Women Thriving in Business

“Health is wealth” is not just a saying, it is a philosophy we should all live by. As an entrepreneur, your health is a valuable asset that supports your ability to work, think, and perform properly. By maintaining your well-being, you can perform at your best every day. Motivation, innovation, and success in business are rooted in your physical and mental health.

In this episode, Nikki is joined by a certified life coach, fitness trainer, best-selling author, motivational speaker, and serial entrepreneur - Tiffany Williams-Parra. Tiffany brings us along her journey from corporate human resources to pursuing her passion for wellness and fitness coaching.

They also discuss creating multiple revenue streams, the importance of business coaching, and why hydration and nutrition should be your top priority as an entrepreneur. 

Tiffany is bringing together different wellness modalities, and ways of being healthy through her Phoenix Fitness Fanatics Magazine. Listen in and download Fitness is My Life App today to find the perfect balance of work and healthy well-being. 

Thriving Points:

• The things that I promote are all things that help people be extremely healthy in all the aspects of physical, mental, spiritual, and financial fitness.
• The biggest challenge for any entrepreneur is learning how to balance it all. Balancing that human to human interaction, balancing relationships.
• People should not deprive themselves but just be more mindful.
• Have the intention to set your day right, do your body right,  make sure you have your nutrition,  and make sure you set yourself right.
• When you step back and look at it, be grateful for the things that you have so you can open yourself up to be able to receive more.
• Abundance can be many different things: health, joy, and people around you. 

Other Resources mentioned:

• Fitness is My Life App
• Phoenix Fitness Fanatics Magazine: Elevating your Mind, Body, and Spirit
• Abundance Now: Amplify Your Life & Achieve Prosperity Today

Get to Know the Guest:

         Tiffany Williams-Parra is a certified life coach, fitness trainer, best-selling author, motivational speaker, and serial entrepreneur. Tiffany’s life-renewing journey began in 2008 when she found herself in bad health due to living an extremely unhealthy lifestyle. She invests time in creating a healthy lifestyle for not only herself and her family but enjoys teaching others how to do so as well. 

        Tiffany believes that by pushing through adversity, you can reach any of your desired results. She has learned to conquer her challenges and has shown that if you want long-lasting changes in health and fitness, you must be committed to practicing healthy habits consistently.

Connect with Tiffany:

• Weight Release Strategy Call
• Email
• Instagram
• Facebook

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"Everything that happens to you is a reflection of what you believe about yourself." - Iyanla Vanzant

To thrive means to grow vigorously or flourish. But what does thriving in business mean? Does your business have what it takes to be successful in the long run? Have you thought about the things you need to start doing as you move forward in your business? 

Mindset and intention are two very important factors to consider when starting your business. From creating a business model and understanding the levers in your business to overcoming hurdles that can delay success, as entrepreneurs you have to be proactive in protecting and executing your vision. 

In this episode, Nikki will share key takeaways from her presentation at the Signature CEO Conference, her thoughts on what thriving in business truly means, and the three key components that are essential to thriving in business.

Her experience of being a speaker and attendee at the Signature CEO Conference will provide helpful insights to help you determine what thriving in business means to you. Listen in for some valuable lessons that you can apply to your own enterprise.

Thriving Points:

• Understand the levers in your business that create predictable and sufficient income, and deploy them repeatedly and consistently. 
• Work on your purpose and let your business support your life.
• Love the people you work with, whether it’s your clients, customers, employees, partners, or vendors.
• Having sufficient income doesn’t mean it’s just enough to cover your bills.  It’s actually whatever is needed in order to support the life that you want to build.
• Do what you're passionate about but you also have to temper that with what you're good at.
• As a business owner, you have the right, the opportunity to be in choice about who you engage within your business.

About the Show:

Women Thriving in Business features candid unscripted conversations with entrepreneurs, business experts, authors, and academics aimed at contributing to business success. This weekly show provides interviews with business leaders who have built, grown, and are thriving in business. Nikki A. Rogers, host of the show, also discusses achievements, lessons learned, and advice for aspiring business owners to develop the mindset, strategies, and connections necessary to thrive in business. Whether you are just starting or you have been in business for decades, WTiB offers inspiration, strategies, and resources to help you THRIVE in business. 

About the Host:

Nikki is a strategist and transformation coach who believes life is too short not to do what you love. She is passionate about helping entrepreneurs build sustainable companies and supports business leaders in developing the mindset, strategy, and connections to create thriving businesses and build legacy wealth.

Nikki is the CEO of The Bladen Group and an alumna of North Carolina A&T State University and UNC-Chapel Hill.

Connect with Nikki:

• LinkedIn
• Instagram

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Change is an unavoidable fact of life and we get to choose whether to accept or resist it.  

Organizations that can leverage technological innovations while effectively managing workplace dynamics have a competitive advantage. It is equally important to have organizational leaders who are committed to building a culture where everyone feels supported, and employees' initiative, uniqueness, and enthusiasm are appreciated. 

Join us in Episode 305, with guest Deborah Westphal, a business leader, consultant, and author as she shares her perspectives on an evolving leadership approach that views employees as individuals who deserve respect, power, and trust. Questions like: “What IS a humanist and what does human-centric leadership look like?”, “Why should organizations become more human-centric?”, “What does the ‘race to space’ mean for the rest of us?" will be answered. 

Listen in as Nikki and Deborah discuss how you can align your professional and your personal life, and the tools, tactics, and techniques that you can use to embrace new leadership roles, and how Deborah built her career through global travel and industry exploration. 

Thriving Points:

• The core of humanity is hopes, dreams, fears, and concerns that people have no matter where you live, your culture, or your experiences. 
• To be a humanist is to be an advocate for people and realize that because it's an energy that can be tapped into so many different things.
• Growth is scary, any kind of new experience is scary, but what you rely on is,  you know you’ve done this before.

Get to Know the Guest:

Deborah Westphal is a business leader in future-focused strategy, consultant, and author of the book “Convergence: Technology, Business, and the Human-Centric Future”. In Convergence, she leverages more than 30 years of experience helping the world’s most innovative business and government leaders to challenge biases, ignite ideas, and build connections. She delivers this rich insight with an empathetic and thought-provoking writing style to chart a path for readers. 

Throughout the book, personal stories and historical examples highlight convergences that span the globe, impacting everything from global supply chains to climate change, and reshaping the future of business, technology, and humanity everywhere.

Connect with Deborah:

• Website
• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Twitter
• Email

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It’s okay to be afraid, but when is fear not helpful anymore? 

In life, there are things that we encounter that might be too scary or a bit overwhelming. We are often scared of change, and we doubt our strength to try something new to the point that we no longer give ourselves the chance to discover our potential to grow. The good thing is we CAN do something about our fear - we can face it and grow stronger through the process.

As we overcome our fears, we are getting stronger mentally, emotionally, and sometimes physically, as well. We learn to stand up (figuratively and literally) during the times that we fail, and we learn from the lessons life teaches us. In episode 304, Nikki shares her experiences with stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) and how she practices the three C’s in her life.

Listen to how Nikki was able to embrace some really big moves in her business and in life using these three C’s. Also, check out all our past episodes from seasons 1 and 2, the first three episodes of season 3 here.

Keep Thriving!

Thriving Points:

• Sometimes you encounter delays as you are pursuing your goals and you just have to roll with the punches and be flexible.
• A guide, coach, or mentor is vital to help you learn the lay of the land, develop good habits and learn the basics.
• Courage is not about being fearless. It’s about having fear, feeling that fear, and taking that leap anyway.
• Life is about learning something new every day, even if it's a small thing, and actually putting it into practice.

About the Show:

Women Thriving in Business features candid unscripted conversations with entrepreneurs, business experts, authors, and academics aimed at contributing to business success. This weekly show provides interviews with business leaders who have built, grown, and are thriving in business. Nikki A. Rogers, host of the show, also discusses achievements, lessons learned, and advice for aspiring business owners to develop the mindset, strategies, and connections necessary to thrive in business. Whether you are just starting or you have been in business for decades, WTiB offers inspiration, strategies, and resources to help you THRIVE in business. 

About the Host:

Nikki is a strategist and transformation coach who believes life is too short not to do what you love. She is passionate about helping entrepreneurs build sustainable companies and supports business leaders in developing the mindset, strategy, and connections to create thriving businesses and build legacy wealth.

Nikki is the CEO of The Bladen Group and an alumna of North Carolina A&T State University and UNC-Chapel Hill.

Connect with Nikki:

• LinkedIn
• Instagram

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Most of the time, we try to imagine ourselves being the person that we look up to. We admire these people and put them on a pedestal as if they are unreachable. But what makes them different? Remember they are not superheroes with superpowers, yet it is astounding what they are able to achieve in life. 

It's simple - they believe in themselves first. 

It is exhilarating to think about that moment when we finally achieve our dreams. Yet we are terrified to step out of our comfort zone to attain them. We tend to stay inside our bubble because we feed our minds with negative thoughts. We always have that fear that we are not good enough, or that we may fail along the way.  

But this is the perfect time for you to stop dreaming and make these things happen. Not tomorrow, not the next day - but NOW. In this episode, Nikki Rogers shares her journey on how she started as an entrepreneur and how a tragic life event - her mother’s death - served as the catalyst to actualize her dreams. 

Although stepping out of your comfort zone is not easy, it is your first step in discovering your inner strength. You will never know unless you try. Don't wait for a crisis or personal challenge to start doing what you aspire to do, just take the first step toward your goals. 

In need of motivation to activate that inner strength and inner CEO in you? Download Nikki’s free activation guide here. 

Thriving Points:

• Life is just too short not to do what you love.
• Confidence is about trusting yourself.
• I realized that finding my mother's business plan was actually a gift. It was what catalyzed me in order to take action on living out my dreams. 

About the Show:
Women Thriving in Business features candid unscripted conversations with entrepreneurs, business experts, authors, and academics aimed at contributing to business success. This weekly show provides interviews with business leaders who have built, grown, and are thriving in business. Nikki A. Rogers, host of the show, also discusses achievements, lessons learned, and advice for aspiring business owners to develop the mindset, strategies, and connections necessary to thrive in business. Whether you are just starting or you have been in business for decades, WTiB offers inspiration, strategies, and resources to help you THRIVE in business. 

About the Host:
Nikki is a strategist and transformation coach who believes life is too short not to do what you love. She is passionate about helping entrepreneurs build sustainable companies and supports business leaders in developing the mindset, strategy, and connections to create thriving businesses and build legacy wealth.
Nikki is the CEO of The Bladen Group and an alumna of North Carolina A&T State University and UNC-Chapel Hill.

Connect with Nikki:

• LinkedIn
• Instagram

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"No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.” 
- Nelson Mandela

The call to fight and act extinguish racism is still an ongoing process, and we need more awareness and discussion about it if we want to open more opportunities to eliminate racial discrimination and injustice. And although we still have a long way to go, having an earnest desire to help can create a huge impact in the world we are living in.

In this episode, we are joined by Charlotte Caples, CEO and Racial Equity Strategist for Charlotte Caples Consulting, LLC and we will learn about her journey and experiences on racism and how she took the opportunity to start the change.

We’ll also discuss individual and institutional racism, the fight for racial equity, and what it means to be intentionally anti-racist.

Charlotte shares her unintentional, yet destined, transition to full-time entrepreneurship and how she had to build her business mindset to charge for her services and build a team to truly create a lasting impact. Her story will inspire you to step out of your comfort zone, speak up, and pursue your purpose.

Remember that by standing up for your beliefs and principles, having the best intention at heart, everything is possible. 

Thriving Points:

• Doing individual therapy was going to take me a long time to fix what I knew was an organizational problem.
• Knowing my story, and knowing my experiences was what began my entrepreneurial journey. 
• The moment you step outside of the functioning organizational culture, the white organizational culture of our systems and institutions, they will put you in your place. They will either promote you or they will fire you.
• Humanity is about seeing each other as human and treating each other as such but many people focus on seeing the humanity in black people because quite frankly, we were never treated as if we are humans.
• Trust your gut and be strategic about how you speak your truth, surround yourself with a network of people who are there to support you, and those who are also on their racial equity journey, who believe what you believe, and who are centered around anti-racist principles. 

Get to Know the Guest:

Charlotte Caples is the CEO and Racial Equity Strategist for Charlotte Caples Consulting, LLC where she helps leaders get over their fears of talking about racism, develop their voice about racial equity, own their power, and transform systems that negatively impact them. She believes that outcomes should not be predictable by race and that peace, power, and prosperity are everyone’s birthright.

Charlotte’s leadership development coaching system has helped more than 5000 leaders begin to live authentically, feel more confident, courageous, grounded, and purposeful about their journey to transform racism. 

Connect with Charlotte:

• Website
• LinkedIn

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An effective marketing strategy is essential to staying competitive in the marketplace. In addition to focusing on sales and exposure, it’s important to build trust between your brand and your customers. This is where public relations (PR) comes into play.

However, most people have a vague understanding of what public relations are and what it involves, as well as what benefits it provides to your business. 

But how does it work? In business, PR is a tool that helps promote the brand’s credibility and builds relationships between companies and customers. 

If you are curious about PR and how it can help grow your business, this episode is definitely for you. For this first episode of Season 3, my guest is Gigi Peterkin, the owner and founder of Amplify PR, a public relations firm that supports traditionally underrepresented entrepreneurs sharing their stories and finding opportunities through strategic media exposure. 

Join us as we talk about how public relations, marketing, sales differ and complement each other, and why PR is so important to thriving in business. Gigi also shares her journey from corporate PR to business coaching to entrepreneurship on her own terms.

Thriving Points:

• My focus is representing these leaders who were really making huge contributions and a huge impact with their businesses and not being represented in the media and not having their stories told.
• When you get more specific, you actually can be more effective.
• Marketing to me is the conversation, sales is the invitation, and PR is the reputation.
• It's all about networking and connections to help our clients really elevate and amplify their message and then manage their reputation.
• The ROI with PR is not (directly) tied to sales, it's tied to the reputation that will eventually dot the line back to sales.

Get to Know the Guest:

Gigi Peterkin is the owner of  AMPLIFY PR, a full-service boutique PR firm based in Philadelphia, PA that represents women entrepreneurs with stories of impact not being told in the media. She has built the business for 25+ years and counting, generating PR placements, building brand credibility, increasing trust, and helping entrepreneurs put more money in their pockets.

Gigi has worked in PR since her first job out of college, and since then she has been hooked. She’s an ambivert/excitement junkie who can spot trends and connect the right people at the right time. With these skills, she leaped up the ladder to VP of her own group at a prestigious PR firm by the time she was 40. From crafting stories, creating strategies, and generating PR opportunities, these are the intersection of her life’s work and her innate gifts & superpowers.

Connect with Gigi:

• Website
• Instagram
• Email

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The entrepreneurial journey is a winding one and you sometimes arrive at a different destination or achieve a different result other than the one you planned when starting out. Business requires you to go through the learning process and experiment over and over again in order to overcome challenges, improve, and succeed.

This episode is the Season 2 finale and I wanted to share with you my experience in creating a homemade strawberry jam. This culinary project I took on this week has great relevance for us entrepreneurs and it taught me lessons in commitment, perseverance, and valuing process over results.

In the process of making jam, I realized that I was committed to achieving my vision despite not knowing exactly how it would happen. This adventure raised questions that are relevant to consider for business: What’s in season for you? What life outcomes do you desire? What goals do you have for your business? Determine the answers to these questions, assemble your resources, decide on an approach, and you’ll surely reap the sweet rewards. 

Season 2 is a wrap! This has been an amazing season with wonderful guests and topics that are truly worth listening to. Please check out any missed episodes and we’ll see you in Season 3! Until then, keep thriving!

Thriving Points:

• Sometimes in business, you don't always get the yield that you hope for, but you learn in the process. 
• Identify what's in season for you right now, and take advantage of that.
• Determine the ultimate outcome that you want to have and commit to the process. 

About the Show:

Women Thriving in Business features candid unscripted conversations with entrepreneurs, business experts, authors, and academics aimed at contributing to business success. This weekly show provides interviews with business leaders who have built, grown, and are thriving in business. Nikki A. Rogers, host of the show, also discusses achievements, lessons learned, and advice for aspiring business owners to develop the mindset, strategies, and connections necessary to thrive in business. Whether you are just starting or you have been in business for decades, WTiB offers inspiration, strategies, and resources to help you THRIVE in business. 

About the Host:

Nikki is a strategist and transformation coach who believes life is too short not to do what you love. She is passionate about helping entrepreneurs build sustainable companies and supports business leaders in developing the mindset, strategy, and connections to create thriving businesses and build legacy wealth.

