Side Hustle Pro: Women Entrepreneurs | Black Women Business Owners | Solopreneurs

Today in the guest chair we have Jihan Thompson. Jihan Thompson is a magazine editor turned entrepreneur, out to disrupt the haircare industry. She co-founded the company, Swivel Beauty, Inc., which wants to make it easier for women of color to build a beauty team that meets all their needs while also helping talented stylists behind the chair find new clients. Swivel's goal is to create a curated, referral-based experience so women can avoid useless trial and error in the beauty department. Prior to launching Swivel, Jihan was the Health Editor for O, The Oprah Magazine. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Pennsylvania.   On this episode, Jihan shares: The first steps she and her business partner Jennifer Lambert took to take Swivel Beauty from idea to business How she juggled creating the Swivel Beauty, Inc. while working as a busy Health Editor at for O, The Oprah Magazine The catalyst that made her finally say: “Yes, I can do this.” Swivel Beauty’s approach to building strategi

Today in the guest chair we have a woman I consider the queen of apps. Her name is Sheena Allen and she is a tech entrepreneur. She started her first company in 2011 as a senior at the University of South Mississippi. At the time, she had no tech background and was a psychology and film major and on a whim decided to launch a mobile application company. Giving herself a year to see if she would see any success with her company, Sheena Allen Applications, she eventually found that success with app #3, Dubblen. In fact, three months after launching the app for Android, Dubblen received over 500,000 downloads. That year, 2013, Sheena made the decision to leave Mississippi and move to a tech-hub to find mentor and increase her knowledge in the tech space. Since then, she has gone on to experience frustration with raising money and the predatory lending practices in Silicon Valley, Sheena decided to fight back through the launch of a second startup, CapWay. CapWay is financial company that focuses on the unbanked

On this episode, style blogger and digital media expert Christina S. Brown joins us in the guest chair. Christina is the founder of the fast-growing style & beauty destination LoveBrownSugar.com, mommy destination BabyBrownSugar.com and digital empowerment community BrownGirlsLove. As a Wharton grad with no formal editorial experience, Christina started her blog started out as a hobby and portfolio piece to get hired by magazines. She didn’t go into it with the intention of building a business or making money from it. Fast forward eight years and she’s been recognized everywhere from the New York Times to People StyleWatch as a top lifestyle expert, and is known for curating platforms for multicultural women with an emphasis on self-empowerment. Christina has been heralded as a “30 Under 30 Style Maven​” by HelloBeautiful.com, a “Top 40 Style Blogger​” by Essence Magazine, a Black Enterprise Magazine “Blogger Month​” Honoree, and a Wharton Magazine “Social Media Watch List​” Honoree. On this episode, Chri

Today in the guest chair we have Lola Bakare, a Social Media Strategist, savvy Content Marketer and the founder of LOLA Consulting. LOLA Consulting specializes in digital marketing including user acquisition, brand messaging, partnership development, and social media strategy. Fun fact, Lola and I went to undergrad together and I admire her greatly. Why? Because she followed the path well traveled for many years, before finally leaping into entrepreneurship. On this episode, Lola shares: Her pathway from majoring in English at Penn to landing in Brand Management by chance Why she ultimately got her MBA and how it influenced her current path as an entrepreneur How she succumbed to pressure when MBA recruiters came knocking How she finally worked up the nerve to found her own company Why she focuses on the WORK first and the fluff later Listen on iTunes, Soundcloud, Stitcher and Google Play Click here to subscribe via RSS feed (non-iTunes feed): http://sidehustlepro.libsyn.com/rss Important Announcements: I

In the first episode of 2017, I’m breaking down the mindset hacks I’m adopting to make 2017 the year of execution. On this episode, I share: How I’m kicking procrastination to the curb Why I’m breaking my year into 12-week sprints How I’ve revamped my mindset about selling   BONUS: Special Guest Muoyo Okome of Daily Spark podcast and Daily Spark TV joins us to share his own powerful mindset hacks for 2017   Links mentioned in this episode: Blogging While Brown, Rise Empowerment and Signature CEO conferences Forget About Setting Goals. Focus on This Instead by James Clear The One Thing by Gary Keller If it’s not a hell yes, it’s a no Derek Sivers Do Things That Don’t Scale by Paul Graham Listen on iTunes, Soundcloud, Stitcher and Google Play Click here to subscribe via RSS feed (non-iTunes feed): http://sidehustlepro.libsyn.com/rss Important Announcements: If you’re interested in growing your business and brand using the powers of Instagram, register for the MASTER THE GRAM mini course. Master The Gr

