Employee To Boss: Entrepreneurship, Side Hustles, and Business Growth Tips from Experts

Maybe the reason you've been feeling exhausted, overwhelmed, or "off" isn't because you're doing something wrong, but because you've been following advice that was never designed for your body? In this episode, I sit down with wellness coach and registered dietitian Carly Schade to talk about cycle syncing beyond the social media trends. We unpack how understanding your m...

How do you optimize your Instagram for sales in 2026 without sounding like everyone else? I sat down with Daria, founder of a personal branding and sales agency, to talk about what's actually working on social media right now. Daria moved from Russia to Canada, spent years battling imposter syndrome before she ever posted consistently, and now helps service providers and founders launch and se...

You're ambitious, you're building something incredible, and you're working all day every day to make it happen. But what about love? What about creating space for a partner while still showing up powerfully in your business? Women's dating and relationship expert Natalia returns to Employee to Boss to share how ambitious women can balance masculine energy in business with feminine...

What if the thing you feared most became your greatest asset? In this episode, I'm chatting with Kathleen, an Online Business Manager and AI consultant who had a complete breakdown when AI emerged—convinced it would end her career. Now? She's the expert helping business owners like us streamline operations and embrace automation. Kathleen shares her honest journey from corporate burnout to buildin...

If you’ve ever felt like your business is everything—your identity, your time, your mental space—this episode is going to hit home. In this conversation, I’m joined by Rena Duell, a business coach at One Team Partners, who spent 25 years running her own business before hitting a breaking point that forced her to completely step away. We talk about what burnout actually looks like (hint: it’s not j...

Ever wondered how introverts can become powerful speakers and thought leaders? International speaker Stephanie Thoma (250+ events, featured in Forbes) shares her journey from employee to boss and the exact framework she uses with clients to build calm authority. In This Episode: Stephanie's path from tech layoff to qualitative researcher to international speaker The 4-part "Connect with C...

t's been a while since I've dropped a solo episode here on Employee to Boss! Between managing two podcasts and producing 10 episodes a month, things have been busy—but in the best way. As we close out Q1 and step into Q2, I wanted to pull back the curtain and share what's been happening behind the scenes at Espresso Podcast Production. This episode is a peek into how quickly things can shift in bu...

What happens when you stop waiting for the “perfect plan”… and just start building? In this episode, I’m sitting down with Rachel Rowland—real estate agent, founder of Eastside EntreprenueHERs, and someone who completely transformed her life and income in a very short amount of time. We talk about her transition from teaching during the chaos of 2020 to stepping into entrepreneurship, how she scal...

Building a business can feel isolating, especially for female founders navigating growth, leadership, and visibility. But it does not have to be that way. In this episode I sit down with Stephanie Cartin, co-founder of Entreprenista, the largest community of ambitious women founders worldwide. Stephanie shares her journey from Cornell hospitality student to social media agency owner to community b...

If you've ever thought "I want to make my dog famous" or "my cat should be an influencer," this episode is for you. Seriously! I'm sitting down with Ashley, the owner of Petfluencer Secrets, and we're talking all about how she turned her cat into a full-time business. Her cat Chip the Manx has over 486,000 YouTube subscribers and 122,000 Instagram followers. And bef...

Marketing your business doesn't have to feel overwhelming. In this episode, we're diving into sustainable, approachable marketing strategies that actually work for small business owners—without the burnout. In this episode, you'll learn: How to create a marketing strategy that fits your life (not the other way around) Why playing to your natural strengths makes all the difference The t...

What if saying "no" could actually strengthen your relationships—and your business? In this episode, Hayleigh sits down with Dr. Jen Fry—former college volleyball coach turned professional speaker, PhD, and tech entrepreneur—to discuss the art of setting boundaries, navigating conflict, and building a business with backbone. Jen shares her journey from coaching for 15 years to becoming a...

Building a business gets easier when you stop winging it and start leading with a plan. I sit down with Shellee Howard, CEO of College Ready and CR Future Now and host of Parents: Is Your Teen College Ready to talk about what it really looks like to go from employee to boss when you’ve got an entrepreneurial mindset and a deep desire to make an impact. You’ll hear how College Ready began when her...

