
Cubicle to CEO
We ask founders the business questions you can't Google. Cubicle to CEO® brings you weekly "behind the business" case-study interviews with leading entrepreneurs and CEOs who share a specific growth strategy they've successfully tested, how they implemented it, and what the results (and revenue) were. Host Ellen Yin also shares transparent insights about her own journey bootstrapping a media company from a $300 freelance project into millions in revenue.
Latest episodes

Sep 27, 2023 • 24min
Bonus #38: How We Jumped Nearly 100 Spots On The Podcast Charts With Live Events
Get a behind the scenes look at our time at Make Your Mark Live in Dallas: https://www.instagram.com/reel/CxoB25XvEZg/?igshid=MWZjMTM2ODFkZg==Our takeaways from Podcast Movement: https://link.chtbl.com/QZWrmq97Linda Sidhu's personality quiz funnel episode: https://link.chtbl.com/9i_s2XIRWhat's your signature CEO style? Take the quiz: ellenyin.com/quizAccess the transcript of this episode HERE: https://otter.ai/u/QLbm57bi77LcN08OAU93bTqC0CE?utm_source=copy_urlIf you enjoyed today's episode, please:
Leave a positive review or rating at www.ratethispodcast.com/cubicletoceo
Sign up for our text notifications at ellenyin.com/superfan so you can be the first to know when a new case study has dropped!
Post a screenshot & key takeaway on your IG story and tag us @missellenyin & @cubicletoceo so we can repost you
Follow (+) our show for new episodes every Monday & Wednesday
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 25, 2023 • 51min
213. Freely Changing Your Business Model Without Wrecking Financial Stability
Our guest today is already a seasoned expert at change, despite only being in her early 20s.Just before her freshman year of college in 2019, Shyne Webster created her business, Designed by Shyne - a passion project turned clothing brand. But as her business acumen grew, she transitioned into a full-time brand design freelancer and eventually agency owner, offering brand strategy, 1:1 coaching, and even teaching workshops on innovation and design thinking.After previously pivoting her solo practice into an (anti)agency in 2021 - a concept explained later in the episode - she recently decided to revert back to her freelancing roots while cutting her client work to only six hours a week and testing new service packages that she hasn’t offered before.In this case study, Shyne gives us a realistic account of how she’s consistently maintained financial stability while exploring evolving passions and new business models. Discover what data prompted her latest pivot, how she's redefining her work to find excitement and personal fulfillment, and the financial baseline she recommends for making drastic moves of your own.View the transcript for this episode at: https://otter.ai/u/-x2i-XHSYmmKQa4PsmrILzLRN7c?utm_source=copy_urlConnect with Shyne:
https://designedbyshyne.com
https://instagram.com/designedbyshyne
https://linkedin.com/in/designedbyshyne
https://tiktok.com/@designedbyshyne
Iconic business leaders all have their own unique genius. Take this quick 10 question quiz to uncover your specific CEO style advantage: https://ellenyin.com/quizIf you enjoyed today's episode, please:
Leave a positive review or rating at www.ratethispodcast.com/cubicletoceo
Sign up for our text notifications at ellenyin.com/superfan so you can be the first to know when a new case study has dropped!
Post a screenshot & key takeaway on your IG story and tag us @missellenyin & @cubicletoceo
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Sep 20, 2023 • 8min
Bonus #37: We're Giving Away (TWO) $1,000 Cash Grants to Grow Your Biz!
APPLY FOR OUR CUBICLE TO CEO X NORBY GRANT BY OCT. 3: https://cubicletoceo.nor.by/ Sign up for our weekly test messages: https://ellenyin.com/superfanAccess the transcript of this episode HERE: https://otter.ai/u/CXlDtKEtJ2mPqORy2mAN2J6HLeU?utm_source=copy_urlWhat's your signature CEO style? Take the quiz: ellenyin.com/quizIf you enjoyed today's episode, please:
Leave a positive review or rating at www.ratethispodcast.com/cubicletoceo
Sign up for our text notifications at ellenyin.com/superfan so you can be the first to know when a new case study has dropped!
Post a screenshot & key takeaway on your IG story and tag us @missellenyin & @cubicletoceo so we can repost you
Follow (+) our show for new episodes every Monday & Wednesday
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 18, 2023 • 1h 3min
212. Trade Show Secrets: How A New Brand Sold $200K In One Weekend With No Products
This sister duo turned a dream and a shoestring budget into a trade show triumph!Picture this: Becca Stern and her sister Jess invested $25,000 AUD of their savings to start their business, Mustard Made - a line of colorful vintage inspired lockers with a cult following and celebrity fans. They took a big risk right off the bat, deciding to test the viability of their new business at a trade show with only a few product samples on hand. If they received a few orders to validate their proof of concept, they’d keep building. If the trade show proved a lack of product market fit, they would cut their losses early. What happened next was beyond their wildest expectations - over $200,000 AUD in orders poured in, smashing their two-year projections in one weekend!Today, Becca is taking us behind the scenes of their trade show success, including exactly what they spent their bootstrapped budget of $25K on for maximum returns, how they designed a standout booth experience to attract buyers, and the creative teaser they used to put their then-unknown brand on people’s radar pre-event.If you’re building a consumer brand and selling through in-person activations at trade shows, markets, or events, this episode is a blueprint for you. Even if you solely sell digital products, this is a master case study in grassroots marketing and brand building you’ll find new ideas from.View the transcript for this episode at: https://otter.ai/u/mDmZ_WFbZxHJ_IP1UQLKqP2C_ts?utm_source=copy_urlConnect with Becca:
https://mustardmade.co
https://tiktok.com/@mustardmadelockers
https://instagram.com/mustardmade
Iconic business leaders all have their own unique genius. Take this quick 10 question quiz to uncover your specific CEO style advantage: https://ellenyin.com/quizIf you enjoyed today's episode, please:
Leave a positive review or rating at www.ratethispodcast.com/cubicletoceo
Sign up for our text notifications at ellenyin.com/superfan so you can be the first to know when a new case study has dropped!
Post a screenshot & key takeaway on your IG story and tag us @missellenyin & @cubicletoceo
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Sep 13, 2023 • 30min
Bonus #36: 7 Surprising Podcast Growth Tips from Podcast Movement 2023
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel! https://www.youtube.com/c/CubicletoCEOListen to our exclusive interview with Amy Porterfield HERE: https://link.chtbl.com/UIVj9PTbAccess the transcript of this episode HERE: https://otter.ai/u/In0VyktpR0RGHSho-_K1VOXzTU4?utm_source=copy_urlWhat's your signature CEO style? Take the quiz: ellenyin.com/quizIf you enjoyed today's episode, please:
Leave a positive review or rating at www.ratethispodcast.com/cubicletoceo
Sign up for our text notifications at ellenyin.com/superfan so you can be the first to know when a new case study has dropped!
Post a screenshot & key takeaway on your IG story and tag us @missellenyin & @cubicletoceo so we can repost you
Follow (+) our show for new episodes every Monday & Wednesday
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 11, 2023 • 47min
211. 'Best Of' Customer Feedback: 7 Tips for Effective Testimonials, Market Research + Retention
This is our final week of featuring gems from past guests before we resume our regular Monday case study interviews. We’ve compiled the “best of” pitching, lead generation, conversions, and customer feedback advice into four themed roundups. This fourth and final roundup in the series features 7 must-try customer feedback tips; I’ll introduce each soundbite with the name of the guest and the original episode number and title it was pulled from, in case you want to go back and listen to the full conversation. The clickable links to all referenced episodes will also be listed in the show notes below for your convenience.View the transcript for this episode at: https://otter.ai/u/W5VEs7jRRFPM5BWvgNNVwPxODx0?utm_source=copy_urlThank you to our sponsor:Try the #1 all-in-one E-commerce platform: Shopify! Sign up for a one dollar per month trial period at shopify.com/ellen
Links mentioned in this episode:
We are in the top 35 of Feedspot's 'Best Bootstrapped Podcast Shows'! Check out the full list here: https://podcasts.feedspot.com/bootstrap_podcasts/?feedid=5647420
'Best Of' Pitching Roundup: 10 Tips To Pitch Yourself For ANYTHING: https://link.chtbl.com/sllNCKMT
'Best Of' Lead Generation: 6 Unique Ways to Get High Quality Leads: https://link.chtbl.com/dbjNLFH1
'Best Of' Conversion Tips: Increase Your Sales w/ These 6 Strategies: https://link.chtbl.com/AYNw_c2w
Repurposing Client Results: Building A Million Dollar Business From This 3 Step Testimonial Strategy: https://link.chtbl.com/axwvhnib
She Walked Away From 17K Followers + Made 40% More Revenue With This Referral Strategy: https://link.chtbl.com/kDwMbBOT
Save a Launch That's Flopping In the Final 48 Hours: https://link.chtbl.com/sz9pGpM_
How This Neurodivergent Artist Increased Her Income From $250 to $10K/Month With An Online Course About Cooking Chinese Food: https://link.chtbl.com/O9E_LCqz
The Exact Video Ad Strategies Harmon Brothers Used To Grow Lume’s Sales From $1.5 Million to $23 Million In One Year: https://link.chtbl.com/thwVnQLt
Increasing Program Enrollment by Over 200%: What Educators and Course Creators Can Learn From The CEO of Girls Who Code: https://link.chtbl.com/smurFvFb
$1M/Year With 1 Offer: Boost Your Sales With Bundling: https://link.chtbl.com/khQpUM3W
Iconic business leaders all have their own unique genius. Take this quick 10 question quiz to uncover your specific CEO style advantage: https://ellenyin.com/quizIf you enjoyed today's... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 6, 2023 • 35min
Bonus #35: 3 Things I Did As An Entrepreneur Before Getting Married
Check out my dicussion with other entrepreneurs on changing your name after marriage:Threads: https://www.threads.net/@missellenyin/post/Cu-Js1cPA4v/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ellenyinofficial/posts/pfbid037294XtCkndgV8GYv6F8p74NQY9HSSgywoUb9DhzNRdbR4bhDkQCuF7DGN56vCtjKlAccess the transcript of this episode HERE: https://otter.ai/u/7faTr8HF6N6deBNyyZrqxDUOn5k?utm_source=copy_urlWhat's your signature CEO style? Take the quiz: ellenyin.com/quizIf you enjoyed today's episode, please:
Leave a positive review or rating at www.ratethispodcast.com/cubicletoceo
Sign up for our text notifications at ellenyin.com/superfan so you can be the first to know when a new case study has dropped!
Post a screenshot & key takeaway on your IG story and tag us @missellenyin & @cubicletoceo so we can repost you
Follow (+) our show for new episodes every Monday & Wednesday
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 4, 2023 • 38min
210. 'Best Of' Conversion Tips: Increase Your Sales w/ These 6 Strategies
We’re hitting pause for a few weeks on airing new interviews to bring back underrated gems from our previous guests. We’ve compiled the “best of” pitching, lead generation, conversions, and customer feedback advice into four themed roundups. This third roundup in the series features 6 must-try conversion tips; I’ll introduce each soundbite with the name of the guest and the original episode number and title it was pulled from, in case you want to go back and listen to the full conversation. The clickable links to all referenced episodes will also be listed for you below in the show notes.View the transcript for this episode at: https://otter.ai/u/1dCVXW94KXUsI93TDgrmP0kf8Ac?utm_source=copy_urlLinks mentioned in this episode:
'Best Of' Pitching Roundup: 10 Tips To Pitch Yourself For ANYTHING: https://link.chtbl.com/sllNCKMT
'Best Of' Lead Generation: 6 Unique Ways to Get High Quality Leads: https://link.chtbl.com/dbjNLFH1
This NON-WEBINAR “Open House” Funnel Generates 25% Application Rates For A High Ticket Program (Multiple 5 Fig. Investment): https://link.chtbl.com/rvhMPSCo
Bye Bro Marketing 👋 She Made $122K In Her Last Launch By Rejecting These Popular Tactics: https://link.chtbl.com/rkkVrZzk
2 Ways To Add Urgency and Increase Funnel Conversions by 50%: https://link.chtbl.com/xoT4PPZj
5 Key Shifts To Take The Suck Out Of Sales Calls [Make $10K Months Series Pt. 4]: https://link.chtbl.com/yCh05L0R
Your MBA In Creative Negotiation: How Kim Kaupe Got A Client To Pay Her $15K Over Asking Price After They Initially Said “No”: https://link.chtbl.com/VBBg-PBZ
Heidi Zak Reveals How ThirdLove Acquired 1 Million Customers In 3 Years: https://link.chtbl.com/nuRSpc4n
Iconic business leaders all have their own unique genius. Take this quick 10 question quiz to uncover your specific CEO style advantage: https://ellenyin.com/quizIf you enjoyed today's episode, please:
Leave a positive review or rating at www.ratethispodcast.com/cubicletoceo
Sign up for our text notifications at ellenyin.com/superfan so you can be the first to know when a new case study has dropped!
