
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

Jul 19, 2023 • 32min
Bonus #28: Natalie Franke Spills Her Guts (On Her Gutsiest Moments)
Enter to win a free signed copy of Natalie's new book, Gutsy, over on Threads: https://www.threads.net/t/Cu4oa4mLgLS/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==In this bonus episode, you’ll be privy to never-before-told stories and juicy disclosures in our Gutsy themed interview with Natalie Franke today, in celebration of Natalie’s second book, Gutsy, launching this August.You may know Natalie as the author of Built To Belong, host of The Independent Business Podcast, and Chief Evangelist of Honeybook, but you’ll get to know her in a whole new way when we put her in the hot seat to spill her guts on her gutsiest moments. We hope this honest conversation encourages you to be brave, too.And in tandem with this episode release, Natalie generously agreed to give away five signed copies of her new book to 5 of you lucky listeners. We’re hosting this giveaway on Threads, so click the first link in the show notes to go directly to my Threads profile @missellenyin where you’ll see our book giveaway thread and instructions to enter. Make sure you give @nataliefranke a follow on Threads too. You have until July 27th to enter, so don’t procrastinate, go enter while you’re listening to this. Good luck!View the transcript for this episode at: https://otter.ai/u/aVyHRmAXQ4dHyLdp5FRxtVKbqe0?utm_source=copy_urlLinks to Check Out:
Buy 'Gutsy' from an independent bookstore: https://www.parkbooksmd.com/item/a2ewiNE4ecuSGb8duZ6kww
Buy 'Gutsy' from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3rxhHgP
Natalie's vlog with Gary Vee (8:06) : https://youtu.be/_yr6gXtmgDg?t=486
Threads: @nataliefranke
Threads: @cubicletoceo
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/CubicletoCEO
If 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

Jul 17, 2023 • 59min
203. Driving Revenue with (Unpaid) Speaking Engagements: $45K Case Study
How do you maximize revenue and list growth from an unpaid speaking engagement? When copywriter and brand strategist Zafira Rajan was asked to speak at Amy Porterfield’s virtual event, she leveraged the opportunity to beta test a freebie that led to an $11 tripwire product through a series of subsequent upsells, iterations, and strategic collaborations, this tripwire funnel resulted in more than $45,000 and 600 new customers added to her business - far more than the upfront speaking fee she would have fetched for her first keynote.In today’s case study, Zafira shares her secrets on how she tied her speaking topic directly to a carefully aligned tripwire offer, achieving a remarkable 52% conversion rate from freebie opt-in to immediate purchase. She’ll also reveal the conclusion she drew from selling this product through open/close cart launches versus evergreen, how to leverage a digital product like this to get in front of other people’s audiences, and her hot take on accepting exposure as payment.If you know you could be doing more with the visibility opportunities you get, this candid conversation is your crash course.View the transcript for this episode at: https://otter.ai/u/_l53xU4N089w56OfcAsrX8kykqs?utm_source=copy_urlThank you to our sponsors:
Calling all creative entrepreneurs! Use code 'CEO' at checkout to join Tiffany Napper's coaching membership, Upleveler Society, for only $49/month when you go to https://www.tiffanynapper.com/upleveler-society
Head to https://zafirarajan.lpages.co/spk-ceo/ to get Zafira's Sales Page Personality Kit!
Connect with Zafira:
www.zafirarajan.com
https://zafirarajan.substack.com/
Instagram: @zafira.rajan
What’s Your Brand’s Core Essence? Take this 2-minute quiz to learn how to stand out powerfully and consistently: bit.ly/zafira-rajan-quiz
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

Jul 12, 2023 • 24min
Bonus #27: 3 Ways My Slow Launch Made My Offer Better
Share your launch flop story with us on Threads! Join the conversation at @missellenyin + @cubicletoceo Interested in participating in our next Paid to Create Challenge in October? Add your name to the waitlist at https://ellenyin.com/paidtocreateAccess the transcript of this episode HERE: https://otter.ai/u/XIoDtQcC2Ns1CBYWyUi3Ks3HayA?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

Jul 10, 2023 • 1h 2min
202. Save a Launch That's Flopping In the Final 48 Hours
Today’s case study on flipping a flopping launch features Anita Siek, a lawyer turned brand and copy strategist and the founder of Wordfetti.In late 2022, Anita experienced the slowest launch she had ever seen, with little intake on the waitlist and sluggish sales during the first five days of open cart. Rather than giving up, Anita made a bold decision to completely switch her launch messaging and strategy in the final 48 hours, the details of which we’ll uncover in this interview. The result? Over 65% of students joined in that final 48 hours, completely changing the original outcome.For ideas on how to turbocharge your trajectory when things are slow. Keep listening for the key things that turned this failing launch around in crunch time. View the transcript for this episode at: https://otter.ai/u/pDil9PL0HGJe2X9Usbk3IgrJTWA?utm_source=copy_urlThank you to our sponsors:Calling all creative entrepreneurs! Use code 'CEO' at checkout to join Tiffany Napper's coaching membership, Upleveler Society, for only $49/month when you go to https://www.tiffanynapper.com/upleveler-society
Connect with Anita:
https://wordfettigroup.com/freebie
https://anitasiek.com
@anitasiek
@wordfetti
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

Jul 5, 2023 • 33min
Bonus #26: Honest Mid-Year Update On Our Big 3 Goals: Where We're Succeeding & Failing
What is your most important goal for 2023? Let us know after listening to this episode by DMing @missellenyin and/or @cubicletoceo!Links mentioned in this episode:
Bonus #3: Our Company's Big 3 Goals For 2023: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3RxKcZ3ykrWJkZib1se8aP?si=94e91b5a818c45e4
Bonus #10: 2023 Visioncast: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4NqS7OEQINDARMrUyBolDB?si=153f68d3e8d2428e
Bonus #20: 3 Strategies That Grew Our Podcast To 70K Monthly Downloads: https://open.spotify.com/episode/78b6mp0cgz7MkhmIyNShTx?si=1b96324c10a0410d
Sign up for our weekly newsletter at https://cubicletoceo.co!
Access the transcript of this episode HERE: https://otter.ai/u/_09Z38EICO1Bdjkzkziqqtsuajk?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

Jul 3, 2023 • 1h 8min
201. Stuck At Six Figures? Key Changes That Scaled This Agency From 6 To 7 Figures
Stuck at six figures? Today’s case study examines the key strategy differences between a six and seven figure business through the lens of Pauleanna Reid, the founder of WritersBlok, a full-service celebrity ghostwriting agency working with high-profile leaders to turn their personal stories into powerful brand assets. Sharing her personal roadmap from six to seven figure agency owner, Pauleanna highlights crucial improvements she made in the areas of team, client, project, and brand management to scale her company.Pauleanna doesn’t hold back in revealing exactly what it means to provide white glove service, how she prevents burnout for herself and her team while operating in a high-demand industry, what it looks like to have a long-term perspective on relationships, and the secret to being persistent with prospects without being annoying.What’s the missing piece that can help your business move beyond your current revenue level? Press play to find out. View the transcript for this episode at: https://otter.ai/u/96k4DrZrPR8FRDnOwYkOxoXXacg?utm_source=copy_url Thank you to our sponsors:
Calling all creative entrepreneurs! Use code 'CEO' at checkout to join Tiffany Napper's coaching membership, Upleveler Society, for only $49/month when you go to https://www.tiffanynapper.com/upleveler-society
Successful Ads Club brings their A-Team to power your business's growth! Try your first month today for just $37 at www.ellenyin.com/sac
Connect with Pauleanna:
thewritersblok.com
pauleannareid.com
Instagram: @pauleannareid
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

Jun 28, 2023 • 1h 12min
200. (Part. 2) 200th Episode Celebration: Listen To Me Coach These 9 Entrepreneurs
Entrepreneurs Michelle Pualani, Laura Camancho, Nicola Moors, Mindi Trimble, Madison Sanford, Michelle Guo, Angel Filer, Dijon Bowden, and Juliette Molina participate in a Q+A session for the 200th episode celebration. They discuss topics such as the key difference in growth among creators, understanding context and goals for effective actions, improving a podcast show, transitioning to a media business, challenges of hiring and firing, evaluating opportunities, and overcoming fear.

Jun 26, 2023 • 1h 6min
200. (Part. 1) 200th Episode Celebration! Free Coaching With Ellen
Celebrating the 200th episode of the podcast, the host does a listener Q&A and discusses topics such as successful ads, refreshing content, increasing visibility, nurturing leads, risk-taking in entrepreneurship, pricing services, and handling advice.

Jun 21, 2023 • 19min
Bonus #25: 3 Ways We Increased Our Webinar Conversion Rate
What kind of value do you want from these bonus episodes? Let us know at @missellenyin or @cubicletoceo !Access the transcript of this episode HERE: https://otter.ai/u/qKuvEnjNiQpVFvxxBvOS4mBdx1w?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

Jun 19, 2023 • 1h 1min
199. 2 Ways To Add Urgency and Increase Funnel Conversions by 50%
We are joined on the show today by a dynamic duo who we're lucky to also call friends, Annette Grant and Sarah Karakaian. These talented hosts are the voices behind the premier podcast in the short-term rental space, Thanks For Visiting, as well as the masterminds behind the Hosting Business Mastery Method.In their case study, Annette and Sarah reveal two specific incentives they implemented to build urgency into their free workshop funnel, which led to a staggering 50% improvement in their conversion rate and 90% of their students opting to pay in full for their $2500 signature program.Beyond the element of added urgency, Annette and Sarah also candidly share the other strategies they’ve tested to optimize their free workshop - both the flops and phenomenal successes you’ll want to steal. Tune in to hear what style of testimonials most resonated with viewers on both the live and evergreen versions of their workshop and the winning bonuses that proved to be powerful motivators for people to buy before the workshop even ended.View the transcript for this episode at: https://otter.ai/u/YGzhHoT8piwCiPPyc7BskNnMzqI?utm_source=copy_url Thank you to our sponsors:
Successful Ads Club brings their A-Team to power your business's growth! Try your first month today for just $37 at www.ellenyin.com/sac
Create a swoon-worthy brand with the WorkPlay method! Book an inquiry call at www.workplaybranding.com + mention Cubicle to CEO sent you to receive a fast action bonus worth $1,500.
Try the #1 all-in-one E-commerce platform: Shopify! Sign up for a one dollar per month trial period at shopify.com/cubicle
Connect with Thanks For Visiting:
www.thanksforvisiting.me/workshop
Instagram: @thanksforvisiting_
Try Deadline Funnel: https://deadlinefunnel.com/?via=95801-annette-grant
Links mentioned in the epsiode:
Linda Sidhu's episode on audience behavior segmentation: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3YObOJpZTMkm9XgK36NE5c?si=bf8b7af678fe4f78
Amanda Walker's episode on repurposing customer testimonials: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3wXoz1nuwKykE7gXN8FhzH?si=32ce6e99e9604517
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
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices