Figure 8

Send us a Text Message.Did you know that systems, processes, and delegation are essential to scaling your business? Ten years after accidentally starting her business, Anna-Vija McClain and her team have helped hundreds of business owners scale and grow their brands.Anna-Vija McClain is an expert in small business efficiency and growth. She is the Founder and CEO of Piccolo Solutions, a development firm that provides businesses with numerous ways to scale, from lead generation to workflow sol...

Send us a Text Message.Imagine reinventing your business so it can survive the pandemic and then the next year, navigating the chaos of a total loss fire on your business property. In this week's episode of Figure Eight, Three Brothers Winery partner Erica Paolicelli discusses the critical importance of resilience, ambitious adaptability, and a solid disaster plan. Meet Erica Paolicelli, an accomplished enterprise architect, growth strategist, principled leader, brand ambassador, and financia...

Send us a Text Message.Alyssa Kerbel, the founder of mini mioche, built her business on sustainable, ethical practices and when the time was right, exited mini mioche in order to continue making the impact she craved. Success isn't one-size-fits-all and Alyssa and Julie discuss how redefining success to align with personal values can lead to fulfilling work that goes beyond profits.Alyssa is a multi-passionate, heart-led, impact-driven entrepreneur who, over the past 20+ years, has started, g...

Send us a Text Message.Ever wondered how a former Team Canada lacrosse player turns into a thriving entrepreneur? In Julie's conversation with Mandy Friend Gigliotti, they unpack her fascinating transition from athletics to real estate mogul to being the owner of multiple successful businesses. Mandy leads The Friend Team, a team in the top 1% of Realtors in the Rochester and Upstate New York regions. Founded on the values of FAITH: Family, Accountability, Integrity, Teamwork and Humilit...

Send us a Text Message.Ever dealt with that annoying thigh chafing? Julie had a heart-to-heart with Marnie Rabinovitch Consky, Founder and CEO of Thigh Society, who turned her personal struggle into a thriving business. Thigh Society is the leading direct-to-consumer brand of size-inclusive long leg undergarment solutions to sweating, chafing and modesty designed to help women move through the world with comfort and confidence.Marnie is an entrepreneur who started her company based on a probl...

Send us a Text Message.From hiring previously incarcerated folks and those in addiction recovery to implementing an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), Gina Schaefer's story of entrepreneurship demonstrates what it can look like to understand and support the community you serve.When Gina moved into a forlorn neighborhood that needed a hardware store, she built one. When she thought the recovery community needed businesses to believe in them, she became one, and when she suggested that inequ...

Send us a Text Message.Let's talk about the art of transition – moving from doing to overseeing. It's a challenge many entrepreneurs, including Julie's guest Hillary Parnell, have had to face.Hillary Parnell has been the owner of the Academy for the Performing Arts and Preschool for the Arts in Apex, NC for the past two decades and more recently founded two other dance adjacent companies (Dance Photo Pro and Dancers In Balance).She has taught over 10,000 children, grown her revenue to w...

Send us a Text Message.Did you know that mature entrepreneurs bring a wealth of diverse experiences to the table? In this episode of Figure Eight, Jackie Dinsmore highlights the value of founders with life experience. Her venture capital firm, Extra Innings Ventures, embraces this philosophy by investing in seasoned individuals. Jackie and Julie also discuss how letting go of the helm to become an employee and eventually selling one's ownership requires adaptability and emotional prepar...

Send us a Text Message.Have you ever been branded a failure for choosing a path less traveled? On the latest episode of the Figure Eight podcast, Julie had the pleasure of chatting with Kristy Miller. Kristy shared her journey from dropping out of university to becoming the founder of The Scented Market. Despite the resistance, her unwavering determination and strong support system proved that success doesn't always follow a conventional script. Kristy is the founder and CEO of The Scented Ma...

Send us a Text Message."Strategy is a marathon, not a sprint." This philosophy rings true in Julie's conversation with Nicole Mahoney, CEO of Break the Ice Media, as they delve into the long-term vision for her business. Nicole Mahoney is an entrepreneur, speaker, and podcast host with a passion for business. She’s the founder of Break the Ice Media, a PR and digital marketing agency specializing in the travel, tourism, and hospitality industry, and also serves as the CEO of Travel Allia...

Send us a Text Message.Ever wondered how a simple idea scribbled on a napkin can evolve into an eight-figure empire?In this introductory episode of the Figure Eight podcast, host Julie Ellis will take you through the incredible journey of Mabel's Labels and moving beyond it. From a light-bulb moment to the nail-biting experience of scaling up for major retail to the emotional journey of selling and stepping into an advisory role for other entrepreneurs, you’ll discover the reality of swi...