Post a screenshot & key takeaway on your IG story and tag us @missellenyin & @cubicletoceo
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 30, 2023 • 13min
CEO Collective Expert Roundtable Pt. 4 (IG Followers on Autopilot, Video Content Hooks, Writing Your Book Draft & More)
We share insight from our CEO Collective every week in our newsletter! Sign up to get our weekly emails at https://cubicletoceo.coConnect with our CEO Collective!
Start your Wealth Creation Journey by booking a call with Kaitlyn: https://theoryplanning.com
Master your own Facebook and Instagram ads with Successful Ads Club: https://ellenyin.com/sac
Check out Tiffany Grimes' Author Mentorship at https://burgeondesignandeditorial.com
Create a swoon-worthy brand for less than $500/month with the WorkPlay Method: https://workplaybranding.com
Grow your business with ease and joy by following Tiffany Napper: https://instagram.com/tiffanynapper
Master short form and long form video content by listening to episode 93 of The Shine Online Podcast with Natasha: https://link.chtbl.com/back-to-basics-series
Access the transcript of this episode HERE: https://otter.ai/u/LDRqo3A9ypcutLpzt2KU5kk6qX8?utm_source=copy_url What's your signature CEO style? Take the quiz: ellenyin.com/quizIf you enjoyed today's episode, please:
Leave a positive review or rating at www.ratethispodcast.com/cubicletoceo
Sign up for our text notifications at ellenyin.com/superfan so you can be the first to know when a new case study has dropped!
Post a screenshot & key takeaway on your IG story and tag us @missellenyin & @cubicletoceo so we can repost you
Follow (+) our show for new episodes every Monday & Wednesday
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 28, 2023 • 48min
209. 'Best Of' Lead Generation: 6 Unique Ways to Get High Quality Leads
We’re hitting pause for a few weeks on airing new interviews to bring back underrated gems from our previous guests. We’ve compiled the “best of” pitching, lead generation, conversions, and customer feedback advice into four themed roundups. This second roundup in the series features 6 must-try lead generation tips; I’ll introduce each soundbite with the name of the guest and the original episode number and title it was pulled from, in case you want to go back and listen to the full conversation. The links to all referenced episodes will also be listed for you below in the show notes.View the transcript for this episode at: https://otter.ai/u/UJWTBR3D8UxHYz00Ul2s-a3F714?utm_source=copy_urlLinks mentioned in this episode:
'Best Of' Roundup: 10 Pitching Tips: https://link.chtbl.com/sllNCKMT
Borrow The Personality Quiz Funnel Behind This $70K Launch: https://link.chtbl.com/9i_s2XIR
Grow Your Email List By 500-2000+ Leads In 1 Week With A Signature Summit: https://link.chtbl.com/6BWhWI_C
EXCLUSIVE TELL-ALL: Amy Porterfield Analyzes Her $7.5M Launch + Shares Detailed Pre-Launch Strategy: https://link.chtbl.com/UIVj9PTb
4X Your Revenue in 1 Year By “Staying Close To The Money: https://link.chtbl.com/e4OGzkO_
Driving Revenue with (Unpaid) Speaking Engagements: $45K Case: https://link.chtbl.com/64dGtwx_
How You Can Get On A Best-Selling Book List As A Self-Published Author (Even If You Have A Small Audience): https://link.chtbl.com/fcpF1eBD
Iconic business leaders all have their own unique genius. Take this quick 10 question quiz to uncover your specific CEO style advantage: https://ellenyin.com/quizIf you enjoyed today's episode, please:
Leave a positive review or rating at www.ratethispodcast.com/cubicletoceo
Sign up for our text notifications at ellenyin.com/superfan so you can be the first to know when a new case study has dropped!
Post a screenshot & key takeaway on your IG story and tag us @missellenyin & @cubicletoceo
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices