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

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

How did a former wedding planner turn her side hustle into a million dollar business? Today’s guest has the answer. If you’ve ever heard the phrase “bias for action” she is the epitome of that. When she thinks of an idea, she doesn’t just sit on it, she acts on it. She’s founded two successful businesses in her lifetime with no business degree and only education from the school of hard knocks. I’m talking about Vivian Kaye, the Founder and CEO of KinkyCurlyYaki, a successful natural hair extensions brand. Known by fans as The Queen of Kank, Vivian founded KinkyCurlyYaki in 2012 to provide natural hair solutions for women who wanted the ease and flexibility of kinky curly hair extensions. On this episode, you’ll learn how she got the idea and started her business from her living room and is now at the head of a soon to be million dollar brand. Topics discussed: How her Ghanaian upbringing influenced her entrepreneurial fire Why she never felt the pressure to complete school to start a business How getting lai

What’s it like to be a 13-year seasoned blogger in the age of Instagram and Snapchat Influencers? On this episode I sit down for a conversation with Luvvie Ajayi to talk Branding 101. Luvvie is is a writer, digital strategist and creator of entertainment and humor blog AwesomelyLuvvie.com. As a fellow writer and avid blogger, I’ve always been inspired by Luvvie’s journey to full-time entrepreneur. She started her blog after peer pressure from friends who recognized her talent. After starting as a casual blogger, she slowly increased to blogging more than once a week. Three years in, she was working a 9 to 5 then blogging from 7 to 9 like a true side hustler. Though she was getting paid zero dollars, her first blogging award in 2009 made her realize maybe she was on to something. The rest, as they say, is history. Now Luvvie is getting ready to debut her first book, called I’M JUDGING YOU: The Do Better Manual, which is available on September 16 (or earlier if you pre-order). FYI, I talked to Luvvie a few mont

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 Meiko And The Dish 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 we talk about: The financial sacrifices she’s had to make to pursue her dream The marketing steps she’s taking to grow the Meiko And The Dish brand on social media How she’s building relationships and partnerships in her niche The upcoming launch of the Black Food Network Find out how Meiko is making it work despite the twists and turns life throws at her. Podcast Details Click here to subscribe via RSS (non-iTunes feed) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more infor

When you’re starting your own business, the company you keep is more important than ever before. On this episode, I'm answering a listener’s question about how to ignore the haters and find a true entrepreneurship support group. I talk about how I found my own tribe and created a mastermind group, and what you can do to find your own entrepreneurship support system. I also get into updates on my own side hustle journey, including: what I’m doing to monetize and my new Side Hustle Pro Shop. Tune in to hear my latest updates in this Side Hustle Pro journey! Links mentioned in this episode: Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/SideHustleProCommunity/ Side Hustle Pro Shop: SideHustlePro.co/Shop Social Media Toolkit: SideHustlePro.co/Episode7 Email Me: Hi@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.

In 2009, Tiffany “The Budgetnista” Aliche lost her job as a preschool teacher. Unable to afford her mortgage, she moved back home with her parents at age 29. At her lowest moment, she was 31 years old, with no job, no money, and no home of her own. After hitting rock bottom, she determined it was time to put the financial wisdom she had learned growing up to good use. In this week’s episode, she shares how she bounced back from financial despair to take charge of her own life and help others do the same. Along the way, she has built a hugely profitable brand and even more, an insanely loyal community of Dream Catchers devoted to her Live Richer principles. Author of two #1 Amazon bestsellers, The One Week Budget and Live Richer Challenge, Tiffany The Budgetnista and her financial advice have also been featured in The New York Times, Reuters, US News and World Report, the TODAY show, PBS, Fox Business, MSNBC, CBS MoneyWatch, TIME, ESSENCE Magazine, and FORBES. In this episode, Tiffany breaks down: The inspira

