Road To Seven

In this episode of The Road to Seven, I sit down with personal stylist Renee Lindo to discuss her journey from a thriving corporate career in the pharmaceutical industry to launching her own personal styling business. Renee shares how she found fulfillment beyond financial success, the power of personal style in building confidence, and why intentional dressing is a game-changer for women in business.We dive into the importance of aligning personal style with your brand, embracing authenticity, and the key lessons Renee learned as a woman in a male-dominated field. Whether you're looking to elevate your professional presence or make a bold career shift, this episode is filled with valuable insights on stepping into your power with confidence.What You’ll Learn in This Episode:✅ How personal style influences confidence and leadership✅ The importance of intentional dressing for personal branding✅ Key lessons for women navigating male-dominated industries✅ Why fulfillment is about more than just financial su

In this episode of The Road to Seven, I sit down with Jackie Dinsmore, a former corporate lawyer turned multi-business entrepreneur, to discuss her inspiring journey from the legal industry to launching ventures like Flapjack Kids and Caravel Law. Jackie shares candid insights about the challenges of entrepreneurship, the emotional aspects of exiting businesses, and her current work with Extra Innings Ventures, a fund dedicated to supporting underrepresented founders.Join us as we uncover the lessons Jackie has learned along the way—from disrupting the legal industry to finding balance between family and business—and gain inspiration for your own entrepreneurial journey.What you'll learn in this episode:Hustle and strong market fit are the cornerstones of success.Pivoting and embracing failure can open doors to growth.A supportive network and mentorship are vital for navigating entrepreneurship.It's never too late to innovate, invest, or start anew.LinksConnect with Jackie Dinsmore:Caravellaw.comext

In this episode of The Road to Seven, Shelagh Cummins dives into six common mistakes that women entrepreneurs make that can hold them back from scaling their businesses. From refining offers to delegating tasks, charging what you’re worth, and embracing visibility, Shelagh provides actionable insights to help entrepreneurs unlock their next level of success. She also discusses how strategic investments and focusing on your zone of genius can pave the way for sustainable growth. If you're ready to identify and overcome the roadblocks in your business, this episode is a must-listen!What You’ll Learn in This Episode:Why refining your offer is key to sustainable growth.How spending time on non-genius tasks holds you back.The importance of pricing in alignment with your value.Why waiting for perfection to be visible is a costly mistake.How strategic investments can transform your business.Sound Bites:"The market isn’t the problem—it’s the simple mistakes we make.""Stop tripping over pennies and

Success isn't just about strategies - Shelagh CumminsIn this reflective episode of The Road to Seven, Shelagh Cummins dives into the pivotal lessons she learned throughout 2024. From embracing community to prioritizing self-care, Shelagh highlights how creating space for clarity and fostering deeper connections can lead to transformative breakthroughs in business and life. Drawing on her own experiences, she inspires listeners to embrace humanity in their entrepreneurial journeys and invites them to reflect on their own lessons as they prepare for 2025.What You’ll Learn in This Episode:Why community is a cornerstone for growth and support.How creating space in your schedule can lead to clarity and breakthroughs.Why self-care is essential for sustainable success.The power of listening to your inner call and embracing transformative opportunities.How emphasizing human connection can create lasting impact in business.LinksTo work with me and make your next power move, visit:https://theroadtoseven.com    ‌St

"Let's distribute the wealth." - Jennifer WilliamsIn this episode of The Road to Seven, Shelagh Cummins is joined by Jennifer Williams, founder of Firefly Insights, to discuss the transformative concept of employee ownership as a viable succession plan. With recent legislative changes in Canada supporting employee ownership trusts, Jennifer explores how this model not only enhances business performance but also addresses economic inequities. She shares her journey from nonprofit work to becoming a passionate advocate for equitable ownership, emphasizing the impact on communities and wealth redistribution. This insightful conversation also highlights the unique challenges women face in business, the importance of self-care, and how community support fuels success.What You’ll Learn in This Episode:How employee ownership can serve as a transformative succession plan.The benefits of wealth redistribution for businesses and communities.Challenges and opportunities for women entrepreneurs in finance

In this episode of The Road to Seven, Shelagh Cummins shares the 10 C's every woman entrepreneur needs to thrive in 2025. Reflecting on the lessons of 2024, she dives into key areas such as clarity, cash flow, and confidence to help you create sustainable success. Whether it's building consistency, leveraging community, or mastering delegation, this episode is packed with actionable insights to help you align your vision with your actions and take bold steps toward growth.Whether you're refining your plans or scaling your business, this episode is packed with tools and insights to help you start the year with focus and purpose.Listen to discover:Why clarity in your goals is essential for effective decision-making.How consistency builds trust, reliability, and long-term success.The importance of community for support, partnerships, and growth.Confidence as a driver for bold decision-making and business leadership.How to master cash flow to ensure your business thrives sustainably.Links and Resou

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