempts, not one perfect submission. ## Mistakes that cost applications the grant **Applying too late.** Rolling programs like the Amber Grant and HerRise reset monthly. If you miss the window, you wait a month. Annual programs that close once are gone until the next cycle. Put application deadlines in your calendar the way you'd put a tax deadline. **Using one application for every program.** A recycled, generic application reads like one. The programs with the highest awards receive thousands of applications. A tailored submission that demonstrates you understand *their* program beats a polished-but-generic one every time. **Ignoring the eligibility requirements.** Pre-revenue applicants applying to revenue-gated programs, U.S.-only businesses applying to Canada-only programs — these waste your time and the reviewers'. Read the requirements before you write a word. **Skipping the follow-up.** Some programs allow you to apply in subsequent months after not winning. Others actively invite reapplication. If a program you want to win is one you haven't won yet, apply again next month. ## The grants calendar Rather than applying once and forgetting it, the women who consistently land grants run a simple system: identify two to four programs you're eligible for, put their application windows in your calendar, and apply to each on its cycle. In a given year, that's twelve Amber Grant applications (one per month), twelve HerRise applications, and one or two applications to the larger annual programs. The math on twelve attempts is better than one. Grants are not passive income. They are earned income that happens to come without repayment terms. Apply like it. Starting later in your career? None of the programs above cap your age — see our guide to [grants for women over 40 starting a business](/grants-for-women-over-40-starting-a-business-2026/) for the ones that fit a second-act founder best. ## Frequently asked questions **What are the best grants for women-owned businesses in 2026?** The most accessible grants include the Amber Grant from WomensNet (three $10,000 awards per month, rolling applications, only a $15 fee), IFundWomen's Universal Grant Application (free, rolling, corporate partners), and HerRise Microgrant ($1,000 monthly for businesses under $1M revenue). For established businesses, the Tory Burch Foundation Fellows Program ($5,000 grant plus mentorship) and the Cartier Women's Initiative ($30,000–$100,000 for impact entrepreneurs) are among the most prestigious. **Do I need to be an established business to apply for grants?** Not always. The Amber Grant from WomensNet explicitly accepts pre-revenue and idea-stage businesses. IFundWomen's platform is open to businesses at any stage. Grants that require revenue — like the Tory Burch Foundation Fellows ($75,000+ annual revenue) — exist alongside accessible entry points for earlier-stage founders. Know the eligibility requirements before you apply. **How do I write a grant application that wins?** Winning applications are specific, quantified, and clear about impact. State exactly what you will do with the money, not just what you hope it will produce. Include concrete numbers — customers served, revenue generated, costs reduced. Align your story to what that specific grantor cares about. Generic applications rarely win; tailored, focused ones do. **Are grants taxable income for small businesses?** In most cases, yes. Business grants are generally considered taxable income by the IRS and should be reported as such. Some government grants have exceptions, but the rule of thumb is to set aside a portion of any grant you receive for taxes. Consult a CPA before spending a grant in full — this is one area where getting it wrong is expensive. --- ## The Side Hustles Women Are Actually Scaling in 2026 URL: https://totalgirlboss.com/side-hustles-for-women-that-scale/ Section: Money · Published: 2026-07-11 TL;DR: The highest-ROI side hustles for women in 2026 are service-based freelancing (fastest cash), digital products (best margins at scale), and UGC/content creation (compounding returns). Skip the noise: pick one that maps to a skill you already have, keep startup costs near zero, and expect 6–12 months of consistent effort before it feels real. The women who scale treat it like a business from day one. Here's what nobody tells you about side hustles: the idea is almost never the problem. The women running six-figure side hustles by 2026 did not start with a better concept than everyone else. They picked something that matched their existing skills, kept their overhead at zero, and showed up consistently for long enough that the compounding kicked in. That's it. The people still stuck at $200 a month are usually working just as hard — but on the wrong model, or spread across too many of them at once. Let's fix that. ## The honest numbers first Among U.S. workers who currently have a side hustle, 59% are women. The creator economy crossed $200 billion in 2026 and is projected to surpass $528 billion by 2030. Nearly half of all women entrepreneurs (42%) operate as solopreneurs — more than twice the rate of men. The landscape has never been more favorable for building something on your own terms. But the median monthly earnings from a side hustle are closer to $200, not the $891 average you'll see quoted everywhere. Averages are dragged up by outliers. The difference between the median and the top earners almost always comes down to three things: skill-market fit, consistency of effort, and choosing a model that can actually scale. ## The four models worth your time ### 1. Freelance services: fastest cash, clearest path If your goal is real money within the next 90 days, start here. Freelancing covers anything you can do on a computer that someone else will pay you to do for them — writing, graphic design, social media management, web development, bookkeeping, video editing, copywriting, email marketing, and about a hundred other things. The ceiling is real but so is the floor. Freelancers typically earn $500 to $5,000+ per month depending on niche and how aggressively they pitch. The model tops out when you run out of hours, which is why many freelancers eventually package their expertise into retainers, productized services, or digital products. To start: pick one skill, identify ten businesses who would benefit from it, and reach out directly. Skip the race-to-the-bottom platforms unless you need the proof of concept. One client at $1,500 a month changes the math. ### 2. Digital products: best margins at scale Templates, e-books, courses, presets, Notion dashboards, legal documents, meal plans — anything you create once and sell repeatedly. The unit economics are genuinely good: your margin on a $47 Notion template sold 500 times is almost entirely profit. Etsy and Gumroad both report rising demand for digital planners and educational resources in 2026. The catch: traffic. Digital products require an audience, a search strategy, or a paid acquisition budget. Women who succeed here almost always arrive with one of three things: an existing social following, strong SEO, or a clear plan for getting eyes on their product from day one. Best path in: create a product that solves the exact problem your audience keeps asking you about. If you're starting from zero, build the audience first — even a small, warm email list of 500 converts better than 10,000 cold social followers. ### 3. UGC and content creation: compounding returns User-generated content — short video ads created for brands on contract — has become a legitimate income stream that requires no following of your own. Brands pay per deliverable. Beginners typically earn $50 to $250 per video; creators with a strong portfolio can charge $500 to $2,000 per video and package multiple deliverables per client. The bigger play is building a content platform (TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, a newsletter, a podcast) with the goal of monetizing through brand partnerships, affiliate commissions, subscriptions, digital products, or consulting. Content compounds in a way that most side hustles don't — a post you wrote two years ago is still driving traffic today. But it takes longer to pay out, and most people quit before the compounding starts. The move: do UGC for cash now while building your own platform for equity later. ### 4. Coaching and consulting: highest ticket, steepest learning curve If you have deep expertise in a domain — marketing, finance, fitness, leadership, parenting, career transitions, creative work — and you can help other people get a result, there is a market for what you know. Coaching and consulting have the highest per-hour earnings of any side hustle, and the bar to entry is your credibility, not a degree or a certification. The hard part is the sales process. Coaching sells through relationship, trust, and proof of results. If you're starting from scratch, expect to do several sessions for free or at a steep discount to build case studies. Once you have three to five documented wins, the sales conversation gets dramatically easier. Online coaching, run well, can generate $3,000 to $20,000 a month for solopreneurs without a large team. That is not a starting number — it's a trajectory. ## How to pick yours Ignore any framework that ranks side hustles by potential income alone. The highest-earning model you will not show up for consistently is worth less than the medium-earning model you do. Ask yourself three questions: **What do I already know how to do that other people pay to have done or learn?** This narrows you to real skills with proven demand. Don't start a side hustle to learn a new skill from scratch unless you have 12 months of runway before you need income. **What model fits my actual life right now?** A new parent probably should not start a business that requires 20 hours a week. A freelance project that takes 5 hours and pays $500 might be the right lever. Be honest about your constraints — the women who burn out are almost always the ones who chose a model that requires more than their life currently allows. **What can I start without spending money?** Startup costs are a risk multiplier. The best side hustles in 2026 cost nothing to launch: reach out to potential clients with an email, create your first digital product in Canva, record UGC with your phone. If someone is asking you to spend significant money to start earning money, that is a red flag, not a business model. ## The first 90 days The gap between people who make a side hustle work and people who don't is almost entirely about what they do in the first 90 days. **Days 1–30:** Choose one model. Do not hedge. Tell people you exist — post about it, DM potential clients, list your service somewhere. Your goal this month is your first paying customer or your first sale, however small. **Days 31–60:** Deliver on what you promised. Get a testimonial. Raise your rate or your volume. Learn what's working and what's draining you. **Days 61–90:** Decide if this is the model you're building. If income is climbing and you're energized by the work, invest more time. If you've hit a wall that isn't about effort, diagnose the model — not your work ethic. Most people need 6 to 12 months of consistent effort before a side hustle generates meaningful, dependable income. That is not a warning — it's a roadmap. The women who get there are the ones who treat it like a business from day one, not a lottery ticket. Pick one. Start this week. The only side hustle that doesn't work is the one you never launched. ## Frequently asked questions **What are the best side hustles for women in 2026?** The highest-earning side hustles for women in 2026 are freelance services (writing, design, social media management, bookkeeping), digital products (templates, courses, e-books), user-generated content (UGC) creation for brands, and online coaching or consulting in a skill or niche you already know. Service-based hustles pay fastest; digital products have the best long-term margins. **How much can women realistically earn from a side hustle?** The average side hustler earns around $891 a month, but results vary widely. UGC creators typically start at $50–$250 per video and can reach $1,000–$2,000 a month within a few months. Freelancers can earn $500–$5,000+ monthly depending on their niche and how aggressively they pitch. Most people need 6–12 months of consistent effort before income becomes steady. **How do I start a side hustle with no money?** The best side hustles require zero or near-zero startup costs: freelancing on platforms like Upwork or through your own outreach, virtual assistance, social media management, online tutoring, and UGC creation. Digital products require only your time to create and a free or low-cost platform like Gumroad to sell. Start with your existing skills — the fastest path to income is solving a problem you already know how to solve. **What is the difference between a side hustle and passive income?** A side hustle typically trades time for money, at least at the start. Passive income — like digital product sales, affiliate commissions, or investment returns — is earned with minimal ongoing effort after the initial setup. Most successful passive income streams start as active side hustles that get systematized over time. --- ## Paige Wilhide: Video Agency by Day, One-Woman Show by Night URL: https://totalgirlboss.com/paige-wilhide-video-marketing-breakup-addict/ Section: Culture · Published: 2026-07-10 TL;DR: Paige Wilhide founded a video marketing agency in 2015 while also writing and performing her one-woman show, Breakup Addict, 26 times at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and both feed into a coaching practice she runs on the side. Paige Wilhide was running businesses before most people finish middle school — elementary school art classes, makeup parties for other kids — and started acting professionally at age nine. That early comfort with both commerce and performance shows up directly in the two very different things she's built as an adult. In 2015, she founded a video marketing agency that has since helped hundreds of entrepreneurs grow their online visibility — straightforward, results-driven client work. Alongside it, during a personal recovery program for love addiction, she wrote [Breakup Addict](https://canvasrebel.com/meet-paige-wilhide/), a one-woman show built from her own lessons about romantic relationships. She's since performed it 26 times at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, one of the largest arts festivals in the world — a genuinely rare crossover between marketing-agency founder and touring solo performer. Both sides of the work feed a coaching practice she runs on top of them, helping clients live more expressed, fulfilled lives. Wilhide has described her own approach to building all three at once plainly: "I am constantly finding creative solutions to problems, pivoting, trying things out, seeing what works." It's the same instinct whether the problem is a client's ad funnel or her own second act on stage. The payoff, for her, isn't really about ticket sales or client retainers. It's what happens after a performance: "When someone comes up to me after a show and tells me they saw their story in mine or feel less alone — that is the reward for me." For a founder who's spent her whole life comfortable running a business and performing on a stage at the same time, that's less a contradiction than the whole point. --- ## Charlotte Trecartin Built CharCharms Into a 40,000-Customer Brand URL: https://totalgirlboss.com/charlotte-trecartin-charcharms-water-bottle-accessories/ Section: Founders · Published: 2026-07-10 TL;DR: Charlotte Trecartin sketched the idea for CharCharms — decorative water bottle charms — while a full-time college student during COVID lockdown, self-funded the patent and prototyping with earnings from a door-to-door sales job, and launched in September 2021 to build a brand with more than 60,000 TikTok followers. Charlotte Trecartin was a full-time student at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, working toward a degree in Kinesiology with minors in Business and Chemistry, when the idea for [CharCharms](https://charcharms.com) came to her — literally sitting in her sunroom during the peak of COVID lockdown, staring at her water bottle. "I was super bored & it was the peak COVID when everyone was at home," [she's said of the moment](https://canvasrebel.com/meet-charlotte-trecartin/). "I was sitting in my sunroom with my tumbler and I had the idea to hang stuff on my bottle." That idle thought became a real design process by fall 2020: sketching, prototyping, and — critically — funding the patent and prototyping work herself, using income from a summer door-to-door coupon sales job she'd taken specifically to bankroll the idea. CharCharms officially launched its first product collection on September 24, 2021, offering more than 40 different bottle hooks and 400 different decorative charms. Trecartin's path to the company is its own kind of case study in stacking odd jobs into capital: alongside her coursework, she'd also worked as a nanny, a competitive bodybuilder, and a cycling instructor — none of it directly related to product design, all of it apparently useful for funding one. The company has since been featured in the Chicago Sun-Times and built a TikTok following that grew from nothing to more than 60,000, with a stated goal of reaching 500,000. Her read on what actually drove that growth is unglamorous and specific: "The key to growth on TikTok, I learned, was consistency and posting regularly." No secret algorithm hack — just showing up on a schedule, as a full-time student running a real, patented product line on the side. --- ## Vanessa Castillo Built a Creative Agency and a Mindset Movement URL: https://totalgirlboss.com/vanessa-castillo-vcv-agency-rich-girl-mindset/ Section: Business · Published: 2026-07-10 TL;DR: Vanessa Castillo turned freelance creative work into VCV Agency in 2015, then in 2018 grew a casual talk show into The Rich Girl Mindset, a separate movement with events, masterminds, a book club, and membership offerings built around mindset and abundance. Vanessa Castillo graduated from the University of Miami in 2012 with a degree in Visual Communications and a second major in Art, and spent the years after doing freelance creative work before deciding to [formalize it into a real business structure](/llc-vs-sole-proprietorship-women-entrepreneurs/). In 2015, that freelance practice became [VCV Agency](http://vcvagency.com/) — Various Creative Visionaries — a Coral Gables-based agency helping brands and entrepreneurs build their online presence through branding, content marketing, web development, and community building. The agency wasn't the end of the story. In 2018, Castillo started what began as a casual talk show and, by its third episode, had become [The Rich Girl Mindset](https://canvasrebel.com/meet-vanessa-castillo/) — now a full movement with curated events, masterminds, a book club, and membership offerings built around mindset and abundance. It's grown into a genuinely separate brand from VCV, one she runs alongside client work rather than instead of it. Castillo has been blunt about what she credits for both businesses working: "Being myself. Being authentic always works best. Bullshit reeks like an oil leak." It's a plainer version of a lesson a lot of founders take years to learn about their own personal brand. She's also been specific about what "rich" actually means in her second company's name, heading off the obvious assumption: "The 'rich' in The Rich Girl Mindset isn't about monetary richness... the real meaning is that we all realize we are already rich within." Whatever you make of the framing, the business results are concrete — a decade-old agency and a second, independently branded community built on top of it, both still running. --- ## Holly Knoll Turned a Layoff Into a Tech Consulting Business URL: https://totalgirlboss.com/holly-knoll-consultant-code-everyday-entrepreneur/ Section: Leadership · Published: 2026-07-09 TL;DR: Holly Knoll turned a layoff after 16 years at top companies into The Consultant Code, a technology consulting business she has since expanded into a coaching program, The Everyday Entrepreneur Podcast, and a Minneapolis networking group called The Vine. Holly Knoll had spent 16 years working at top companies when she was laid off from a corporate job — the kind of moment that ends some careers and, for her, started one. Eight years ago, she used that layoff to launch a technology consulting business now known as [The Consultant Code](https://hollyknoll.com/), advising executives on software implementation and project management. She's been matter-of-fact about how it started: "I consider myself one of the lucky ones. In a way, the decision was made for me as I was let go of my corporate job." From there, the business kept expanding rather than staying a single consulting practice. Knoll built a coaching arm aimed at mid-career women looking to launch their own ventures in 60 days or less, started [The Everyday Entrepreneur Podcast](https://canvasrebel.com/meet-holly-knoll/) to interview women founders about their own paths, and created The Vine, a monthly in-person networking group for women in Minneapolis. None of it was frictionless. In 2020, Knoll took a significant hit to her income for most of the year — but rather than retreat to a single revenue stream, she used the slowdown to strengthen the other parts of the business, a decision that left her with a more diversified company on the other side of it. Her advice to the women she coaches and interviews reflects the same instinct that got her through 2020: stop waiting to feel ready. "Be authentic and be YOU. Show your face, get on camera and teach." For a founder who built four distinct businesses out of one layoff, it's advice she's clearly taken herself. --- ## Erin Patten Left Corporate to Build Two Companies From Crisis URL: https://totalgirlboss.com/erin-patten-metabusiness-world-ra-beauty/ Section: Founders · Published: 2026-07-09 TL;DR: Erin Patten, a dual Harvard graduate with more than 15 years in corporate leadership, built The MetaBusiness World to mentor female entrepreneurs after surviving a period of serious personal crisis, and in fall 2025 extended the work into product with the plant-based line Ra Beauty. Erin Patten's résumé reads like a fairly conventional corporate-leadership track: a BBA in Marketing and a BA in Plan II Honors from UT Austin in 2007, then dual Master's degrees from Harvard Business School and the Harvard Kennedy School of Government in 2015, followed by more than 15 years across fashion, beauty, retail, philanthropy, and technology leadership roles. In 2016 she became the first woman and first person of color appointed to chair UT Austin's McCombs BBA Alumni Advisory Board, and in 2021 she returned as the university's distinguished alumni commencement speaker. What isn't conventional is what came next. Patten built her current business, [The MetaBusiness World](https://www.erinpatten.com), after a period of serious personal crisis — the loss of her father, a close friend's murder, and her mother's suicide attempt — that sent her into a deeper study of metaphysical psychology alongside her existing business background. The company mentors female entrepreneurs, pairing conventional business strategy with the frameworks she developed processing that period of her life. In fall 2025, she extended the work into product with [Ra Beauty](https://canvasrebel.com/meet-erin-patten/), a plant-based hair care and skincare line — not her first run at the category, either: an earlier plant-based hair product collection she developed had already made it onto shelves at Macy's. Patten has been direct about why she chose to build something new rather than climb further inside a company: "I launched because my son is watching me, even from a distance, and I wanted him to see his mother rise." It's a personal stake laid over a genuinely unusual founder profile — Harvard-caliber corporate credentials paired with a business built explicitly out of surviving a hard period, not around it. Her operating philosophy for the entrepreneurs she mentors cuts against a lot of standard startup advice: "The hustle got you here, but it won't get you where you actually want to go. Flow will." Coming from someone with 15 years inside high-pressure corporate leadership before she said that, it reads less like wellness branding and more like a hard-won correction. --- ## Dr. Hannah Rawiszer Helps Solopreneurs Trade Busy for Productive URL: https://totalgirlboss.com/hannah-rawiszer-helping-hannah-solopreneur-systems/ Section: Business · Published: 2026-07-09 TL;DR: Dr. Hannah Rawiszer burned out running custom-scoped virtual assistant retainers for every client, so she rebuilt her business, Helping Hannah Professional Services, around The Client Journey Accelerator — a process-mapping system that helps women solopreneurs scale without burnout. Dr. Hannah Rawiszer didn't start out building operations systems for other founders. Before [Helping Hannah Professional Services](https://helpinghannahpro.com/), she worked as a classroom teacher at the secondary and university level, then as Director of Education and Community Engagement at a local PBS station, then as an Executive Assistant and Operations Manager at a nonprofit — a career built almost entirely around making complicated organizations run more smoothly for other people. She brought that instinct into her own business the hard way. Rawiszer started out offering virtual-assistant retainer packages to small business owners, taking on each client with a custom, individually negotiated scope. It worked, until it didn't — juggling a different set of deliverables and expectations for every client led to real burnout. Rather than scale that model, she rebuilt around a different one: process mapping and standard operating procedures. Her signature offer now, [The Client Journey Accelerator](https://canvasrebel.com/meet-hannah-rawiszer-ph-d/), maps out a business's entire client journey and builds repeatable systems around it, so the founder isn't reinventing the experience from scratch every time. The business exists specifically for women solopreneurs trying to [scale without burning out](/side-hustles-for-women-that-scale/) the way she did. As she's put it: "What excites me most about this work is knowing that I'm helping my clients set up their businesses in a way that lets them scale without burning out." It's a direct answer to her own experience, not a hypothetical pitch. Her other operating principle is just as pointed, aimed at the hustle-culture assumption that more hours automatically means more progress: "Being busy doesn't always mean being productive. And being busy doesn't equal success." For a founder who scaled past her own burnout by building systems instead of grinding harder, it's less a slogan than a lesson learned the expensive way. --- ## Lauren Hickman Turned Supply Chain Into a Consulting Company URL: https://totalgirlboss.com/lauren-hickman-speak-up-la-consulting/ Section: Leadership · Published: 2026-07-09 TL;DR: After more than a decade in corporate Supply Chain management, Lauren Hickman founded Speak Up La Inc., a consulting and media company that helps entrepreneurs launch, brand, and get press-ready through interview prep, media production, and consulting. Before she was a founder, Lauren Hickman spent over a decade in Supply Chain management, work that gave her an unusually clear view of how companies actually get perceived by the corporations and partners they depend on. She holds an undergraduate degree from Fisk University and an MBA from Clark Atlanta University, and she still works in Corporate America today implementing Supplier Diversity Programs alongside running her own company. That corporate vantage point became the foundation for [Speak Up La™ Inc.](https://www.speakupla.com), the consulting and media business she founded to help entrepreneurs launch, brand, and get press-ready. The company offers interview prep, media production — streaming, blogs, vlogs, podcasts — and consulting for businesses trying to figure out how to present themselves to the world. In 2021, she expanded it significantly with the launch of the Speak Up La™ Show, funded in large part by an investment from her own mother. Hickman has [described the founding motivation](https://canvasrebel.com/meet-lauren-hickman/) simply: she wanted a space of her own where she could help people through her gifts, rather than only inside someone else's org chart. It's a modest way to describe building a company that now sits at the intersection of corporate consulting and media production — not a small pivot for someone who spent ten-plus years inside a single function. She's also blunt about what keeps her going: "The clients I work with are EVERYTHING! I have been so blessed that so many have come to me to help them launch their business or help them to secure their dream job!" For a founder whose entire pitch is about helping other people control their own narrative, that's a fitting note to end on — her business exists because people trusted her with theirs. --- ## How to Negotiate Your Salary as a Woman: Scripts That Work URL: https://totalgirlboss.com/how-to-negotiate-your-salary-as-a-woman/ Section: Money · Published: 2026-07-09 TL;DR: Women negotiate salary as often as men but face more rejection. Anchor high with a specific number, tie your ask to quantified results, and negotiate every lever — bonuses, equity, flexibility — not just base pay. The pay gap is not a confidence gap. Here's what the data actually says: women now negotiate their salaries as often as men — in some studies, more often. The problem isn't that women aren't asking. It's that they're getting told no more often. Harvard's Program on Negotiation found that the gap persists not because women stay silent, but because workplace structures, promotion pipelines, and the way asks are received all stack against them. That's the bad news. The good news is that knowing it changes your strategy. You don't need to negotiate harder — you need to negotiate smarter. ## Do your homework before you do anything else "I deserve more" is not a negotiation. A number backed by data is. Before you walk into any conversation about salary, spend time on Glassdoor, LinkedIn Salary, Levels.fyi, and Payscale. Cross-reference at least three sources. Know the range for your role, your location, your experience level, and your industry. If you have colleagues you trust enough to compare notes with, now is the time. Your target number should sit at the top of the range — not the middle. You will be negotiated down. If you start at the midpoint, you end up below it. ## Anchor with a specific number, not a range This is where most people lose before the conversation even starts. When you give a range — say, "$85,000 to $100,000" — the other person hears "$85,000." Give a specific number instead: "$97,000." It signals that you've done your research, you know your worth, and you're not leaving a negotiating margin for them to exploit. If they come in lower than your number, your response is simple: *"I appreciate the offer. Based on my research and the impact I bring, I'm looking for $97,000. What can we do to get there?"* ## Tie your ask to results, not feelings "I've been here for three years" is not leverage. "I reduced client churn by 18% last quarter, which added $400,000 in retained revenue" is. Before any salary conversation, make a list of your wins — quantified wherever possible. Think in terms of revenue generated, costs reduced, time saved, problems solved, and team outcomes you influenced. Write them down. Practice saying them out loud. The goal is to make the business case for your salary, not just the personal one. If you're entering a new role and don't have internal results to cite, lead with what you've accomplished elsewhere and what you plan to deliver. ## The script when they say "that's above budget" This is the moment most negotiations end — but it doesn't have to. Try: *"I understand. Can we look at what else is flexible? I'm interested in [equity / signing bonus / accelerated review at six months / remote flexibility / professional development budget]."* When companies say there's no budget for salary, they almost never mean there's nothing to work with. Your job is to broaden the table. Also worth asking: *"What would reaching the number I mentioned look like — is there a performance milestone that gets me there?"* This reframes the conversation from a flat no into a roadmap. ## Negotiate the review timeline, not just the starting salary One of the most underused moves in salary negotiation: ask for an accelerated performance review. If they offer $90,000 and you wanted $100,000, counter with $90,000 plus a six-month review with a commitment to revisit compensation at that point. You're not giving up — you're getting a structured path to what you asked for, with a built-in accountability moment on the calendar. ## Silence is your friend After you state your number, stop talking. This is uncomfortable. It's meant to be. The first person to speak after an offer is made tends to give ground. You made your ask — let the other person respond. Resist the instinct to fill the silence with justifications, backpedaling, or softeners like "I know that might be a lot..." It isn't a lot. You did your research. ## Practice until it feels boring The biggest factor in whether a negotiation goes well isn't your research or your script — it's whether you've said the words out loud before the meeting. Role-play with a friend, a mentor, or a voice memo. Practice stating your number without apologizing for it. Practice the moment they push back. The goal is for the conversation to feel like something you've done before — because, in practice, you have. Your number is not a wish. It's a market-data-backed position. Walk in like it is. ## Frequently asked questions **Why do women get turned down for salary negotiations more often than men?** Research shows the gap isn't in asking behavior — women now negotiate salary as frequently as men. The disparity lies in workplace structures, promotion pipelines, and how asks are perceived. Knowing this, women can prepare stronger cases, anchor higher, and diversify what they negotiate. **What is the best way to start a salary negotiation?** Lead with a specific number — not a range — backed by market data from sources like Glassdoor, LinkedIn Salary, or Levels.fyi. Anchor high: you can always come down, but you can never go up from a lowball. **What should you negotiate beyond base salary?