Mastermind Your Launch

Brittni Adams is the founder and designer of Whitby Handbags, a socially conscious luxury handbag line dedicated to preventing the exploitation of girls around the world through education, namely: Haiti, Iraq, Peru and Thailand. Brittni founded Whitby in 2014 after two years of extensive research on the topic of modern-day slavery and its correlation to the widespread problem of girls not having access to educational opportunities due to gender discrimination, religion, or poverty. Brittni has B.A. in mass communication, public relations from Georgia College and State University, and a master’s certificate in nonprofit management from the University of North Carolina. Brittni lives in Brookhaven (Atlanta) with her husband Jeremy and golden retriever puppy Magnolia. Apart from Whitby she is the co-founder of Atlanta Women Entrepreneurs and mentors high school girls at Passion City Church. Mission: It’s no small task that Brittni has taken on… I loved her statement about always having the “capacity to dream”. T

Tres Crow is a Business Consultant with the Small Business Development Center (SBDC), the CEO and Co-Founder of City Data Company, creators of the event mapping technology Walkabout, writer, and advocate for sustainable design, architecture, and economic policy, and the small businesses that make it all possible. He’s an experienced professional with 10 years of sales, marketing, and management experience. Tres has a BA in History from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, MI, and finished his MBA at the University of West Georgia, where he was inducted into the prestigious Beta Gamma Sigma business honor society. Mission: By observing how communities and event organizers and attendees were limited by the functionality of Google Maps, Tres began working on an idea that would make finding event specific information (like parking, concert stage locations, and food options) accessible from your smartphone.    Mindset: Seeing the unique value and opportunity to impact his community, Tres got busy assembling th

In episode 55, we hear from Connor Ford, CEO of Spirit App and soon-to-be freshman at Georgia Tech. That’s right, this edu-tech CEO hasn’t even taken his first college course yet...   Connor share’s his journey to develop the tech company Spirit App at the age of 15 and all of the early signs that predicted his success.   It’s so inspiring to watch a bright, young person like Connor execute his vision with such precision and confidence. Mission: As a 15 year old high school student, Connor noticed a pain point in the way that his school tracked student participation at events. Connecting the dots, he discovered that he could leverage technology to create an app that would solve the problem. With that, Spririt App was born. Mindset: Connor attributes his curiosity and love of tinkering with giving him the confidence and base of knowledge to tackle a project like Spirit App at such a young age. Listen to hear a hilarious story of one project that actually had him tearing up the walls in his house. A fun surpris

Since his adult life Dan has refused to accept the concept of limitation and strives to help others to discover the limitless possibilities that life has to offer whilst assisting individuals and businesses to take charge of their destinies. Dan is recognised for his selfless contribution and ability to motivate and create positive change within individuals and business. His high-energy, passionate delivery inspires and engages audiences to step beyond any perceived limits, empowering them with the motivation to become an UNSTOPPABLE ENTREPRENEUR. After 7 years of working with one the world’s largest financial services organisations and working alongside thousands of businesses, Dan identified patterns of behaviour that either leads to business success or failure. Dan has also had the privilege of modelling the strategies of some of the global authorities in the fields of network marketing, internet marketing business growth and the psychology of peak performance. Dan’s experience, coupled with his undeniable

Yaystack is word-of-mouth referral marketing in a digital platform that reaches further faster than traditional methods. We simply reward sharing. Our native app and online e-commerce tool enable sellers of nearly any product or service to offer "thank-yous" (promotions, freebies, and discounts) to their buyers only once they have been shared via text or social media. This share-to-get model empowers advertising through buyers to their friends (and their friends, etc.) in an automated viral system. (What business doesn't want to easily reach their buyers' friends?) Gone are the days the age-old discount incentivizes merely one buyer per transaction. With Yaystack, businesses can now leverage the same value to purchase the Holy Grail of marketing (WOM) and get more than 10x return on their investment - now in their buyers, not banners! We monetize trust for both parties. Our mission is to strengthen economy by elevating quality business. Not only do we accomplish this in our model, but we also make it easy to

