Dr. Romie Mushtaq shares her insights and expertise, debunking the common misconceptions about public speaking and providing a behind-the-scenes look at the business of keynote speaking.

You will learn about the importance of owning your thought leadership, developing a clear and compelling message, and building a professional speaking business. Dr. Romie also talks about the significance of image, professionalism, and strategic planning in the keynote speaking industry.

Whether you're an aspiring keynote speaker or simply curious about the world of public speaking, this episode is packed with valuable insights and practical advice from an industry expert.

Episode Highlights:

• Being a professional keynote speaker is a business that requires significant time, effort, and investment.
• Owning your thought leadership and having a clear, specific message are crucial for success.
• Developing a professional image, including hair, makeup, and clothing, is essential.
• Building a team and leveraging professional training and coaching can enhance your speaking skills.
• Focusing on a specific area of expertise and continuously improving your content are key to standing out.
• Evaluating the ROI (Return on Investment) and strategic planning are vital for managing a speaking business.
• The speaking industry is highly competitive, and it takes time and dedication to become a sought-after keynote speaker.
• Fluff and generic topics won't get you hired; you need to offer value and expertise to your target audience.

About This Week's Guest

With nearly 20 years of authority in neurology, integrative medicine, and mindfulness, Dr. Romie is a leading physician on a mission to transform the brain health of companies, leaders, and organisations.

Find out more about Dr Romie at https://drromie.com/

Follow Dr Romie on Instagram at https://instagram.com/DrRomie

Follow Dr Romie on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/DrRomie

Take Dr Romie's free Busy Brain Score here https://drromie.com/busy-brain-test-sm/

Buy "The Busy Brain Cure" book at https://www.amazon.com/Busy-Brain-Cure-Eight-Week-Anxiety/dp/1335007113/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1695991608&sr=8-2

Starting a new business comes with a whirlwind of decisions and logistics to navigate. But getting your tax and legal foundations right from the start is crucial to set your company up for long-term success and avoid costly mistakes down the line.

In this episode, Jen sits down with Adela Cebotari, a seasoned tax advisor and entrepreneur who shares her firsthand experience transitioning from the corporate world to launching her own thriving practice. Adela pulls back the curtain on the unexpected challenges she faced, the pivotal mindset shifts required, and the essential tax and legal steps every new business owner must take.

Whether you're just starting to explore entrepreneurship or already have a young business, this conversation is packed with practical, actionable insights you won't want to miss.

Episode Highlights:

- Adela's journey from corporate tax advisor to successful business owner - the pivotal moment that inspired her to take the leap

- The surprising number of hats Adela had to wear when starting her own practice, and her top tips for managing it all

- How Adela's focus on giving back through her charity work in Moldova is making a tangible difference

- The accounting software Adela swears by to keep her finances organised and compliant

- Adela's insights on the critical importance of getting your business structure and tax planning right from day one

About Adela Cebotari

Adela Cebotari, is the Founder of TARI CTA, a London base tax consultancy practice. She has almost 20 years’ experience in the Personal Tax industry. She is a Fellow of the Association of Tax Technicians and is also certified by the UK’s highest tax institution, the Chartered Institute of Taxation. In 2023 she also joined the STEP community of tax and legal advisors, by completing the Advanced Certificate in UK tax for International Clients. To date, she has provided tax compliance and tax advisory services to over 2,000 clients from the entrepreneurs at the beginning of their journey to ultra wealthy, internationally acclaimed A listers. She enjoys working with clients from a variety of industries and world location, however her speciality is working with clients in the entertainment industry and those needing support relating to the UK Residence and Domicile and deciphering the impact on their worldwide tax affairs.

Adela is also a passionate philanthropist. She is in process of becoming a trustee of the MAD-AID charity. Also, she is working on a tax knowledge sharing project that will offer workshops to schools, helping young people understand the tax conundrums so that they are better prepared for their journey into the world of financial dilemmas

Connect with Adela Cebotari

https://www.facebook.com/tax.taricta

https://www.instagram.com/tari_cta/

https://www.facebook.com/adela.cebotari.9/

https://www.instagram.com/adelacebotari/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/adela-cebotari-53791657/

Jen interviews entrepreneur Janine Sudbury about her journey building multiple successful businesses in New Zealand over 25 years. Janine shares how she overcame self-doubt to pursue opportunities, and discusses her unique leadership program that uses horses to teach communication and relationship-building skills.

Episode Highlights:

• How Janine built a career in radio within a year of moving to NZ from opportunities not available in the UK
• Janine's horse whispering leadership program that teaches balance of warmth and strength through equine exercises
• Stories of women transforming careers by losing fear and niceness through Janine's program
• Business lessons like following the money and importance of deadlines
• Janine's experience overcoming a tutor's doubt to pursue a dream opportunity in Washington DC

About Janine Sudbury

Janine Sudbury is a former BBC and National Radio broadcast journalist and presenter who has created one of the most unique leadership training centres in the country. She has a BA in Philosophy and Politics, has worked in Congress in Washington DC and has used these experiences to develop Impact Leadership. Her journalistic career has helped her develop an astuteness in reading people and situations which allow her to swiftly pinpoint how best to motivate and inspire. Janine is also a superb communicator and listener who is empathetic and capable of giving honest, passionate feedback.

• Find out more about Janine at www.impactlead.co.nz
• Connect with Janine on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/janine-sudbury-1173622
• Connect with Janine on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/sudburynz/ and https://www.instagram.com/impactleadershipnz/
• Connect with Janine on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/sudburynz and https://www.facebook.com/impactleadershipnz

Episode Links

• Connect with Janine on LinkedIn
• Impact Leadership | Experiential Leadership Programmes

When this week's guest, a hospitality consultant and vintage aficionado, found her entrepreneurial dreams are in jeopardy due to the pandemic, she pivoted to a bold bartering strategy to keep her secondhand store afloat. Jelena Dancetovic is the GM and part owner of Retold, a secondhand clothing store in Dubai. She has 15 years of experience in hospitality and has been passionate about secondhand clothes since she was a child. When she moved to Dubai 15 years ago, Jelena quickly found that it was too expensive to buy new clothes. She combined her hospitality background with her passion for vintage, and in 2012 started her own online vintage shop. When the pandemic hit, Jelena was faced with bankruptcy, but she quickly adapted her business model and started buying second-hand clothes from those leaving the country. By using her contacts in hospitality, she was able to organize events and used influencers to spread the word. Now, her business is thriving, and she is helping entrepreneurs through her shop, providing a space for them to sell their products and offering barter deals.

In this episode, you will learn the following:

• How did a lack of access to affordable clothing inspire Jelena Dancetovic to start her own business?
• How did Jelena Dancetovic use her experience in both hospitality and second hand clothing to create a successful business model?
• What strategies did Jelena Dancetovic use to collaborate with influencers and small businesses to maximize her success?

In a society where women receive less than 2% of capital investments, this week's podcast guest is on a mission to challenge the status quo and use gender as a lens to empower female founders. Heather Henyon is the founder of Mindshift Capital, a gender lens VC fund. She has been investing in women for over a decade and has experience in building seven figure businesses around the world. In this episode, Heather shares how the relationship between investors and entrepreneurs is like a marriage, and the importance of finding the right people, doing due diligence, and building organic relationships.

In this episode, Heather and Jen discuss:

• How to use gender as a screen for venture capital investments
• What male and female investors can learn from each other
• The importance of building relationships and performing due diligence when investing.

Resources:

• Download the Female Fusion SME Dashboard at femalefusionnetwork.com/sme-dashboard
• Connect with Heather at https://www.mindshiftcapital.com/ 

Connect with us 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/femalefusionnetwork

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FemaleFusionNetwork

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FemaleFusion

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/femalefusionnetwork

Website: www.femalefusionnetwork.com

Today's guest, Maxine Cunningham created Pick My Brain to unlock a global marketplace of conversations, services, and expertise to help you dream out loud and manifest your vision. "Conversations have changed my life so many times in so many significant ways. And conversations have given me energy and perspective and ideas and relationships and new paths faster than any other type of medium." -Maxine Cunningham Maxine is the CEO and founder of Pick My Brain, a global knowledge sharing marketplace. She is an economist passionate about helping people package and price their knowledge to create new revenue streams. In this episode, Maxine shares how she was inspired to create Pick My Brain after asking herself what value conversations held and how they could be traded. Since it's conception 4 years go, she has conducted over a thousand Pick My Brain calls with people from 196 countries, covering every industry, culture, and background.  

In this episode, Maxine and Jen discuss:

• The value of conversations and how they can be traded in a more leveraged way.
• The potential of creating a unique marketplace of conversations.
• Monetizing and packaging your knowledge to create a global revenue stream.

Resources:

• Join the Fusion Circle today at femalefusionnetwork.com/join 
• Find out more about Maxine and Pick My Brain at www.pickmybrain.world

This week's guest on the Women on the Rise Podcast is Olga Fleming - an angel investor specializing in tech-related investments such as Fintech, PropTech, Aviation Tech, and Travel Tech. She is a lawyer with a background in compliance, and she is passionate about helping startups to succeed. Olga is an angel investor who focuses on investing in early-stage startups, providing them with both financial and advisory support. She works with startups to help them understand the importance of having the right advisors and investors onboard, and helps them find the right investors to make their project a success. "Looking at those sparkling eyes of those startups, having those great ideas when you're already in business for many years, that makes a difference. You realize why you are there, why you are doing this, why it's worth still doing businesses."

In this episode, Olga and Jen discuss:

• The importance of personalized outreach when trying to find investors
• The benefits of having a diverse group of angel investors in a startup
• How to mitigate risk when giving away equity to investors.

In this episode of the Women on the Rise podcast, Jen's 14-year old daughter Eva shares her experience of growing up with a mother who is an entrepreneur. Eva discusses how she felt when her mother couldn't make it to all of her school events and provides words of wisdom for all working mothers, emphasising the importance of taking time for oneself and communicating with your children. Eva's story serves as a reminder that it is possible to balance running a business and having a family.

In this episode, Jen and Eva open up about:

• Balancing Life as a Working Mother: What is it like to have a mother who is an entrepreneur and works a lot?
• The Impact of Gender Inequality: How teenagers today view the gender inequality they observe in society?
• The Power of Self-Care: How women can prioritise their own mental health and wellbeing while running a business and raising a family

Resources:

• Find out more about Female Fusion at femalefusionnetwork.com
• Join the Fusion Circle Waitlist at femalefusionnetwork.com/join

Connect with me 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/femalefusionnetwork

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FemaleFusionNetwork

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/femalefusion

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/FemaleFusionNet

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/femalefusionnetwork

Website: https://www.femalefusionnetwork.com/

Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating!

After years of struggling to set boundaries and prioritize her own health and well-being, Jen (a self-confessed people pleaser) shares her empowering journey to establish healthy limits while making her business dreams a reality. In this episode, Jen opens up about how by finally prioritizing and setting clear boundaries she was able to focus on growing Female Fusion while also making time for her family and herself. She also shares the calendar-blocking hack that allowed me to her more creative and relieved the pressure of being available all the time - and so much more! "Set yourself boundaries so you're going to be able to run a business and have a bit of a life - it is possible!"

In this week's podcast, you'll unlock:

• The systems Jen followed that have enabled her to set boundaries and have a life as an entrepreneur
• How you can prioritize personal and business goals simultaneously
• Strategies for establishing the right balance of boundaries and creative time for you

Resources:

• Find out more about Female Fusion at femalefusionnetwork.com
• Find out exactly where your business could be more profitable by taking our FREE Business Profitability Quiz at femalefusionnetwork.com/quiz
• Join the Fusion Circle Waitlist at femalefusionnetwork.com/join

Connect with me

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/femalefusionnetwork

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FemaleFusionNetwork

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/femalefusion

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/FemaleFusionNet

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/femalefusionnetwork

Website: https://www.femalefusionnetwork.com/

Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating!

Female Fusion CEO, Jen Blandos, shares what it means to her to achieve her goal of helping other women build their businesses by offering an unorthodox pricing strategy that simultaneously challenges the status quo and tests the limits of her customers' willingness to pay. Jen shares several pricing strategies such as cost-based pricing, value-based pricing, pricing according to competitors, penetration pricing, loss leader pricing, and high initial pricing. Each of these strategies comes with its own pros and cons, and Jen's breakdown and analysis of each in this episode will make a huge difference in determining which one will work best for your business. "Pricing is such an important aspect of being an entrepreneur and it's really important that we get this right."

In this episode, you will learn the following:

• How to price your product or service as an Entrepreneur
• Strategies for setting up a business pricing model
• Investing in Loss Leader pricing to attract customers

Discover how one entrepreneur grew her business by 5x in just one year - and how you can too! Jen Blandos, the founder of Female Fusion Network, shares her insights and expertise as a global entrepreneur, and how she created the right environment for Female Fusion Network to 5x its revenue in 2022. "On the first of January 2022, Female Fusion Network had 168 paying members. At the end of 2022, we had pretty close to 1000 paying members. That was something I had set out as a goal that I had said to myself at the beginning of the year, so I felt pretty chuffed that I met that goal."

In this episode, you will learn the following:

• How did Jen 5x Female Fusion in one year?
• What strategies did she use to create 1,000 paying members?
• What systems and processes did she put in place to maximise success?

Jen Blandos knows better than most how important it is to take care of oneself to ensure that the business succeeds, and in this episode, you will learn about Jen's reflections on the past 12 months of business, and the unprecedented challenges and opportunities faced by business owners in 2023. Jen learned about the importance of taking time to assess financials, time spent, and how to maximize her business performance, and in this episode, she divulges how to review the year (including revenue, direct costs, overhead costs, and liabilities), as well as how to track time and understand how it affects the business.  "I don't know about you, but I am so excited to kick this year off. I have a feeling that In Business at 2023 is going to be the best year yet."

