
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

Feb 12, 2025 • 42min
Bonus #61: Turn Cold Leads Into Closed Contracts — The ACE Framework That Lands High Value Clients
Attract. Cultivate. Engage. Three simple steps to turn cold leads into closed contracts for high ticket services. In today’s episode, Hope Trory breaks down her ACE framework and real-world examples showing how she closed contracts for high ticket services by making simple tweaks in each of these areas. Connect with Hope:
Take the ACE Marketing Assessment: https://ace.hopeworksdesign.com/start
https://www.linkedin.com/iln/hopew/
IG: @hopeworksdesign
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:
Post a screenshot & key takeaway on your IG story and tag me @missellenyin & @cubicletoceo so we can repost you.
Leave a positive review or rating at www.ratethispodcast.com/cubicletoceo
Subscribe for new episodes every Monday.
Join our C-Suite membership to get bonus episodes on our private podcast! Check out everything our members get at https://ellenyin.com/csuite
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 10, 2025 • 56min
285. How an “Unscalable” Funnel Signed 99 Clients & Generated $150K in One Year
What if the secret to scaling your high-ticket offer wasn’t a bigger audience, but a smarter funnel?Today’s case study unpacks how Vix Meldrew’s surprising move to lean into an unscalable funnel strategy actually added $150K of revenue and signed 99 clients in just one year. After seeing shifts in buyer behavior, Vix leveraged the Lipstick Effect (an economic theory explained in our conversation) to tweak her funnel, swapping out a traditional webinar for a micro-class and private podcast combo, and offering an unscalable but high-touch, high trust-building opportunity on the backend. The result? A 35% conversion rate on her first launch, consistent evergreen sales, and a staggering speed-up of the buying cycle, with the average new lead converting after just 10 days or less on her list. Here are the exact changes and execution that transformed Vix’s funnel.Connect with Vix:
https://vixmeldrew.com
IG and Threads: @vixmeldrew
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:
Post a screenshot & key takeaway on your IG story and tag me @missellenyin & @cubicletoceo so we can repost you.
Leave a positive review or rating at www.ratethispodcast.com/cubicletoceo
Subscribe for new episodes every Monday.
Join our C-Suite membership to get bonus episodes! Check out everything our members get at https://ellenyin.com/csuite
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

28 snips
Feb 3, 2025 • 1h 6min
284. Build Trust in 4 Minutes: The Brand Video That Boosted Revenue by 600%
Join Mariana Henninger, an Emmy award-winning filmmaker and founder of Brand Magnetic, as she shares her journey in crafting powerful brand videos. Discover how a single 4-minute video skyrocketed her revenue by 600% through emotional storytelling. Mariana dives into the importance of personal narratives that create trust and connect deeply with audiences. Learn her proven framework for making effective brand videos that resonate and engage cold leads, transforming skepticism into eager interest.

4 snips
Jan 29, 2025 • 37min
Bonus #60: Optimize Your Website For Sales With This Checklist of 10 Conversion Drivers
Is your website optimized for sales? In this episode with award-winning graphic & web designer Amanda Hamilton, self-audit your own website as Amanda walks us through 10 key components every high-converting website must include. Amanda also shares plug + play AI prompts to generate copy for your website that actually sounds like you.Connect with Amanda:
Use 'CEO100' to get her resources for free! www.justaddyourbrand.com/ceo
www.justaddyourbrand.com
Use www.stocksy.com for high quality stock imagery!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:
Post a screenshot & key takeaway on your IG story and tag me @missellenyin & @cubicletoceo so we can repost you.
Leave a positive review or rating at www.ratethispodcast.com/cubicletoceo
Subscribe for new episodes every Monday.
