In this episode Madeline talks to Meredith Fennessy Witts, founder of Le Chéile, about one of the most important and ignored topics while building businesses: Financial Fluency. They cover topics such as the accidental path to becoming an entrepreneur, the importance of community and mentorship, financial fluency for business owners, and the challenges and strategies of scaling a business. Meredith shares her personal story, including her background, how she navigated the transition from corporate roles to founding her own company, and the lessons learned along the way. The discussion also touches Meredith’s experiences working with clients on navigating them through financial fluency and making a safe space for founders to talk about their shortcomings with their business finance goals and grip. Meredith emphasizes the importance of making informed decisions, trusting the process, and ensuring that the business serves the life you want to live.

In this episode, Madeline converses with an absolute badass, Martha Shaughnessy of the The Key PR, discussing her unconventional path to becoming a founder, her experiences navigating the tech industry as a woman, and managing work-life integration as a mom. Martha's background in cultural anthropology and sports shaped her unique perspective on team dynamics and storytelling in marketing and communications. The discussion also touches on the importance of mental and physical health, the challenges of maintaining a work-life balance in the face of societal and business pressures, and the transformative power of showing vulnerability in leadership. Both the host and Martha share insights on navigating the complexities of leading businesses in a patriarchal society, the impact of acknowledging one's limitations, and the significance of genuine connections in professional settings.

In this episode, Madeline chats with McKenna Haz, the founder of Seaav, a sustainability-focused activewear brand, born from McKenna's passion for the ocean and sustainability. Growing up on Vancouver Island, Canada, McKenna was motivated by the Fukushima earthquake's environmental impact to take action. She launched Seaav from her college dorm, combining her interests in activewear, the ocean, and sustainability. McKenna discusses the challenges of balancing college, sports, and starting a business, the importance of pitch competitions and grants in her early success, and the evolution of her company's mission and strategies. She emphasizes the significance of core values, the role of networking and mentorship, adapting to the changing landscape of social media marketing, and the focus on collaborative collections with influencers for future growth. McKenna shares her commitment to sustainability, her learning journey as a young entrepreneur, and her strategies for maintaining well-being through journaling and running.

In Today’s episode, Madeline talks with Belinda Ephraim, the founder of Katalyst Point Advisors. Belinda shares her personal journey into entrepreneurship, starting from her early days in Nigeria. Her experiences working as a senior analyst with a wealth advisor during the AOL & Time Warner Merger intrigued her about the potential of mergers and acquisitions (M&As), which led her to establish her own firm. She outlines the importance of preparing business owners for M&As and also touches on her other entrepreneurial venture - a luxury skincare brand named KOKOBERNA. Through her professional journey, Belinda has adopted a strategic approach to business, focusing on its long-term prospects and planning for an exit strategy well in advance. The conversation also covers the state of the current M&A market, the importance of comprehensive due diligence, and the potential pitfalls for unprepared sellers.