Erez Weinstein is a lifelong entrepreneur in diverse industries, tech and non-tech. Currently, Erez is working on new ways to create hospitality brands in the sharing economy space and a new approach to define schools position in the community. By challenging the current business model and structure of private schools, Erez aims to create a tuition free, self-funded education hub providing new opportunities for students, teachers, investors and entrepreneurs. Mission: Being a father himself, Erez is invested in the educational system that is molding his children's minds. Seeing a large gap between the way that kids are taught and the skills needed for adults to succeed, Erez connected to an idea for making a shift. Developing a strong base of knowledge for what is currently being done, he connected to the idea for a new educational system and a path to bring that idea to reality. Mindset: It's easy to see how passionate Erez is about this innovative idea. While he's not blind to the road ahead, he's focused o

Kristen Stocks is the founder of Kids Boost, a non-profit organization designed to help kids give back to the world using their gifts, talents and passions. Mission: To empower kids to give back to the community while learning business skills and experiencing entrepreneurship for themselves. In this episode she shares the story of Jared, a former patient at the children’s hospital where she works, who inspired it all. Mindset: Kristen actually had the idea for Kids Boost for several years before taking action. Hear her describe how starting small helped her to finally launch her  big idea. Marketing: “What I didn’t think I was ready for was all that I needed and more.”  Kristen shares the marketing moment she did quite feel ready for and how it helped get the word out in a big way. Momentum: Now out of the launch phase, Kristen is enjoying hearing the stories and feedback from some of Kids Boost’s first graduates. Seeing her idea come to life and impact kids is giving her and Kids Boost momentum for the next

"When they forget about you, you introduce them to something you've been trying to give them the whole time" Rasa Don, together with former Arrested Development band mate Headliner, are the masterminds behind the artistic experience, Creative Royalty. Bringing together music, art, literature, and so much more to give fans an experience like no other. Rasa Don is best known as the drummer for the Grammy award winning band, Arrested Development. You will quickly hear that his artistic expression goes far beyond drumming. Ras has spent his career making music and art. In this interview, he shares the lessons learned with Arrested Development and the challenges of launching a new project.  Rasa Don says, "Trust me, it's worth the wait".  

Ofelia de La Valette, owner and founder of Dance 101 didn’t find her calling to the dance world until the age of 35. A successful insurance agent with her own company in Atlanta, Ofelia had been pounding away on the treadmill at her gym when the sounds of a cardio dance class caught her attention. Though humiliated at her own lack of skill, Ofelia jumped right in. Despite her embarrassment at being the worst in the class, Ofelia found a strengthened sense of self and scorched 20 pounds in the process. She was hooked. After 10 years of intensive dancing, she was asked to teach a class at Emory University, and after two years there, she took a huge leap. At the request of five of her students, Ofelia dropped her lucrative career and opened the original Dance 101 location off of Miami Circle in Buckhead. The first studio of its kind in the WORLD, Dance 101’s unique offerings and accessibility made it an instant hit.  Ofelia teaches weekly dance classes and manages all aspects of the business. Currently, she is w

Calvin Wayman is a social media entrepreneur. He's a sought after speaker, featured guest on business-, entrepreneur-, and social media podcasts, contributor for Entrepreneur Magazine, and founder of Cobbes – a social media management company. He is also the creator of the YouTube show "Millionaire Case Study," where he is documenting his journey from zero to his first one million dollars as it's happening. After quitting his day job to pursue his dream of working for himself, Calvin Wayman relocated from Salt Lake City to sunny southern California. He sold door to door to stretch his comfort zone, pay the bills, and fund his online business. Calvin’s passion is helping entrepreneurs grow their businesses by taking advantage of modern tools and technology. Mission: Calvin admits that he knew he wanted to be an entrepreneur, but had no clue exactly what his business would be. Inspired by the success of early adopters on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, Calvin saw an opportunity to

