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

This episode we’re getting a masterclass from The Toy Coach herself, Azhelle Wade. At first second-guessing herself, Azhelle eventually found confidence in her talent, leading to her working for big toy companies like Mattel and Toys R Us. She's climbed up and across the ladder in the toy world, starting out as a designer, later gaining 3 toy patents, and eventually becoming a VP at a toy company. Her online course, Toy Creators Academy empowers newbies in the toy industry with step-by-step  guidance, downloadable worksheets, and group coaching. In this episode she shares about: Choosing between the corporate path vs inventor path vs entrepreneur path in the toy industry How she found her niche of coaching toy makers while also pursuing her own toy aspirations The success she has found in marketing through her podcast Making It In the Toy Industry and maintaining an Evergreen model for her courses Highlights include: 04:14 Overcoming Imposter Syndrome 06:56 Understanding the Different Paths in the Toy

It’s always a great episode when we get to see the evolution a previous guest has made in their business. We’re back with Charis Jones, CEO of Sassy Jones, an empowering fashion and beauty brand. She shares how she prioritized impact over traditional business metrics, establishing a colorful and elegant brand with a loyal following, or as she calls it, a “sticky” brand.  In this episode she shares about: Opening a physical store, noting the distinct experiences offered in-person versus e-commerce  Managing work-family dynamics with her husband as company president How to build a disciplined marketing practice Her hiring approach and how she makes sure to prioritize her team’s strengths Highlights include:  01:58 Transition to Physical Store 03:47 The Challenges of Running an E-commerce Business 06:42 Scaling Without Investors 11:10 The Importance of Rest and Balance 20:48  Marketing Strategies and Execution 30:58 The Role of Experience in Hiring 34:26 Managing Family Dynamics in Business 39:46 The I

What started as unexpected unemployment at 52 years old turned into an incredible journey of finding purpose and alignment through absolute self-confidence. Dawn Kelly masterfully tells the story of how she became CEO of The Nourish Spot, a family owned, quick serve healthy food, smoothie and natural juice bar located in Jamaica, Queens, NYC. Relying upon her determination, faith and own resources, Dawn is now a courageous entrepreneur providing healthier beverage and food options in the food desert of Southeast Queens.  In this episode she shares: How important it was to grieve her lost position in the PR world so that she could later pivot and use her acquired skills as an entrepreneur How she has made it a point to expand her business beyond her storefront, leading her to opportunities like vending in Citi Field and The US Open Why she is committed to lifelong learning and the many wonderful resources she has found along the way, you can find a list of her resources at https://sidehustlepro.co/nouris

In the world of consultants and career developers, it can feel impossible to find the right fit. Kimberly Brown stands out as an expert whose leadership development company, Manifest Yourself, helps women and people of color navigate the workplace, make more money and become industry leaders. She’s the author of bestselling book, Next Move, Best Move: Transitioning Into a Career You'll Love and the host of the Your Next Move Podcast.  In this episode she shares: The steps she took to determine when it was time to leave her 9-5 Her simple yet powerful methods to attracting her ideal clients How she exceedingly surpassed her six figure goal in her first year  Check out episode 381 of Side Hustle Pro podcast out now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube This episode is brought to you by:  HubSpot Podcast Network- The audio destination for business professionals with content designed to help you listen, learn, and grow. Listen to Side Hustle Pro and more shows on the HubSpot Podcast Network, at https:

This week we are returning with an update episode with Jamila Souffrant. She is the author of the book, Your Journey To Financial Freedom, and the host of the Journey To Launch podcast. As a go-to thought leader in the personal finance field, The Journey To Launch Podcast has over 4+ million total downloads and was listed by the NYTimes as a podcast to help you get better with your money. Starting her journey by saving over $100K in two years, she is now financially free.  In this episode she shares: How she went from aggressive saving to over $400K years and becoming debt-free The best and easiest way to traditionally publish your book What methods of income-earning have failed her and how she helps others find what works best for them, and more Check out episode 380 of Side Hustle Pro podcast out now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube This episode is brought to you by:  HubSpot Podcast Network- The audio destination for business professionals with content designed to help you listen, learn, a

In this week's rewind episode, I sat down with Claudia Walker, founder of HBCU Prep School. As a proud second generation HBCU graduate, Claudia authored the best-selling book series, The ABCs of HBCUs and The ABCs of Black Wall Street.  In this episode Claudia shares: How she balances being a full time entrepreneur while working a full time job The insider financial skills she picked up during her time on Wall Street  How she landed her self-published children’s book on Target shelves How she’s expanding her reach by starting a publishing company  Check out this episode and others on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube This episode is brought to you by:  HubSpot Podcast Network- The audio destination for business professionals with content designed to help you listen, learn, and grow. Listen to Side Hustle Pro and more shows on the HubSpot Podcast Network, at https://www.hubspot.com/podcastnetwork.  Links mentioned in this episode HBCU Prep School Website: https://hbcuprepschool.com HBCU Prep

This week we have a rewind episode for you with Domonique Brown, the artist and founder behind DomoINK, a lifestyle brand that contributes art, apparel, and home decor in celebration of Black art. Domonique got her start in real estate and marketing before deciding to become a full-time artist-entrepreneur.  In today’s episode she shares: How her side hustle went from Instagram posts to Target carrying a line of her products How she approaches conversations with major brands regarding pricing and licensing her art Her methods to manage the financial ups and downs of entrepreneurship and so much more! Check out this episode of Side Hustle Pro podcast out now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube This episode is brought to you by:  HubSpot Podcast Network- The audio destination for business professionals with content designed to help you listen, learn, and grow. Listen to Side Hustle Pro and more shows on the HubSpot Podcast Network, at https://www.hubspot.com/podcastnetwork.  This Is Small Business

In this week's rewind episode, in the guest chair we have former Side Hustle Pro guest Imani Ellis, CEO and Founder of CultureCon and The Creative Collective NYC. While working as Vice President of Communications at NBC Universal, Imani founded The CCNYC and began her journey to becoming the full-time CEO of her company and CultureCon.  In this episode she shares: How CultureCon and The CCNYC has hugely expanded since we last spoke The steps she took to firmly make the decision of becoming a full-time entrepreneur How she effectively built and manages a team of 25 people  And so much more, you don’t want to miss this episode! Check out episode 377 of Side Hustle Pro podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube This episode is brought to you by:  HubSpot Podcast Network- The audio destination for business professionals with content designed to help you listen, learn, and grow. Listen to Side Hustle Pro and more shows on the HubSpot Podcast Network, at https://www.hubspot.com/podcastnetwork.  Thi

In this week's rewind episode we have a very special episode featuring a real-life Podcast Moguls student of mine, Lori Tharps. She is the founder of the platform and podcast Read, Write & Create, which offers bite-sized, creative pep talks for BIPOC writers. She is also the author of critically-acclaimed books like Hair Story and Kinky Gazpacho.  In this episode she shares: How she knew it was the right time to leave her tenured teaching job at Temple to pursue writing full time Why moving to Spain allowed her to have clarity in her financial and personal goals  How she diversified her offered writing services through coaching, ghost writing and podcasting, and the clients that brought in  Check out episode 376 of Side Hustle Pro Podcast and others on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube This episode is brought to you by:  HubSpot Podcast Network- The audio destination for business professionals with content designed to help you listen, learn, and grow. Listen to Side Hustle Pro and more shows

In this rewind episode, I sat down with Terri-Nichelle Bradley, the founder of Brown Toy Box, an educational toy company producing STEAM toys, media, and experiences for centering and celebrating Black children. While working full time, Terri-Nichelle took Brown Toy Box from being a side hustle to a full-scale business.  In this episode she shares:  How she expanded to being sold in every Target nationwide Why she pivoted from being a subscription box to direct to consumer  How she used her network and won investors to fund toy production  Check out episode 375 of Side Hustle Pro Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube Links mentioned in this episode Terri-Nichelle Bradley’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/terrinichelle Brown Toy Box Instagram: https://instagram.com/browntoybox?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=  Brown Toy Box Website: https://browntoybox.com/   New Voices Fund: https://newvoicesfoundation.org/  Google Startups: https://startup.google.com/  SheEO: https://coralus.world/  1863 V

This week we have a very special bonus episode with fellow Comcast RISE recipient Cassandra Williams. Cassandra is the founder of Love By The Slice, a Tacoma-based cake and treats company that is beloved by her community.  In this episode she shares: How she started as a side hustler and has remained in business for more than 20 years How she was able to scale and grow as a small business with little funding How she has navigated the challenges of post-pandemic business  What she was able to do with the support of Comcast RISE  Check out this bonus episode of Side Hustle Pro podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube This episode is brought to you by:  Comcast RISE. Now in its third year, Comcast RISE celebrates having provided 13,500 businesses nationwide with more than $125 million in monetary, marketing, and technology grants to date. Business applicants have been selected to receive comprehensive grant packages, which include business consultation services, educational resources, a $5,000

This week in the guest chair we have Kunbi Odubogun, an industry leading Business Attorney and entrepreneur. She is Partner at Oduberg, a boutique business law firm that provides legal services to creative entrepreneurs. Kunbi also founded two online businesses: Legally Set, a contract template shop offering ready-made contract templates for creative entrepreneurs; and Perfete - a renowned luxury events and lifestyle resource.  In this episode she shares: How she created passive income by empowering small business owners and equipping them with ready-made contract templates  How she went from side hustling Perfete to growing it to over 240K followers- large enough to where she can confidently sell the platform What she teaches her clients to ensure their legal protections in business partnerships Check out episode 374 of Side Hustle Pro podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube This episode is brought to you by:   HubSpot Podcast Network- The audio destination for business professionals with c

This week in the guest chair we have Mandi Woodruff-Santos, a globally recognized career expert, founder of the MandiMoney Makers, and co-host of the three-time WEBBY award winning podcast, Brown Ambition. With 6 million podcast downloads, and over 80,000 followers across socials, Mandi is on a mission to help women of color achieve their wildest financial ambitions.  In this episode she shares: How to be professionally selfish and achieve your dream salary The risks she’s taken by pivoting often in her career, and how they’ve paid off  Her journey from corporate, to coaching as a side hustle, to launching her podcast and expanding her empire Check out episode 373 of Side Hustle Pro podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube This episode is brought to you by:  HubSpot Podcast Network- The audio destination for business professionals with content designed to help you listen, learn, and grow. Listen to Side Hustle Pro and more shows on the HubSpot Podcast Network, at https://www.hubspot.com/podca

This week in the guest chair we have visionary creator April Showers, the entrepreneurial expert behind Afro Unicorn. April became the first Black woman to own a fully licensed character brand, putting her with the likes of Disney. Afro Unicorn has rapidly expanded its footprint, being stocked in over 3,500 stores.  In this episode she shares: How she established a presence in seven major retailers across the U.S. and Canada including Walmart and Target The ins and outs to becoming a licensed character brand, and the major benefits that come along with it Why she doesn’t solely rely on social media for marketing and what really helped put her on the map Check out this episode and others on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube This episode is brought to you by:  HubSpot Podcast Network- The audio destination for business professionals with content designed to help you listen, learn, and grow. Listen to Side Hustle Pro and more shows on the HubSpot Podcast Network, at https://www.hubspot.com/podcastne

This week we are getting a masterclass in content-based business with Bola Sokunbi. Bola is a  finance expert, 4-time bestselling author, and founder of Clever Girl Finance, one of the largest personal finance media/education platforms for women in the U.S.  In this episode she shares: Her start as a financial advisor while side hustling Clever Girl Finance  How she expanded past 1 to 1 business by creating courses and repeatable content  How she was able to financially thrive while making her platforms free and accessible  Check out this episode and others on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube This episode is brought to you by:  HubSpot Podcast Network- The audio destination for business professionals with content designed to help you listen, learn, and grow. Listen to Side Hustle Pro and more shows on the HubSpot Podcast Network, at https://www.hubspot.com/podcastnetwork.  Links mentioned in this episode Clever Girl Finance Website: https://www.clevergirlfinance.com/  Clever Girl Finance Ins

This week we’re back for a very exciting update episode with Denise Woodard is the Founder and CEO of Partake Foods, the allergy-friendly company inspired by her daughter’s experience with food allergies. Created in 2016, Denise started the business by self-distributing cookies around NYC, this year it became a Certified B Corporation, and launched a collab with Ben & Jerry’s.   In this episode she shares: Her strategies to getting investors interested, including big names like HER and Rihanna How she became the first Black woman to raise more than $1 Million publicly for a CPG food startup, accumulating more than $20M How she is continuing to inspire other entrepreneurs while growing her own business Check out this episode and others on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube This episode is brought to you by:  HubSpot Podcast Network- The audio destination for business professionals with content designed to help you listen, learn, and grow. Listen to Side Hustle Pro and more shows on the HubSpot

This week in the guest chair we have Donyale Walton, founder of Hoop Mobb, Home of the Hoop Earring. Coming from Flint, Michigan, Donyale made her way to New York to learn the business ropes and was inspired to pursue her own ventures.   In this episode she shares: How she went outside of the box of where she’s from and gained unique skills by working in fashion  Her process of finding and working with the best manufacturers  How she’s able to build the best team and balance hiring family and friends  Check out this episode and others on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube This episode is brought to you by:  HubSpot Podcast Network- The audio destination for business professionals with content designed to help you listen, learn, and grow. Listen to Side Hustle Pro and more shows on the HubSpot Podcast Network, at https://www.hubspot.com/podcastnetwork.  Links mentioned in this episode The Hoop Mob Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehoopmobb/  Hoop Mobb’s Website: https://hoopmobb.com/  H

This week I invited back Khadijah “Kay” Polly, who I first spoke to in 2019. Khadijah is the owner of Kay’s Kettle Corn, a gourmet popcorn company in Houston. In addition to her popcorn company, Khadijah is the founder of Ankara Beauty, a social enterprise that sources fair trade all natural ingredients for beauty products from women owned cooperatives and solo entrepreneurs in African countries.  In this episode she shares: How she scaled her popcorn side hustle large enough to fund other ventures Why she prioritizes living a life of ease and how she does it while running multiple enterprises  How supporting women entrepreneurs in African countries has wildly grown her business  Check out this episode and others on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube This episode is brought to you by:  HubSpot Podcast Network- The audio destination for business professionals with content designed to help you listen, learn, and grow. Listen to Side Hustle Pro and more shows on the HubSpot Podcast Network, at https:

In this rewind episode, I sat down with Keewa Nurullah. Keewa is mom of two, a fourth generation Black Wall Street descendant, and founder Kido Chicago, a wildly popular children’s brand and destination in the Southside of Chicago. In this episode she shares: How she scaled her business from a single onesie to carrying 1000s of children’s products online and in her storefront Why she created a community gathering space for parents on Chicago’s Southside  How she’s carrying on the legacy of her entrepreneurial ancestors affected by the Tulsa Massacre Check out episode 367 and others on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube  This episode is brought to you by:  HubSpot Podcast Network- The audio destination for business professionals with content designed to help you listen, learn, and grow. Listen to Side Hustle Pro and more shows on the HubSpot Podcast Network, at https://www.hubspot.com/podcastnetwork.  Links mentioned in this episode Kido: https://kidochicago.com/  Kido’s Instagram: https://www.i

This week we’re taking it back to when I sat down with Cat Peoples, an actor, producer and entrepreneur who is giving us a masterclass in getting in alignment with your purpose. Starting as a side hustler, Cat has become a household voice that you may hear on commercials, audiobooks and more. In this episode she shares: How she got her start and built her portfolio as a voice actor How she leaned into her natural talents to create a stable income for herself  Why having unwavering confidence and faith has propelled her career farther than ever  Check out this episode and others on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube This episode is brought to you by:  HubSpot Podcast Network- The audio destination for business professionals with content designed to help you listen, learn, and grow. Listen to Side Hustle Pro and more shows on the HubSpot Podcast Network, at https://www.hubspot.com/podcastnetwork.  Links mentioned in this episode Cat’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/catpeoples/ Cat’s Websit