Startup Parent

  #037 — Putting Your Mission Back In The Driver's Seat  With Tara Gentile  Rebranding your business is a risk, especially if what you’re doing is still making money. How can you be sure it’s time to shake up the status quo and shift your focus? Tara Gentile can attest to the fact that there is no easy framework for making that decision. But a good place to start is by asking the question, “What is the company that I really want to build?” Tara has spent the last year getting back to her original mission, getting clear and focused on the legacy she wants to leave behind, and rebooting her business to emphasize the community aspect of her small business network and give members access to the collective intelligence of the group. Today, Tara shares how losing out on a promotion during maternity leave inspired her start her own business. She explains how her business has evolved over time and offers insight around retiring products, hiring employees and putting on live events. I ask Tara about her writing practice, and she speaks to the call-response approach she employs to facilitate conversation among the CoCommercial community. Listen in and learn about how the flexibility of entrepreneurship enables Tara’s atypical co-parenting situation and what her daughter is teaching her about herself. FULL SHOW NOTES: Get the complete show notes with episode quotes, photos, and time stamps at http://www.startuppregnant.com/037. EPISODE SPONSOR & SPECIAL OFFER: Thank you to the sponsor of this episode: Acuity Scheduling. Acuity functions as an online assistant, helping to organize your schedule and collect client information. Take advantage of Acuity’s 45-day free trial for Startup Pregnant listeners at https://acuityscheduling.com/startuppregnant. All of our sponsor offers are available on our website for you to grab the perks and discounts offered to podcast listeners: http://startuppregnant.com/sponsors. LEARN MORE ABOUT TARA GENTILE: Tara is the founder of CoCommercial, a social network for microbusiness owners that brings together coaches, consultants, educators, designers and makers who are passionate about taking control of their livelihoods in the New Economy. Tara’s work has been featured in Fast Company, Forbes and Inc., among many others. She is a sought-after speaker on the topics of money, marketing and entrepreneurship, a bestselling CreativeLive instructor, and the author of several books on doing business today. Tara is also the host of Power. Profit. Pursuit., one of the top 24 women-hosted podcasts for business owners. CoCommercial Tara on Facebook Tara on Twitter Tara on Instagram Tara on Medium Profit. Power. Pursuit. RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Tara’s Books Tara on Creative Live Marie Poulin Gusto THE STARTUP PREGNANT PODCAST & HOST Startup Pregnant Startup Pr

#036 — Race, Social Justice and Political Branding with Tepsii If you don’t use your voice to share your experience, to call out prejudice and promote social justice, are you part of the problem? Tepsii contends that you are, and she is in the process of rebranding her business to add activism to the platform. I’m living the ‘learning out loud’ core value today as Tepsii and I get into a dialogue about race and privilege. We talk about the lifetime of work necessary to heal intergenerational patterns tied to self-image—that cannot be resolved in a single mindset session. Tepsii shares her approach to raising little ones with an awareness of race and class, explaining how the conversations are driven by the children themselves. I ask Tepsii about her experience with microaggressions, and she offers insight around what it feels like to have your culture become the fodder for laughter. Listen in to understand Tepsii’s take on encouraging conversation about race and learn how she is incorporating social justice into her brand as a copywriter and business consultant.   FULL SHOW NOTES: Get the complete show notes with episode quotes, photos, and time stamps at http://www.startuppregnant.com/036.   EPISODE SPONSOR & SPECIAL OFFER: We are putting together a weekly newsletter discussing the joys, the pains, the difficulties and the really useful strategies that make motherhood and work a little more joyful. Sign up at https://startuppregnant.com/newsletter. If you’ve got something in particular that you want us to work on, send us a note at hello@startuppregnant.com.  All of our sponsor offers are available on our website for you to grab the perks and discounts offered to podcast listeners: http://startuppregnant.com/sponsors.   LEARN MORE ABOUT TEPSII: Tepsii is a copywriter and business strategist who helps entrepreneurs create businesses they love. She is the creator of Tepsii’s Online Business School and Write to Profit, a revolutionary DIY copywriting program. Tepsii specializes in sales copy that converts, and clients use her sales pages to generate $100K product and program launches. She is also a passionate advocate for underserved communities, working to integrate activism into her teaching and speaking platforms.  Tepsii’s Website Tepsii’s Freebies Tepsii on Facebook #CopyBesties Facebook Group Tepsii on Twitter Tepsii on Instagram   RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE USC Grammy Study Dee Laylor’s Work Microaggressions in Everyday Life: Race, Gender, and Sexual Orientation by Derald Wing Sue Chris Rock’s Good Hair ClickFunnel’s Rap Video Patti Digh’s Art of Activism Book Club

#035 — Ask For The Damn Sale with Tepsii To do your best work for clients, you have to be taken care of yourself. Yet so many entrepreneurs struggle with asking for the sale. We hide. We play small. We fail to follow up. Tepsii understands the ongoing challenge of changing your money mindset and learning to value yourself and the work you do. Though she understood marketing conceptually, her first entrepreneurial ventures were unsuccessful because she wasn’t consistently putting herself out there. But when Tepsii started using live video as a tool, her brand skyrocketed. She shared her triumphs and challenges, and as people invested in her life, they wanted to work with her. Tepsii’s next challenge was learning how to charge what she was worth. Now Tepsii coaches other entrepreneurs to #askforthedamnsale. Today she shares her unique parenting journey, discussing the differences among her daughters and how the birth of her youngest inspired her to start an online business. I ask Tepsii how she learned to market her business and what holds entrepreneurs back from playing big. Listen in for insight around getting obsessed with your own success and consistently asking for the sale. FULL SHOW NOTES: Get the complete show notes with episode quotes, photos, and time stamps at http://www.startuppregnant.com/035. EPISODE SPONSOR & SPECIAL OFFER:   We are putting together a weekly newsletter discussing the joys, the pains, the difficulties and the really useful strategies that make motherhood and work a little more joyful. Sign up at https://startuppregnant.com/newsletter. If you’ve got something in particular that you want us to work on, send us a note at hello@startuppregnant.com. All of our sponsor offers are available on our website for you to grab the perks and discounts offered to podcast listeners: http://startuppregnant.com/sponsors. LEARN MORE ABOUT TEPSII: Tepsii is a copywriter and business strategist who helps entrepreneurs create businesses they love. She is the creator of Tepsii’s Online Business School and Write to Profit, a revolutionary DIY copywriting program. Tepsii specializes in sales copy that converts, and clients use her sales pages to generate $100K product and program launches. She is also a passionate advocate for underserved communities, working to integrate activism into her teaching and speaking platforms.  Tepsii’s Website Tepsii’s Freebies Tepsii on Facebook #CopyBesties Facebook Group Tepsii on Twitter Tepsii on Instagram RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE The Write to Profit Course THE STARTUP PREGNANT PODCAST & HOST Startup Pregnant Startup Pregnant Newsletter Email hello@startuppregnant.com Startup Pregnant on Facebook Startup Pregnant on Twitter

#034 — Truthbombs on Parenting, Entrepreneurship and Pleasure with Danielle LaPorte “They’re not yours. They are their own soul, and you get the honor of caring for them. They’re their own person, and it is not their job to please you in any way, shape or form.” Danielle LaPorte’s intuitive nature informs her parenting style, and she shares her spirituality with her son—despite the eye rolling. In fact, her parenting journey began with an overwhelming desire to be a mom that she followed as soon as it arrived, despite the fact that this didn’t fit into her predetermined life plan. And knowing that she might have to live off credit cards for the first two or three years. Danielle’s next-level understanding of consciousness is the foundation of her parenting philosophy, a philosophy that includes truthbombs like: no shaming, no lying, no psychological game-playing and no pushing your child to be what YOU want. Rather, Danielle encourages parents to pay attention to what their children love and avoid the cynicism and sarcasm. Today Danielle shares her parenting and entrepreneurial journeys, explaining how the two paths coincide and develop together. She offers her insight on parenting, speaking to the phases, the physical exhaustion and the decisions of what to share (and not share) with your kids. I ask Danielle about the solitude of entrepreneurship and solo parenting, the significance of cultivating adult female friendships, and the value of meditation and pleasure in living a full life. Listen in and learn how to develop a parenting style that is informed by your belief system and honors you child’s soul.   