Liberty Sessions With Nada Jones | Celebrating Women Who Do & Inspiring Women Who Can |

This week Nada continues her conversation with Sica Schmitz from Bead & Reel. In last week’s episode, Part 1, Nada and Sica discussed what makes brands sustainable and how Sica decided to launch a one-stop online shop for thoughtful consumers. This week, Part 2, Nada gathers social media wisdom from Sica about keeping a healthy perspective on numbers, followers, and friends. She also shares how to identify the best platform to grow a community and convert sales. Follow Sica at @beadandreel and @sica_schmitz on Instagram, @beadandreel and @sica_schmitz on Twitter, and @beadandreel on Facebook. You can find out more about Sica and Bead & Reel at www.beadandreel.com. Don't forget to follow us at @libertyforher on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. Please let us know your thoughts about this episode by using the hashtag #LIBERTYSessions and please rate and review us—it helps to know if this podcast is inspiring and equipping you to launch and grow your ventures. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for m

Sica Schmitz is the Founder and CEO of Bead & Reel, an ethical fashion blog and online boutique.After spending a decade in the fashion industry, Sica was tired of struggling to find clothing and accessories that met her ethical values. She launched Bead & Reel to provide an easy shopping space where like-minded brands and consumers could gather.In this episode, Sica admits to trying out multiple selling models in the early days. As Bead & Reel began to grow, so did her expertise in ethical fashion, sustainability, and veganism and  Sica found herself a following of consumers interested in education, awareness, and activism.Sica lays out all the nuances of sustainable and ethical terminology. She gives us guidelines to decipher whether big brands are using those terms as a marketing ploy or not.  Along with the blog and boutique, Sica is also the founder of the non-profit Fair Trade Fashion Show. You will quickly learn that Sica is out to change the world and make it a better place.Follow Sica at @

This week Nada continues her conversation with Agatha Achindu from Yummy Spoonfuls. In last week’s episode, Part 1, Nada chatted with Agatha about how she identified a gap in the baby food industry and utilized her African heritage to create convenient organic food. This week, Part 2, Nada gathers entrepreneurial wisdom from Agatha about being a founder and immigrant in America. She also encourages us to learn from our customers by letting them experience our products and services for themselves. Follow Agatha at @agathaachindu and @yummyspoonfuls on Instagram. You can find out more about Agatha and YummySpoonfuls at www.agathaachindu.com and www.yummyspoonfuls.com.Don't forget to follow us at @libertyforher on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. Please let us know your thoughts about this episode by using the hashtag #libertysessions  and please rate and review us—it helps to know if this podcast is inspiring and equipping you to launch and grow your ventures. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more in

Agatha Achindu is the Founder and Chief Yummy Officer of Yummy Spoonfuls, a fresh and organic baby and toddler food company.When Agatha immigrated from Cameroon in the 90’s, she was shocked by the amount of processed food U.S. grocery stores sold. As the daughter of a farmer, she grew up eating organic food from her family’s garden. When she became a mother, she was committed to providing the same healthy food for her baby. Others took note and she quickly became known as the local baby food chef.After noticing that the organic food movement was failing to impact babies and children, and knowing that food was essential to preventing many of the illnesses children were experiencing, Agatha knew she could provide a solution and Yummy Spoonfuls was ultimately born.  In this episode, Agatha shares how she left her IT career to pursue this venture full-time. She also delves into how she decided she needed a business partner and when she new she found the right person. Agatha’s interview is heartfelt--have the tiss

This week Nada continues her conversation with Morgan Hamel from The Garment. In last week’s episode, Part 1, Nada chatted with Morgan about how she came up with the idea of The Garment and her experience launching this platform. This week, Part 2, Nada deep dives with Morgan on the value of social media, influencers and partnerships to grow your own business. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Morgan Hamel is the Founder and CEO of The Garment, a platform that connects women to responsible clothing brands through capsule wardrobes.Morgan, an ethicist (yes--that’s a real thing), believes you can live a fuller, more vibrant life by owning fewer better things. Morgan came to realized that her need for connection and recognition caused her to shop. She had a closet full of clothes and yet was unsatisfied with her selection. She ultimately decided to change her mindset towards clothes and implement a capsule wardrobe with ethically responsible brands.  In this episode, hear how Morgan identified a gap in the retail market while she was building her capsule wardrobe. Morgan decided to share her experience of building that wardrobe and quickly realized there was an interested and growing community paying attention. Through Instagram she has been able to partner with and connect responsible clothing brands to women, educate on capsule wardrobes, and host quarterly virtual pop-shops.Morgan has built a very

Rachel Repko is the Founder and CEO of Repko Grants, a consultancy that supports non-profits in securing revenue from private and corporate grants.After years of working in Public Relations for both nonprofit and for-profit businesses, Rachel decided to step away from work to be home with her three children. When Rachel decided to leave her job, her employers suggested that she try her hand at grant writing from home. A few years later Rachel was ready to return to work and decided to test the grant writing waters again, but this time on her own.In this episode, hear how Rachel discovered that her talent for technical writing, the need for revenue generation for non-profits, her passion for ending homelessness and her ability in storytelling could become a business. She made a name for herself one grant at a time and began working with leading organizations in the Los Angeles-area.Today Repko Grants continue to support human services organizations that work to end homelessness, human-trafficking, and to suppo

In the late 90’s Abigail Killeen discovered the powerful story of Babette’s Feast. As a theater artist, she began working to adapt a version of Babette’s Feast for the stage. After sitting with her dream to share this story for over a decade, Abigail was now ready to present this play to a larger audience--the only thing she needed was cash.  Enter Jennifer King, a social entrepreneur and philanthropist and the Founder of The Rugged Elegance Foundation.In this episode, learn how an artist and investor collaborate to produce a play that catalyzes art to inspire action. Listen to Abigail share why Jennifer’s advice of turning Babette’s Feast into a for-profit organization gave her the ability to dream bigger.These two women offer insights from both the left and right side of the brain addressing the importance of artistry, social impact, strategic mission and philanthropic support when collaborating to create meaningful change and a sustainable platform. It is evident that both women are equally passionate abou

Emily & Alina Serebryany are Co-Founders of Petaloom, an e-commerce company that celebrates relationships through planted gifts. Tune in a learn how this mother-daughter duo is plotting to disrupt the corporate and office gift market one plant at a time.After selling her company, Emily Serebryany took some time to travel and ask herself “What’s next.” She discovered she wanted to give back, cultivate community, and support women in transition by launching a gifting company that specialized in plants. During the process of launching Petaloom, she sought out her daughter Emily's expertise in product development. Emily was supportive of this new venture and realized she wanted to join her mother in launching Petaloom.In this episode, you will hear an intimate and intentional conversation around the issues that family-owned businesses face. Emily shares how she always wanted to run a business with Alina and AIina details how she has been able to see her mother as an evolving individual and business woman. Bot

Laura Williams is the Founder and CEO of Poppyhill Flowers, a Wedding & Event Floral Design company based in Los Angeles.In 2010 Laura, a social worker and teacher, found herself in the midst of a health crisis that would no longer allow her to continue teaching. As she searched for what was she was next, her husband asked her, “What makes you feel alive?” She remembered the poppy hills of Spain that she encountered many years before. So naturally, she launched a floral design company!In this episode, Laura details how in the midst of healing from six surgeries that left her vocal chords compromised, flowers became her voice. She decided to dedicate a year to learn the craft and volunteered her floral design services. She didn’t necessarily have a business plan, but she knew her “why,” and that reflected in her floral creations. By going the extra mile for clients and being supportive of other vendors in the wedding industry, Laura and Poppyhill’s reputation grew to the thriving business it is today.Laura

Mareya Ibrahim is the Founder and CEO of Grow Green Industries, Inc., an eco solutions company focusing on produce food safety and shelf life. Grow Green Industries has created the Eat Cleaner product line which removes 99.99% of wax, pesticide and agricultural/handling residue that can carry bacteria from fresh produce. Although Mareya was in the food industry as a holistic nutritionist and trained chef, she didn’t see the need for the Eat Cleaner products until her father was diagnosed with cancer and was told to stay away from fresh produce. Mareya joined forces with her scientist father to create a solution that would allow him to eat produce and not be afraid of contracting foodborne illnesses. In this episode, Mareya shares how it felt to work her “second shift” building Grow Green Industries while maintaining a full-time marketing job and being a single mother. She also advises on the essential first steps to take when you are looking to patent a product. Mareya and her work is an example of how the pa

Jenny Zheng is the Founder and CEO of Little Fluffy Head Cafe, a Los Angeles based “cheese tea” shop selling an innovative, tasty treat new to the American market. Think of a fluffy cream cheese topping--not a block of cheese!Three years ago while on a trip to Asia, Jenny tasted cheese tea for the first time and loved it. During that time she was working on her master’s in bioengineering at UCLA, but cheese tea ignited a passion in her to bring this unique beverage to her new home in Los Angeles.In this episode, Jenny shares how she dreamed of owning a tea shop upon retirement. Alas, her cheese tea excitement flipped the timeline, and she opened her first cafe in her twenties. Jenny intentionally created the Little Fluffy Head Cafe space to accommodate Millennials social media skills by making each nook and cranny “Instagramable.” She wanted her customers to spread the gospel about these high-quality cheese teas and gave them the tools they need to willingly and happily do so.Six months in and Jenny has learn

Courtney Cowan is the Founder and CEO of Milk Jar Cookies, a Los Angeles based cookie shop selling small-batch handmade classic and adventurous cookies.  Courtney has been baking cookies since she was a child, and this hobby continued to give her joy into her adult life. She would often bring cookies to work, but her co-workers had no idea they weren’t from a bakery and that Courtney herself had made them. Soon she began selling cookies online as a side-hustle. Although Courtney enjoyed her job in television, her dream shifted when she considered a future in cookies.  In this episode, Courtney shares what it was like to transition a seven-year side-hustle into a re-branded brick & mortar shop and online business. Since Milk Jar Cookies opened five years ago, she has seen her sales consistently grow month after month. Courtney generously details how she has handled quality control, a growing team and running her brick and mortar shop during times of growth and expansion. Courtney offers her social media ti

Mary Cecchini is the Founder, Chief Adventurer and Travel Designer of Living Big Travel, a travel company that offers hosted small group adventures and travel design to support women in making their vacation...a vacation!After years of climbing the corporate ladder in marketing and event production, Mary realized she wasn’t finding joy in her work. She decided to quit her job, travel extensively and create space to dream of a career that would allow her to thrive.In this episode, Mary shares how blogging her way through her solo trip peaked women’s interest in her travels, They were asking for advice in planning their adventures. Naturally, Mary identified an underserved population in the travel market...women.Mary provides insight on building a company around your skills. She also discusses ways to differentiate your business by identifying your ideal customer and curating services specifically for them. Mary’s self-awareness, adventurous spirit and business insights are a breath of fresh air. After listenin

Liz Dennery Sanders is the Founder and CEO of SheBrand, a boutique branding and marketing firm specializing in women and women-owned businesses. Liz is also the author of a newly published book called Style & Substance: How to Create a Compelling Brand.  For 20+ years Liz has worked in fashion, marketing and public relations. Before launching SheBrand, she owned and ran a successful PR agency, Dennery Marks Inc. In this episode, Liz shares how she has put her belief in women into action. SheBrand help women cut through the noise and present a focused narrative about their brands. With the release of Style & Substance: How to Create a Compelling Brand, women everywhere can learn from her expertise. Liz is a fountain of sage advice. From slowing down in order to grow to understanding how to channel your anger for good, this podcast is filled with branding and life wisdom. You can follow Liz at @shebrandliz on Instagram and Twitter. Be sure to go to https://shebrand.com/book/ to get your copy of Style &a

Christine Hildebrand is the Founder and CEO of Emergent and Life Foundations. These two service-based companies help businesses and individuals identify their mission and grow into their potential from the inside out. In this episode, Christine shares how she experienced an “awakening” while rising to the top of her retail buying position. She discovered it wasn’t what she expected and decided to figure out what she was being called towards. This journey took her on the entrepreneurial path of starting two companies. Christine now teaches companies and individuals how to both incorporate “spirituality” and better understand the role of energetic practices. Tune into this conversation to take advantage of Christine’s list of actionable practices you can begin to utilize right away!You can follow Christine and the Emergent team at @emergentsf on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. Also, you can follow her at Life Foundations at @lifefoundationsSF on Facebook and @aligntoyou on Instagram. Be sure to go to www.emerg

Jala Smith-Huys is the Founder and CEO of Seek & Swoon, a textile company that makes heirloom quality knit throws.  These beautiful, recycled cotton blankets are inspired by faraway travels but made right here in America.In this episode, Jala shares that she was ready to pivot from social media and marketing consulting, but was waiting for an idea that she cared about before she made any sudden moves. It was her son’s baby blanket that sparked the inspiration to explore launching a textile brand. From creating a strong story to connect with customers, to researching mills, to insights on whether or not to hire a PR firm in the first couple of years of business, Jala is generous with detailing the essentials of how to start a new textile brand. She also encourages you to let go of your fear and take a chance on something you really believe in.You can follow Jala at @seekandswoon on Instagram and Facebook. Also, be sure to check out the decorative Sweek & Swoon throws at www.seekandswoon.com.Don't forge

Kathryn Petralia is the President and Co-Founder of Kabbage. A financial services data and technology platform that provides an automated application process for small business loans.   In this episode, Kathryn admits that she never saw herself as an entrepreneur, but always pursued jobs that sparked her interest, which happened to be start-ups.  From crowdfunding to angel investors, Kathryn advises on how to prove your business’s worth by being committed to actually doing the work you set out to do. She also highlights how the internet is the great equalizer. In the case of Kabbage, this distinction removes gender, ethnicity and other cultural barriers from the loan application process which levels the playing field. She is giving small business a greater opportunity to pursue their interests to make a difference.You can follow Kathryn and the Kabbage team at @kabbageinc Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Also, if you are at a point in your business needing some operational funds, be sure to check out www.kabb

Cristina is an Attorney, Author, 3-time Emmy Winner Television Personality, Radio Host, and Speaker. She has used her passion for the law and people to educate the public on the importance of identity, family, diversity, and integrity. Cristina didn’t set out to become a multi-hyphante-preneur. She planned on being an excellent lawyer, wife, and mom. Her hard work, passion, and dual cultural vantage point opened up unexpected doors. From taking a seat as a judge for courtroom television to authoring three books, Cristina has walked through those open doors and told some great stories along the way. In this episode, Cristina shares how being the daughter of Colombian immigrants, watching them struggle with racism, and growing up in both the U.S. and Mexico profoundly shaped her interest around issues of justice and immigration. From learning how to parlay your expertise into new business opportunities and book publishing options, to work-life balance, Cristina has a world of experience to share.Please follow C

Jennifer Kennedy is the Founder and CEO of By Your Side Collection. Her business offers tangible ways for communities of friends to support and encourage through jewelry.  In this episode, Jennifer shares how her diagnosis of cancer inspired the mission of her company. During her 12th year of living cancer-free, Jennifer’s mother was diagnosed with breast cancer as well. At her mother’s first chemo appointment, Jennifer had a life-altering interaction with a patient in the waiting room. Seeing the woman sitting alone, Jennifer took off her necklace and gave it to the chemo patient as a physical reminder that “there is hope.” That simple exchange birthed the inspiration for By Your Side. Jennifer has learned a lot in the process of designing, manufacturing, and building her jewelry company. She offers thoughts about learning a new industry while being present with her family.  Her passion for using her survival story and creating hope keeps her committed to this venture, even in the hard times. Please follow J