Road To Seven

Scaling is messy, but the rewards are worth it—time freedom, flexibility, and the ability to dream big. - Laura TolhoekIn this inspiring episode of The Road to Seven, host Shelagh Cummins sits down with Laura Tolhoek, founder of Essential HR, to explore the journey of scaling a business. Laura reveals how she built a team of passionate and skilled professionals, emphasizing the importance of letting go of tasks that don’t spark joy to focus on her strengths. She shares how scaling has brought her not only exponential growth but also flexibility and time freedom to pursue her passions and side hustles. Laura encourages entrepreneurs to embrace an abundance mindset and believe in the possibilities of scaling.Key TakeawaysSurround yourself with brilliant individuals who love what they do.Let go of responsibilities that don’t align with your strengths and focus on what lights you up.Scaling a business can unlock flexibility and time freedom.An abundance mindset is essential to believe in the potential for growth.

"Small actions create large success." - Shelagh CumminsIn this episode of The Road to Seven, Shelagh Cummins unpacks the difference between business growth and scaling, two essential stages for entrepreneurs building sustainable businesses. Shelagh emphasizes the unique challenges women face as they transition from growth to scale, diving into the mindset shifts, financial strategies, and team-building investments necessary for true scalability. Listen in as she explores how embracing vulnerability and understanding cash flow can help leaders maintain focus on impact while managing the risks that come with expansion. If you’re looking to build a business that serves both your goals and legacy, this episode is packed with actionable insights.In This Episode, You’ll Learn:The Difference Between Growth and Scaling: Why recognizing the shift from growth to scale is crucial for long-term business success.Building a Resilient Team: How to invest in team members who bring time flexibility and strengthen yo

"Get out of your office. Go out and talk to people, talk to as many people as you can. Get as much feedback as you can. That's gold." - Maria PlummerIn this inspiring episode of The Road to Seven, Shelagh Cummins speaks with Maria Plummer, an oncology nurse turned entrepreneur, who created Yewtwist, a medical device aimed at transforming IV procedures by making them safer and more efficient. Maria shares her journey from identifying a critical need in her field to developing a viable solution, emphasizing the importance of mentorship, community support, and trusting one's instincts. From ideation to product development and beyond, Maria’s journey reveals the value of perseverance, listening to customer feedback, and creating a product that addresses real challenges in healthcare.Join us as we dive into Maria’s entrepreneurial story and learn valuable lessons on growth, resilience, and the impact of creating solutions that truly make a difference.Key Takeaways:Trust Your Instincts: Believin

In this episode of The Road to Seven, Shelagh Cummins dives deep into the art of selling with integrity, helping entrepreneurs overcome common sales pitfalls and unlock their revenue potential. Shelagh explores why so many entrepreneurs tend to "bury the sale"—hiding their offers and undervaluing their impact. She shares practical strategies for aligning your integrity with your business values, communicating your offer clearly, and building client trust through transparency. Tune in for an inspiring conversation on redefining the sales process, embracing your unique value, and confidently putting your offers out into the world.Key Takeaways:Stop Burying the Sale: Your offers are valuable—make them clear and accessible to clients.Align Integrity and Value: When your values align with what you offer, clients feel it.Overcome Fear of Being 'Salesy': Embrace sales as part of your mission, not as a negative.Clarity is Essential: Your clients need to understand your offer to engage fully.Embrac

In this episode of The Road to Seven, we welcome Staci Millard, founder of Thrive Accounting, as she takes us on her entrepreneurial journey. From navigating the intricacies of building an accounting firm to selling it, Staci shares valuable insights on thinking like an entrepreneur, pricing for scalability, and developing leadership skills to grow a successful business. She also gives us a sneak peek into her future plans—developing a software solution to simplify bookkeeping and deliver more strategic financial advice to small business owners.Key Takeaways:Entrepreneurial Mindset in Accounting: Staci emphasizes the importance of thinking like an entrepreneur while working as an accountant, not just focusing on the numbers but helping businesses truly thrive.Delegation for Scalability: To build a scalable business and achieve time freedom, it’s critical to delegate tasks and not take everything on yourself.Pricing for Growth: Pricing your services properly is essential for scaling, and Staci discusses the hi