Nikki is the CEO of The Bladen Group and an alumna of North Carolina A&T State University and UNC-Chapel Hill.

Connect with Nikki:

• LinkedIn
• Instagram

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Most successful entrepreneurs know that intelligence and talent are just the starting points for success. We can always improve and our basic abilities can be developed with intention and dedication. Therefore, creating a mindset that supports productive daily habits is one of the best ways to grow personally and professionally.

Emotions like fear and anxiety drive behavior, but what if there was a way to better manage or speak to these emotions? What if there were methods to harness the power of positive thinking and stop catastrophizing business situations? This could be as simple as relaxing and visualizing a beautiful beach to manage stress or imagining only two people in the audience as you give an important speech to calm your nerves. 

The mind is a powerful tool, and we can leverage the mind-body connection to help prevent procrastination and unproductive behaviors to move us closer to our desired goals.

In today’s episode, I talked with Randall Hayes, a neuroscientist, university instructor, and hypnotist.  He has embraced multiple disciplines and uses his knowledge to help his clients. Randall started as a researcher studying neuroplasticity, which involved investigating the brain’s ability to reorganize and “heal” in response to an injury. He then became interested in the intersection between meditation and hypnosis, which led him to pursue becoming a hypnotist to help people relax and focus their minds.

Randall shares with us the foundations of hypnosis and how it is an excellent tool to deal with fears, phobias, and anxiety and helps release us from our unconscious or deep-seated inhibitions. In addition, we discussed how getting into the flow state, or becoming hyper-focused, helps in harnessing the power of habit.  

Thriving Points:

• One of the keys to helping people make behavioral changes is recognizing that something is wrong.
• All hypnosis is self-hypnosis.
• So many of our procrastination behaviors are the avoidance of momentary anxiety.
• The idea is to give yourself a little bit of anxiety and learn how to deal with that, and then become more ambitious (in dealing with your fear). 
• Guided imagery is a prime technique of hypnosis.
• Emotion is what drives behavior. A lot of our thinking is just rationalizing decisions that we've already made emotionally.
• Getting enough sleep is a big thing because all these other techniques are going to work better when you're well-rested.

Get to Know the Guest:

Randall Hayes is your friendly neighborhood neuroscientist, writer, and successful entrepreneur. He is the owner of Agnosia Media, a consulting firm for educational projects for schools, businesses, nonprofits, and governments. Randall’s previous stints also include being a farmer, neuroscience researcher, college professor, and hypnotist.

Connect with Randall:

• Email
• Website

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Life circumstances are always changing and there are times in life when you have the opportunity to take a leap, explore your interests, and experiment in business. When getting started, you should consider factors like expertise, competitors, demand, costs, and pricing. Questions to ask yourself include: What am I great at doing? How do I choose a business model? How can a business partner support success? 

In this episode, Alison Chisolm, a multi-passionate and multifaceted business owner, shares how she reinvented herself, and how experimenting with the type of business contributed to finding the perfect one for her. We also discuss how a business partner can help you develop and succeed, and why it's important to understand your beliefs and risk tolerance in order to be aligned in your business.

She brings us along her journey on what helped her start and find business success, gave tips to build and scale your business using your competitors as teachers, and put boundaries around your work.

If you’re an aspiring business owner who’s unsure of your true passion and don’t know where to start, Alison's various business experiences and passion for helping women achieve their dreams will truly motivate you.

Thriving Points:

• You have to be a little bit risk-preferring to be a successful entrepreneur.
• The most important thing is that we share values about how to run a business and what we're in it for. We are very open about how much money we each need to make. 
• Be ruthless about the financials, particularly about the value of your time.
• If you can step away, feed the other parts of your life, and put boundaries around your work. You will ultimately be more successful and more productive.
• There is potential in every person and I help them reveal that potential.

Get to Know the Guest:

Alison Chisolm is the co-founder of the Inline app, Head of College Counseling for Ivy College  Consulting, and is the coordinator for the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Program at River Valley Community College.  Her professional career has taken her from law practice into higher and secondary education, social services, and entrepreneurship. She helps women author their own stories and achieve their dreams.

Connect with Alison:

• Email
• Anna Ivey Consulting
• Inline Coach
• River Valley Community College

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                      “With confidence, you have won before you have started.” 

                                                             - Marcus Garvey

Confidence requires a person to love themselves, accept their flaws, trust their instincts, and believe in themselves. Confidence can’t be taught, but you can improve your self-trust and subsequently grow your confidence. It is vital if you truly want to thrive in business.

Confidence is a trait that everyone struggles with at some point, but it can be developed by believing in oneself and trusting in one's abilities. Self-confidence allows you to move, act, and create an impact, and to pursue your dreams and passion without doubting yourself. It increases your strength and desire to do things that would normally frighten or intimidate you.

In this episode, Nikki Rogers introduces the three C’s - confidence, courage, and curiosity, required to unlock your CEO mindset and talks in-depth about confidence and why this is the key to success. She shares the definition and core elements of confidence, how confidence attracts like-minded people to support you, and other tips to help you along your entrepreneurial journey.  

Confidence is a trait that develops from the inside out – it's your inner voice and a representation of how you see yourself. If you need a reminder to trust yourself and your abilities, listen to this episode and learn what it takes to attune your beliefs, thoughts, and actions toward success.

Thriving Points:

• The CEO mindset is vital for you to thrive in business.
• Confidence is about believing that you will be successful and not being surprised by the success. 
• Confidence stays ready.
• Confidence leans into the idea that there's always going to be an opportunity on the horizon.
• Confidence lets you take that next step without knowing exactly how it was going to play out.
• Confidence is unapologetic about who you are, and it doesn't require you to dim your light in the face of anyone.
• Believe in yourself. Trust that you are going to make things happen.
• Confidence sees the greatness in you, even when you do not.

About the Show:

      Women Thriving in Business features candid unscripted conversations with entrepreneurs, business experts, authors, and academics aimed at contributing to business success. This weekly show provides interviews with business leaders who have built, grown, and are thriving in business. Nikki A. Rogers, host of the show, also discusses achievements, lessons learned, and advice for aspiring business owners to develop the mindset, strategies, and connections necessary to thrive in business. Whether you are just starting or you have been in business for decades, WTiB offers inspiration, strategies, and resources to help you THRIVE in business. 

About the Host:

      Nikki is a strategist and transformation coach who believes life is too short not to do what you love. She is passionate about helping entrepreneurs build sustainable companies and supports business leaders in developing the mindset, strategy, and connections to create thriving businesses and build legacy wealth.

      Nikki is the CEO of The Bladen Group and an alumna of North Carolina A&T State University and UNC-Chapel Hill. 

Connect with Nikki:

• LinkedIn
• Instagram

Entrepreneurship is not an entitlement, but a commitment. An entrepreneur’s life is full of challenges that ultimately builds a strong foundation for a business that can shape society.  

The entrepreneurial journey may bring many unforeseen and unexpected aspects, yet these will produce rich and powerful experiences that can help us fulfill our vision and achieve our maximum potential. 

Jenn Urso, professional business coach and founder of Activate Within, joins us on this episode and shares how she followed her spirit and embarked on a six-month journey, which paved her way to entrepreneurship. 

We talk about her transition from being an employee to a business owner, how she became clear on finding the right people to serve, and the impact of the pandemic on expanding her passion for organizational change, healing, and growth.

Thriving Points:

• It’s not easy when your mind is firmly planted in a place and your heart and your spirit want to take you away to another place.
• The entrepreneurship journey is a long and big one, and it's always going to bring unforeseen aspects, but I think that it's so rich and it's so beautiful. 
• We all have to believe that there's enough for all of us to be safe, secure, and thriving in this world.
• It's important to connect to the inner parts of yourself and allow yourself to feel all the emotions that come with it. Because once you're on an awakening journey, it just continues to unfold layer by layer, level by level, and that includes the journey through entrepreneurship.
• When an organization wants to transform from the inside out, they're giving everyone permission to grow and bring their whole self to work.
• As we move forward with a new lens of awareness and are really mindful about, how we're showing up as people, how we're showing up as leaders, how we're showing up as businesses in society, that there will be a reckoning, if you will, about what it means to have power.

Get to Know the Guest:

Jenn Urso is a business coach and the founder of Activate Within, a coaching and consulting firm in Asheville, North Carolina. Activate Within Coaching & Consulting offers leadership coaching around what it means to be a professional in today's environment, with a lens of awareness and mindfulness. Jenn works with organizations, small through large, on reimagining the workplace of the future and on using awareness as the grounding agent for organizational change, healing, and growth.

Connect with Jenn:

• Website
• Instagram
• Facebook
• LinkedIn

A Team Dklutr Production

What legacy have you inherited from your family?  What knowledge or traditions have been passed down to you that could help you be healthier, live a better life, or create a business?

For some of us, the term “legacy” likely conjures up the idea of money, property, or other material objects.  If you dig a bit deeper, you’ll likely remember words of wisdom and ways of being that connects your family across generations. Couple that legacy with your own life experiences and you will have a recipe for success.

My guest, Paula Farve, spent her childhood gardening and learning about herbs from her Native American father and grandmother. Little did she know that those teaching moments combined with her Army veteran discipline and drive would lead to her becoming the “Shea Queen”. As the founder of Naturally for Me Shea Butter, LLC, Paula creates handmade, natural products for skin and hair.  She grows herbs and creates her infusions to ensure product quality and purity.  

In this week’s episode, Paula shares the inspiration for her business, some of the tough decisions and personal sacrifices she’s made to create success,  and why mentorship and collaboration are essential to thriving in business. Listen in as she shares tips for aspiring women entrepreneurs. 

Thriving Points:

• There are so many different milestones in my business that changed the game but I felt like creating my own infusions changed the game for me.
• Sometimes you can stand in your way, so you have to be open to learning.
• I learned how to take constructive criticism and value collaboration.
• You have to learn to put yourself out there especially when you're setting the example for yourself.
•  A lot of people buy into your story and how you represent yourself.
• I have a product that I believe in, I can stand by, and I have a passion to present.
• You have to have someone positive in your corner who has a business sense, someone who can guide you, and someone that's not afraid to give you information. 
• Remember that your dream is your dream. They can't see your vision. Your vision has to be so far-fetched that they can't see it.
• Passion comes with a purpose. Once you find your purpose, you'll never work another day in your life. 

Get to Know the Guest:

Paula Farve, also known as the “Shea Queen”, is a mother of two and grandmother of three. She is the CEO/Founder of Naturally for Me Shea Butter, LLC, Army Veteran, and Minority-Owned (Native and African American.) Known as The Real Shea Queen, Paula developed a formula to treat her son’s eczema while gaining financial freedom after her long-term marriage ended in divorce. She has successfully become an herbalist to master her craft and developed a line of handmade, all-natural products for skin and hair. 

Paula holds wholesale contracts globally for her business and has mentored her peers to overcome obstacles to become successful entrepreneurs. She has been interviewed by Black Wall Street Radio Podcast and The Empowerment Advocate, Dr. Yolanda Jerry, in Using Your Pain Gain. She is an up-and-coming author with Black Author’s Rock Publishing Company. Paula served as an Ambassador for Success Woman's Conference and Keynote Speaker for Comeback Champion Summit and Black CEO Icon. Her goal is to empower other women that are starting over to know that there is no age limit in obtaining their dreams.

Connect with Paula:

• Website
• Linktree

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                   My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; 
and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.

                                                      - Maya Angelou -

“Thriving in business” is a mindset and it’s one that every entrepreneur can adopt within their business. This mindset will determine whether you are a business owner who is “barely making it” or one that achieves success.  One of my first business coaches shared her philosophy on marketing that has always stuck with me - she said, “I am looking for the client that is looking for me.  I don’t chase, cajole, or convince anyone.  I am the answer to their problem.” She didn’t say it to brag or boast, however, that was the energy she brought to interactions with potential clients.   I have adopted that same approach in building my coaching business by offering solutions to my clients’ biggest challenges, sharing resources, and connecting them to specialized advisors. 

If you’re an aspiring entrepreneur with the vision of excelling in your business, this episode is perfect for you. In this episode, I share three tips that are the basic building blocks for a sustainable business. My goal is to help and guide you in your journey as a thriving entrepreneur.

I believe that we all can flourish as long as we know how to lay the proper foundation to build a strong and stable business, including formalizing your business structure, establishing your values, and nurturing innovation.

Check out my complimentary Mind the G.A.P. Strategy Guide to pave your way towards a thriving business!

Thriving Points:

• Thriving is about an abundance mindset that allows for the generosity of spirit and time.
• Determine the types of clients and the type of services or products that you will provide, ensure that what your business does aligns with your values and what you want to see in the world.
• Make sure that the business that you have aligns with your values and cultivates a positive business reputation that will serve you well, going forward.
• I'm committed to helping you thrive in business through the information, interviews, and guidance that I provide on this podcast, as well as through my consulting and business coaching services that I provide to small businesses and individuals, entrepreneurs.
• Continue to learn through action and experimentation because sometimes you don't know what you can do or what you can accomplish.

About the Show:

Women Thriving in Business features candid unscripted conversations with entrepreneurs, business experts, authors, and academics aimed at contributing to business success. This weekly show provides interviews with business leaders who have built, grown, and are thriving in business. Whether you are just starting or you have been in business for decades, WTiB offers inspiration, strategies, and resources to help you THRIVE in business. 

About the Host:

Nikki is a strategist and transformation coach who believes life is too short not to do what you love. She is passionate about helping entrepreneurs build sustainable companies and supports business leaders in developing the mindset, strategy, and connections to create thriving businesses and build legacy wealth.

Connect with Nikki:

• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Download the Mind the G.A.P. Strategy Guide

How do you respond to adversity and challenges in life and business?

As children, everything seems possible. We imagine what life will be like -- we make plans and dream about the future.  Then, we grow up and often decide to choose a conventional, traditional career path because it seems safe. In this week’s episode, you will discover that it is never too late to realize your dreams.  No matter how old you are, childhood experiences and aspirations can provide the clues for future success. 

Our guest, Linda Jordon, started her entrepreneurial journey at the age of 12, selling shoes door-to-door. Linda went on to graduate from college and began what would become a thirty-year career in the corporate world. A health crisis reminded Linda of her self-employment dreams, and within two weeks of her diagnosis, she retired and started the first of five businesses.

Drive, desire, and resilience are key elements for success in business and will help you to overcome fears and pursue life goals. Linda relied on those personal traits to overcome the initial challenges in starting her business, which included determining how to properly set up the business, securing financial investment, and learning how to best market her services.  

Linda shares the importance of starting a business, of building your credibility, the distinction between marketing and revenue generation, and many more helpful tips for emerging entrepreneurs. 

Take inspiration from how her being the first family member to entrepreneurship has impacted her family, and why it’s important she shares her knowledge with the younger generation. 

Thriving Points:

• The diagnosis allowed me to look at my life and do a self-assessment to determine what I’m doing, why I’m doing it, and my purpose in life.
• You have to market your business very similar to that particular audience of what it is and how you want them to see your business so they know that you can help them solve that problem.
• My greatest challenge is helping leaders understand the importance of what it is and what it takes to be a leader because it takes a lot of time to spend with your team, to balance your work and your life, and it's all about making sure that that leader has time for him or herself so that they can be the best that they can be. 
• I realized I needed to speak more about the importance of being a good leader, being a strong leader, being an influential leader, and being a leader as someone who cares about people. 
• If I help enough people get what they want, I'll get what I want.
• Money is not the only currency, when you can have more time with family, friends and help your fellow man, to me, that's just as good as money. - Linda Jordon

Get to Know the Guest:

            Linda Jordon is a wife, mother, author, entrepreneur, and breast cancer survivor who currently owns and operates five companies and is the Founder of her non-profit company, Breast Cancer Angel Network, Inc. She is also the CEO and founder of LRJ Coaching & Business Solutions which helps corporate executives and organizations redefine success and achieve more than they ever thought possible, and help their clients maximize growth while being inclusive in the workplace.

Connect with Linda Jordon and schedule your 30 min freedom of choice call:

• Website
• Instagram
• LinkedIn

A Team Dklutr Production

Ideas for business can spring from any aspect of your life - a childhood passion, market demand, or by identifying a better way to connect creatives and clients. When starting a business, we face different challenges from developing the vision or goal of your company, raising your capital or budget, dealing with competition, and many more.  As an entrepreneur, our job is to nurture our ideas as we navigate the challenges, barriers, and self-doubts that may arise. We have to believe that our ideas are valuable, needed, and will produce a ripple effect on the world.

In our episode today, we have Ashley M. Williams who will share  her journey in building her business,  the struggles she faced and how she was able to overcome them, and how her parents encouraged and pushed her to continue to pursue her business.

We will also tackle more on how she was able to connect content creators to brands as partners, what pushed her to pursue this type of business, how she has navigated the tech world as a non-tech founder, and why believing in yourself is important. Join us in our episode today!

Thriving Points:

• I created RIZZARR in order to be able to help them build their portfolio, get real-world experience, working with brands of all capacities, and help these brands to figure out how to reach Millennials and Gen Z. - Ashley M. Williams
• There are just these glass ceilings placed upon us in society and we are constantly breaking them in order for people to fully realize what we're capable of. -Ashley M. Williams
• My goal is to be able to contribute back to the community, to help other black women start companies, and to change the dynamics of our communities. - Ashley M. Williams
• Not everybody is supposed to get the vision because it was only given to you at this point and the people who get it are supposed to be with you. -Ashley M. Williams
• It’s about attracting the right people and repelling the wrong people. - Nikki Rogers
• Many times people are not successful just because they couldn't hang on. - Ashley M. Williams
• I had the tenacity and the courage to keep going and to keep getting rejections because the beauty of it was that I started to really mold into solely becoming the person that I believed I could be. - Ashley M. Williams
• Persistence always pays off. - Ashley M. Williams
• We can really make our dreams become a reality and everything does happen for a reason. - Ashley M. Williams

Get to Know the Guest:

Ashley M. Williams is the leading Millennial and Gen Z content marketing strategist, spokesperson, consultant, and a global speaker for brands that want to reach younger generations — helping brands to create the right content, craft the right messages, and produce experiences that bring them, Millennials, and Gen Z together. She is excited and determined to use her love of journalism, social media, and life experiences to inform and inspire.

Ashley is the founder and CEO of RIZZARR, a tech-enabled content marketplace. Through RIZZARR, brands are able to find and work with Millennial and Gen Z content creators worldwide – particularly nano-influencers and micro-influencers.

In her spare time, Ashley is a board member for various mission-driven entities that connect with topics of importance to her. In September 2020, Ashley was recognized by DBusiness Magazine and placed on its 30 in Their Thirties list.

Connect with Ashley:

• Website
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Instagram

Visit her company RIZZARR:

• Company Website

“Every 'overnight' success has been years in the making.” 

In order to start a business, you need to have the courage to  face the fear of failure and possible rejection because it’s not always rainbows and butterflies in business. Facing your fear will be the first step toward becoming an entrepreneur.

In this episode, I interview Raechelle "Rae" Johnson, Founder of Kreative Ink LLC.  Known as the Solution Architect, she lends her platform to share her expertise in coaching and training future entrepreneurs.

Learn more about her business to understand the difference between scaling and growing your business and how to  pivot your business with less stress. Master the strategies and learn from her experiences,  how she overcame the challenge of marketing and selling herself , the importance of planning, and three valuable tips to thrive in your business.

Thriving Points:

• Fear can hinder us from actually jumping out and starting a business. -Raechelle Johnson
• The best thing to do is to take into consideration what is comfortable fiscally for your lifestyle, as well as your time, and then map it out accordingly for how to wean yourself off of a paycheck. - Raechelle Johnson
• False humility is also where you refuse to say how good you are at something you are good at. - Raechelle Johnson
• A lot of women don't get what they deserve in the marketplace because we're not as aggressive as we should be for the fear of being painted incorrectly. - Raechelle Johnson
• Show up strong and know who you are, know what you provide, and show up as that person every day - Raechelle Johnson
• Have a plan even if you're wanting to transition. Start thinking about it sooner rather than later. - Raechelle Johnson
• Understand why you’re doing your business. - Raechelle Johnson
• Learn as much as you possibly can about your business and it should always be something that you are very passionate about. - Raechelle Johnson
• Find a support system, and it is not always family and friends. - Raechelle Johnson
• Don't be scared and don't let anybody who's afraid for you stop you. - Raechelle Johnson
• Find those persons that will add value to what you're doing and seek those persons to start being your support and your foundation because you're going to need them to help build you and to grow. - Raechelle Johnson

Get to Know the Guest:

Raechelle “Rae” Johnson is an Evolution Coach, Media Personality, International Speaker, and Author who specializes in Innovation Strategy. With her credentials and expertise, she provides her clients with foresight, growth, and innovation for real-world solutions. Also, know as the Solution Architect, Raechelle navigates the complexity of challenges with opportunities while managing change. Lending her platform and expertise, she extends the reach of her client’s full potential, paving the way to success on their terms.

Whenever not speaking or coaching she can be found prepping for Kreative Insights (currently streaming on OnStage Plus) her Digital Program powered by the Shawn Fair Channel; engaging with her networks on social media; or training and coaching speakers in her role as the VP of Global Sales and Marketing for the Fair Leadership Experience Tours.

To find the same success that others have found, connect with, follow, or book Raechelle: 

• Website 
• Instagram 
• Facebook
• LinkedIn 

A Team Dklutr Production

Since launching in January 2021, the Women Thriving in Business Podcast has made an impact by highlighting successful women entrepreneurs and sharing their accomplishments, challenges, and grand plans with our listeners. I’ve learned so much from the candid conversations that allowed guests to share their entrepreneurial stories.

In this episode, I reveal the five big lessons I've learned during the first season of WTiB and how this podcast has helped me learn more about myself through the planning and production process. As a result, I feel ready and capable of taking on even bigger entrepreneurial challenges!

Listen in and join us today in our virtual celebration of a milestone and stay tuned for Season 2 debut in late March.