As we head into 2017, Award winning Financial Planner and Personal Finance Coach Dominique Broadway blesses the guest chair to teach money management tips for entrepreneurs. Dominique is the Founder of Finances De•mys•ti•fied & The Social Money Tour. Shortly after launching Finances De•mys•ti•fied, she was named one of the top Financial Advisors in the United States for Millennials at the age of 28. What I love about Dominique is that she has transformed the reputation of personal finances into a social experience by making it engaging, easy to understand and even trendy. Her demystified financial advice, has been highlighted on Yahoo!, Black Enterprise, Marketwatch.com, Ebony, USA Today and much more. On this episode, Dominique shares: How she went from managing million dollar investments for other people to branching out on her own as a Personal Finance Coach and Entrepreneur How she learned to start treating her business like a business and not like a passion project The biggest money mistakes entrepr

On this episode, we are welcoming back Meiko Drew, the Side Hustle Pro Entrepreneur-in-Residence. We’re following Meiko for an entire year to chronicle her journey from Corporate America retiree to the Founder of Food and Lifestyle brand MeikoAndTheDish. For those of you who don’t know, Meiko walked away from a six-figure salary at Target to focus on MeikoAndTheDish full time. Though it hasn’t always been smooth sailing, her brand is steadily rising and so it’s time to check in with her again to see how it’s all going. On this episode Meiko shares:   How she’s partnering with brands and getting paid for it How she’s monetizing her blog through different income streams Her radical move from one city to the next and how it’s helped her hit her stride Her vision and goals for 2017   Find out how Meiko is making it work despite the twists and turns life throws at her. Listen on iTunes, Soundcloud, Stitcher and Google Play Links and people mentioned in this episode:   Meiko And The Dish BlogHer Food Co

I’m checking in with an update on all things social media marketing: Specifically, Instagram. I have heard many of you ask: How can I organically grow my audience on Instagram? I see this question come up in most of the groups I am in and with most entrepreneurs. Now in Episode 7, I broke down How to Grow Explode Your Social Media Audience with Five Steps and Zero Dollars. There, I went step by step through my methodology and the steps I used to grow my Instagram over 1000% in a year. Today, I am here with updates, updates. As you know, you miss a day you miss A LOT when it comes to social media. Case in point: The last time we spoke, there was no Instagram stories and certainly no Instagram LIVE. On this episode, we will get into: What’s working and what’s not on Instagram How to find your target audience on Instagram - *NEW INSIGHTS* Why you CAN start a business on Instagram What you can accomplish with even 30 minutes a day on Instagram The number one reason why your following is NOT growing BONUS: I've

Today’s guest, is Kalisa Martin, The Co-Founder of The Runaway Experience, a global travel pop-up designed to foster cultural discovery through unforgettable dining experiences, personal connections with local communities and meticulously curated adventures. Kalisa and her better half Jeff, a New York couple of Caribbean heritage, left the 9-5 city grind to pursue their passion for food, culture and travel. They stated with the creation of a community-oriented luxury bed & breakfast. After becoming the first and only successfully funded Bed & Breakfast on Kickstarter, they have quickly become the go-to destination for adventurous travelers seeking an authentic immersion into island life. Now, building on the experience they’ve begun in Jamaica, Kalisa and Jeff are expanding to new destinations around the world. On this episode, Kalisa shares: How she and partner Jeff initially launched The Runaway Jamaica, a community-oriented luxury bed & breakfast How she got the courage to quit her 9-5 and pur

Today’s guest is Arsha Jones, a serial entrepreneur and an emerging leader in the ecommerce industry. She has built multiple, highly profitable brands, with revenues approaching nearly a half million dollars in less than two years .As we speak, she is currently operating and managing Capital City Co, keeping you fly through the Tees in the Trap brand, building iOS apps for Apps By The Pound, all while running the design blog (and Facebook Group!), Brand Build Sell. Her first venture, co-founded with her husband is Capital City Co, produces a Washington, DC area wing sauce called mambo sauce - a local staple. Her second company is Tees in the Trap, which is a lifestyle brand inspired by pop culture and infused with black girl magic.   On today’s episode, Arsha shares: How she started the Capital City Co Mambo sauce in her kitchen and ended up on the front page of the Washington Post How she launched her first t-shirt shop with no shirts and no supplies How haters reporting and shutting down her Etsy shop gave

On this episode, I'm providing another check in and update on how my own side hustle is going. How am I balancing my full-time job with my podcast, Side Hustle Pro brand and business AND wedding planning? On this episode I’m talking about: The feeling of overwhelm, what it stems from and the ways I’m pushing through it. Tune in to hear my latest updates in this Side Hustle Pro journey! Links mentioned in this episode: Arsha Jones Tees in the Trap Lamar Tyler Brand, Build, Sell Facebook Group Side Hustle Pro Shop Show notes from this week's episode: http://sidehustlepro.co/ Click here to subscribe via RSS feed (non-iTunes feed): http://sidehustlepro.libsyn.com/rss Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today’s guest, is Kelechi Anyadiegwu. Kelechi is the founder of Zuvaa, an online community and marketplace for African Inspired Fashion. Zuvaa helps emerging African Fashion Brands increase revenue, scale operation and streamline their process with our easy to use online platform for social selling and personal shopping. The mission of Zuvaa is to give African Fashion Labels the tools they need to transform their brands, and bring authentic African Inspired Fashion to the main stream. In 2016, Kelechi was named on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list for retail and e-commerce. On this episode, you’ll learn how Kelechi got the idea and started Zuvaa with $500 and in 2016 is expected to earn $2 Million in sales. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today in the guest chair we have a woman who is building a community of creatives all over the country. Melissa Kimble is a Chicago based Social Media Strategist and Writer who believes in using social media for good through education and empowerment. She is the Founding Editor of #BlkCreatives, a platform for young professionals of color. She also created and facilitates the #blkcreatives Twitter Chat Series. Melissa is also the Senior Social Media Manager for EBONY Magazine. In this episode, she shares: The first steps she took to start taking blkcreatives from idea to brand How she balances creating her brand with working a full time job What’s behind her strong love and passion for social media Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A bold decision to pitch myself for an opportunity landed me right next to my business idol. In early 2016, the Signature CEO conference landed on my radar as it was on the list of appearances CurlBox Founder and CEO Myleik Teele had on her website and it was right in my neck of the woods. Initially, I thought a conference specifically tailored to wedding and event planners would not be relevant to me. But when I took a closer look at the agenda, I realized the knowledge that would be shared would be both valuable and applicable to my own brand. I brainstormed ways that I could contribute value to the conference organizer and pitched myself to cover the conference as press. On today’s episode, I get into: Why you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take Myleik Teele’s social media strategy gems to take your business to the next level Why Shea Radiance Founder Funlayo Alabi wants us to dare to be different How Personal Finance Coach Dominique Broadway leads entrepreneurs to financial greatness Wedding Planner Ti

Joymarie had always been a web and design junkie. Since the age of 13 she was building website and blogs. But after flunking out of design school, she went through an eight year journey to finish her undergrad degree and land her dream job. Now Joymarie is determined to help other young professionals navigate their career journey. As the co-host of Joblogues podcast, a weekly podcast that highlights candid career conversations with young professionals around the world, Joymarie is also breaking down the doors of podcasting and making waves as a featured iTunes podcast. In this episode, we talk about: Her turbulent journey to finding her dream job and discovering that she could be a resource for others Why you should treat your day job as an investor in your side hustle The BUSINESS of podcasting Simple ways to raise the visibility of your podcast Why you shouldn’t start a podcast to make money How to use podcasts as a platform to expand your brand Inspired to start your own podcast? Check out this step-by-s

Evelyn Ngugi is a Kenyan-American YouTube sensation literally blowing up the internet right now, and she can even count Beyoncé (yes, Queen Bey) among her fans (but we’ll get into that story on the episode). What’s it like to amass a huge following on YouTube and Facebook organically while you’re still figuring out your long term plan? On today’s episode, Evelyn shares how she balances being a popular YouTube and social media sensation with a regular 9to5 just like you and me. She is an example that even with a growing side hustle, we're all still just figuring it out as we go, and that’s OK. On this episode we discuss: Evelyn's “system” for developing and publishing content How she’s grown her brand organically, without actively trying What it’s like to have your work singled out by Beyoncé herself! Why monetizing content on the internet is easy, but monetizing in a way that is sustainable is a different ball game Why it’s important to differentiate what you enjoy doing and want to make money from, and what

A rejection from Google was the best thing that ever happened to me. Two years ago I was an MBA intern at Google. I didn’t get the offer. Dejected, I refused to talk about it, unsure of how to unpack the experience. On today’s episode I’m sharing why that experience, along with other “rejections” were really blessings that positively fueled my side hustle mission. Here are just a few nuggets from this episode: Google’s ‘No’ led me to my ultimate purpose: inspiring people to live unboxed and without apologies Failure is an event, not a personality trait Failure taught me to stop waiting to be chosen and instead choose myself Everyone should start a side hustle, even if you don’t want to be a full-time entrepreneur Links mentioned in this episode: The Beginner's Guide To Being Awesome by Brandon Carter Side Hustle Pro Facebook Group   Show notes from this week's episode: SideHustlePro.co Click here to subscribe via RSS feed (non-iTunes feed): http://sidehustlepro.libsyn.com/rss   Important Announcements:I

Today’s featured guest Emmelie De La Cruz is best known for her ability to empower entrepreneurs, college students and young professionals to become more competitive in the market. Emmelie will be the first to tell you: “Entrepreneurship isn’t cute. It’s not an exit strategy or an alternative to a job you hate.” As a personal branding strategist and brand auditor, Emmelie is here to empower us all to gain clarity around our personal brands, build a credible brand from scratch and make money on our own terms. Her insights have been featured in Refinery 29, Black Enterprise, Cosmo for Latinas, The Miami Herald, PR Daily, and The Huffington Post. Most notably, Forbes named her site one of the top career websites in 2013.   On this episode we discuss: Why having a side hustle is one of the most empowering things you can do How she streamlined her business processes to provide value while saving time How she cultivated her unique voice and set herself apart as a personal brand strategist The importance of prepari

On this episode, I'm sharing the art of reaching out to potential collaborators, customers and clients via the cold email. While many of many of my guests are people I know or have met, 50% of the women I interview on my podcast were complete strangers before I reached out to them via email. In this episode I’m sharing the art of writing enticing cold emails that get responses. Here are some of my key tips:   Preparation Do your research - Google, social media Consider what’s in it for them Eliminate words like, “pick your brain” from your vocabulary Keep a Google doc with your email templates and tweak for each individual outreach Revise as you learn what works Start a Template Document Make sure every person you reach out to knows why you appreciate their work and the value  the collab would bring Be prepared to GIVE before you get Make it EASY for them to collaborate. Propose dates and times (hello, Calendly!) and offer to work around their schedule. The outreach   If you want my exact email tem

At the age of 5, Denise Sarkor escaped the Liberian Civil War with family and lived as a refugee in Ivory Coast. Raised in a rough part of NJ by a determined mother, she would go on to graduate from The Wharton School on a full scholarship and obtain her Masters in International Finance and Economic Policy from Columbia University. Although entrepreneurship tugged at her heart, she took a safer path, working as an international banker and development consultant at Goldman Sachs and the World Bank. But after a devastating divorce rocked her to the core, she became fearless. Realizing that Corporate America had led her to yet another glass ceiling, she finally made the leap. On this episode, you’ll learn how she hit the ground running after quitting unexpectedly and how she’s navigating the twists and turns of starting her own business. Topics discussed: How she honed in on what services she should offer in her business and how she’s managing cash flow The surprising move she’s willing to make to sustain her b