The WorkSmart Podcast With Morgan DeBaun

In this mini episode, Morgan DeBaun, CEO of Blavity Inc., takes us behind the scenes of the launch of their new home and decor media brand, "Home and Texture." Morgan shares how she and her team identified a gap in the market for a media brand that focused on the intersection of culture and home design, and how they went about bringing this vision to life.

Morgan shares the challenges and triumphs of building a new brand from the ground up, including the process of defining the brand's values and aesthetic, finding the right team to bring it to life, and creating a content strategy that resonates with their target audience.

Throughout the episode, Morgan offers insights into the importance of representation in the media and how "Home and Texture" aims to fill a void in the home decor industry by highlighting diverse perspectives and experiences.

Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur, a home decor enthusiast, or simply interested in the creative process behind building a new media brand, this episode offers a fascinating look at the journey of launching "Home and Texture."

If you liked this BTS look at Blavity. Leave a review!

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be a franchise owner? Is it possible to have complete entrepreneurial independence and the ability to make an impact on your local community?

If so, you’ll want to hear my conversation with Kareem Edwards. Kareem got his start at Lehman Brothers, Kraft, and Google — and then went on to open his first Chick-fil-A restaurant in Chicago.

In this episode, we discuss how Kareem learned the Chick-fil-A culture (yes, this means working part-time in the kitchens!), the process it takes to become a franchise owner, and Kareem’s best advice for other aspiring entrepreneurs. “I always tell people just be true to yourself and tell your story and own the why.”

RESOURCES

LinkedIn

Website

To connect with Morgan click here: https://www.instagram.com/morgandebaun/ 

Sign up for CEO Spring Break 2023: Ceospringbreak.com 

Are you intimidated by the thought of government contracting? Not sure where to start? On this week’s episode of the WorkSmart podcast, I sit down with Denise Burgess, President and CEO of Burgess Services, a construction management firm based in Denver, Colorado. Burgess has served on the Board of Directors of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce since 2010 and will become the first African-American Board Chair of the Chamber in September 2017. She’s also on the list of the Top 25 Most Powerful Women by the Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce.

She walks us through the nitty-gritty of working on a government project. (Including the key to making sure you get rehired!) We also talk more about her family’s entrepreneurship journey, the ins and outs of contracting work, and we share helpful tips for those who want to follow in her shoes. One critical takeaway from her experience is the importance of certification — and why Black, millennial, and small business owners should take notes.

Ready to get more productive? Learn how to take your extra time and turn it into revenue for your business. The Smart Money Challenge is focused on assisting founders and CEOs like you in becoming more productive and helping you to focus on generating more revenue - sustainably

To connect with Morgan click here: https://www.instagram.com/morgandebaun/ 

Shondra Washington is an emerging fund manager, investment banker and co-founder of TBC capital, an education-first advisory and consulting firm focused on fractional CFO’s business development and strategy services for venture-backed companies and small business owners.

She is now the CEO of Black@. With her experience in finance and advising startup founders on their fundraising strategy, Shondra joins the WorkSmart podcast to share her wisdom and tips for other entrepreneurs. Working capital, GAAP, Controllers and more: We walk through some of the basics of financial vocabulary and talk about why it's important to dive head in and make sure that you understand the basics of your business's finances. We’ll also get into the nitty-gritty of understanding your cash flow, pricing yourself and why having up-to-date financials is crucial.

You’re going to want to listen – and take notes. 

RESOURCES

LinkedIn

Website

Twitter

Instagram

To access this episode’s freebie and check out previous episodes, click here: https://morgandebaun.com/podcast/

Get coached by Morgan and other WorkSmart Advisors at: https://Worksmartadvisor.com 

To connect with Morgan click here: https://www.instagram.com/morgandebaun/ 

One of the most important things about working smart is learning how to automate and delegate to increase your efficiency. In this week’s episode of the WorkSmart podcast, Morgan shares her favorite go-to tools to grow her companies, automate her processes and save hours on big projects. From Asana to Lucidchart, these tools are crucial to maximizing your time and helping your business run more smoothly.

We’re also launching a WorkSmart 10-day challenge for listeners. The goal is to help you become more productive and save more time. We’re going to walk through how you can delegate more effectively, automate your tasks and projects more efficiently, and break down some of the things that may be procrastinating in your business. Our goal is to get at least a thousand Black entrepreneurs and small owners involved – and help you learn how to use your time to help make more money in your business. 

To learn more about the program, click here. 

RESOURCES

Join the 10 day challenge to help you be more productive and drive revenue. WorkSmartmoneychallenge.com

To connect with Morgan DeBaun click here: https://www.instagram.com/morgandebaun/ 

To learn more about the WorkSmart Program and Network, click here. 

• Access to an inclusive community where you connect with our CEOs and WorkSmart Advisors to help you problem-solve. 
• Access To Our Live Events: We can get a lot done from our pajamas at home, but there is just something about getting in a room full of high-level entrepreneurs that can unlock areas of growth you didn't even know existed.
• Bi-weekly calls with WorkSmart Advisors including a monthly “all hands” with Morgan to answer your questions live. 
• Vendor Discounts: Receive premium perks, discounts, and credits to software, tools, and services.
• Video Library & Templates: Access to "The vault," business owner -approved resources, over 100 videos business answers to your top questions, “done for you” templates and toolkits.
• Member Directory: An exclusive directory of WorkSmart members listed by stage, industry, expertise, and geography for instant connections. Deals are done in the DMs!

Join us today!  👉 https://www.worksmartadvisor.com/launch

Welcome to our new series: At Home in Nashville

In this series, Morgan sits down with a few top entrepreneurs in her new city, Nashville, to learn about their business journey, chat about the growing community of entrepreneurs in Nashville, and what advice they have for listeners thinking about taking the leap into entrepreneurship.

In this episode, Morgan sits down with Joshua Mundy, tech CEO, co-founder, non-profit leader, and Native  Nashvillian to talk about his different business ventures, how he first got started as an entrepreneur and his methods for success in business.

Watch this episode on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnSkDK0C_zizYw84W1KQImQ

To connect with Joshua click here: https://www.instagram.com/iammrmundy/

To connect with Morgan click here: https://www.instagram.com/morgandebaun

To join other successful small business owners at CEO Spring Break in Nashville, purchase your ticket here: https://www.ceospringbreak.com/

Welcome to our new series: At Home in Nashville

In this series, Morgan sits down with a few top entrepreneurs in her new city, Nashville, to learn about their business journey, chat about the growing community of entrepreneurs in Nashville, and what advice they have for listeners thinking about taking the leap into entrepreneurship. 

In this episode, Morgan sits down with Tomiko Harvey, founder & editor of ‘Passports and Grub” a luxury lifestyle publication for Black women, Vice President of the Black Travel Alliance and Nashville resident.

Watch this episode on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnSkDK0C_zizYw84W1KQImQ

To connect with Tomiko click here: https://www.instagram.com/tomiko.harvey/

To connect with Morgan click here: https://www.instagram.com/morgandebaun

To join other successful small business owners at CEO Spring Break, purchase your ticket here: https://www.ceospringbreak.com/

In this episode of the WorkSmart podcast, we dive deep into the topic of executive search firms and why you need them in your life. “You don’t have a chance to win the game if you don’t even know there is a game happening,” Duncalfe says. By the end of the episode, you’ll find the crucial tips you need to know for leveling up in your career.

To connect with Lucinda Duncalfe click here: 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucindaduncalfe/

To connect with Morgan click here: https://www.instagram.com/morgandebaun/ 

To purchase your ticket to CEO Spring Break click here: 
https://www.ceospringbreak.com/register 

We have an announcement!

We're launching CEO Spring Break - a first-of-its-kind retreat this April in Nashville, Tennessee.

Listen to this quick episode to hear about the event, who it's for, and how you can get involved. 

Make sure to join the waitlist https://www.ceospringbreak.com/ to find out as soon as registration opens and tickets go on sale!