Thriving Points:

• “It is important to be clear about your purpose and your vision in order to set the tone and set the stage for whatever it is that you're creating.”
• “Make a plan and then execute because done is always going to be better than perfect.”
• “Sometimes getting help is going to help you move faster, quicker, and more efficiently.”
• “Saying yes to one thing opens the doors of opportunity.”

About the Show:

Women Thriving in Business features candid unscripted conversations with entrepreneurs, business experts, authors, and academics aimed at contributing to business success. This weekly show is about discussions and provides interviews with business leaders who have built, grown, and are thriving in business to develop the mindset, strategies, and connections necessary to thrive in business. Nikki Rogers, the host of the show, also discusses achievements, mistakes, lessons learned, and advice for aspiring business owners to develop the mindset, strategies, and connections necessary to thrive in business. Whether you are just starting out or you have been in business for decades, WTiB offers inspiration, strategies, and resources to help you THRIVE in business. 

Connect with Nikki

• @thrivinginbusiness
• @nikkirogersofficial 
• www.bladen-group.com

A Team Dklutr Production

“I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.” – Nelson Mandela

Entrepreneurship can feel like an uphill battle, and courage is required in order to succeed. Courage means more than simple bravery; it is a quality that separates you from the rest - a key for effective leadership.

The term “courage” has several definitions but each one conveys the same meaning of acting in the face of fear. From personal experience, I know that courage will have a great impact on your growth as an entrepreneur and as a person.

Doubt and many questions come to mind: what do I need the courage to do? Who do I need the courage to be? I believe that everyone has the capacity to be courageous and this trait is necessary in order to thrive in your business. 

For today’s episode, let’s explore the idea of courage as I’ve mentioned in Episode Three, being one of the critical factors in helping you meet your goals in business. I’ll also share some examples of how I have had to demonstrate courage throughout my business journey and a simple exercise that you can do to overcome your fears and live the thriving life you deserve!

Thriving Points:

• “Courage embodies evaluating risks, weighing the odds, and then taking action. It puts you where you need to be to grow in the way that you are destined to grow.”
• “Courage pushes you to pursue your goals even when you don't feel like you're ready. It tells you to take a running leap and then learn if you do happen to fall or stumble.”
• “Courage means to dive into uncertainty and have faith in your ability to fall gently, naturally into your place in the world.”
• “Being an entrepreneur and business owner is about showing up every day, demonstrating courage, taking risks, and learning from the lessons that you receive from being in business.”
• "You can choose courage, or you can choose comfort, but you cannot have both." - Brene Brown

About the Show:

Women Thriving in Business features candid unscripted conversations with entrepreneurs, business experts, authors, and academics aimed at contributing to business success. This weekly show provides interviews with business leaders who have built, grown, and are thriving in business Nikki Rogers, host of the show, also discusses achievements, lessons learned, and advice for aspiring business owners to develop the mindset, strategies, and connections necessary to thrive in business. Whether you are just starting out or you have been in business for decades, WTiB offers inspiration, strategies, and resources to help you THRIVE in business. 

Connect with Nikki

• @thrivinginbusiness
• @nikkirogersofficial 
• www.bladen-group.com

A Team Dklutr Production

Growing up in a family of entrepreneurs is a great foundation for business ownership, but having the heart to do so is something that’s important in order to love and enjoy the work that you do. Finding your voice and developing your marketing strategies will be a great head start for your business.

This week, our guest is Tara Melvin, a  creator of experiences who has been a professional event planner for 17 years. Tara shares how she became a successful entrepreneur who creates an impact in the industry by molding successful event planners as well in her company. 

Creating connections, building partnerships, and developing relationships between business owners has been the foundation of her company as she worked in unison with her clients and listened to what people needed, she was able to contribute and gain knowledge from everyone in the same industry as well. 

Learn how she managed to go past different obstacles in her life and business and how she continued to thrive despite the pandemic. How did she enhance her network now that events all over the world have been restricted? By what means was she able to survive financially while continuing her work in the middle of the pandemic? How did she use social media to attract the right type of clients? 

Let’s jump right into this episode to find out!

Thriving Points:

• “Although I built this for other people it's rewarding to me too because, especially in the mentor program, I learned things from them and then it's just rewarding knowing that they are inspiring me.” - Tara Melvin
• “It's just having those people in my corner and you never know who's watching you, and it will be the right people, you'll know who the right people are. They're not there to shame you, they're there to help you to move and advance forward.” - Tara Melvin

Get to Know the Guest:
For over 16 years, Tara Melvin has been the creative engine and leader of Perfect Planning Events and Signature Concepts, L.L.C., an all-inclusive boutique event planning firm creating luxe lifestyle events with a highly personalized touch  She has been characterized as a Creative Entrepreneur Warrior and the Olivia Pope of Events.  In 2015, Tara created an educational platform for creative entrepreneurs, The Signature CEO Conference (TSCEO).  TSCEO is curated for Creatives who are innovators and exemplify keen business savvy to unite and discover great content.  The conference is designed to help creative entrepreneurs become exceptional leaders, excel at business acumen, expand their professional network to build genuine relationships, and reach their highest potential in the world of business and entrepreneurship!

Tara is active within the creative industry serving in different capacities in various organizations. She has an esteemed reputation as an industry leader and innovator who exemplifies boldness in breaking boundaries, champions the professional growth of others, and galvanizes positive impact for the industry.

Find Tara:

• Tara Melvin Event Planner
• Perfect Planning Events 
• The Signature C.E.O. Conference 
• National Society Black Wedding & Event Professionals 
• Mentoring for Wedding Planners

A Team Dklutr Production