FULL SHOW NOTES: Get the complete show notes with episode quotes, photos, and time stamps at http://www.startuppregnant.com/034.   EPISODE SPONSOR & SPECIAL OFFER: We are putting together a weekly newsletter discussing the joys, the pains, the difficulties and the really useful strategies that make motherhood and work a little more joyful. Sign up at https://startuppregnant.com/newsletter. If you’ve got something in particular that you want us to work on, send us a note at hello@startuppregnant.com. All of our sponsor offers are available on our website for you to grab the perks and discounts offered to podcast listeners: http://startuppregnant.com/sponsors.   LEARN MORE ABOUT DANIELLE LAPORTE: Danielle LaPorte is an inspirational speaker, bestselling author and rockstar entrepreneur. One of Oprah’s SuperSoul 100, Danielle’s work focuses on conscious goal-setting and spiritual devotion. Her website is on the list of Forbes Top 100 Websites for Women, and Entrepreneur Magazine calls her ‘equal parts poet and entrepreneurial badass.’ Danielle’s Website Danielle on Instagram Danielle on Facebook Danielle on Twitter Danielle on Pinterest   RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE  Danielle’s 5 Collections White Hot Truth: Clarity for Keeping It Real on Your Spiritual Path—from One Seeker to Another by Danielle LaPorte

#033 — Revolutionizing Parental Leave with a Workplace Advocate With Tracy Candido and Karina Mangu-Ward Becoming a parent is a transformative experience. And an ideal parental leave policy would offer support before, during and after your time off. What if your organization went so far as to provide an advocate—someone who was prepared to communicate your point of view in your absence and keep you informed of the most important developments at the office? What if you could return to work feeling engaged and empowered? Karina Mangu-Ward and her partner Tracy Candido are just returning to work from parental leave, and they both happen to work for organizations that focus on the future of work. In fact, Karina chose to join the team at August Public because of their 16-week parental leave policy. August is built on the principle that everyone has the ability to edit the system, and that gave Karina the opportunity to design her own parental leave.  She established the idea of an advocate who would keep her goals top of mind and ensure that Karina was well-positioned in the organization when she returned.  Today Karina explains the work of August Public, discussing how its framework of radical self-management allowed her to design her own parental leave. She speaks to the importance of parental leave (as opposed to ‘maternity leave’) and how men get shortchanged in a system that doesn’t allow them to participate. I ask Tracy and Karina for their insight on a Harvard Business Review article suggesting ‘disability leave’ for the person giving birth and an additional 12-week paid leave for all parents. Tracy addresses the need for psychological safety and open dialogue in the workplace as new parents navigate an identity shift. Listen in for Karina’s take on why startups can’t afford NOT to offer family leave.   FULL SHOW NOTES: Get the complete show notes with episode quotes, photos, and time stamps at http://www.startuppregnant.com/033.   EPISODE SPONSOR & SPECIAL OFFER: Thank you to the sponsor of this episode: Meet Edgar! Grab your free two-week trial of Meet Edgar, a social media scheduling tool that allows you to create content once and re-use it as much as you need, at http://ed.gr/startuppregnant. All of our sponsor offers are available on our website for you to grab the perks and discounts offered to podcast listeners: http://startuppregnant.com/sponsors.   LEARN MORE ABOUT TRACY CANDIDO & KARINA MANGU-WARD: Karina Mangu-Ward is a consultant and facilitator with a passion for coaching teams through organizational transformation. In her current role with August Public, Karina works with Fortune 100 corporations to nurture more creative, self-managing and productive teams. Prior to her work with August, Karina was a documentary filmmaker and Lead Process Facilitator with EmcArts. Tracy Candido is the Director of Programs and Events at Lower Manhattan HQ, a new collaboration space in the heart of downtown NYC. She curates public programs for the creative business community, promoting LMHQ as a thought leader in the conversation about the future of work. Tracy is also the founder of Lady Boss, a platform for professional growth for women in creative industries. Lady Boss LMHQ August Public   RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE ‘A

