Wantrepreneur to Entrepreneur | Start and Grow Your Own Business

• 1066: Transforming PASSION into a thriving AI-powered beauty app w/ Riean Knight

  Send us a textCurious about how passion can transform into a thriving tech business? Join us for an inspiring conversation with Riean Knight, the visionary mind behind Honey to Cocoa, an innovative AI-powered beauty app. Hear how Riean's journey from retail and fintech to the beauty industry led her to create a solution for people of color seeking the perfect makeup match. Her transition from makeup artist to tech entrepreneur is a testament to the power of persistence and ingenuity. Discover how personal experiences and a dedication to inclusivity can fuel groundbreaking developments in the intersection of beauty and technology.Unpack the complexities behind developing an AI-powered app with Riean. She walks us through the fascinating process of turning an ambitious idea into reality, revealing the technical challenges and innovations involved. Learn about the intricate process of building a comprehensive database of makeup products and the importance of strategic partnerships with independent beauty brands. Riean's insights into the app's architecture and monetization strategies provide a valuable blueprint for anyone interested in tech entrepreneurship and the beauty sector.Finally, explore the personal growth journey that accompanies entrepreneurial success. Riean shares her approach to maintaining a harmonious lifestyle, balancing work and personal life, and the lessons she's learned about resilience and hope. Her candid reflections on overcoming challenges and embracing opportunities for growth offer invaluable advice for aspiring entrepreneurs. As Honey to Cocoa prepares for its app launch, Ryan's story underscores the importance of innovation, community, and the relentless pursuit of one's passion in the entrepreneurial world.ABOUT RIEANChicago-born and beauty-obsessed, Riean Knight is a customer success leader with over a decade of experience in retail and fintech. As a servant leader with a creative flair, she's spent 10+ years as a makeup artist and moonlights as a stylist, making it her mission to bring out the beauty in everything. Now, she's channeling her passion into Honey to Cocoa, an AI-powered app helping people of color find their perfect makeup match. When she's not revolutionizing beauty tech, you’ll find her curating stunning dinner parties, designing chic interiors, or binge-watching Harry Potter and anime.LINKS & RESOURCESVisit Honey to Cocoa’s WebsiteFollow Honey to Cocoa on InstagramFind Honey to Cocoa on TikTokConnect with Riean on LinkedIn

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• 1065: TRANSFORMING the student housing dilemma (and the financial burden of it!) w/ Nancy Schwartz

  Send us a textWhat if you could transform the student housing experience for families worldwide? Join us as we sit down with Nancy Schwartz, a trailblazing entrepreneur who has shifted from a successful advertising career to launching Semester Sublet, a platform revolutionizing short-term student housing. Inspired by her own challenges as a parent of study-abroad students, Nancy created a space where students and families can seamlessly connect for subletting opportunities. Her journey is a captivating tale of identifying market gaps and using creative problem-solving to make a tangible difference in students' lives.Nancy shares her vision of making Semester Sublet accessible to both tech-savvy students and their parents, who may not be as comfortable with technology. We explore how the platform eases the subletting process with user-friendly features like drop-down menus and simple postings. Nancy sheds light on the targeted approach of reaching parents as primary customers and discusses potential university partnerships. By addressing housing and financial issues, she resonates with families who face these challenges, offering them a much-needed solution during study-abroad semesters.Discover the strategic measures Nancy employs to expand Semester Sublet's reach, including engaging with college dance marathons and forming community partnerships. Nancy's emphasis on organic growth has led to heartwarming success stories of students who sublet their apartments to pursue invaluable opportunities abroad. As she continues to focus on short-term objectives and strategic growth, Nancy empowers students and their families, alleviating the financial burdens of education. Her story is a testament to how even short-term goals can lead to remarkable achievements, transforming the landscape of student housing one sublet at a time.ABOUT NANCYAfter a successful career as Director of Advertising for a Fortune 50 firm in NYC, Nancy Schwartz and her husband moved to Boston where they have raised their family which includes graduates from the University of Maryland, Indiana University, the University of Pennsylvania and the State University of New York at Albany. Nancy founded The JJA Group, a rental housing business providing off campus housing for students in Albany, New York. However, as the mother of 3 study abroad alums, solving the "One Semester Housing Dilemma" was a mission. The idea for Semester Sublet percolated for over 8 years and 1 year ago Semester Sublet was created.LINKS & RESOURCESVisit Semester Sublet’s WebsiteFollow Semester Sublet on InstagramFind Semester Sublet on FacebookConnect with Nancy on LinkedIn

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• 1064: ROCKING the interview with expert-level professional communication w/ Ellie Hoekman