In this week’s episode of the WorkSmart podcast, Morgan covers everything you need to know about getting media coverage for your business in the new year. Pitching your company is key to building your brand—but the secret is pitching well. 

To start, you need to make your goals for gaining media coverage clear and intentional. Why do you want the press?  From there, you can start crafting pitches for the publications, creators, podcasts and more that you have in mind—but that’s just the beginning. 

She also talks about building brand awareness amongst your target consumer and how to gain visibility amongst investors, the art of writing an interesting pitch, how to properly follow up, and more. 

Click here to subscribe to the WorKSmart Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-worksmart-podcast-with-morgan-debaun/id1547363866 

Click here to follow the WorkSmart Podcast on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theworksmartpodcast/ 

Click here to subscribe to the newsletter and be first to know when a new episode drops: www.morgandebaun.com/podcast 

In this episode, Morgan sits down with Grammy-winning artist, songwriter, and angel investor, NE-YO. Morgan and NE-YO have a beyond the music conversation about the realities of the music industry, what his day-to-day team looks like, his investment strategy, and he shares his advice as a veteran in the industry for artists and creatives who want to build lasting careers. 

Click here to follow NE-YO: https://www.instagram.com/neyo/?hl=en 

Click here to follow the WorkSmart Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/theworksmartpodcast/ 

Click here to subscribe to the newsletter and be first to know when a new episode drops: https://morgandebaun.com/podcast/ 

In this episode, Morgan sits down with her friend and 2019 WorkSmart alum Ernest B. James to discuss the creator economy and monetizing content. EJ opens up about the lessons he learned in the program and how he’s grown and transformed his business over the past two years. As the Founder and Chief Management Officer of Noire Management, a full-service multicultural digital influencer, talent, marketing, and communications agency, EJ has grown his agency well beyond the talent management business that it started as in 2018.

Beyond simply managing influencers and talent, Noire is now a growing consultancy and retainer-based agency. Noire champions diversity and inclusive narratives and experiences through talent representation, campaigns, and event executions. It also connects creatives of color with brands looking to bridge the communication gap in order to create authentically engaging content that resonates with today's highly informed consumer groups. 

This conversation is full of wisdom and advice for content creators, talent agencies—and anyone considering building and monetizing their personal brand. I hope you enjoy the episode!

To connect with EJ and Noire Management click here: https://www.instagram.com/noiremgmt/?hl=en 

To access this episode’s freebie and check out previous episodes, click here: https://morgandebaun.com/podcast/

To connect with Morgan click here: https://www.instagram.com/morgandebaun/ 

There’s still some time to enroll for the final WorkSmart cohort of this year. Click here to get your application in: worksmartapplication.com

In this week’s episode, we’re joined by WorkSmart alum and professional ghostwriter, Nakia J.S. Thomas. In 2014, Nakia founded a small writing company that organically transformed and grew into what’s now a six-figure full-service creative agency. Today, as the founder and CEO of Few Editorial & Creative Suite, she and her team partner with high-profile entrepreneurs, executives, influencers, and small-to-large businesses and organizations across the country, providing brand development and design, copywriting and editing, podcast studio services, and one-on-one book ghostwriting.

Nakia shares her personal story of scaling her business from freelancing to full-service, building a team of high-performers, developing and prospecting new business opportunities, and stepping into the role of CEO. Are you currently a solopreneur or freelancer who is interested in starting an agency or expanding your service offerings? This is the episode for you!

We’re in the final week of enrollment for the September cohort of the WorkSmart Program. Are you ready to scale your company and build out your network with like-minded entrepreneurs? Click here to apply: https://worksmart.mykajabi.com/application

Have questions about WorkSmart? DM Morgan here: https://www.instagram.com/morgandebaun/

In this series, Morgan sits down with small business owners and WorkSmart alumni to explore how they have scaled their businesses, grown their teams, and adjusted their business models to achieve new levels of success. 

