Figure 8

Alyssa Kerbel, the founder of mini mioche, built her business on sustainable, ethical practices and when the time was right, exited mini mioche in order to continue making the impact she craved. Success isn't one-size-fits-all and Alyssa and Julie discuss how redefining success to align with personal values can lead to fulfilling work that goes beyond profits.

Alyssa is a multi-passionate, heart-led, impact-driven entrepreneur who, over the past 20+ years, has started, grown, sold and exited two companies (Alyssa Agency, a wholesale fashion agency and mini mioche, a children’s apparel and lifestyle brand).

Alyssa founded mini mioche in 2008 as a passion project and ‘side hustle’ after the birth of her first child to fill a void in the children’s apparel market for simple, gender-neutral organic cotton basics. mini mioche went on to become a multi-million dollar direct-to-consumer brand, while paving the way in sustainable and ethical fashion and values-based business practices.

In 2023, Alyssa sold mini mioche in order to focus on her passions in the areas of community building, wellness and supporting female entrepreneurship.

Alyssa and Julie discuss:

**From fashion sales to founding mini mioche (00:01:18)**
Alyssa shares the story of founding mini mioche as a side hustle and her transition from working in fashion sales to launching her own sustainable and ethical fashion brand for children, while still running her agency.

**Transition and Tough Decisions (00:09:35)**
Alyssa discusses the pivotal moment when she realized the need to let go of her agency business and the tough decisions involved in transitioning her focus to mini mioche.

**Advocacy and Charity Work (00:19:22)**
The conversation shifts to Alyssa's integration of advocacy and charity work into mini mioche's business ethos, emphasizing the importance of giving back..

**Adapting to the pandemic (00:21:13)**
The impact of the pandemic on mini mioche's business, transitioning to e-commerce, and the positive effects on sales.

**Realigning with personal values by exiting (00:22:22)**
Alyssa's realization of losing joy and fulfillment in her business as it became more transactional and less meaningful. They discuss the importance of goals, impact, and aligning her business with her personal values, as well as the challenge of exiting a business.

**Creating community spaces and supporting female founders (00:37:04)**
Alyssa's vision for using the acquired space to build community, foster human connection, and support wellness practices.

**The importance of holistic goals, defining success, and finding community (00:42:02)**
Alyssa and Julie discuss the significance of holistic goals for personal and business success, and consistently re-evaluating goals in service of personal and business needs.

You can connect with Alyssa at her website or on Instagram, Facebook, or LinkedIn.

You can connect with Julie on LinkedIn or Instagram.

Find Julie's writing at her blog or by ordering Big Gorgeous Goals.

What did you think of this conversation? We'd love if you'd rate or review our show!

Ever wondered how a former Team Canada lacrosse player turns into a thriving entrepreneur? In Julie's conversation with Mandy Friend Gigliotti, they unpack her fascinating transition from athletics to real estate mogul to being the owner of multiple successful businesses. 

Mandy leads The Friend Team, a team in the top 1% of Realtors in the Rochester and Upstate New York regions. Founded on the values of FAITH: Family, Accountability, Integrity, Teamwork and Humility, her team will help over 200 clients, friends and families with over 50 million in sales for 2023. In the business world, Mandy is known for her entrepreneurial spirit as she is also a partner in her husband's chiropractic office, owns a daycare, is in the process of opening and laundromat and runs her coach and training business. Above all else, she loves to be known as a wife to her husband, Ed as well as a mother to her 5 children. All of her training and coaching is centered around her passion to pursue all the aspirations on her heart without compromising the relationships, people and causes that matter most.

Julie and Mandy discuss starting businesses in diverse industries, seeking industry knowledge from those who have done it before, and learning team leadership.

From playing for Team Canada to building a real estate team (00:01:53)
Mandy's experience as a lacrosse player, playing for Team Canada, and making the transition to real estate.

Quarter life crisis, implementing systems, and prioritizing personal growth (00:06:04)
Navigating Mandy's intense schedule, exploring hobbies, and overcoming the feast or famine mindset in real estate.

Starting additional businesses (00:16:09)
Mandy's venture into starting a daycare business and the challenges faced in aligning personal and professional goals.

