From Dorm Rooms to $8 Million in Funding: Life Lessons from the Founders of Phia

So, what does it take to open a small retail business? It’s no easy feat. If you ask Kai Avant-DeLeon—the owner of Sincerely, Tommy, a Brooklyn-based concept store and coffee bar focused on emerging womenswear, lifestyle, and community—she’ll tell you it takes trusting yourself and truly manifesting your vision. And when it comes to tips on hiring for your small business, it’s all about finding people who share your vision put together a well-thought-out resume, and cover letter that shows they’re truly invested in your company (and no, that doesn’t mean simply DM-ing an Instagram profile). Kai says, “You also want to hire people who take themselves as seriously as you do.” She’s also adamant that one of the most important things about being a business owner is prioritizing self-care with simple—yet extraordinarily effective—things, like carving out time for yourself, meditating, journaling, and escaping the hustle of the city, which are a true recipe for success. Try Thinkific free for 30 days… saving you $99 on your course creation journey, by heading to thinkific.com/girlboss99 BetterHelp is customized online therapy, listeners get 10% off their first month at betterhelp.com/girlboss Squarespace empowers millions of dreamers, makers, and doers by providing them with the tools they need to bring their creative ideas to life. Head to squarespace.com/girlboss for a free trial and when you’re ready to launch use code GIRLBOSS for 10% off your new website or domain. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

20 Apr 202146min

Running a small business isn’t easy -- just ask Isabelle Cossart, an entrepreneur who navigated her tourism business through many unexpected events, from Hurricane Katrina which devastated New Orleans, to 9/11 which halted travel throughout the USA, and more recently COVID-19, which has affected the entire world. This podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp and Girlboss Radio listeners get 10% off their first month at BetterHelp.com/girlboss The world runs on WiFi, and small businesses are no exception. Visit netgear.com/business and use code GIRLBOSS10 at Checkout to save 10%. Did you enjoy this episode of Girlboss Radio? Comment and let us know what you think on our Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and Facebook.  Don’t forget to share your love for the Girlboss Radio podcast by leaving a rating or review on Apple, Spotify, Podyssey or wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

13 Apr 202138min

This week on Girlboss Radio, Puno talks business and TikTok marketing with our guest Vanessa Acosta, the one-woman show behind sustainable, ethical clothing brand Wasi, whose designs are made with textiles personally sourced from South America and handmade from scratch in LA.  Acosta is a Bolivian-American businesswoman who quite literally does it all for her business: she’s a graphic designer, fashion designer, photographer, and marketer. If that’s not the definition of a solopreneur—and girl boss—we’re not sure what is. In this episode, you’ll hear about Acosta’s journey of starting her own business after losing her job in fashion due to the pandemic, what it’s really like running an ethical and sustainable clothing brand, and how TikTok for your small business can be a major tool for growth (she single-handedly tripled her sales in 2020, and attributes it to her TikTok marketing). Puno and Acosta talk about the challenges of becoming an entrepreneur as an immigrant, feeling like for their story to be worthwhile it has to be grand and inspirational, as well as living up to the standards set out by their parents. This episode is brimming with both inspiration and TikTok marketing tips and tricks. Listen to it now on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, or read the interview below (which has been edited for clarity and length): https://www.girlboss.com/read/vanessa-acosta Check out Vanessa store at: https://wasiclothing.com When your business is ready to make that next hire, find the right person with LinkedIn Jobs. And now, you can post a job for free. Just visit linkedin.com/girlboss to post a job for free. Terms and conditions apply. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

6 Apr 202157min

This week on Girlboss Radio, Puno talks about fibroids and endometriosis with our guest Dr. Soyini Hawkins—a gynecologist and surgeon specializing in the minimally invasive surgical management of fibroids and endometriosis. She’s also a women’s health activist, empowering women to be better advocates for their own health. Did you know that around 80 percent of women suffer from fibroids or endometriosis? That means if you sat down in a room with 10 of your girlfriends, eight of them could have it. So why aren’t we talking about it more openly and regularly? Dr. Hawkins is pioneering the conversation. She talks about everything from how she became a gynecologist and surgeon, being diagnosed herself with endometriosis and fibroids, having intense invasive surgery that put her out for eight weeks (then bounced back and gave birth to two children) and how her personal experience with the conditions inspired her to specialize in the field. New beginnings mean new opportunities to grow your business. To make things better, your first job post is free. Use the code GIRLBOSS to post a job for free! Visit http://linkedin.com/girlboss Usual wines are wines designed for the modern drinker. No more flat bubbly or stale Rosé. Usual wines are made from sustainably farmed grapes from world-class vineyards in Napa, Sonoma, and Santa Barbara. First glass on us, use code: GIRLBOSS, visit usualwines.com/girlboss   Parsley is female founded, doctor led, holistic medicine service; Parsley’s care team is trained to look for things conventional doctors often overlook. Meet your care team today - try Parsley Health for free and get $50 off your first month using the code GIRLBOSS. Visit https://www.parsleyhealth.com/ Did you enjoy this episode of Girlboss Radio? Comment and let us know what you think on our Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and Facebook.  Dr. Soyini Hawkins MD, MPH, FACOG is a gynecologist and minimally invasive gynecologic surgeon specializing in the management of fibroids and endometriosis. Be sure to follow Dr. Hawkins on Instagram and Facebook and check out all her blog and library brimming with resources on fibroids and endometriosis on her website, Fibroid and Pelvic Wellness Center of Georgia as well as at the Journey Medical Research Institute. Find our episode transcription here: https://www.girlboss.com/read/fibroids-endometriosis-dr-soyini-hawkins Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

30 Mars 20211h 2min

Puno talks to content creator, activist, and entrepreneur - Nabela Noor about building a platform on YouTube, TikTok, and Instragram driven by self-love and inclusion. Learn how Nabela’s brand is smashing beauty standards, uplifting marginalized voices, and celebrating moments of peace. We promised you resources on Cyberbullying. To learn more about laws related to cyberbullying and other resources to help you navigate these kinds of issues visit https://cyberbullying.org/ . This podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp and Girlboss Radio listeners get 10% off their first month at www.betterhelp.com/girlboss   Usual Wines are wines designed for the modern drinker. get your first bottle on us with the code GIRLBOSS. https://usualwines.com/girlboss    A course on Thinkific can help you reach millions of people worldwide. To help get you on the right track, we want to give you the complete step-by-step guide on how to create and sell an online course, go to: thinkific.com/girlboss  Sign up here to get Girlboss Daily in your inbox each morning and follow us on Instagram @girlboss to discuss the episode. Looking for your dream job or dream employee? Transcription of this episode can be found here:  https://www.girlboss.com/read/nabela-noor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

23 Mars 202152min

In June of 2015, the hashtag #LoveWins flooded social media in celebration of a landmark Supreme Court ruling legalizing same-sex marriage nationwide. That evening, the White House lit up in rainbow colors to celebrate this critical step forward in our nation’s long struggle for equality. And while the struggle is far from over, in that summer of 2015, it felt like anything was possible.  On today’s episode of Girlboss Radio, we hear from someone else who broke barriers in the summer of 2015 when she became the first openly transgender person to serve as a White House staff member.  Raffi Freedman-Gurspan is one of those rare, truly courageous people—someone who comes from a long line of activists and who’s been an advocate for equality since joining the high school cheerleading team.  She’s paved paths for others to follow, and in this episode, we hear how her advocacy will continue to shape our future. This podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp and Girlboss Radio listeners get 10% off their first month at www.betterhelp.com/girlboss   KkCO is a brand built by and in support of a creative community. Get 10% off your first purchase using GIRLBO$$.  Sign up here to get Girlboss Daily in your inbox each morning and follow us on Instagram @girlboss to discuss the episode and don’t forget to share your love for the Girlboss Radio podcast by leaving a rating or review on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.  Looking for your dream job or dream employee? Find a job or post your next one on the Girlboss Job Board. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

16 Mars 202156min

Sophia Amoruso returns to the Girlboss Radio podcast—but this time as a guest.  The founder and former CEO of Girlboss left in 2020 just after the pandemic hit. After all, what’s left for an events company when the whole world stops traveling? Today, Sophia is busy building her new business—one that’s fully online and 100% bootstrapped. Girlboss, meanwhile, has new owners, a new mission, and a new podcast host. It only seems fitting that the new Girlboss Radio host, Puno, would make her debut in an interview with Sophia.   Usual Wines are wines designed for the modern drinker, get your first bottle on us with the code GIRLBOSS. Visit http://usualwines.com/girlboss Redoux, is a line of sophisticated scents and vegan skincare for the modern nostalgic to keep you in touch with what’s important; use the code GIRLBOSS at check out for 10% off your first purchase. Visit https://redoux.nyc/ New beginnings means new opportunities to grow your business. To make things better, your first job post is free. Use the code GIRLBOSS to post a job for free! Visit http://linkedin.com/girlboss Sign up here to get Girlboss Daily in your inbox each morning and follow us on Instagram @girlboss to discuss the episode and don’t forget to share your love for the Girlboss Radio podcast by leaving a rating or review on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Looking for your dream job or dream employee? Find a job or post your next one on the Girlboss Job Board. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

8 Mars 202139min

Sasheer Zamata is a comedian, actress, and writer. She has not only broken into the entertainment industry—but into the notoriously cut throat world of comedy. You may have seen her flash her comedic style as a cast member on Saturday Night Live. She also made many comedy best-of lists, including Cosmopolitan, 13 Funny Women to Watch, and Timeout New York's top 10 funniest women in NYC.  Sasheer is booked and busy: She's appeared on The Late Night with Stephen Colbert, Netflix's The Last O.G., Hulu's Woke, as well as in films like The Weekend and I Feel Pretty with Amy Schumer. She's also performed at places like Bonnaroo, South by Southwest, New York Comedy Festival, and so many others. Her stand-up special, Pizza Mind, is available on Amazon Prime, and she is one half of the podcast Best Friends, with Nicole Byer, her BFF, and host of Nailed It!.  If that wasn't enough, she also serves as the celebrity ambassador for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and works with the Women's Rights Project.  In today's episode with Sophia, Sasheer talks about why she decided to break into comedy after college, why she doesn't believe in getting a big break, and why there's no better time than now to be a content creator. Sign up for the Girlboss Daily to receive tips on work, life, and how to chase (and reach!) your dreams: https://bit.ly/30A14AL  Follow Sasheer on Instagram at @thesheertruth and Twitter at @thesheertruth Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

23 Dec 202042min