HAYVN Hubcast

On this episode of HAYVN Hubcast, we’re hearing the inspiring journey of Tori Brown, the Founder and Chef of Breakfast Belle. Tori shares her story of transitioning from learning how to cook from her family to being a successful food entrepreneur.   Tori's journey into the world of cooking began with her love of breakfast foods, inspired by her grandmother's southern culinary heritage. After initially pursuing a career in event planning and fundraising, Tori discovered her passion for catering while organizing events. This led her to launch Breakfast Belle in 2016, where she serves delicious southern-style breakfast and brunch dishes. She now creates, markets and sells sought-after packaged goods like: Bamma Fish Fry and Bamma Hot Sauce. “Lay a brick every day.” -Tori Brown Key points Tori discusses: How her brand went from a one-woman show to scaling up Leveraging e-commerce and influencer marketing to grow her brand Her experience applying for grants and pitching her business “To anybody that's looking to get into this field, keep going.” -Tori Brown Tori's story is an example of how resilience, determination, and resourcefulness are required to succeed as an entrepreneur (and new mother). Her commitment to continuous learning, adaptability, and willingness to ask for support has been instrumental in her journey from cooking in her kitchen to food entrepreneur. Connect with Tori Brown:  Website Facebook Instagram YouTube Connect with Nancy: Website Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Twitter  

In this episode of the HAYVN Hubcast, Nancy has a conversation with Lana Gifas about the fulfillment of economically empowering women in the workplace, highlighting opportunities available to them, and providing the support they need to reach their full potential. Lana is the Executive Director of the Women's Mentoring Network, an organization that takes a holistic approach to helping low-income women find better employment and educational opportunities. Their services include professional development, financial literacy, digital literacy, education, and mentorship. They offer various workshops, one-on-one training, and a food pantry to assist women in areas they need help in. “We're an educational organization trying to open up the eyes of our members to the opportunities they can have.” -Lana Gifas Key points discussed: How the organization responded to the changing needs during the pandemic A holistic approach to supporting women The future of women in the workplace   “Your brand is the message you’re putting out into the world.” -Lana Gifas Despite recent changes in the professional world and the challenges women face, Lana is optimistic about the future. It’s through mentorship, education, and community support that women can achieve their fullest potential. Connect with Lana Gifas:  Website LinkedIn Connect with Nancy: Website Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Twitter

In this episode of HAYVN Hubcast, Nancy is joined by Merry Thornton, a board-certified New York and Connecticut licensed physician assistant and founder of Element Medical Aesthetics. Merry shares her unique journey from finance to medicine, culminating in the creation of her own medical spa. She clarifies the distinction between medical aesthetics and traditional beauty treatments, guiding listeners on how to choose a reputable provider and what to expect from treatments. Everyone draws their line at different places. My job is not to draw those lines for people. It's just to support them. -Merry Thornton Key Takeaways: Medical aesthetics combines medical expertise with aesthetic treatments for a holistic approach to beauty. Choosing a qualified provider and reputable spa is crucial for safe and effective outcomes. Aesthetic treatments, when done correctly, can significantly improve your appearance and boost your confidence. Exploring the safety profile of common procedures, Merry addresses concerns and dispels myths, providing valuable insights for anyone considering aesthetic treatments. You'll also learn about the role of HAYVN in Merry's entrepreneurial journey, highlighting the supportive and collaborative community that has empowered her success. Connect with Merry   Instagram LinkedIn Connect with Nancy Website Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Twitter

Alison Malloy, MD of Investments at Connecticut Innovations, discusses entrepreneurship and venture capital. She emphasizes starting as a new entrepreneur, perseverance, importance of the right people, and Connecticut's efforts to connect entrepreneurs and investors. She addresses the lack of female representation in VC investing, her excitement for CI's new funds, and the roller coaster journey of being an entrepreneur.

Annie Lamont discusses investing in healthcare and fintech, focusing on patient-centered care, technology, trust, and healthcare disparities. She shares insights on AI in healthcare, mental health awareness, and advocating for female representation in venture capital. The podcast highlights empowering women, supporting entrepreneurs, and anticipating future disruptions in the industry.

Founder Felicia Rubinstein discusses the success of HAYVN coworking space in adapting to changing work environments. Topics include B-Corp certification impact, redefining remote work, and the four pillars guiding HAYVN's decisions. Exciting plans for the future and building a strong and thriving community at HAYVN.

In this episode of the HAYVN Hubcast, we get to learn more about the world of regional nonprofits and grants with our guest Lutonya Russell-Humes. We’ll explore the key elements that make a non-profit successful and how they can drive maximum impact for their communities. Lutonya is the Vice President of Grants and Programs of Fairfield County’s Community Foundation, an organization that works closely with community organizations, nonprofits, businesses, and philanthropists to address challenges and identify opportunities to create a stronger, more vibrant community. She brings with her deep experience in helping families, establishing solid community relations and building trust through clear communication and action.  With a current lens and focus on racial equity through systems change, Lutonya shares these key insights about her work and outreach with the Fairfield County Community Foundation: Place-based focus: What sets them apart is their place-based approach. Their initiatives are tailored to the specific needs of the communities they serve, and constant communication with community partners is foundational to their work. Accessible grant process: The Foundation's grant process is remarkably accessible, requiring initially only a Letter of Intent. This inclusivity ensures that organizations of all sizes can engage in the process. Partnership as a pillar: Lutonya emphasizes the importance of viewing relationships with the community and benefactors as true partnerships.  “You need to have partners that reflect nuanced variables that contribute to whatever problem you're trying to resolve.” -Lutonya Russell-Humes Lutonya and the Fairfield County Community Foundation are an example of what it means to be part of a community, responding to its needs and contributing to its growth. This commitment aligns seamlessly with HAVYN's work, where our entrepreneurial community is not just thriving, but also making a positive impact. Listen in to this episode for insights into building partnerships, navigating the grant landscape, and driving meaningful change within communities. Connect with Lutonya Russell-Humes:  Website Connect with Nancy: Website Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Twitter

In this episode we dive into the amazing work and community of HAYVN and its members. Host Nancy Sheed talks with Kristen Hallett Rzasa as they discuss the modern-day landscape of entrepreneurship, the challenges of running and growing a business, and how community and networks are necessary for success. Kristen is a life and business strategist and works in HAYVN’s Community Engagement. Kristen talks about HAYVN’s Entrepreneurial Women's Club and how their monthly meetings have been a tool for connecting with other entrepreneurial women, learning new things, building relationships, and having fun. “When we share our struggles, that's when the real power and growth happens.” - Kristen Hallett Rzasa Three takeaways from this episode: Empowering Networking: HAYVN's Entrepreneurial Women's Club provides a unique space for female entrepreneurs to connect, learn, and support one another. Monthly Meeting Experience: Get to know about the structure of the club's monthly meetings, where informal networking, member spotlights, and insightful presentations make a positive impact in attendees' businesses. Value of In-Person Connection: It’s important to have in-person interactions, which foster collaboration, personal growth, and empowerment for entrepreneurial women. “You have to work on the internal and the external game to really make it in the entrepreneurial world.” - Kristen Hallett Rzasa Kristen highlights the "HAYVN Magic" that sets HAYVN apart as a supportive and collaborative community. The Entrepreneurial Women's Club is a testament to the club's essence and the power of face-to-face connections in the entrepreneurial world. To know more about the Entrepreneurial Women's Club, visit https://hayvn.com/ewc_entrepreneur_women/    Connect with Kristen Hallett Rzasa: Website Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Connect with Nancy: Website Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Twitter

In this episode of the HAYVN Hubcast, Nancy Sheed sits down with CP Heda, the visionary founder of Esstart. His company is changing the game in event engagement, making gatherings more interactive, memorable, and inclusive through cutting-edge technology.  “Esstart’s mission is to create a platform that offers many activities, games, utilities around events, so that as a host of the event, you have one place to go to and pick and choose all the activities that you want.” -CP Heda In this episode, CP: Introduces Esstart’s products, and how they can make different events more engaging Shares the importance of continuous learning and having a dynamic team in a rapidly evolving technological landscape Explains the growth track with having different products that cater to diverse audiences, from corporations to galas and individual events CP also reflects on the pivotal role of the HAVYN community in starting Esstart, and how this vibrant co-working space and its warm, welcoming atmosphere was exactly what he was looking for. To hear more about the story of Esstart, how it started, and its groundbreaking event engagement solutions listen to this full episode. Connect with CP Heda: Website LinkedIn Connect with Nancy: Website Facebook Instagram

In recent years, there’s been a growing number of startups and entrepreneurs with brilliant business ideas, but often they have to figure out the aspects of starting a business themselves, like where to get funding, how to write business plans, how to record their finances, or how to market their business. Our guest today knows all about these questions and has experience working with entrepreneurs to help grow their business.  Carol Cheswick has 30 years of experience in finance, marketing, investing, and executive consulting. She’s a Business Specialist with the Women’s Business Development Council (WBDC).  Since joining the WBDC in 2012, Carol has been responsible for teaching GPS – Guide to Plan for Success program - to aspiring business owners who seek to start a small business and to make their vision a reality. She also conducts one-on-one counseling for the WBDC, helping individuals on specific business and career challenges.  Key points discussed in this episode are:  How startups can get funding  The importance of understanding your business’s finances  How business advisors and mentors can help you grow your business  “It's amazing how many people call me and say, I'm an entrepreneur and I'm lonely. And I don't have anyone to talk about my business with.” - Carol Cheswick  Carol explains the work of WBDC, their services, and how they’ve been helping and supporting women with their businesses and taking it to the next level. Carol also shares the importance of organizations like WBDC and spaces like HAYVN in providing support and community, making the entrepreneurship journey less lonely.  Connect with Carol Cheswick:  Website  Facebook  LinkedIn  Connect with Nancy:  Website  Facebook  Instagram  LinkedIn  Twitter