Unpolished MBA

Wrapping up Season 11 of Unpolished MBA. Lesson of 2025: People may appear kind/nice/assertive/confident and be ill-intentioned and cut-throat in business. Become an Unpolished MBA Guest: https://unpolishedmba.com Follow Monique Mills LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/moniquemills/ Bio Website: https://moniquemills.biz/ TPM Focus - Strategy Firm for Startups and SMBs: https://tpmfocus.com/

In this episode, we're joined by Sabeen Abbas, founder of Hatch Line Consulting, to unpack what it really means to turn product strategy into action in the CPG and food and beverage world. Sabeen shares how she transitioned from corporate America to entrepreneurship just one year ago, why she chose to focus on CPG, and how she uses decision frameworks and stakeholder clarity to help founders and l...

Episode Details: Capitalism is under pressure and everyday people can feel it. Rising prices from tariffs, fights over healthcare, shrinking trust in institutions and the rapid advance of AI have people questioning whether the system still works for them. In this conversation, Monique Mills sits down with Douglas Stevens, professor of accountancy at Georgia State University and author of In Search...

In this episode, Andy Goldstrom of Midcourse Advisors joined us. He has a remarkable track record of building and exiting two Inc. 5,000 companies to Fortune 50 buyers. Andy shares the powerful difference between mere growth and true scaling. In this episode, you will learn: What Andy’s first two fast-growth companies were and how they disrupted their industries. The first cracks Andy typically se...

On this episode, Dr. Julie Gurner , executive performance coach and author of the Ultra Successful Substack newsletter, to unpack one of the most misunderstood traits in leadership: assertiveness . Most people equate assertiveness with rudeness — especially when it comes from women. But as Dr. Gurner explains, assertiveness is simply clarity — the opposite of expecting people to read your mind. Th...

2026 is shaping up to be the year that separates companies that are just keeping up from those creating what’s next. In this forward-thinking solo episode we break down the trends, technologies, and shifts that will define business success in the near future. We dive into why many employees—though excellent at their roles—don’t understand the business behind what they do, and why that lack of unde...

When everyone sounds the same, trust becomes the real advantage. In this episode, Lisa McGuire, strategist, advisor, and host of Your Passion, Purpose & Personal Brand, shares how to build a business aligned with your unique identity rather than credentials or trends. Lisa breaks down how sameness is the recipe for disappearing, why borrowed voices weaken connection, and how authenticity and h...

Some Topics Discussed Include: Are you an educator hoping to pursue entrepreneurship? Listen in to learn how an educator-turned-entrepreneur reimagined her career to serve families, schools, and communities with language and literacy. Guest , Lisa Shaw , author, educator, and founder of My Other Tongue joined us on this episode. Lisa helps children and adults learn Spanish and Portuguese in ways t...

In this episode we speak with Karla Trotman , CEO of Electro Soft , an electronics contract manufacturer serving industrial and defense customers. Karla shares the company’s origin story from kitchen table cables to a second-generation operation, and how she’s steering through tariffs, supply chain shocks, skilled-labor shortages, and leadership stress. Become an Unpolished MBA Guest: https://unpo...

Erika Jefferson joins the Unpolished MBA to talk about why more scientists and engineers aren’t at the venture capital table. She breaks down common myths about who becomes a VC, discuss the real backgrounds of investors, and highlight the unique value technical professionals bring to the world of startups and funding. Erika shares insights from her research, offering practical advice for STEM pro...

In this episode A. Lee Judge—entrepreneur, multimedia content expert, and founder of Content Monsta—discusses the evolution of content creation in the digital age. Lee shares his journey from DJing and corporate marketing to building a creative agency that specializes in video and podcast production for enterprise clients. They discuss why starting with “big content” like podcasts and video interv...

About Episode 147 of Unpolished MBA(R): This episode of Unpolished MBA has guest Caroline Dunn—electrical engineer turned VP of Marketing, YouTuber with 37,000+ subscribers, and author of A Woman’s Guide to Winning in Tech . Caroline shares her unconventional career journey, starting in engineering and pivoting into marketing—despite pushback from peers who didn’t see it as “real” work. We get int...

