Episode 24: Spotlight- Joyce 'JoJo' Arias, Founder of Solsis Beauty. Today, I’ll be talking to the founder of an up and coming cosmetics company called Solsis Beauty. We'll chat about her beauty brand and how she made the decision to represent women of color through her brand. She'll share he journey to starting the company and shares tips that worked for her that other businesswomen can use. So sit back and enjoy the show.

The LAST thing on your mind right now is probably Succession Planning. Nobody wants to think about leaving their business, retiring and turning the reigns over to their baby. All business is personal, but in order to build a thriving business that can work with or without you, you have to take the emotional attachment out of the equation. Some people will disagree and that's ok. Planning for your successor is something that requires a logical, sensible mindset. Just because you own a company doesn't mean you have to be a slave to it. Many people who have removed themselves from the company's day to day thrive post-business. They've put capable successors in place and either retired or moved on to other things. In some cases, they still have ownership of their company but they're not breaking their necks every day. What's your endgame? Have you started planning for the next phase yet? Even if that is 10 years off, you have to start somewhere. In this episode we discuss the fundamentals of succession planning.

Running a business can come with its own set of unique challenges. But running a business with a partner can present a different set of challenges that you might not have been prepared for. I know. You dream of having a business with your best friend or your sister or your cousin or even that neighbor that has the same kind of mindset that you have. But it can be tricky. There’s no way to know how you and another person or persons will work together under pressure. and when the money starts rolling in, will personalities change? If you have it prepared properly and protected yourself you can minimize a lot of future potential problems. Today we're talking about the real PPP and I want you to sit back and listen to this podcast and if you’re thinking of starting a business or joint venture with a friend, you need to listen to this episode.

Don't build a neurotic team! In order to grow, you need a team. In order to SCALE, you need the RIGHT team. Self imposed chaos (I know where everything is/how everything works) is fine for YOU. But you do your team a disservice when you throw them into your chaos without a blueprint on how to deliver results like you want them to. If you're lucky enough to get great talent, you should be doing everything in your power to make sure they can effectively contribute to your company's bottom line and growth. In this episode I talk about cultivating and grooming a winning team through feedback and systems.

Stop standing in the way of your own growth. Often times CEOs of fast growing companies are reluctant to hire. They may not be ready to delegate yet, fear they can't afford to hire, or are just plain stubborn about bringing outsiders into what they've built over time. But the reality is if you want to grow, you have to hire AND get comfortable delegating. In this episode I talk about getting ready to take the leap into hiring.

When you're a woman of color in the business world, you have to be twice as good, twice as professional and half as visible. Yeah, even today. In these times. In this podcast I give you some tips to navigate meetings and make sure you are respected and acknowledged for your magic.

The entire world is caught up in the COVID 19 pandemic. Everything has shut down and business has come to a grinding halt. If you are a planner, you're probably in good shape for the short term. But what if you didn't plan? In this podcast, I'll talk about alternative ways to generate revenue and things you can do to ensure you don't lose it all during the pandemic, and come out stronger when it's all over.

Angel investing can be part wealth building vehicle, part philanthropic endeavor. Many women entrepreneurs are seeking investment dollars, but find themselves coming up against brick walls. Many women investors want to help fund women entrepreneurs, but also want to build a wealth vehicle that will give them investments into thriving high growth potential companies. Without angel investing, both objectives would be harder to meet for women. Today my guest and I will talk about the benefits and challenges, the options available, and the smart ways to make angel investing work for you and help up and coming entrepreneurs.

You're past the startup phase and now it's time to shift into high gear. So why are you still functioning and making decisions as  if you're in startup mode? Many high growth companies end up stalling out because they remain stuck in startup mode. There are a variety of factors that keep entrepreneurs from growth from the mental to the financial. What they often lack is solid strategy and execution. At each level, there are new requirements that replace previous requirements. What worked when you began may not work in year two or year five, or even year 10. So what's holding you back from growth? Well today it’s all about the strategy, baby. Today’s topic is all about making that transition from startup to focusing on long term growth strategies and the importance of conscious awareness of each level of growth. My guest Janis Collins and I will talk about some of the roadblocks to growth, how to condition your mind (and your team) for growth, address some tips about handling growth at different levels and helping you set your path to rewarding growth for your business.

The slippery maze of Government Contracting is fraught with red tape, paperwork, and roadblocks. Although each administration says they seek to minimize the bloat in the process, it somehow remains frustrating. Between the amount of paperwork to the criteria for filing, to the waiting period, it can be enough to make you want to pull your hair out. Well today, we're going to talk about some strategies to make the contracting process less intimidating. Tune in today to find out what documentation you should always have, how to prepare for the process, and how to avoid mistakes that will cause delays in the process. Our guest Stacy Vaughn will share her inside tips and cautionary tales to help put you on teh right path to succesfully getting government contracts for your business. Listen live or catch the podcast replay on our Show page.