WorkParty

Jaclyn Johnson and Marina Middleton are back with a brand new episode of WorkParty, this time reflecting on Marina’s first year as CEO of Create & Cultivate and what it really takes to lead at the next level. They get honest about the hilarious and hard realities in the transition from running a lifestyle business as a solopreneur to operating a full-scale company with investors, departments, and high stakes at every turn. From redefining the CEO title, to learning how to lead without burning out, this chat explores the mindset shifts, leadership lessons, and unexpected challenges that come with scaling a brand beyond yourself. Marina shares what she wishes she knew before stepping into the role, and Jaclyn offers real insight about evolving from founder to mentor. They also touch on the benefits of working with a business partner and how welcoming different perspectives and shared goals has helped them grow not just the business, but themselves as leaders. Whether you’re growing your own team or growing into your next identity in a new chapter, this episode is a must-listen for anyone navigating what’s next!Grab your ticket to the The World’s Largest Festival for Women in Business here: https://www.createcultivate.com/festivalFor our favourite WorkParty listeners, use special discount code WORKPARTY50OFF to get 50% off your festival ticket!Follow Create & Cultivate:To follow along with Create & Cultivate: https://www.instagram.com/createcultivateTo connect with Jaclyn Johnson: https://www.instagram.com/jaclynrjohnsonTo connect with Marina Middleton: https://www.instagram.com/marinaamiddletonwww.createcultivate.comPR: createcultivate@laruepr.com

This week on WorkParty, Jaclyn Johnson and Marina Middleton sit down with Aleen Dreksler, co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Betches Media, the defining voice in culture for women and the go-to destination for hilarious, smart, and unfiltered content. In this episode, Aleen shares the full story of how she and her lifelong besties turned a satirical blog into a powerhouse media company with a built-in community reaching 250M+ across all platforms. We dive into what it takes to grow a content brand while staying culturally relevant, how Aleen leads with creativity and strategy, and why putting your audience first creates that true, close-knit connection. She also shares the non-negotiables that have guided their brand evolution, how she learned to lead without a mentor, and why waiting to sell the business until the right moment and right partners, was one of the most empowering decisions of her career.Aleen will also be making an upcoming appearance at The World’s Largest Festival for Women in Business, where she’ll be taking the stage to drop even more insight into brand building, scaling media, and showing up authentically in your leadership journey. Want to see Aleen speak LIVE at our biggest event of the year? Grab your ticket to the The World’s Largest Festival for Women in Business here: https://www.createcultivate.com/festivalFor our favourite WorkParty listeners, use our special discount code WORKPARTY50OFF to get 50% off your festival ticket!Follow Aleen + Betches:Instagram: @aleen | @betchesMore at: betches.com Substack: Please AdviseFollow Create & Cultivate:To follow along with Create & Cultivate: https://www.instagram.com/createcultivateTo connect with Jaclyn Johnson: https://www.instagram.com/jaclynrjohnsonTo connect with Marina Middleton: https://www.instagram.com/marinaamiddletonwww.createcultivate.comPR: createcultivate@laruepr.com

In this episode of WorkParty, Jaclyn Johnson and Marina Middleton sit down with Ashley Jappe, Head of Marketing for FRE Non-Alcoholic Wines, to explore how intentional choices are transforming the way we socialize, celebrate, and connect. As a seasoned brand strategist with over a decade of experience leading multi-million dollar wine portfolios, Ashley dives into her perspective on balance, personal passion and deep industry insight to her work in the non-alc space. Ashley shares how her own lifestyle shift toward more presence and mindfulness perfectly aligns with FRE’s mission to support evolving entrepreneurs. From launching FRE’s new Sober Curious City Guide, to redefining what it means to show up at events, glass in hand, alcohol optional, Ashley walks us through how the brand is building a community rooted in connection, beyond the product. If you’ve ever felt curious about non-alc, or simply want to lead with more intention in both life and business, this episode offers real inspiration and plenty of thoughtful takeaways. Plus, get the inside scoop on where FRE is showing up next (spoiler: the Create & Cultivate Festival is about to get even more refreshing!)FRE Links:Website: https://www.frewines.comInstagram: @FREwines Tiktok: @FREwinesGrab your ticket to the The World’s Largest Festival for Women in Business here: https://www.createcultivate.com/festivalFor our favourite WorkParty listeners, use special discount code WORKPARTY50OFF to get 50% off your festival ticket!To connect with Jaclyn Johnson, Click here.To connect with Marina Middleton, Click here.To follow along with Create & Cultivate, Click here.www.createcultivate.comPR: createcultivate@laruepr.com

Jaclyn Johnson and Marina Middleton are back with another live episode of WorkParty, straight from Austin during South by Southwest (SXSW) and in celebration of the upcoming Future Summit. With over 6,000 RSVPs and an electric lineup of powerhouse speakers, they’re sharing major takeaways from the week, from live broadcasts and back-to-back panels, to unforgettable full-circle moments. Marina reflects on attending Create & Cultivate events just a few years ago and now standing center stage, while Jaclyn opens up about what it means to be a legacy founder in a constantly evolving landscape.They also give us a sneak peek into the Future Summit, the return of fan favorites like Adrienne Bailon and Ashley Graham, exciting first-timers like Teighan Gerard of Half Baked Harvest and many others! With conversations around personal evolution, building community, and staying relevant in an ever-changing entrepreneurial world, this episode is a powerful reminder that sometimes just showing up can change everything. Grab your ticket to the The World’s Largest Festival for Women in Business here: https://www.createcultivate.com/festivalFor our favourite WorkParty listeners, use special discount code WORKPARTY50OFF to get 50% off your festival ticket!To connect with Jaclyn Johnson, Click here.To connect with Marina Middleton, Click here.To follow along with Create & Cultivate, Click here.www.createcultivate.comPR: createcultivate@laruepr.com

In this episode of WorkParty, Jaclyn Johnson and Marina Middleton chat with Olivia Ormos, founder of Mavn, the game-changing platform that’s transforming how brands and influencers collaborate. From launching her agency OO & CO in 2010, to creating Mavn, a powerful tool for seamless influencer partnerships, Olivia has been at the forefront of digital marketing and brand growth. Her journey started with Model Volleyball, a community-driven Miami event now celebrating its 15th year, and evolved into solving the biggest pain points in influencer marketing with Mavn. With no tech background, Olivia built Mavn purely from frustration with manual processes and a vision for something better.In this conversation, Olivia shares how she brought Mavn to life, prioritizing quality over quantity in influencer partnerships and focusing on real ROI for brands. She breaks down the challenges of building a platform, why she values relationships and networking as her secret weapon, and how she’s scaling Mavn with authenticity and community at its core. Plus, she gives us a behind-the-scenes look at Model Volleyball, her relentless networking strategies, and the exciting plans she has for expanding Mavn. For anyone looking to build brands with purpose and forge real connections that fuel growth, Olivia's insights are a must-hear!Follow Olivia Ormos:Instagram @oliviaormosInstagram @mavncreatorswww.mavncreators.comInstagram @ModelvolleyballGrab your ticket to the The World’s Largest Festival for Women in Business here: https://www.createcultivate.com/festivalFor our favourite WorkParty listeners, use special discount code WORKPARTY50OFF to get 50% off your festival ticket!To connect with Jaclyn Johnson, Click here.To connect with Marina Middleton, Click here.To follow along with Create & Cultivate, Click here.www.createcultivate.comPR: createcultivate@laruepr.com

In this episode of WorkParty, Jaclyn Johnson and Marina Middleton are catching up with Serena Kerrigan, the unapologetic queen of confidence, content creator and founder of SFK, a brand dedicated to empowering women through radical authenticity. From her days as a video producer at Refinery29 to launching the viral hit ‘Let's F*cking Date’ during the pandemic, Serena has mastered the art of turning personal storytelling into a powerful business. Her candid approach led to a successful card game, sold-out live shows, and now her scripted debut, Older Hotter Wiser, which just premiered on Peacock as part of NBCUniversal's Creator Accelerator.Serena shares her journey of scaling her brand through community engagement, raw vulnerability, and relentless ambition. She discusses the power of thinking big even on a budget and how listening to her audience helped shape her products and projects. With her new series, Serena is stepping into a new chapter of storytelling, proving that confidence isn’t just a mindset, it’s a business model. Tune in to learn how to build a brand rooted in authenticity, fearless self-belief and intuitive passion! Follow Serena Kerrigan:Instagram: @SerenaKerrigan@OlderHotterWisershowSerena’s LinkTreeGrab your ticket to the The World’s Largest Festival for Women in Business here: https://www.createcultivate.com/festivalFor our favourite WorkParty listeners, use special discount code WORKPARTY50OFF to get 50% off your festival ticket!To connect with Jaclyn Johnson, Click here.To connect with Marina Middleton, Click here.To follow along with Create & Cultivate, Click here.www.createcultivate.comPR: createcultivate@laruepr.com

In this episode of WorkParty, Jaclyn Johnson and Marina Middleton sit down with Melanie Richards, the visionary founder of goGLOW. A former probation officer turned beauty executive, Melanie transformed her side hustle into a nationwide franchise that’s redefining the sunless tanning industry and setting new standards for skincare. With patented technology, proprietary products, and a commitment to clean beauty, she’s on a mission to deliver transformative client experiences and empower entrepreneurs through innovative franchise opportunities.Tune in as Melanie shares her journey from a one-woman mobile tanning service to a booming franchise with locations across the country. She opens up about the key moments that sparked goGLOW’s growth, the decision to franchise, and why creating confidence for her clients is at the heart of her brand. Melanie also discusses what it takes to be a successful franchise owner, the importance of strong processes, and how she’s raising the bar in an industry that’s been untouched for too long. If you’re ready to learn about building a beauty empire from the ground up, this conversation is packed with insights and inspiration.Connect with Melanie:Visit us at goGLOW.co to find a location near you and use code WORK20 for 20% off your first goGLOW.Website: https://goglow.co/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_goglowhttps://www.instagram.com/goglow_melanieFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/goglowsunlesstanTo connect with Jaclyn Johnson, Click here.To connect with Marina Middleton, Click here.To follow along with Create & Cultivate, Click here.THE WORLD’S LARGEST FESTIVAL FOR WOMEN IN BUSINESS - COMING JULY 19 & 20 2025 IN LA! JOIN THE WAITLIST! https://www.createcultivate.com/festivalFor our favourite WorkParty listeners, use special discount code WORKPARTY50OFF to get 50% off your festival ticket! 5 Ways to Create & Cultivate:www.createcultivate.comPR: createcultivate@laruepr.com

In this episode of WorkParty, Jaclyn Johnson and Marina Middleton sit down with KK Hart, CEO and Chief EmPOWERment Officer of Ghost Democracy. KK Hart is a dynamic leader passionate about empowering others to achieve their fullest potential. With an impressive background in business strategy, acquisitions, and wellness, KK has built and advised multi-million dollar brands. Now, as the CEO of Ghost Democracy, she’s redefining clean beauty with high-performance, exceptionally clean products that are loved by icons like Oprah and Rachel Zoe. A mother of two through adoption, KK’s holistic approach to business and self-care fuels her mission to help others invest in themselves —mind, body, and beyond.Tune in as KK dives deep into what it means to take risks and truly bet on yourself in business. From acquiring and advising multiple companies, to transforming Ghost Democracy into a leader in mindful beauty, she shares her ethos around slow growth, conscious consumerism, and sticking to your values even when it's not the popular choice. KK also discusses the power of retention over constant acquisition, the importance of true business sustainability, and why sometimes the smartest move is staying independent. If you’re ready to learn how to grow with intention, KK shares valuable lessons on building a business that’s built to last.Connect with KK:Use coupon code CREATE10 For An *extra* 10% off your first order- that’s 10% over and above any other offer we may have!Instagram: instagram.com/ghostdemocracyWebsite: www.ghostdemocracy.comYoutube: youtube.com/@ghostdemocracyTo connect with Jaclyn Johnson, Click here.To connect with Marina Middleton, Click here.To follow along with Create & Cultivate, Click here.THE WORLD’S LARGEST FESTIVAL FOR WOMEN IN BUSINESS - COMING JULY 19 & 20 2025 IN LA! JOIN THE WAITLIST! https://www.createcultivate.com/festival5 Ways to Create & Cultivate:www.createcultivate.comPR: createcultivate@laruepr.com

Jaclyn Johnson and Marina Middleton are back for a fresh new season of WorkParty! They kick off this episode with updates of where they’ve been taking WorkParty on the road thus far, and dive into an informative conversation on all things negotiation—how to master it, why it’s such a powerful tool, and how women can show up to the table with confidence and clarity. From brand deals, to even car purchase negotiations, they stories of wins, missteps, and the wisdom they’ve learned along the way. They’ll also explore how the recent issue of tariffs is impacting small businesses and what that teaches us about high-stakes negotiation in both business and politics. Plus, Marina breaks down her best tactics for standing firm, knowing your worth, and being willing to walk away, while Jaclyn keeps it real about the draining toll intense negotiations can take. Whether you love a good deal or dread the back and forth, this episode is full of insights and encouragement to help you hold your ground and know your value. We can’t wait to bring you more WorkParty this year, so subscribe and stay tuned! To connect with Jaclyn Johnson, Click here.To connect with Marina Middleton, Click here.To follow along with Create & Cultivate, Click here.THE WORLD’S LARGEST FESTIVAL FOR WOMEN IN BUSINESS - COMING JULY 19 & 20 2025 IN LA! https://www.createcultivate.com/festival5 Ways to Create & Cultivate:www.createcultivate.comPR: createcultivate@laruepr.com

In this episode of WorkParty, Jaclyn Johnson and Marina Middleton are diving into the wild world of workplace horror stories, and these are next level! They asked listeners on socials to share their most chaotic, cringe-worthy, and downright unbelievable work experiences, and they delivered some mind boggling ones! From bosses who crossed every possible line, to coworkers who made the job unbearable, these stories are equal parts shocking and hilarious. They’ll unpack the drama, share some of their own work place traumas, and maybe even give a little advice for surviving those tough situations if you’re going through them yourself! FRE Non-Alc Wines offers a true-to-wine experience, perfect for Dry January and beyond, catering to the sober curious, health-conscious, and those seeking balance. Enjoy options like Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Sparkling Brut—zero-proof and full of flavor, available at your local store.To connect with Jaclyn Johnson, Click here.To connect with Marina Middleton, Click here.To follow along with Create & Cultivate, Click here.THE WORLD’S LARGEST FESTIVAL FOR WOMEN IN BUSINESS - COMING JULY 19 & 20 2025 IN LA! JOIN THE WAITLIST! https://www.createcultivate.com/festival5 Ways to Create & Cultivate:www.createcultivate.comPR: createcultivate@laruepr.com