The Next Big Thing

Growing up, women are told that sex, menstruation, and pleasure are private. We're told to be dainty and shy away from "inappropriate" topics so that we don't draw any "unnecessary attention". But it's time to change that conversation. It's time to empower women to feel confident and shame-free shopping for pleasure products, or being open about sex. That's where Jemma Sawyer of ILOH comes in. Jemma comes from the fashion industry and started ILOH as a pandemic business. She's had to overcome so many hurdles along the way, including going up against major corporations to build awareness for her brand. What you will learn: What Jemma was up to before ILOH What inspired Jemma to go into the sexual wellness space Why it's important to support female-created and developed pleasure products What Jemma experienced when she was abroad related to the industry How Jemma's conducted competitive research to see what's currently out there Her strategy for getting the word out despite platform challenges What Jemma recommends every entrepreneur do Check out ILOH - https://iloh.co.uk/ (https://iloh.co.uk/) Follow ILOH on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/_iloh.co.uk/ (https://www.instagram.com/_iloh.co.uk/) Follow TNBT on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thenextbigthingpod/ (https://www.instagram.com/thenextbigthingpod/) Contact us - hello@thenextbigthingpodcast.com

Here's a fun fact: over 75% of women do not finish their cosmetics. Why does that matter? Because day after day, women (and the broader skincare-focused population) are wasting plastic by getting pulled into the next temporarily viral brand or product. Laurie Mias is looking to change all of that. Her brand MONO Skincare has a patented innovation for developing the first skincare tablet, so skincare lovers can prevent waste through MONO's glass bottles and also get the highest quality skincare the industry has to offer. Laurie's journey hasn't been easy - from tracking down manufacturers to help her fulfill her vision to going up against some pretty big players in the market, this mission isn't for the weak. But Laurie's tenacity and desire to shake up the skincare industry shines bright. What you will learn: Where Laurie's inspiration for skincare comes from How Laurie started to understand the similarities among the major skincare brands How marketing has such a major impact on sales How MONO Skincare's patented innovation works The most common ingredient in skincare products - and why it's part of every product Laurie's favorite product from the MONO Skincare line What "natural" actually means - and if it's good for skincare How hard it is to make the switch to glass from plastic as a brand The book Laurie recommends every entrepreneur read https://www.amazon.com/Great-CEO-Within-Tactical-Building-ebook/dp/B07ZLGQZYC/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3NHA5DA07TAP2andkeywords=the+great+ceo+withinandqid=1646187681ands=booksandsprefix=the+great+ceo%2Cstripbooks%2C104andsr=1-1 (The book Laurie recommends) Check out MONO Skincare - https://www.monoskincare.com (https://www.monoskincare.com) Follow MONO Skincare on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mono.skincare/ (https://www.instagram.com/mono.skincare/) Follow TNBT on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thenextbigthingpod/ (https://www.instagram.com/thenextbigthingpod/) Contact us - hello@thenextbigthingpodcast.com

After taking a brief hiatus to focus on client work and additional projects, we are BACK in March! Get excited for a brand new season full of inspiration! Have a topic suggestion? Want to suggest a specific guest? Please email us at hello@thenextbigthingpodcast.com.

The search to find the right speaker for your event or organization can be a real struggle at times .. In Today's episode, our guest has truly revolutionized the process of finding and booking the perfect speaker. Danielle also encourages her community to network and market themselves to one another. While helping run BUILT BY GIRLS in her time at Verizon Media, Danielle Letayf noticed a lack of representation amongst the speakers for her diverse group of mentees at the events they would attend. After taking some time off to travel Southeast Asia, Danielle returned to work, joining Shine. But shortly after, realized that she would much rather pour her energy into her own business. That is when Badassery was born! Badassery is a community-driven marketplace for event organizers to book diverse public speakers within minutes. What you will learn: Why Danielle decided to create her business How to juggle your corporate job and your business while you are within the building phase. When it is time to go full-time within your business and quit your full-time job What makes a good public speaker What it means to bootstrap and not utilize funding from outside sources Whether or not bootstrapping is the best option for you How Danielle markets her business Why having diverse public speakers is so important What is the future of public speaking Check out Danielle's website - https://badassery-hq.com/danielle-letayf (https://badassery-hq.com/danielle-letayf) Follow Badassery on LinkedIN - https://www.linkedin.com/company/badassery/ (https://www.linkedin.com/company/badassery/) Follow TNBT on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thenextbigthingpod/ (https://www.instagram.com/thenextbigthingpod/) Contact us - hello@thenextbigthingpodcast.com

