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

In this week’s Flashback Friday episode, I’m giving you the real deal with 7 tangible tips to scale your side hustle to a full time business. Having been at this for over 7 years now, I’ve learned that scaling a side hustle is a journey of constant learning and pivoting, but having a solid starting point is key. In this episode I share about:Recognizing the seeds that were being planted in my life that led me to entrepreneurshipHow I used my 9-5 background in social media to launch my side hustle How I took my “failures” as lessons and improved in my next stepsHighlights Include: 2:30 The Power of Believing In Yourself 6:02 Find The Easiest Entry Point9:26 How To Re-invest In Yourself 15:06 Testing Out Your Side Hustle17:40 How To Leverage Social Media23:20 Figuring Out What To Sell25:04 When To Quit Your 9-5Links mentioned in this episodePodcast Moguls: https://sidehustlepro.co/podcastmoguls/ Other SHP Courses: https://sidehustlepro.co/courses/ Side Hustle Pro Instagram: ht

This week in the guest chair we have Jazmin Alvarez, the visionary founder and chief curator of Pretty Well Beauty, a black-owned clean beauty destination that has been redefining the industry since its launch in 2019. As Pretty Well Beauty celebrates its fifth anniversary, Jazmin shares her inspiring journey from a content producer in the fashion and beauty industry to a successful entrepreneur dedicated to making clean beauty accessible and inclusive for all.In this episode she shares about:Believing in Yourself: even when it feels "delusional," and how this mindset has been key to her success Clean Beauty: the deep connection between the products we put on our skin and overall wellnessSecuring Prime NYC Retail Space: the chance encounter that led to becoming the first Black-owned beauty store inside the iconic Oculus Highlights Include:00:00 Intro03:59 Growing up with clean beauty09:15 Getting her start in fashion12:57 Side hustling as a freelancer17:47 Building Pretty Well Beauty23:21 Believing

This week I’m back with a solo episode where I share some insights on finding your niche to help you narrow down your side hustle. There are endless paths you can take with side hustling, it’s important to get specific. Finding your niche will put you in line with your ideal audience or help you discover where you need to pivot and make changes. In this episode I share:The best place to start deciding what niche will work for youHow to get over the fear of putting yourself out thereThe power of feedback and how to use it to move your business forwardHighlights include: 00:00 Intro02:01 The Benefits of Polling and Asking for Help06:10 Picking One Niche to Focus On16:07 The Value of Getting Feedback19:02 Embracing Change and SimplifyingCheck out episode 417 of Side Hustle Pro podcast out now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTubeLinks mentioned in this episodeSample SHP Poll: https://sidehustlepro.co/poll Google Survey: https://www.google.com/forms/about/ Newsletter: https://sidehustlepro.c

Growing an Instagram following doesn’t have to be intimidating. In this episode, I’m giving you actionable strategies for building a genuine Instagram following. When I started side hustling, I started leveraging Instagram as a powerful tool for promoting my blog and business, which led to growing an engaged and authentic audience.In this episode I share about:Getting super specific: Create a profile of who your target audience member is, including details like their age, where they shop, what social platforms they’re on, etc.Know, like, and trust: After figuring out your target audience, focus on how to build a reliable reputation with themCreating a workflow for your content: Key habits like batching content, researching other content your audience engages with, and using content scheduling toolsHighlights include:00:00 Intro4:03 Understanding your target audience 14:08 Creating tailored content16:35 How to engage with your audience20:56 Planning and scheduling your content23:38 Tracking your cont

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 9-5Her simple yet powerful methods to attracting her ideal clientsHow she exceedingly surpassed her six figure goal in her first year Highlights include:00:00 Intro02:37 Getting started in career and leadership development07:36 Working within corporate america after leaving a 9-510:52 Juggling a career and side hustling17:20 Preparing financially for entrepreneurship19:56 Pitching and publishing a book22:31 Diversity in income28:59 Instagram vs reality35:09 Navigating divorce and maintain