Join our C-Suite membership to get bonus episodes on our private podcast! Check out everything our members get at https://ellenyin.com/csuite
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 27, 2025 • 1h 5min
283. $155K Sold in 5 Days: A Data-Packed “Deal Week” Debrief
Over the most recent Black Friday/Cyber Monday weekend, 7-figure online education founder Gemma Bonham-Carter pulled off one of her most profitable campaigns yet, raking in $155,000 in just five days during her 2024 Deal Week. With a multi-product lineup, Gemma leveraged pricing, novelty, and daily urgency to drive record-breaking resultsThis data-heavy case study gives you the full debrief on all the levers that made this work: list size, promo calendar, page visits, offer selection, conversion rates, the breakdown of purchases, and all the nosy details you could possibly want to know about this launch.Gemma even shares an AI-powered gift for you at the end to help you replicate your own 5 Days of Deals campaign, so stay tuned to grab yours.View the transcript for this episode at: https://otter.ai/u/hPy-FuceLGiZ8yCQ3eiYu_pEAjc?utm_source=copy_urlThank you Gemma for sponsoring this episode!
FREE TOOL - Wondering what YOU could sell for a "5 Days of Deals" style campaign? Try out Gemma's free AI Assistant to map out your offers! You'll also receive a copy of her 2024 campaign sales page, so you'll know exactly how to structure your own: gemmabonhamcarter.com/ellen
Connect with Gemma:
The Course Creator Show: https://gemmabonhamcarter.com/podcast/
https://www.gemmabonhamcarter.com
Instagram: @gemma.bonhamcarter
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:
Post a screenshot & key takeaway on your IG story and tag me @missellenyin & @cubicletoceo so we can repost you.
Leave a positive review or rating at www.ratethispodcast.com/cubicletoceo
Subscribe for new episodes every Monday.
Join our C-Suite membership to get bonus episodes! Check out everything our members get at https://ellenyin.com/csuite
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 20, 2025 • 49min
282. 50% List Growth, $9K Revenue, 1 Zero-Spend Scavenger Hunt: The Power of Surprise & Delight
I’m a sucker for fresh ideas, and this is the most unique marketing case study we’ve covered on the podcast in ages.In December 2023, Nadine Nethery turned heads with a holiday-themed scavenger hunt on her website aptly named “I’ve Elfed Myself.” The concept? Nine hidden treasures tucked across her site that had her audience clicking, hunting, and completely hooked.In just 24 days, Nadine grew her list by 50%, generated $9K in revenue from 68 buyers, and secured two new clients — all without spending a dime on ads. This innovative marketing campaign also unlocked long-term wins, including word of mouth buzz around the scavenger hunt experience in communities beyond her own, inbound summit and podcast invitations, and a surge in both site sessions and engagement time on her site - hello Google optimization!Let’s break down the data-driven strategies behind Nadine’s festive marketing magic and the ripple effects it continues to create for her brand.View the transcript for this episode at: https://otter.ai/u/qzNnVyqobb4wiIWk1LL8W3FitNc?utm_source=copy_urlThank you to our sponsor!Get the support you need to ignite your business' growth through the Women's Business Development Center! Visit https://wbdc.org to browse all the available programs, services, financial assistance and events they provide.Connect with Nadine:
Mastering CX | The Private Customer Experience Podcast: https://link.candocontent.com/cubicle
Hidden Gems Mini Training: https://d227cbb2.streaklinks.com/CRKVFTrR0eJGxS1tfAi7KrHN/https%3A%2F%2Fcandocontent.com%2Fhidden-gems
IG: @candocontent
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:
Post a screenshot & key takeaway on your IG story and tag me @missellenyin & @cubicletoceo so we can repost you.
Leave a positive review or rating at www.ratethispodcast.com/cubicletoceo
Subscribe for new episodes every Monday.
Join our C-Suite membership to get bonus episodes! Check out everything our members get at https://ellenyin.com/csuite
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 15, 2025 • 45min
Bonus #59: Is It A Strategy Or Mindset Problem? How To Identify What’s Stopping Your Business From Scaling
It can be difficult to locate the leak in your business. Does scaling require a new strategy? Or does it require you doing mindset work to determine the real issues holding your business back? Today, expert scaling strategist, Celi Arias, shares her no-nonsense approach to helping entrepreneurs scale their businesses in a way that fits their lives.Access the transcript of this episode HERE: https://otter.ai/u/eiLo3G-5nusBg50kSj-zkYMUuKY?utm_source=copy_urlConnect with Celi:
www.grownassbusiness.com
https://www.instagram.com/celigrowsbusiness
https://www.youtube.com/@celigrowsbusiness/videos
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:
Post a screenshot & key takeaway on your IG story and tag me @missellenyin & @cubicletoceo so we can repost you.
Leave a positive review or rating at www.ratethispodcast.com/cubicletoceo
Subscribe for new episodes every Monday.
Join our C-Suite membership to get bonus episodes on our private podcast! Check out everything our members get at https://ellenyin.com/csuite
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 13, 2025 • 28min
281. 5 Entrepreneurs Who Were Paid To Create Their 1st Online Course (And How You Can Too)
The start of a new year is the perfect time to explore a new revenue stream for your business, especially one that produces residual income you can actually scale. In this roundup, you’ll hear insights from 5 business owners, including myself, on how we productized our expertise and got PAID to create our first digital course. In other words, pre-selling an offer that doesn’t exist yet using the beta launch framework we teach in our Paid to Create Challenge.I’ll introduce each sound bite with the guest’s name and the original episode number, so you can dive deeper into the full interview if you want to hear more. All the episodes are linked below in one bingeable Spotify playlist for convenience.And if you want me to hand-hold you through our proven 3 day process that has successfully launched over 2,700 courses, go to paidtocreate.com to enroll in our next live challenge. View the transcript for this episode at: https://otter.ai/u/fs-6atl3dCqB_jwiGna6hdU4h7o?utm_source=copy_urlLink to our Paid to Create Spotify Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2UAmTGZhcNcmRz4OiYwcYo?si=VVmaYuNORHGo8ExSsVtJcQCheck out our previous roundup episodes:
Client Acquisition + Retention: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4dtubMBir7MpuRiZsW4mFL?si=TQlOiPetTcOGT9kDzOHE0g
Hiring Roundup: https://link.chtbl.com/cpFd5Kxw
Email Marketing Roundup: https://link.chtbl.com/zW5tKLM2
Podcast Roundup: https://link.chtbl.com/CUa_hAXC
Launching Roundup: https://link.chtbl.com/jz5RbIv0
Pitching Roundup: https://link.chtbl.com/sllNCKMT
Lead Generation Roundup: https://link.chtbl.com/dbjNLFH1
Conversion Roundup: https://link.chtbl.com/AYNw_c2w
Customer Feedback Roundup: https://link.chtbl.com/lTKbWBYY
Marketing Roundup: https://link.chtbl.com/AkgrDVmg
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:
Post a screenshot & key takeaway on your IG story and tag me @missellenyin & @cubicletoceo so we can repost you.
Leave a positive review or rating at www.ratethispodcast.com/cubicletoceo
Subscribe for new episodes every Monday.
Join our C-Suite membership to get bonus episodes! Check out everything our members get at https://ellenyin.com/csuite
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 6, 2025 • 39min
280. 10 Out-Of-The-Box Customer Acquisition & Retention Strategies To Try in 2025
Welcome back to our highly anticipated roundup series, this time featuring our top 10 guest insights on boosting customer acquisition and retention. Try these tested tips on creative lead generation, qualifying high-converting customers from the get-go, and lucrative ways to keep your buyers coming back for more.I’ll set the stage for each sound bite with the guest’s name and the original episode number, so you can dive deeper into the full case study interview if an idea really hits home. And for your convenience, all the episodes are linked below in the show notes for easy, binge-able access. Let’s roll the clips!View the transcript for this episode at: https://otter.ai/u/gOGnJWYNsWtVJfSBZzsWpoZbYL0?utm_source=copy_urlLinks to the featured episodes:
EP 234 w/ Nicki Krawczyk: https://link.chtbl.com/pFZI9mzB
EP 245 w/ Keenya Kelly: https://link.chtbl.com/Rt_DlwpW
EP 262 w/ Candice Ward: https://link.chtbl.com/Vy3t8idL
EP 247 w/ Kiri Mohan: https://link.chtbl.com/eShxRUXL
EP 274 w/ Michelle Lucchese and John Ruggiero: https://link.chtbl.com/Kkw6B6_-
EP 232 w/ Amanda Shuman: https://link.chtbl.com/_bv6RqnW
EP 273 w/ Jasmine Star: https://link.chtbl.com/TGlr-l24
EP 233 w/ Giulia Guerrieri: https://link.chtbl.com/XdJT_k0B
EP 239 w/ Sophia Parra: https://link.chtbl.com/VZIiTjf1
EP 270 w/ Katie Peacock: https://link.chtbl.com/z9KGniwQ
Check out our previous roundup episodes:
Hiring Roundup: https://link.chtbl.com/cpFd5Kxw
Email Marketing Roundup: https://link.chtbl.com/zW5tKLM2
Podcast Roundup: https://link.chtbl.com/CUa_hAXC
Launching Roundup: https://link.chtbl.com/jz5RbIv0
Pitching Roundup: https://link.chtbl.com/sllNCKMT
Lead Generation Roundup: https://link.chtbl.com/dbjNLFH1
Conversion Roundup: https://link.chtbl.com/AYNw_c2w
Customer Feedback Roundup: https://link.chtbl.com/lTKbWBYY
Marketing Roundup: https://link.chtbl.com/AkgrDVmg
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:
Post a screenshot & key takeaway on your IG story and tag me @missellenyin & @cubicletoceo so we can repost you.
Leave a positive review or rating at www.ratethispodcast.com/cubicletoceo
Subscribe for new episodes every Monday.
Join our C-Suite membership to get bonus episodes! Check out everything our members get at https://ellenyin.com/csuite
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 30, 2024 • 55min
279. Energy Management > Time Management? The Anti-Hustle Productivity Approach That Grew Revenue 2X in 12 Months
With a new year around the corner, it’s time to rethink how we approach productivity. Could managing your energy—not your time—be the secret to unlocking major breakthroughs in your business and health?In today’s case study, you’ll hear how Amina AlTai leveraged her energy cycles to transform her business and health. Initially driven by necessity following a brain injury and autoimmune challenges, Amina developed a productivity framework that aligned her work schedule with her body’s natural rhythms. Within a year, her income doubled from $220K to over $500K. She also created the mental space and energy to write a book that sold within a week of being shopped out in a lucrative pre-empt deal with a publisher. Her anti-hustle approach set her apart in the market, proving that success doesn’t have to come at the cost of well-being.If you’re looking for a sustainable way to grow your business while protecting your health, this conversation is the perfect way to kickstart your year.View the transcript for this episode at: https://otter.ai/u/XkjdBAd3QUHc5MRBPi-yYawGrpg?utm_source=copy_urlConnect with Amina:
https://aminaaltai.com/
https://www.instagram.com/aminaaltai
Pre-order Amina's book: https://a.co/d/3Lv9heR
Listen to our episode with Kate Northrup: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/this-ceo-takes-7-weeks-off-while-growing-revenue-by/id1470966370?i=1000591876999Iconic 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:
Post a screenshot & key takeaway on your IG story and tag me @missellenyin & @cubicletoceo so we can repost you.
Leave a positive review or rating at www.ratethispodcast.com/cubicletoceo
Subscribe for new episodes every Monday.
Join our C-Suite membership to get bonus episodes! Check out everything our members get at https://ellenyin.com/csuite
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices