In this episode of The Art of Entrepreneurship, we cover everything from embracing your own success to fostering meaningful connections across lines of diversity. My guest is Zuhairah Scott Washington, an awarded technology executive, public board member, angel investor and consultant. She shares her journey of learning to pause and appreciate her accomplishments, a practice many high achievers struggle with. We also discuss the importance of diverse professional networks, ways to overcome...

This episode of The Art of Entrepreneurship is for anyone tempted to hit pause on their sales as the year winds down. We talk about why Q4 is not the time to slow down, especially with so many businesses making their budget decisions for next year. I’ll share strategies for maximizing your limited time, from networking effectively at conferences to staying top of mind with your contacts as they wrap up their year. Make sure you tune in for actionable tips on using social media for smart...

This episode of The Art of Entrepreneurship is for anyone who finds it challenging to show up for themselves and others each day. If you’re feeling depleted or unmotivated, you’re not alone.  While it may seem straightforward, being present can look different from one day to the next. We discuss the nuances of sitting in that grit and allowing ourselves the grace to overcome obstacles. Make sure you tune in for an honest discussion about the “fake it till you make it” mindset and how it can...

This episode of The Art of Entrepreneurship is for anyone who wants to improve their sales skills, whether they’re in a sales role or not. My guest today is Mark Cox, author of Learn to Love Selling. Mark and I discuss why everyone needs to learn how to sell, regardless of their role, as well as his playbook for leading a successful sales team and being successful in sales yourself. We also talk about how sales and marketing can work better together and dive into imposter syndrome. Make sure...

In this episode of The Art of Entrepreneurship, we’re revisiting a past episode on a topic that deserves to be talked about over and over again—how to become an optimist. Most people aren’t natural optimists and I most definitely fall into that camp. I realized long ago that my critical self-talk wasn’t doing me any favors and worked to put myself on a more optimistic path—you can, too. In this episode, I share some practical strategies that you can use to make optimism a daily habit. Tune in...

This episode of The Art of Entrepreneurship is for anyone whose sales and marketing strategies and tactics are failing to land with their audience. If you’re having a tough time driving results, it might be time to refresh. Unfortunately, many of us can get into bad sales and marketing habits—making it all about us and our companies instead of thinking about the buyer, or getting very pushy during the sales process.  Fortunately, there are better ways to win business. Tune in for sales and...

It’s a lesson you probably learned in grade school, but today, we’re going to talk about its application to business: what goes around comes around.  I’ve always been a big believer that what you put into the world is what you get, for better or for worse. I’ve seen this play out countless times with business opportunities and with client and employee relationships.  Tune in for a short and sweet list of things that you will never regret when it comes to treating others with kindness and...

This episode of The Art of Entrepreneurship is for anyone who’s juggling the chaos of building a business while keeping their relationship intact. My guests today are Gunjan and John, a power couple who built a thriving business together. Gunjan, John, and I discuss how they balance their roles, handle the inevitable disagreements, and navigate the challenges of running an international company as a married couple. Make sure you tune in for tips on setting boundaries, managing conflicts, and...

This episode of The Art of Entrepreneurship is for anyone who feels like they’re perpetually drowning in their to-do list and can’t catch a break. I recently read Greg McKeown’s book, Effortless, and I sped through it because I really needed to hear his lessons. We’ll talk about shifting from "Why is this so hard?" to "What if this could be easy?" and why rest isn’t actually for the lazy. Spoiler: sometimes the simplest solution is actually the right one. Tune in for some real talk on...

This episode of The Art of Entrepreneurship is a follow-up from last week’s conversation about elevating your company culture with an internal Net Promoter Score (NPS) survey.  This week, I’m joined again by Jenny Weeden, my business partner and President at Accelity. We discuss how we’ve made personal and cultural changes in the business to promote greater feedback, develop management styles, create a safe workplace, and cultivate the team that fits the direction we want to take the company...

This episode of The Art of Entrepreneurship is for anyone who wants to know what their team is really thinking (but is too afraid to ask). A Net Promoter Score, or NPS, is a common tool for measuring customer experience. It asks customers to rate how likely they are to recommend a brand to a friend on a scale of 1 to 10.  We applied the same concept at my marketing agency, Accelity, to gauge employee sentiment. In this episode, I cover why you need to ask what employees think at work and the...

In this episode of The Art of Entrepreneurship, Jackie talks about 10 common leadership patterns that can hurt teams. From shiny object syndrome to retaliation and more, Jackie talks through how to become a better leader and grow out of bad habits. If you like this episode, check out these resources.Podcast: The professional habits that stop you from success w/ Matt MaletichPodcast: Re-examine your habits to start the new year off strongPodcast: Become a better leader by learning how to...

