This Mother Means Business | Business Growth Strategy, Sustainable Business Growth & Leadership for Female Business Owners

In this week’s episode of This Mother Means Business , host Laura Sinclair continues her “10 Lessons from 10 Years of Entrepreneurship” series with one of her most honest reflections yet — the importance of taking care of yourself . Laura opens up about how years of putting her business first led to burnout, and how reprioritizing herself changed everything — from her energy and relationships to h...

In this episode of This Mother Means Business , Laura welcomes back Carly Ottaway —author of Coming Home , creator of The Mirror Effect , and founder of Web of Words . They dive into the vulnerable journey of writing a memoir-style book, the concept of your “favorite self,” how motherhood acts as a mirror , and the power of accountability in finally finishing big creative projects. Expect real tal...

In this episode of This Mother Means Business , host Laura Sinclair continues her “10 Lessons from 10 Years of Entrepreneurship” series with a powerful reflection on the emotional side of business. Laura opens up about what it really means when your work is personal — but how you can choose not to take it personally. From crying over canceled gym memberships to navigating client transitions in her...

In this powerful, very human episode of This Mother Means Business , Laura sits down with trauma specialist and author Dawn Taylor —aka the “ass-kicker, hope-giver” behind The Taylor Way . They unpack what trauma really is (hint: it’s not only the “big T” moments), how it shows up in entrepreneurship, motherhood, hiring, launches, and everyday reactions (yes, even the McDonald’s drive-thru). You’l...

In this episode, host Laura Sinclair continues her 10-part series celebrating a decade of entrepreneurship by sharing her second big lesson: the power of doing the right thing . With honesty and reflection, Laura dives into how integrity has shaped her reputation, guided her decisions, and created opportunities she never expected. From her early gym-owner days and hard lessons with contracts, to n...

In this episode of This Mother Means Business , Laura sits down with leadership coach and podcast host Heather Chauvin ( Emotionally Uncomfortable ) for a first-time, heart-to-heart on energy management, boundaries, and what it really takes for ambitious moms to feel alive —not just productive. Heather shares her journey from teen motherhood to cancer diagnosis and the framework she now teaches hi...

In part one of this special 10-part series, host Laura Sinclair reflects on her decade-long journey as an entrepreneur after leaving her corporate marketing job. Over the next 10 weeks, she’ll share the 10 biggest lessons that shaped her career, her mindset, and her success. This week kicks off with Lesson One: You Have to Be Willing to Grow —a raw and real look at why growth, even when uncomforta...

If you run a small town or local business and feel like “big city Instagram advice” doesn’t quite fit, this episode is your permission slip to do social differently. Laura sits down with Kat Tepylo Murphy , founder of Social Kat Media , to talk about community-driven content, setting healthy social media boundaries as a mom in business, collaborating locally, and why connection beats aesthetics ev...

Motherhood doesn’t come with a one-size-fits-all definition. In this solo episode, Laura gets personal about what good motherhood looks like for her in this season of life—with an 8-year-old and a 5-year-old—and how that definition has shifted over time. She reflects on lessons learned, the pressure of social media, why imperfection is not only okay but necessary, and how ambitious moms can give t...

In this episode of This Mother Means Business , Laura sits down with Canadian business lawyer and strategist Andrea Henry to unpack the legal foundations that help women-owned businesses grow with confidence. From turning your know-how into intellectual property , to contracts that protect collaborations , to thinking about exit value (even if you never plan to sell) —Andrea shares practical, gene...

We’re stepping into the busiest season of the year—Q4—and it can feel like a whirlwind of business goals, family commitments, and holiday chaos. In this episode of This Mother Means Business , Laura Sinclair breaks down how to finish 2025 strong without burning yourself out. From reflecting on what worked this year to defining what a “strong finish” actually looks like for you, Laura offers simple...

In this episode of This Mother Means Business , host Laura Sinclair welcomes back a rare second-time guest: Erin Sisko , founder of The Elleiance Network and creator of the $50K Capital Elle Business Impact Award . The Capital Elle Award was designed to support Canadian women entrepreneurs who have ever been labeled—or felt—“unfundable.” With $50,000 in funding and business services available in 2...

If you’re still answering emails at 10 p.m., juggling social posts between client calls, and feeling like everything in your business depends on you… this episode is your wake-up call. In today’s conversation, Laura dives into delegation in 2025 —what it really looks like to hand off tasks to people and to AI without the guilt, fear, or control issues that hold so many entrepreneurs back. From mon...

In this episode of This Mother Means Business , Laura sits down with Stacey Marks and Kari Schroeter , the powerhouse duo behind Fly Dance Fitness . What started as a local dance studio quickly grew into a viral social media sensation and now a franchise brand expanding across the U.S. Stacey and Kari share their journeys from motherhood struggles to business ownership, how they pivoted during COV...

Ever wish you could go back in time and run your business with the wisdom you have now? In this episode of This Mother Means Business , Laura pulls back the curtain on her biggest lessons from owning a brick-and-mortar CrossFit gym — the wins, the mistakes, and what she’d do differently if she had the chance. Whether you’ve ever dreamed of opening a physical space or simply want to avoid common en...

In this empowering episode of This Mother Means Business , Laura sits down with powerhouse business strategist Kelly Roach —a former Fortune 500 exec turned 8-figure entrepreneur—to talk about what it really takes to scale a sustainable business, stand out in a saturated market, and grow without sacrificing what matters most. Kelly shares practical advice for moms in business, boundary-setting tip...

In this heartfelt solo episode, Laura shares a powerful reminder to slow down and savor the season you're in—especially if you're in the thick of motherhood and business building. Inspired by a viral poem that stopped her in her tracks, she reflects on how easily we rush through the very moments we’ll one day miss. From snuggles and spilled juice to strategy calls and scaling decisions,...

What if the most powerful leadership skill you could give your kids—or yourself—was happening right at the dinner table? In this heart-filled and thought-provoking episode, Laura sits down with speaker, coach, and all-around powerhouse Leisse Wilcox to talk about the unexpected link between family dinners and leadership , the growing importance of emotional intelligence in an AI-driven world, and...

Are your launches falling flat? Engagement down? Feeling like you're doing everything right but nothing is landing? You're not alone — we're in the middle of a trust recession . In this solo episode, Laura breaks down: What the “trust recession” is and why it matters Why even great business owners are being overlooked And how to rebuild trust with your audience using her signature 5...

In this inspiring episode of This Mother Means Business , Laura Sinclair sits down with Chris McMartin, the National Business Banking Lead at the Scotiabank Women Initiative. Together, they dive into what it really takes to support and uplift women in business—from access to funding and mentorship to building confidence and community.   Chris shares her own journey through the world of banking and...

Here’s the truth nobody wants to tell you: if you want real change in your business, you have to be willing to change your mindset, your pricing, your habits, your strategy, and yes… even how you show up. In this powerful solo episode, Laura pulls back the curtain on what it actually takes to grow a business (hint: it’s not luck, it’s leadership). She shares honest reflections from the most recent...

In this deeply moving episode, Laura Sinclair sits down with Amanda Patrick, an inspiring entrepreneur and philanthropist based in Barrie, Ontario. Amanda shares her incredible story of surviving childhood trauma, overcoming abandonment, and choosing resilience over despair. From building two successful businesses to founding "Gift a Family," Simcoe County's fastest-growing charitab...

In this raw and honest episode, Laura opens up about a big behind-the-scenes decision: cancelling her 2025 retreat. Instead of brushing it under the rug, she’s sharing it all — the real story of what happened, what it taught her, and why she doesn’t actually see it as a failure. If you've ever had to pivot, cancel a launch, or walk away from something you love, this one will hit home. This is...

What do you get when you mix six kids, a brilliant business idea, and a powerhouse group of mom-founders? You get Mabel’s Labels —and the unstoppable Julie Cole . In this inspiring (and hilarious) episode, Julie sits down with Laura to talk about the early days of building a brand from her basement, navigating growth with her co-founders (who are also family), and what it really means to juggle en...

In this solo episode, Laura dives into one of the most common questions she hears from women building personal brands: “How much should I share online?” She opens up about the personal boundaries she’s created when it comes to social media—including what she doesn’t post—and how you can find what feels right for you. If you’ve ever wondered where the line is between authentic and overexposed, this...