  Send us a textWhat happens when a corporate career no longer satisfies your passion? Meet Ellie Hoekman, career coach extraordinaire and founder of Rock and Secure, who left her roles as a full-cycle recruiter and business intelligence analyst to ignite a new path in career coaching. This episode unveils Ellie's transformative journey, sparked by a thought-provoking question from a colleague that led her to discover her true calling. We explore the powerful narrative of pursuing one's passion, finding a niche, and embracing the challenges of starting a new business focused on helping professionals in industrial and organizational psychology.Unlock the secrets of mastering communication skills with insights from Ellie as she shares her expertise on turning interviews into opportunities for success. Her advice transcends simple word choice, spotlighting the significance of tonality and authentic self-presentation. Discover how to navigate those tricky interview questions with grace by focusing on future aspirations and presenting your best self. Ellie’s tips aren’t just for job seekers; they’re valuable for anyone looking to enhance their professional interactions in various settings, emphasizing the importance of balancing emotions and maintaining a positive outlook.Venture further into the entrepreneurial realm with Ellie’s strategies for goal setting and motivation. Hear about the trials and triumphs of building a business, the importance of client success, and the structure of impactful career training programs. Ellie opens up about overcoming self-doubt with guidance from mentors and the strength in relatability. From the practical challenges of scalability to the joy of doing what you love, this episode offers a treasure trove of advice for aspiring entrepreneurs. Tune in to learn how to keep a guiding vision that aligns your aspirations with your current actions, ensuring long-term success in both career and life endeavors.ABOUT ELLIEEllie Hoekman is a Career Coach and the Founder of Rock and Secure LLC. The name Rock and Secure comes from the idea that if you can learn how to "Rock" your interview, you can "Secure" some awesome job offers. Ellie's niche is helping professionals in the Industrial and Organizational Psychology field, which is a very specific type of psychology focused on improving the workplace and using organizational strategy for business success.LINKS & RESOURCESVisit Rock and Secure’s WebsiteConnect with Ellie on LinkedIn

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• 1063: Master PERFORMANCE MARKETING and target THESE exact prospects for your biz w/ Marina Fomina

  Send us a textUnlock the secrets of performance marketing with Marina Fomina, a dynamic marketer whose journey from helping her mother's crepe restaurant in Seattle to co-founding Marketing Works is as inspiring as it is informative. Discover how Marina transformed her passion for data-driven strategies into a thriving career that empowers businesses to harness the power of digital marketing. Our conversation reveals Marina's innovative approaches to targeting audiences and optimizing marketing efforts using concepts like concentric circles and the explore-exploit principle.Navigate the evolving world of marketing technology and AI as Marina shares her insights on adapting to new tools and trends. With her Amazon-like mindset, she delves into the benefits of fractional CMO services, offering a unique perspective on how businesses can refine strategies with expert guidance. As AI takes the reins in digital advertising, learn how marketers can shift from manual campaign control to leveraging automated systems for streamlined processes and enhanced results.Join us as we explore the dynamic nature of performance marketing, where precision meets creativity. Marina's "30-second test" strategy sheds light on capturing attention and ensuring continuity between ads and landing pages. From the nuances of broad match keywords to the strategic use of negative keywords, Marina's expertise offers a blend of strategic and tactical advice that no entrepreneur or marketer should miss. Tune in for a captivating episode filled with actionable insights to elevate your marketing game.ABOUT MARINAMarina Fomina is an experienced, results-driven marketer and ex-Amazonian passionate about all things performance marketing. Based in Seattle, she and her business partner Sandra started Marketing Works in early 2024 to help businesses grow using the most effective digital marketing tactics. They first met while working at Amazon, managing annual media budgets up to $60MM to support warehouse hiring in over 2,500 facilities across North America - and this is where Marina got to see how many different paid channels operate at scale - and what actually works. Hence the name Marketing Works :).LINKS & RESOURCESVisit Marketing Works’ WebsiteConnect with Marina on LinkedIn

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• 1062: A personalized news service to STOP the doom scrolling w/ Brian Burns

  Send us a textEver wondered how an attorney becomes an entrepreneur in the tech world? Our latest episode features Brian Burns, a fascinating guest who took his love for news and problem-solving from the courtroom to the startup scene. Brian's journey from law school to creating Turbo Tabs, a unique personalized news service, is filled with unexpected turns and valuable lessons. He offers insights into how his legal background, experience in consulting, and even teaching middle school math all played a part in his entrepreneurial success.Brian shares the real story behind Turbo Tabs, highlighting the challenges he faced and the triumphs that followed as he taught himself to code and automate processes. Listen to how his diverse career path and relentless curiosity fueled the creation of a tool designed to help users break free from endless doom scrolling. His candid discussion on embracing imperfection and learning from failures provides a roadmap for aspiring entrepreneurs. Brian's approach shows the power of a minimum viable product and the importance of feedback in refining a service.In an ever-competitive digital landscape, TurboTabs stands out by empowering users to take control of their content consumption. Brian reveals the inspiration behind his innovative product, aiming to offer a healthier, more intentional interaction with news. The episode wraps up with Brian's advice on persistence, knowing your "why," and the importance of staying true to your vision. Join us as we explore the intersection of curiosity, adaptability, and entrepreneurship in this inspiring conversation.ABOUT BRIANBrian Burns is an attorney, self-taught developer, and news junkie. He graduated from law school in 2016 and has worked for the Federal Election Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, as well as a large international consulting firm in Washington DC. After moving home to Chicago, he began working in-house at a fin-tech startup where he caught the startup bug and became fascinated with coding. In 2020 he was a candidate for U.S. Congress in Illinois and was the campaign manager for a successful candidate for the Illinois State House in 2022. He started building Turbo Tabs - a website that empowers users to design the perfect daily report for themselves. Turbo Tabs is launching to the public in early 2024 and will help users get more from the internet without getting sucked into a doom scroll.LINKS & RESOURCESVisit Turbo Tabs’ Website and Use the Promo Code PODCAST to Get a Discount on Your SubscriptionConnect with Brian on LinkedIn

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