#032 — Imago, Infertility and 50/50 Parenting with Tracy Candido and Karina Mangu-Ward “[The fertility struggle] was hard for us both, but it was hard for us together. We were able to kind of knit our relationship, and knit our sorrow and our eventual success into something that made us stronger.” Tracy Candido and Karina Mangu-Ward are both very driven women with Type A personalities who bring intention to everything they do. So when they were struggling to get pregnant and came to realize that Tracy had unexplained infertility, the couple had to develop new skills around patience and asking for help. In Karina’s words, they had to loosen their grip on what they could manage and control and be ‘at peace in the chaos.’ The fertility struggle was a lesson in persistence and resilience. And at the end of the day, it brought Tracy and Karina closer. Today Tracy and Karina share the story of their difficult parenting journey, explaining how it affected their relationship as well as their work lives. Tracy discusses the source of the partners’ intentionality and how they designed their own parenting model—without heteronormative standards to rely on. Tracy and Karina speak to the Imago communication style and how it helped them navigate a difficult period early in their fertility journey. I ask them about their 50/50 approach to parenting and their experiences with parental leave. Listen in for Tracy and Karina’s insight around returning to work and owning their roles as new moms.   FULL SHOW NOTES: Get the complete show notes with episode quotes, photos, and time stamps at http://www.startuppregnant.com/032.   EPISODE SPONSOR & SPECIAL OFFER: Thank you to the sponsor of this episode: HippoGive! HippoGive is a new app that donates your change by rounding up your everyday transactions to the nearest dollar and gives it to the charities and non-profits of your choosing. If you’ve been wanting to donate to Planned Parenthood, the ACLU, or disaster relief you can use this app and it’s a piece of cake. All you need to do is create an account, choose your charity and then set a weekly donation cap. Head to https://startuppregnant.com/charity/ for more information. All of our sponsor offers are available on our website for you to grab the perks and discounts offered to podcast listeners: http://startuppregnant.com/sponsors.   LEARN MORE ABOUT TRACY CANDIDO & KARINA MANGU-WARD: Tracy Candido is the Director of Programs and Events at Lower Manhattan HQ, a new collaboration space in the heart of downtown NYC. She curates public programs for the creative business community, promoting LMHQ as a thought leader in the conversation about the future of work. Tracy is also the founder of Lady Boss, a platform for professional growth for women in creative industries. Karina Mangu-Ward is a consultant and facilitator with a passion for coaching teams through organizational transformation. In her current role with August Public, Karina works with Fortune 100 corporations to nurture more creative, self-managing and productive teams. Prior to her work with August, Karina was a documentary filmmaker and Lead Process Facilitator with EmcArts. Lady Boss LMHQ August Public   RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Imago Article on Oprah.com

#031 — Taking a Maternity Leave When You Run Your Own Business with Stacey Trock Any entrepreneur will tell you that stepping away from your business for a full year is not really an option. So how do you design a maternity leave that works for you—when ‘leaving’ in the true sense of the word is out of the question? Stacey Trock argues that the answer is in scaling back. You don’t have to put your baby in daycare immediately, nor is it necessary to abandon your work completely. Entrepreneurship is about controlling your own destiny, so why not design your own maternity leave, saying YES to the things that generate revenue and help your business grow, while stepping back from the things that don’t? Today Stacey shares the story of FreshStitches, explaining how her enterprise grew from selling downloadable crochet instructions on Etsy to a thriving subscription business with accompanying teaching and publishing opportunities. She offers insight around functioning without the help of extended family, making the distinction between goals and dreams, and dealing with the pressure to compete. I ask Stacey how she scaled back her business when her daughter was born and what she did to prepare for a year of maternity leave. Listen in and learn how to make the tough decisions about what is essential for the long-term success of your business—and what isn’t.   FULL SHOW NOTES: Get the complete show notes with episode quotes, photos, and time stamps at http://www.startuppregnant.com/031.   PODCAST SPONSORS: All of our sponsor offers are available on our website for you to grab the perks and discounts offered to podcast listeners: http://startuppregnant.com/sponsors.   LEARN MORE ABOUT STACEY TROCK: Stacey Trock is an entrepreneur, marketing consultant, author and teacher. Her career began with FreshStitches, an amigurumi crochet design company with an extraordinary social media following of 500K-plus Facebook fans. Before long, Stacey was running one of the largest subscription clubs in the fiber world. Today, she specializes in connecting small businesses in the yarn industry with easy-to-implement, trendsetting marketing ideas, and Stacey is also the architect of the course How to Take Maternity Leave without Putting Life on Hold.  Stacey’s Website Stacey on Twitter Stacey on Instagram FreshStitches FreshStitches on Pinterest FreshStitches on Facebook   RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE CreativeLive Cheryl Strayed on The Tim Ferriss Show Stacey’s Classes on Craftsy How to Take Maternity Leave without Putting Life on Hold Work PAUSE Thrive: How to Pause for Parenthood without Killing Your Career by Lisen Stromberg MeetEdga

#030 — Motherhood, Tech Startups and Giving Up Control with Sara Mauskopf of Winnie  Motherhood can be a real revelation for those of us with Type A personalities. As much as we would like to control our own destiny and schedule our lives according to a predetermined plan, parenting simply doesn’t work that way. Life doesn’t work that way. And neither do startups. Sara Mauskopf was already dealing with the surprises that come from being a new mom back at work when she got the idea for a tech startup of her own. With the financial means to move forward and a supportive partner in her husband, Sara realized that while it was not an ideal time to walk away and become an entrepreneur, it would never get any easier. She would never have fewer responsibilities or less on her plate, so she took the leap. Together with her co-founder, Sara created Winnie, a companion app for modern parents. And then her husband was diagnosed with cancer. Resigned to the fact that the new company might die without her, Sara signed off for two weeks to focus on her husband. But when she returned to work, the Beta version of the app was ready to launch. The team had been productive without her, facilitated by the flexible, family-friendly environment in place at Winnie. Today Sara shares the inspiration for her venture, explaining how the app offers parents timely, personalized information as well as answers to basic parenting questions. I ask her about making the decision to found a tech startup as a new mom and establishing the family-friendly work environment at Winnie. Sara discusses her husband’s illness, how she used blogging to ask for help and process in real time, and how the experience changed her perspective on work. Listen in for Sara’s insight on the compatibility between motherhood and startups and her advice around mentorship and networking with women in tech.   FULL SHOW NOTES: Get the complete show notes with episode quotes, photos, and time stamps at www.startuppregnant.com/030.   EPISODE SPONSOR & SPECIAL OFFER: Thank you to the sponsor of this episode: Aeroflow Breastpumps. They are dedicated to making the hassle of getting your breast pump a little bit easier—actually, a lot easier! Head to www.aeroflowbreastpumps.com/startup to have them help you qualify for a free breast pump through insurance. All of our sponsor offers are available on our website for you to grab the perks and discounts offered to podcast listeners: http://startuppregnant.com/sponsors.   LEARN MORE ABOUT SARA MAUSKOPF: Sara Mauskopf is the co-founder and CEO of Winnie, a venture dedicated to making parents’ lives easier through technology. Sara graduated from MIT with a degree in computer science and engineering and went on to work as one of the early employee at Twitter. Her impressive resume also includes positions with Silicon Valley powerhouses including Google, YouTube and Postmates. Winnie Winnie on Twitter Winnie on Facebook Winnie on Pinterest Winnie on Instagram Sara on Medium   RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Tech Ladies Women in Technology Female Founders Fa

#029 — Unifying Work and Family with Amber Anderson of MORE There are women who pursue entrepreneurship because they have a creative vision to change the world. And then there are women who pursue entrepreneurship because they have to. Amber Anderson was sitting in a conference room with her colleagues, talking about the George Zimmerman trial. As her peers expressed disbelief in the not guilty verdict—and then went right back to their work—Amber put her hand on her pregnant belly and thought, “What did I do?” Concerned about bringing a child into a world where an African American child was murdered, and no one seemed to care, Amber and her husband Kai came up with a plan to be as involved in their son’s life as possible: Kai would stay home with the baby, and Amber would continue at her job in tech. But then her water broke at just 31 weeks, and Amber’s son Kayson spent three weeks in the NICU. When Amber’s maternity leave was up, she decided she simply could not choose between work and family. She wanted to be there for her son, so she chose entrepreneurship out of necessity—to create a new model that would weave work and family together. Today Amber shares her family systems, explaining how she and her husband structure their days around their son. I ask her how she came to start multiple companies and how parenting has changed the way she shows up at work. Amber discusses the idea behind her latest venture, The New More, and what conference organizers can do to accommodate women. Listen in to understand the concept of a necessity entrepreneur and hear Amber’s take on how to evaluate success. FULL SHOW NOTES: Get the complete show notes with episode quotes, photos, and time stamps at www.startuppregnant.com/029. EPISODE SPONSOR & SPECIAL OFFER: Thank you to the sponsor of this episode: Meet Edgar! Grab your free two-week trial of Meet Edgar, a social media scheduling tool that allows you to create content once and re-use it as much as you need, at http://ed.gr/startuppregnant. All of our sponsor offers are available on our website for you to grab the perks and discounts offered to podcast listeners: http://startuppregnant.com/sponsors. LEARN MORE ABOUT AMBER ANDERSON: Business strategist and thought leader Amber Anderson is the founder of Kayson, a business consulting agency that works with innovators, entrepreneurs, VCs and business owners to thoughtfully develop and strategically launch new products and services. Amber is also the co-founder of MORE, a community that is redefining balance by helping working parents advance their careers—without leaving their families behind. The New More The New More Podcast The New More on Facebook The New More on Twitter THE STARTUP PREGNANT PODCAST & HOST: Startup Pregnant Startup Pregnant on Facebook Startup Pregnant on Twitter Sponsor the Podcast Sponsor the Podcast

#028 — Learning to Drop the Ball with Author and Activist Tiffany Dufu If you’re still trying to figure out how to do it all—to be great mom, a great wife, and a great employee—and you’re starting to realize that it just isn’t possible, it may be time to drop a ball or two. Tiffany Dufu had a reckoning on her first day back at work from maternity leave. After a hectic day running from meeting to meeting, she realized she had forgotten to stop and pump. And the reality of being a working mom hit her as the milk seeped through her blouse. Resentment and anger showed up that evening as she listened to her husband come home from work, and she thought through all of the things she had done to make his life easier and more predictable that day, from picking up the dry cleaning to putting a dinner plate in the refrigerator for him. It didn’t take long for Tiffany to realize that she had to renegotiate the terms of her marriage and redefine what it means to be a ‘good’ wife and mother. Tiffany took the time to get clear on what matters most to her and what she does really well, using that intelligence to decide which items on the to-do list were really necessary and which balls could be dropped. Today she explains the social conditioning that makes women think they have to do it all, what you can do in that moment of overwhelm, and how to determine your mission. I ask her how she initiated conversation about equity with her husband and why she has eliminated to-do lists from her life. Listen in for Tiffany’s insight around the urgency of having women in leadership and the value of investing in community. FULL SHOW NOTES: Get the complete show notes with episode quotes, photos, and time stamps at www.startuppregnant.com/028. EPISODE SPONSOR & SPECIAL OFFER: Thank you to the sponsor of this episode: HippoGive! HippoGive is a new app that donates your change by rounding up your everyday transactions to the nearest dollar and gives it to the charities and non-profits of your choosing. If you’ve been wanting to donate to Planned Parenthood, the ACLU, or disaster relief you can use this app and it’s a piece of cake. Go to www.startuppregnant.com/charity to learn more about how HippoGive is currently matching all of your first-time donations up to the first $50! All of our sponsor offers are available on our website for you to grab the perks and discounts offered to podcast listeners: http://startuppregnant.com/sponsors. LEARN MORE ABOUT TIFFANY DUFU: Tiffany Dufu is the author of Drop the Ball, a memoir and manifesto that seeks to help women cultivate the single skill they really need to thrive—the ability to let go. Tiffany was part of the launch team for Lean In and serves as Chief Leadership Office to Levo, one of the fastest growing millennial professional networks. She was named to Fast Company’s League of Extraordinary Women, and she serves on the board of Girls Who Code and Simmons College. Tiffany’s Website Drop the Ball: Achieving More by Doing Less by Tiffany Dufu Drop the Ball on Audible RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead by Sheryl Sandberg The 7 Habits of Highly Eff