In this episode, you will learn the following:

• How to plan for success in business in 2023
• Uncovering the financial terms and trends of running a business
• Examining how entrepreneurs can better manage their time and health for long-term success.

After being told 'no' her entire life, Jen Blandos defies expectations by facing a global recession, starting a business, moving to a new country, and overcoming a cancer diagnosis - all in pursuit of her entrepreneurial dream. In this podcast premiere, your host Jen Blandos shares her experiences in overcoming challenges as an entrepreneur, and how she learned to think big, take risks, and pivot when faced with adversity. Despite being told "no" and facing the global recession, Jen was able to build multiple successful businesses and move to Dubai with her family. She overcame personal and professional challenges, including being diagnosed with breast cancer, to keep her business not only running, but thriving. "Focus on thinking big and driving your business ahead. And if you do that, they're never going to catch you, they're never going to be you."

In this episode, you will learn:

• How did an 11-year-old girl with a dream of becoming the Prime Minister of Canada build a successful business across several countries?
• What strategies did a female entrepreneur use to survive the recession of 2008?
• How did one businesswoman use her experience of being diagnosed with breast cancer to tighten up her systems and processes?

Zoë Chapman's Incredible Entrepreneurial Journey

Join Jen as she interviews Female Fusion member and London-based entrepreneur Zoë Chapman, the inventor of The Whizzer. She talks about how she built her business, inventing a product, finding factories to work with and what it's really like to pitch your product and business on the BBC's Dragon's Den. Watch this space, because Zoë's invention is about to take the world by storm!

Episode Highlights:

• How Zoë came up with the idea The Whizzer while potty training her son on the go
• The challenges of getting startup funding and manufacturing as a high-risk female founder
• Lessons learned from numerous pitching experiences, including her successful Dragon's Den pitch
• Balancing entrepreneurship and motherhood, and overcoming self-doubt
• Strategies for breaking into new markets and getting The Whizzer onto store shelves

About Zoë Chapman

By the age of 24, Zoë had already worked her way up in the London Stock Exchange, despite a hidden story of homelessness, years of domestic abuse, and multiple suicide attempts due to her mental health. As the daughter of a musician turned small business owner, she only had the experience of struggling to make a career out of your passion. Yet, after inventing the world’s smallest toilet while potty training her son and providing end-of-life care for her father, years later, in the midst of a global pandemic and unfunded, she decided to give entrepreneurship a go and bring her invention to market.

• Find out more about The Whizzer & Kiddiwhizz: www.Kiddiwhizz.com
• Connect with Zoë on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kiddiwhizz/
• Connect with Zoë on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zoe-a-chapman
• Connect with Zoë on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kiddiwhizz

Connect with us:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/femalefusionnetwork

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FemaleFusionNetwork

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/femalefusion

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/FemaleFusionNet

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/femalefusionnetwork

Website: https://www.femalefusionnetwork.com/

Jen interviews marketing strategist Nicki Osbaldiston about using LinkedIn effectively for business. Nicki shares tips for thought leadership, personal branding, engaging content, and consistent networking. They discuss cultural differences and the value of female entrepreneur communities.

Episode Highlights:

• Use professional photos and share your vision, values and expertise for personal branding
• Comment meaningfully on others' LinkedIn posts to build your reputation
• Tailor your LinkedIn content and messaging for your target audience
• Engage daily with insightful comments to attract potential clients
• Don't rely on lazy auto-responders - use your own authentic voice

About Nicki Osbaldiston

With a background in Global Marketing and Communications, Nicki has created, promoted and delivered leadership resources across multiple countries for several years, while living internationally and in her home country of NZ.

Her focus now lies in assisting small-medium businesses developing and positioning their ventures effectively for their ideal client audience. With strengths in developing, connecting and strategy, Nicki loves coaching and running workshops on strategy and thought leadership visibility with business owners authentically seeking growth opportunities."

• Find out more about Nicki’s business here: https://www.clientfocusedapproach.com/
• Connect with Nicki on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/nicki-osbaldiston
• Doors to Female Fusion’s membership open soon! Find out more and join our waitlist at https://www.femalefusionnetwork.com/join

Connect with us:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/femalefusionnetwork

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FemaleFusionNetwork

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/femalefusion

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/FemaleFusionNet

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/femalefusionnetwork

Website: https://www.femalefusionnetwork.com

Jen sits down with Nathalie Haddad, founder of Right Bite, one of the pioneering healthy meal delivery services in Dubai. Nathalie shares her journey from working as a nutritionist to starting her meal planning business 20 years ago. She discusses the challenges of growing a food business, prioritising strategy over demands, building the right team, and her partnership with Ketopia.

Episode Highlights:

• How Nathalie tested her meal planning idea and stayed close to customers' values
• The importance of focusing on economies of scale, quality output and customer loyalty
• Selling assets and later selling her business to allow for rapid growth
• Building a profitable business by filtering feedback and reinventing offerings
• The determination and resilience needed to overcome challenges as an entrepreneur

Nathalie Haddad is the Founder of Right Bite

• Find out more about Right Bite here: https://rightbite.com
• Connect with Right Bite on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/MyRightBite
• Connect with Right Bite on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/right-bite-nutrition-and-catering-services

Connect with us

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/femalefusionnetwork

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FemaleFusionNetwork

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/femalefusion

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/FemaleFusionNet

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/femalefusionnetwork

Website: https://www.femalefusionnetwork.com/

Jen interviews Rawan Baddour, co-founder of Zest Equity, about empowering entrepreneurs and investors in the UAE through innovative tools and infrastructure. They discuss the opportunities and challenges of building a business in the region, overcoming mindset barriers, and empowering teams through diversity.

Episode Highlights:

• How the UAE is attracting global businesses and investors through its regulatory frameworks and talent pool
• The importance of authenticity, impact and community when evaluating investment opportunities
• Strategies for overcoming lack of confidence and embracing support systems as an entrepreneur
• Leveraging technology and empowering diverse teams to continuously innovate
• Prioritising growth into new markets through strategic expansion planning

About Rawan Baddour

Rawan is the co-founder of Zest Equity, building infrastructure to power private market transactions, digitizing processes and offering tools to streamline how stakeholders transact and communicate.

Over 10 years of experience in strategy, restructuring, change management, commercial and investment banking. Previously headed a regulated investment bank, managing the local team, cross-border functions, as well as compliance, risk management and governance practices.

Keen interest in innovation and digitization to enhance transparency, engagement, communication and participation for collective growth."

