Life, Business and Everything in Between

Sometimes the conversation you are avoiding is the one that could change everything. In this episode of Life, Business and Everything In Between , Leslie sits down with Marcelle LeBlanc , creator of Conversation Architect , to talk about honest communication, personal growth, relationships, and the cost of staying silent. Marcelle shares how her years of listening to women through her luxury bouti...

In this solo episode of Life, Business and Everything In Between , Leslie talks about transitions, mental health, and what it takes to stay grounded when routines shift. From summer schedules and parenting to team changes and business responsibilities that don’t pause, this episode is a real-time reflection on building stability in seasons that feel disorienting. Leslie shares the coping skills an...

In this episode of Life, Business and Everything In Between , Leslie sits down with Dr. Collette Portis , founder of Red Development Group , for a powerful conversation about authenticity, sustainable systems, and what it really takes to build a business that lasts. Language Note: This episode includes occasional strong language.  Collette shares how her entrepreneurial journey started at age 11,...

In this episode of Life, Business and Everything In Between , Leslie Shields sits down with Megan Bond , owner of Panther City Marketing , for a candid conversation about preparing for maternity leave as a business owner and building a company that can run without you. Megan shares what she’s putting in place before baby arrives, including delegation, reducing approval bottlenecks, and building tr...

In this episode of Life, Business and Everything In Between , Leslie Shields sits down with Michelle Crim , founder of Dynamic Development Strategies , for a candid conversation about scaling a consulting business, building a healthy team culture, and setting boundaries that prevent burnout. Michelle shares her unexpected launch story, including how a major health crisis became the catalyst for st...

What happens when your personal foundation changes and your business doesn’t pause? In this episode of Life, Business and Everything In Between , Leslie Shields welcomes back Tamara Carlen , founder of Ensemble Coworking , for a raw and honest conversation about leading through divorce, identity shifts, and grief. Tamara shares what it looked like to walk through a divorce after nearly three decad...

Bonus note: This is a throwback conversation recorded in April 2025 (from our Facebook Live days), with the most timeless clips pulled for today. If you’ve ever felt stuck, unsure where to find business support, or like you’re building alone, this episode is for you. Leslie revisits key insights from a 2025 conversation with Tamara Carlen, focused on how entrepreneurs can leverage community resour...

What does it take to go from scrappy to scalable in a service business? In this episode of Life, Business and Everything In Between , Leslie Shields sits down with Jennifer Serra, founder of the Jennifer Serra Beauty Team, to talk about the grit behind the glow and how Jennifer is navigating a season of listening, alignment, and calm after years of building. Jennifer shares her pivot from nursing...

Success isn’t built on transactions — it’s built on real connection. In this episode of Life, Business and Everything In Between , Leslie Shields sits down with Kathleen Alexander for an honest conversation about entrepreneurship, leadership, and the moments when business gets deeply personal. Content Note: This episode includes conversation about mental health and suicide. If you or someone you k...

What do you do when the path you thought was secure disappears and you’re forced to start over? In this episode of Life, Business & Everything In Between , Leslie sits down with HR consultant, entrepreneur, and dad Mike Lyons for an honest conversation about reinvention, burnout recovery, and rebuilding when life shifts unexpectedly. From leaving a stable job to redefining success through majo...

What’s it really like when both partners in a marriage are entrepreneurs — building businesses, raising a child, and trying to stay grounded through it all? In this candid episode of Life, Business & Everything In Between , Leslie sits down with her husband, Chris Botvidson, for an honest conversation about what it looks like to grow businesses and a family at the same time. From job loss and...

Planning isn’t about control, it’s about clarity. In this solo episode, Leslie shares the planning rhythm that’s helped her stay grounded as a business owner, wife, and mom — especially in seasons where life is full and the “perfect plan” isn’t realistic. This episode breaks intentional planning into three areas: Planning with your partner/spouse (alignment starts with honest conversations) Planni...

What’s the difference between delegation and abdication — and why does it matter so much as your business grows? In this episode of Life, Business & Everything In Between , Leslie sits down with entrepreneur, investor, builder, and self-described “process nerd” Logan Speights for a wide-ranging conversation about scaling businesses without losing control, testing assumptions before they cost y...

What does it really take to grow a business from the ground up — and keep going when the path isn’t clear? In this episode of Life, Business & Everything In Between , Leslie sits down with longtime friend and powerhouse entrepreneur Gail Stouffer for a candid conversation about building a business from scratch, navigating pivots, and staying grounded through the messy middle. From selling her...

What happens when the business you dreamed of starts costing you your health, your peace, and your joy? In this episode of Life, Business & Everything In Between , Leslie sits down with hairstylist and entrepreneur Sara DeBusk for a raw and honest conversation about burnout, boundaries, and the courage it takes to walk away — even when you’ve poured everything into building something. Sara sha...

Welcome to the very first episode of Life, Business & Everything In Between . In this inaugural conversation, host Leslie Shields sits down with her friend Kaitlin for an honest, behind-the-scenes look at the real journey of entrepreneurship, motherhood, and leadership — long before the highlight reel. Leslie opens up about launching a business while raising a child, navigating self-doubt, and...