Avant-Garde Entrepreneur®

If you had thirty seconds to pitch your company to an investor who could turn your vision for your social enterprise into a reality. Would you be ready?This week, in our third episode of the Up-Level Your Impact Business series, we're tackling every doubt, fear, and uncertainty you might have about fundraising with Scott Nichols. Scott is the Founder of Velocity Pitch Decks and a professional Pitch Deck writer, with a knack for providing client-centric, solution-oriented services that get startup founders funded and help jobseekers land their next best role.Tune in and listen to the sixty-fifth episode of Avant-garde Entrepreneur. You'll get countless tips to craft the perfect pitch deck for your social enterprise, discover why you should create extra-short, short, and long pitch decks, and learn the most common mistakes you should avoid when putting together your pitch deck. Scott also debunks the myths about raising capital, teaches the right way to approach investors, and much, much more.In This Episode, You Will Learn:From writing resumes to becoming a professional pitch deck writer (3:40)What should and what you shouldn't include in your pitch deck (9:40)Most common mistakes people make when writing their pitch deck (13:00)Why it feels so hard to tell your own story? (18:30)Scott's top tips for approaching an investor (21:00)Scott debunks the myths about raising capital (26:50)Connect with Scott Nichols:LinkedInVisit Velocity Pitch Decks' websiteConnect with Velocity Pitch Decks on LinkedInFollow Velocity Pitch Decks on InstagramResources:My new book! Mindset MattersQuiz! What's Your Social Entrepreneur Style?Avant-garde Entrepreneur Academy WaitlistLet's Connect!WebsiteLinkedInFacebookInstagram

As social entrepreneurs, we are in business to relieve, help, or solve the problems of those we serve. We are so connected with our mission that selling is the last thing on our minds.Yet making a business ready to be sold is much more than finding a buyer, it is about preparing for success years in advance (regardless if you're selling or not).Today, in our second episode of the Up-Level Your Impact Business series, we chat with the brilliant Leslie Hassler about growing, scaling, and selling businesses effectively. Leslie is a business strategist, speaker, and the founder of Your Biz Rules. With almost 20 years of experience in the field, Leslie helps entrepreneurs maximize the value of their businesses, whether they're planning to sell or just thinking of scaling.Tune in and listen to the sixty-fourth episode of Avant-garde Entrepreneur. You'll learn to make your business valuable enough to attract potential buyers, the common pitfalls to avoid when getting your social enterprise ready for sale, and practical tips on creating a scalable and financially sound enterprise — one that works for you, not the other way around. You'll also learn about the three-year rule for selling, the differences between growth and scaling, how to reduce owner dependency, and much more.In This Episode, You Will Learn:Leslie talks about the most common mistakes business owners make (4:00)The three-year rule for selling (6:10)What is the difference between scaling and growing a business? (9:20)Three ways business owners should be paid (13:10)How to increase your business value before selling (21:15)What buyers look for in a business they're interested in (24:00)What it takes to start seeing our social enterprise as an asset, not a job (26:20)Why you MUST celebrate each win (30:00)Connect with Leslie Hassler:InstagramLinkedInFacebookFree GuidesResources:My new book! Mindset MattersQuiz! What's Your Social Entrepreneur Style?Avant-garde Entrepreneur Academy WaitlistLet's Connect!WebsiteLinkedInFacebookInstagram

You don't need a massive budget to craft a clever, compelling, and effective marketing campaign, and you don't need to wait until your business is wildly successful to invest in branding or advertising. One of the biggest myths about marketing is that it is expensive, and the other is that it is only worth it after you've "made it."  Today, I'm thrilled to welcome Sydney Sam as we kick off the Up-Level Your Impact Business series. In this first episode, we dive into marketing and branding. Sydney is a global speaker, trainer, and coach—an "entrepreneur's entrepreneur." He is the founder of Openspace Global, a member of the D&AD Impact Council, and the CEO of Workspace Global.Tune in and listen to the sixty-third episode of Avant-garde Entrepreneur. Join us as we dive into the intersection of mission-driven business and effective marketing, debunk the myths about marketing and branding, and go over the marketing trends of 2025. Sydney also shares solutions to the most common marketing roadblocks, breaks down complex marketing and branding concepts into simple language, and much more.In This Episode, You Will Learn:A bit about Sydney's background and first steps in marketing (4:20)What's the difference between marketing and branding? (7:50)How to build your brand's soul, body, and purpose (13:00)Sydney talks about the marketing trends for 2025 (17:00)How expensive is it to promote your business? (24:10)Two of the biggest myths in marketing (35:00)Connect with Sydney:LinkedInTwitterInstagramVisit Openspace's websiteLet's Connect!WebsiteLinkedInFacebookInstagram

