HAYVN Hubcast

The fundamental pillars of well being and mental and emotional health can be easily ignored when you’re building your business. Sacrificing hours of sleep and self care in the name of hustle culture can often lead to less productivity and is rarely the best path to peak performance. 

This episode’s guest, Dr. Leonaura Rhodes, is a physician that found greater alignment with wellness and coaching than treating patients. Her career journey has been circuitous by way of being an official coach for Tony Robbins for a period of time before starting her own business leading as an Executive Coach and Corporate Wellness Trainer. 

“Stress management, wellness, energy, all of those things come up in almost every session, it’s really the core of everything.” -Dr. Leonaura Rhodes 

Leonaura shares a few of the wellness components she coaches on that lead to better outcomes for employees and entrepreneurs that want peak performance. 

Key discussion points about well-being in the workplace: 

• Lack of resiliency skills lead to falling apart when it’s hard 
• Stress management is a problem that can no longer be ignored 
• Engagement is one of the seven pillars of wellness 

“Health and career are not in silo, they’re all intertwined, you can’t ignore the health and wellness aspect.” -Dr. Leonaura Rhodes 

Engagement isn’t one of those things you typically consider being part of peak performance, but Leonaura explains why it’s crucial. Like many other entrepreneurs, the pain points that she is coaching people through are pain points she too suffered in her journey. As a trained physician, Leonaura  connects the health and wellness aspect to the hard skills we often lean on and admire to thrive and succeed.  

Connect with Dr. Leonaura Rhodes: 

Website 

Instagram 

Connect with Nancy: 

NancySheed.com  

We’re never short on ideas when it comes to daily inconveniences or solving marketplace problems, but how many potential business solutions do we actually follow through to pursue?  

Curt Battles, the CEO of Craft Beer Insights, is a business strategist and tech guru in the craft beer space who advises entrepreneurs and business owners how to launch, grow and increase profitability. His own challenges in finding where to get a decent craft beer led to a new project and mobile app that’s been 4 years in the making. 

“This work is much better, more diverse, even more unique and dynamic than when I originally thought about it.” -Curtis Battles 

Curt shares the breadth of experience he’s enjoyed across multiple industries ranging from food and beverage to finance and business strategies. He’s able to pull on all of these experiences to help others chart their path forward. 

Key Discussion Points with Curt: 

• Learn how to leverage the skills you have across industries 
• How to go from idea to beta launch 
• People and patience are key in launching his new projects 

“You always need good quality advisors outside, or as I call it, the adults in the room.” -Curtis Battles 

What Curt demonstrates is that even with the level of experience he has, you will always do better building a team of experienced people around you to help execute an idea. Boredom kills most entrepreneurial dreams, and Curt’s ability to stick with the development of his app 4 years later is testament to pushing through challenges and obstacles that arose along the way. 

Connect with Curtis Battles: 

Website 

Connect with Nancy: 

NancySheed.com  

If branding, marketing, website building, design, and copywriting are not your thing, you’re likely muddling your way along by handling your own digital marketing. With millions of businesses online, digital marketing is a highly valued service for a good reason.

Our guest in this episode is Debra Lutsky is the Founder and Creative Director of her own marketing agency, Digital Retail Partners. She is very clear about who her business helps and what she helps them to do. She focuses on the intersection of design and technology for online brands disrupting traditional retail and e-commerce based businesses.

“It’s one thing to build a website, but you have to get people there.” -Debra Lutsky

Debra graciously shares her journey from being the girl in love with fashion and art, to the Shopify certified business owner who now advocates as a partner of both HAYVN and the Women’s Business Development Council.

Key Marketing Points for Every Business Owner:

• Key elements for impactful marketing communications
• How design and development show up in your business
• Debra’s 3 Cs for a future proof marketing strategy

“Most online businesses need to focus on an omnichannel approach, [...] You need to be in all the places that your customers are in.” -Debra Lutsky

Debra’s HAYVN journey started from the very beginning helping the founder Felicia with everything from website designs to email marketing to graphics and animation. Her journey is everything that HAYVN stands for in encouraging women owned businesses to keep supporting and advocating for all women who want a business or career AND to be a mother.

“I could do both, I could be a mother and I could be a business owner and I wasn’t sacrificing one or the other.” -Debra Lutsky

Connect with Debra Lutsky:

Website

Connect with Nancy:

NancySheed.com

If branding, marketing, website building, design, and copywriting are not your thing, you’re likely muddling your way along by handling your own digital marketing. With millions of businesses online, digital marketing is a highly valued service for a good reason.

Our guest in this episode is Debra Lutsky is the Founder and Creative Director of her own marketing agency, Digital Retail Partners. She is very clear about who her business helps and what she helps them to do. She focuses on the intersection of design and technology for online brands disrupting traditional retail and e-commerce based businesses.

“It’s one thing to build a website, but you have to get people there.” -Debra Lutsky

Debra graciously shares her journey from being the girl in love with fashion and art, to the Shopify certified business owner who now advocates as a partner of both HAYVN and the Women’s Business Development Council.

Key Marketing Points for Every Business Owner:

• Key elements for impactful marketing communications
• How design and development show up in your business
• Debra’s 3 Cs for a future proof marketing strategy

“Most online businesses need to focus on an omnichannel approach, [...] You need to be in all the places that your customers are in.” -Debra Lutsky

Debra’s HAYVN journey started from the very beginning helping the founder Felicia with everything from website designs to email marketing to graphics and animation. Her journey is everything that HAYVN stands for in encouraging women owned businesses to keep supporting and advocating for all women who want a business or career AND to be a mother.

“I could do both, I could be a mother and I could be a business owner and I wasn’t sacrificing one or the other.” -Debra Lutsky

Connect with Debra Lutsky:

Website

Connect with Nancy:

NancySheed.com

Whether you’re a freelancer, remote worker or a small business owner, coworking spaces can improve your productivity, focus and creativity. Women-centric coworking spaces however add a different vibe to the environment offering programs and collaborations that better support women in their professional journey. 

Today’s episode is extra special as we are joined by Lynne Pagano, the Co-Founder and Community Manager from The Co-Co based in New Jersey, and Felicia Rubinstein, Founder of HAYVN located in Connecticut. Both of their communities focus on helping women, in particular, thrive and feel supported in a workspace nurtured for growth and success. They are also part of the “Sister Spaces” a collaborative relationship between six other women-centric co-working communities.  

Both Felicia and Lynne share their unique experiences creating strong communities through Covid, the Great Resignation, and a recession, among many other challenges, and how they were so successful. 

“We are really working hard at helping female founders." -Felicia Rubinstein 

Key Takeaways from Lynne & Felicia: 

• Women-centric coworking spaces can still be inclusive to men 
• Female founders can feel supported with programs and offerings that help grow their businesses and have a fulfilling healthy life 
• Sister spaces don’t have to compete with each other to thrive. They can have reciprocal relationships that benefit everyone 
• Get comfortable with change and know that pivoting your business and focus is the way you survive uncertainty 

“You have to pivot. If you want your business to keep going forward, you have to change.” Lynne Pagano 

These founders share the wisdom of their journeys in opening brand new coworking spaces at a time everything literally shut down. Their advice to not take yourself too seriously is critical, but difficult to apply when you’ve put so much energy into creating a business and community. Their loving reminder to their younger selves founding these incredible coworking spaces was to enjoy the journey while you’re on it. 

Check out HAYVN’s coworking partners, a.k.a. Sister Spaces here to connect across 6 different states and 11 locations. 

Connect with Lynne Pagano at The CoCo: 

Website 

Connect with Felicia Rubinstein at HAYVN: 

Website 

Connect with Nancy: 

NancySheed.com  

One of the biggest joys and motivating factors for founders coming into any industry is solving a problem for a group of people. Once you find a solution or at least imagine the solution, you have to learn and take the steps needed to execute from there. 

In this episode, Shelise Joseph and Kadene Brown Lafontant join us to discuss how they founded BE.U.TYMRK.D, an online marketplace of beauty and wellness products curated for Black women. They joined forces to bring a solution and representation to an underserved community with a huge potential. 

“There are beauty brands that are amazing, but they can’t survive because they don’t have access to market the way others do.”  

Nothing worth pursuing is going to be simple, and Shelise and Kadene are stepping up to be seen and heard for beauty and wellness brands that aren’t easily stocked into big retail stores. Doing research to determine the opportunities and best route available to bring all the needs of the core segment of Black women into one space shows how this brand is off to a great start. 

Key Takeaways from the BE.U.TYMRK.D founders: 

• Solve a real problem 
• Notice where there are gaps in the industry 
• You can transfer best practices from one industry to another 
• Brand education and advocacy are part of the story, launch and success 

Part of their founders’ journey including pitching at a HAYVN Hatch, where they were the winners. They shared that the pitching experience helped them with exposure, business planning and preparing them for fundraising and ultimately their official launch.  

Connect with Shelise Josephs & Kadene Lafontant: 

Website 

Instagram 

Connect with Nancy: 

NancySheed.com  

Realizing that for many women entrepreneurs their businesses were their babies, Holly Hurd wanted to learn how they managed. So she began profiling women owned businesses for her book, Venture Mom: From Idea to Income in Just 12 Weeks. After years meeting and interviewing hundreds of female owned businesses, she ultimately founded community and marketplace for women owned businesses calling it Venture Mom.  

Holly loves supporting moms and women with their entrepreneurship journeys and making their dreams into reality.  

“My whole mission is to inspire every woman out there to start her own business.” - Holly Hurd 

Key Points to Remember: 

• Community is crucial in building a successful business 
• Many moms are starting businesses organically 
• There is always more to learn in your product or service progression 

Holly explains how much HAYVN and Venture Moms align in the pursuit of helping female owned businesses. Admittedly, the life of an entrepreneur can be extremely isolating, but communities like HAYVN and Venture Mom work hard to keep women connected to the resources and support they need. 