• Find out more about Rawan here: www.zestequity.com
• Connect with Rawan on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/rawanbaddour/
• Connect with Rawan on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/zest.equity/

Connect with us

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/femalefusionnetwork

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FemaleFusionNetwork

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/femalefusion

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/FemaleFusionNet

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/femalefusionnetwork

Website: https://www.femalefusionnetwork.com/

Jen interviews Natasha Wells, founder of brand consultancy Brand Angel in Auckland, New Zealand. They discuss the importance of branding for all businesses and balancing personal and business brands. Natasha shares her journey in design and how she recognised the need to help businesses connect branding and goals. Jean and Natasha also discuss strategic partnerships and how collaborating with complementary skills can boost business growth.

Episode Highlights:

• Branding is crucial for connecting with customers and differentiating your business
• Map your customer journey to understand their needs and lead the narrative
• Invite customer feedback to build trust and move them to advocacy
• Consider strategic partnerships to fill gaps in supporting your customers
• Collaborate with experts to boost your skills and business growth

About Natasha Wells

With a background in Graphic Design and Communication and infinity with empowering others, my journey into branding was inevitable. With over two decades building brands for clients globally, I bring creativity and expertise to my work as a Brand Angel for growth-focused service businesses. My role is to help build capability and align the brand with business goals, values, and purpose. I draw on my experience as an Agency Director to bridge the gap between marketing and sales functions to ensure businesses in competitive markets establish a strong brand position and powerful connections.

• Find out more about Natasha here: www.thebrandangel.com
• Connect with Natasha on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/natasha-wells-brand-marketing
• Connect with Natasha on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/designertashwells/

Connect with us

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/femalefusionnetwork

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FemaleFusionNetwork

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/femalefusion

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/FemaleFusionNet

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/femalefusionnetwork

Website: https://www.femalefusionnetwork.com/

Jen sits down with Nicola Taylor, a serial entrepreneur making waves in New Zealand with her fintech companies Taxi + Tax Traders. In this episode, Nicola shares invaluable insights on founding businesses with an equity mission and prioritising culture from the start.

Through her story, Nicola offers a blueprint for prioritising culture from day one. With empathy, tools, and permission-giving, entrepreneurs can build workplaces where diverse humans thrive - and in turn, where innovation and success naturally follow.

Her mission of expanding equity shows how values-aligned scaling can make a profound impact.

About Nicola Taylor

After an award-winning career in law, I co-founded Tax Traders in 2012 and Taxi in 2022. Taxi brings tax-powered working capital to all Kiwi businesses, whilst Tax Traders creates smart tools for accountants to streamline their work and see more clients benefit from the tax pooling framework. At the heart of our work is the belief that the benefits of the tax system should be available to all taxpayers and that truly great businesses are driven by purpose and have people at their heart. We are a certified B Corp, a current Inspiring Places to Work finalist and placed in the Deloitte Fast 50.

• Find out more about Nicola here: www.gotaxi.co.nz and www.taxtraders.co.nz
• Connect with Nicola on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicola-taylor-86342615/

Connect with us

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/femalefusionnetwork

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FemaleFusionNetwork

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/femalefusion

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/FemaleFusionNet

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/femalefusionnetwork

Website: https://www.femalefusionnetwork.com/

Jen interviews Cath Vincent, a business consultant from New Zealand who helps small businesses stop leaking profit. Cath shares her tips for analysing your cash flow, delegating tasks, and creating a business that supports your desired lifestyle.

Episode Highlights:

• Analyse your cash flow, expenses, and profit leaks using tools like Xero to gain visibility.
• Delegate tasks that you dislike or are not essential to your role to free up time and energy.
• Create an annual plan that accounts for seasonal variations in your business and personal cash flow.
• Say no to opportunities that do not fully align with your essential criteria to avoid taking on too much.
• Focus on delivering your highest value offerings exceptionally well rather than spreading yourself thin.

About Cath Vincent

Cath is an Associate at the Prime Strategies Group helping small businesses to stop leaking profit. An award-winning keynote speaker, she speaks on performance, productivity, behavioural change & leadership.

She renovated a distressed warehouse and former methamphetamine lab in the heart of Auckland City into a motivational hub called Studio 38, where she lives and works with her husband, daughter, and wire-haired fox terrier.

Studio 38 is a 50-seat venue and recording studio which hosts workshops, charity events and her broadcast TV show as well as her a women’s speaking group She Says So.

• Find out more about Cath here: cathvincent.com
• Connect with Cath on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/cathvincent/

Connect with us

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/femalefusionnetwork

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FemaleFusionNetwork

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/femalefusion

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/FemaleFusionNet

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/femalefusionnetwork

Website: https://www.femalefusionnetwork.com/

Jen discusses how small business owners can find collaborations that will help take their business to the next level. She covers how to set goals for collaborations, find complementary partners, set clear expectations, measure success and more.

Episode Highlights:

• Set clear goals for what you want to achieve from a collaboration
• Look for partners with complementary businesses and audiences
• Consider partners of similar or slightly larger/smaller size
• Set clear expectations for roles and deliverables up front
• Measure success through sales, email list growth, and other metrics

Filmed and edited by Poddster, Dubai's pioneering podcast studios. Book your recording slot: https://www.poddster.com/

Connect with us

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/femalefusionnetwork

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FemaleFusionNetwork

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/femalefusion

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/FemaleFusionNet

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/femalefusionnetwork

Website: https://www.femalefusionnetwork.com/

Jen discusses the top 10 reasons why a business may not be growing as quickly as the owner would like based on member feedback. She shares insights on evaluating business models, managing cash flow, prioritizing leadership, maintaining quality and innovation, hiring the right team, setting up systems, and more. Jen also reflects on personal biases that can hold business owners back from growth.

Episode Highlights:

• Review your business model and product/market fit to support scaling goals
• Strengthen cash flow management and financial literacy
• Develop strong leadership to support your vision as the business grows
• Maintain or exceed quality standards as the business scales up operations
• Carve out time for innovation and creative thinking to avoid stagnation
• Implement strategic talent acquisition and effective onboarding processes
• Establish standard operating procedures and systems to streamline operations
• Remain open to feedback from customers, employees and your network
• Invest in ongoing learning and professional development

Filmed and edited by Poddster, Dubai's pioneering podcast studios. Book your recording slot: https://www.poddster.com/

Connect with us

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/femalefusionnetwork

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FemaleFusionNetwork

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/femalefusion

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/FemaleFusionNet

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/femalefusionnetwork

Lien DePau, founder of The Big Exit, joins Jen to uncover a shocking statistic - only 1% of sold businesses are female-founded. Lien shares her insights on the gender gap in business exits and provides practical strategies women can use to beat the odds.

Discover the insider tips Lien has for automating your business, overcoming gender bias in valuations, and planning a successful exit as a female entrepreneur.

Episode Highlights

• The staggering gender gap - 99% of sold businesses are male-founded
• Practical steps to make your business more sellable and valuable
• How to use automation to free up time for growth and exit planning
• Combating gender bias in business valuations
• Lien's must-do first steps for any woman planning a business exit

About Lien De Pau

Lien De Pau is obsessed with business strategy, gender equality, and all things pink. She

partners with self-made entrepreneurs to help them multiply the value of their business,

achieve The Big Exit and become a soul-centered, heart-led investors.

When she’s not turning entrepreneurs into investors, you can find her doing weird yoga poses or enjoying a good surf on Necker Island.

Connect with Lien

Website: www.thebigexit.co

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/liendepau 

Jen sits down with digital business expert Tina Tower to discuss strategies for building a sustainable online business while maintaining a work-life balance. Tina shares lessons from her experience scaling multiple companies and offers tips for overcoming fears of showing up online, identifying a niche market, and growing a membership community.

Episode Highlights:

• Overcome public speaking anxiety through regular practice and exposure
• Start with online courses before transitioning to a membership program
• Experiment and don't be afraid to fail when testing marketing strategies
• Define your niche and stick to it for better targeting and results
• Balance scaling your business with maintaining personal connections
• Build systems to support growth while still taking extended time off
• Hire team members in different time zones for round-the-clock support

About Tina Tower

Starting her business at age 20, Tina Tower us a seasoned entrepreneur who has built and sold 4 companies.

She's a best selling Author of Million Dollar Micro Business & One Life - How To Have The Life of Your Dreams and changes women's lives through her program, Her Empire Builder - the world's best online education for female course creators.

• Download Tina's Free Live Launch Checklist here: https://www.herempirebuilder.com/checklist
• Click here to join Her Empire Builder: https://www.tinatower.com/a/2147508215/DodavAdL
• Connect with Tina on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tina-tower-b28a5136/
• Connect with Tina on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/herempirebuilder/
• Connect with Tina on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TinaTowerAu

Connect with us

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/femalefusionnetwork

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FemaleFusionNetwork

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/femalefusion

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/FemaleFusionNet

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/femalefusionnetwork

Website: https://www.femalefusionnetwork.com/

Annabel Harper sits down with Jen to discuss her book "Shujaa'ah" which focuses on empowering women leaders in the Middle East. They dive into Annabel's journey working as an executive coach in Dubai and Saudi Arabia, the cultural challenges women face, and how leadership development programs are helping drive change.

Episode Highlights:

• Annabel Harper's career journey from journalist to executive coach in the Middle East
• Her research on women in leadership roles in the UAE and challenges with career progression
• Cultural stereotypes women entrepreneurs face in the region and the importance of relationships
• Rapid social changes in Saudi Arabia and adjustments for both women and men
• Impact of women's leadership programs and hope for more inclusive programs in the future
• Tips for taking a business international and benefits of writing a book

Doors to join Female Fusion are currently closed - join our waitlist at www.femalefusionnetwork.com/join

About Annabel Harper

Annabel is a best-selling author, speaker and international Executive Coach. She works with senior, director and board level clients from a variety of global multi-nationals and SMEs in many sectors. Annabel has a particular interest in the Middle East and her book, “Shujaa’ah: Bold Leadership for Women of the Middle East” was a finalist in the Business Book Awards 2021. She writes and speaks regularly on diversity, inclusion, and creating diverse ecosystems in organisations. She is currently studying for her DProf and teaches coaching at Cambridge University.

• Find out more about Annabel at https://changeconnections.com/

Jen shares her top tips for using both online and in-person networking effectively to expand your business network and find new opportunities. She discusses the importance of relationship-building over direct selling and how to establish yourself as an expert online.

Episode Highlights:

• Focus on building long-term relationships, not just getting quick wins
• Network through online communities by providing value without self-promotion
• Attend a variety of networking events to meet diverse contacts
• Follow up with new connections to further develop relationships
• Give back to others in your network for ongoing referrals and opportunities

Doors to join Female Fusion's membership are currently closed. Join the waitlist to be a part of the world's leading network for female entrepreneurs at https://www.femalefusionnetwork.com/join

Filmed and edited by Poddster, Dubai's pioneering podcast studios. Book your recording slot: https://www.poddster.com/

Connect with us

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/femalefusionnetwork

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FemaleFusionNetwork

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/femalefusion

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/FemaleFusionNet

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/femalefusionnetwork

Website: https://www.femalefusionnetwork.com/

Skye Barbour shares her expertise in helping female entrepreneurs stop being so busy doing everything and start delegating tasks that don't match their strengths. She discusses the importance of focusing on your zone of genius while building systems and teams to handle other responsibilities.

Skye also identifies common personality patterns that can hold entrepreneurs back and offers tips on overcoming challenges through delegation and operational brilliance.

Episode Highlights Include:

• Identify your protector pattern and how it impacts your business using Sky's free assessment
• Make a list of daily, weekly and monthly tasks, circling those you enjoy and want to delegate
• Outsource low-value tasks that don't align with your goals to free up time
• Link team roles to tasks in a project management system like Asana
• Share your business vision and vulnerabilities with your team to build trust and alignment
• Schedule regular check-ins with team members to improve communication

ABOUT SKYE BARBOUR

Skye Barbour is a business consultant to 6-figure+ female-led service providers who want to go from £200k—> £1m while doing less. Placing your firmly in your Genius Zone. Optimising seamless systems and elevating your small but mighty team. We stop overworking and start leading to create Scalable Success™️ .Personally, I have started, run and sold successful multi-million pound businesses and maintained multi-5 figure months in this business whilst on maternity leave and with my young family. An active farmer's wife, mother of two small children, who is able to have the best of all worlds.

• Find out more about Skye at www.skyebarbour.com
• Check out Skye's podcast at https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/full-freedom-for-entrepreneurs-with-skye-barbour/id1603622436
• Connect with Skye on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/skye_barbour/
• Connect with Skye on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/skye.barbour.5
• Connect with Skye on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/skye-barbour-7995a645?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app

Jen shares the top 10 mistakes she sees entrepreneurs making in their businesses based on over 25 years of experience. She discusses common issues with business plans, branding, marketing, operations, cash flow management, mindset and more. Learn how to identify mistakes you may be making and tips to help your business succeed.

Episode Highlights:

• Lack of a clear business plan hinders growth and direction
• Branding is more than a logo - it's the foundation of your business
• Marketing is essential, even if you don't like it, to stay visible
• Websites are crucial for a digital presence and customer data protection
• Cash flow processes need to be tight to avoid overspending or loss of funds
• Compliance, trademarks and legal protection of assets is important
• Customer service issues can damage your brand if not addressed
• Mindset impacts everything - focus on positivity for challenges
• Investment in systems, people and yourself is key to long term success

Doors to join Female Fusion's membership are currently closed. Join the waitlist to be a part of the world's leading network for female entrepreneurs at https://www.femalefusionnetwork.com/join

Filmed and edited by Poddster, Dubai's pioneering podcast studios. Book your recording slot: https://www.poddster.com/

In this episode, Claire Walker shares her 38-year journey building her London-based PR agency Firefly. She discusses adapting to changes in business, prioritising employee well-being, and building resilience through challenges like recession and personal loss. Business owners will learn strategies for PR, hiring freelancers, qualifying clients, and cultivating a supportive community.

Episode Highlights include:

• Use freelancers to flexibly scale up and down based on client needs
• Balance internal culture and customer satisfaction for business success
• Automate HR tasks and document processes to streamline operations
• Look ahead during downturns and prepare to pivot your business
• Surround yourself with supportive people through difficult times
• Qualify clients carefully to ensure a good fit for your services
• Prepare properly for difficult conversations and negotiations

Important Links

• Doors to join Female Fusion are OPEN (for a limited time!). Find out more and join us inside the membership at https://www.femalefusionnetwork.com/join

About Claire Walker

As CEO of Firefly Communications Group, Claire have been at the helm of the PR agency since she founded it in 1988. Firefly shapes the reputations of technology businesses in Europe, accelerating their success. Claire works at Group level, supporting her offices in London, Munich and Paris.

• Find out more about Claire at www.fireflycomms.com
• Connect with Claire on LinkenIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/clairewalkerfirefly/

Jen interviews Tim Hayden, founder of Hagley West watches, about how he grew his watch brand globally through creative storytelling and viral video challenges like the Find Tim Challenge. Tim shares how he documented his journey from the start, connected with audiences through vulnerability, and used challenges to build word-of-mouth referrals all over the world.

Episode Highlights:

• How documenting his journey from the start helped connect with audiences
• The importance of showing vulnerability to build emotional connections
• How viral video challenges like the Find Tim Challenge enhanced his brand globally
• Tips for encouraging word-of-mouth through personal interactions and giveaways

Find out more about Tim and Hagley West Watches at https://www.hagleywest.com/

Follow Tim on TikTok at https://www.tiktok.com/@timhayden6

Follow Tim on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/hayden.tim/

Doors to join Female Fusion's membership are now open! Join the world's leading network for female entrepreneurs at https://www.femalefusionnetwork.com/join

Filmed and edited by Poddster, Dubai's pioneering podcast studios. Book your recording slot: https://www.poddster.com/

World-renowned therapist Marisa Peer shares insights on finding success through passion and developing a positive mindset.

Episode highlights include:

• Identify your passion and become an expert in your field
• Replace negative self-talk with empowering language
• Let go of ego to share your success with others
• Quality of life is as important as financial success
• Age is no barrier to entrepreneurial success with dedication

Find out more about Marisa at https://marisapeer.com/

Get Marisa's free resources at https://marisapeer.com/free-gifts/

Follow Marisa on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/marisa-peer/

Follow Marisa on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/marisapeertherapy/

Doors to join Female Fusion's membership open soon! Join the waitlist for priority access at https://www.femalefusionnetwork.com/join

Jen shares the top 10 things she would do differently if starting Female Fusion from scratch based on her experience building multiple businesses over the years. She discusses the importance of thorough market research, automating systems and processes, outsourcing non-essential tasks, developing digital products and services for recurring revenue, focusing on marketing and brand building, collaborating with others, and going global.

Episode Highlights:

• Spend 1-2 months doing thorough market research to understand your target audience and ensure your product/service is a good fit
• Document systems and standard operating procedures from day one to make automation and outsourcing easier
• Outsource tasks like accounting, social media, and customer service as soon as you have money coming in
• Develop digital products/services on platforms like Kajabi for passive recurring revenue
• Master marketing - it underpins all business growth
• Build your personal network of "business besties" for support
• Partner and collaborate with others to amplify your brand and business growth
• Focus on your local market first before expanding globally

Access Female Fusion's Planning Course here: https://www.femalefusionnetwork.com/2024planning

Get our free SME Dashboard at https://www.femalefusionnetwork.com/sme-dashboard

Filmed and edited by Poddster, Dubai's pioneering podcast studios. Book your recording slot: https://www.poddster.com/

Jen shares the top 5 strategies that were the biggest game changers for Female Fusion in 2023. She discusses the importance of planning, investing in her personal brand, getting serious about social media, focusing on LinkedIn, and launching THIS successful podcast!

Episode Highlights:

• Develop a detailed annual plan, track metrics monthly, and be willing to make quick changes.
• Spend time developing your personal brand through public speaking, media appearances, and social media.
• Have a clear social media strategy and be consistent with high-quality, engaging content.
• Don't neglect LinkedIn - build your personal profile and company page through daily posting and engagement.
• Consider starting a podcast to connect with your audience, amplify your message, and experience significant growth.

Access Female Fusion's Planning Course here: https://www.femalefusionnetwork.com/2024planning

Get our free SME Dashboard at https://www.femalefusionnetwork.com/sme-dashboard

Filmed and edited by Poddster, Dubai's pioneering podcast studios. Book your recording slot: https://www.poddster.com/

When the corporate world couldn't recognise her potential, Itziar Martos decided to rewrite the rules. Diagnosed as legally blind in her early 20s, she refused to let her disability define her, even when others did.

In this episode, Itziar shares how she transformed her rare eye condition from a perceived weakness into her greatest strength. She takes us on her journey of conquering self-doubt, silencing imposter syndrome, and shattering societal limitations, showing that true vision has nothing to do with eyesight.

Discover how she built a thriving content creation business and continues to inspire fellow entrepreneurs. Itziar's story is a testament to the power of resilience and determination. Whether you're facing your own challenges or just need a boost of inspiration, her story will motivate you to see beyond limitations and create your own opportunities.

Watch the full interview at https://youtu.be/0zjRYpTlWoU

Key Takeaways:

• How Itziar Martos turned her disability into a competitive advantage by developing unique problem-solving skills
• The power of authenticity and vulnerability in building a successful personal brand and connecting with clients
• Strategies for overcoming the "perfectionist" mindset and embracing a more natural, relatable approach to content creation
• Networking tips for introverted entrepreneurs to make meaningful connections without the awkward pitching
• Advice for creating an inclusive work environment and providing opportunities for individuals with disabilities

About Itziar Martos

Itziar Martos, founder of Martos Digital Marketing, brings 18 years of photography expertise and a unique perspective to the world of digital marketing. Her career began in the limelight as a model, where she earned the title of Miss Spain and discovered her passion for social media.

Diagnosed with a rare disease at 21, which impaired her vision and made finding marketing jobs challenging, Itziar turned adversity into opportunity by creating her own company.

Today, she helps business owners craft engaging social media content, specialising in captivating videos that drive engagement and growth.

Connect with Itziar

• @itziarmartos
• https://www.instagram.com/itziarmartos/?hl=en
• www.martosdigitalmarketing.com

Jen interviews lawyer Bianca Gracias about the important legal considerations all businesses should address. Bianca shares insights into setting up compliant operations and gives a checklist of must-haves, including:

• Company registration documents
• Contract templates
• IP protection
• Compliance with local laws

You will also learn:

• The standard legal documents every new company needs
• How to protect their business ideas and brand
• Tips for working with lawyers effectively and affordably
• Why reputation and ethics are crucial to long-term success

About Bianca Gracias

Bianca is Managing Partner at Crimson Legal, a legal consultancy in UAE that focusses on providing intelligent legal advice to the SME community. Bianca has over 18 years of experience and has worked with over 500 businesses helping them identify legal risk, scale and become successful. She is active mentor with TiE Dubai, Founder Institute and In5. In her recent past, she has worked as legal advisor with Emaar, Al Ghurair Investment and local law firm Hadef & Partners.

• Visit Bianca's website: crimson-legal.com
• Follow Bianca on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/biancagraciaslawyer
• Connect with Bianca on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/biancagracias/

Filmed and edited by Poddster, Dubai's pioneering podcast studios. Book your recording slot: https://www.poddster.com/

Tina Harris from LahLah Productions shares her journey of transforming her live children's entertainment business into a successful YouTube channel during the pandemic.

She discusses the importance of thumbnails, captions, video titles and more for optimising your YouTube presence.

Tina also provides tips on monetising your channel and growing a global audience.

Episode Highlights:

• Thumbnails are critical for click-through rates - use smiling faces, open mouths and compose shots specifically for thumbnail size
• Captions boost your keyword ranking and make your videos more accessible
• Research popular keywords and titles using Google Trends to reach wider audiences
• Start small with YouTube and build confidence over time rather than being intimidated
• YouTube can be a powerful free marketing and revenue channel if you focus on great content

ABOUT TINA HARRIS

Tina Harris is a high-performance mentor and visual strategist. With 3 international TV shows and a YouTube channel with multiple viral videos and millions of views, she has literally been there and done that! Tina’s wealth of experience that stands her apart having signed to SONY Music, and Roadshow Entertainment, and worked extensively with Nickelodeon Australia and ABC KIDS. Her YouTube channel for kids and family (Lah-Lah) has now had over half a billion views and have multiple clips with over 160 Million views each. Tina runs with husband Mark, Tube Creatives Academy a membership program

• Follow Tina at https://www.tinaharris.com.au and https://www.lah-lah.com/
• Connect with Tina on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/tina-harris-279b3235/
• Connect with Tina on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/lahlahsbigliveband/ and https://www.instagram.com/tinalah/
• Connect with Tina on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/lahlahsbigliveband and https://www.facebook.com/tinaharris.com.au

Jen discusses why personal branding is so important for female entrepreneurs at every stage of business. She shares strategies for developing a clear personal brand message and voice, being consistent across social media platforms, and networking to build trust and connections.

Episode Highlights:

• Develop a clear personal brand strategy with a unique value proposition and target audiences in mind
• Establish a consistent brand message, voice and tone across all communications
• Create and schedule social media content in batches to maintain regular posting habits
• Network both online and offline to build relationships and get to know others in your industry

Get Female Fusion's Personal Branding Template Pack at femalefusionnetwork.com/brand

Jen sits down with Dr. Lucy Burns to discuss how she grew her health and wellness business Real Life Medicine from a side project to a seven-figure company.

Dr. Lucy shares the strategies that helped her reach that first million, the challenges of scaling even faster, and how she's refining operations to impact more lives while preserving work-life balance.

Episode Highlights:

• Standardise processes and train new team members to free up founder time for strategic planning
• Get an outside perspective to refine messaging for attracting new customer segments
• Measure key metrics to optimise marketing spend and identify conversion bottlenecks
• Prioritise building authentic human connections through content like podcasting
• Establish systems for maintaining quality as the business scales rapidly

Grab Female Fusion's Personal Branding Kit at femalefusionnetwork.com/brand

Find out more about Dr Lucy Burns at www.rlmedicine.com

Follow Real Life Medicine on Instagram @real_life_medicine

Check out the Real Health and Weight Loss Podcast at https://www.rlmedicine.com/podcast

About Dr Lucy Burns

Dr Lucy is passionate about health. She helps people optimise their health by improving metabolism and unpacking mindset. Dr Lucy was an “expert yo-yo dieter” and was completely addicted to sugar. She developed obesity, fatty liver and pre-diabetes. She has completely abandoned traditional dieting and embraces a real food lifestyle. She has lost 20kg (45 pounds) but most importantly maintained that loss for 5 years and now helps others do the same. She works with Dr Mary Barson and they have helped thousands of women change their health trajectory and reverse or avoid chronic disease

Jen Bowers is a branding expert who shares her wisdom on the importance of building strong brand foundations. She also shares valuable insights into discovering your brand personality, your "who", and your "why" through personal connection.

Episode Highlights

• Build your brand foundations like personality, why, values and target audience before creating visuals
• Foundations dictate direction for messaging, visuals, tone of all brand communications
• Personal brands are about connecting people to the person behind the brand through authenticity and storytelling

Resources

• Access Female Fusion's personal branding toolkit at femalefusionnetwork.com/brand

About Jen Bowers

Hello, I'm Jen - Brand Foundations Coach at Jen Be Brands and the voice behind the Bring Back Your Pink podcast! With over three decades in branding, working with clients such as Citibank and Swarovski, after being made redundant at 52 I've now dedicated myself to empowering midlife women, helping them rediscover and embrace their true selves through personal branding and self discovery!

I broke free from a life of invisibility, built a new business, proving that you're never too old and it's never too late to start new adventures and live a life in full colour!

Connect with Jen:

• www.jenbebrands.com

Follow Jen on Instagram:

• https://www.instagram.com/bringbackyour_pink/
• https://www.instagram.com/jenbebrands/

Follow Jen on Facebook:

• https://www.facebook.com/JenBeBrands

Sally Porteous shares her expertise on using events to grow a business. As the founder of Red Lanyard and the Event Planners Workshop, she discusses common event planning challenges and mistakes to avoid.

Sally also provides tips for making events memorable and engaging for attendees.

Episode Highlights:

• Start with defining your audience and desired outcomes, not choosing a venue or date
• Cater your food options and programming to all personality and dietary needs
• Small, intimate events can be just as impactful as large conferences
• Have a plan to welcome newcomers and facilitate networking
• Be prepared to problem-solve issues and let technical difficulties roll off your back

Jen discusses the top areas business owners should focus on to build a profitable business. She covers the importance of having a clear target customer, product/service offering, marketing strategy, systems and processes, and hiring the right people. Learn how optimising these areas can help turn your business into a money-making machine.

Episode Highlights:

• Define your ideal customer and understand their needs, wants and pain points
• Ensure your product/service offering is crystal clear
• Develop a consistent marketing plan that runs in the background
• Implement systems and standard operating procedures for efficiency
• Hire employees that are the perfect fit for your business culture

Download our free SME Dashboard by clicking here.

Jen shares her process for conducting an annual business review. She discusses the importance of tracking key metrics like revenue, costs, time allocation and more. An analysis of this data allows you to identify what's working well and opportunities for improvement to help you set goals for the coming year.