Have a million-dollar idea, work your butt off, sell it, live the dream. Tempting, right? But the real reward lies in turning your business into a force for good—healthier, sustainable, and driven by purpose. One path is a myth; the other redefines success in business and life.Today, I'm thrilled to welcome Mark Rampolla. Mark is a Los Angeles-based, visionary entrepreneur, the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of GroundForce Capital, and the Co-Founder and now Board Member of ZICO. He founded ZICO in 2004, grew it into one of the fastest-growing beverage brands in the world, and sold it to The Coca-Cola Company in 2013. In 2021, he re-acquired the company and, from his new role as a Board Member, renewed his focus on sustainability and innovation.Tune in and listen to the sixty-second episode of Avant-garde Entrepreneur. You'll hear about Mark's unique perspective on entrepreneurship, his passion (and unique skill) to create and develop businesses that do good while doing well, and his hands-on approach and deep commitment to helping teams grow, innovate, and succeed. Mark also reflects on the wildfires in California, which profoundly affected him both as a community member and personally, resulting in the loss of his home and everything he owned.In This Episode, You Will Learn:Navigating loss. Why our gratitude and resilience muscle must always be on point (4:24)What growing ZICO taught Mark about the business of building sustainable businesses (10:28)Mark talks about his decision of re-acquiring ZICO (19:00)How to build a strong team and why this is crucial (28:10)Entrepreneurship from an investor's perspective (34:10)Mark shares advice for young entrepreneurs (37:20)Connect with Mark Rampolla:LinkedInZICOLet's Connect!WebsiteLinkedInFacebookInstagram

When D-day arrives and elite athletes are about to jump into the arena, trying to compensate for the missed training sessions during the preparation process is pointless. Their success will depend only on their consistency in the previous months. It is the same for social entrepreneurs regarding our spiritual and mental readiness.The only difference is that we never know when life will throw us onto the field and make us play the biggest game of our lives.Today, we talk about how to keep it together when life hits us with a two-by-four. Last Autumn, what started as a routinary rotator cuff surgery in one of my husband's shoulders developed into a rare condition that not only threatened his life but caused him tons of excruciating pain. Unexpectedly, life forced us to put our lives on hold and pushed us into the arena with no other weapons than our love, faith, and the tools we forged in the good times.Tune in and listen to the sixty-first episode of Avant-garde Entrepreneur. You'll hear about my experiences as a caregiver, the lessons learned during these difficult times, the five things that helped me the most to keep it together during this massive crisis, and much more.In This Episode, You Will Learn:How ready are we to eat our own cooking? (1:50)That moment when life shows us who is in charge of things (4:00)The benefits of going small and delegating (13:10)Value your quiet time (15:20)The power of meditation and focusing on what we want to feel, not what we're going through (18:30)Trust your team (21:00)Never underestimate the massive power of gratitude (23:20)Resources:My new book! Mindset MattersMy email: Trisha@TrishaBaileyPhD.comQuiz! What’s Your Social Entrepreneur Style?Avant-garde Entrepreneur Academy WaitlistLet’s Connect!WebsiteLinkedInFacebookInstagram

Do you remember the last time you saw yourself doing nothing?Today, I'm thrilled to welcome the inspiring Michelle Sorro. Michelle is a Spiritual Business Mentor, the Host of the top 1% worldwide podcast on self-development, Fire & Soul, a dear friend, and my coach. From being a successful TV retail host making over $200 million in sales, to launching a super successful podcast, to helping others spread their voice, to a seven-figure master coach, Michelle's journey into becoming who she is today was, with the benefit of hindsight, as she likes to say, perfect.In early 2021, Michelle took the first steps into a fascinating journey of self-discovery that helped her shed labels and get closer to her soul's purpose. One crucial insight Michelle got from her mesmerizing journey is the importance of mental health hygiene, and that's the main focus of our conversation.Tune in and listen to the sixtieth episode of Avant-garde Entrepreneur. You'll hear about Michelle's impressive entrepreneurial journey and her extraordinary spiritual awakening that, as she realized later, was sending her hints and signs all the time. Michelle also shares her thoughts on the importance of mental health maintenance, practical tips to turn it into a habit, and its multiple benefits. You'll hear about the link between self-care, spiritual practices, and long-term success, the power of letting go, and much more!In This Episode, You Will Learn:A bit about Michelle's impressive professional career (6:40)About Michelle's spiritual awakening (13:50)With the benefit of hindsight, it is easier to connect the golden dots (18:20)Why is it so hard to listen? (22:00)Tips and advice on mental health maintenance (29:10)Manifest in ease. What is it and how to do it (37:50)Paying attention to the signs, symbols, and synchronicities (49:30)Connect with Michelle Sorro:WebsiteLinkedInInstagramWatch the Soul & Fire Podcast on YouTubeSave your spot for the Magnetic Creator Mastermind 2025Let's Connect!WebsiteLinkedInFacebookInstagram