“You win just by being a part of it, because you're getting your story out there.” - Holly Hurd 

Connect with Holly Hurd: 

Website 

Instagram 

Connect with Nancy: 

NancySheed.com  

What if the thing you enjoy more than anything in the world is also something people need more of in this world? Artist Mark Andreas started developing his passion to work creatively with wood before the age of 14. For Mark, nurturing his passion and doing what he loved mostly meant more time in nature, more peace, and more creativity. He’s allowed his creativity to flow through many adjacent experiences and careers from being a boat builder, to metal fabricator, to art educator, art director and more. 

The thing for most people is finding a way to monetize and build a successful business model around their passion. As you listen to this episode, you will hear how Mark who is not only passionate about his wood working, found a way to connect what he loves most to how it benefits everyone else around as well. 

Key Artistic Approaches to Work and Life: 

• You may have many roles, but you get to define how you see yourself. 
• Sharing your passion with others can be unconventional in delivery.
• Value the skills and experience you create for others, and charge accordingly. 

“A lot of the art making process is to be able to express that excitement and exploration and discoveries that you make through the artistic process with people around.” -Mark Andreas 

Mark Andreas came to HAYVN wanting to learn what it would take to build a better business model. What we love about Mark is that he not only sees what he stands to gain being part of HAYVN, but how he can also be of value to the HAYVN community. 

Connect with Mark Andreas: 

Art Website 

Studio 

Connect with Nancy: 

NancySheed.com  

Are you ready for a brand new rhythm for your life?

Today’s guest Kristen Rzasa brings a unique approach to entrepreneurship. She’s a life and business strategist and helps her clients find balance that leads to greater success.

Kristen brings her corporate and entrepreneurial experience to everything she does. Her corporate job was with Daimler Chrysler and she had a side hustle too. When she found herself outside of corporate, she went into full time entrepreneurship.

After years of being driven and successful she realized she was burned out and in danger of breaking down. Kristen made another big shift.

That’s where conversations about life rhythm began.

She explains the 4 components that help her understand her client’s priorities. It’s eye-opening to hear how she can discover where things are out of alignment.

What would change for you?

It’s time to create a new rhythm in our lives. That begins with living our values. Reprioritizing what really matters to us is the first step Kristen takes with her clients.

What are you waiting for?

Today is the day. No more waiting until. Kristen shares how HAYVN has brought a sense of community that she realized she was missing. Collaboration and the opportunity to receive and give back is also fulfilling.

Connect with Kristen:

Website – Get her Rhythm Reset Guide

Instagram

Connect with Nancy:

Website

Instagram

LinkedIn

HAYVN Hubcast co-host Nancy Sheed is talking with Soledad Matteozzi the founder of Thinking Beyond Business, a company that helps businesses improve their environmental footprint.

Soledad’s journey has taken her across the world. She grew up in Patagonia. That’s where her love for the outdoors was nurtured.

She then began her career in NYC, drawn to the city by the energy and reputation for success. As an attorney she worked with US based and international companies providing legal guidance and strategies for growth including mergers and acquisitions.

But there was always something missing.

Once she became a mom, having 2 babies in 12 months, she knew that the time commitments of her current job were not going to fit her changed lifestyle. In perfect timing, her husband was offered a job in Stockholm and the family moved.

Soledad explains how the lifestyle there was much more manageable. It’s also where she began to learn more about sustainability.

Then moving to China was a wake-up call. She saw firsthand the pollution in Beijing and realized that environmental issues where a “now” problem. She went back to school studying Environmental Social Governance.

Once back in the US, she knew that private industry must be a part of the solution to climate and environmental concerns. She realized companies who want to help and are committed to acting didn’t know where to start.

Soledad met her business partner at HAYVN (of course!) Silvina Skverer and started the company to help save the world.

Most companies they work with now:

• Have concerns about climate change
• Are forward thinking about how they can impact their community
• Want to empower their employees and find new ways to keep them engaged
• Are committed to making an impact beyond making money

Soledad outlines how they begin with an assessment. Each company has their own version of best practices, and they want to help them understand where they are and bring on that. They also identify opportunities and risks so there are steps for short-term and long-term gains.

From there they create an action plan.

That includes actions as well as how to measure and evaluate. They meet each client where they are and help them develop the path forward.

She explains that there is a misconception that this work will be costly. She wants everyone know that this is good business. It’s being part of the solution which will ultimately help in business success too.

Simple places for any company to start:

• Recycle if you are not already
• Cease using plastic plates, bottles, and cups
• Reduce printing
• Motivate everyone to recycle by sharing results with your team

HAYVN has been a valuable resource for Soledad and her business. They work with other members for legal and marketing support. They know that collaboration helps everyone so they think “HAYVN first” when they are looking for other resources.

“Everybody can do something if you have the will to do it.”

Resources:

Get Tips to Green Your Business Here

Website

Soledad on LinkedIn

Conscious Leader Network

Connect with Nancy:

NancySheed.com