Leadership, Delegation, and Investing in Personal Growth (00:21:24)
Mandy talks about delegating responsibilities and the process of transitioning from a hands-on role to a leadership position.

Expanding into a New Business (00:32:11)
Mandy explains the decision to expand into a laundromat business, the process of applying previous business learnings to the new venture, and seeking industry knowledge and resources.

Scaling to Seven Figures (00:36:05)
Scaling and growing businesses, exploring the decision to focus on multiple smaller businesses versus deepening investment in one larger venture, and reaching seven figures.

Balancing Work, Family, and Long-Term Business Growth (00:37:57)
Mandy explains how she manages her time between work and family, taking a slow and steady approach to business growth, and creating opportunities for others.

You can connect with Mandy on her website or on Instagram or Facebook.

You can connect with Julie on LinkedIn or Instagram.

Find Julie's writing at her blog or by ordering Big Gorgeous Goals.

What did you think of this conversation? We'd love if you'd rate or review our show!

Ever dealt with that annoying thigh chafing? Julie had a heart-to-heart with Marnie Rabinovitch Consky, Founder and CEO of Thigh Society, who turned her personal struggle into a thriving business. Thigh Society is the leading direct-to-consumer brand of size-inclusive long leg undergarment solutions to sweating, chafing and modesty designed to help women move through the world with comfort and confidence.

Marnie is an entrepreneur who started her company based on a problem that she couldn't find a solution for: long leg underwear for women that wasn’t shapewear or a men’s boxer brief. Without any related experience in sales, clothing manufacturing or ecommerce, she followed her hunch and self-funded Thigh Society to over $25M in sales, creating a new long leg underwear category of shorties that she calls “chafewear”.

Thigh Society has been featured on The Today Show & The Marilyn Denis Show, in In Style, Buzzfeed, and SELF to name a few, and is well loved by celeb influencers like Meredith Shaw, Alicia McCarvell and Remi Bader in addition to being ranked as one of Canada’s Fastest Growing Companies in the Globe & Mail’s Report on Business for 3 years in a row. Marnie has been featured in Forbes Magazine, Nasdaq, the Toronto Star and several other notable publications and podcasts.

In this episode of Figure Eight, Julie and Marnie discuss rejecting diet culture, the power of focusing on a single product, and scaling a remote-work team.

The journey of Thigh Society and the power of hyper-focus (00:01:29)
Marnie's journey as an entrepreneur, identifying a gap in the market and creating the product she was looking for.

Thigh Society's mission (00:19:14)
Marnie discusses the evolution of Thigh Society's product line, the mission to help people feel comfortable and confident, and destigmatizing thigh chafing.

Scaling up with a results-only remote work environment (00:26:16)
Marnie talks about the challenges and decisions involved in scaling up the business, including moving away from cotton manufacturing and the shift to seamless knitting.

Expanding markets and utilizing social media (00:38:39)
Marnie discusses the growth targets surrounding social media, marketing efforts in Australia, and product use expansion for Thigh Society.

You can connect with Marnie on Instagram or LinkedInand follow Thigh Society on Facebook, Instagram, Tiktok, and Pinterest.

You can connect with Julie on LinkedIn or Instagram.

Find Julie's writing at her blog or by ordering Big Gorgeous Goals.

What did you think of this conversation? We'd love if you'd rate or review our show!

From hiring previously incarcerated folks and those in addiction recovery to implementing an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), Gina Schaefer's story of entrepreneurship demonstrates what it can look like to understand and support the community you serve.

When Gina moved into a forlorn neighborhood that needed a hardware store, she built one. When she thought the recovery community needed businesses to believe in them, she became one, and when she suggested that inequality could be helped with business ownership, she began selling hers to her team.

Gina Schaefer is the Founder and Co-Owner of 13 hardware stores located in Washington, D.C., Baltimore, MD, and their suburbs. She and her team of 300 have helped millions of customers shop right where they live, in their urban communities, despite continuous pressure from bigger, stronger competitors.

In her book, Recovery Hardware, Gina chronicles her experiences building a business while learning from non-traditional teachers like folks from the recovery community and returning citizens. She serves as an advocate and spokesperson for causes directly related to raising wages, anti-monopoly legislation and small business development.

Gina serves as board chair for the Institute for Local Self-Reliance and is a member of CCA Global Partners’ Board of Directors. She spent 9 years on the corporate board of Ace Hardware and 12 with the House of Ruth. Gina’s guiding principle comes from a treasured quote “I always wondered when somebody would do something about that. Then I realized I was somebody”.

Join Julie and Gina for a masterclass in resilience, adaptability, and community-centric business strategies.

Identifying a Market Need and the Challenges of Business Growth (00:01:18)
Gina's motivation for starting a hardware store, her role in supporting the recovery community, and the challenges of being a woman in the hardware store industry and having locations not succeed.

The First Hardware Store (00:04:20)
The process of bringing the idea of a hardware store to fruition, merchandising in a small store, and adapting to neighborhood needs..

Scaling and Process Efficiency (00:12:00)
The process of opening new stores and the learning curve in optimizing operations with each new location, as well as maintaining focus while expanding the business.

Empowering store managers and ESOP structure (00:17:59)
Empowering store managers to act as owners and the process and benefits of ESOP.

Empathy and Inclusivity in Hiring (00:26:06)
Gina shares her approach to hiring individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences.

Philanthropy and Impact Investing (00:36:09)
Gina explores her philanthropic efforts, impact investing initiatives, and her role in supporting causes and young entrepreneurs.

Management lessons (00:37:49)
Gina reflects on not asking enough questions about HR and finance, and her desire to help others avoid similar mistakes.

You can connect with Gina on her website, LinkedIn and Instagram.

You can connect with Julie on LinkedIn or Instagram.

Find Julie's writing at her blog or by ordering Big Gorgeous Goals.

What did you think of this conversation? We'd love if you'd rate or review our show!

Let's talk about the art of transition – moving from doing to overseeing. It's a challenge many entrepreneurs, including Julie's  guest Hillary Parnell, have had to face.

Hillary Parnell has been the owner of the Academy for the Performing Arts and Preschool for the Arts in Apex, NC for the past two decades and more recently founded two other dance adjacent companies (Dance Photo Pro and Dancers In Balance).

She has taught over 10,000 children, grown her revenue to well over 2M, and coached hundreds of small business owners. Her passion is to help the next generation of entrepreneurs create thriving businesses through leadership, mentorship and making not nearly as many mistakes as she has.

Today on Figure Eight, Julie and Hillary discuss how she leveraged her dance studio space for multiple ventures, recognized the pivotal signs that it was time to upscale her business, and built the right mindset and team for success.

**Founding and scaling the dance studio and preschool (00:01:51)**
Hillary's journey in founding and growing her dance studio and preschool business beyond the industry's expected revenue, how she overcame resistance, and finding work-life balance.

**Dance adjacent companies and revenue diversification (00:15:55)**
The founding of dance adjacent online businesses, the importance of revenue diversification in the dance industry, and identifying when to level up the business.

**Adapting to growth (00:23:16)**
Adjusting to the challenges of growth for a brick and mortar business, including software, staffing, and personal financial planning.

**Growth and development  (00:32:54)**
The importance of learning, personal growth, and passing knowledge onto the next generation.

**Business growth and marketing (00:33:25)**
Plans for business growth in 2025, including diversification and marketing.

**Challenges of leadership and mentorship (00:36:30)**
Learning how to manage a team and receive education and mentorship.

**Bookkeeping and Business Education (00:40:37)**
Discussion about the need for business education in specialized fields like dance and dentistry.

**Universal Business Challenges (00:41:12)**
Comparison of business challenges across different industries and the benefits of gratitude and reflection.

You can connect with Hillary at www.hillaryparnell.com

You can connect with Julie on LinkedIn or Instagram.

Find Julie's writing at her blog or by ordering Big Gorgeous Goals.

What did you think of this conversation? We'd love if you'd rate or review our show!

Did you know that mature entrepreneurs bring a wealth of diverse experiences to the table?  In this episode of Figure Eight, Jackie Dinsmore highlights the value of founders with life experience. Her venture capital firm, Extra Innings Ventures, embraces this philosophy by investing in seasoned individuals. Jackie and Julie also discuss how letting go of the helm to become an employee and eventually selling one's ownership requires adaptability and emotional preparedness. Her story provides invaluable lessons on the often-overlooked human side of business transactions.

Jackie was a corporate lawyer at Blakes in Toronto, and subsequently worked as Assistant General Counsel at The Toronto Star. Originally intended as a side project to satisfy her non-legal creative side, Jacqueline launched FlapJackKids, a company that focuses on all reversible products for women and children. Jacqueline's products were featured in swag bags for Emmys and Oscars pre-parties, and can be found in thousands of stores in North America and worldwide. She has been named Top Mompreneur by Mompreneur Magazine and appeared in Forbes Magazine alongside Hilary Clinton and Barack Obama. Her company was featured numerous times in top press and media including The Toronto Star, The Globe and Mail, Ok Weekly, Us Weekly, Woman's World, USA Today, The Huffington Post and Woman's Day.

Jacqueline was also one of the original owners of Caravel Law and since its sale, now acts as its Co-Managing Partner. Caravel Law is a revolutionary law firm of over 100
lawyers that has disrupted the legal services industry in Canada, by making big firm trained and in-house experienced lawyers available as fractional counsel to start-ups, F500 companies and everything in between. Its low overhead model ensures access to great lawyers at a reasonable cost. Jacqueline has had three successful exits and most recently started Extra Innings Ventures, a venture capital firm focusing on under-represented founders with life experience.

Jackie's Transition from Law to Serial Entrepreneurship (00:01:24) Jackie's journey of practicing law before founding and exiting multiple companies, including her current venture capital firm.

Challenges of Exits, New Partnerships, and Extra Innings Ventures (00:12:37) The emotional and strategic challenges of exiting businesses and finding the right partners for future ventures, including her venture capital firm focused on investing in underrepresented founders.

Lessons from Product-Based Business (00:20:36) Reflections on mistakes made, managing inventory, and staying relevant in the fashion industry.

Building a Founding Team (00:24:29) Lessons learned from building a founding team, scaling up, and managing people.

Continuous Learning and Community (00:29:55) The importance of continuous adapting and surrounding oneself with a supportive community in entrepreneurship.

More about Jackie: 

www.caravellaw.com

www.extrainningsventures.com

You can connect with Julie on LinkedIn or Instagram.

Find Julie's writing at her blog or by ordering Big Gorgeous Goals.

What did you think of this conversation? We'd love if you'd rate or review our show!

Have you ever been branded a failure for choosing a path less traveled? On the latest episode of the Figure Eight podcast, Julie had the pleasure of chatting with Kristy Miller. Kristy shared her journey from dropping out of university to becoming the founder of The Scented Market. Despite the resistance, her unwavering determination and strong support system proved that success doesn't always follow a conventional script.

Kristy is the founder and CEO of The Scented Market, a homegrown business known for its self-care mission and soy wax candles, bath and body products, and home decor. In 5 years, The Scented Market has expanded to four retail locations and supplies hundreds of stockists across Canada and the USA. With a passion for creating sensory experiences that transcend the ordinary, Kristy has built a reputation for excellence in the candle industry.

Join Julie and Kristy as they discuss evolving team dynamics and strategies to align with the needs of a flourishing business, the art of hiring for brand wellness, and the tough decisions that spark monumental growth.

**Journey to Entrepreneurship and The Scented Market (00:02:03)**
Kristy's path from nursing student to entrepreneur, overcoming resistance, and garnering support. The genesis of The Scented Market and crafting the inaugural candle.

**Expanding Business, Team Dynamics, and Overcoming Struggles (00:07:29)**
The expansion of the team, learning from errors, valuing team members, and transforming challenges into lessons for positive growth.

**Business Growth and Role Transitions (00:14:46)**
Addressing the complexities of scaling up, including U.S. expansion plans, legal and financial hurdles, and the necessity for detailed planning. Kristy contemplates moving from CEO to a creative director role, leveraging her strengths, and the intricacies of such a transition.

**Self-Reflection, Aspirations, and Mentorship (00:21:51)**
The critical role of self-reflection in entrepreneurship, Kristy's ambitions for herself and The Scented Market, and her intent to provide mentorship based on her experiences.

**Leadership Balance and Strategic Decisions (00:27:31)**
The balance between being a leader and a learner, the significance of data in strategic decision-making, and combining instinct with analytics for the brand's benefit.

**Customer Engagement and Strategic Marketing (00:33:01)**
Fostering customer loyalty, community engagement, niche marketing focus, and future plans for growth and community support through self-care product experiences.

You can find Kristy and The Scented Market on Instagram, Facebook, X, TikTok, and LinkedIn.

You can connect with Julie on LinkedIn or Instagram.

Find Julie's writing at her blog or by ordering Big Gorgeous Goals.

What did you think of this conversation? We'd love if you'd rate or review our show!

"Strategy is a marathon, not a sprint." This philosophy rings true in Julie's conversation with Nicole Mahoney, CEO of Break the Ice Media, as they delve into the long-term vision for her business. 

Nicole Mahoney is an entrepreneur, speaker, and podcast host with a passion for business. She’s the founder of Break the Ice Media, a PR and digital marketing agency specializing in the travel, tourism, and hospitality industry, and also serves as the CEO of Travel Alliance Partners. In her weekly podcast, Destination on the Left, launched in 2016, she interviews tourism professionals from all over the globe on creativity and collaboration.

She commissioned a first-of-its-kind research study in 2020 to examine what makes partnerships successful and explore the role collaboration is playing in helping the industry recover from the Covid-19 pandemic. Those results, her recorded conversations with more than 300 podcast guests, and her personal experience formed the basis of her book, Stronger Together: Building World-Changing Business Collaborations. Nicole resides in Canandaigua, New York.

In this conversation, Nicole and Julie discuss the significance of laying a robust foundation before embarking on major projects like a brand refresh. It's a reminder that strategic thinking and the ability to look beyond the day-to-day are what differentiate thriving businesses from the rest.

Join us for more strategic insights on the latest Figure Eight episode:

Nicole's journey, evolving leadership, and company culture (00:02:03) Nicole's entrepreneurial journey, the strategies she used to navigate business during the pandemic, and her post-pandemic leadership evolution.

The pivot point (00:21:27) Nicole discusses landing a large contract in 2022 and the challenges she faced in securing the right financing and banking relationship.

Challenges of being a CEO (00:25:38) Nicole discusses the bottlenecks and challenges she faced as a CEO, particularly related to managing the work and strategic partnerships within the company.

Evolution of the brand and the importance of strategic thinking (00:30:09) Nicole talks about the upcoming evolution of her business's brand, the strategic thinking behind it, and the potential for new revenue streams and relationships.

You can find Nicole and Break the Ice Media here:

https://breaktheicemedia.com/

https://nicolemahoney.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolemahoney/

You can connect with Julie on LinkedIn or Instagram.

Find Julie's writing at her blog or by ordering Big Gorgeous Goals.

What did you think of this conversation? We'd love if you'd rate or review our show!

Ever wondered how a simple idea scribbled on a napkin can evolve into an eight-figure empire?

In this introductory episode of the Figure Eight podcast, host Julie Ellis will take you through the incredible journey of Mabel's Labels and moving beyond it. 

From a light-bulb moment to the nail-biting experience of scaling up for major retail to the emotional journey of selling and stepping into an advisory role for other entrepreneurs, you’ll discover the reality of switching gears and the insights gained from both sides of the business fence.

We'll discuss:

Introduction to Figure Eight (00:00:04)
Julie Ellis introduces the Figure Eight podcast and her interest in learning from women entrepreneurs, their experiences, challenges, and future plans.

The Story of Mabel's Labels (00:03:07)
Julie shares the story of founding Mabel's Labels, from the initial idea to scaling for major retail, goal setting, and the decision to sell.

Transitioning to Advisory Work and Entrepreneurial Support (00:16:50)
Julie's transition to advisory work and her focus on helping women face the challenges of scaling businesses.

You can connect with Julie on LinkedIn or Instagram.

Find Julie's writing at her blog or by ordering Big Gorgeous Goals.

What did you think of this conversation? We'd love if you'd rate or review our show!