This episode kicks off Season 11 with a conversation that every small and mid-sized business owner needs to hear. We’re not talking hype—we’re talking real numbers, real friction, and the decisions that make or break your cash flow (and ultimately your success!). Monique sits down with Jess, a seasoned executive turned small business advisor, who shares practical insights from his time managing co...

This final episode of the ETA series brings everything full circle. If you've been following along, you know we’ve covered the entrepreneurship through acquisition (ETA) space in depth—exploring what it takes to buy a business, what can go wrong, what goes right, and how investors evaluate deals. In this episode, the host breaks down: Why acquisitions became part of her growth strategy The real ch...

Most searchers focus on finding the perfect business to buy—but what happens after the deal closes? In this episode, Monique Mills sits down with investor and experienced entrepreneur Mario Montag to discuss what really drives post-acquisition success. Spoiler: it’s not just adding new tech and CRMs. Mario shares what he looks for in searchers before investing, why operational execution is the #1...

In this episode, hosts discuss how cash flow can make or break your business. Whether you're running a company, buying one, or just trying to keep your finances in check, understanding how money moves through your business is essential. Joined by Josh Tejkl, a Fractional CFO and cash flow expert, he uncovers the biggest financial mistakes entrepreneurs make—and how to fix them. He breaks down how...

Thinking about buying a small business? You’ve probably seen all the hype online about acquisition entrepreneurship—no money down, seller financing, and easy paths to wealth. But what if most of that isn’t true? In this episode, Kinza Azmat, a business broker and acquisition entrepreneur, breaks down the realities of buying a business, the biggest misconceptions, and what buyers and sellers get wr...

In this episode, Jed shares his experience of buying and losing a business, the lessons he learned, and his mission to shed light on the often-overlooked challenges of business acquisitions. His forthcoming book, Buyer Beware: Real Stories of Business Acquisition Failure, compiles stories of searchers who’ve faced setbacks, offering actionable takeaways. Key Takeaways: The importance of cash flow...

This episode features Yvette Owo , an acquisition entrepreneur and accountant. The discussion focuses on the crucial role of quality of earnings (QOE) reports in the acquisition process and how they help identify financial discrepancies, whether due to errors or fraud. Yvette emphasizes the importance of understanding revenue spikes, working capital adjustments, and boundary setting in professiona...

In this candid episode, hosts break down the gritty realities of entrepreneurship. From personal guarantees and bankruptcy to building resilience in the face of failure, they leave no stone unturned. Whether you're considering buying a business or struggling with your current venture, this conversation offers invaluable insights, actionable advice, and hard-earned wisdom. Don't miss this episode i...

In this episode hosts dive deep into the realities of entrepreneurship through acquisition (ETA). They explore why buying a business is not the "easy" path many imagine, the tools and strategies to streamline the search process, and the importance of self-awareness and honesty when taking on the responsibility of business ownership. From leveraging tools like HubSpot, Apollo, and local databases t...

In this episode of Unpolished MBA, we continue the Acquisition Chronicles series to uncover the realities of small business acquisitions. Monique Mills is joined by guest co-hosts Jed Morris and Kinza Azmat to share stories, insights, and lessons from the trenches of Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA). Hosts sit down with Keira Hamilton, a former high school English teacher turned entrepre...

In this episode of Unpolished MBA, we continue the Acquisition Chronicles series to uncover the realities of small business acquisitions. Monique Mills is joined by guest co-hosts Jed Morris and Kinza Azmat to share stories, insights, and lessons from the trenches of Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA). Selling a small business is no small feat, and many owners face the harsh reality that t...

In this episode, we kick off The Acquisition Chronicles series the question is answered: What really happens when a business fails? The conversation reveals the hard truths and realities of small business ownership—especially when things don’t go as planned. We discuss: ✅ The impact of personal guarantees (PGs) and what they mean for your assets. ✅ What happens when you default on an SBA loan....

In this episode of Unpolished MBA, we continue the Acquisition Chronicles series to uncover the realities of small business acquisitions. Monique Mills is joined by guest co-hosts Jed Morris and Kinza Azmat to share stories, insights, and lessons from the trenches of Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA). From understanding culture fit to addressing red flags in due diligence, this episode ex...