Valerie Shoopman is a Facebook Ad Expert, Online Business Strategist, and the host of the Entrepreneur Power Hour Podcast. She is the co-author of the #1 Amazon Best-Seller “The Book on Facebook Marketing”. Valerie has worked with and consulted clients such as John Lee Dumas of Entrepreneur On Fire, Nick Unsworth of Life On Fire, Joe Polish of I Love Marketing, Brian Tracy, John Assaraf, Mary Ellen Tribby, Sue B. Zimmerman, and Daymond John from Shark Tank on their Facebook ad campaigns including helping them strategize the campaigns from top to bottom and giving detailed feedback to fully optimize their ads and funnels. She has been featured on Life on Fire TV, The New Business Podcast, Solopreneur Hour, ConversionCast, The Cerrone Show and many other podcasts and online business summits where she willingly shares her depth of Facebook marketing and advertising knowledge. Mission: As she was working at a small private school, Valerie became the go-to person for all things technical and social media. Things q

Kristy Dickerson is a small business speaker and advisor, co-founder of StartPlanner.com, CFO of all things organized, lifestyle photographer, mom of three boys and a wife that is never wrong...never. ;)Upon completion of her degree in finance and business management she started her first business after having her first son in 2008. Merging her business sense with her passions, Kristy has developed ways to help small business owners balance turning passions into a career all while still playing her most important role...being a mom. Giving tips on business, balance, organization, photography, health, and the occasional DIY projects to inspire, direct, and lead others to success and happiness. Mission: It was a fortunate conversation with her graphic designer that sparked the idea for Start Planner. Kristy had aspirations to one day create a book that would help business owners with organization and finances. Her designer, Jenny, had ideas for a planner. They joined forces to put their ideas into one product a

Under Mayor David Belle Isle’s leadership, Alpharetta has become Georgia’s hometown, the 6th fastest growing city in the country, the Technology City of the South, the nation’s 7th friendliest city according to Forbes, and has consistently maintained the lowest unemployment rate in Georgia. This has been achieved by a focus on reinventing Alpharetta’s Downtown and the drive to be the number one technology city in the Southeast. In 2015, Alpharetta was also named The #1 City in America for Women Entrepreneurs, and the #1 City in America to Start a Business. Mission: Mayor David Belle Isle shares that each leader needs a "vision worth the chase". Seeking a downtown that could bring the community together, he first ran for city council in 2006.  Despite two failed attempts, he eventually was able to make the progress needed to bring the project to life. A thriving downtown led to thriving businesses, which sparked a surge in entrepreneurship.  Today, Alpharetta boasts over 600 technology companies; the highest c

Born in Toledo Ohio and a current resident of San Diego (via Philly, Boulder, Denver, and Brussels), Michael Oneal's grammar school report cards always read: "Doesn't live up to his potential" and "Talks too much." One of those pieces of feedback would come in handy, as he is now the founder and host of the award-winning and much acclaimed business and entertainment podcast, "The Solopreneur Hour with Michael O'Neal." The show, in 2 years, has already garnered more than 6 million downloads and monetized to over 500k, features lively and highly engaging conversations between Michael and his various (and often much sought-after) guests, who share remarkable stories, advice and practical tips for an audience that badges itself as "proudly unemployable" and highly motivated to finally take charge of their own lucrative business pursuits. Mission:  Michael O'Neal worked behind the scenes of a high-profile podcast focused on personal transformation called "The KickAss Life." After several years, it was a lunch with

Thad Oviatt is the Founder and CEO of ParkENT Cycles, an electronic bicycle rack that locks the wheel and frame of your bicycle. These devices will be located on college campuses, on business properties, along bike trails, and in parks. The device was the concentration of Thad’s senior design and masters’ projects. ParkENT Cycles was founded in Georgia in 2013 and is manufactured in America.   Thad was born in and raised around Atlanta, GA. He studied Computer Engineering at Georgia Tech. Thad has a B.S. in Electrical Engineering, a M.S. Applied Engineering Management, and a M.B.A. from Georgia Southern University. He has worked for Delta.com and LexisNexis. Mission: The idea for an outdoor electronic bicycle rack came about when a friend of Thad Oviatt had two bicycles stolen in one week. When the second bike was stolen the thief left a sticky note attached to the cut bike lock chain that had a smiley face and “THANKS” written across it. How rude?! Mindset: What I love about Thad is that he’s gone ALL IN to