What if the thing keeping you “busy” isn’t actually your workload… but your grip on control? In today’s episode, Gina Cotner breaks down what it really takes to shift from doing everything yourself to building a business that can run without you. Gina is the founder of Athena Executive Services, a virtual executive assistant agency built for busy, successful business owners who need high-level sup...

What if building your business wasn’t about doing more, but about being more intentional with the people already around you? In this episode of Employee to Boss, I’m joined by Faith Morris, an operations strategist and community builder who helps entrepreneurs scale sustainably by rethinking how they build teams, partnerships, and networks. We talk about her journey from employee to boss, rebuildi...

Curiosity can be a business strategy when you know how to use it. In this episode I sit down with Liz Galloway, a media and PR expert whose career spans wellness, luxury travel, global events, and broadcasting. Liz shares how her non-linear path from training in high-end wellness spaces overseas to running large-scale media projects became the foundation for a portfolio career rooted in storytelli...

What if the “hustle” you’re proud of is actually burning you out? In this conversation, we’re unpacking what entrepreneurial burnout really looks like—and how to build a business that doesn’t cost you your health, relationships, or sanity. Arika is a leadership coach and former corporate leader who helps high-achieving professionals and founders spot burnout early and reset in sustainable ways. In...

What if your next “big business move” isn’t a new offer or a rebrand… but a book with your name on the cover? In this episode, we’re breaking down how to finally get that book idea out of your head and into the hands of your future clients. Katrina Sawa is a business and marketing coach turned self-publishing expert who has written or contributed to 22+ books and helps entrepreneurs use books as r...

What if you could lower stress, boost creativity, and show up for your business—just by laughing on purpose? In this episode, we explore Laughter Yoga and EFT tapping as practical tools to move through fear, visibility blocks, and burnout. Today I’m joined by Toni, the founder of  Your Smiling Soul , a Laughter Yoga leader and certified EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) practitioner. We talk about...

How many times have you caught yourself saying,  “That’s expensive,”  or  “I’ll feel safe when I make more money” ? Those little thoughts are the reason so many entrepreneurs stay stuck at their current income level. Today’s guest,  Jillian Minter , is living proof that you don’t have to be a broke entrepreneur—and that changing how you  think  about money can completely change how you  make  it....

What if something as simple as a balloon could change your life? This week I sit down with  Mia Hamza from Balloon Thrill , a former teacher from Kosovo who turned her creative spark into a thriving six-figure event décor and education business—all in just a few years after moving to the U.S. Mia shares how she went from teaching English and hosting a TV show overseas to starting from zero in a ne...

When you feel restless in your career, do you listen—or do you push through? Rachel Kerr listened. Even when she didn’t have a clear plan. That inner restlessness led her to create The Beauty Boost, a women's empowerment and wellness community that now operates in over 30 cities across the U.S. In this episode Rachel shares how she went from burned-out employee to full-time entrepreneur, how she b...

Today’s episode is a little different—because we’re celebrating a  major  milestone… Espresso Podcast Production turns  5 years old ! What started as a college podcast project (shoutout  Wrestling Winedown ) turned into a full-time business that’s helped hundreds of creators launch, grow, and amplify their voices through podcasting. And today, I’m taking you behind the scenes of my journey—from be...

This week on Employee to Boss, I’m joined by  Brandilyn Hallcroft , a powerhouse creative with 25+ years of experience in marketing, branding, and design. She’s the founder of  Metro Designs ,  Metro Events , the creator behind digital shops on Etsy and Zazzle, and the heart behind  Journals to Healing —a CBT-based journal collection for personal growth. In this episode, Brandilyn shares her journ...

What if you stopped waiting for the perfect time and just gave yourself permission to go for it—to pivot, to be seen, and to build a business that actually fits your life? In this episode, I chat with Kieryn Wang, founder of AlmostConsulting, about evolving in both business and life. We talk about building a career in unconventional industries (cannabis, sex tech & alcohol)and learning to stop...