The Goal Digger Podcast | Top Business and Marketing Podcast for Creatives, Entrepreneurs, and Women in Business

869: Data Over Drama: How Female Leaders Can Scale with Strategy, Not Emotion

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Apr 14, 2025

Marina Middleton, CEO of Create & Cultivate, shares her inspiring journey from attendee to leader, emphasizing the power of connection and mentorship for women in business. She discusses key strategies for making data-driven decisions, separating emotions from leadership, and navigating the complexities of entrepreneurship and motherhood. Marina reflects on the significance of community support in empowering female leaders and the importance of resilience in overcoming challenges. Tune in for valuable insights on scaling your business with confidence!

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ADVICE

Action Drives Clarity

Take action, even if you're unsure, as it often brings clarity.
Clearly communicate goals, priorities, and expectations to your team to empower them.

ANECDOTE

From Attendee to CEO

Marina Middleton became the CEO of Create & Cultivate after attending one of their events as an attendee.
She leverages her past experiences to make decisions, focusing on attendees' wants.

INSIGHT

Data Over Drama

View business decisions as data points, not personal successes or failures, for clearer analysis.
Detaching emotions from business allows for objective decision-making and faster scaling.

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Have you ever attended an event that completely changed the trajectory of your life? My guest today, Marina Middleton, certainly has.

In 2021, she walked into her first Create & Cultivate event as an attendee, looking to make connections and gain insights for her own business. Fast forward to today—she’s the CEO and Partner of the very brand that inspired her.

Marina is a powerhouse when it comes to building communities, amplifying women’s voices, and helping them break barriers in business. Before stepping into her leadership at Create & Cultivate, she worked with Fortune 500 companies at Yahoo! and Tumblr, strategizing digital media campaigns. She has since coached and consulted hundreds of female founders, helping them grow their brands with confidence.

In this episode, Marina shares the defining moments that shaped her career—from navigating the corporate world as a woman of color to stepping into the CEO role of a major media and events brand. We’re diving into how mentorship, networking, and representation can accelerate career growth, plus the lessons she’s learned balancing leadership and motherhood.

If you’ve ever felt like an outsider in your industry or wondered how to cultivate the right connections to propel your career forward, this conversation is for you!

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Goal Digger Show Notes: https://www.jennakutcherblog.com/women-in-leadership-tips-with-create-and-cultivate-ceo-marina-middleton

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