Nikki is an international photographer and speaker. Her platform is entirely about Being Seen. She is An Entrepreneurs Solution to reaching The Perfect Client! She specializes in helping her clients step into the power of who they are, as their best self, in order for their light to shine for the world to see. She gives her clients a true view of their beauty, up levels their brand and creates an easier way to reach more people and make the money they deserve. Mission:  In today's world, "your connection is your currency", as Nikki shares. Oddly enough, it was an uncomfortable sales call with a client that uncovered her purpose to not only photograph her clients, but to bring out the best in them. Mindset: Once connected to her bigger purpose, Nikki found that it gave her the confidence (or at least the gumption) to play on a higher level. In order to make a bigger difference, she knew that she had to step into bigger challenges, one being public speaking.  Listen as she shares the story of one of her first p

Brian Johnson is the author of the new book entitled “How To Live Your Dreams Out Loud: 6 Steps To Overcome Your Fears and Achieve Your Dreams”. An inspiring leader and in-demand speaker, Brian has inspired thousands of individuals to overcome their fears and achieve their dreams. Most recently Brian served as the Talent Coordinator for The Arsenio Hall Show for season one where he worked along side celebrities such as Kanye West, Eddie Murphy, Kevin Hart, Magic Johnson, Simon Cowell, Ken Jeong, Tony Goldwyn, Andrew Dice Clay and many more. Brian holds a bachelors degree in International marketing and a minor in Spanish from The University of Alabama. Mission: After hitting rock bottom, Brian sought the advice of his mentor which ended up opening the door to a career in Hollywood and the platform to launch his book Live Your Dreams Out Loud. Had he never hit that low point, that phone call would likely have never occurred. Listen as he and I discuss the power of going through hard times in order to get enjoy

Jason "J-Boom" Legaard is an inspirational speaker and entrepreneur with a mission to inspire the fire within those pursuing their dreams. After a childhood near death experience, he was crippled by guilt for years. Now his Attitude of Gratitude has allowed him to serve others in breaking free into their greatness. Jason is co-host of The Mindset Mountain Podcast and Co-creator of the personal development training, "Climbing the Mindset Mountain."  He also provides one on one coaching to guide clients past their B.S. and into bringing the BOOM back into their life! Mission: It was the decision to attend an entrepreneurship conference in 2011 that changed everything for Jason and sparked the passion to exit his 9-5 and own his own business. He returned from that conference a new person with a deep focus on building a purpose-driven business and never looked back. He didn't act is hast and quit his job, but has spent the last several years growing his business on the side. In December 2015, that side business b

My dear friend and fellow masterminder, Laura Lilly, has over 10 years of experience working with non profit organizations. After working for a traditional consulting firm for the past eight years serving mid-sized nonprofits (like YMCAs, independent schools, hospitals, and retirement communities), she started her own company, Spring, to offer consulting services to startup and small nonprofits. Listen as Laura shares her journey and advice for gaining fast momentum as a new business. Mission: The best entrepreneurial ventures blend your WHY for you and your WHY for the world. With Spring, Laura has done just that.  She paired her desire to create an online business and have flexibility to stay home with her young family, with the desire to help smaller nonprofits get the resources and momentum they need to make the impact they envision. Mindset: Inspired to make the year ahead one of joy, Laura became much more intentional with where she spent her time and energy. While at a yoga class, she heard the lyrics,

Jenn Newton of Mugs on Milton shares the story of how this quaint little coffee shop became the best kept secret of downtown Alpharetta. Mugs on Milton is a locally owned and operated coffee shop and bakery with locations in Alpharetta and Crabapple/Milton.  With core values of Great Coffee and Great Food, this neighborhood coffee shop quickly became the go-to meetup spot for locals. Mission: Prior to opening Mugs in Milton, Jenn worked in downtown Alpharetta with a marketing agency.  She knew she business ownership was in her future, but didn't know exactly what business. With her eyes open to new opportunities, Jenn saw a need for a coffee shop, even thought she isn't a coffee drinker... The idea lingered in her mind and began to gain momentum. Knowing a talented baker, she sat down her friend and now business partner Gretchen Smith to create a vision for what would eventually become Mugs on Milton. Once they realized just how aligned they were in their visions, they took the leap and opened just two months