** Signing bonus, performance bonuses, equity or stock options, remote work flexibility, additional PTO, an accelerated performance review timeline, and professional development budget are all negotiable — even when a company says the base salary is fixed. --- ## Alison Lumbatis Left Engineering to Style 100,000 Women URL: https://totalgirlboss.com/alison-lumbatis-outfit-formulas-styling-business/ Section: Business · Published: 2026-07-09 TL;DR: Alison Lumbatis left a telecom engineering career to found Outfit Formulas, a personal styling program built on the premise that style is a learnable system rather than an innate talent, and it has since helped more than 100,000 women across 20 countries rebuild their wardrobes. Alison Lumbatis spent her early career as a telecom engineer, a long way from fashion. She started blogging about style in 2012 as a side project while working from home, and the audience it built organically over the following year convinced her there was a real business underneath it. In 2014, she left her corporate job and launched [Outfit Formulas](https://outfitformulas.com/), a personal styling program that sends women capsule-wardrobe plans, shopping lists, and daily outfit formulas by email and app — trading a corporate paycheck for the harder, less-taught problem of [figuring out how to pay herself from her own business](/how-to-pay-yourself-as-a-business-owner/). Her core bet is that style is teachable, not innate — a direct rebuttal to the idea that some women are just "naturally" put-together and others aren't. [As she's put it in an interview with CanvasRebel](https://canvasrebel.com/meet-alison-lumbatis/): "Style is a skill that anyone can learn. You don't have to be naturally gifted with it." The business has grown almost entirely on that premise, reaching more than 100,000 women across 20 countries. It wasn't a straight line — when the pandemic hit, Outfit Formulas took an initial 50% hit in sales, the kind of drop that ends a lot of small businesses. Instead, Lumbatis used the disruption to rework the program, and came out the other side with 10% growth for the year. She's since become a best-selling author, extending the same formula-based approach to a book. The other half of her pitch is just as direct: "Every woman deserves to dress the body she has right now" — not the body she used to have, or the one she's working toward. It's a small reframe that's carried an entire company: turning "I don't know how to dress myself" into a solvable, teachable problem, one formula at a time. --- ## Carolyn Rodz Built the Small-Business Tool She Wished Existed URL: https://totalgirlboss.com/carolyn-rodz-hello-alice-small-business-platform/ Section: Leadership · Published: 2026-07-07 TL;DR: Carolyn Rodz, a former investment banker, co-founded Hello Alice in 2017 with Elizabeth Gore to give small-business owners a single free platform for funding, mentorship, and services, and it now serves more than 350,000 businesses and has raised a $21 million Series B. Before Carolyn Rodz was a co-founder and CEO, she was an investment banker who left finance to build and eventually sell her own marketing analytics firm, Cake. That first company taught her exactly what a founder can't do alone — find funding, find the right people, find someone who's already solved the problem you're stuck on — and that there was no single place to go for any of it. So in 2017, Rodz and co-founder Elizabeth Gore built one: [Hello Alice](https://helloalice.com/about/faqs/), a free, multi-channel platform that helps small-business owners access funding, mentorship, and services in one place, with a particular focus on owners who've historically been shut out of traditional small-business capital — women, people of color, veterans, and first-time founders without a network to lean on. The platform has scaled fast. Hello Alice now serves more than 350,000 businesses in its network, with roughly 500,000 people using the platform weekly, and raised a $21 million Series B led by QED Investors. Rodz has described [year-over-year growth north of 1,100%](https://harlem.capital/more-equity-podcast-carolyn-rodz-of-hello-alice/) for the company and over 600% revenue growth — the kind of numbers that read like a Silicon Valley pitch deck but are backing a company literally headquartered in Alice, Texas. The recognition has followed: Rodz has been named to Inc.'s "17 Women to Watch," was named Hispanic CEO of the Year by the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and has testified before the U.S. House Small Business Committee on the actual, on-the-ground state of small-business funding access — a level of policy credibility most startup founders never reach. Rodz has said the whole company traces back to one gap in her own founder journey: "I started Hello Alice as the answer to what I wish I had when I was starting my first company fifteen years ago." It's a rare kind of founder-market fit — she isn't guessing at what small-business owners need, because she was one, stuck, with nowhere to turn. --- ## Whitney Tingle Turned $700 Into a $150 Million Wellness Company URL: https://totalgirlboss.com/whitney-tingle-sakara-life-bootstrapped-wellness-company/ Section: Money · Published: 2026-07-07 TL;DR: Whitney Tingle co-founded Sakara Life with her childhood best friend Danielle Duboise at age 25 with $700, bootstrapped it for four years, and built it into a plant-based wellness company now doing roughly $150 million a year in revenue. Whitney Tingle was 25 when she and her childhood best friend, Danielle Duboise, started [Sakara Life](https://www.sakara.com/pages/about) with $700 between them. The idea came out of Tingle's own struggle with chronic skin issues — she'd spent years cycling through treatments before discovering that what she ate mattered more than what she put on her face, and decided the fix she wanted didn't exist yet as a business. So they built it themselves, with no funding, for four years. Sakara delivers organic, plant-rich meals designed around metabolism and gut health, blending nutrition science with older food traditions — a pitch that sounded niche in 2011 and considerably less niche a decade into the wellness industry's mainstreaming. The company didn't raise its first outside capital, a $4.8 million Series A, until 2015; by 2021 it had brought in $20 million total, including a $15 million Series B. The bootstrapped years mattered. By the time Sakara took investment, it wasn't a pitch deck — it was a business already doing real revenue, and Tingle and Duboise were negotiating from a position most first-time founders never get to occupy. Today, [Sakara does roughly $150 million a year](https://www.forbes.com/sites/alexandrasternlicht/2021/03/24/how-two-childhood-friends-built-sakara-life-into-a-150-million-a-year-plant-based-powerhouse/) in revenue, is profitable, and the two co-founders have kept majority ownership of the company — a rarity at that scale. Tingle has described the founding insight simply: "Discovering the power of plants completely transformed our bodies and our lives." She's since become a national best-selling author with Sakara's debut cookbook, a certified holistic health coach, and co-host of the Sakara Life podcast — all extensions of the same core bet she made at 25, that credibility built slowly on an actual result beats a growth story built on funding alone. Sakara isn't a Silicon Valley story, and that's the point. It's proof that a wellness business can start as two friends solving their own problem with $700, refuse outside money until the business earns the right to want it, and still end up worth nine figures a year. --- ## Catherine Berman's Fintech Proves Impact and Returns Coexist URL: https://totalgirlboss.com/catherine-berman-cnote-impact-investing-fintech/ Section: Money · Published: 2026-07-06 TL;DR: Catherine Berman left a Managing Director role at Charles Schwab to co-found CNote in 2016, a fintech platform that routes everyday investor capital into community lenders, and it has since moved more than $300 million to roughly 2,000 partner CDFIs for clients including Apple, Mastercard, and Patagonia. Before she was a founder, Catherine "Cat" Berman spent years as a Managing Director at Charles Schwab, building financial products from the inside of one of the largest brokerages in the country. In 2016, she left to co-found [CNote](https://www.mycnote.com/about-us/) with Yuliya Tarasava, betting that there was a way to connect everyday investor capital to community lenders — without asking anyone to sacrifice returns to do it. CNote's premise is that the $5 trillion community finance market — the Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) and community banks that fund small businesses, affordable housing, and underserved neighborhoods — has been largely invisible to institutional capital, not because the returns aren't there, but because the infrastructure to access them wasn't. CNote built that infrastructure: a platform that lets companies and individual investors move cash into vetted community lenders with the same ease as any other cash-management product. It's worked. CNote now has more than [$300 million on its platform](https://www.forbes.com/sites/afdhelaziz/2020/08/04/how-fintech-platform-cnote-gives-socially-conscious-investors-new-ways-to-battle-inequality-an-interview-with-catherine-berman/), routed through roughly 2,000 partner CDFIs to some 1,900 investors — corporate clients include Apple, Mastercard, Patagonia, PayPal, and Netflix, several of whom use CNote specifically to meet diversity, equity, and inclusion goals with their idle cash. The company has grown 370% since 2020 and was profiled as a case study by the [U.S. Treasury's CDFI Fund](https://www.cdfifund.gov/impact/86) — the kind of validation that's hard to manufacture. Berman has been direct about why she built it: "I want to build a more equal world — one where new immigrants like my mother would have the same opportunity my daughter has today." It's a personal stake dressed up as a fintech thesis, and it's arguably why CNote reads less like a typical impact-investing pitch and more like infrastructure that was always going to get built by someone — she just made sure it was built well. CNote is a Certified B Corporation, GIIRS-rated, and based in Oakland. It's not trying to be the next Schwab. It's trying to prove that the parts of finance Wall Street doesn't bother with are exactly where the next decade of impact — and, per its own results, real yield — actually lives. --- ## Jasmine Crowe-Houston Solves Hunger With Logistics, Not Charity URL: https://totalgirlboss.com/jasmine-crowe-houston-goodr-solving-hunger-with-logistics/ Section: Founders · Published: 2026-07-06 TL;DR: Jasmine Crowe-Houston turned a weekly pot of spaghetti served to people experiencing homelessness in Atlanta into Goodr, a food-waste logistics technology company that has raised $9.4 million and now operates in 15 states. In 2013, Jasmine Crowe-Houston drove through downtown Atlanta and saw hundreds of people experiencing homelessness. She went home, made a pot of spaghetti, posted about it on Facebook, and invited anyone who wanted to help serve it. She kept doing that most Sundays for four years — long before [anyone was calling her a founder](https://www.ajc.com/news/business/jasmine-crowe-houstons-journey-from-cupcake-truck-to-founding-goodr/QYNXC5ME2BDVFDFG5JRXZZPFIM/). By January 2017, that recurring act of feeding people had become [Goodr](https://goodr.co/our-story/), a technology company built on a simple but sharp reframe: hunger isn't a scarcity problem, it's a logistics problem. Goodr connects businesses, cities, and event venues that have surplus food with the people and organizations that need it, using software to track, route, and account for every donated meal — turning what used to be a write-off into a measurable, tax-deductible, trackable pipeline. The company has since [raised $9.4 million](https://www.becauseofthemwecan.com/blogs/news/jasmine-crowes-food-waste-management-company-goodr-raises-8m-in-series-a-funding), including an $8 million Series A backed by Precursor Ventures, Backstage Capital, Emerson Collective, and Kimbal and Christiana Musk. It now [operates in 15 states](https://finance.yahoo.com/news/jasmine-crowe-houston-goodr-mobile-165532160.html), works with corporate sponsors, city governments, and sports venues, and — [per Crowe-Houston's own account](https://fortune.com/2022/11/30/goodr-startup-tackle-hunger-by-reducing-waste/) — pulls in more in annual revenue than it has raised in outside funding, a rare position for a five-person team. In Atlanta, Goodr has also opened a free mobile grocery store, taking the same reallocation model directly to neighborhoods that need it. Crowe-Houston has framed the company's entire premise in one line: "Hunger is not an issue of scarcity. It's really about logistics." It's the kind of reframe that sounds obvious once you hear it — which is usually the mark of a founder who's spent real time inside the problem before trying to fix it. Goodr isn't a household name yet, and Crowe-Houston isn't chasing that. What she's built instead is a profitable, purpose-built logistics business that happens to run on empathy — proof that solving something as unglamorous as food waste can be both a real company and a real dent in hunger. --- ## 10 Influential Women Business Owners Who Have Made Their Mark URL: https://totalgirlboss.com/10-influential-women-business-owners-who-have-made-their-mark/ Section: Business · Published: 2023-07-07 TL;DR: A rundown of 10 influential women business owners — from Oprah Winfrey and Sara Blakely to Whitney Wolfe Herd and Jessica Alba — and what their entrepreneurship, innovation, and leadership can teach the next generation of founders. When the conversation with your girlfriends turns to women-owned businesses, the stories are better than ever. Women have been making significant strides in the business world, breaking barriers and achieving remarkable success. In this article, we will explore the stories of 10 influential women who have made their mark as business owners. Their entrepreneurship, innovation, and leadership have not only shaped industries but also inspired future generations of [female entrepreneurs](/viet-ha-do-shares-her-advice-for-young-entrepreneurs/). 1. **Oprah Winfrey**: Oprah Winfrey, a prominent businesswoman, media mogul, and philanthropist, is best known for her talk show, The Oprah Winfrey Show. Through her production company, Harpo Productions, she has produced numerous successful films and television shows. Winfrey’s influence extends beyond media as she launched the OWN (Oprah Winfrey Network) cable channel. Her philanthropic efforts have made a significant impact on various causes, including education and empowerment. 2. **Sheryl Sandberg**: Sheryl Sandberg, the former Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Meta (Facebook), is a recognized advocate for women’s empowerment. She played a pivotal role in Facebook’s growth and success and authored the influential book “Lean In,” which encourages women to pursue their ambitions and overcome gender bias in the workplace — including in something as concrete as [negotiating pay](/how-to-negotiate-your-salary-as-a-woman/). Sandberg has actively campaigned for gender equality and has initiated programs to support women in leadership roles. 3. **Sara Blakely**: Sara Blakely is the founder of Spanx, a company that revolutionized the undergarment industry with its innovative shapewear products. Her dedication and perseverance turned her idea into a billion-dollar business, making her the youngest self-made female billionaire at the time. Blakely is not only a successful entrepreneur but also a committed philanthropist, actively supporting causes related to women’s empowerment and entrepreneurship. 4. **Indra Nooyi**: Indra Nooyi, a former CEO of PepsiCo, spearheaded strategic initiatives that transformed the company’s product portfolio and sustainability efforts. She is recognized for her visionary leadership and commitment to diversity and inclusion. Nooyi’s accomplishments include expanding PepsiCo’s healthier food and beverage offerings and advocating for environmental sustainability. 5. **Mary Barra**: Mary Barra is the Chair and CEO of General Motors (GM), making her the first woman to lead a major global automaker. Under her leadership, GM has focused on technological advancements and the development of electric and autonomous vehicles. Barra’s commitment to innovation and sustainability has positioned GM as a leader in the automotive industry’s transformation. 6. **Gwyneth Paltrow**: Gwyneth Paltrow, known for her successful acting career, is also the founder of Goop, a wellness and lifestyle brand. Goop offers products, content, and experiences related to health, wellness, and mindfulness. Paltrow’s dedication to promoting holistic well-being has resonated with a broad audience, and Goop has become a trusted source of information and products in the wellness industry. 7. **Arianna Huffington**: Arianna Huffington, the co-founder of The Huffington Post, revolutionized the way news is consumed and shared. She created a platform that provided a diverse range of perspectives and engaged readers worldwide. Huffington’s emphasis on well-being and work-life balance has been instrumental in sparking conversations and initiatives focused on personal wellness in the modern workplace. 8. **Rihanna**: Rihanna, a global music icon, launched Fenty Beauty, a makeup line celebrated for its inclusive range of products. She has expanded her entrepreneurial endeavors to include lingerie and luxury fashion lines, showcasing the power of personal branding and diversification. Rihanna’s influence extends beyond her artistic career, as she uses her platform to advocate for inclusivity and representation in the beauty and fashion industries. 9. **Whitney Wolfe Herd**: Whitney Wolfe Herd is the founder of Bumble, a popular dating app that empowers women to make the first move. Her innovative approach to online dating has garnered significant attention, and Bumble grew into a public company under her leadership. Wolfe Herd’s focus on creating a safe and inclusive platform has resonated with users and has made a positive impact on the online dating landscape. 10. **Jessica Alba**: Jessica Alba, known for her acting career, is the founder of The Honest Company, a consumer goods brand she launched in 2011 around non-toxic baby, personal care, and household products. She grew it into a nationally distributed brand and took it public on the Nasdaq in 2021, becoming one of the most prominent celebrity-turned-founders in the process. Alba’s success story highlights the importance of determination, strategic thinking, and building a business around a clear consumer need. These 10 influential women business owners have shattered glass ceilings, disrupted industries, and inspired countless individuals worldwide. Through their entrepreneurial spirit, leadership, and innovation, they have left an indelible mark on their respective fields, serving as role models for aspiring female entrepreneurs. Their success stories demonstrate the limitless possibilities for women in business and pave the way for a more inclusive and diverse business landscape. As their influence continues to grow, these women are changing the narrative and creating a brighter future for generations of aspiring entrepreneurs to come. --- ## How Artist Roya Ghassemi Is Inspiring Young Women URL: https://totalgirlboss.com/how-artist-roya-ghassemi-is-inspiring-young-women/ Section: Culture · Published: 2022-07-15 In art, as in all industries, women currently make up an alarmingly small percentage of the total revenue share. This is true even though the total number of women artists likely outweighs the number of men in the space, and statistics show that more women are educated in art than men. Women have long been kept on the side rails, and it has taken humanity centuries to come to a point where the conversation surrounding feminism and gender quality is now starting to take shape. However, even in the modern era, this topic is often considered controversial, provocative, or even unacceptable in some parts of the world. As a result, women often get the short end of the stick. However, in many cases, women that experience these gross inequities become stronger and advocate for change. One such example of this is artist [Roya Ghassemi (r0yart).](https://www.r0yart.com/) Raised in northern Iran, she was born into an oppressive culture that treats women as second-class citizens. However, Roya wasn’t going to make peace with it, instead standing up to become a strong-willed feminist with a motive to go out and help other women find their freedom. Despite leaving the oppressive Iranian culture behind when she moved to Germany in her early 20’s, Roya knew her goal of starting her own art business and eventually mentoring women would not be easy; nevertheless, she went along with it because it is her passion and path in life. With determination and confidence in her abilities, [Roya](https://www.instagram.com/r0yart/) continues to inspire and mentor young (and old) women to become the best versions of themselves. She does this through 1 on 1 and group conversations and by helping them find their way in the arts. However, Roya’s efforts weren’t just about teaching or encouraging women to participate in arts, but also to gain confidence in their abilities and be proud to have something beautiful to share with the world. As anyone would expect, the journey has not been easy for Roya. Over time her story has brought her up and down many times, especially as [Roya](https://twitter.com/_r0yart) faced the passive assault on her human rights before immigrating to Germany. Despite these inherent challenges, her love for Persian art and its history continues to grow stronger. “Just because the country of Iran is misguided by the current regime and leadership to bash women and remove our chances for equality, does not change the beauty of Persian history and culture, says Roya, “and I am hopeful that in time Iran will become a country that respects all people equally.” Along with being a strong and determined feminist, [Roya](https://www.clubhouse.com/@royart) has also developed a signature style of work in portraiture. Her style has been hugely popular, with daily occurrences now of “copy-cat” artists attempting to profit from her brand. Her early work in physical artwork connected her with some influential members of society and helped her gain a network that has continued to benefit her career and help spread her story around the world. [Roya’s](https://opensea.io/r0yart) desire to live in the West comes from the more pervasive perspective of fairness, and equality. She explains “There is no place on Earth where people are not judged based on their gender, race, or religion to some extent, however in the West, these issues are taken much more seriously and great strides have been made and continue to shape these societies. I want to continue to be an active participant in these conversations and I can do this best where my voice will be heard.” Roya mentioned that she loves several countries in Europe and that she also has her eye set on The United States as a potential future place of residency, as she continues to look for an avenue to add value to society and contribute to what eventually may become an ideal environment. A place where she can work alongside strong women and balanced men to achieve important mutual goals. [Roya](https://superrare.com/r0yart) will continue to spread the message of hope and kindness, always remembering the lessons she learned from her early controversies. She constantly leverages avenues to mentor young women to be better versions of themselves and make society a better place. She hopes to be a shining example to others and a beacon of hope to many. --- ## Elena Asher: The True Embodiment of Hope and Determination URL: https://totalgirlboss.com/elena-asher-the-true-embodiment-of-hope-determination-and-success-for-all/ Section: Business · Published: 2022-06-30 TL;DR: Elena Asher founded LashMakers in 2011, a lash extension company, after building her own success from an unstable upbringing in Russia and years of working retail, restaurant, and flower-shop jobs starting at age 13. She has since become one of the top lash instructors in the United States, offering private and group training for women. Life is not a bed of roses, neither it is full of thorns. Struggles combined with accomplishments create perfect harmony in life. All It needs is a constant thrive on motivation, determination, and fuel to ignite the strong will to live, and not just survive. Prosperity in every field of life never comes to one on its own. One has to struggle hard to get to it, own it, and deserve it. People are exposed to several problems and challenges, and it is only when such obstacles are tackled that a person can be successful. Success can never be earned by staying idle, and this implies that it is important to put in all the effort to increase the chances of becoming successful in life and conquering above all. In today’s competitive and fast-paced world, choosing the right career, attaining financial independence, and acquiring overall stability in life with utmost satisfaction seems too good to be true. However, with the threads of perseverance, constant struggle, strong faith, and clear vision, one can undoubtedly weave their wild dreams and shape them into a beautiful reality. ‘Hustle’ is that one word that a person must keep foremost in their dictionary of life to pave their way to nothing but ultimate success. Several prominent figures rewrote their fate and reached the pinnacle of success despite immense miseries and turbulences life put in their way. Among them, one such personality is Elena Asher. She is determined to motivate youth who have bigger dreams but are restrained by limited resources. She pushes them to start their professional careers and earn financial stability no matter what life brings to them and let the success kiss their feet with their utmost dedication, unshaken faith, and fierce devotion. She is a living example of never letting limitations define a soul or shatter their huge dreams, no matter how unrealistic they seem at first. Despite her life filled with calamities and immense trouble, she still manages to reach the precipice of greatness. Elena proves that it only takes headstrong desires combined with persistent efforts to make the impossible possible. And this is what makes her unstoppable and a perfect role model for the young and struggling entrepreneurs to look up to her and choose their battles wisely. Born in an unstable family in Russia, Elena Asher understands the importance of being self-sufficient. Since her childhood, she has always admired a high-standard lifestyle. She was not satisfied with her way of living, and therefore, she took an oath to herself to be a successful woman one day and enjoy her life to its fullest, the one she had always dreamt of. Elena already had decided to change her fate. She did not want to accept the idea of living a low life and had bigger dreams to achieve. With a passion for changing her destiny and a fascination with the idea of earning, Elena started her first job at a flower shop at the tender age of 13. The job could not give her a generous salary, but she was happy to meet the expenses independently. She continued to explore other industries searching for a job and earning money. She worked in a restaurant as well as a retail shop. Elena’s passion for work and enthusiasm got her several job opportunities, due to which she got significant experience. At the age of 17, she was studying in 12th standard. Nonetheless, her busy life didn’t stop her from doing two jobs at a time to meet her expenses and do savings for her bright future. Elena was able to pay the bills on her own with her recent jobs. However, it was not the final call for her. She was excited about working with even more challenges to change her fate. The passion for earning more persuaded her to focus more on work instead of studies. Hence, she called her education off and started working full-time. Elena had bigger dreams; she wanted to achieve all the great things in her life. As she reached adulthood, she got the idea to go to Europe and moved there after turning 20. However, Europe was not as fascinating as she dreamt of. Therefore, Elena Asher moved to the United States along with her friend. After stepping onto the soil of America, she realized that her future belonged here and continued to grind for her unfulfilled dreams. In the United States, Elena was much interested in building her own empire in the business world. She tried her luck in the lash extension industry. She learned the skills and kept practicing. The combination of self-taught practices and professional training gave her the idea to start her own lash extension business. She founded LashMakers in 2011, where her company offers to lash extension services with high-quality products. To come as no surprise, LashMakers got massive success in a short time. However, the success of Elena Asher was not over yet. The way she reached this stage despite belonging to an unstable family, she wanted to help other people learn this skill and become self-dependent. Today, Elena is one of the top lash instructors in the entire United States. Her company offers both private and group training for women. She is a true inspiration for all who are struggling to refine their purpose, clear their motto, do their best, and let no restriction come in the way of their truly remarkable success --- ## Olga Maria of Branding Collective: From Biology to Branding URL: https://totalgirlboss.com/olga-maria-founder-of-branding-collective-shares-her-journey-from-biology-to-branding/ Section: Founders · Published: 2022-06-08 Branding is much more; it goes beyond connecting with a prospective buyer or an audience to boost sales. Branding transcends flashy ads and spam mails; it is a journey that tells a brand’s story and what makes it unique. Branding may be tricky most of the time, as it might prove to be a Hercules heel if not correctly done. Proper branding is not a one-size-fits technique; instead, it’s unique for every business. Branding Collective, one of the fastest-growing branding companies, continues to set the pace. It doesn’t believe in the “one size fits all” concept, and this is its secret spice. Olga Maria, the founder and currently the CEO of Branding Collective, is a creative talent who combines art and science to weave stories that reflect her expertise in branding. Olga’s story started with her love for art and the microscopy lab. Growing up, she wanted to pursue arts, but others’ opinions got the better of her. Instead, she went for a Ph.D. in Biology and landed a successful career as a scientist. Although it was a high-paying job, Olga still believes she was missing a puzzle- she wasn’t fulfilled, she knew there was a void to be filled. To quench her creative thirst, Olga often took microscopic photos to show the world the beauty of life from a different perspective. For a long time, Olga kept chasing shiny projects, traveling to different countries searching for contentment but only came back depressed. Considering this, she decided to employ the service of a mentor, and this decision changed her life for good. Olga discovered the purpose of her life through Branding Collective. As a branding expert, she fulfilled her passion for both art and science to curate personalized campaigns for her clients. So far, Branding Collective has catered to over a hundred entrepreneurs helping them grow from zero to reputable brands. Branding Collective takes a different perspective on the art of branding compared to other companies in the industry. Olga ensures that each campaign is tailored to reflect the brand’s image, message, and purpose so intimately that it becomes a reflection of the business. The company connects, bonds, communicates and explores different facets of the business for every client to create captivating campaigns. The goal of Branding Collective is to blend the unique aspects of every brand with unparalleled creativity to develop solutions that instantly drive competitors to the periphery. For Branding Collective, a project is not an assignment; it’s a journey to help the business grow bottom-up. The enthusiastic team at Branding Collective works closely with brands to find their distinct brand voice and amplify it to boost their online presence. The young team at Branding Collective works relentlessly to understand every business, its pain points, and its purpose before working on each campaign. This technique has continually proven to help entrepreneurs position themselves as a part of the brand rather than being a face behind it. Olga, the brain behind Branding Collective, left her successful career only to find fulfillment in doing what she loves the most. She built the business from scratch with a mix of her creative talent, passion for art, and knowledge of science. Olga is dedicated to making each branding solution stand out; in the spirit of commitment and dedication to putting out the best, she explores more exciting tools, templates, and courses to help businesses, entrepreneurs, and professionals monetize their online presence. Olga is looking to collaborate with more renowned brands, helping them grow through self-expression and her creativity. --- ## Ella Madatyan Takes Armenian Food To The Next Level URL: https://totalgirlboss.com/ella-madatyan-takes-armenian-food-to-the-next-level/ Section: Culture · Published: 2022-06-08 TL;DR: Ella Madatyan is the 38-year-old CEO of Papillon Bakery, an Armenian bakery she's run since 2008 after taking it over from her father, turning what began as one failing location into five stores across the Los Angeles area. She plans to franchise two more locations and is considering a clothing line to help fund a non-profit for domestic violence victims. Armenia is known for its breathtaking landscapes, culture, and organic cuisine that reflects the country’s traditions and ancient history. But with its traditional take on food, who says no one can innovate and explore its possibilities to be taken to the next level? Even more, introducing it to places outside the country! [Ella Madatyan](https://www.instagram.com/ellaemadatyan/), a 38-year-old CEO of the [Papillon Bakery](https://www.papillonbakery.com/), has proven that Armenian cuisine has what it takes to be known. She surely taps on anyone’s cravings by innovating traditional Armenian pastries, creating new products in her bakery, and posting them on social media. ## An Innovative Entrepreneur Being in the business for 14 years, she has [explored innovative ways](https://www.tiktok.com/@ella_madatyan) to make her products stand out. Not to mention, her marketing strategies that cut through her customers’ and social media followers’ interest. Her deliberate marketing skill may come from the fact that she studied marketing before going full-time in her bakery business. Halfway into her studies, her father asked her to take over one of his businesses, which is currently the Papillon Bakery. Through the years, Ella has been seen on different media outlets like Fox News and a few times at KTLA 5 Burrous Bites. The public loved her pastries and different products, which led her to be awarded a Certificate of Recognition from assemblyman Adrin Nazarian. ## How She Started Ella was born in Armenia and moved to America when she was four. Her interest in running a business is rooted in her father, who opened several businesses. She was fortunate enough to work alongside him, and from here, she was eager and fascinated to know how each business ran. When it was her time to handle the business given by her father, one failing bakery did not stop her from continuing her entrepreneurial ventures. She turned one into five bakeries by selling contemporary Armenian pastries. But while she takes care of her business, it is inevitable for her personal life to get in the way of her aspirations. She was married for eight years, had three kids, and had to go through a divorce. With all of this, her family was her anchor. She turned her negative experiences into positive ones by using them to work harder for her children. Also, she used it to inspire other women who cannot leave toxic relationships. Despite her situation, she still bloomed and aimed for more success. ## Papillon Bakery Is The Taste Of Armenia, With A Twist The secret in her unique and innovative pastries? It’s in the dough, and only two people know the recipe. It is light, and you won’t feel heavy after eating it. Her products can certainly bring everyone the taste of Armenia. But what’s different about her pastries is the modern take of being creative on the filling and look of the products. Papillon bakery has it all: empanadas, ponchiks, pizza, bread boat, jingalov, or perashkis. Not only do they sell tasty ponchiks for the sweet tooth. But they also offer savory pastries like pizza, jingalov, or perashkis that can be filled with beef, mashed potatoes, or greens. They also make it to the point that they bake pastries according to a holiday occasion. For example, they make bunny-shaped ponchiks for Easter and heart-shaped ones for Valentine’s day. ## Using Social Media Turning to social media has been one of Ella’s key factors in her bakery’s success. Thanks to Instagram, she has reached many people and persuaded them to try her pastries, and guess what? Even Kim Kardashian tried Papillon Bakery’s products too! She posts all the new cravings, and everything becomes a hit. But for her, using social media has not been only for business purposes. She finds motivation to work from women sending her messages on Instagram, asking how to slip away from unhealthy relationships. Her willingness to help them comes from her drive to get to a place where she can help these women escape a relationship that no longer serves them. She believes that there has to be a reason why she had to experience marriage and relationship struggles. ## Her Friendly Stores She has been managing the Papillon Bakery since 2008 and is currently juggling five store locations: - North Hollywood - Northridge - Glendale Glenoaks - Glendale Central - Hollywood Entering the bakery, one can feel the family-friendly energy from the colors you see on the interior to the packaging of the pastries. Even the bakery’s logo gives off a fun and imaginative vibe. Every corner is marketable and Instagram-worthy. Certainly, her stores bring a sense of delight! They can make people experience the rich culture Armenia has as they explore different tastes that mirror the customs and history of the country. ## On Conquering Entrepreneurial Struggles Just like any other entrepreneur, business struggles are normal to experience. It takes strength to fight and recover from these challenges. Although Papillon Bakery thrived during the COVID-19 pandemic, it has not always been a success and places at the top for Ella. She had her fair share of entrepreneurial trials. Aside from a failed bakery during her first years, she had a spot in Hollywood named OG WINGZ that turned out in a way she did not want to. The pandemic made Hollywood a ghost town, leaving no customers for Ella’s business. Clubs were closed, tourists could not go to the states, and she could no longer bear the rental and overhead fees. She considers it one of the biggest business hurdles she had to face. But her attitude to be successful pushes her every day. Right now, her value of loving work and doing her best in everything lives on, sparking more motivation to open more businesses. ## What’s Coming Next For Her Ella plans to franchise two more Papillon Bakeries by next year. But her girl bossing plans do not only include the expansion of her bakery. She is also considering putting up a clothing line that will help her open a non-profit for domestic violence victims. Her passion is to listen to and help other women succeed in their businesses. She believes that it is harder for them to make a name in the industry. Perhaps giving the support that they need would inspire them to move for their dreams and spark hope for the younger generation. Her intention to help women does prove that she empathizes with their needs and that her heart is for them. --- ## Nathalie Smith's Business Hustle Is an Inspiration for Women URL: https://totalgirlboss.com/through-her-business-hustle-nathalie-smith-is-an-inspiration-for-women/ Section: Founders · Published: 2022-05-03 Giving women the right to be empowered gives them the power to engage equally in school, society, the economy, and politics. Women can participate in society because they have the freedom to choose their religious, linguistic, occupational, and other interests. They can continue their education at a high level, complete their classes, develop skills, and study whatever they desire. Women can also participate in politics because they have the right to vote and participate in various political activities. [Nathalie Nicole Smith](https://www.instagram.com/nathalienicole) is a success coach and lifestyle influencer inspiring women to chase their dreams. She is also a successful entrepreneur with multiple ventures she uses to inspire women. [Nathalie](https://www.instagram.com/shopnnluxury/) leverages her success as an important pillar for other women, showing that anyone can make their wildest dreams come to life. The 30 Under 30 Radio One recipient has coached three women to multi-millionaire status and over 50 to 6-figure status over the last 2 years. Growing up in a single-parent household with limited resources, Nathalie always believed that it was possible to win in life. This pushed her to try several hustles, and after much trial and error, she finally found the perfect business that allowed her to activate her purpose. Nathalie fully ventured into entrepreneurship in 2012, establishing her first brick-and-mortar business. A dedicated entrepreneur, Nathalie has focused on her path and overcoming every hurdle that came her way and has since successfully operated physical storefronts over the past decade. 2020 was one of her most challenging years after achieving her post-millionaire status. This forced her to pull herself out of a deep depression, during which she had gained over 50 lbs. She proved to her supporters that it’s possible to win in life through adversity. Inspired by her desire for freedom, Nathalie believes in working hard to live life the way you want. According to her, freedom gives you the ability to live the life you deserve, allowing you to focus on other aspects of life without any limitations. Life can be challenging at times, and it’s normal to doubt your abilities. However, Nathalie wants you to know that there is never room to give up. Never quit, but instead refocus on why you started. To every woman out there, Nathalie encourages you to continue applying pressure to your goals and dreams. According to her, becoming a multi-millionaire is possible through belief, faith, and a strong work ethic. An ambitious entrepreneur and lifestyle influencer, Nathalie sees herself speaking to thousands of women worldwide. Her dream is to continue empowering women to take action and become successful. Part of her dream is to create her own show, “Behind the Brand,” where she will host a talk show. The idea is to bring other like-minded individuals on board and get them to speak to thousands of women across the world. A multi-talented woman, Nathalie envisions herself becoming an actress, securing and hopefully landing roles in major movies or tv deals. She believes this will be an avenue to impact billions of lives across the globe through her story. --- ## Viet Ha Do Shares Her Advice For Young Entrepreneurs URL: https://totalgirlboss.com/viet-ha-do-shares-her-advice-for-young-entrepreneurs/ Section: Money · Published: 2022-05-02 TL;DR: Viet Ha Do is CEO and Chairman of Habringer Group, a Tennessee-based real estate investment and advisory company she co-founded with Paul Folkes in 2013 after starting her career at Merrill Lynch and working several Wall Street investment firms. Habringer focuses on underperforming multi-family and commercial real estate in the Mid-South, and Do advises young entrepreneurs to have a viable business plan, follow through on ideas, and build a trusted sounding board of advisors. [Viet Ha Do](https://viethado.com/) is currently the CEO and Chairman of a Tennessee-based real estate investment and advisory company, Habringer Group, Inc.   Viet Ha Do began her professional journey at Merrill Lynch. She worked for several investment firms on Wall Street before she made a transition to the real estate sector. In 2009 she became involved with real estate investing and management focused on multi-family residential assets.   In November of 2013, Viet Ha Do joined forces with a seasoned real estate investor, Paul Folkes, to form Habringer Group, Inc. Since its founding, Habringer Group focused its activities on identifying and investing in underperforming multi-family and commercial real estate assets located in the Mid-South region of the United States. The company was initially headquartered in Midtown Manhattan. In 2016, headquarters were moved to Memphis, while retaining a presence in NYC until March 2020. While active primarily in the Mid-South real estate market, the company maintains strong ties with its NYC roots and international investor partners.   Throughout her career, [Viet Ha Do](https://www.ibtimes.sg/viet-ha-do-discusses-productivity-keeping-work-life-balance-62293) has played a central role in value-add processes by bringing superior organizational skills, attention to detail, and a positive attitude to daily work. She does not rest when a real estate project’s goals are met. Instead, she seeks new and innovative ways to continually improve day to day management of multifamily and commercial investment properties.   Viet Ha Do continuously seeks out new real estate projects where she can apply her experience from the financial sector and 12 years of wide-ranging experience in multi-family real estate investment, management, and development.   We recently spoke with [Viet Ha Do](https://www.realtytoday.com/articles/112239/20211207/an-interview-with-viet-ha-do-on-the-success-of-the-habringer-group.htm) who was gracious enough to give her advice to young or aspiring entrepreneurs. **What advice do you have for someone interested in starting their own company?**   Make sure you have a viable business plan prior to starting out. As Benjamin Franklin once said, “If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail.”   **What is the biggest mistake you see others making in business?**   Not following through on what they take on. People are usually extremely enthusiastic about their ideas at the get-go, but they lack the persistence of seeing their concepts all the way through to completion.   **What are the key elements for starting and running a successful business?**   Being in right place at right time, as I believe the timing is everything in business. Even the best ideas for a business will fail if they are implemented at the wrong time.   By the same token, it is important to recognize when the appropriate time comes to dispose of specific business projects due to either inopportune market conditions or potential risks accumulating on the horizon.   **What is your approach to starting a new project or business venture that others may find helpful?**   Brainstorm about the venture and the specific goals of a venture with trusted business partners or advisors.    I always believed in having a solid “sounding board” to vet any and all new business ventures.   **What are some of the keys to effective decision-making?**   Always thoroughly think through the task at hand. Haphazard and rash decision-making will not get you far.   **What advice would you give your younger self?**   Failure is inevitable, you can’t prevent it from happening. Don’t get stuck in the moment, because even the worst failures can bring good life lessons which can open new doors. --- ## 1 Body Med Spa Owner Turista Jackson Is a Baddie in Business URL: https://totalgirlboss.com/1-body-med-spa-owner-turista-jackson-is-a-baddie-in-business/ Section: Founders · Published: 2022-04-29 Turista Jackson is a renowned surgery guru, entrepreneur, and business owner. She is the founder of 1 Body Med Spa, a top-tier facility in the medspa field. With top experts and professionals, 1 Body Med Spa has become the destination to love and adore yourself. They offer various services, including non-invasive procedures to enhance your appearance in a tranquil and inviting environment using the latest technology.  Turista is also known for her exceptional pre and post-op advice, leaving her clients knowledgeable and ready to take on their surgical journey. Turista has been a result-oriented girl from a young age, and she clearly knew what she wanted to achieve in life. The Indianapolis-born, Houston-based entrepreneur shares many notable career accomplishments that she believes have helped her business acumen significantly. Turista established her first business, Smarty Pants DayCare, at 20 with her cousin  Jasmine Hampton. Smarty Pants DayCare was their dream, but instead of them going small and starting an at-home daycare, they chose to open a center. The center reached 100 children enrolled within the first year, which is a huge accomplishment for a  daycare. The success of Smarty Pants DayCare pushed her to look further into the business world, and that’s when she established a body sculpting business in a two-room suite. “I really wanted a med spa that I could do multiple spa services in, but before I could get my investors on board with this idea, I had to prove myself. So, I interned at a med spa for 6 months. Then, finally, I closed the space for my body studio during the pandemic and did a total gut rehab and build in my own space – also during the pandemic,” says  Turista. Today, Turista takes pride in 1 Body Med Spa as the first African American female-owned med spa in Houston, TX, and a top facility that’s impacting lives. The biggest challenge she has faced as an entrepreneur was getting through the pandemic. At the daycare, Turista and Jasmine lost an employee to COVID, and that really hit home for us and made us realize how serious Covid was. Because of this, it made us stop accepting kids or letting ones with symptoms come in which resulted in child dis-enrollment. This was the same case at her body studio, where she lost clients,  so revenue and morale were way down. But despite the hardships, Turista was able to dig deep and look for other lucrative and recession-proof opportunities, which is why she pursued and obtained her real estate license and they purchased a few trucks to diversify the business portfolio. According to Turista, your life is all about the everyday choices you make. People might offer their advice, but they cannot tell you what’s best for you or your body. She believes that only you know what’s best for you because you have your innermost self and spirit that lets you know. Never allow someone else’s opinion of you to affect how you see yourself. Self-confidence and self-belief are all you need, so never give up on yourself and what you want. Challenges might derail your journey, but they can never completely block your path unless you allow them. An ambitious businesswoman, Turista envisions a bright future ahead with more prosperity for her businesses. She aspires to scale 1 Body Med Spa into a franchise opportunity across major US cities. This has been her biggest dream, and she is currently working hard to see her dreams come to life. --- ## Gordana Sretenovic on Why Tech Companies Need Female Founders URL: https://totalgirlboss.com/startup-co-founder-gordana-sretenovic-on-the-importance-of-female-founders-in-tech-companies/ Section: Founders · Published: 2022-04-20 Gordana Sretenovic is a former editor of eight years turned startup co-founder in the midst of the pandemic. She built successful content teams in the past and now spends time developing SaaS products to help others do the same. **Social accounts & relevant websites**: [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/gordanasretenovic923/) ## Tell us about Workello. **Gordana Sretenovic:** Workello is the only tool specifically designed for companies that need to hire content teams. However, even though it started as such, it has become an encompassing tool for remote teams who need to hire top talent. ## You started Workello with two co-founders. What is the difference and the importance of female founders when it comes to SaaS products? **Gordana Sretenovic:** SaaS is notoriously famous for being a “bro” section of the startup world. The most famous founders you know are usually men, think Zuckerberg, Dorsey. It’s incredibly hard for women to get their ideas out there and share the space with the men and feel like equals. Of course, we have incredible women founders in the industry, but I think that we can still keep fighting the good fight and show that it is very possible and very attainable to be a woman in SaaS and not feel like an outcast. In my particular case, the biggest difference between me and my male co-founders is that we think very differently about the product. They are incredibly intelligent and have this amazing drive to push the company forward. I, on the other hand, am much more interested in making Workello as comprehensive as it can be, positioning it as a useful tool, and finding out what our customers want. The dynamic that we have allowed us to focus on all sides of product development and not fall into the trap of “bro” culture that’s so prevalent in tech. ## How have you been able to grow your business? **Gordana Sretenovic:** Our business is very much still a baby, but we have managed to get 35 customers in the pre-launch beta phase and that allowed us to see exactly what we need to do to make it irresistible to thousands of customers in the future. We went the extra mile to promote Workello to our community that we were building for the past three years and we wanted them to be our first customers and share this journey with us. ## What are some secrets that women in tech should know if they want to start a business? **Gordana Sretenovic:** You need to be strong and not let people walk all over you. When I was younger I allowed coworkers, specifically men, to interrupt me, claim my ideas and work as theirs, and generally not respect my time or my effort. Now that I’m older, I’m definitely not perfect, but I demand the same level of respect I give. If I am in a room with disrespectful people, I’m not silent anymore. ## Teach us something we don’t know about building content teams. Gordana Sretenovic: In the world of hiring, there’s an ongoing problem: You can only hire as fast as you can read resumes and conduct interviews. And that process is slow. But what if you could automate your hiring process. I struggled with this for three years, and that is why Workello came to be. ## What do you think you do better than most people? How are you able to do it? Gordana Sretenovic: I think I have more empathy and intuition than my cofounders. They are these amazing forces of nature that just keep going, while I find myself much happier when I can take things slow, talk to people, and really try to create a harmony in our relationship. ## What are some of your most favorite books you’ve ever read? Gordana Sretenovic: I’m a huge fiction gal, but lately I’ve been hearing a lot of great things about Lost and Founder by Rand Fishkin. Everyone is raving about it so I guess this is more of a recommendation of a recommendation. ## Where do you see yourself and your product, company, or brand in the next couple of years? What is your dream? Gordana Sretenovic: My dream is to grow Workello as much as possible and continue helping people with their content teams. --- ## International Women’s Day Spotlight: Victoria Jancke URL: https://totalgirlboss.com/victoria-jancke/ Section: Culture · Published: 2022-03-09 TL;DR: This International Women's Day spotlight profiles Victoria Jancke, a German actress, model, and presenter who moved from Berlin to Los Angeles. Jancke overcame an eating disorder brought on by the modeling industry, later spoke publicly about surviving rape at 17, and now serves as Charity Ambassador of The Weisser Ring Organization, working to help victims of crime such as rape and abuse. On the horizon, recent tragedies have left our world in turmoil, so much so that many of us have put an important holiday that celebrates women all over the world on the backburner. International Women’s Day is about celebrating all the incredible women around the world, and finding unity in the mutual respect we share for the female gender; no matter what country you live in. If you have chosen to turn a blind eye to this holiday amidst the chaos, I urge you to turn the negativity of the news off, take a deep breath, and read on, for there is a silver lining to come.  For the spiritual readers out there who believe the universe sends us signs just when the time is right, we would like you to meet our *silver lining* and spotlight female, Victoria Jancke. Like a shooting star, Jancke made a permanent move from Berlin to Los Angeles, and coincidentally, she was right on time for the holiday. Thank you for that, universe.  Victoria is a German actress, model and presenter, but before you get skeptical, know that her fame and beauty are not what sparked our intrigue in this woman. Though she does acquire both of these traits, she is not defined by them. She is defined by her authentic soul, strength and the challenges that shaped her into a woman who knows exactly who she is, and what wants out of life. A woman who embodies clarity in a world of disarray, and a role model we all need right now.   Growing up in Berlin, Victoria has been no stranger to the tragedies of life, with the most recent events being no exception. Despite it all, she continues to persevere towards her dreams with confidence and strength, encouraging others to do so as well. “This invasion of Ukraine was very personal to me, and I considered staying in Berlin out of fear and guilt. My father urged me not to cancel my move to Los Angeles, because that would mean I was giving up on my dream because of something terrible a dictator did that was out of my control, and I would just be giving them what they wanted; a world where people live in fear.” Victoria also realized that not choosing to let the events in Europe determine her future could set an example for the public eye. This example would hopefully inspire her fans not to put their dreams on hold and live as beings of fear due to corrupt government decisions.  While she currently works towards her dreams of being on the silver screen, Victoria remains active in multiple organizations to help the victims of this catastrophe, and uses her social media platforms to remind others that they have the power to do both as well. German or American, Victoria is far from your typical public figure. Her energetic and open energy contrasts with the common German stereotype of being more reserved. Regardless of what anyone has to say about it, she remains unapologetically herself.  “Many of my friends like to joke that I am so talkative and friendly, I might as well be an American. For me, I am simply someone who’s heart will always be in both countries. If someone asks me where I’m from, I like to say I’m a child of the world. I want to spend my life teaching others to see the world this way too, to see people from other countries the way they see themselves; color and culture blind,” said Jancke, Throughout her career, Jancke has not lived your typical fairytale of fame and fortune. She began her career in modeling at the age of sixteen, a milestone most adolescent girls would only dream of. However, it wasn’t long until the glitz and glamour of the industry began to fade and she was subjected to a darker side, one that made her question if this lifestyle was the right one for her.  “I developed an eating disorder to become what the industry would define as a perfect prospect, and it only became worse when I was rejected from roles. Eventually, I was pulled aside by some friends who gave me an intervention. They told me I wasn’t the same person anymore. After this talk, I realized how truly unhappy I had become trying to be what society wanted, and that I had lost myself,” said Jancke. Victoria’s intervention helped her to face and overcome her eating disorder, and she continued pursuing her dreams with a new attitude; knowing that as long as she loved herself for who she was and she owned that, nothing else mattered.  “I am so fortunate for my loved ones who helped me come to this realization, they shaped me into who I am today. Today, I know when people work with me, they work with me for ME, not for my measurements,” said Jancke.  Following this drastic change to a healthier lifestyle, Victoria developed a newfound beauty that exuded from within, and with that her career success began to skyrocket. It wasn’t long before Victoria became an icon in Europe, and she once more used that publicity to good by the world. Victoria began to speak openly about overcoming her eating disorder on her public platforms in an attempt to break the cycle so many like herself are constantly subjected to.  “I was lucky enough to have loved ones that made me face my internal issues, but I know not everyone is this fortunate. I see my younger self in so many people who are suffering from the standards of the industry, and I want to advise them to stop letting the rejections of roles or pushbacks make them feel like they aren’t worthy,” said Jancke. Victoria recites a pep talk she gives herself and others when she senses they are in a position like this:  “Some people think roses are the most beautiful flowers, others prefer sunflowers. No matter which one you are, you always will be beautiful if you own it. And when you come across setbacks, that just means you were trying to grow in an environment that wasn’t made for you- so keep your head towards the sunshine, no petals wilted; and you will eventually flourish.” While she demonstrates an impeccable amount of strength and wisdom, Victoria has faced far more than just one obstacle in her career. One of her most traumatizing experiences is sadly all too common among females around the world.  “When I was 17, and just getting past my eating disorder, I was raped against my will. Even though it wasn’t my fault; I felt too much shame and embarrassment, and I didn’t want to be labeled as a victim, so I kept it to myself for years and it festered inside of me like poison. It took me years to finally come forward and speak about it in the public eye, but when I finally did; I felt like it set me free.” Knowing there are many other women out there who have been or are currently being abused, Victoria attempted to rebrand the stigma that has scarred her and so many other women. She utilized her prominence to speak openly about what happened to her, inspiring others to tell their stories as well.  “I wanted every person who had been through what I had to have the courage to come forward as well. Rape is the type of thing that is instilled by fear and power, and the more you own that you endured it and still managed to survive, the less power you give it. I want the other people who have experienced what I have to think of themselves as survivors, not victims,” said Jancke. Jancke’s belief that the truth will set you free; especially when it comes to the hardest matters of life is just one penchant to her authentic and strong character. When she finally came forward with her story, she echoed a message of encouragement to victims all over the world. “We won’t always be able to control traumatic events like rape from happening to ourselves and our loved ones, but we can control our reactions to them. We can choose to channel strength and bravery when the time arrives over defeat and fear, and teach our children to do the same,” said Jancke.  The hurdle’s in Victoria’s life have led her to a highly philanthropic role as a public figure. She is currently the Charity Ambassador of [The Weisser Ring Organization](https://weisser-ring.de/english), working avidly to help victims of crime such as rape and abuse. On her website, you can find her masses of philanthropic endeavors, and visualize the charitable footprint she has made on our world.  For those of you who were skeptical to see a seemingly privileged model being chosen as a spotlight for celebration, I hope that you have found more than one piece of enlightenment in Victoria’s story. On a day when we celebrate all females, we must remind ourselves that celebration is not always done in vain, but rather; there to shed light on the fact that no matter who we are, we all have something to celebrate in ourselves. Like Victoria, we all have the ability to flourish.  On this day, when you encounter any female; think of them as a soul with a story to be celebrated, instead of a face to be judged. Maybe they’re a model or actress like Victoria. Maybe they’re a survivor of abuse like Victoria. Maybe they’re plagued with an eating disorder, struggling to feel like they’ll ever be good enough- like Victoria.  Hopefully, they haven’t let society define them, and they love themselves for exactly who they know they are, like Victoria. Like Victoria, every woman has a story- choose to see the soul first. As Victoria would say, we must learn to be “culture and color blind, to see ourselves in others,” and in this way, we are all united. *By Clare Kehoe* --- ## Dr. Markey W. Pierré on the Negotiating Skill Every Woman Needs URL: https://totalgirlboss.com/dr-markey-w-pierre-presented-a-superior-negotiating-skill-for-women-in-her-recently-released-book/ Section: Money · Published: 2022-02-08 TL;DR: Dr. Markey W. Pierré, DBA Vice Chancellor of External Affairs and Chief of Staff at LSU Health Sciences Center, wrote 'The Beautiful Deal, The Woman's Negotiating Guide' to teach career-driven women negotiating skills for situations like contract negotiation, asking for a raise, and securing investors, drawing on her own experience as a dealmaker for Fortune 500 companies, school management, and municipal bodies. A formidable negotiating skill is an indispensable tool for every career-driven woman. However, sometimes we get too caught up in a corner, and we no longer think what we want matters. Sometimes, we think we are demanding too much or do not deserve our request. This is why it is important to get this skill right and utilize that to significant business success. [Dr. Markey W. Pierre](https://www.markeywpierre.com/) understands that women often forget it is a business world that lets their demands wash away using weak negotiating skills. However, this is about to change the moment to read this amazing and informative book, [The Beautiful Deal, The Woman’s Negotiating Guide](https://store.markeywpierre.com/p/the-beautiful-deal-the-woman-s-negotiating-guide/)**.** Dr. Pierre shared her longtime negotiating experience with everyone who cares to hear in this book. The book contains sufficient information to help change the tides and give you edges over your business partners and investors. Deal like a pro and wear your confidence boldly enough to create a moment that makes everyone think they got away with a beautiful deal. You can learn all you need to do this in this book. Dr. Pierre is a successful businesswoman, an iconic speaker, and an award-winning author who has repeatedly shown the world how powerful insightful a book can be. With this new book, she intends to light up the women’s world by showing them a proper negotiating tool from practiced skills and valuable experience. She is DBA Vice Chancellor of External Affairs and Chief of Staff, LSU Health Sciences Center, and a thriving business icon who has worked with several organizations including the 500 fortune, school management, and municipal bodies. She possesses eloquent speaking skills and is someone who wears her confidence and crown boldly. She has become a go-to dealmaker for several business organizations interested in getting themselves into a win-win business deal. Combining her negotiating and business experiences, her recently released book is bound to shake the business world, create bolder businesswomen and introduce everyone to formidable negotiating tools that will help them improve their business lives and entrepreneurial achievements. Business decisions are made instantly, and without the correct information, you may be working away with a ticking bomb deal that is bound to explode mercilessly. Negotiators come together in their fancy suits and dresses to get you into a deal that benefits them the most. To survive this occurrence, you are required to possess more vital negotiating skills that can help you navigate safely. Dr. Pierre understands the complexity of business through experience and has created an efficient and helpful tool to ensure that you confidently lay your claims and push your supporting view to convince your negotiator to agree to an idea that favors you. Whether you are going for contract negotiation, intend to require a raise at work, or secure top investors, **The Beautiful Deal, The Woman’s Negotiating Guide** will equip every career-driven woman with the right skills needed to tilt the scale in her favor. For more information on Dr. Markey W. Pierré, visit [www.markeywpierre.com](https://www.markeywpierre.com/). --- ## Stephanie Joplin Digs Deep With Marisa Peer on The Luxury Dropout URL: https://totalgirlboss.com/digital-content-creator-podcast-host-stephanie-joplin-digs-deep-with-guest-marisa-peer-on-an-upcoming-episode-of-the-luxury-dropout/ Section: Business · Published: 2021-12-03 Hailing from Houston, Texas, Stephanie Joplin is a woman of many talents and interests, covering a variety of topics like lifestyle, relationships, mental health, beauty, and fitness on her hit podcast,*The Luxury Dropout*. After building a career as a digital content creator since the fall of 2020, she’s expanding her horizons even more on her new podcast. Joplin has seen a great response to her show since the beginning, and she doesn’t show signs of slowing down anytime soon. On an upcoming episode, Joplin sits down with renowned speaker, Rapid Transformational Therapy (RTT) trainer, and best-selling author, Marisa Peer. Joplin even credits Peer with teaching her the power of manifestation and harnessing her power in 2020. Their conversation digs deep and is sure to be a new favorite for Joplin’s listeners. Originally getting her start in the digital space on Twitter a decade ago, Joplin would live-tweet her reactions to Texans and Rockets games, and grew her audience organically from there. Later, she began working professionally for FOX Sports Houston, covering the Houston Aeros, and later for Legacy Fighting Alliance, a regional MMA promotion. Joplin has always respected the art of interviewing and was sure to do diligent research and preparation of all athletes before speaking with them, which is a skill she has carried over to today on *The Luxury Dropout*. With Stephanie Joplin LLC recently celebrating its first birthday, Joplin is able to reflect on the journey she took to get where she’s at today. After eventually leaving the sports industry as her “real life” job in corporate hospitality became more demanding, she eventually hit a crossroads in the fall of 2020 after being laid off. She states: “In order to grow, I knew I needed to step out of my comfort zone. I could either go back to what I was good at, or I could finally take my shot at the dream.” Now being a few months into *The Luxury Dropout*, it’s evident that Joplin is striking a chord with fans, and she hopes to keep growing the show and have it touch the hearts and minds of women everywhere. She truly has a passion for helping others and expects nothing in return. You can catch new episodes of *The Luxury Dropout* every Tuesday on YouTube and all streaming platforms, and you can stay up-to-date with Joplin by checking her out at the following links: [Instagram ](https://instagram.com/stephaniejoplin) Twitter [Youtube](https://youtube.com/stephaniejoplin) [Facebook](https://facebook.com/theluxurydropout) [Website](https://stephaniejoplin.com/) --- ## Juliette Kristine, Creator of The Surrender Approach URL: https://totalgirlboss.com/creator-of-the-surrender-approach-juliette-kristine-shares-her-story/ Section: Business · Published: 2021-11-09 Manifestation Coach [Juliette Kristine](https://www.juliettekristine.com/) helps success-minded individuals attract their next level of love, money and success (with ease). Today she shares her story on creating The Surrender Approach manifestation course. Tell us about The Surrender Approach? Juliette Kristine: [The Surrender Approach](https://www.juliettekristine.com/manifesting-course) is a transformational online manifesting course for anyone looking to use the powers of manifestation to attract more love, money and success in their lives. It’s perfect for those who are just starting out on their manifesting journey or even those who consider themselves to be seasoned manifestors. What makes The Surrender Approach different to other manifesting courses? Juliette Kristine: One thing a lot of people don’t realise about successful manifesting is that you cannot be in need of something and have it show up in your experience, for that very need actually creates a sense of lack within you which pushes your desires away from you. This is why The Surrender Approach is so unique, because it focuses on finding alignment with your desires, so you no longer need to chase after things you want, instead they come to you! Can you share with us some of the things your students have manifested? Juliette Kristine: $30K in one month, TV appearances (on the Dr Oz Show), new homes, clients, lucrative business deals, prestigious new career opportunities, high profile speaking gigs, [manifest the love of their life](https://www.juliettekristine.com/blog/2018/2/13/how-to-manifest-your-soulmate), finding their purpose and more. I even had one student experience such significant growth in her new business she had to employ 4 new staff members in the space of a week (during the pandemic). What do you feel is the number 1 thing contributing to the success of your students? Juliette Kristine: When it comes to getting great results from your manifesting it really all comes down to the amount of momentum in your energy and vibration. You need to put the work in! Saying affirmations a few times won’t produce the results you want because it’s not enough to affect your energy. You need to be consistent with your practice, and not only that but, you also need to find [manifestation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manifestation_%28popular_psychology%29)) techniques that work for you. One thing that I pride myself on in regards to The Surrender Approach is that all of the tools and processes I teach are incredibly unique. It’s not a manifesting course that teaches you the same old methods, rather it introduces you to new ways of attracting your desires (that actually work!). Teach us something we don’t know about manifesting? Juliette Kristine: A common mistake people make when they first start manifesting is going too big, too quickly with their manifestations. For example: They put a picture of a multi-million dollar mansion on their [vision board](https://www.juliettekristine.com/blog/7-crazy-powerful-vision-board-ideas-that-get-results) while they are currently renting a 2 bedroom apartment. The problem with this is, using this approach to manifesting usually means the person is aiming too far outside their vibrational reach, and when this happens they will start to doubt their manifestations. This doubt then causes a disruption in their vibration which prevents what they want from showing up. What advice do you have for people wanting to get better results from their manifesting? Juliette Kristine: If there was one piece of advice I could give to help someone take their manifesting to the next level it would be to develop your intuition. Your intuition “knows” exactly how to make all of your desires manifest (in the easiest way possible), and it’s always sending you signals on how to do that – you just need to follow it! This is a core aspect of how I teach manifesting in The Surrender Approach. What do you believe sets you apart from other Manifestation Coaches? I’m a manifestation coach who walks my talk. I’ve manifested more than just parking spots. I’ve used my skills to attract everything from; free round-the-world biz class flights, my soulmate, a fully booked coaching business, my dream home (identical to what was on my vision board), engagement ring, a 6-month move to Bali, my pregnancy, media appearances, high profile clients and more. Nothing makes me happier or brings me more joy than helping others manifest what they want in their lives too. To find out more about The Surrender Approach Manifesting Course [click here](https://www.juliettekristine.com/manifesting-course). --- ## Are partnerships the new PR? URL: https://totalgirlboss.com/are-partnerships-the-new-pr/ Section: Business · Published: 2021-09-07 TL;DR: Marketing expert Tatiana Canessa explains why partnerships have become a form of public relations: unlike traditional PR, they're long-lasting, win-win relationships with companies, media outlets, or individuals built on aligned values that boost exposure, sales, and branding. When we think about public relations our minds go straight to networking, media connections and publicity in traditional media like TV and radio, but how much has PR evolved in the last 10 years?  We sat down with Marketing expert Tatiana Canessa, who specializes in partnerships. She gave us a great scoop on how the industry has become more partnership conscious and how this shifted the dynamic when improving the exposure of an organization.  Tatiana has worked in Marketing and Public Relations throughout her career, moving from content focused and social media roles for companies such as Eme de Mujer, E! Entertainment Latino, The World Health Organization and Yandy among others, into influencer marketing and partnerships. She’s a professional originally from Uruguay, based in New York City, with vast experience working for brands in Latin America, Europe and the US.  **What are partnerships exactly and how can these take a company to the next level?** “When we talk about partnerships there are a few different routes we can take, as an overview, these are long lasting business relations we create with another company, media outlets or individuals that can potentially help boost the exposure a company gets, improve sales and overall branding. Finding the right partners to work with is key, once you know what the main focus of the company is, the following step is to find that perfect addition to work with. Some companies will be better to collaborate in an editorial capacity which will help with exposure and branding, other companies can be perfect complements to the services or products your company offers and this can lead to an integration in-between brands, which is the ultimate form of partnership in order to have a meaningful impact on the growth of the company. The idea behind this is to create the perfect win-win situation with your partners, that’s why we talk about long lasting relations, we want both companies to do well and help support one another. This type of dynamic is missing in traditional public relations which has a more selfish aspect to it, making it seem less authentic in the eyes of your audience.” **How important is to find the right partners?** “Strategic partnerships definitely have a huge impact on the organization and its reputation. A good partnership can have an extremely positive effect on how a company is perceived by association. While partnering with a company that has a bad reputation or is linked to controversial issues can tarnish and deeply damage your brand publicly.  Overall, the key to finding the right partner is the same logic one would apply when fostering a friendship: the essence and core values of both parties have to be aligned, as well as being compatible with both of them views.” **What’s a key advice for approaching partners?** “I would say that not being afraid or shy about approaching companies or individuals you want to partner with is the best way to get started.  Sometimes big companies are looking to collaborate with startups or take part in unique projects that can provide them what other big companies can’t. From the startup side, they can immensely benefit from the exposure that a big player can give them but also there’s a great opportunity when collaborating with another startup and that’s help support each other and grow together. Another important factor is to use every opportunity wisely when meeting people. Talking about your company and being eager to collaborate and create partnerships can lead to new unexpected connections.” Tatiana’s expertise raised a handful of interesting insights on ways to approach partnerships and the new form of public relations. Her overall message is to choose wisely who you want to partner with and go for it! --- ## Samantha Messias Advocates For Mental Health Through Her Art URL: https://totalgirlboss.com/samantha-messias-advocates-for-mental-health-through-her-art/ Section: Culture · Published: 2021-06-20 Samantha Messias is an award-winning hyper-realistic artist. She creates breathtakingly detailed drawings by enhancing the tiniest of details, intensifying them, changing contrasts, shadows and lights and textures. Initially, however, she turned to art when she could not find the words to say what she needed. “Much of my skill and creativity was developed by using it as an outlet to release, heal and express my emotions from a pretty traumatic childhood,” Samantha explains. “I was adopted at five years old, and for a while, the only way I could communicate what happened was to draw it. I didn’t know that what I was doing at such a young age was indeed a form of therapy, and one I will continue throughout my life.” A Life Of Struggle After the horrors of her early years, Samantha grew to adore her adopted parents. But even with their support, life was difficult. “When I was growing up, I always felt quite different, didn’t really fit in, always did my best at school and got good grades and did my best to please my adopted parents, but I always felt this heavyweight in my heart and the shame and guilt that I carried around with me for years,” she recalls. “I had plenty of friends and people who really saw me as a bright and creative young girl but I never really allowed myself to get close to these people for fear of them hurting me as my whole family did.” Samantha experienced more pain at the age of 14 when the adopted father she describes as kind and compassionate died slowly from cancer. “As a teenager, I didn’t really know how to cope with that. I continued to go to school and work on my grades and pretend like everything was okay when it wasn’t,” she explains.   “Most of my life I’ve suffered from extreme anxiety and fear from everything that happened to me in my past, and the experiences that happened after my childhood abuse just increased that feeling of anxiety.”   Samantha began to self-harm and she tried to take her own life with painkillers. She then lied to the hospital by promising she would not do it again so they would let her go home.   “I always put on this brave, happy and positive persona to the world but inside I was crumbling. My world felt so dark, so isolated, and so dangerous,” she recalls. Dealing With Trauma Samantha has experienced yet more heartache since her troubled teens. Her adopted mother died when she was 21 and she lost her son in 2020. But she has now found ways to deal with the powerful emotions brought about by her trauma. “From the age of 23, I began delving into the world of personal development and self-help as the intense emotions that I felt from my past traumas had me at times wanting to end my life,” Samantha explains. “I believe that if it wasn’t for meeting my amazing partner, all the incredible self-help and personal development material I read and my talent to draw in this super realistic/hyper-realistic style, I don’t think I would be here right now sharing my story.” Samantha kept going with her artwork and got better at it with each passing day. She started to get noticed on social media for her skills, talent, resilience and courage and her following and audience increased. This led to gallery representations, exhibitions, awards and recognition. It also led to commissions, and at that point, the artist knew she could make drawing her full-time career. Now that [Samantha](https://www.instagram.com/samantha_messias_art/) is an established artist with a growing reputation, she wants to use her drawings and her platform to inspire, encourage and give hope to millions around the world. She knows better than most that life is extremely challenging and disturbing at times, but it’s also magical, wonderful and amazing if you break free from the bonds of your past, liberate your mind and find happiness in the present moment. With this in mind, Samantha promised herself that she would succeed and that she would be happy again and that if she could survive all of that and learn how to thrive from all of it, then she’d have a story to share with the world, one that would inspire people to believe in themselves and dig deep to find the courage and strength to heal, take back their life and follow their dreams despite what may have happened to them in the past. If you would like to find out more about Samantha and her remarkable artwork, follow [her Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/samantha_messias_art/). --- ## Zahra Lyla: How I Aim To Grow My Agency In The UAE URL: https://totalgirlboss.com/zahra-layla-how-i-aim-to-grow-my-agency-in-the-uae/ Section: Founders · Published: 2021-06-19 Zahra Lyla is the social media starlet; you NEED to add to your follow list. When it comes to all things fashion and lifestyle across the Gulf, Zahra has been a mainstay for many years, after finding success with her first blog over a decade ago. With over 110,000 Instagram followers, Zahra has a great platform and this is one which she is building on in all aspects of her flourishing career. In 2019 she founded The Other Agency; the strategy is to help brands in the UAE region to humanize their social presence via tailor-made digital storytelling. Zahra and her team can assist with set design, content creation and social media management. With her expertise, acquired from her time working with Harper’s Bazaar, Mel Ottenberg and Sunday Times Style in London; she perfectly understands the drivers of Western and Eastern trends. It was a very successful time in London; it was here where Zahra obtained a Post Graduate Certificate in Fashion Communication & Design from Central Saint Martin’s and a Master’s degree in Media Production from London College of Fashion (LCF).   Her successes came to full fruition in Dubai in 2017; she was given a life-changing opportunity to help with the roll-out of Vogue Arabia, the Holy Grail for those in the fashion world. Here, Zahra was able to really mix, interact and learn from the finest in the industry. A skillset and wealth of experience which she loves to pass on to her clientele at the Agency. Social media channels and brand image will be fundamental to fashion brand’s success in the new era. With consumer’s arguably having less brand loyalty than in previous generations; we are more open-minded and conscious of new brands and products; often which are discovered online. Having an agency on board to guide fashion brands through the process is key. Forbes magazine affirms that “hiring an agency can offer a business an outsider’s perspective, the cumulative skills of an entire team and assets, which are professionally developed with strategic direction.” With the UAE fashion market worth billions and still growing, it is a notion of sooner rather than later for a brand to strategize and improve their content online. “I am looking to build on the success I have had so far, I don’t want to stop here,” states Zahra. Her focus going forward is to continue working hard for her existing clients but also to formalise the content she passes on. “A real goal is to develop a course for fashion brands (…) it will be a comprehensive, insightful syllabus covering content creation and design.” Given that luxury powerhouse, Tiffany, recently brought Zahra on board to help with a collection launch in the region; fashion brands can confidently know they’re working with one of the best in the UAE. With her capacity for hard work and knowledge sharing; The Other Agency is truly one to watch. --- ## Samantina Zenon – The Unconquerable Soul and The Limitless Human URL: https://totalgirlboss.com/samantina-zenon-the-unconquerable-soul-and-the-limitless-human/ Section: Culture · Published: 2021-06-14 Ms. Samantina Zenon has accomplished much in life today and successfully carved out a life full of independence and growth for herself. She is an actress, a public speaker, and an author who is constantly on the path of growth and improvement. As an influencer, she has touched many lives online, where she has a large fan following. However, you might be surprised to know that, as a child, Samantina was never allowed to dream big and aim for success in her life. Instead, she was subjected to daily abuse and frequent domestic violence that destroyed the natural creativity that Samantina held inside. It is more than probable that Ms. Samantina Zenon would have never regained her spirit and enthusiasm, had she not moved from Haiti, and given life another chance by moving to the United States. She often says, “Going through the process of healing is so painful, but necessary.” Clearly, the process of creating her own identity proved to be excruciating; but it was something Samantina Zenon had always looked forward to, and when the chance came along, she was sure to make the most out of it. She suddenly found herself immersed in theatre arts – being lauded for her natural flair for acting. The ocean of emotions inside her found a gateway for expression, and she experienced more growth than she had ever experienced throughout all the years.  Social media was another major platform that helped her grow and heal. She found a community of friends and followers online with who she shared her experiences. Amidst all this, she came across the brilliant idea of writing a self-help book based on the life-changing experiences she had during her journey from a child to an adult. The fast-selling book, “Joy – The Five Lights – That Clarify Your Best Self, Through the Pain”- teaches its readers to never stop believing in the miracles of the undying spirit inside of them. “The question we have to consistently ask ourselves is how can we change the narratives?” Samantina Zenon emphasized this in her book. Many readers have claimed that the lessons from Samantina’s life have had life-altering effects on them too. We share a personal admiration for the courage and goodwill that this Samaritan holds for the world, and we pray that all odds might lie in her favor as she transcends into the future as well. --- ## Pivoting Through a Pandemic – Jordan Quinn URL: https://totalgirlboss.com/pivoting-through-a-pandemic-jordan-quinn/ Section: Business · Published: 2021-05-14 As a small business that supports other small businesses, it’s safe to say [Jordan Quinn](https://www.instagram.com/jordanquinnstagram/), owner of socialQ, was impacted by the pandemic. Even as an entrepreneur in the digital space– a space that some would argue saw less effect than most– there’s no denying that countless Ontario lockdowns would take its toll on any B2B business model. It’s an unfortunate ripple effect but certainly not one that held her down for long. Quinn’s bread and butter is influencer marketing. With a roster of more than 15 top-tier parenting bloggers across Canada, she has carved a name and a niche for herself in the canadian influencer space. Since the rise of Covid-19, however; she has expanded her business to include other revenue generating arms, most notably in social media management.   “On the influencer side of my business, brands were wary of investing large sums of money into influencer relations, especially towards the start of the pandemic,” Quinn explains, “But In a weird way I’m grateful for their hesitation. It pushed me to start the second arm of my business, in social media management.”   Despite the initial hardships, Quinn explains her good fortune stating that as the social media management side of her business began to really take off, the influencer side picked back up in tandem. “Brands thankfully began to realize the power of influencer relations and specifically the mommy blogger’s ability to influence purchasing decisions in households,” Quinn adds.  By that point, however; Quinn was paving a path for herself as a Toronto-based social media manager, handling the day-to-day content creation and engagement management of many small business’s accounts. Months later she released a social media course entitled BossUp with one of her influencers, Kelsi Kendel [(@kelsikendel)](https://www.instagram.com/kelsikendel/).  “This pandemic has emphasized the importance of getting online, and getting online properly!” Quinn states,  “I feel my work adds value to the businesses with which I work, as it’s my responsibility to identify the brand voice, and communicate it effectively to my client’s target audience. I help build their community, and my hope, with each of my clients is that they see the conversion rate from followers to paying clients.”  Quinn explains that she and Kendel came together to create a course that was more affordable than her social media management. She wanted to provide information to as many small businesses as possible so that they too could thrive online.  When asked how she manages to oversee so many projects she simply answered: Automation and delegation.   “I couldn’t run 3+ businesses without schedulers and CRM tools. And I certainly couldn’t run 3+ businesses without the help of Katelyn Beer, my Senior Talent Manager and Whitney Radacina, my Virtual Assistant. Teamwork certainly makes this dream work. And I am proud of the way we have pivoted through a pandemic.” Connect with Jordan on [social media](https://www.instagram.com/jordanquinnstagram/) to keep up to date with her amazing work. *With her finger on the pulse of all things social, Jordan is the founder and CEO of multi-faceted creative agency, socialQ. Specializing in influencer marketing she oversees a roster of more than 15 top-tier parenting bloggers across Canada. Her agency has completed over 1200 successful campaigns with brands big and small since the company’s inception back in 2018. She has carved a name and a niche for herself in the canadian influencer space and believes in the power of the mommy (and daddy) blogger to influencer household purchasing decisions. Over the past two years, she has expanded her burgeoning business to include other revenue generating arms, including social media management for canadian small businesses.* --- ## Jax Fanucci Is Proof That Life Works for You, Not Against You URL: https://totalgirlboss.com/jax-fanucci-is-living-proof-that-life-works-for-you-not-against-you/ Section: Culture · Published: 2021-05-06 Starting a YouTube channel or becoming a social media influencer is all the rage today. Everyone has considered starting a YouTube, and everyone looks up to an influencer of some sort. While many of these influencers create entertaining, lighthearted content, few challenge themselves and are vulnerable in the way Jax Fanucci is. Jax is a 28-year-old who documents her recovery from anorexia on YouTube and has created a tremendous movement in the process.  Being vulnerable enough to share her battles with anorexia on YouTube has been very impactful for Jax. She’s been able to inspire others in their anorexia recovery by documenting her own journey and has been a vital resource for others who aren’t fortunate enough to have a strong support system around them.  While Jax had the constant support of her mother and medical support team, it’s been a difficult journey for her. Her anorexia and excessive exercising left her in a wheelchair and on crutches for a year and a half, she’s had to re-learn how to digest food and is still unable to run to this day. Even with all of the trauma she’s experienced in her life, Jax is still excited for what’s in store for her in her career. Along with her YouTube venture, Jax works with her family running the UAE’s largest kid’s active lifestyle program, and is in the midst of creating a video series exploring her home city of Dubai. All of the years that anorexia took from Jax have inspired her to go all-in on entrepreneurship, and no amount of uncertainty or risk will be able to deter her from becoming ultra-successful.  Jax admits that entrepreneurship is challenging, and overcoming her own insecurities and second-guessing has still been hard despite her full commitment to YouTube and her family’s youth lifestyle program. But, with the challenges come extremely rewarding experiences, and she’s fallen in love with the feelings of self-confidence, love, and admiration she’s developed for herself and those around her as a result of entrepreneurship.  Whether it’s been her battle recovering from anorexia or her new ventures in entrepreneurship, Jax understands the importance of overcoming a failure or a relapse to move onto something bigger and better. She’s a firm believer that life doesn’t work against you, rather it works for you. As someone who’s dealt with an incredible amount of hardship and has overcome it all, Jax Fanucci is living proof that there is something better in store no matter what you’re going through. --- ## Dani Thompson Is Crushing Music With DNT Entertainment URL: https://totalgirlboss.com/dani-thompson/ Section: Culture · Published: 2021-05-04 TL;DR: Dani Thompson founded DNT Entertainment in 2010 to guide emerging artists through education, mentorship, and strategic artist development, naming the company after her own initials. She grew it with no paid marketing or advertising — relying instead on collaborations, industry referrals, and word of mouth — and DNT Entertainment won the 2021 Best of Tustin Award in the Arts & Entertainment category. Founder, Dani Thompson started DNT Entertainment in 2010 with one goal in mind, to guide emerging artists on their path to success through education, mentorship, and strategic artist development. Today, DNT Entertainment has been selected for **2021 Best of Tustin Award in the Arts & Entertainment category by the Tustin Award Program.** ## Tell us about DNT Entertainment. How did you come up with this idea? **[Dani Thompson:](https://www.linkedin.com/in/dani-thompson-00b02125)** I have always had a passion and love for the music industry. I spent over half my life on the artist side of the business performing as a lead singer for multiple bands. I got my start at Fender Museum under the guidance of Lee Zimmer (my guitar teacher and band manager) and my dad Chuck Hirbour who was on the Board of Directors for a non-profit community music program called Kids Rock Free. I came up with the idea to start DNT Entertainment after graduating college and being denied multiple industry jobs due to lack of experience. I was hired as an artist manager and publicist for an upcoming artist/ family friend during her time on a reality TV show and knew I needed a way to process and track income and expenses for this project which pushed me to officially set up my business entity. Around that same time I was introduced to an influential industry manager who managed the band “No Doubt” and Gwen Stefani, and the advice he gave me I will never forget. I asked how he got to where he was and asked what I should do to become a successful manager and talent rep myself. He said, “work for yourself, develop talent on your own, and eventually you will get to the top of the hill.” That gave me the confidence and motivation I needed to work for myself and stop chasing entry-level label jobs. [DNT Entertainment](https://www.danithompsonmusic.com/) was named after my initials (Danielle Nichole Thompson). ## How have you been able to grow your business? Be specific. **Dani Thompson:** Growing my business has been extremely challenging!! When I first started “DNT” I was a kid out of college working a part-time job (unrelated to the industry) and barely able to support myself. I also met the love of my life and was planning my wedding in 2010. There were a lot of distractions, lots of life noise, and not much time to focus on my personal career goals. I did however have a dream and a vision and more motivation than my family can handle. I knew what I wanted to do and nothing was going to get in my way. To be a successful business owner you need to be a self-starter and self-motivated. Nobody will work harder for you than YOU, and that’s what I did. 14 hour days sometimes pulling all-nighters. I still do. My dream job was to manage and develop young talent, mentor them, provide a safe space for artists to be creative contributing members of our local music community, and protect young girls from falling victim to the same industry scams that I did when I was a young artist myself trying to navigate the industry. My first office was in the back of a warehouse in Anaheim at a studio called ReAmp. I had hot pink and orange curtains hanging from the exposed aluminum wrapped ceiling, a DIY green wall for my video and photo sessions, an old soundboard that doubled as the front of my desk, and music-themed props, surfboards, guitars, fur carpets, bean bags, a makeup station, and all the faux plans and uplights you could imagine to give you the vibes of a creative workspace. There was no air conditioning and the walls would pound all day long because on the other side of the warehouse was the live room where my former partners would be tracking drums and guitar around the clock to meet their publishing quotas. I never complained…I loved the noise. I loved my job… I found solutions any time I hit a wall. My first solution was to put on noise-canceling headphones, buy an AC wall unit that I put on the floor and pumped the air out the side door, and tried to get through my conference calls without melting or losing my voice box from screaming over the drum kit. My second solution was to get a remote workspace at Regus in the tallest tower in OC across from Southcoast Plaza so I could hold my calls and in-person auditions without distraction. I rolled a suitcase in every day, staged my temp office, and pretended like I owned the whole building. Maybe one day I will. As I started to make some money I felt it was time to move into my own space. The money I was making however wasn’t from DNT, it was from a side hustle job that helped feed my family. In addition to that income, an investor saw potential in my company and gave me an extremely generous gift to get DNT on its feet. I then partnered with my best friend Allie, hired my first assistant, staff photographer/videographer, brought on a few interns, an in-house music production team, and we officially had our “own space.” I worked around the clock with 2 computer monitors balancing 2 careers side by side. One for money and one for love. I didn’t want to quit my “money job” until I was confident that I could support myself and also be a financial contributor to my growing family and help us get into our first home. Fast forward 12 months and I was now married for 4 years and pregnant with my first son Taylor. That pregnancy rocked my world in the best but most dramatic ending to this chapter. I was extremely sick during my pregnancy, knew I was soon going to be in need of child care to continue building my company and was living too far from my mother to help me once the baby came. I decided for my health and well-being to quit my money job, move closer to family, and when the time came not to renew my lease on my office space in Tustin, but instead work from home at a slower pace so I could focus the next few years on raising my son. Balancing work, kids, and home life is a long story in itself so I won’t go into the next 6 years to bring us up to date, but let’s just say it’s been equally rewarding and extremely challenging attempting to grow a business while raising a family. We now have 2 beautiful boys (ages 2 and 5). Over the years (while working from home) I have partnered with multiple artist development teams, music producers, label heads, local venues, non-profits, artists, event planning companies, and many local businesses that nurtured young talent; it’s those relationships that I owe all my success to. I have never used marketing or advertising to grow my business. I don’t care about quantity but quality when it comes to social media growth. Slow, steady, and organic has been the best approach for my business. My business has all come in from collaborations with other development partners such as OC Hit, insanely talented artists, and the doors they have opened for me (Thank you Lauren Black for all you have done to help DNT grow), industry referrals, and word of mouth. “The larger your network the larger your net worth.” “It’s not about who you know but who knows you.” By working with other artists and partners my audience organically grows from collaborations with others. ## What are some secrets to virality/sales in your most successful platform? **Dani Thompson:** As a service-based business with no physical product sales, my success is measured by engagement. The key to engagement is collaboration, content quality, and consistency. You can tap into your pre-established niche audiences by working with those who inspire you. The more talent I work with and the more my work is featured by those talents, the more engagement I see and the more opportunities come my way. One of my day to day roles is content development and curation, photography, brand strategy, etc and in addition to running my own accounts I’m running multiple artists accounts so my personal consistency could improve, but my selflessness is due to my Pisces way of always putting others before myself. ## Teach us something we don’t know about the music industry… **Dani Thompson:** The one thing I know best is the music industry so let’s talk music. It’s important to know that being an artist/musician is just like any other industry. An artist is a brand; a brand is a business. To be successful in this industry, an artist needs to treat everything they do like a business. Many times I have someone talented asking me to manage or represent them before they are generating a profit with their own personal brand. Nobody in this industry works for free (managers work on % but 0% of 0 is 0) and it’s extremely important for artists to know that nobody will work harder for them than them and that until they put in the groundwork and money on their own, it’s going to be extremely difficult to find believers who will help take you to that next level. The days of signing major label or management deals with no pre-established audience or a proven record of streaming or consistent gig revenue are gone. With social media presence in this day and age and the ability to market and promote music independently in a way talent could have never done before, the industry’s expectations are higher and the competition is fierce. Serious artists need to start with finding an artist development partner (like myself), build the brand, and once you have the brand and audience in place with proven success, you can then negotiate those major label partnerships, publishing deals, and management contracts that will bring your business to the next level. My first word of advice is to get your business license, buy a PA system, learn how to play a 3 hour set of covers and originals so you can get paid gigs, and collaborate with other writers and producers to grow your audience, build your catalog and open your industry network up for opportunities. ## What do you think you do better than most people? How are you able to do it? Dani Thompson: I have a very unique skill set that I have acquired from my time at Cal State Fullerton where I got my BA in Communications and personal hands-on experience over the past 20+ years in the industry. Because I am a female in a male-dominated industry, I have found my niche audience to be young female artists in the Pop, Country, R&B, Alternative, and Singer/Songwriter genres. I literally do everything when it comes to servicing talent as an artist development leader in the industry. My primary skill sets include artist photography, publicity, brand management, brand development, creative direction, distribution, catalog administration, music video production and directing, audio-video production, singer-songwriter pairing, consulting, celebrity talent buying, event production, booking, contract negotiations, youtube video marketing, Spotify promotion, radio promotion, artist management, and the list goes on. > I have spent years researching, learning, applying what I’ve learned to reach live situations, failing sometimes but learning lessons and growing because of it, and I NEVER give up. – Dani Thompson You can see some of my work at www.danithompsonmusic.com or @danithompsonmusic. How do I do it you ask? I find what artists need/want and I have spent years researching, learning, applying what I’ve learned to reach live situations, failing sometimes but learning lessons and growing because of it, and I NEVER give up. ## What is your favorite quote: **Dani Thompson:** The quote I live by that has helped our business succeed and grow: “We rise by lifting others.” It really resonates with me and my values. > We rise by lifting others.– Robert Ingersoll ## What are a few of your top career highlights? **Dani Thompson:** 1. I directed and produced a music video for my artist Lauren Black and Idrise that MTV recognized for a competition they were hosting called Cover of the Month. The video got 34 million votes/views and our whole team was flown to the EMA’s in London for an award ceremony and week of incredible events. 2. I have executive produced and booked major live shows for celebrity talent such as Flo Rida, Macy Kate, Iggy Azalea, Zhavia Ward, Brian King Joseph, Evelyn Cormier and Lauren Black at LIV nightclub at the Fontainebleau in Miami. 3. I have produced high scale hollywood red carpet charity events with attendance with many named celebrities in film, television, music and sports industries. 4. Back in the day when I was an artist I opened up for Paul Rogers and Bad Company and many other big names during my time as a singer. 5. I walked the red carpet at the Radio Disney Music Awards with Flo Rida and Macy Kate before he opened the show in 2017. 6. I produced a BTS video for Zhavia Ward where we followed her around Norwalk and visited all the hot spots that were mentioned in her single “17.” I have produced, directed, shot and done post production on over 50 music videos to date. ## Where do you see yourself and your brand in the next couple of years? What is your dream? **Dani Thompson:** I’m living my dream right now. Special thanks to everyone who helped get me here (God, my family, dad, mom, my amazing husband Ryan, my boys, friends, my current and former artists, my team, my partners at OC Hit, Thomas Barsoe, Lee Zimmer, Cal State Fullerton, Kids Rock Free Music School, the list goes on). In the next few years, I see myself at the Grammys sitting next to my artists (not just one), as they receive the most honorable award in the industry. My dream is to help others discover and live theirs. Learn more about Dani Thompson and her music by following her on [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/danithompsonmusic/). --- ## Cassandra Kuzneski: The Designer Behind Cassea Swim URL: https://totalgirlboss.com/cassea-swim/ Section: Culture · Published: 2021-04-28 TL;DR: Cassandra Kuzneski founded Cassea Swim, a swimwear brand inspired by 1950s vintage silhouettes, built around full-coverage pieces meant to make women feel beautiful and confident. She promoted it early on with hand-delivered neighborhood newsletters and pop-up shops before scaling into Facebook and Instagram ads, and now aims to get the brand into stores like Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Bloomingdale's. Small-town girl, Cassandra Kuzneski was met with dreams of a different life. This ambitious, young, entrepreneur from Indiana, Pennsylvania wanted to see the world – but do it her own stylish way. She spent time traveling and grew to love the heart of our planet – the ocean. Coast to coast, Cassandra was making waves with her chic twists on the ‘average bikini’. It was never just a bikini to her, it’s an outfit, a photograph, a day’s worth of looking and feeling confident. As an empowering young woman, with a lust for life, and an intense love for the sea, Cassandra knew that her style was infectious – and thus was born ‘Cassea Swim’. ## Tell us about Cassea Swim. Why did you want to design swimwear? **Cassandra Kuzneski:** I was at a photo shoot on location with a few girls and I noticed how everyone had pretty similar bikinis that didn’t cover much. I love a g-string from time to time but there’s something about full-coverage pieces that stand out. I started reading about vintage swimwear from the ’50s and fell in love. When it comes to dressing, I can be pretty conservative. Elegance is the only beauty that never fades, and that was my vision. To create swimwear that makes women feel beautiful, enhancing your natural beauty in all that it is. The most confident and comfortable feeling, no matter where you are in the world, or what you look like – Cassea Swim is for you. > Elegance is the only beauty that never fades, and that was my vision.Cassandra Kuzneski ## How did you promote your company in the early days? **Cassandra Kuzneski:** I printed out a few hundred Newsletters right after my official launch and put them in everyone’s mailbox on my street in Encinitas. I had a couple of pop-up shops to start, but things were tricky with the start of the pandemic. However, we did great in sales and everyone loves the product and the way we welcome girls (and guys) like friends and family. Slowly, we started running Facebook and Instagram ads, and now, fast forward to a year later we have a full marketing team. ## How have you been able to grow your business? **Cassandra Kuzneski:** The fashion industry is a really concentrated market and the barrier to entry is low. There’s a lot of competition which means you need to have an incredible niche, great marketing techniques, a fabulous product, or all of the above. Growing your E-Commerce with a strong website is paramount when it comes to bringing in more money for your store. Going beyond “straight sizing” is really important and something we’re still working on. It takes time to understand what your customer needs are, sizing and fit. Starting to expand into women’s plus-size clothing will scale your business more than you know. Most importantly, authentically engage with your customers and build a true relationship with them. Tell your story, let them connect with you, and see who you are as a person. Being the face behind your brand and letting people know why they should shop with you over fast fashion and what you can do for them. > Being the face behind your brand and letting people know why they should shop with you over fast fashion and what you can do for them.Cassandra Kuzneski ## Teach us something we don’t know about swimwear? **Cassandra Kuzneski:** Swimwear is similar to any other clothing piece, it needs proper care for color and fabric longevity. Especially being that we constantly wear body lotion, sunscreens, in and out of salt water and chlorine. I created a DIY swimsuit cleanser that I am about to share with you! It’s made with white vinegar which is a natural stain remover. Start by filling a sink with cold water and add about a quarter cup of vinegar, let it sit for about 20 minutes, squeeze out the excess mix and let it air dry away from the sun. After a long day in the water, your swimsuit will be as good as new! ## What are some of your most favorite books you’ve ever read? **Cassandra Kuzneski:** A few great starters are [The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene](https://amzn.to/3aM5LwG), [Unlimited Power by Tony Robbins](https://amzn.to/3t9Tjx7), [How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie.](https://amzn.to/2Rbfjdi) They’ve really helped motivate me to be where we are today! I watch podcasts more than anything so I multitask (as best I can). Constantly gaining knowledge will definitely advance you, not just in business but in life. > This brand is working towards being even more sustainable, making an impact on people is really important as well as our environment. Shop smart, shop small, shop sustainably. Cassandra Kuzneski ## Where do you see yourself and your company in the next couple of years? What is your dream? **Cassandra Kuzneski:** We hope to be sold in stores like Nordstrom, Saks 5th Ave, and Bloomingdales. Currently working on expanding to more apparel like cover-ups, dresses, and chic sets. The goal is to definitely keep building a great team. Including people who possess diverse talents, creative minds, and leadership. This brand is working towards being even more sustainable, making an impact on people is really important as well as our environment. Shop smart, shop small, shop sustainably. You can learn more about the fabulous **Cassea Swim** on their website and on [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/shopcassea/)! 🔥 --- ## How to Slay Your Limiting Beliefs With Kendra Davies URL: https://totalgirlboss.com/how-to-slay-your-limiting-beliefs-with-kendra-davies/ Section: Business · Published: 2021-04-20 TL;DR: Kendra Davies founded Stellar Life Coaching in 2013 after four years studying positive psychology, building it into a practice that helps clients identify and break the limiting beliefs holding them back in life and business. She also runs the Slay Sessions goal-setting workshop and the Phoenix Retreat, held in locations like Costa Rica and Bali, which combines transformation coaching with yoga and breathwork. Life coach Kendra Davies was once lost in self-doubt. Now, as the CEO of Stellar Life Coaching, she takes her clients from surviving to thriving. On a scale of one to 10, how satisfied with your life would you say you are? If you’re like most people, there are probably a few areas you would like to change. Perhaps it’s finding a job you can truly thrive in. Maybe it’s establishing deeper relationships with others. Or maybe it’s maintaining the motivation to make healthy changes. So what’s stopping you? So many of us want to live authentic and meaningful lives, and no matter how sincere our desire, or how much we ‘know’ it is necessary, we just feel stuck … somehow incapable of breaking through to that meaningful change. These subconscious blocks often manifest in our lives as thoughts that tell us we’re not worthy enough or that there’s no point because no one will ever accept us. Then our present moments are often consumed reacting to fears that are actually based on the past, and the high cost of these blocks are our time, personal growth, and joy. Kendra Davies, CEO of [Stellar Life Coaching](https://stellarlifecoaching.com/about/), believes that the secret to transforming the way you live, love, and do business is to identify and understand the limiting beliefs that are holding you back. Only then can you begin to define and cultivate the life that you dream about and take decisive action to make it a reality. ## The Power of Positive Psychology Davies didn’t exactly have a typical childhood growing up. She struggled with depression and drug addiction, dropped out of high school, and spent a long time battling self-doubt. Eventually, therapy helped pinpoint the root of her pain, and she was able to get her life back on track. This inspired Davies to delve deeper into how the mind works, and that was when she discovered positive psychology. Positive psychology is the scientific study of the factors that contribute to happiness, well-being, and fulfillment in life. Unlike many other branches of psychology, it doesn’t focus solely on negative thought patterns and behaviors. Instead, positive psychology focuses on changing perceptions and using innate strengths and positive attitudes to produce authentic happiness. In 2013, after more than four years of study and application, Davies launched Stellar Life Coaching with the mission of changing people’s lives through the transformative science of positive psychology. As her client base grew, so too did her explorations into the human mind. In 2016 she completed her Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Behavior, graduating as valedictorian of her class at Rollins College. She is now a renowned speaker, and positive psychology practitioner and coach, with more than 15 years of experience supporting Fortune 100 businesses. By helping other people break through their limiting beliefs, reconnect to their power, and take massive action in their lives, Davies is fast becoming one of the leading life and executive coaches in the U.S. “Positive psychology is my passion,” she shares. “And with my coaching, I am in a position to implement the most effective ideas and practices of it.” “Deep, lasting change can be tricky to cultivate”, Davies says. “Many of us are tempted to seek out a quick fix, but this rarely produces lasting results. If you really want to change your life, set your focus squarely on building your self-awareness and learning how to challenge the beliefs and fears you have about yourself and others.” “When we believe that we’re unworthy, it doesn’t matter how much good we get in our lives, we’re still going to feel unworthy unless we address the belief itself,” she says. “It’s in everything you say to yourself, like – ‘I’m not smart enough, I don’t do enough, I’m not funny enough, I’m not attractive enough.’ That’s a belief, a thought that becomes a pattern, and affects your feelings, and drives your behaviors.” Therapy tackles some of those issues, and in some cases, it is necessary. Life coaching, on the other hand, is how we uplevel our living experience from surviving and thriving. In her online goal-setting workshop [Slay Sessions,](https://stellar-life-coaching.mykajabi.com/SLAY) Davies helps her clients connect with their inner growth and take ownership of their lives: just as she did herself. ‘Slaying’ is no ordinary goal setting. Davies teaches women and men to not just set goals but to align who they are with what they want and build a clear plan on how to achieve them. Along the way, she helps cultivate the purpose-driven growth mindset necessary to follow through. “By taking ownership and becoming aware of the very things that hold us back, we create the opportunity to change and evolve,” she says. “When we make those thoughts visible, they can be examined, questioned, and challenged. It can shift a thought as simple as ‘I am an angry person’ to ‘I feel angry.’ In that moment, you have taken an unmovable, negative belief about yourself that you used to believe as a fact and confronted it with something truthful. You are not your feelings – you experience your feelings.” “Now, imagine being able to shift from, ‘I am not worthy’ or, ‘I am a bad mom’. That is powerful.” For many clients, this kind of shift marks a new lease of life; the beginning of a powerful transformation. Some, however, may want – or need – to dive even deeper. And, as Davies herself has discovered, sometimes true change begins when we share our struggles and our wins with other people who are in the arena with us. And that’s what her [Phoenix Retreat](https://www.thephoenixretreat.com/) is all about. ## The Power of Community and Support Held in idyllic locations such as Costa Rica, Bali, and the mountains of South Carolina, the Phoenix Retreat takes that personal and spiritual work to another level. Each retreat is designed to get right at the heart of self-doubt, confront fears, and challenge limiting beliefs, leaving participants with a renewed sense of self-worth and a deep connection with themselves and others. “We purposely keep the groups small so everyone gets fully focused individual support,” Davies explains. “We are not just challenging the old thoughts and beliefs, we are consciously creating new ones, and then integrating them into our bodies. We build and really strengthen those new mind-body connections through a variety of intense transformation coaching, yoga, and kundalini breathing exercises.” Davies’ clients range in age from 26 to 67. They include mothers, business owners, and executives. Yet, they all have a similar plight. “They either don’t have the life that they want, or they have everything that they’ve always wanted, and they still feel unworthy and disconnected from the joy in their lives,” Davies says. Numerous studies have indicated that community is intrinsic to the healing process. Strong social support opens up opportunities to share, listen, and grow. Being among a like-minded community is shown to be an important factor in reducing the functional impairment suffered by those with depression. It’s also associated with a greater likelihood of recovery and a reduced risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder. “It is often in relation to other people that we experience the most pain, hurt, and trauma. In order to address those wounds, and really get at the core of what is holding us back, we need to heal in relation to others as well. And there is immense healing in knowing you are not alone and witnessing other people overcome what you thought was impossible.” For Davies, it’s all about helping her clients shed the layers of armor they’ve acquired over the years, and discover just how powerful they truly are. “What I love about the Phoenix Retreat is getting into the soft center of the work with these women. We sit in discomfort. We let go of the judgment and shame, and really get curious about our thoughts, feelings, and our lives, and we learn to love the parts of ourselves that we had given up on, that we believed were completely unlovable. And we do it together..” “It’s beautiful and inspiring to watch these women transform right before my eyes,” she says. “They get really specific about what they want to feel and have in their lives, and then translate that into action, and a passion for living they couldn’t have before.” --- ## Steph Gorton Helps Female Solopreneurs Scale to 10k+ Per Month URL: https://totalgirlboss.com/how-business-coach-steph-gorton-is-helping-female-solopreneurs-scale-to-10k-per-month/ Section: Leadership · Published: 2021-04-11 Although women are making strides across society to advance in everything from higher education to holding executive positions on corporate boards, there is still plenty of room for improvement and encouraging women to dream big – really big. That’s probably why it’s been found that women will [not apply for jobs](https://hbr.org/2014/08/why-women-dont-apply-for-jobs-unless-theyre-100-qualified) unless they are 100% (or 120%) qualified for them in their mind, when compared to their male counterparts.  Women still feel they need to operate in a more background-style role, only stepping into the limelight when they feel they are confident they can perform. The problem is this hesitation and dreaming ‘small’ kind of mindset is what is keeping so many female entrepreneurs from hitting the double-digit earning mark every month.  Understanding all-too-well what it felt like to be trapped in a job and a life she didn’t love, Steph Gorton had to decide: dive into the unknown and dare to dream big, or stay in the backseat and continue with the sustained unhappiness. Steph chose to take matters into her own hands, proving everyone wrong after building and selling her first 6-figure startup in just under 3-years.  Now, Steph is committed to showing female entrepreneurs everywhere that they can do the same. “It’s not that women aren’t equipped with the skills they need to be 6 or 7-figure earners; it’s that they don’t believe that they have those skills,” said Steph. “Society has taught women to be humble, will excusing the male ego, which makes so many women terrified of putting themselves out there and dreaming big. That’s where I come into the picture: to show these women that they can have their cake and eat it, too.” Defying the Odds Steph has gone onto build a half-million-dollar mastermind style coaching business in just under 12-months. Having coached over 300 women to successfully grow and scale their businesses to $10k in months and beyond, Steph knows that she has a system for attaining results. Due in part to her fiery and fearless approach to business, Steph wants other women to know that they can take control over their financial destiny and dive headfirst into their business dreams. “Dreaming is not something just reserved for men,” said Steph. “It’s up to us as women to change the narrative and seize the moment for ourselves. I want all women out there today to dare to start dreaming. If you don’t dream big for yourself, no one else is going to.” A Successful Case Study Steph was able to hit the 6-figure mark after just 12-months in business when she first arrived to entrepreneurialism. Selling the business to start her coaching platform, she was able to hit 7-figures just shy of 18-months. She is now dreaming even bigger for her future business plans, while spending time to coach and mentor other women dreaming of a similar future for themselves. Steph believes in both giving back while working hard to create a business empire that will live on for decades. --- ## How Enrapturing My Dark Catalyst Brought My Art to Life URL: https://totalgirlboss.com/how-enrapturing-my-dark-catalyst-brought-my-art-to-life/ Section: Culture · Published: 2021-04-11 For most of the greatest artists of our lifetime and times past, there was a catalyst that inspired them to pick up their pen, pencil, or paintbrush, and change the world entirely with their overwhelming expression and emotion. It’s not often that an artist this prolific and defined by hardship comes along, but when they do, their art is typically able to move hearts and souls across the world. Harnessing the Darkness One of those artists, Samantha Messias, has channeled her darkness into one specific form of art: pencil drawing. Regarded as one of the best hyper-realistic pencil drawers in the entire world, Messias adds something special to each work of art, taking her ideas one step farther into a realm all their own. Samantha takes her pencil artistry and enhances the tiniest of details, intensifying them, changing contrasts, textures, and lighting along the way. Her goal is to awaken the emotion, feelings, and response in the viewer, extending far beyond the art she is putting on the paper.  Hoping to spark resilience and courage in the hearts of others that are in the depths of their own darkness, that’s exactly what propels Messias forward every day. “My ability to be resilient when not being accepted or experiencing failures is an important skill and one that I am very grateful to possess,” said Messias. “The completion of my works and signing the end result is so rewarding, since I know that I am not only one step closer to my goals as an artist, but that I am also putting something out there in the world that is hopefully going to make it that much more tolerable for other people battling their own darkness.” Rising Above Adversity No stranger to darkness, Messias was abused as a child, all before the age of 5. She was adopted by a new family after being removed from a neglectful mother and father. By age 20, both of her biological parents had passed away. What Messias didn’t know is that by 22, her adoptive parents would also both have passed away from cancer. In 2020, Messias suffered the birth of a stillborn baby with her partner, putting her back in that dark place she had tried to run from so many times. But, learning to cope with life’s heartbreaks through art, Messias turned to her pencil drawings as a means to make it through the next hard chapter. “At times, there are no words for what has happened in my life,” said Messias. “But what is the point in taking all of this hardship and doing nothing with it? I am not a quitter, and every day I wake up and put that pencil on paper, I know I am persevering and showing hard abuse victims that they can, too. We have to all stick together.” Messias’ clarity and attention to detail have not gone unnoticed. Her art has been displayed in the New York City Agora Gallery and London La Galleria Pall Mall. She also recently won the drawing category for the Visual Art Open Awards. --- ## Ada Hu and Her League of Strong Women Celebrate Women in Media URL: https://totalgirlboss.com/ada-hu/ Section: Business · Published: 2021-03-09 TL;DR: Ada Hu co-founded NU Media, a digital media company, with Eva Jiang in 2019 as a joint venture between Universal Processing and NXT Factor, providing marketing, PR, digital design, and website development to help businesses grow their advertising. Hu credits NU Media's growth to persistence through early rejection, thorough client-pitch preparation, and teamwork across an entire New York City office staffed by women. [Ada Hu](https://www.linkedin.com/in/ada-l-hu-6a220014a) is a female entrepreneur, angel investor, and social activist. Having gone to an all-girls school and a female dominant university, Ada truly believes in the power of female entrepreneurship. She currently serves as the CEO & Managing Partner of NU Media and NXT Factor. ## Tell us about NU Media. **Ada Hu:** [NU Media](https://www.nu.marketing/) is a joint venture between Universal Processing and NXT Factor. It was founded by my partner, Eva Jiang, and I back in 2019. NU Media’s purpose is to help companies broadcast their services. COVID-19 has made even the most successful companies in need of more updated advertising resources, which NU Media supplies. We strive to provide the highest level of digital media services. Our expertise helps businesses grow and prosper. In these times especially, marketing services are so important to businesses everywhere. ## How did you promote your company in the early days? **Ada Hu:** Eva and I founded the company with our own attributes in mind. We were persistent so our company was too. We didn’t give up so neither did NU Media. When we began promoting our company, we heard a lot of no’s. Being a numbers game, the no’s only meant that we were one pitch closer to a yes. Our attitude towards success promoted our company. We believed in NU Media and our work so much that our clients believed in NU Media, too. After we showed them what our team was able to accomplish, the no’s were less frequent and our business grew. ## How have you been able to grow your business? **Ada Hu:** The NU Media team is the reason why we have grown so much. The business grows stronger because of the teamwork that is put into it. Our four departments are Marketing, PR, Digital Design and Website Development. Together, we collaborate on projects and succeed as a community. NU Media grows as our departments grow and our individual teammates flourish. > Together, we collaborate on projects and succeed as a community.– Ada Hu ## Teach us something new… **Ada Hu:** Preparation is key. Understand their market. It’s said so often but rarely understood: know your client. If you go in anticipating the potential client’s questions then you already have their trust. Being good at talking can only get you so far. If the client produces products, then find out everything you can about the different products as well as the company business model. Find a way to connect with the client and pique their interest with your understanding. You know their business so you know how they succeed. With this, you also know their weak points and the areas that you know you can help them in. ## What do you think you do better than most people? How are you able to do it? **Ada Hu:** A High IQ is not what makes a successful business owner. Grit and determination are the most important attributes that I have. I never go into a meeting assuming that they think a certain way about me. The only thing that I can control is how they view NU Media through my actions. I go into every meeting, no matter how big the client, knowing what they need and ready to prove that I can help them accomplish it. My favorite color is “off white” because every meeting with a potential client is a blank slate that is tinted with opportunity. ## What drives you to keep growing NU Media? **Ada Hu:** Can you honestly say that you love your job? If you love what you do, isn’t it so much easier to go to work every day and develop your company? Every day at work is fulfilling. It’s not always easy, and nothing is ever what it seems upon initial inspection, but I love it. I am surrounded by strong women who strive to be better everyday and I am truly grateful for that. Teamwork and research help grow a business. With the girls at NU Media, we bring the term girlboss to a whole new level. Unintentionally done, we are proud of the fact that the entire New York City office is all women. Efficient and bustling, the work produced reflects the positive atmosphere and happy team. ## How do people usually react when you tell them that you run your own company? **Ada Hu:** People usually assume that I am much older. As someone who has started exploring business opportunities at the age of 17, I always knew that I wanted to help people and contribute to society. What we do at NU Media is exactly that! We provide affordable marketing services to small and medium sized businesses that would like our help in any or all of our departments. As a 23 year old woman, people are usually surprised that I run NU Media. Sometimes, they don’t believe that I’m behind this successful firm, but the results we get don’t lie. As I frequently say, “the sky is the limit.” ## As a young female leader of a successful company, have you ever been misidentified as anything less than your actual position? **Ada Hu:** Oftentimes, when I walk into a business meeting, they see my appearance and immediately look behind me, expecting someone else. I don’t know what they expect, but the most important thing for me to do is go in and show them that I can provide what their business needs. Dedication, consistency, and grit are how we measure success. Our appearance and how we identify plays no part in the success. > Dedication, consistency and grit are how we measure success.– Ada Hu ## Where do you see yourself and your product, company, or brand in the next couple of years? What is your dream? **Ada Hu:** The digital age is only expanding. More and more brick-and-mortar stores will continue to create and perfect their digital presence. We saw a huge increase in this during the pandemic. Now, people realize how necessary it is for customers to access products and services online. We are here to help ease businesses into this digital transition! We make and post educational videos for all to watch on our Instagram page. Those will only continue to increase in number, so people can learn about the expanding digital market. Stay in touch with Ada by following her on [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/adayoada_/), and on [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/ada-l-hu-6a220014a)! For more information about NU Media and their services, visit [nu.marketing](https://pr.report/Xurps0I2) --- ## 5-Step Guide to Your First Successful High-Ticket Launch URL: https://totalgirlboss.com/step-guide-to-your-first-successful-high-ticket-launch/ Section: Founders · Published: 2021-03-09 TL;DR: Business coach Isabella Sanchez shares her 5-step framework for a first successful high-ticket launch: fix your mindset, do real market research, craft an irresistible offer, warm up your audience before you pitch, and sell every day. High-ticket sales are something online coaches dream of offering to their potential clients, and equally, dream of landing killer sales. However, once you’ve launched the offering, it’s now all about selling which often can be the most frustrating and tedious part. We spoke to [Isabella Sanchez](https://www.instagram.com/theisabellasanchez/?hl=en), business coach, all about high-ticket selling: “I remember the first time I launched my first high-ticket offer. I was pumped because I had gone through my life coaching certification and had built an audience of 30,000 subscribers on YouTube. I was like “The second I talk about it, applications will start rolling in” and I’ll be set for life. My dream of impacting lives and getting paid for it would finally become a reality. “ But when I did, I heard crickets. I couldn’t understand why I was so qualified, so passionate about helping people and so consistent with showing up but no one was buying from me. I was getting dozens of DMs about how amazing I was but no one wanted to pay. I knew I was an amazing coach, but something wasn’t clicking.”  Sanchez continues: “If you are where I was back then, I’m here to help. If you’re thinking of launching your first offer, here’s what I wish I had done and what has helped my clients launch effectively generating 1 million collectively in 2020.” Sanchez tells us her very own top tips to a first successful high-ticket launch. 1. Get your mindset right. Mindset is just what you believe to be true about the world. A high-ticket sales mindset is the belief system you operate from when it comes to sales. Your mindset around your high ticket offer is everything. If you believe it’s gonna sell, then you’ll take the action that matches that belief. But if you don’t, then you’ll most likely stop after you hear your first NO.  Get clear on what belief system you want to rely on as you launch. Pick something that supports you.  Example: “Success is inevitable. If I hear no, it doesn’t mean anything about me, it just means my perfect clients are around the corner”. 2. Conduct effective market research  Making assumptions is the number one reason coaches create offers that don’t sell. There has to be a balance between selling what you want to sell and what your ideal client desires to pay for. But just because you think you know what they want, it doesn’t mean you do.  Jump on 15 minute interviews with ideal clients and ASK them what they want, what they’re struggling with and LITERALLY what would they need to see for them to whip their card out and invest. 3. Craft an irresistible offer Once you know FOR SURE what your ideal client wants, craft an offer based on the transformation they desire. Think about where they will be pre-coaching, exactly where they want to go and what are the steps they will need to go through to have the desired transformation. If you craft your offer based on the client’s transformation versus just throwing a bunch of information at them, this will give you the confidence you need to sell because you know you can provide results. 4. Warm up your audience A cold audience doesn’t buy, especially high-ticket. One of the biggest mistakes I made is not getting my audience ready to buy and even worse…kept my offer a secret and then “surprised” everyone with it.  Give, give, give value before you ask people to buy. Give without being scared of giving away too much and tease your offer weeks in advance.  5. Sell every day  First question I ask my clients when they tell me their offer isn’t selling is: how often are you selling? And most often the answer is not enough.  Sell every day and sell with excitement. People don’t buy by hearing about something one. Marketing is repetition.  If you’re following all of these steps, there is no reason to not sell out your first launch! If you would like free top tips, head over to [Sanchez’s instagram](https://www.instagram.com/sanchez876/?hl=en) which is filled with tips for entrepreneurs. --- ## Ocean Ronquillo-Morgan Scaled Geistwear, a College Merch Brand URL: https://totalgirlboss.com/how-ocean-ronquillo-morgan-of-geistwear-built-and-scaled-a-college-merchandise-brand/ Section: Founders · Published: 2021-02-24 TL;DR: Ocean Ronquillo-Morgan co-founded Geistwear, a college 'spirit wear' apparel brand, with Clarence Diogo at USC after growing frustrated with generic, overpriced campus merchandise. They bootstrapped their first bulk order with internship savings in July 2018, grew through organic Instagram engagement and dorm-room sales, then expanded to UCF, UW-Madison, and College of Charleston via Facebook ads, eventually outgrowing their dorm for a warehouse. Ocean Ronquillo-Morgan is a three times founder and serial entrepreneur from Los Angeles, California. Currently 23, she is a college senior at the University of Southern California. Being unstoppable, Ocean became a Forbes Under 30 Scholar and LinkedIn growth hacker. Additionally, Ocean is the founder of Kaivent Media, co-founder of Geistwear, and a blogger at Ocean Morgan. Despite being a college senior and her age, Ocean wields power via multiple income streams. Today, she shares the story of one of her brands as a motivation for fellow Gen-Z’s and other innovative entrepreneurs. ## How Did Geistwear Come to Be? *“My co-founder, Clarence Diogo, and I were tired of the cookie-cutter college apparel options at USC.”* One of her earliest memories of the origin of Geistwear was the feeling of frustration at limited options for college clothing items. She shared that she remembered paying $60 for a gray sweatshirt with a plain red logo at the bookstore. They were paying a premium for merchandise that did not do a great job of portraying their identity. Even the school’s primary colors did not do justice to her co-founder’s skin tone. Geistwear was born over the summer after a facetime to share their frustrations. Together with her co-founder, Ocean began creating a game-day collection that displayed their love for pop culture. The brand name Geistwear was fitting for their designs’ personality as it translates literally to “spirit wear.” Geist is the German word for “spirit.” ## Their Promotional Strategy for Geistwear Ocean mentioned that their initial focus was solely on USC. After they made their first inventory bulk order in July 2018 from their internship savings, getting word out was the next issue. Ocean shared that their promotional strategy involved: 1. Following as many sorority and fraternity students as they could find on Instagram. 2. Liking each of their Instagram posts for a few hours each day to build a social media presence before launching the products. 3. By the time they were returning to campus, people were reaching out to them for photoshoots. 4. Some students were posting them also in exchange for free merchandise. Eventually, they started getting preorders and selling from their dorm rooms. Then they were offering free on-campus delivery. ## How They Grew Geistwear Since Then They were selling at pop-ups, sororities, and on the streets before football games before the pandemic hit. At some point, they earned a whopping $1,000 in revenue in three-and-half hours. Most of their growth resulted from hard work in the trenches studying customer behavior among their target audience. They also had a lot of organic growth on Instagram that serves as a massive source of revenue. Eventually, they expanded to UCF, UW-Madison, and COFC and started running Facebook ads to reach their target audience in these schools. Today, they target consumer behavior and release core product lines and limited apparel depending on a cultural event or occasion. Geistwear eventually outgrew their dorm to a warehouse that does most of the work. Now, they have branched out from just apparel to selling other merchandise because of a robust supply chain. ## What Are Some of Their Ecommerce Sales Secrets? One of their significant targets was consumer behavior and human psychology. They observed that most buyers of their merchandise were emotional buyers. Most purchases were made due to relatable stories, fear of missing out (FOMO), and other emotions. They capitalized on these factors and released limited items that showcased a sense of urgency in purchasing the products. Additionally, Ocean stated that they did not merely rely on consumer behavior for their brand growth. A significant part of their growth was investing in brand building and promotion via social media and emails. ## What Sets Ocean Apart and How Does She Do it? *“Never asking for permission to do something, and being scrappy.”* Ocean remarks that she and her partner excel at being intuitive and creative. Being 100% bootstrapped meant that they had to make their way themselves and never ask for permission to do anything. Entering a highly competitive industry without prior credentials required a delicate balance of artistic expression, business mindset, and intuition. ## What Sets Geistwear Apart from Other College Merchandise Places? Being a pair of co-founders that represented students from minority cultural groups, they wanted to avoid selling only a commodity. They wanted to release products that resonated with the entrepreneurial community and the people of color. Their lack of an official license helped them create designs that expressed creative freedom. Their brand’s core value is from the German term “Zeitgeist,” which means the “spirit of the times.” Their core value indicates their willingness to adapt to the changing times and trends with a fluid cultural landscape. They seek to portray what it means to be a student and grow into adulthood. ## Their Dream and Where They See Themselves and Their Product in a Couple Years *“Being a household name would be cool. Engineering new trends and cultural movements would be brilliant.”* They are working hard to secure more sustainable, eco-friendly products. They understand the dichotomy between fast fashion and sustainability, so they are exploring new manufacturing methods that are safer for the planet. You can connect with Ocean on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/theoceanmaria), [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/ayeocean/), and [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/oceanronquillomorgan/) for inquiries or more details. --- ## Why The Power To Choose Is Lynn Whitbeck’s Mantra URL: https://totalgirlboss.com/lynn-whitbeck/ Section: Leadership · Published: 2021-02-05 TL;DR: Lynn Whitbeck is Founder and CEO of Petite2Queen and Future Forward Sales, which provide sales and leadership training programs, and co-author of 'Practical Wisdoms @ Work.' Her personal mantra, 'the power to choose' — instilled by parents who let her make her own age-appropriate decisions — has helped her reframe failures as opportunities and get through hard periods, including her husband's terminal cancer diagnosis. Lynn Whitbeck is the Founder and CEO of [Petite2Queen](https://petite2queen.com/) and Future Forward Sales. She helps the world by providing sales and leadership training programs to achieve more, faster. Lynn is the catalyst for businesses to turn their sales teams into revenue-generating champions. With her crew, Lynn’s strategic sales training program helps organizations achieve the expanded revenue and business growth that happens when their sales team learns to capitalize on every lead. The powerful live training delivers immediate results in easy shifts, shortens the sales cycle, builds stronger relationships, and closes more sales. Lynn is the co-author of the highly regarded book, [Practical Wisdoms @ Work](https://dl.bookfunnel.com/tu2x9p5gvf). This quick-read guide provides insights to navigate situations, challenges, and opportunities that arise every day in business, teaching you how to broaden your career with skills that will set you apart. ## Why Is It Important To Have A Mantra? **Lynn Whitbeck:** Your personal mantra should align with your core values, the essence of who you are. Having a manta is equivalent to following your heart, intuition, and personal North Star. It’s important because it guides your purpose and mission in life. ## Why Is “The Power To Choose” Your Mantra? **Lynn Whitbeck:** My parents gave me the gift of choice. While it was always age appropriate, they would share their thoughts and reasons on a specific course, but left the decision to me. This enabled me to stand in my own power and choose my path. The power to choose naturally emerged as my mantra for life. ## How Has Your Mantra Impacted Your Career and Life? **Lynn Whitbeck:** My mantra of the power to choose has had a profound impact on my career and life. At work it supports a mindset that there are no failures, but rather opportunities to learn and improve. In my personal life, my manta of the power to choose served me at my most challenging period. When my husband was diagnosed with terminal cancer, I recognized I had the choice to wallow in the tragedy or make the most of every day. And we did. We filled each day with precious memories. ## How Do You Recognize There Is A Choice In Challenging Situations? **Lynn Whitbeck:** I believe everyone has choices. The moment of choice is not always recognized, but it is always present. The key is to push the pause button and step back from the situation. Ask yourself how your own self-limiting beliefs and imposed barriers are restricting your actions. I examine the negative thoughts and flip them around to a positive. It can be hard, but looking at your fears and considering the worst-case, best-case, and most likely scenarios provides perspective. ## How Do You Overcome Fear To Make A Choice? **Lynn Whitbeck:** I use the worst-case, best-case, and most likely scenario exercise I mentioned above. I spend time working through the worst-case scenario: How would I respond to each fear-based outcome? What would I be able to do to cope or recover? Who could I reach out to for support to overcome? This exercise really helps me reassert my mantra of the power of choice. And, if I identify a reoccurring negative thought, I create an affirmation for it. It’s a single sentence I say out loud every morning as soon as I’m awake. Affirmations help me re-train my brain and embrace my mantra. ## What If You Make A Bad Choice? **Lynn Whitbeck:** The amazing thing about my mantra is it gives me the power to choose a new direction. I believe every destination is a doorway to another. It’s tragic to me that some people feel they have to live with a decision they have made, instead of making a new choice. Things change, new facts emerge, and fresh opportunities present themselves every day. We need to keep ourselves open to re-evaluating what’s working for us, and let go of the things we have grown past. ## How Does Being Kind To Yourself Empower You To Make A New Choice? **Lynn Whitbeck:** Being kind to yourself starts with learning from our experiences and seeking the positive. Perfectionism is something I have recognized as a behavior pattern that can hold me back. So, I made the decision to give myself the permission to fail. Obviously, I commit to giving my best, but I learn and grow by doing. And like Captain Marvel, when I fall I pick myself up, dust myself off, and choose to try again. ## How Can You Use Knowledge Gained From Failure To Choose A New Path? **Lynn Whitbeck:** Through the years, I have sometimes needed to take the long road to travel a short distance. During these journeys I have tried things that didn’t work out as hoped or planned. Yet, I learned how to improve, pivot, and adapt. This is so impactful and a great exercise is performing a post mortem. My team and I have done this activity, appreciating our efforts, analyzing our methodology, and celebrating the lessons learned. We identify what worked and where we need refinements. It gives us tangible guide posts to move forward. ## What Is One Thing You Can Do To Embrace Your Power To Choose? **Lynn Whitbeck:** I recommend you create an affirmation to embrace your power to choose. As I noted earlier, say it out loud as soon as you wake up every morning. It will shape your day with a positive mindset. Here is an example: “I have the right and responsibility to choose.” ### Learn More Lynn’s been a guest or host on hundreds of podcasts. For over three years, her top-rated podcast, [Claim Your Career Crown](https://petite2queen.com/category/podcasts/), has provided valuable insights and the secret sauce for self-empowerment. Connect with Lynn through [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/petite2queen/), [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/petite2queen/), [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/lynnwhitbeck), and [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_nbVrN5rAB9hx0Hd8bX3zQ). --- ## Caroline Crowder Has Consulted for the World's Biggest Brands URL: https://totalgirlboss.com/how-caroline-crowder-has-consulted-with-some-of-the-biggest-brands-in-the-world/ Section: Culture · Published: 2020-12-28 The best things in life often come unexpectedly. For Caroline Crowder, she had no intention of creating content and consulting with brands on their social media strategy. In fact, Caroline majored in communications in college at the University of Maryland. She knew that she had a passion for writing, but little did she know that that passion would grow into something much greater. While studying abroad in Italy, Caroline started a travel blog to keep her family posted on her travels, called Flight2Firenze. What started out as something meant for her family and friends wound up getting published on TripAdvisor, and before she knew it she had an audience. Her blog also helped her realize how passionate she was for creating content, and this blossomed into her posting lifestyle content on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube and blogging daily about beauty on a budget. With her passion came intense dedication to the craft. She began spending hours at a time on editing software, and put a ton of time into self education on YouTube, HubSpot and other learning platforms. Before long, she began offering her expertise on social media strategy and branding to companies, and she’s since built up a strong client base. Her brand, Project Sweet Caroline, has been a tremendous success. She’s worked with brands like Lyft, The NFL, and JCPenney, and is an approved creator on RewardStyle. Aside from her work with her company, she’s attended the Dote Influencer Trip to Disneyland, and attended Coachella with Rose Rockers to launch their headphone brand. Caroline’s passion for blogging and creating content has provided her some incredible experiences. When she was first starting out as a blogger, she worked as a content creator in Greece and traveled with her best friend. She traded her work capturing content in exchange for meals and time at some of the most luxurious hotels in Europe, and it’s a trip she will never forget. Following her passion for writing and seeing it turn into a successful career in content creation and consulting has been such a rewarding experience for Caroline. She’s made memories to last a lifetime, is her own boss, and works on her passions on a daily basis. Better yet, she feels she is just getting started. --- ## Lori Ervin: The Mindset Coach You’ll Want to Know URL: https://totalgirlboss.com/lori-ervin/ Section: Business · Published: 2020-12-28 Meet Lori Ervin, a highly sought after business coach who is completely transforming the lives of network marketers. Lori is a full-time network marketing coach, mom of 3, and wants to help you change the way you see results in your network marketing business. “I saw so many women struggling with the same challenges that I did over the years, I wanted to help make it easier for them. To take the guesswork out of what they were doing, with clear systems and steps that work. I also want to show women what is possible for them – I see so many giving up, before it gets good – and I would like to break this cycle. And when they’re ready to reach for more, I want to be there to support their dreams,” she explains. Lori’s experience in the industry is a complete game-changer for her clients. “I spent years inside the hustle game – and I want to help women break free from that, and find a business that fits into their lives, while also being wildly successful.” “So many women struggle with finding the time and knowing exactly what to do when they’re first getting started – I put the easy button on this, and help them overcome their excuses. To rise above the uncertainty.” Her approach is different than most because she intimately understands the role your mindset plays inside your business. “Mindset is even more important than strategy. You absolutely cannot fail, if you just keep going – but knowing that you are going to fail, and understanding how to work passed it – is the game-changer. Being able to deal with the ups and downs and celebrate all of the big and small wins is huge. Mindset is also a journey of self-discovery.” Her advice today for you is to go all in. “When you’re starting a new business – go ALL IN. Find something that you love, that you want to do when you wake up every single morning and then develop the habits that you need, in order to build consistency. Motivation can only get you so far, strong habits will take you all of the way.” Aligning yourself with someone who is actively growing their own business and utilizing the tools and methods they teach daily is important. Lori’s business continues to expand, “I have just launched a brand new program called FLOURISH. It is for the woman who is dedicated to building her business – alongside a life that she loves. It is full of self growth, strategy, and a community of like minded women. I also offer a series of Masterclasses and Workshops on various topics that have made a massive shift in my business — from building your Vision to ‘Ready for More’, for the woman who wants to build something of her own. I also cover such topics as Human Design, Money Mindset, and Becoming the Leader You Are Meant to Be.”  You can follow Lori’s journey [here](https://www.instagram.com/thisislifewithlori/). --- ## Meet the Woman Who is Changing How Business Owners Work URL: https://totalgirlboss.com/melissa-jirovec/ Section: Business · Published: 2020-12-28 Meet Melissa Jirovec, a mindset strategist, who is taking the business industry by storm, and changing the way you learn to grow your business. Melissa is an online coach, mom of 2, and wants to help you change the way you see results in your business. “I saw what personal development did for me, and then for my husband. I saw how much faster my progress was once I got the right mentors. I discovered a creative side to myself that I never even knew was possible, an inner peace I never imagined I could have, confidence I’d only ever dreamed of, true connection with others that I’d always desperately wanted. Essentially, I saw what life could be. It was empowering and inspiring, and exciting. And I wanted to experience this every day- directly and indirectly through the ambition and success of my clients.” Melissa’s story isn’t your average personal development journey though, her rise to the top started out differently than most. “I grew up in a small town in Northern Ontario. As a young girl, I was shy with poor self-esteem and to be brutally honest, I didn’t think I was very smart or capable. After a year of working as a nurse, my then fiance was in an accident and acquired a traumatic brain injury. In 2014 I became a caregiver at 23 years old. I also became an advocate, and this was the catalyst for a personal transformation that took me from poor self-worth and fear of failure & criticism, to a confident and effective individual with a strong voice and a passion for life.” “What makes me unique is that not only have I owned my story, but I’ve never ceased to prioritize my personal development and wellness since that accident. I am continuously upgrading my self-image and becoming more effective. I set big goals and I achieve them. I go out into the world (these days mostly online) and make the things I want happen. I connect with powerful mentors and sit with the hard truths about myself. I no longer let outward circumstances define what I can do, because I live from the inside out. I have vision, and I no longer need approval or permission to move towards that vision”, Melissa explains. Melissa now dedicates a lot of her time to give back to the industry she’s fallen in love with, coaching others on how to achieve success in the industry on their own terms. “A person who is successful has direction- they have something to work towards. A successful person knows that goals are necessary to move forward, to grow, to improve, to thrive. A successful person can handle what life throws at them because they know that no matter what happens, there are good things coming. They know this because they’ve seen it in their mind, they’ve made a decision to go for it, and so, it is only a matter of time.” Her advice for you today is, “no matter how solid of a plan you have or no matter how great the company structure if you’re consulting, you won’t be successful unless you work on the beliefs and habits that you currently have that get in your way. Consider personal development as an investment in your business, because you are your business and your greatest asset.” Melissa’s next projects include continuing to grow her coaching business, as well as writing her next book. She continues to inspire many to build the life of their dreams. You can connect with Melissa and follow her journey [here](https://www.instagram.com/mj_mindset/). --- ## Writefully Yours – The Marketing Coach You Never Knew You Needed URL: https://totalgirlboss.com/writefully-yours-the-marketing-coach-you-never-knew-you-needed/ Section: Leadership · Published: 2020-12-23 Meet [Hannah Bargas](https://www.instagram.com/writefullyyours_/), the 23-year-old revolutionising the wedding vendor industry.  Hannah first became involved with the wedding industry through a wedding stationery business she started.  What happened next, Hannah could never have foreseen.  Having a background in marketing, Hannah used these techniques to get the business off the ground by honing in on her ideal clients and communicating directly to them. Within 7 months, Hannah had 45 weddings under her belt. Having grown her business incredibly fast, naturally many of Hannah’s friends in the wedding vendor industry grew curious as to how she did it.  As a result, Hannah decided to rebrand Writefully Yours into a marketing agency for wedding vendors of all types. Hannah now works directly with other wedding vendors to grow their businesses to cater to their own ideal clients. How she does this is by focusing on ‘intentional marketing’, a method that hasn’t yet gained as much popularity as, say, marketing funnels. Hannah hopes to change this through her own social media content and coaching. “Intentional marketing was how I was able to grow my business from zero to 45 weddings in 7 months,” Hannah says.  “When I was a wedding vendor, I never reached over 300 followers on my social media accounts, even though that is where most of my clients booked with me from,” she says. Hannah also states that whilst she never posted every day, when she did post, she made sure to talk directly to her audience. “I knew what their problems were, the trends they wanted for their wedding, so this along with showing my personality is what grew the business,” Hannah states.  In terms of her coaching, Hannah is quick to ensure there’s no BS coaching present. “I don’t b***** my clients. I tell them exactly what they need, and get to the point. I don’t believe you have to post every day to be successful. I believe you don’t need to kill yourself everyday if you have a strong brand to tell your story. And I don’t believe followers matter, and I want to tell them why,” Hannah says. Hannah instead focuses on teaching her clients how to implement SEO, how to grow their email lists with intentional branding and an intentional marketing funnels that instils into a prospective client the idea that they have just met their new best friend. “Through gaining trust, my clients then have the ability to close sales, and remain in their customer’s hip pocket for future purchases or referrals,” Hannah states. Hannah also offers custom website design services, equipped with SEO and enticing designs to draw in your ideal client, showcasing that authentic (or intentional) marketing can grow your brand a lot faster than just being ‘sleazy’ or inauthentic. “Employing good marketing also doesn’t mean you have to overwhelm yourself with all the things ‘marketing influencers’ are telling you to do,” Hannah says. “This coupled with intentional Google, Facebook and Instagram ads are all you need to grow your business and see your profit margins soar,” she states. If you would like to learn more from Hannah on how to grow your own business through intentional marketing, click here. --- ## Shana Shackelford's La Thick Madame Boutique Opens a New Lane URL: https://totalgirlboss.com/shana-shackelford-creates-a-new-lane-in-fashion-with-la-thick-madame-boutique/ Section: Culture · Published: 2020-12-19 Chasing your dreams comes at a high price in life. Real entrepreneurs at the darkest moments chose to walk by faith and not sight. The world of fashion and design is not for the light-hearted. Thousands of designers worldwide create clothing they feel is iconic and timeless. Clothing represents the identity and mentality of a person in most cases. The famous cliché is “dress for success.” Every day a person wears a piece of clothing with a designer’s label, representing an endorsement of power. Great designers possess a God-given ability to capture the inner desires and visions of a person. World renown fashion houses and designers create clothing which becomes iconic in America’s history. Every inch of a design reflects a journey of excellence, pain, struggle, passion, and the designer’s creative genius. [Shana Shackelford](https://www.instagram.com/iamshanashackelford/) embodies the culture of America’s free enterprise. Launching your dream into a successful reality requires extreme hustle and inner strength. La Thick Madame Boutique offers fashion lovers an ultra-versatile collection of clothing infused with unparalleled mass appeal and comfort. La Thick Madam Boutique retails fashionable premium women’s clothing. La Thick Madame Boutique’s competitive advantage lies within their mass commercial appeal. Their fashion fits any casual, business, or semi-formal event experience. The cool-factor of La Thick is their user-friendly online shopping interface. Consumers easily navigate the website and shop effortlessly without online bottlenecks. La Thick Madame Boutique enables users to like, comment, and share online items from their mobile devices. La Thick Madame Boutique offers online chat rooms and 24/7 website support for consumers. La Thick Madame Boutique creates employment opportunities for women worldwide. La Thick Boutique empowers young women in the world of Hip-Hop, R&B, and Pop music by employing their trained skillset. Music and fashion are iconic partners in pop culture. [Shana Shackelford](https://www.instagram.com/iamshanashackelford/) understands the importance of creating a consistent in-demand styling effect amongst Millennials and other targeted demographics. Infusing youth culture via music artists provides a competitive advantage for La Thick Boutique and engineers unparalleled creativity. La Thick Madame Boutique’s success reflects within their innovative color patterns, fabric selection, and flexible body measurement customizations. La Thick Madame Boutique delivers matchless fashion and accessory options for women seeking to stand out from their contemporaries. La Thick Madame Boutique was created from passion and flourished into a movement powered by  Shana Shackelford. La Thick Madame Boutique has created a new lane in fashion empowered by the inventive vision of [Shana Shackelford.](https://www.instagram.com/iamshanashackelford/) --- ## 5 Reasons Being Press-Worthy Matters, per Akemi Sue Fisher URL: https://totalgirlboss.com/5-reasons-why-being-press-worthy-is-important-according-to-akemi-sue-fisher/ Section: Business · Published: 2020-12-16 TL;DR: Amazon selling coach Akemi Sue Fisher lays out five reasons being press-worthy matters: it legitimizes your expertise, works as a lifeline in a digital-first world, creates a never-ending lead funnel, sets you apart from competitors, and improves your personal mindset. The digital world is an expansive place that grows more competitive every year. So much of what was once done on foot and in person is now done through laptops and mobile devices, from the comfort of the living room. Therefore, placing special attention on being “noticeable” and worthy of an article or blog feature is more important than ever before. Of course, with such competition, how can a person standout? How can you ensure you are cutting through the noise in your respective industry? According to Amazon selling marketing coach Akemi Sue Fisher, being press-worthy is as much a mindset as it a reflection of one’s work and revenue. “Too many people will doubt themselves and think that they are not worthy of press or mention,” said Fisher. “Especially the women I work with – I have to show them that yes they ARE press worthy and important. We all have to start somewhere. Getting yourself in the press is half a mindset battle.” So how can you get yourself into the press? Better yet, why is being press-worthy important in general? ## 5 Reasons Why Being Press Worthy is Important **1. It Legitimizes Your Expertise:** Whether you’re an eCommerce store owner or a life coach, having pieces of press available will show your respective clients that you are an expert and legitimate. Everyone is afraid they are going to get scammed online, which is why press will assuage their fears without the millions of questions. **2. It’s A Major Lifeline in a Digital-First World:** So much networking now happens online — we read the articles that our friends share, post, or comment on via social media. These pieces of press may be the strongest way to reaffirm yourself and your expertise to an audience you never meet in person. **3. It’s a Never-Ending Lead Funnel**: Having pieces of press out regarding your name or brand will provide a never-ending source of leads. These articles are indexed and filed into Google, where people will find them if they ever do a quick search on your name. When these articles pop up 4, 5, or 6-years from now, they will still assuage those same fears for you. **4. It Will Set You Apart from the Competition**: More businesses are going online than ever before to stay alive today. That means the competition is mounting. One of the easiest ways to outshine the competition is to have some shiny pieces of press right on your homepage. If newspapers and magazines are writing about your platform, then surely your business is superior to the competitors. That is what prospective clients are going to think. **5. It Will Improve Your Personal Mindset**: Having press out is like viewing a trophy for your performance – it never gets old. Sometimes, you deserve to be recognized for all of your hard work. Ensuring that your business and mindset are press-worthy will create this feedback loop that inspires you every day to get up and give your best. “Start believing that you ARE press-worthy; stop listening to the inner self-critic,” said Fisher. “Put your all into your businesses and let the rest speak for itself.” Fisher is an Amazon and eCommerce coach, having closed out $2 billion in sales on Amazon alone. She is now providing her insight with prospective merchants looking to get in on the action. --- ## Thatja Andrade Teaches Women to Build an Online Business URL: https://totalgirlboss.com/life-lessons-learned-from-thatja-andrade-who-teaches-other-women-how-to-build-a-profitable-online-business-doing-what-they-love/ Section: Culture · Published: 2020-12-03 TL;DR: Thatja Andrade left a corporate job that made her miserable to found The Magnetic Woman Academy and the Magnetic Online Empire, teaching feminine leadership and helping women turn their passions into profitable online businesses. She shares eight life lessons drawn from her own journey, including deciding when enough is enough, taking a leap of faith, building a support structure, and treating femininity as a strength rather than a weakness. Self-doubt and insecurity are issues many people face in life. Unfortunately, for many, this leads to living an unfulfilled life and buried dreams. Worse of all, it leads you to live life for others – not yourself. Volumes have been written about the [impact of self-doubt](https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/evolution-the-self/201505/anxiety-and-self-doubt-perfect-recipe-underachievement). Countless people have logged uncountable hours in therapy sessions just to try and overcome it. But few have risen against their inadequacies and turned them into a passionate quest to help others overcome. Few have flipped the script so well as to turn their weakness into a strength (and business) the way Thatja Andrade has. Coming from a vulnerable place to a place of power and influence, Thatja Andrade has a lot to teach on how to live a fulfilling life. Here are six lessons the school of life has taught her.  ## 1. Decide When Enough is Enough After several years of hustle trying to be an entrepreneur and giving up and working in corporate America on a Job that made her miserable. Thatja’s body started giving her clues, pain started agonizing her body to a point she had to listen to it before it was too late. Desperately, she decided to put her foot down and finally take charge of her life. This is the first step to release yourself from all the chains that are weighing you in life. At first, you might not realize it, but life answers vividly to those who take charge of it. ## 2. Take a Leap of Faith Deciding that you’ve had enough won’t change anything. You have to take a leap of faith. Leaving a job that provided financial security is never easy. Sometimes, you need to take some bold steps into the unknown to find your true self. It takes boldness to decide to grab life by the horns and live it on your terms.  The thing with taking a leap of faith is that you’ll never really know what’s on the other side. That’s why it involves faith. But once you take the leap, no matter the outcome, you come out a better person at the end of the experience. ## 3. Join a Community of Like-Minded People Sometimes it’s easy to think that people who are making it in life are born with special traits. It’s only when you get close to them that you’ll realize they’re just regular people like you and me. The only difference is they earned to be extraordinary. This is one reason you must join a community of like-minded people. People who have achieved what you want to achieve and those traveling the same path you’re on.  Human beings are social creatures by default. We grow more from interacting with others. And we achieve more by partnering with those who have the experience we’re seeking to gain. But the most important part of belonging to a community is that you get support and inspiration from other businesswomen. Not just business-wise, but in other areas of life too. Communities are a great place to find true friends who really understand you and share the same values and goals. **4. Live Life Passionately** Life is meant to be lived doing the things you’re passionate about. Not just for the sake of the joy it brings. You should also be able to leverage your passions and turn them into a profitable business.  For Thatja, feminine leadership and women empowerment are some of her biggest passions. And her dedication to helping women build influential and profitable online businesses led her to start The Magnetic Woman Academy – and the Magnetic Online Empire an organization dedicated to helping women reach their full potential in life, love, and business. One thing many people fail to realize in life is that passion usually leads to profit. And those who discover their passions often struggle to find out how to turn it into a business. Find your passion and find ways of monetizing it. **5. Build a Support Structure** An African proverb says it takes a village to raise a child. In other words, even though you have a great business (child), real success comes from having a support system to help you as the “parent”. The journey to success in life and business requires that you have a support system in place. This is a network of mentors, coaches, cheerleaders, and other people who stimulate you to grow and motivate you to move out of your comfort zone and beyond your limits, but also are there to understand your pain when you need comfort, because they understand the roads you have walked and the ones you will walk. When it comes to having a support structure, there’s one main mistake people make: We tend to put all the need for support in just one person. I made a mistake of thinking my intimate partner could be everything to me, at all times. If he wasn’t there to support me when I wanted, I would feel rejected and lonely. But in fact, he was just not an expert on the problem I had. The truth is, we can’t be everything for everyone, at all times. That’s why it is important to have a variety of people in your community to get your needs met for advice and emotional support. ## 6. Understand that Your Femininity is Your Strength The world has taught us that to be female is to be weak. That if you’re to succeed, you must act like men.  That’s the old way, it doesn’t work if you want to be magnetic and fulfilled. Your femininity is not a weakness. It’s your strength. As a woman, you can’t play the game of life as a man and expect to win. Trying to do so is what has led many women to burnout and end up defeated. I learned this the hard way as I was starting my career as an entrepreneur. I realized I had strayed too far from my core essence, and it was hindering my success. That’s when I had my aha! moment. I knew I had to return to my superpower and harness my feminine energy. One thing many women are not taught is that we can build businesses the feminine way. As a woman, you can master your strengths and use them to build a successful business. Once you realize this, be open to the support of others. Learn how to receive and ask for support when you need it. In business, lead with your heart. This is something only you, as a woman, can do. If a man tries to use the methods I teach to women, it won’t work. We can do it much better than a man. ## 7. Embrace Challenges as Part of Life (And Business) Never expect life to be always sunny because it won’t. There are rainy days…life is fraught with challenges, especially on the path of success.  You have to embrace these rainy days. They’re part of the seasons.  How do you do that?  By realizing that what you really truly want is coming. Because after the storm, comes the rainbow. Whining and complaining about the challenge you’re facing, will only delay your ability to notice the rainbow. What are you focusing on? You need to come to a point of maturity where you should realize there is just more to life. Once you get to this point, you’ll realize that all the minor things that you once deemed major pale in comparison to the truth of your existence. The truth of the power that you are, the impact you actually have, and the greater purpose you were always meant for. When you are willing to grow, I mean truly grow, you will realize just as Thatja did that you lose nothing by embracing and facing your challenges. You only gain more of who you truly are and come to a realization of what you’re capable of being ## 8. Let Your Inner Radiance Shine It’s sad that most people, especially women, have been conditioned to suppress their inner energy and beauty. Yet that’s your personal key to success in life.  How do you reclaim yourself from a society that prefers you don’t? The story of the inner healing that helped me completely shift my own understanding of being a woman – and reframe it as a deeply revolutionary act of female self-love.  I thought I was doing everything, I had the degree, the job, the partner. I thought I was supposed to be happy with those things. After years of working for things I wasn’t passionate about, my body started sending me signals that I needed to change my choices. Those signals came, in the form of pain. And I had no choice, I had to look at it. I had to face the distance I felt from myself. I had to face the voices of self-doubt and fear that kept me stuck.  A friend invited me to attend this transformational event, hosted by a top personal development leader. I said yes, and it changed my life forever. By being around these mentors and communities, I started to remember my true power. I began to shift my understanding of what being a woman is and reframed it into a revolutionary act of female self-love. I realized I needed to let my inner (feminine) radiance shine and guide me to my purpose. Your inner energy magnetizes and attracts the right people and opportunities your way. This is also something members of The Magnetic Woman community learn. It’s your inner radiance that sets you apart in life. It also helps you carve out a special place of influence and impact in the world. So, don’t hide your inner radiance. Let it shine. Thatja’s parting words of wisdom to all entrepreneurs, especially female entrepreneurs, are: “To succeed in life, you must get into the game. Master it, own it, and share it. We are super powerful beings with the gift to create a masterpiece. Use your power to turn the rules of the game of life in your favor. You are blessed with such ability by the Source of all creation. You are not a drop of water in the ocean; you are the ocean. This is your wake up call. The world awaits you, your truth awaits you, a new life awaits you, and it is all already in you. It is a different game on the other side of the bridge.” --- ## How Fièra Cosmetics Is Raising the Ranks Without Big Name Help URL: https://totalgirlboss.com/how-fiera-cosmetics-is-raising-the-ranks-without-big-name-help/ Section: Business · Published: 2020-11-17 TL;DR: Fièra Cosmetics, a makeup brand for aging skin, deliberately avoids selling through retailers like Sephora or Ulta to skip expensive markups and pay-to-play fees, relying instead on word-of-mouth marketing from a genuinely strong product. Branding coordinator Kate Duff says the strategy has worked — monthly sales more than doubled since the start of 2020 — helped by an entirely online model with free shipping, a money-back guarantee, and transparent customer reviews. When you think of the most successful makeup brands today, you know you can find them on the shelves at the most popular retailers: Sephora, Ulta, or alongside designer brands at your local department store. In fact, we’ve come to expect that any profitable makeup brand should have a leg up with these big name stores, which provide a platform for their success. But there’s one brand that’s blowing all of that out of the water, and proving that success comes down to customer satisfaction and online reviews. [Meet Fièra Cosmetics](https://www.fieracosmetics.com/): a makeup company that specializes in aging skin. This niche isn’t the only way that they’re doing things differently. They’ve made an intra-company pact to *not* sell in any retail locations, despite how tempting many brands will make that business move out to be. “We made a choice early on not to fall whim to the expensive store markups and the pay-to-play model that’s embedded in this type of retailer relationship,” explained Kate Duff, Fièra’s branding coordinator. “We knew that if our product was truly great, the selling would happen for us, through word of mouth.” **How to Mimic This in Your Own Business** Duff and Fièra Cosmetics are assuredly onto something. After all, if all of your friends can’t stop gushing about a product, aren’t you going to order it however you can? There’s never been a better time for this shift, thanks to COVID-19 and the changing landscape as to how consumers shop. Usually, consumers would discover new brands on a stroll through makeup and department stores, whether they stumbled into the aisles for fun or came to purchase something else. But e-commerce is on the rise, and consumers still don’t feel comfortable returning to in-person shopping malls. And, while having your product on a major website like that of Sephora’s seems like a savvy business move – is it? How often do consumers really browse through dozens of brands on these major websites? “We thought about it in terms of where we wanted to allocate the business’s money,” Duff explained. “Every business has two options: either pay to rub shoulders with the ‘big brand dogs,’ or re-allocate that money into making a truly stellar product.” Duff’s theory is that a high-quality and deeply-beloved product will always win out in the marketing race over a product that has premier shelf space. And it’s a theory that’s proving to be true, as Fièra’s monthly sales have over doubled since the beginning of 2020. That’s the power of word-of-mouth marketing: it has a ripple effect, and extends outward like a web. **Their Biggest Lessons in Scaling a Successful Product** “The biggest thing that our team has learned in business so far is that if you really listen to your customers and give them the best products possible to suit their needs, the rest will take care of itself,” Duff explained. “We created a product for mature skin and filled a hole in the market. We also created that product really, really well.” Duff went on, “You don’t have to do business the way everyone else does anymore! The internet has really permitted all business owners to do business their own way, as long as they have a great product that can back it up.” Fièra operates entirely online, which has continued to boom through the pandemic. They promise free shipping and a money-back guarantee on returns, which eliminates any concerns around buying-before-trying. **How to Support Word-of-Mouth Marketing of Your Product** As Duff has stressed, the best way to spur word-of-mouth marketing amongst your customers is to create a product worthy of being recommended! To make sure this is being done well, LISTEN to your customer base, and make changes based on their feedback. Fièra is very transparent with their customer reviews on their website, confidently committing their ‘Results’ tab to specifically what customers are saying. Hundreds and hundreds of honest reviews are there for the reading. This bold stake bridges word of mouth marketing – new customers, or those who are just browsing, can read firsthand from other customers, and get the recommendation from them ‘directly’. As for building a loyal customer base, Fièra practices what they preach. “Rather than having the airbrushed, photoshopped, young models that other makeup brands feature, we actually have models that represent our customer alias!” Duff explained. “Women aged 60-70 grace our website imagery.” Take it from Fièra: gone are the days that you need serious cash to get in with the big name retailers. All you need is your laptop and a truly great product. Get it into the hands of customers who need it most, and you’re in great shape – as long as you continue to listen to them and create high-quality products for them. --- ## Why Dr. Suzanne Soliman Is So Much More Than A Pharmacist URL: https://totalgirlboss.com/why-dr-suzanne-soliman-is-so-much-more-than-a-pharmacist/ Section: Business · Published: 2020-11-06 When it comes to serving others, Dr. Suzanne Rabi Soliman is world class. As a pharmacist, she helps patients afford their medications by assisting with the development of a pharmacy discount card in partnership with ScriptSquare.. The card is easy to use and is a no nonsense way of ensuring that every person that steps foot in any pharmacy will be able to purchase the medications they need. Oftentimes, the card makes medications even cheaper than insurance copays. Her life as a pharmacist has taken her away from her family at times. She quickly recognized that many pharmacist mothers across the country likely face the same issues as her. As a result, she created the Pharmacist Moms Group, or PhMG, on Facebook. The group gives members a place to express their concerns, ask questions, celebrate wins together, network, and serves as a valuable professional resource. Dr. Soliman’s hunch was right, as the group quickly amassed 1,000 followers in its first month and now has over 33,000 engaged members. The group is even registered as a 501c3 and is the largest organization of pharmacists in the United States. When she’s not living out her passion of helping women on PhMG, Dr. Soliman spends time advocating for pharmacy as a profession. She understands how much value she and pharmacists worldwide provide to the healthcare system and has been inspired to tell the story of the pharmacist to the public as a result. She captivates audiences on stages nationwide, presenting on topics like pharmacy, parenting, and women’s health. Her pharmaceutical work both on paper and in person has been recognized immensely. Dr. Soliman is a recipient of the Rufus. A. Lyman award, given to the best manuscript published in the American Journal of Pharmacy Education. She was also a recipient of the Next Generation Pharmacist Civic Leader Award in 2019. She serves as a medical expert and journal reviewer for Annals of Pharmacotherapy and Currents in Pharmacy Teaching and Learning, and has been featured in countless news outlets including The New York Times and New York Magazine. While her accomplishments and work as a pharmacist may seem superhuman, Dr. Soliman is humble at heart and not afraid to showcase the imperfect aspects of her life to her followers on social media. One post in particular that received massive engagement was a photo of the backseat of her car where her children sit. The picture revealed how much food and cereal was trapped under the carseats and showed how terrible the leather looked. She wanted to show how everyone faces the same issues as humans and this more vulnerable side of her life helps her paint a realistic portrait of success to her followers. Dr. Soliman finds it valuable talking about both her failures and successes, because at the end of the day, we are all human and growth only occurs through failure. She believes that continuing down the same path will never bring on growth, but pivoting and facing failure head on will help one grow as both an individual and a professional. In talking about failures and showcasing the vulnerabilities in her life, Dr. Soliman is able to show anyone following her along her journey that even the most successful people hit roadblocks and have problems to attend to. Influencers and personalities on social media paint a picture of perfection all too often. She’s able to bring light to the authentic, vulnerable aspects of her life as a very successful pharmacist and advocate. Since Dr. Soliman is so dedicated to serving and providing value to others, she understands the importance of a great team. She’s surrounded by like minded individuals on a daily basis in PhMG and at work. She has plenty of evidence to show that a great team will outperform great people every single time. This is something that she knew when her career first started, but has been an invaluable lesson in helping her grow as a professional and in teaching her that working with others on a high level is critical. She also wishes she knew how detrimental a “people pleasing” mentality can be to growth. At the end of the day, some people will never trust you regardless of how much value you provide to them, and that is alright. The most important thing is to focus on the relationships that matter, and it’s been a huge key for Dr. Soliman on her journey to greatness. --- ## How Kelly Cooper's Military Service Set Her Up for Success URL: https://totalgirlboss.com/how-this-entrepreneurs-military-service-set-her-up-for-profound-success/ Section: Founders · Published: 2020-11-06 There is no clear cut path to becoming an entrepreneur. And in life, there is usually never a perfect time to start a business, especially if you are part of the United States Military. However, military service provides a unique skill set that few others possess, and provides exposure to a world that no one else sees. US Veteran entrepreneurs are a special breed, and this is no exception when it comes to Kelly Cooper. Kelly Cooper is the Founder of Tomato Superstar, a labeled clothing line operated by Kelly Cooper Designs, LLC at [www.tomatosuperstar.com](https://www.tomatosuperstar.com/) & @tomatosuperstar on Instagram. The brand encourages girls to live their lives authentically, and the fashion line speaks to that with its messaging and branding. As a US Air Force Veteran of 8 years traveling the world, Kelly ended up settling in Washington DC as a Government Consultant. Internally she knew that her experiences in the military gave her the skills necessary for something big, and she was interested in pursuing fashion. As the entrepreneurial mindset develops, accepting failures and learning from them becomes a common theme. Cooper embraced this in her own life, and in 2017 would launch Tomato Superstar with an altruistic mission. Cooper had seen much of the world and knew she wanted to create a brand that could spark a change in the world, no matter the size. She decided that with every purchase made, Tomato Superstar would give back to non profits combating human trafficking and organizations combating the marginalization of women around the world. She discovered that a cause based organization was her strength in the face of the naysayers and the adversity that challenges entrepreneurs on a regular basis. Facing those challenges head on and having the wherewithal to weather the tides of entrepreneurship are oftentimes what makes the difference between success and failure. Becoming a parent changes us in many ways, and the births of Kelly’s two children, Hannah and Josiah, brought entrepreneurship into clear focus for her. Jumping head first into entrepreneurship was more than just about making money, it was about making time for the special moments in life too. In black and white, a business is about profits. However Kelly Cooper shows us that success is measured by the goals that we set for ourselves. Success is doing what you set out to do, and Kelly, like many other entrepreneurs, has taken the tools gained in other lines of experience and tied that into a successful brand that executes on its altruistic mission of helping others. Money will come and go, but time is something you’ll never get back. Visit TomatoSuperstar.com and make a purchase that will help marginalized and trafficked women around the world and stay true to your path. --- ## How Open Conversations on Menstrual Health Build Stronger Women URL: https://totalgirlboss.com/how-open-conversations-on-menstrual-health-leads-to-stronger-women/ Section: Business · Published: 2020-10-09 We don’t need articles to tell us that anything and everything surrounding menstruation is traditionally downright stressful. From PMS, to painful cramping, to missing out on school, social activities, or work – periods can be disruptive and unpleasant. For many, it’s pure agony which they feel must be masked due to social pressures and obligations. To add insult to injury, countless TV shows, movies, advertisements, and even politicians have framed periods as being shameful. Conversations on the topic would mostly consist of jokes on menstruating women being incorrigible, and if anything, the botched narrative ended up causing much harm and needless discomfort for sufferers. With National Period Day coming up, I want to take a closer look at the topic. **Times Are Changing** Thankfully, we are living in a great turning point in history. Conversations that revolve around menstrual health are becoming normalized. Companies are being more accommodating to the menstruating workforce, and numerous municipalities worldwide are working to remove the “pink tax” on menstrual products. Across pop culture and social media, menstruation is being presented as the natural and healthy bodily process that it is. While it may now seem simple and obvious, this conversational shift is long overdue. According to a [statement by the World Bank](https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2020/05/28/menstrual-hygiene-day-2020), “Every day, some 800 million women and girls menstruate. Being able to manage their menstruation safely, hygienically, and with confidence and dignity is critical not just for their health and education, but also for economic development and overall gender equality.” The normalization of discussions on this matter led to the exploration of ways to focus on menstrual heath, in an effort to make each experience of it less stressful, manageable, or even pleasant. **The Focus On Menstrual Health** As menstrual conversations have become more mainstream, many people have been paying closer attention to their overall menstrual health. For example, savvy consumers are bringing under scrutiny the fact that too many menstrual care products are dangerously toxic. According to an article by Women’s Voices, “Unregulated toxic chemicals in feminine care products may result in serious health problems, like increased risk of breast cancer, reproductive problems, asthma, and allergic reactions. Chemicals of concern commonly used in feminine care products include carcinogens, reproductive toxins, endocrine disruptors, and allergens.” This is alarming, especially when you consider how absorptive vaginal tissue is. The best solutions are natural and nontoxic. **The Switch to Natural** Slowly but surely, natural options are becoming the norm in menstrual health. These organic, nontoxic alternatives are more healthy and more comfortable, which makes them work better. The reusable products (such as menstrual cups and cloth pads) do require an upfront investment, but ultimately save money and are less wasteful. [De Lune](https://www.delune.co/) is an example of a menstrual health company that is creating natural, research-backed solutions for period symptom relief. They acknowledge that there are only a handful of American companies offering drug-free and nontoxic solutions to period symptoms. Among those that do offer such solutions, few offer research-based formulations- virtually none of which actually work. De Lune is here to change that, according to founder/CEO [Mimi Millard](https://www.linkedin.com/in/mary-mimi-millard-085466a4/), who is working to build a world where menstrual wellness is supported and celebrated. “Evidence-based efficacy is one of our core values,” says Millard. Natural, nontoxic products are ultimately far better suited for menstrual hygiene and period symptom management. Now is the time for women worldwide to say ‘no’ to questionable products with harmful side effects, and embrace safe and healthy options. --- ## Meet The Mindset Coach Behind ASFX, Rylee Bogden URL: https://totalgirlboss.com/meet-the-mindset-coach-behind-asfx-rylee-bogden/ Section: Leadership · Published: 2020-09-30 Is mindset important for success? Well, in this interview we ask none other than the amazing [Rylee Bogden](https://www.instagram.com/rylee.bogden/), the mindset coach behind world-leading Forex Education company [ASFX.](https://asfx.biz/) Here we take a sneak-peak into her mind and learn more about what she does and how she’s been able to help dozens of traders take their trading to the next level. So Rylee, what is your main role at ASFX? Rylee: Initially, I wore many hats as most entrepreneurs do when starting a business. I was mainly focused on all things marketing, where I was always thinking in the eyes of the trader/consumer. As ASFX progressed, Austin and I were noticing that traders were lacking in the psychological area of trading. I have studied psychology for several years, and I was already coaching Austin with his own trading, so we thought maybe I could coach other traders as well. I put myself up for free, offering any trader who wanted assistance with their mindset to schedule a private call with me. Very quickly traders started seeing progress after working with me which led more traders to schedule calls with me, so naturally I became known as the Mindset Coach within the ASFX community.  What made you interested in becoming a mindset coach?  Rylee: I’ve always been fascinated by the human psyche and how it impacts our day to day lives. As I mentioned earlier, becoming a mindset coach occurred naturally and seeing the positive impacts I’ve had on these traders continues to motivate me. As a trader it’s extremely beneficial to understand your habitual tendencies and emotional reactions on and off the charts so you can perform to the best of your ability.  How big a part does mindset play when it comes to trading?  Rylee: Your mindset is a HUGE piece of trading. How a trader shows up to the charts is likely the same way that person shows up for things in their personal life as well. For example, traders who are very impatient, quick to get triggered or very hot headed are going to notice this in their trades – particularly when being impatient with trades and always wanting to be right. Essentially their trading habits will be a reflection of their own personality. In order to be a successful trader you have to master your own psyche so you can trade level-headed with full awareness instead of making emotional decisions.  What is a common myth about your work and how do you debunk it?  Rylee: People think that if they have an abundance of knowledge about mindset, that it’s instantly going to change something in their life. Simply knowing the information is not going to create a change. You must implement action behind the information that you’re learning. All of the knowledge means nothing until you go out and apply it. You could learn all the mindset hacks and tips when it comes to trading, but if you don’t actively apply it, your results will never change.  Do you believe success comes down to your mindset?  Rylee: Yes, but I do think there have been people who had the right idea at the right time and they became super successful because of it without necessarily having the best mindset. In saying that, I do believe your reality of success will be altered tremendously if you have an awakened mindset – if you’re aware of what goes on in your mind, you can be aware more about what success looks like to you versus the next person.  What advice would you give to someone wanting to pursue a similar career?  Rylee: Never stop learning and always be open minded to new information. The world and humans are constantly changing so you have to be observant and learn how to adapt to best serve the coachee. For example with it now being only online meetings versus in person, being able to adapt to things like this are key, particularly in building rapport virtually and making the others feel comfortable during your session. I would also say to always remember that we are all humans alongside one another. Just because you are the coach does not mean you are above them in any way – you are there to walk next to them and guide them with the knowledge and expertise that you have.  If you want to learn more about Rylee and her work at ASFX, head over to her Instagram [@Rylee.Bogden](https://www.instagram.com/rylee.bogden/) or check out the [ASFX website](https://asfx.biz/) for more. --- ## Joy Ahn Ngu Gets Personal About Equipping the Saints URL: https://totalgirlboss.com/joy-ahn-ngu-gets-personal-about-equipping-the-saints-and-life-in-general/ Section: Business · Published: 2020-09-08 TL;DR: Joy Ahn Ngu, daughter of Pastor Ché Ahn, left a career in fashion (including working at Juicy Couture corporate and Nordstrom, and starting her own wardrobe-styling business) to executive produce and run Equipping the Saints with Ché Ahn, a talk show on GOD TV that airs Tuesdays at 8:30pm EST and brings internationally recognized preachers, evangelists, and leaders into candid, personal conversations. Joy Ahn Ngu is the trend-setting Pasadena, California-based mother of two, filling the world with blessings with her latest project Equipping the Saints with Ché Ahn on God TV. In our exclusive interview, we were lucky to discuss the breadth of her new project and also to get the exclusive scoop on the fashion-forward, internationally recognized pastor’s daughter and her personal pursuits and ideals. ## What was it like growing up in the home of a globally recognized Pastor? Well, my dad (Pastor Ché Ahn) was not always globally recognized. For many years my dad was a local Pastor and my family would often hold services just within our home for friends. Growing up as a Pastor’s daughter – our lives have always been very fruitful, so to speak. Of course, most everyone in the church knows who you are – even if you don’t know who they are. They know about your family and they know stories about you. So it could be pretty challenging at a young age when complete strangers would come up (to me) and seem to know everything about us. I did get used to it, though, especially once I understood that it was coming from a place of love. My parents have always sought to be vulnerable and to use our family experiences as testimony whenever possible, which is why I believe that we are relatable and likable and have had a profound impact in the communities they Pastor. ## Have you always worked in the church? Not always. I have an extensive history working in fashion, including starting my own business in wardrobe styling. I had a mentor for some time while working at Juicy Couture corporate and Nordstrom. I went to the School of Style. One day, though, my dad called and told me we were starting a media leg of the ministry at Harvest Rock Church in Pasadena and also within the HIM network, as well as his Wagner University branch. I was approached to run this organization and to create the show Equipping the Saints with Ché Ahn and to Executive Produce it, and I accepted immediately. ## How did the idea for Equipping the Saints come about? The show was entirely my father’s vision. What I love about my dad is his ability to relate empathetically to all people. I have a deep respect for him because he is Kingdom minded – to him it is always about how he can help others. He chose to do a talk show because he wanted to honor others and highlight his friends and peers. The title of the show may have his name in it, but it is never really about him. He knows that those he invites on the show have a wealth of information and so much to give, but also that they each have profound abilities to minister on a wide scale with real stories real conversations. While some guests are new, many of them we consider family and have been our friends for years. The show provides a look inside personal relationships, personal stories, and very real vulnerable moments. It’s very special and like nothing else, because it brings internationally recognized preachers, evangelists, leaders and prophets into a safe space and introduces the viewer to their most relatable sides. These days, people need not only role models, but also leaders who can walk with them through what they’re walking through right now within their own day to day lives, and to bring it into our daily conversations – people who can make complex situations more simple and offer perspective, offer advice, and share the burden. ## Cindy Jacobs was a recent guest on the show, what was it like to interview her? I love Cindy Jacobs. I have a great personal relationship with her and, my goodness, I have known her for 25 years. It was really fun to just ask her some questions and to go back into our personal history to tell stories that no one would ever really know. Also as you may know, she’s a prophet. She’s on a very much governmental level – global scale. She has met with Presidents and royalty as well as people in Hollywood. She’s a mom. She’s a grandmother. She has the most tender, compassionate heart and that’s what I love about all the people we have invited onto the show – they truly love. When I spoke to Cindy, I asked for a blessing for my generation (the millennials) — she is so knowledgeable, compassionate, and empathetic – and the way she speaks about Jesus and her walk with the Lord is what is instructional, practical, and I feel people are most after in their search of the Lord. As a woman, she has paved the way for not only women in ministry but in general – often overcoming backlash both within and outside of the church. It was an episode to remember, for sure. ## What other guests can viewers expect to see this season? There is a great, long list of incredible people. We have had Mark Chironna, Eric Metaxas, and of course Cindy, but upcoming I am really looking forward to the show airing with Teri Seacrest who is not only incredibly knowledgeable in the world and the realm of nutrition, health and wellness, but specifically with essential oils, which I don’t know that any Christian talk show has ever discussed before. Terry’s episode will introduce people to essential oils and other homeopathic remedies to naturally heal their bodies, minds and spirits. She is also an incredible Mentor in the entrepreneurial world of business. I love interviewing strong, graceful and eloquent women who have so much to share and who are extremely successful in what they do. So I’m really looking forward to her show which airs on December 8th of this year. My mom, Pastor Sue Ahn, was also a guest on our show and it was fun to have my parents in the hot seat. I learn more every time I talk to my parents and there are always little jewels and pearls that I can take away. I feel that we get to know ourselves best by talking to our parents, our families, and our loved ones to learn our history and where we came from. That is another special episode because my mom talks about marriage and family and our role in the home. With everything going on across America including Covid, online schooling, and working from home the conversation is incredibly relevant. ## What are some of the challenges working moms are facing this day, especially in this point in this climate as in covid? I find that at this time, maintaining balance is most important. There are so many variables of the unknown – education, work, etc; so for us, we are doing the best we can to make sure that the kids are loved and secure, and their immediate needs are met. I am doing my best to give grace to myself and those around me, to accomplish everything in my work and outside of my work as well. My advice for others is to do the same – give yourself Grace – don’t worry about being a perfectionist, but meet your immediate needs, and care for yourself as well as your children. We have to remember a few things: Covid is temporary, and this difficult season won’t last forever; and also – you cannot pour from an empty cup. I do my best to be grounded, centered, and remember the promises of God in our lives, whether it’s through scripture, whether it’s through prayer, whether it’s just sitting and meditating and worship – You’ve got to set your mindset and your spirit, and strengthen your heart during these times of often hopelessness and distress. You have to set yourself up for success every day. I would also say that one of the most important things to me is to find community because we cannot do it alone and we are not supposed to do it alone. So in a time of Covid, finding community looks very different for many people because it isn’t necessarily an in-person meeting (although for some it is – and that is great!) – but it can also be a phone call, a Facetime, a Zoom meeting – whatever works to not feel alone, to get help and advice from friends – to just connect. We need each other and not only should we be able to receive help we should be able to offer it. Check in on your friends, even the ones who seem to have it all together. We never know what silent battles we are all facing. ## What can audiences expect to learn from your father on Equipping the Saints that they will not find in his regular sermons or appearances? Audiences will be surprised to see my father so sensitive. There are actually quite a few episodes where he breaks down and cries and where he shows deep emotions that are not necessarily what I consider characteristic for an Asian American or just an Asian man in general. My father is an anomaly. My dad is humble even though he was perhaps taught not to cry in public, and especially not on television. He is gracious. He is real. He is very tender and sweet. You’re going to see the incredible pastoral father side of him where he speaks with deep love, deep empathy, and deep compassion for his guests whether he’s telling a story or in a prayer. You’re going to see a very sweet and gentle side of him that is extremely endearing and so I’m really excited for people who know him in other ways, to experience that. ## What is the most exciting thing about working on the show and do expect there to be a second season? Yes, you can expect to have Equipping the Saints back for another season – we are in pre- production now! ## For readers who want to know more about the personality behind the “TV personality,” can you tell us what hobbies you enjoy in your free time? I’m big time into exercising. I am a strong believer in being whole and healthy: body, soul, spirit, and mind. I’ve been very much into nutrition, health and fitness for almost my entire life. While gyms have been closed, I’ve been doing a lot of yoga and meditation – centering my body, my soul, my spirit, my mind for the day, pouring into yourself so that you can pour into others. This is definitely part of it. I really enjoy hiking and being outdoors and I love the mountains. I love the ocean. Having that quiet time to decompress is vital for not just physical health, but mental health also. I also enjoy just socializing with my friends on a one-on-one basis. So whether that’s a nice long walk, whether that’s you know time for coffee together, whatever that may be I would say. ## Any final words for our readers? I want to encourage young people and millennials to watch our show (Equipping the Saints with Che Ahn on God TV) because there’s such great wisdom from the guests on the show. They may not all be you know hip or relevant or in our age bracket, but they have so much wisdom and they have so much life experience. So I would heed the wisdom of the generations of our fathers and mothers and really take advantage of the opportunity to learn to receive the impartation to be blessed. You’re going to get prophetic words directly. You’re going to get personal prayers directly from the people in the show and I have no doubt that no matter what country a viewer is from, no matter what their age is, or the language they speak – people’s hearts will feel blessed, healed and encouraged from watching. ## More about Equipping the Saints with Ché Ahn: In 1984 Ché Ahn was called by God to Los Angeles to see a Great Harvest. He believes that we are in a day and age where every medium is necessary for the Church to carry out this passionate pursuit of the Gospel, and to see God’s people equipped. After much prayer and being led by the Holy Spirit, Ché has chosen 12 powerfully anointed leaders in their sphere of influence to join him on his new TV show, Equipping the Saints with Ché Ahn—Tuesdays at 8:30pm EST on GOD TV! Tune in weekly to hear stories of signs and wonders, receive biblically sound teachings and powerful insights on a variety of topics, ranging from the prophetic, business, family, education, government and more. [Find it on Youtube!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eoe7CzYKDOs&list=PL4u8IXG62lRaSi4C7uVJl0QalRVTL7ZGl) --- ## Alisha Gee – Release, Reclaim, and Rise URL: https://totalgirlboss.com/alisha-gee-release-reclaim-and-rise/ Section: Business · Published: 2020-09-01 TL;DR: Alisha Gee, an abuse survivor and coach who began her practice in 2019, created the Rise Up Framework — Release, Reclaim, and Rise — to help women heal from abuse. It includes R3, a six-month one-on-one coaching program, Rise Up Academy group coaching, and Abused Is Not My Name, a five-week online healing course. INTRODUCTION Q: What is your name and age?      A: My name is Alisha Gee, and I am twenty-six years old.  Q. What brings you here today?      A: I am here to share a bit about my childhood and how it framed who I am and what I do.  PAST Q. What exactly do you do for a career?      A: I am an abuse coach.  Q. When did you discover your desire to pursue this passion?       A: I started a year ago in 2019. From there, I went all in!  Q. Describe your upbringing; expound on how your upbringing impacted who you are and what you are doing now.      A: My dad was a missionary doctor, which allowed us to live all over the U.S. and other countries such as Germany and China. Shortly after my family and I moved back to the U.S. when I was ten years old, I noticed that a family member began to treat me differently. It wasn’t until I turned eleven that the treatment drastically changed. Between the ages of eleven and thirteen, a family member consistently molested me. Innocent games soon turned into inappropriate touching. I was told, “It’s normal,” “everyone does this,” and “no one will believe you if you tell.” Because I was so young, it took a long time to realize what was happening to me. These were some of the most developmental years of my life, and I led to believe that this wrong action was the right action. Yet, deep down inside of me, I knew it was wrong because it felt wrong. The fact that I was s*xually abused finally came out when my parents went through my emails without my knowledge. There was an email from my abuser containing explicit content. He had sent it to me during his time away from the family. My parents then confronted him. The pressure of being caught must have been too much because he admitted to everything. At this time, I wasn’t close to my mom, so when she approached me about the situation, it didn’t go well. I had never heard about s*xual abuse, let alone s*xual abuse at a family member’s hands. I was thirteen. I could barely get anything out, but when I did, my mother looked me in the eyes and said, “Alisha, it takes two.” I was devastated. I didn’t understand the situation, and after my mother’s remark, I wouldn’t have a clear understanding for almost sixteen years. Q. Can you describe the process of the pursuit of said passion?       A: In my early twenties, I began working at a home that aided women; girls exposed to s*x trafficking. During that time, my boyfriend (now fiance) was aware of my undealt abuse. One day he looked at me and said, “I know you love these girls, but you never showed up for yourself.” His statement impacted me. I couldn’t show up for others on a level that mattered until I showed up for myself– so I sought help. When I felt that I had finally given myself the time and attention required to heal, I began to speak openly about the hardships I faced in my youth. A year ago, I told my story on a public platform. The responses I received from others was overwhelming. So many women had been through similar circumstances. It was then that I knew I was to stand up for and behind them. I was to equip them to heal and extend their healing so that unreached women could be reached and set free from their abuser and the chains that follow. I couldn’t and can’t reach every abused woman alone. This type of hurt is so deep and the healing more profound. It is meant to be a movement, a wildfire. To accomplish this reach, I created the Rise Up Framework– Release, Reclaim, and Rise. The framework consists of a six month one on one coaching program (R3), group coaching (Rise Up Academy), and a five-week online healing course (Abused is Not My Name). Q. Can you tell us about the challenges you faced while building your vision?      A: The emotional insecurities that follow s*xual abuse are a different monster from most. I constantly had to battle back my limiting beliefs and self-doubt. I also faced a backlash from outside sources that validated the damaging insecurities I was already dealing with. Many people didn’t understand my vision. They made remarks such as: “Why are you still talking about your abuse?” “You’re just looking for attention.” or “Your story isn’t unique; you aren’t equipped to be a coach.” PRESENT Q. Can you tell us more about your work?      A: The Rise Up Frame Work– Release, Reclaim, and Rise. I created the framework to aide women worldwide release their past so they can live the life they’ve always dreamed of. I also speak on podcasts, at in-person events, and even news channels. Whatever it takes to reach the unreached.  Q. What is your most tremendous success thus far?       A: My most tremendous success lies in knowing that women are being heard and being healed –Because in doing so, we prevent such tragedies from happening to others. Awareness is everything.  Q. What would you consider to be the most rewarding part of your job right now?      A: Seeing women finally find freedom after abuse and realize that it doesn’t define them and know they can have an abundant, happy, successful life despite the abuse.  Q. Do you believe anyone is capable of accomplishing the same things that you have completed?       A: Yes!  Healing and freedom are for everyone! Q. What advice would you give to a visionary such as yourself?       A: You can do hard things. Keep going regardless of the backlash you may face from yourself and others. Permit yourself and allow yourself to do what you know you are capable of doing because I promise you there are ten people right in front of you dying for you to show up and support them through their painful life experiences.  FUTURE Q. Where do you see yourself and your projects in the next five years?       A: I will continue to speak all around the world. My goal is to speak in every state in the US and go on a world tour. I want to keep spreading the message and tools about how to find healing and freedom after abuse. I will have a few books out as well. My fiance and I will also raise children with an appropriate awareness of the predators in this world. They will be a generation equipped to live fully.  WRAP UP **Q. Is there anything else you want your audience to know about yourself or your business?**      A: I just want them to know that life is not to be experienced alone; this includes the hardships. Join a community of people with similar hardships and are taking action to heal and be free. If you haven’t found a community yet, please don’t hesitate to join mine. ([Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/AlishaWeLiftToRise/), [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/alisha_welifttorise/)) --- ## How This Mom of 2 is Creating a Thriving Online Business URL: https://totalgirlboss.com/how-this-mom-of-2-is-creating-a-thriving-online-business/ Section: Business · Published: 2020-08-25 Collaboration and community over competition, a pillar for success this entrepreneur has built her mission and vision from as an entrepreneur. Meet Lesley Sprague, a small town Mom of 2 kids, with a passion for helping people create their best life.  As a coach, energy worker, and yoga instructor, Lesley helps people get back to their own version of happy so that they can align with the right energies, the right thoughts, and right support to live their best life. Lesley was introduced to the personal development world at a young age and has had a passion for it for most of her life.  This served her later in life as she began to change paths. “I started realizing how truly unhappy I was at my job, how no amount of stress was worth it. I began to plan my leave and started reconnecting to my passions again. I started working with my mindset and reframing my thoughts to work for me instead of against me. I started listening to me, to my heart, my intuition, and my desires. I truly was in my happy place again and nothing else mattered, because when I am in my happy place my marriage is better, my kids are happier and my light shines better so that I can make a bigger impact on this world.”  This is why Lesley is so passionate about her business today and helping others. “I knew that my mindset and old limiting beliefs were one of the biggest things holding me back from living and creating my dream life and wanted to help others bust through their own blocks so they too can see what is possible so that they too can begin to dream what is possible and so that they too can believe what is possible,” she adds. Her business continues to grow with her on her journey and she now enjoys a thriving coaching business.  “When I started my business I knew that it was going to morph and change into something beautiful. But when I started it wasn’t at all to do with mindset or business coaching, I was actually planning on teaching online yoga. I knew that I just had to get started and allow it to unfold as it needs,” she explains. “I had been dancing around it when my mentor pointed it out to me in one of our sessions and that’s when I had my big AHA moment. The light bulb had gone off and I was like that it is it. When I look back at my very first website, like from ten years ago, my tagline was helping people create their most JOYous life – this mission has been running through me for a very long time.” Lesley’s advice for you, “Just do it – you never know unless your try. Even if it ends up not being your thing I bet that it will open the door to something even greater. When I first started my business I knew that it was going to morph and change as I grew and it has in so many different ways. I am beyond grateful for where I am now and so thankful that I never gave up.”  Lesley supports her clients discover their passions, to create their own dream lives.  She’s looking forward to the launch of her new suite of coaching services geared towards helping new or struggling entrepreneurs to help bring in more ease and freedom into their lives.  To connect more with Lesley, [click here](https://www.instagram.com/lesleyandcoxo/). --- ## How Slimieefit Is Taking Over the Body-Sculpting Niche URL: https://totalgirlboss.com/sculpted-to-perfection-how-slimeefit-is-taking-over-the-body-sculpting-niche/ Section: Business · Published: 2020-08-18 Nothing is more inspiring than the story of a small-town girl making her fortune through hard work and dedication, and the story of Eriee is just that. As someone who started off with nothing but the motivation to excel, this young entrepreneur is a shining example of someone who knew what she wanted, went out and grabbed it. Few people in this world have the skillset and drive to go out and achieve their goals by making a career out of something they’re passionate about. Eriee was one of those people, and her tenacity and diligence have ensured that from here, the only way is up. ## Sculpted to perfection Eriee had always been interested in fitness, and this interest developed into a passion for physical health and aesthetics, specifically the current trend for a beautiful hourglass shape. She began by making her own waist wraps, which she used to maintain her waist. This practice gained traction in the first few months, and soon, Eriee was sharing tips and tricks to other women who wanted to achieve their fitness goals and have a similar body shape to hers. Eriee started her company, *Slimieefit* in 2019, and that’s where the success *really* began. She began with minimal orders, starting with 100 waist trainers per month. This increased revenue, and Eriee started saving up to increase her inventory. After a just a short time, she was buying 200 waist trainers a week. Sales grew even further, and the young New Yorker realized that she had a real talent for this field. Her online following grew, and she maintained an attentive and eager audience. ### Branching out Having discovered how far her talent could take her in this business, Eriee decided to expand. She knew that if she could keep her audience interested in waist trainers, she would also have the stature to sell other products. As her audience was primarily made up of fit, aesthetically-minded young women in New York, she knew what her next step would be. Eriee had been receiving consistently positive feedback on her products, so she decided to lean on the fact that she knew her body and its appearance well. She knew how she wanted to look, and she had proven that her practices worked. So why not branch out and sell more products, similar to the waist trainers that had been so successful? Eriee knew what her followers wanted, and she added arm shapers and thigh shapers to her offerings. With a full range of shapers on offer – including those unique to Slimieefit, Eriee’s business was doing better than ever. By now, she was selling so much stock that it was tricky to keep on top of logistics, but Eriee persevered. She had seen how happy her customers were, and she was passionate about helping others to achieve their goals. As someone who knew the hard work and dedication involved in maintaining a physique like hers, Eriee wanted to push for even more happy customers. Orders kept coming in; customers were raving about her products, and manufacturing was next on her list of things to tackle. Eriee decided to take control of another logistical element, choosing to manufacture all waist trainers herself. Now, Slimieefit sells about 500 waist trainers every month, as well as sweat creams, sweat wraps and an extensive range of clothing. Eriee has more than achieved her business goals so far, and this young woman who started with a passion for perfection and beauty has created an incredible life for herself. She travels around the world and continues to thrive as a businesswoman. She is extremely proud of her growth so far and plans to make her brand known internationally. To see more from Eriee, [follow her on Instagram, @erieeexoxo](https://www.instagram.com/erieeexoxo/). --- ## How Audie B Sets the Precedent for Being a Girl Boss URL: https://totalgirlboss.com/how-audie-b-sets-the-precedent-for-what-it-means-to-be-a-girl-boss/ Section: Business · Published: 2020-08-13 Meet Audie B: a rising international artist leading with “class, sass, and tact” as she carves out more space at the table for women in the rap world. If you haven’t heard of her yet, stay tuned, you will. Taking the world by storm, French-Australian rapper, dancer, and songwriter Audie B is reinventing the rap game.    Imagine the first time someone asked you what you wanted to be when you grew up. Inevitably it was something big and highly unlikely. Now imagine pursuing that same career into your adult years and spending all time available to you in pursuing that same dream. This is what makes Audie B unique and every bit authentic within this industry. Passionate about stage performance, Audie B’s craft has grown each and every day out of her drive and motivation.   Instantly recognizable by her electric red hair and sassy spirit, Audie B’s source of inspiration for her artistry comes from her impressive dancing and choreography portfolio. From studying ballet at Australia’s Royal Academy of Dance at the age of nine to the International Dance Academy of Paris in contemporary and modern jazz, Audie B has earned her place on the world stage.  Her time as a professional resident dancer for Ponant Cruise Lines both contributed to her penchant for globe-trotting and enthusiasm for building communities of Girl Bosses. As Crew Association Committee President, Audie B discovered the potential she had to empower her fellow women on-board in the same way the job empowered her.   Today many of her international singles including “Never Stop” and “Harlequin,” which bolster the Girl Boss spirit, are available on all major streaming platforms.   What does being a GirlBoss mean to you?   Audie B: [Being a] Girl Boss is about being fierce, being independent, authentic, and focusing on yourself as a woman. Many women look to others for validation on who they should be [and] how they should act, when in fact it’s about focusing and owning who you are as a person and a woman.    Why do you think the term Girl Boss can sometimes be seen as problematic?   Audie B: Terms and words are/can be overused; however, this can be interpreted in several ways. [We should simultaneously keep in mind that] it also reflects positivity, especially in these times, taking ownership.    How do you go about actively turning this term on its head?   Audie B: Through rap, dance, and the artistic journey that I am on, I can say that I have always tried to put forward this concept in an empowering way, and [perhaps manifesting it as a] way of life. Through rap, today I am able to reach out to other women, but also men too, on experiences in life, getting back up off your feet, being able to seize opportunities, and never giving up. The daily hustle and grind, as they say, is essential to reaching those goals and dreams and feeling empowered. I want women to be able to relate to my songs and have this positive attitude on who they are, high self-esteem, and especially being in harmony with the person they want to be.    How do you manifest empowerment in your daily life?   Audie B: Empowerment for me comes through introspection – looking within to feel happy, content, and at ease in many situations – and about having the confidence to be able to be and love yourself. It’s not about being in control of every situation or being worried about having to make the right choices and decisions every time, but more about being focused and determined. About ownership, for the person, you are and not being afraid to share that with the world. Accept how you feel and be compassionate with yourself.   To catch up with all things Audie B,go to her website here. --- ## The Peel Connection founder Nidah Barber-Raymond Shares Her Story URL: https://totalgirlboss.com/the-peel-connection-nidah-barber-raymond/ Section: Founders · Published: 2020-08-06 ## Tell us about The Peel Connection. **Nidah Barber-Raymond:** After I received a chemical peel over 10 years ago I came up with [The Peel Connection](https://www.thepeelconnection.com/). I was blown away by the results. I was immediately brighter, smoother, and tighter. My background is in communications where I have my undergrad from Emerson College so esthetics was a new area for me entirely. I had to pull over on January 27th while driving to buy the Godaddy name I was so excited. I was only interested in chemical peels. Coming up with the name was really exciting for me. ## How did you promote your company in the early days? **Nidah Barber-Raymond:** I was giving myself, friends, relatives and neighbors peels even before I became licensed. From there it was referrals. I would hand out my card to strangers with problematic skin wherever I went. Sometimes it was appreciated and other times they weren’t happy for any of my unsolicited advice. It would frustrate me that they didn’t know that their acne or hyperpigmentation was fixable. ## How have you been able to grow your business? Be specific. **Nidah Barber-Raymond:** Instagram, yelp and google have been instrumental to my growth. Clients leaving reviews are essential in my business. When it comes to your face you have to research everything. > “I pride myself on creating peels that make a difference while not being too harsh on the skin. There can be a fine line.” Nidah explains ## What are some of your sales channels? **Nidah Barber-Raymond:** Instagram has been great for me on a national level while yelp has been great for people who are local to the Beverly Hills / Los Angeles area. I cannot emphasize how important hashtags are. It makes sense that if you don’t tag your photos they get lost in the abyss of posts online. It’s the only way to organize and make your work searchable. ## Teach us something we don’t know anything about. **Nidah Barber-Raymond:** Don’t be afraid to outsource work you aren’t great at. If you’re not great at social media hire someone who is. Know where your talents are so you can focus on just that. ## What do you think you do better than most people? How are you able to do it? **Nidah Barber-Raymond:** Evaluating what clients need, probing with questions about expectations and goals are essential. A history of their skin etc are important to know so I can predict their outcome or result. Experience is important especially when dealing with chemicals. ## What are some of the best books you’ve ever read? **Nidah Barber-Raymond:**[Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself](https://amzn.to/3gza5jo) by Joe Dispenza is a favorite. It shows you a unique approach to changing and habits or thoughts. It’s had an impact on my evolution. ## Where do you see yourself and your product in a couple years? What’s your dream? **Nidah Barber-Raymond:** Growing my brand even more and making it the best it can be. From formulations that knock it out of the park to packaging and determining how to make my clients process more streamlined and smoother. --- ## How Lyra Almoite Became a Total GirlBoss URL: https://totalgirlboss.com/lyra-almoite/ Section: Business · Published: 2020-07-04 TL;DR: Lyra Almoite runs The Homebased Worker, an online business management service for women entrepreneurs and business coaches based in the Philippines, and also founded Blushing Gifts, a side-hustle gift and flower boutique. She grew both primarily through Instagram and Facebook relationship-building rather than cold pitching, and reached full capacity with a client waitlist for The Homebased Worker. Lyra is an entrepreneur based in the Philippines and Southeast Asia where she has helped founders and CEOs scale their businesses through the power of social media and branding and runs businesses of her own. She is a top executive when it comes to project and business management. With many years of experience, she has the knowledge to advise any company and drive businesses to success and beyond. Tell us about The Homebased Worker How did you come up with this idea? **Lyra Almoite:** I had been holding onto [thehomebasedworker.com](https://thehomebasedworker.com/) domain for a while telling myself that I would create a blog out of it in the future. I began documenting and providing resources on how to work online. When I lost my job working remotely I decided I needed to start applying for remote jobs again. Due to the COVID-19 situation, interviews and processes were moving so slow and I knew I had to act quickly. So, I started reaching out to previous colleagues, clients, and friends telling them that I decided to start The Homebased Worker as a business instead. It took a whole week of thinking because I knew that I wanted to brand myself as The Homebased Worker but I didn’t know what to call myself, was I a social media manager? Graphic designer? Virtual Assistant? Project Manager? Executive Assistant? I felt like what I do blurs all the lines together and after a lot of thinking, I realized that I should be an Online Business Manager. And that is the whole concept of The Homebased Worker — Online Business Management Service for Women Entrepreneurs and Business Coaches. > “**I started tapping into the new entrepreneurs** who needed help but either didn’t have the budget to hire part or full-time employees yet or those who didn’t have enough workload to outsource. Those businesses who needed 15 to 20 hours of support per month I would ***help them manage their business*** and grow from there.” Lyra explains How did you promote your company in the early days? **Lyra Almoite:** Most of my clients came from Instagram and client recommendations. I would say getting the first client was the hardest. I would connect to my “dream client” on Instagram and LinkedIn who were business coaches and just engage with them there, sometimes, I would randomly check their sites, shoot them some suggestions. It’s really about building connections. I treated being on social media and connecting to these people as if it was my full-time job, Until now, I am still doing it but not as often. How have you been able to grow your business/businesses? **Lyra Almoite:** I make sure to communicate almost everything, all of the updates, documentations, and overdeliver as much as I can. When my clients are happy, they send more clients my way. I began seeking help and started hiring additional team members to make sure that everything on the back end is running smoothly and my clients get the best support possible. My clients know that they can always rely on me and they can sleep at night peacefully knowing that things are being taken care of. I believe this is the best business strategy that works well for me. > “Right now, **we’re already at full capacity** and working with multiple business coaches and entrepreneurs under our portfolio **and have many clients already waitlisted**for the month of September and onwards.” Lyra states. What are some secrets to virality/sales in your most successful platform? **Lyra Almoite:** Most of my clients come from Instagram. It’s a platform that I have been avoiding for a very long time because both Instagram and Facebook are both incredibly oversaturated platforms. The key is to know your audience, what kind of profiles they have, what’s in their bio, what do they call themselves, and to genuinely engage with them. Build relationships. Of course, do not cold pitch them, they won’t give you a cent of attention. Build a relationship, comment on the photo of their dog, ask questions, take an interest in what they do. People like talking about themselves, so make them talk about themselves and listen. > “Like really listen, **find what they need** and when you find a gap to put yourself in, **that’s where you strike**.” Lyra details. What do you think you do better than most people? How are you able to do it? **Lyra Almoite:** I think I am really good at figuring things out. I have trained my mind to find solutions. They say train your mind to see opportunities, and that is what I have done. Now, my first thought is how can we better structure this process? Where are the gaps that need filling-in? How can I improve or solve issues? After working with people and managing a remote team from all over the world, I notice that this is something that not everyone has. A lot of people get stuck when there is a problem and often brings them and their business to a screeching halt. With this ever-changing world, with all the new digital trends and all, being able to figure things out efficiently will really take you places! What are some of your most favorite books you’ve ever read? **Lyra Almoite:** My current favorite book is [Alchemy by Rory Sutherland](https://amzn.to/3faFDM9). It’s a pretty good book where Sutherland helps me realize that there’s A LOT of change that will be driven by creative thinkers in this data-driven world. He explains that data can only help us have predictable results. Where do you see yourself and your product, company, or brand in the next couple of years? What is your dream? **Lyra Almoite:** I hope to see The Homebased Worker become bigger, helping more entrepreneurs kick start their business or side hustles until it grows enough for them to solely work on the things they love, their whys, and the reason why they started the business in the first place. I am also looking at The Homebased Worker as my avenue to help people be able to work from home, especially women, those who lost their jobs during the pandemic, those who wanted to get away from corporate because they have to be with their child. I wanted these driven people to be on my team and help them keep their financial independence even if they’re working from home. And together, we help more entrepreneurs thrive, and even quit corporate to build their own business too! > “I wanted these driven people to be on my team and help them **keep their financial independence** even if they’re working from home.” Lyra mentions. **———** Tell us about your company Blushing Gifts how did you come up with this idea? **Lyra Almoite:** Blushing Gifts is a one-stop gift and surprise online boutique which caters to the local market of my hometown. I have been looking for a “side-hustle” or a hobby that can make me money on the side just to keep my income streams open. I have always been working and could really use a break, and have other hobbies to focus on other than my main line of work. The idea of having an online flower shop strikes me because during my travels and whenever I take workshops overseas, flower arrangement workshops are what strike me the most. So, I gave it a try to see if it would be a profitable business for me. How did you promote your company in the early days? **Lyra Almoite:** I began selling to personal friends. From that I got recommendations and soon came my first real clients outside of my circle of friends. With the help of the outstanding reviews from my friends and past clients, I received new clients from Facebook ads. And since then has gained more attention! How have you been able to grow your businesses? **Lyra Almoite:** I’ve been able to grow my businesses through [Facebook Ads](https://www.facebook.com/blushinggifts/). I also use my strong work ethic to get new clients and retain loyal clients by trying my best to deliver above and beyond, prompt communication and offering quality and beautiful products. I often continue to work with repeat customers to accumulate good reviews and recommendations. What are some secrets to virality/sales in your most successful platform? > “My most successful platform is Facebook and I would say that aside from knowing who to target as your clients, **the other secret is Branding**, So when people see my arrangements, they know it’s from Blushing Gifts.” Lyra recounts. What do you think you do better than most people? How are you able to do it? **Lyra Almoite:** I would say that I keep looking for new ideas and I am quite particular with the quality and materials that I am using. The flowers must be of a certain standard in order to be used, as well as the packaging, and the fillers. These elements are non-negotiables for me. Teach us something we don’t know! **Lyra Almoite:** When branding your products, make sure to keep things consistent. But also have specific sets of variations. Your branding goes a long way aside from your logo so try to be as particular as you can. Always document when outsourcing, so it’s easy to follow. Document the colors, their codes, the fonts, it’s variations, logo, the materials, the specifics of it, the only possible alternatives. Be very specific on this because your branding is how people know and remember you. Your branding largely factors into your price points. Where do you see yourself and your product, company, or brand in the next couple of years? What is your dream? **Lyra Almoite:** I definitely see this growing into more than just a side hustle — and hopefully within a couple of years, I will be able to add products into our catalog that can be shipped nationwide. I dream of seeing my company grow into one that brings happiness and excitement to millions all over the world. --- ## Meet The Woman Who Will Change The Way You View Health URL: https://totalgirlboss.com/meet-the-woman-who-will-change-the-way-you-view-health/ Section: Business · Published: 2020-06-23 Meet Rachel Wood, owner of REAL(est) Health and the online entrepreneur who will challenge the way you view your health. Rachel, a former nurse, started sharing online with the intention of teaching other professionals how to take better care of themselves. “What makes REAL(est) Health unique is that you won’t find any diet plans, regimented workout routines, or anything cookie-cutter. This is a mind-body transformation that isn’t the typical experience that people have when they go on a “health kick”. This is brain training to help you easily take action again and again on improving and maintaining your health, without needing someone to slap the cookie out of your hand,” she explains. Going through her own struggles with mainstream health programs, she knew she wanted to provide a different environment and perspective for others when it came to their health. “There’s nothing else like this coaching out there on the market. And even within the industrial medical complex, most individuals need more support than they are likely getting, so I wanted to deliver that gap in service that so many people are missing, to help them be truly successful in living from a foundation of mental, physical and emotional health,” she shares. When asked what inspires her to continue on her journey, she says “I discovered it’s not just about the actions taken, but the mindset from which they are executed being even more important.” She’s dedicated her work here to helping you put yourself first. This is the advice she wants you to take on your journey with you. “Putting yourself first, mind, body, and spirit, is what will help your life to grow and create positive impact and value for others. If there is a major imbalance in one area of your life, you and the people around you suffer. So, putting on your own oxygen mask first is what allows you to truly show up as the best version of yourself,” she says. “You have the ability to rewrite your health story anytime you want. Believe you are limitless and your results will follow.” Her next projects include coaching within the healthcare sector specifically- Doctors, nurses, and healthcare administrators. She plans to continue to expand her business by inspiring others to change the way they view their health… and put themselves first. You can [connect more with Rachel here](https://www.instagram.com/realest_rach/). --- ## Danielle Amos, the Success Mindset Coach Rewiring How You Think URL: https://totalgirlboss.com/danielle-amos/ Section: Leadership · Published: 2020-06-03 TL;DR: Danielle Amos is a Business + Success Coach, certified Proctor Gallagher Institute Consultant, and host of the Prosperity Practice Podcast who founded Danielle Amos Inc. to house her various income streams and teach entrepreneurs to work smarter through mindset work. After committing to her mentor's plan in February 2018 while deep in debt, she reached the top level as a Proctor Gallagher Institute coach by May and earned a seat in Bob Proctor's Inner Circle. Danielle Amos is a Business + Success Coach, certified Proctor Gallagher Institute Consultant, lifestyle entrepreneur, and host of Prosperity Practice Podcast. Danielle is passionate about teaching entrepreneurs all over the world that prosperity and money are truly about energy and she is on a mission to help entrepreneurs have all it is that they desire through the power of thought. ## Tell us about Danielle Amos Inc. How did you come up with this idea? **Danielle Amos:** Danielle Amos Inc. (DAI) was initially a way to create myself, as my own personal brand for an all-encompassing business endeavour. Since it is important to have multiple streams of income, it felt fitting to create a company which would house all DAI money avenues. The ultimate mission for my company is to teach people how to work smarter, not harder, by listening to their intuition and taking inspired action. ## What do you consider to be a turn-key moment in your professional life, and how did this moment impact where you are today? **Danielle Amos:** It was February 2018, I decided that I had enough of playing small. I reached out to my mentor and made a commitment to do exactly what he told me to do. I committed to daily personal development to remove self doubt, worry and anxiety, while committing to income producing activities that were necessary to grow my business. By May, I had reached the top level as a coach with the Proctor Gallagher Institute, and I had earned a seat in Bob Proctor’s Inner Circle. It all started with a committed decision. I accepted no excuses, only the result of having my goal achieved. I was willing to do what it takes, which was mostly mindset work to remove those limiting beliefs that had been blocking me for years. I didn’t really have a choice, we were so far in debt that I told myself that it was up to me. That I had the power to change my future, that living paycheck to paycheck was no way to live and that I deserved more. I had to become so disgusted with my present results that it forced me to commit and do what it took. ## What are the biggest challenges an entrepreneur will face and how do you recommend overcoming those challenges? **Danielle Amos:** The biggest challenge that you will face is your own mind. Your subconscious mind is there to keep you safe, to have you play small, and what’s crazy is that it confirms the voice in your head that says, “Who do you think you are?” or “You are too old/young” or “You don’t have enough education” or “No one will follow you”… really just whatever YOU need to hear to stop you. It’s a con artist and very few people overcome it on their own. In fact only 3% of people achieve their goals on their own because of this nasty con artist, which at the Proctor Gallagher Institute, we call the “paradigm”. This challenge faces any of us who are going after our goals, and it’s nasty! Your friends, relatives, and even colleagues will be in harmony with this con-artist, meaning they will most likely echo what that nasty voice is saying in your mind “Danielle, you have really changed. Who do you think you are?”, and this brings me to another challenge to watch out for. It is super important to close off your mind to the negative influences of friends, relatives, and past colleagues. They most likely have your best interests in mind, however they bring their own limiting beliefs to the table and share their opinion with you. This is particularly dangerous when your goal may be a young delicate new goal or dream, they may blow it out with their comments and share with you ideas on why your goal won’t work or how it is a bad idea…none of which are true. When you jump into the world as a new entrepreneur, it is important that you surround yourself with successful entrepreneurs who are also big thinkers with a positive mindset that will support you in this venture. These people will only speak to you about how your plan to be a successful entrepreneur can work and spend no time ever ever speaking about how or why it won’t work. This kind of conversation never served anyone. ## What are some secrets to virility/sales in your most successful platform? **Danielle Amos:** I think that the real secret to being viral on any platform is consistently showing up and providing value for people that comes from a place within your heart – so this is what I do. I’ve created a community for my audience for which they know they can count on me to show up in each and every day for them. And I do! I am so passionate about serving others, so my intentions in showing up for them are good. Find something you are passionate about, and then share that love with others – the right people will find you and connect with you! ## What would you consider to be the largest motivating factor in your career? **Danielle Amos:** The largest motivating factor in my career has been my desire to not have others settle in life. I settled and was super hard on myself for years. I was anxious, never felt good enough, questioned my entire existence because of the lack of financial results I was creating for myself. Once I cracked the code, attracted financial wealth, it was “easy” and I wanted to share it with everyone. I all of a sudden felt free, it’s this feeling that motivates me. Especially during times of struggle and confusion, I have seen myself and others go from extensive debt to back- to-back six figure income months. If I can feel it and have it, so can you and you and YOU! ## How has being a mom affected your working style and vice versa? What advice would you give to other working moms? **Danielle Amos:** Being a mom has been a true blessing, because I play a bigger game when Elloise is watching. I want her to know she can be, do, and have anything she wants in life. I know if she is going to really believe that I need to show her and prove it in my life. I communicate with her openly about my job, money, and where I am going in my career. This is key. I ask her the same, what does she want in her life, and I tell her that she can have it. I work while she is at school, and if I have calls when she is home, she is invited to join us. She knows this material well, she lives it! We travel a lot, we talk about what we want, and we make it happen. Don’t limit yourself because you are a mom. You can have it all! ## What are some of your most favorite books you’ve ever read? **Danielle Amos:** My most favourite book I’ve read (and continue to re-read each day) is [Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill](https://amzn.to/30aDYl0). It’s the real deal if you want to learn about making money and living the life you want. ## For my last question, I’d like to pose a question to the audience (you!) Let’s take a birds eye view of your mindset. Results never lie. If I want to see where my mind has been, I look at my current results. What have I been thinking about? What are my current results? My income? My health? My relationships? **Danielle Amos:** Be objective. Look at your results as a Scientist would; look at the numbers, do not give reasons or excuses. Know that your results are a direct reflection of your thoughts over the past week or month. It’s time to release this old way of thinking. Let it go completely. Stay open and be grateful for this opportunity to release. If you’d like further help with this visualization exercise, I’ve created a completely free resource to help you with this here: [https://bit.ly/goalvisualisation](https://bit.ly/goalvisualisation) ## Where do you see yourself and your product, company, or brand in the next couple of years? What is your dream? **Danielle Amos:** I envision serving thousands of people all around the world. I truly believe that each and every one of us deserve to have all it is that we desire and so, the more people I can serve, the more people who will begin to realize their dreams; and that to me is the ultimate success – helping others achieve theirs. [Podcast](https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-prosperity-practice/id1496607512) | [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/groups/MasteringYourMindsetwithDanielle/) | [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/_danielle_amos_/) | [Twitter](https://twitter.com/danibamos?lang=en) --- ## Ashwini Ganapathi on Social Media Marketing That Actually Works URL: https://totalgirlboss.com/ashwini-ganapathi/ Section: Business · Published: 2020-05-20 Ashwini Ganapathi is currently a third year Business Administration major at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. She has had experience in finance, technology and non-profit organizations. She is passionate about marketing and is always searching to learn more. ## What are some secrets to virality/sales in your most successful platform (Fb, Twitter, IG, Snap, Ecommerce, etc)? **Ashwini Ganapathi:** Working with brands such as Intel and Franklin Templeton Investments, I have gained so much knowledge regarding social media marketing. As an intern, the most important thing to identify is the target market. With this information you can pinpoint the exact social media platforms to implement. For example Franklin Templeton generated a more mature client base so Facebook was a primary method of marketing. ## What is your main focus right now? What are you working on at the moment (internship, work, school, etc)? **Ashwini Ganapathi:** My main focus right now is pursuing a career in marketing. As a third year Business Administration major, I have had the opportunity to explore various career paths. After many trials and tribulations I found that my passion lies in marketing. As a woman of color who has had experience in the corporate world, I have witnessed the lack of diversity in marketing campaigns. Through my own experience, I hope to create a more inclusive space and experience in the business world. ## What steps did you take to figure out what it was exactly that you wanted as a career? **Ashwini Ganapathi:** As an Indian American, I grew up with standards and expectations thrust upon me. My parents as well as my sister all pursued STEM careers. Being the youngest, my parents and community expected me to follow in their footsteps but I knew that my strengths lie elsewhere. After enrolling myself in a marketing class in highschool, everything made sense to me. I was passionate, inspired and most importantly- happy. I knew that with experience I could apply my skills and learn with peers who had the same passion as myself. Internships as well as my university’s curriculum reinforced my drive to pursue Business. ## What do you think you do better than most people? How are you able to do it? **Ashwini Ganapathi:** I believe that my strength is empathy. Growing up in a competitive academic environment, I was conditioned to view people’s weaknesses as leverage for my own benefit. From a young age, I never possessed this mentality. In fact, I was able to empathize with people’s struggles and try to understand their circumstances in life. Rather than this being my weakness, it became my tool to connect with others. I think as times change, businesses no longer want to have a cold and calculated environment, rather employees who are able to connect with each other. I’ve realized that industries are not looking for robots but seek passionate and kind individuals. --- ## Becoming a Total Girl Boss: Liana Zavo’s Success Story URL: https://totalgirlboss.com/liana-zavo/ Section: Business · Published: 2020-05-20 TL;DR: Liana Zavo dropped out of college while going through a divorce to become a female luxury brand marketer, and later founded ZavoMedia, a New York-based communications company that coaches and consults brands to seven-figure scale. She also runs What Makes A Woman (WMW), a business and lifestyle podcast and mentorship academy for young women, and chairs WMW Lounge. Liana Zavo is the chairwoman of her company WMW LOUNGE and also the CEO of ZavoMedia her communications company based in New York has integrated and materialized her ‘dream come true’ corporate story as a mother, entrepreneur, writer, online personality and speaker. ## Tell us about ZavoMedia. How did you come up with this idea? **Liana Zavo:** It all started as I became a brand ambassador for small luxury brands and that led me to become a female luxury brand marketer. I decided to drop out of college and use my expertise in marketing and public relations. It was a difficult time for me, I was getting divorced, and my son was only a few years old. It was one of the hardest moments of my life to juggle life, work, and find the perfect balance. Hearing someone’s success story is always bliss as it is our tendency to adopt qualities from others and inspire ourselves to reach the zenith. Everyone, the media or the audience wants to know the bright side and their journeys of failures and losses get muddled and disappear along the way. My lowest point gives me more inspiration than anything else. Everyone has to remember where they came from and for me, the mantra of my success is the failure that is defeated time and again. I built my confidence over the years, for those women who are handling motherhood and business like a lioness, I salute their resilience, patience, multitasking skills, and persistence that pushed them to accomplish their dreams. As a female luxury brand marketer, I established hundreds of relationships with luxury brands that utilize my expertise and my target audience to drive their sales. Even though my life wasn’t perfect, I decided to become my own boss and establish a communications company. I help leaders represent their brand and scale it to 7 figures by coaching and consulting their brands. I am the Founder & CEO of ZavoMedia Group, a New York- based communications company, working with inspired people, influencers and luxury brands. I established my full service boutique-size PR firm primarily for the professional ambitious millennial women. Furthermore, I decided to take the leap of faith and help the next generation of emerging female entrepreneurs by mentoring them in the business arena to jump start their business. Growing up, I was told that women need to know their place in society, and that it’s impossible for women to be making the same amount as a man. I have never conformed to any of those ideas, and knew better that women are powerful beyond measure. It’s unfair that girls are being brainwashed, judged and belittled, and I decided to educate the next generation by giving the necessary tools for them to rise and shine. I am the host on my weekly show a business and lifestyle podcast “What Makes A Woman,” interviewing groundbreaking women, who share their secrets to success and the tips and tricks of running multimillion dollar businesses. As an organization, What Makes A Woman academy also known as WMW academy, we provide mentorship for girls from high schools, orphanages and first year of college. It is our due diligence to stand by them, raise their awareness to become independent and successful and make them a part of a strong female led organization. Our mission is to inspire the next generation of female entrepreneurs by giving them the guidance and mentorship needed to become successful in all of their endeavors. I live by a quote; “We need women who are so strong they can be gentle, so educated they can be humble, so fierce they can be compassionate, so passionate they can be rational, and so disciplined they can be free.”—Anonymous Moreover, during these hard times, What Makes A Woman branched out into loungewear to support women with a daily dose of confidence. We decided to give back by partnering up with a non-profit organization No Kid Hungry, the proceeds go to children around the world. ## How did you promote your company in the early days? **Liana Zavo:** In the earlier days before the pandemic, we would network in groups and host meetings with hundreds of people at my family’s restaurant in NYC. Looking at everything now, it’s done virtually and zoom meetings are on the rise like never before. As a communications company we need to stay adaptable, going forward this will be the new normal. My team at ZavoMedia sends out more emails now than ever before, to stay connected to each individual and support them during a pandemic. It is important to keep my staff of 15 full-time employees employed and support their families. As a company we rolled out our pandemic relief program to hundreds of women, we are hiring and helping women that lost their jobs. ## How have you been able to grow your business? **Liana Zavo:** As a small business I was able to grow and scale my business first off by having a solid staff that can help me achieve my company’s growth trajectory. Most importantly hiring the right people, and promoting them accordingly. I focus on established revenue sources rather than trying to acquire new customers. Risk taking is an inevitable part of starting and growing a business. However, there are plenty of ways to reduce unnecessary risks within the company. One trait that successful startups often have in common is the ability to switch directions quickly in response to changes in the market. The most important factor in business; to be adaptable and to stay relevant to the situation. Customer’s perceptions can really make or break your business. Focusing on my customer experience is vital. Throughout my business experience and especially in the early stages of my business it is critical to make sure that you’re redirecting any revenues back into the company. In my opinion it is vital to invest early and heavily in order to grow quickly. Planning your next step while anticipating all possible scenarios, is the best way to stay grounded and secure as your business evolves. ## What are some secrets to virality/sales in your most successful platform (Fb, Twitter, IG, Snap, Ecommerce, etc)? **Liana Zavo:** As a communications company we have mastered the target audience. Viral content is effective if it speaks to people in a way that they are eager to share the content. Building a marketing persona is crucial to understand what is important as they consider a purchase and share content online. Our social media platform that is widely used for content is Instagram, where a series of Instagram Stories or an image with a caption can spark viral shares online. Boosting visibility with advertising, investing in paid ads on social networks can boost the visibility of a campaign. We partner with social media influencers, which has been effective. Nearly 95% believe that this strategy is a game-changer. Furthermore, providing a clear call to action which encourages the target audience to sign up for a free trial or to a discounted purchase are effective ways to use the power of viral marketing to grow customers. ## Teach us something new **Liana Zavo:** As an organization, What Makes A Woman academy has developed a high-impact mentorship program, which makes it easy for us to start, manage and give appropriate coaching techniques in business. We match mentors and mentees for more successful mentoring. Build productive learning experiences with step-by-step guidance and measurable outcomes. We impact more participants by scaling the program across multiple locations. A women’s mentorship program is a great way to create an environment where issues can openly be discussed. The conversations will be constructive, therefore experience females will be able to provide advice and perspective to the women they mentor. Some tips for creating a successful women’s mentorship program consists of forming a group to lead the program, involve women from the leadership team, create goals for the program, and recruit women to participate in the program. After putting together a team of editors, writers, and media experts, we went through a tough time pitching our idea to investors but our undefeated impetus and conviction led to a successful set-up. The company runs podcasts and interviews where C-level female executives serve as mentors and pass down their wisdom by coaching young girls from schools, orphanages, and colleges. The leadership programs are aimed at building confidence and empowerment so that the next wave of women entrepreneurs can effectively and effortlessly balance their corporate and personal fronts. My podcasts are based on topics of personal branding, content marketing, brand awareness, leading with confidence, authenticity and pushing past adversity. ## What do you think you do better than most people? How are you able to do it? **Liana Zavo:** I am highly emotional, therefore I have the ability to empathize which allows me to navigate the unpredictable and often hostile social environment. As an individual, I am highly emotional and I inject these feelings into conversations with people effortlessly which distributes their point of view. I can connect and develop deep relationships. Being an emotional person, I am passionate and understand that a life laced with significance requires deep, healthy relationships. My ability to bounce back after a fall is an underappreciated personality characteristic. As an emotional person, I am more resilient because I am connected to my “why.” An emotion turns an obstacle into a lesson. By nature I am a storyteller, you can hear all of my stories on my business and lifestyle podcast, and these stories are effective at conveying meaning by injecting genuine emotion into the tales. I am better at storytelling because emotion ignites my words with meaning and purpose. My ability to create which makes me achieve my higher self. I achieve by creating, which resides deep within my identity. Sharing the same space that my emotional self is found and therefore creativity and emotion are innately linked. I am a confident, emotional leader that finds compliance seamless and unquestioned. ## What are some of your most favorite books you’ve ever read? **Liana Zavo:** In my WMW book club, we read books that leave a long-lasting impression. Some of my favorite books that left an impact on my life and my students’ lives are [Think & Grow Rich](https://amzn.to/3cQRL3p) by Napoleon Hill, and [Seat of the Soul](https://amzn.to/2TpFb3E) by Gary Zukav. These books help me escape and redirect me in my life. They are the prerequisites to our mentorship program in our WMW academy. ## What advice would you give the next generation of entrepreneurs? **Liana Zavo:** The advice I would give the next generation of entrepreneurs is never believe that your age or gender is an obstacle to achieving great things! Surround yourself with family, mentors and friends who will encourage and challenge you to be the best you can be. Even when things get tough, learn to encourage yourself, celebrate your successes and take time to enjoy the journey of life. Remember life is a marathon, not a sprint. ## Where do you see yourself and your product, company, or brand in the next couple of years? What is your dream? **Liana Zavo:** In a couple of years, I see myself taking the stage and speaking to thousands of people, just like my mentors Suze Orman and Gary Vee. My mission is to transform people’s lives by coaching them on how to push past adversity, raise their self awareness, and become a top branding coach throughout the states. As the next groundbreaking life coach and mentor, I will transform thousands of lives. It would be a goal of mine to become an author and write a book about the secrets of successful women in business. Decisions never cease to change and one must always choose that path of happiness for themselves first before helping others. I have emerged as a true role model and I lead the way for the future wave to claim the throne of terminal happiness. I will continue to spread the words of wisdom for my fellow womanhood. ---