In this episode of The Road to Seven, Shelagh Cummins dives into a crucial topic for every entrepreneur: setting boundaries in your business. Shelagh explores the fine line between keeping clients happy and over-committing, revealing how people-pleasing can lead to burnout. Drawing on her personal experience and insights from coaching women entrepreneurs, she explains how setting clear boundaries isn’t just important—it’s essential for sustainable business growth.Shelagh breaks down practical ways to set boundaries, train clients on your availability, and create processes that protect both your well-being and your business. She emphasizes that success doesn’t require sacrificing your health or personal life. Instead, it’s about building a business that works for you while still delivering great results for clients.Key Takeaways:Keeping clients happy is vital, but not at the expense of your own health.Over-delivering can cause burnout and dissatisfaction.Boundaries are key to sustainable growth and success.Eff

In this episode of The Road to Seven, Shelagh sits down with Victoria Marshman, the co-founder of Mave & Chez, to discuss her incredible journey of launching a successful slipper brand. Victoria and her business partner started in event planning, but when the pandemic hit, they pivoted to create a product designed for women. They used a Kickstarter campaign to raise $50,000 and appeared on Dragon’s Den, where they secured a deal with two dragons.Victoria shares valuable lessons about building a product-based business, navigating a business partnership, and the importance of community and mentorship. She also dives into the challenges of cash flow management and the significance of evolving based on customer feedback. If you’re interested in how entrepreneurs overcome obstacles, raise funds, and stay driven by impact, this episode is a must-listen.Key Takeaways:Pivot with Purpose: Victoria’s inspiring shift from event planning to product development shows the power of adaptability.Crowdfunding Success: How

After a hiatus, Shelagh Cummins returns to The Road to Seven podcast to share why she took a break and what's driving her to return. She discusses the importance of letting go of things that are out of alignment and that are not working in your business. Shelagh also emphasizes the power of speaking and connecting with audiences and the value of thinking and inner work in business growth. She introduces the concept of momentum and how it can propel entrepreneurs to the next level. Shelagh invites listeners to share the one thing stopping them from staying in consistent action and offers support through coaching and programs.TakeawaysLet go of things out of alignment and not working in your business.Take time to think and work to gain clarity and drive business growth.Momentum is key to propelling your business to the next level.Identify the one thing stopping you from staying in consistent action and seek support to overcome it.

In this episode, Shelagh Cummins dives deep with Jen Harper, the inspiring founder of Cheekbone Beauty. Jen shares her extraordinary journey from working in the seafood industry to creating a beauty brand that stands out for its commitment to sustainability, representation, and social impact. She opens up about the personal challenges she faced, the pivotal role of education, and how community support shaped her path. This conversation is packed with insights on the influence of Indigenous culture in business, the importance of transparency in the beauty industry, and what it really takes to grow a purpose-driven brand. Jen also reveals the strategies behind Cheekbone Beauty’s growth, the challenges of investment and scaling, and her exciting vision for the brand's future.Top Takeaways:Cheekbone Beauty: More than makeup – it's a movement for sustainability and social impact.Jen Harper’s Journey: It all started with a dream about Indigenous youth, fueling a mission to empower.Education as Empowerment

“Debt does not mean you are bad with money, that you don't know how to do business, that you are not worthy. It is not something to be ashamed of. It's not something to feel guilty about. It just is.”- Shelagh CumminsToday we’re talking about debt, and the first thing I want to share with you is that it doesn’t need to be a word that brings on feeling of shame or guilt - debt is a tool, and in this episode of The Road To Seven Podcast I’m going to show you how to master it.I’m going to share with you a few examples of what bad debt is, and what can happen if you take on loans with high interest rates, and no opportunity for return on investment, or ROI. I’m also going to share examples from clients that I’ve worked with, who leveraged good debt in order to grow their businesses.No matter what, we all take on some form of debt at some point in our business journey, what’s important to remember is that you take on debt strategically, and you find a way to release the shame and guilt around any debt th

“Just because you have profit doesn't mean you have great cash flow, and the only way to know if you're in the clear with your cash flow is to be tracking it, seeing it, and following it.”- Shelagh CumminsYour cash flow is the lifeblood of your company. It ensures that your business can meet its day to day operations, and it also is a tool for you to expand and scale. However, what so many entrepreneurs believe to be true, is that your revenue is equal to your cash flow, and that does not work when unexpected expenses pop up, or you need to make a major investment in your business in order to scale.Tune in, because I’ll be taking you through the three biggest misconceptions about cash flow that I see entrepreneurs struggling with all the time. Your revenue is not equal to your cash flow, a profitable business does not mean that you have strong cash flow, and that cash flow problems can only be solved with more sales.We’ll also discuss your financial practices, and I’ll share my strategies for solid

“If you're going to talk about women stepping into their purpose, you have to do it for yourself as scary as it may be.”-Kena ParanjapeIf you are facing big challenges in your business, then I’ve got someone who you need to hear from today. My guest Kena Paranjape is the founder of All You Are, an empowerment platform and community for women, who has navigated 20 years of career shifts and challenges, personal loss, and extreme personal transformation.Kena shares deeply about her journey with self-actualization and self-trust. As a young girl, she noticed very quickly that she felt a lack in her sense of belonging, and now, she’s determined to help other women see that they are worthy of self-love and self-trust.Kena also shares how her co-founded company BRIKA pivoted from a B2C(Business to Customer) business to B2B (Business to Business) model after enormous success with various pop up stores around the city of Toronto.So, tune into today’s episode if you’re ready to take on all the challenges life has

“Are we inspiring women or are we selling products? That gave a definition to my brand, and that definition came from my heart.”-Adedoyin OmotaraFriends,  I don't need to tell you that the most powerful way to grow your business is when you lead with heart, passion, and purpose. And today, I’m chatting with my guest Adedoyin Omotara to share with you how she has done exactly this, with incredible results.In the middle of moving from Aberdeen, Scotland, to Calgary, Canada, Adedoyin decided it was the perfect time to see whether she truly wanted to start her own beauty brand. After product testing and development, Adedoyin officially launched her beauty brand Adoniaa in 2015.We talked about the importance of mindset, when you as an entrepreneur are on a mission to inspire others – and what it takes to keep your mindset at that next-level energy, the most important elements including coaching, and community.In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌ ‌What it takes to get beauty products to marketHow to naviga

“Our ‘find a way’ was to find people who would be willing to walk with us as we walked with communities.”-Somia SadiqIf your business is on the brink of rapid growth, friend, this is an episode for you. In today’s episode of The Road To Seven Podcast, I have a great conversation with Somia Sadiq, an entrepreneur who founded and built Narratives Inc., a consulting firm that specializes in territorial planning and impact assessment. We talk about everything from what your team expects from you as your business grows, to how to find support as the leader of a company that grew incredibly fast within a five year period.Somia and I also chatted about the evolution of her leadership which I think will be especially useful for those of you who are currently experiencing rapid growth in your companies. I know you’ll get a lot out of this episode, so pop those earbuds in and hit play!In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:The power of relationships for rapid business growthHow leadership styles evolve over timeThe imp

“What have I done? What have I learned? What can I do? How can I give back? What do I have that could be useful to young women who maybe want to start their own businesses and have that kind of independence?”- Liz CrawfordMy guest Liz Crawford, an entrepreneur, philanthropist, and multi-passionate is going to rock your world. A woman with more than four businesses, Liz is dedicated to the growth and ethical behaviours in the international modelling industry, and ensuring her team are all independently successful.Liz started her first business after retiring from modelling in her early thirties. What followed was an organic growth and expansion from production agency, to model advocacy, to a modelling agency, and even into renovating an old motel into a luxury getaway in Winnipeg.So, if you are a multi-passionate entrepreneur and you don't want to choose just one business, then today’s episode of The Road To Seven Podcast is one that you don’t want to miss.In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌ ‌How Liz

“It all starts with that strategic decision that you're ready for your business to be bigger than you.”- Shelagh CumminsWhen you’re scaling your business, you’re faced with dozens, if not hundreds of new decisions every day. But the most important one is deciding what your “next level” looks like. That’s what today’s episode of The Road To Seven Podcast is all about.When you start to scale, your job shifts from being the doer, to the leader, and I know how difficult this can be. In this episode I talk about how to let go of responsibilities you once had, so that you can transition them to empowered employees. And yes, that means that you no longer jump in and “fix” the work they’ve done anymore. Your job is now to lead your team to do the best that they can.So there are two questions to get you to shift to running your business, from it running you. First, what is a strategic decision that you need to make today that's going to have the most impact on your business? And second, what is a fear that y

“I was and am in a period of growth and evolution. It means I'm looking for all the options that are around me.”- Shelagh CumminsHave you ever just wanted to burn everything to the ground and start fresh? Friends, that is exactly what I did last year, and in this episode of The Road To Seven Podcast I’m going to tell you exactly what starting fresh did for me.I gave myself the time and space to pull back from the edge of burnout, so that I could restructure my business from the inside out. That looked like cancelling programs I had been running for months (and years), resetting my offerings, and making sure that I was still financially contributing to my family. I wanted to share all of this with you today, because I believe that if you are not happy in your business, then it’s time for your business to change and support the life and dreams that you want to have and achieve. So tune in, because I’ve got a great episode for you today!In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode of the Road to Seven podcast,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌ ‌

“The whole point of growth is to be uncomfortable, but you're safe.”- Renée WarrenIf you’ve ever felt like throwing in the towel on your business, this is an episode of The Road To Seven podcast you don't want to miss. My guest Renée Warren, founder of We Wild Women, and I, have an excellent conversation about what to do when you hit burnout in your business, how to reorient yourself when it’s time to start again, and why it’s so important to have your cheerleaders by your side to help you through big business changes.We talk about how identifying what you love to do is what helps you get to your sweet spot, without caring whether people are going to judge you for shifting your business focus. We also discuss how identifying what you love about your industry, identifying what people need, and then creating the product or service around those key elements is essential for business success.In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌ ‌How to handle the ups and downs of every step that you have to take in

“If you're underpricing because you're trying to get more people to buy, you are literally going to get the bargain hunters, and bargain hunters have no loyalty.”- Shelagh CumminsAre you pricing your offers to pay the bills, or for profit? Many of the entrepreneurs that I work with find it incredibly challenging to properly price their offers, and end up making financial decisions for today, that leave money on the table for tomorrow.The reality is, not monitoring and knowing and understanding your numbers is actually impacting the growth of your company. Because you're either overspending, underspending, or you're just not making strategic decisions that are going to help you grow.Pricing too low is one of the biggest mistakes I see entrepreneurs make, because it is expensive to run a business. So in this episode of The Road To Seven podcast, I’m going to share with you a practical, step-by-step process to price your offers properly, so that you get more profit out of your business.In‌ ‌t

“You can have all these issues, these challenges, these moments, this heaviness, but you can only deal with each one, one at a time.”-Liat HorovitzYou’ve heard both of my guests on The Road To Seven Podcast before, and they’re back for an amazing roundtable discussion on setting boundaries as a coach - it’s Liat Horovitz and Dr. Nothando Wohlgeschaffen.In this episode, we’re diving deeper into a conversation we had on a panel at Momfest in September of 2022 called Boundaries Are Sexy And Choices are Opportunities. And if you are a business owner of any kind, you will absolutely take away some gems from our conversation.In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌ ‌How to set and uphold your boundaries as a coachWhat it means to intentionally choose your prioritiesHow compartmentalising can help your coaching workAbout Guests:Nothando Wohlgeschaffen is a family doctor and general life coach for other women professionals. Her clients come to her for relationship, business, and career coaching. They leave with maste