Today I am back with a solo episode where I share my favorite techniques to get back on track when you're feeling stuck. It's July, and half of the year is gone. It's time to take a step back, reflect on what has worked, what hasn't, and what we're going to do about it. Whether you're dealing with mid-year slumps or just need a boost, this episode is packed with actionable advice to help you move forward.In this episode I share about:Getting in the spiritual gym: The importance of reconnecting with spirituality, physical activity, or changing your scenery to take care of yourself Focusing on what you can control: Set minimum and maximum goals and prioritize action over inactionPracticing gratitude: Using gratitude as a tool to shift perspective and boost motivationHighlights Include: 00:00 Intro02:36 The Importance of Mid-Year Reflection05:15 Get in the Spiritual Gym09:54 Move Your Body11:00 Get Some Sun13:32 Change Your Scenery15:58 Face the Facts20:42 Set Minimum and Maximum Goals26:01 Focus on Wh

This week I’m back with a solo episode where I’m giving you the tools to make money with your podcast. When I became a full-time podcaster in 2017, I focused on my revenue streams like brand partnerships, sponsorships, courses, and VIP programs, leading to having over 10 million episode downloads to date. I’m here to help you get your podcast to that same level. In this episode I’m sharing:Effective Marketing: How you’re going to optimize content planning and to get people to consistently see what you are offering Thinking Outside the Box: Exploring non-traditional sponsorships and multi-channel packages like retreats to generate revenue beyond just downloadsCreating Value: How to produce content and services that your audience genuinely wants to pay forHighlights Include:00:00 Intro02:49 The Importance of Podcast Setup05:15 Narrowing Down Your Podcast Topics09:50 Understanding and Serving Your Audience14:33 Creating a Content Plan16:39 Effective Marketing Strategies19:00 Consistent Marketing Practi

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, 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 salaryThe 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 empireHighlights include:00:00 Intro03:52 First jobs out of college10:20 Introversion and unwavering self-belief 14:35 Navigating financial insecurity28:00 The benefits of strategic quitting 36:00 Launching Brown Ambition Podcast41:00 Becoming a career coach51:00 Income opportunities from podcasting56:30 Tips for entrepreneursCheck out episode 412 of Side Hustle Pro podcast out now on Apple Podcasts, Sp

This week in the guest chair we have Julia Coney, award winning wine writer, speaker, & consultant. Julia wears many hats, including being the Wine Consultant for American Airlines in partnership with the James Beard Foundation, the Founder of Black Wine Professionals, a resource for the wine industry whose goal is to lift up the multifaceted Black professionals in the world of wine. In this episode she shares about:Being multi-passionate: how exploring a range of interests, from starting at a law firm to writing a beauty blog, has elevated her career Paving the way for diversity: how starting honest conversations about racism, equity, and inclusion in the wine industry led to being the recipient of Wine Enthusiast's 2020 Social Visionary Award Winner The power of putting yourself out there on social media: How she has created opportunities for herself like being the first Black woman to run a wine program for American AirlinesHighlights include: 00:00 Intro04:42 Original career path a

This week I’m excited to chat with someone I go way back with, Sheena McCullers. Sheena is the founder of Della’s Beauty Supply. Della’s was launched to bring a much-needed sense of belonging for BIPOC beauty lovers in Ann Arbor, MI. After moving from Brooklyn, Sheena saw a need for a place for people who look like her and took a chance on opening a storefront. In this episode she shares:How intentionally creating a community through word of mouth was the foundation to building her customer baseThe startup costs and how she’s been able to be profitable in the first yearThe importance of working a full-time job where she was supported enough to be transparent about needing space to focus on expanding Della’s Highlights Include: 00:00 Intro08:16 Exploring different side hustles14:16 Navigating a new city18:43 Filling the need for a beauty supply23:18 Startup planning and costs27:55 Creating a community 30:01 Curating events and collaborations35:02 Running a storefront as a side hustle41:20 E

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 TargetThe ins and outs to becoming a licensed character brand, and the major benefits that come along with itWhy she doesn’t solely rely on social media for marketing and what really helped put her on the mapCheck out this episode and others on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTubeLinks mentioned in this episodeAfro Unicorn Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afrounicorn_official/ April Showers Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gotaprilshowers/ Afro Unicorn Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afrounicornofficial Afro Unicorn LinkedIn: https://www.