This episode of The Art of Entrepreneurship is for anyone who has or is thinking about bringing in a partner in your business. My guest today is Jenny Weeden, President of Accelity and former pod guest. Jenny and I discuss the origin stories of our journeys with Accelity, the personal and professional growth we’ve experienced together, and how to navigate and find comfort in deeply intertwined working relationships. We also dive into the challenges of adjusting to our new co-owner...

“That wasn’t my intention”... I hear this a lot. Heck, I’ve said it a lot. As humans, it’s in our DNA to engage with each other, and because we’re humans, that engagement can be messy. So when our good intentions get perceived as negative, that can hurt. In this episode of The Art of Entrepreneurship, I dig into a recent example of how my good intentions were perceived, and why the perception of others matters. I’ve noticed this becoming increasingly important in my professional...

Are you a founder who is raising money—or thinking about raising money in the future? This episode is for you. My guest today is Alex Chompff, an entrepreneur and investor whose ventures include a fund for underrepresented founders, namely women and entrepreneurs of color. Alex and I discuss why these communities are typically passed over for investment, why investors are making mistakes when they do this, and how other founders can get in front of investors like him.  Make sure you tune in...

I recently found myself re-reading the outline from an episode I did last year, and I thought you’d like to as well. We’re talking about how to change your mindset and reset when you’re feeling down.  In this episode, you’ll have the opportunity to think through the way you think, the way you act, your habits and how you can work for yourself instead of against yourself. Stay tuned for 7 tips that will help you stop self-sabotaging and get back to being your best self! If you like this...

My guest today is Bri Seeley, an entrepreneur coach who helps women achieve the goals in their businesses that they struggle to envision for themselves.  Bri and I cover a range of thought-provoking topics including how to stop overworking and underliving, how women can use entrepreneurship to close the pay gap, and how companies can build an entrepreneurial environment where people feel respected and treated like humans (what an idea!).  Bri has so much energy and she’s really going to...

This episode of The Art of Entrepreneurship is for anyone ready to put on their thinking caps and strengthen their problem-solving muscles.  Problem solving is an important business and life skill, but after seeing a few examples in my own business this week, I want to discuss how it applies specifically to marketing.  Make sure you tune in for tips that will help you shift into problem-solving mode (one is about attitude, and one is about discipline—but I promise it’s not high school gym...

This episode of The Art of Entrepreneurship is for anyone who is wondering which funding method is right for their startup.  My guest today is Paul Bianco, Founder and CEO of Graphite, a company that provides outsourced accounting and financial services for startups and growth-stage companies. Paul and I discuss the pros and cons of different funding strategies (e.g. investors, bootstrapping), cash management, and how founders should view debt. Even if money talk isn’t your favorite (said as...

This episode of The Art of Entrepreneurship is for anyone who is worried that employees with side hustles are a flight risk.  Leaders may not want to talk about it, but it’s more and more common that employees have their full-time jobs *and* have side hustles or entrepreneurial aspirations. Many of the team members at my marketing agency have a side hustle or run their own business. Guess what? These employees are also some of our most dedicated and highest-performing employees.  I share some...

This episode of The Art of Entrepreneurship is for anyone who sees people traveling the world in luxury and wonders how the heck they do it. (Hint: your business can help!) My guest today is Spencer Howard, a credit card loyalty program and travel rewards expert. Spencer helps demystify all of those points and benefits associated with different cards, including how business owners can use their credit cards to upgrade work (or personal) travel.  Tune in for the tips Spencer shares with his...

This episode of The Art of Entrepreneurship is for anyone ready to challenge the norm by creating an organization where anyone can be a leader—even if they aren’t a manager.  Way too often we assume that career advancement means becoming a manager and having direct reports. That’s awesome for some people, but it’s not always the best use of a team member’s talent. Once you let go of having only one path for leadership, you give people multiple paths to success. Tune in for examples of what...

This episode of The Art of Entrepreneurship is for anyone looking to find clarity on what they really want out of their life (and if you think manifesting is a little  “woo woo,” you’re not alone—stay with me!). My guest today is Samantha Kozuch, an entrepreneur with a decade of experience and the founder of the million-dollar e-commerce business, The Maniscripting Journal. Samantha and I have a fun conversation spanning how she got her start, how she deals with the highs and lows of running...

This episode of The Art of Entrepreneurship is for anyone who is butting heads with a tough customer and doesn’t know how to turn the relationship around.  Sometimes our most significant relationships start off on a not-so-great foot—that’s because when we work through hard conversations, it can often result in mutual respect. Make sure you tune in to this rebroadcast for tactical tips you’ll be eager to try with that one extra difficult customer.  If you like this episode, check out these...