Andrea Pitter, Designer and Founder of Pantora Inc. joins us this week to share more about her entrepreneurial journey. Andrea is a force and inspiration in an industry that often lacks inclusivity and representation for the independent Black design entrepreneur. She launched Pantora Bridal in 2009 and opened a flagship store in Brooklyn a few years later. As she expands her brand to include additional brick and mortar stores, her commitment to representing the unrepresented in mainstream bridal is continuing to take center stage.

Andrea is the most recent winner of Making the Cut, was on the cover of the Spring 2021 issue of the Knot, and has launched a ready-to-wear collection that is available in the Amazon Fashion Store.

As an alum of the WorkSmart Program, Andrea is able to share the biggest lessons she’s learned along the way. Listen for an honest conversation between two founders/entrepreneurs, the challenges they face in business, and advice they would give to aspiring entrepreneurs. 

To apply to the WorkSmart Program click here: https://worksmart.mykajabi.com/application

To shop Pantora click here: https://www.amazon.com/stores/page/996F67D5-C720-4D03-99CF-3B59AB07482C

To connect with Andrea Pitter click here: https://www.instagram.com/andrea_pittercampbell/?hl=en

Have questions about WorkSmart? DM Morgan here: https://www.instagram.com/morgandebaun/

We're kicking off a multi-part Entrepreneur Series, highlighting WorkSmarters and their business journeys from hiring a team to scaling their revenue.

Over the coming weeks, you'll get to listen in on conversations between Morgan service- and product-based entrepreneurs. They'll talk about their business models, their team structure, and why they joined the WorkSmart Program. You'll also hear Morgan coach them in real-time through their current business challenges.

These episodes are jam-packed with gems and implementable action steps for any current and aspiring entrepreneurs. Get a BTS into the WorkSmart program and its 5 milestones and take notes - because this series will help elevate you and your business to the next level.

In this episode, Morgan chats with Tivi Jones, founder and CEO of the creative studio Hey Awesome Girl. Tivi is a marketing communications executive with experience leading multi-functional marketing teams for media companies, nonprofits, government agencies, and more. Tivi was a member of the September 2020 WorkSmart Cohort. Since WorkSmart, Tivi has been able to grow her team from 3 employees to 10 and her client billing from about $15,000 to $50,000 per month and she is still working to implement the gems learned in WorkSmart.

To apply to the WorkSmart September Cohort click here: https://worksmart.mykajabi.com/application

To connect with Tivi and Hey Awesome Girl click here: https://www.instagram.com/tivijones/

Questions before applying to the program? DM Morgan on IG here: https://www.instagram.com/morgandebaun/

Have you ever wondered what it's like to build a media company in the modern age? Or perhaps what the future of content creation will look like? In today's episode of WorkSmart, Morgan chats with Carly Zakin and Danielle Weisberg, co-founders and co-CEOs of theSkimm. 

They share how they grew The Skimm to one of the most influential media platforms for this generation of women, and how they thought about branding, scale, and mission at every stage of growing their business.

Click here for detailed Show Notes and to download this episode's Freebie: https://morgandebaun.com/?p=4923

Click here to listen to the 9 to 5ish Podcast: https://link.chtbl.com/qcfOmZ_X?sid=WorkSmart

Click here to learn more about theSkimm: https://www.theskimm.com/

Click here to connect with Carly and Danielle: https://www.instagram.com/carlyanddanielle/

Get a Behind-the-Scenes look into Morgan's WorkSmart Advising Program. Find out why she launched a coaching program, how she built the program, and how you can, too. After years of receiving requests for one-on-one coaching by other entrepreneurs and small business owners, Morgan decided to create WorkSmart to provide coaching to multiple business owners in a cohort setting. Since then, she has advised over 40 business owners on how to successfully scale and grow their businesses. Tune into this episode to get a look behind the curtains and find out why online coaching programs are the future within the creator economy.

To learn more about WorkSmart and apply for the next cohort, click here: worksmartapplication.com

To connect with Morgan, click here: https://www.instagram.com/morgandebaun/

To join the WorkSmart Facebook Community, click here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/WorksmartProgram