The pandemic changed the way that we ALL interacted with one another, in life and in business .. With the lack of social ques being able to connect through a group zoom call was next to impossible. Cecilia Razak, co-founder of Slides with Friends revolutionized the way that people connected remotely. She saw a need and just went with it!! Cecilia added structure and tools to ensure that those who joined in on the call would walk away feeling like they were in the room vs. just staring at a screen while someone spoke at them. Slides with Friends helps all groups from educational roles, corporate and several different types of communities. SO many can and have built a better connection utilizing this tool. What you will learn: 1) Why Cecilia decided to create this platform. 2) How and why she pivoted her one business to a completely new one so quickly. 3) How the lack of social ques make group video calls very difficult and how adding structure helped tremendously and ensure that people feel more connected. 4) The market research that went into building her platform. 5) The different types of interactive slide options that are available 6) How long it took her to start and officially launch her site. 7) How she positioned and signed her clients. 8) How did Cecilia price her packages. Check out their website - https://slideswith.com/ (https://slideswith.com/) Follow on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/slideswith/ (https://www.instagram.com/slideswith/) Follow TNBT on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thenextbigthingpod/ Contact us - hello@thenextbigthingpodcast.com

The word postpartum makes many immediately think of postpartum depression .. and in Today's episode, our guests are determined to take back that term and give it the respect and care that it deserves. They have even renamed it the fourth phase! These women believe that the journey does NOT end after the third trimester and women deserve to feel taken care of especially after the baby enters the world. The founders of the fourth phase Marcia Cole and Nana Eyeson-Akiwowo are innovating how the world views postpartum care. These two are paving the road for how postpartum care should look and doing it quickly while partnering with some amazing organizations. Fourth Phase is a social-impact maternal wellness brand. Each purchase of a Fourth Phase afterbirth care gift box allows us to support our charitable partners: African Health Now and their curated Maternity Go Box, which serves a mother and child living in Sub-Saharan Africa, and Passion Meets Purpose and their Every Mom Matters bag, which serves new moms experiencing homelessness in the United States. you will learn: What is postpartum and how to properly care for yourself or a loved one. How to take care of yourself physically in a holistic way after childbirth. How these two launched this brand so quickly and why How these two are getting a new term added to the dictionary The journey of the birth box - how Nana went from filling the box with multiple brands to just using her own products. How the fourth phase is re-centering the conversation around the mother. All of the changes that a woman goes through during pregnancy and birth Resources: Sign the Change.org petition: https://www.change.org/p/add-the-phrase-fourth-trimester-to-all-dictionaries?utm_source=share_petitionandutm_medium=custom_urlandrecruited_by_id=9acbcba0-397d-0130-41b9-3c764e04a6dd (https://www.change.org/p/add-the-phrase-fourth-trimester-to-all-dictionaries?utm_source=share_petitionandutm_medium=custom_urlandrecruited_by_id=9acbcba0-397d-0130-41b9-3c764e04a6dd) Follow on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/fourthphasebox (https://www.instagram.com/fourthphasebox) Visit the website - https://www.fourthphasebox.com/ (https://www.fourthphasebox.com/) Follow the Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/FourthPhasebox/ (https://www.facebook.com/FourthPhasebox/) Contact them - https://www.fourthphasebox.com/pages/contact-us (https://www.fourthphasebox.com/pages/contact-us) Follow TNBT on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thenextbigthingpod/ (https://www.instagram.com/thenextbigthingpod/) Contact us - hello@thenextbigthingpodcast.com

In Today's episode we are doing a deep dive into what it really means to be sustainable .. Tamara Laine founder of systemCHANGR tells the hard stories the world needs to hear with her values at the core of everything she does, always finding new and innovative ways to champion human rights, sustainability, and women’s empowerment. Ballerina turned into a journalist and producer.. The journey of an entrepreneur is truly remarkable. Each founder that we have come onto TNBT always end up doing one or several major pivots! Tamara is building something that is seriously going to change how we think about sustainability. She is cutting the fluff, holding companies accountable and cultivating a community for those who are passionate about sustainability. What you will learn: How did the beginning of Tamara's career nudge her into her business now What does ESG and SDG mean? How is the sustainability space evolving? What makes sustainability difficult? Different ways that your company can be more sustainability.. How does a brand communicate their sustainability plan without getting bashed by their consumers. How to showcase that you are implementing your suitability practices and track your progress Join the systemchangr community - https://systemchangr.com/ (https://systemchangr.com/) Subscribe - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mind-the-ceiling/id1567078853 (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mind-the-ceiling/id1567078853) Follow Tamara on LinkedIN - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamaralaine/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamaralaine/) Follow TNBT on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thenextbigthingpod/ (https://www.instagram.com/thenextbigthingpod/) Connect with TNBT - hello@thenextbigthingpodcast.com

"When you don't have to hide your weights you will reach for them" - Kodi. In Today's episode, Kodi shares how she is redesigning and disrupting the fitness industry. She believes that beautiful design incentivizes movement! The founder of Equipt is a freakin powerhouse and embodies everything that is entrepreneurship.. Prior to starting Equipt just like many other business owners, Kodi wore several hats including acting and modeling! You'll quickly realize that very few business owners that come on as guests just know what they want to do. What you will learn: What steps Kodi took to create her product the scrappy way. Why she decided to lean into the fitness industry. Why she decided not to create an app. How Kodi decided on the retailers to partner with. How to integrate your life and business. Shop Equipt - https://www.equiptmovement.com/ (https://www.equiptmovement.com/) Follow Kodi on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/equiptmovement/ (https://www.instagram.com/equiptmovement/) Follow TNBT on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thenextbigthingpod/ (https://www.instagram.com/thenextbigthingpod/) Contact us - hello@thenextbigthingpodcast.com

Former indie movie producer turned sex app creator, Elizabeth Dell co-founder of Amorus was such a joy to interview. We have never had a conversation quite like this one here on The Next Big Thing. Elizabeth had her heart set on creating a fun and safe place for her users to sext and express themselves in a way that you simply cannot do via text message. Between the activities and prompts this app promotes a sex positive environment for those that want to lean into their sexuality. This founder is a great example of someone who pivoted and THEN pivoted again until they found what really fired them up. It is safe to say that most entrepreneurs have to try on a few different hats! There is no cookie cutter method to figuring out your passion or next big idea. What you will learn: How to speak more openly about intimacy and sex. Why you feel uncomfortable speaking about sex. Why porn is not the best place to learn about sexuality What the app Amorus allows you to do and how it works The steps taken to create the app and how Elizabeth created the first version by herself Follow Elizabeth on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/amorusapp/ (https://www.instagram.com/amorusapp/) Download Amorus + other ways to connect - https://linktr.ee/amorusapp (https://linktr.ee/amorusapp) Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thenextbigthingpod/ (https://www.instagram.com/thenextbigthingpod/) Contact us - hello@thenextbigthingpodcast.com

Are you tired of doing "all the things"?! Most of us left our 9-5s because we were underpaid and overworked... So why as business owners do we tend to put ourselves right back into that stressful corner.. The truth is - it is hard to give up control, it is even more stressful finding the right person, training them, and then hoping that they actually do their job! It's a vicious cycle that ultimately ends up with you being right where you are at now.. overworked and doing tasks that you hate. In today's episode, we had the pleasure of having Kimone Napier come on and share her hiring and HR knowledge with us! SO many golden nuggets (hope to have her on again for a round two!) Kimone pivoted her career from law to HR when she realized how badly people were treated in the workplace, especially women. Since making this pivot she now helps business owners save time, money, and energy by effectively hiring and training employees. What you will learn: 1) The steps that Kimone took to get to where she is at Today 2) What are common fears that keep business owners from hiring an employee 3) Why is it extra hard for women to outsource 4) What you can do to prepare yourself now for when you are ready to outsource 5) What are some best hiring practices 6) What is the best way to on board your new hire 7) Are weekly meetings more beneficial than emails or a slack channel 8) Why micro managing doesn't work Links - Follow Kimone on Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/simplykimone/ (https://www.instagram.com/simplykimone/) Kimone's new program : https://kimonenapier.com/rebalanceaccelerator (https://kimonenapier.com/rebalanceaccelerator) Kimone's website : https://www.kimonenapier.com/ (https://www.kimonenapier.com/) Book a call with Kimone : https://kimonenapier.com/contact-me/ (https://kimonenapier.com/contact-me/) Connect with Kimone on Linkedin : https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimonenapier/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimonenapier/) Contact us : hello@thenextbigthingpodcast.com Follow TNBT on Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/thenextbigthingpod/ (https://www.instagram.com/thenextbigthingpod/)