This week I’m back for a solo episode, with my 2024 updates! As we wrap up Q2, I’m thinking about the impacts on my business from social platforms expanding and changing constantly, raising two littles, and making sure I honor my bandwidth. We’ll also dive into how I’m revamping and expanding my podcast coaching course, Podcast Moguls. In this episode I’m sharing:My key habits to staying balanced in my work, motherhood, and self-careMastering self-talk and how I filter out the negativityHow I’m growing my brand awareness and focusing on solo content Highlights Include:00:00 Intro03:12 Shifting from validation to impact06:50 Eliminating negative self-talk15:00 Balancing mom-mode and CEO-mode19:13 The interview process as a podcaster27:24 The changing podcast industry 30:05 The importance of multiple streams of income33:34 Grow your brand awareness36:20 Expanding my training course Podcast Moguls45:11 Allowing myself to stay within my bandwidthCheck out episode 408 of Side Hustle Pro podcast out

Helena Faustin is a Registered Nurse and content creator from New York City who has garnered an audience of millions by sharing her love and passion for cooking. As a mother of three, Helena inspires people with her massively popular food blog, That Nurse Can Cook, to get comfortable in the kitchen and cook delicious meals for their families.In this episode she shares:The ways she stayed consistent in content creation, and why it paid offHow she differentiated her physical cookbook, The Soul of Scotchie, from others on the marketHow she diversified her revenue streams to triple her income and surpass her nursing paycheck Highlights include: 00:00 IntroFinding a path in nursingThe goal of work-life balanceCooking as an outletIntentional content creationBuilding a content creation business while working full timeDiversifying revenue streamsThe importance of discipline and showing upThe power of storytellingTake control of your inner voiceTips for entrepreneurs Check out episode 407 of Side Hustle

This week in the guest chair we have Kristen Dunning, founder and CEO of Gently Soap - a bathing brand built on her self-developed herbal infusions. A recent MBA grad, Kristen hails from a rare five generations of Black Alabama farmers, and she’s continuing the legacy by bringing joy back to bathing experiences for people with sensitive skin, using the medicinal properties of plants.In this episode she shares:Her vigorous passion and research that landed her on Shark TankHer secret sauce to having a rate of 78% repeat customersHow she won over 300K in investment capital and has a trajectory of $1.2M in salesHighlights Include:00:00 Intro03:24 Generations of Black farmers06:38 Struggle with eczema08:45 Studying horticulture and agriculture14:10 Staring Gently Soaps18:03 Transitioning to selling at markets21:31 Importance of formulating for sensitive skin28:56 Sales growth and Shark Tank impact32:55 High margins and sales 39:49 Marketing strategies44:03 Tips for entrepreneurs Check out episode 406 of

So you’ve thought about it forever, but actually launching your side hustle is the hardest part. I’m here to remind you that it’s OK to try things out, start over, and then try again! In this episode I share:The first side hustle I tried and why I quickly learned it wasn’t for me How to find the entry point to break into your side hustle’s industry How taking my time allowed to me prove the concept of my productsFive steps to getting your side hustle off the ground and moreHighlights include: 00:00 Intro01:23 The value of side hustling03:21 How to organize your thoughts06:07 Research your market09:00 Product-based vs service-based 11:31 Narrow down to one thing when launching14:36 Collect feedback after launchingCheck out episode 405 of Side Hustle Pro podcast out now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTubeLinks mentioned in this episodeFREE side hustle guide: https://sidehustlepro.co/startyoursidehustle Sign up for my newsletter: https://sidehustlepro.co/newsletter Podcast

This week in the guest chair we have Marty McDonald, founder of Elle Olivia & Boss Women Media. Her background in corporate laid the foundation to launching Boss Women Media, the offline/online women’s empowerment community. After a challenging experience with giving birth to her first child, Marty translated that same idea of empowerment to launch Elle Olivia, a lifestyle brand for young Black and Brown girls.In this episode she shares:How she landed her brand Elle Olivia in over 400 Target locations nationwide within the first year of launchingHow she strategically re-invested revenue from side hustling into her businesses How she oversees a multi-city Black Girl Magic Tour, the annual Boss Woman of the Year Summit, and serves a loyal community of more than 100,000 womenHighlights Include:00:00 Intro02:38 Navigating corporate America 11:30 Pitching to Sugarfina14:32 Launching Boss Women Media16:52 Monetizing the business & impactful collaboration27:43 Staying nimble and pivoting at the rig

As an entrepreneur, content creation has become a huge part of expanding a business. Let me tell you: there are no rules when it comes to content creation. So this week I’m sharing 4 tips that have helped me take the pressure off creating awesome content while running a business.In this episode I’m sharing: How to optimize your recording sessions to get content done quickerMy favorite content creation tech and tools, and much more!Highlights include:00:00 Intro03:58 Let go of expectations and have confidence to start06:58 Envision your ideal audience 09:00 How to batch content 12:11 Create your on-camera uniform16:05 Best tools to make content Check out episode 403 of Side Hustle Pro podcast out now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTubeLinks mentioned in this episodeFree Side Hustle Guide: https://www.sidehustlepro.co/startyourhustle/ Favorite Ring Light: https://a.co/d/c5u9zFP Nicaila’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sidehustlepro/ Content Tools Amazon List: https:/

This multi-hyphenate artist is the best example as to how pursuing that side hustle you’ve always dreamed about can pay off.In the guest chair this week we have Nicole Crowder, an acclaimed designer, upholsterer, editor/writer, and curator. After her first custom furniture collection launched in 200 World Market US retail stores, Nicole continues to expand and now collaborates with brands that span across advertising, hospitality, fashion and television to create modern heirlooms and redefine space making.In this episode she shares:How she balances the titles of editor, designer, curator and artist Where her work has been featured, from the HBO television series Insecure, to being acquired by historical museumsThe number one way she ensured high profits while working with brands  How she lands huge publications like Architectural Digest, Elle Decor, and Better Homes & GardensHighlights include:00:00 Intro02:30 Building a photography portfolio 08:49 Discovering the world of upholst

This week in the guest chair we have ​Kimberly Waters, founder of Modern Urban Sensory Experiences, or MUSE​, a luxury boutique fragrance house based in Harlem, NY. When Kimberly realized her role in corporate America was not providing her room to grow into her potential, she launched MUSE out of the parlor floor of a friend’s brownstone on Convent Ave in Harlem and has been growing ever since.​Why tapping into her community of mentors and entrepreneurs was the right direction How she has self-funded her business since 2017 with no outside capital How she has partnered with hard-to-find global brands, become a sought-after destination for emerging brandsHighlights Include: 00:00 Intro04:19 Gathering expertise in fragrance09:50 Challenges in corporate America13:46 Small-scale beginnings22:46 Self-financing her side hustle 28:03 The unique customer experience 35:26 Revenue streams39:18 Target audience and marketing 51:13 Tips for entrepreneurs Check out episode 401 of Side Hus

This week in the guest chair we have Germanee Gerald, founder of GG&Co Styling Firm, a brand and image styling company. Getting her start in the fashion corporate world, Germanee realized she thrived in offering her talents as a personal stylist and started side hustling. In this episode she shares:How she went from living with family and driving DoorDash to make end’s meet to hiring a team for her styling firmHow to leverage opportunities like internships and a personal brand for business growthHow diversifying her services, hiring a team, and seasonal planning led to scaling her business Highlights include:00:00 Introduction4:08 From biochem to fashion6:22 The world of corporate fashion 11:35 Transitioning into personal styling17:49 Strategizing finances to go full time 22:36 Nomad life and gigs to meet ends meet29:14 Working with a celebrity stylist36:58 Launching GG Styling Firm39:53 Maximizing cash flow42:34 Tips for entrepreneursCheck out episode 399 of Side Hustle Pro podcast ou