In 2009, Courtney Sanders found herself drowning in debt, bad grades, and almost having to leave college. Three years later, she had paid off all her debt, earned a scholarship, started a business and graduated from college magna cum laude. How did she turn her life around? Find out on this week’s episode. Courtney is an entrepreneur, speaker, and goal ­achievement specialist. Through her training and development company, Think & Grow Chick, LLC, Courtney provides online & in-­person education, mentorship, and community for women, students, and minorities looking to accomplish BIG goals. Courtney reaches nearly 50,000 young professionals every month through her blog and social media platforms. In 2015 she authored the book, Get What You Want: The Ultimate Guide to Figuring Out + Getting What You Want in Life which has since served as a catalyst for several related trainings and programs, including her 2015 live workshop, Launch Your Life. In this this episode, Courtney breaks down: The inspiration fo

On this episode, I'm providing an update on how my own side hustle is going. How am I balancing my 9to5 at NPR with my podcast and burgeoning Side Hustle Pro brand and business? I talk about the challenges I’m facing with time management and why I believe time management is a myth. I’m also sharing the best tools I’ve found to help me manage my calendar and organize the Side Hustle Pro process (Shout-out to Amanda Miller Littlejohn for the productivity tips!). I also get into a strategy that I’m using to build my brand and network: attending strategic conferences. I talk about the hustle bombs I learned from Myleik Teele, CEO of curlBOX: “A real hustler invests in themselves.” “If you are not popping or balling, you do not need to be sleeping in.” “Followers are not dollars.” Tune in to hear my latest updates in this Side Hustle Pro journey! Links mentioned in this episode: Doodle Calendly Asana Show notes from this week's episode: http://sidehustlepro.co/ Click here to subscribe via RSS feed (non-iTunes

How did the product of a once homeless single mother become the Founder and CEO of a rising startup? This week’s guest, Stephanie Lampkin, shares how an influential aunt led her to coding at a young age, setting the stage for her to graduate from Stanford and MIT Sloan. Later, a surprise rejection from Google would lead her to found Blendoor, a mobile job matching app that hides candidate name and photo to circumvent unconscious bias and facilitate diversity recruiting in tech companies. Blendoor’s goal is to highlight the information that's most relevant to a candidate being a "good fit" independent of race, gender, military history or sexual orientation. In this this episode, Stephanie breaks down: How she determined what kind of business structure to set up The art of the “pitch” How she approaches pitching on stage vs pitching for investors How to build a team as an early stage company How she keeps the company lean and financially sustains herself as an entrepreneur Find out about Stephanie’s experienc

The number one question I get asked is how to leverage social media to build a brand. When people ask me this, I know that they're really searching for a quick and dirty shortcut to get thousands of followers without having to put in a lot of work. Well I hate to break it to you, but there's no way to build an engaged social media audience without consistent and authentic effort. With over seven years of professional experience as a social media marketing strategist, I've learned firsthand the challenges that come with trying to keep up with changing platforms and algorithms. If you want to be successful in social media, you have to abandon the 'I want to make something that will go viral’ mentality because that's not how it works. On this episode, I'm providing a detailed blueprint for how to grow an active and engaged social media following. I'm going to go over step by step what I've done to grow my own social media accounts and I'll provide a full checklist of resources to measure and grow your social cha

What goes into the making of a YouTube personality? CeeDotCee is this episode’s special guest. Whether it's recapping the latest episode of Love & Hip Hop or reviewing the hottest new music and gossip in pop culture, CeedotCee is an all around entertainer. Trailblazing the internet with her hilarious videos from YouTube to Facebook, she has over four million views combined. Her hilarious videos, like her Beyonce lemonade recap have garnered the attention of the likes of PEOPLE magazine. As if her talent in front of the camera isn't already enough, she also has skills behind the camera as a videographer and editor for various artists such as Chrisette Michele, Mya and Keke Palmer. If you haven't heard of her yet, now is the time to become a member of the rapidly growing "Cee Hive." In this episode she breaks down: How to create and build a brand as a YouTube personality Why you don’t need expensive equipment to have successful YouTube channel How to stand out in the crowded YouTube space The secret ingredi