Episode Highlights:

• Tracking revenue, costs, gross profit and net profit monthly to understand financial performance
• Auditing how you spend your time to ensure it's allocated to highest priorities
• Analysing metrics like sales by period to capitalise on profitable times of year
• Celebrating successes and use review insights to set goals for the upcoming year

Jen sits down with serial entrepreneur Donna Benton to discuss her journey building The Entertainer into a regional powerhouse before exiting and starting The Benton Group. Donna shares her tips for evaluating new business ideas, building a top-notch team, and balancing multiple ventures while maintaining work-life harmony.

Episode Highlights: 

• How Donna evaluates new opportunities
• Tips for saying no to distracting opportunities and focusing on your top priorities
• Building a values-aligned team through investing in people and clear communication
• Strategies for reinvesting profits back into the business and building long-term wealth

About Donna Benton

Donna Benton is one of the most inspiring female leaders in the GCC. As the founder of the Entertainer – the leading provider of Buy One Get One Free offers for dining, leisure, attractions, beauty, fitness, hotels and more – Donna played a pivotal role in its success, expanding to 15 countries and transitioning from a book to a data-driven technology company. After exiting in 2018, Donna went on to found The Benton Group, a dynamic organisation focusing on establishing new companies and investing in businesses with the potential to scale. It identifies global trends and business.

• Find out more about The Entertainer at https://www.theentertainerme.com & find out more about the Benton Group at https://thebentongroup.com/
• Follow Donna on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/donnabentonthebentongroup and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/donna_benton 

This week on Women on the Rise, Jen is joined by Erim Kaur, founder of luxury haircare brand ByErim. Erim shares how she turned her grandmother's traditional hair oil recipe into a seven-figure business. She discusses the importance of authenticity on social media and representation for women of colour entrepreneurs.

Episode Highlights:

• How sharing her raw entrepreneurial journey on social media helped build a loyal customer base
• The difference between representation and comparison for female entrepreneurs  
• Evaluating partnership opportunities that align with your brand values

About Erim

Erim was recently awarded Beauty influencer of the year at the beauty world awards this year in UAE. She is a trichologist in training, and the recipient of the judges choice at the NatWest X Telegraph top 100 female entrepreneurs in the UK

• Find out more about Erim at ByErim.com
• Follow Erim on Instagram at https://instagram.com/erim 

Dr. Romie Mushtaq joins us to share her groundbreaking insights on the "busy brain" epidemic plaguing female entrepreneurs.

Discover how to overcome the debilitating effects of burnout and shiny object syndrome, and unlock your true entrepreneurial potential.

Episode Highlights

• Understand the science behind "busy brain" and how it sabotages productivity and focus
• Learn practical strategies to tame your busy brain and regain control of your entrepreneurial journey
• Explore the connection between hormones, nutrition, and brain health for optimal performance

Discover how to silence your inner critic and amplify your entrepreneurial confidence

Episode Links

• Take Dr Romie's Busy Brain Test for free - https://drromie.com/busy-brain-test-sm/
• Find out more about Dr Romie - https://drromie.com/
• Click Here to buy Dr Romie's Book: "The Busy Brain Cure Book"
• Connect with Dr Romie on Instagram here
• Connect with Dr Romie on Faebook here
• Subscribe to Dr Romie's YouTube channel here

Jen discusses common challenges business owners face when it comes to finding customers. She shares tips for understanding your ideal customer, creating irresistible offers, and engaging customers through consistent communication and content marketing.

Episode Highlights:

• Do customer research through surveys to understand what people are looking for from your product/service
• Make sure your offer is clear - customers need to understand exactly what you're selling
• Develop a content marketing strategy and post valuable content consistently across multiple platforms
• Networking takes time - focus on building relationships, not closing sales
• Test different customer engagement tactics to see what works best for your business

Jen interviews high-ticket coach Jackie Sharon Tamblyn about how she built a multi-seven figure coaching business in just 17 months. Jackie discusses the importance of focusing on client results over reach, outsourcing non-essential tasks, and investing in personal development to continuously grow as an entrepreneur.

Episode Highlights:

• Focus on transforming a small number of clients through high-ticket one-on-one coaching rather than gaining reach
• Outsource tasks you don't want to spend time on like graphic design to focus on revenue-generating activities
• Developing confidence through wisdom gained from past experiences and embracing frustrations as opportunities for growth
• Continuous personal development is key to growing your business as your business can only grow to the extent you grow as a person

Resources

• Find out more about Jackie at allinacademy.de 
• Access our Female Fusion Tech Deck at https://femalefusionnetwork.com/tech-deck

Connect with us

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/femalefusionnetwork

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FemaleFusionNetwork

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/femalefusion

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/FemaleFusionNet

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/femalefusionnetwork

Website: https://www.femalefusionnetwork.com/

Jen sits down with Elaine Jones, founder of Asteco Property Management and now she's the Chairman of Direct Debit System FZ LLC , to discuss her journey bringing direct debit payments to the UAE. Elaine shares how she saw the need for a paperless payment system and worked to develop the infrastructure to support it. Tune in to hear Elaine's story of building her business over 37 years and her vision for the future of digital payments.

Episode Highlights:

• How direct debit payments streamline processes for landlords, tenants and property managers
• The challenges of transitioning to a digital payment system in the UAE
• Elaine's tips for treating employees and customers with integrity and respect over decades in business
• Her advice on knowing when it's time to sell your business and leave a legacy of opportunity

Resources

• Find out more about Direct Debit Systems at directdebit.ae
• Access our Female Fusion Tech Deck at https://femalefusionnetwork.com/tech-deck

Jen interviews Ioanna Angelidaki, founder of InstaShop, the leading online grocery delivery service in the UAE. Ioanna shares how she co-founded InstaShop in 2015 and grew it to serve customers across the country. She discusses the challenges of international expansion and how the pandemic accelerated growth. Ioanna also reflects on InstaShop's $360 million acquisition by Delivery Hero in 2020.

Episode Highlights:

• How Ioanna pivoted from her first failed startup to founding InstaShop after identifying a need for online grocery delivery
• The early challenges of onboarding partners and customers unfamiliar with the concept of online grocery shopping
• Strategies for localising operations when expanding internationally to new markets
• Leading InstaShop through the pandemic-fueled surge in demand and navigating supply chain issues
• Advice for entrepreneurs on persevering through challenges, seeking mentorship, and knowing when it's time to consider an acquisition offer

Resources

• Find out more about InstaShop at https://instashop.com/ 
• Access our Female Fusion Tech Deck at https://femalefusionnetwork.com/tech-deck

Jen Blendos sits down with Viviane Paxinos, CEO of AllBright, a global network for women. They discuss AllBright's mission to remove barriers for women in the workplace through inspiring, connecting, and upskilling opportunities. Viviane shares insights from her career pivot to leading AllBright and the impactful programs they offer, including reducing gender pay gaps.

Episode Highlights:

• Networking is one of the most important things you can do for your career and business
• Embrace pivoting - careers are not linear and there are always lessons to take from experiences
• Prioritise self-care, as filling your own cup makes you better able to support others
• Developing resilience, agility and empathy are key skills for the future of work