How can the mistakes we make as entrepreneurs become our most valuable lessons for growth and success?

In this special episode of The Savvy Session, Kirsten and Paula are joined by fellow entrepreneurs Marianna Swallow and Kristine Givens to reflect on the missteps that shaped their entrepreneurial journeys. From vendor mishaps to ignoring intuition, we dive deep into the lessons learned from our mistakes and how they’ve made us stronger, more resilient leaders. This candid conversation offers valuable insights for women entrepreneurs navigating the highs and lows of business ownership.

Key Takeaways:

1. Avoiding Vendor Pitfalls: Marianna shares a story about working with a vendor to implement a CRM system that didn’t deliver. The lesson? Take time to vet vendors thoroughly and test before committing.
2. Trusting Your Intuition: Kristine emphasizes the importance of listening to your gut, especially when red flags appear during big business decisions.
3. Delegating for Success: Paula discusses how trying to do everything herself in her early days led to burnout and how learning to automate & micro-outsource allowed her to thrive in managing the podcast.
4. The Importance of Due Diligence: Kirsten reflects on her costly experience with a PR consultant who failed to deliver. She learned the importance of research, seeking references, and trusting her instincts before big investments.

Join us as we share the lessons we’ve learned the hard way, empowering you to navigate your entrepreneurial journey with confidence, resilience, and wisdom!

Marianna Swallow is The Speak Easy Coach. Her mission is to make presentations easy and enjoyable for everyone – one speech at a time. Her expertise lies in helping clients share their story in a way that creates audience connection. She works with individuals, executives, and teams to help them develop and deliver clear and confident presentations, all while making the process fun.

Kristine Givens began her career as a tax consultant with Ernst & Whinney before founding and selling a boutique accounting firm. Transitioning to franchise ownership, she gained hands-on expertise and a deep understanding of the industry's challenges and opportunities. Combining entrepreneurial experience, financial expertise, and a results-driven approach, she is passionate about empowering franchisors and franchisees to navigate the complexities of the franchise model and achieve sustainable success.

You can connect with Marianna here:
Website: https://www.mariannaswallow.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariannas/

You can connect with Kristine here:
Website: https://www.kristinegivens.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristinemartzgivens

How can you navigate the complexities of guardianship while balancing the emotional and practical challenges of caring for aging parents?

In this episode of The Savvy Session, we’re thrilled to welcome guardianship expert Jenny Jeltes, an attorney with over 15 years of experience specializing in guardianship law. Jenny shares her invaluable insights on the legal and emotional aspects of guardianship, offering guidance on understanding guardianship roles, managing family dynamics, and balancing personal responsibilities. Whether you're a woman, a business owner, or both, Jenny’s expertise will empower you to make informed, compassionate decisions for your loved ones.

Key Takeaways:

1. Understanding Guardianship Types – Jenny explains the distinctions between guardianship of the person (health decisions) and guardianship of the estate (financial decisions) and provides advice on how these roles can be shared or divided effectively.
2. Facing Emotional and Practical Challenges – Discover strategies from Jenny for managing the emotional strain of seeing a parent lose independence, balancing time, and making difficult decisions while fulfilling your own responsibilities.
3. Family Communication and Mediation – Jenny emphasizes the importance of open communication and, when necessary, mediation to maintain family harmony during the guardianship process.
4. Self-Care and Support Resources – Jenny highlights the importance of connecting with caregiver networks and prioritizing your own well-being as you navigate this challenging journey.

Join us as Jenny provides expert guidance on navigating guardianship, empowering you to approach this responsibility with clarity, compassion, and confidence.

Jenny R. Jeltes is the founder and managing partner of the Law Offices of J. Jeltes, Ltd., practicing law since 2007. Recognized as a top attorney in client satisfaction and an “Emerging Lawyer,” Jenny is known for her integrity, assertiveness, and commitment to her clients. Having experienced the challenges of divorce firsthand, she brings empathy and dedication to helping clients navigate the legal and emotional complexities of family law.

You can connect with Jenny Jeltes here:
Website: https://jelteslaw.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeltesfamilylaw/

How can embracing authenticity and investing in yourself unlock your true potential as a business owner?

In this episode of The Savvy Session, join us for an insightful conversation with Meka Hemmons, founder of SpiderMeka Portraits. Meka shares her incredible journey from working at Harpo Studios to building her own personal branding photography business. Throughout the conversation, she highlights the importance of authenticity, finding your passion, and helping clients feel comfortable in front of the camera. Meka's story is a testament to investing in yourself and aligning your work with your purpose, all while bringing joy and fun into the process.

Key Takeaways:

1. Finding Your Authentic Purpose – Meka explains how her transition from retouching celebrity photos to capturing authentic portraits allowed her to align her values with her work.
2. Building Confidence Behind the Lens – Meka’s approach focuses on making her clients feel seen, celebrated, and comfortable during their portrait sessions.
3. Investing in Your Passion – Meka shares how taking the leap to start her own business has brought her joy and fulfillment, proving the value of following your purpose.
4. Empowering Clients – Meka's unique style helps entrepreneurs and professionals showcase their personal brands through genuine, empowering photography.

Tune in to hear Meka's inspiring journey and learn how to embrace authenticity and passion to elevate your business and life!

Portrait Photographer “Spider” Meka Hemmons wields her camera like a heart surgeon’s scalpel, revealing deep truths and inner light. With 25 years’ experience in communication, branding, and human studies, she moved from celebrity retouching at Harpo Studios and The Oprah Winfrey Network to building a platform of artistry, consulting, and speaking to help everyday people celebrate their natural attributes and break myths within toxic cultural industries, proving that beauty is more than skin-deep.

You can connect with Meka Hemmons here:
Website: https://www.spidermeka.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/spidermeka/