Side Hustle Pro

This week in the guest chair we have Maekaeda Gibbons, Trinidad-born founder & CEO of Brown Sugar Babe, the cult-favorite fragrance and body-care brand whose body oils like Wild Card and Rich Auntie just keep selling out. In this episode she shares:Turning a $300 paycheck into a side hustle that now ships 10,000+ orders a month Her exact growth playbook: pop-ups at Atlanta’s Ponce City Market, a 20,000-member Facebook group, and influencer collaborations that went viral on the internetHow she approaches exploring various side hustle ideas as a multi passionate side hustlerHighlights Include:00:00 Intro06:00 Personal connection to scent09:00 Turning a business to a hobby15:00 Marketing strategies21:00 Financial growth and investment30:00 Importance of discipline in business40:00 Navigating debt46:00 Breaking the stigma around money53:00 Managing tariffs and business costs55:00 Tips for entrepreneursWatch episode 463 on YouTube and listen on all podcast appsLinks mentioned in this episodeBrown Sugar Babe Website: ttps://www.brownsugarbabe.net/ Shopify (e-commerce platform) – https://shopify.comPonce City Market Makers Market – https://poncecitymarket.comAsia Evans, Financial Therapist – @asiatherapy on InstagramBrown Sugar Babe Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brwnsugarbabe/ Click here to subscribe via RSS feed (non-iTunes feed): http://sidehustlepro.libsyn.com/rssAnnouncementsJoin our Facebook CommunityIf you’re looking for a community of supportive side hustlers who are all working to take our businesses to the next level, join us here: http://sidehustlepro.co/facebook

This week in the guest chair we have Raven Gibson, multidisciplinary designer and founder of the empowering apparel and lifestyle brand Legendary Roots. Getting her start in her dorm room, Raven takes us on her journey of delegation, negotiating with Fortune 500 retailers, and trusting that what’s for you will never pass you by.In this episode she shares:How she uses art to speak up and invites her community to set healthy boundariesThe moment she got serious about QuickBooks, hired a CPA, learned her metrics, and embraced FIRE principles to build a sustainable, profitable business.The systems that keep burnout at bay, and her gratitude‑driven approach to growthHighlights include: 00:00 Intro3:50 Shifting from medicine to art10:00 Scaling a side hustle20:00 Importance of early support24:00 Managing and learning business finance33:00 Marketing strategies39:00 Retail partnerships43:00 Maintaining a work/life balance52:00 Tips for entrepreneurs Watch episode 462 on YouTube and listen on all podcast appsLinks mentioned in this episodeLegendary Rootz website – https://legendaryrootz.com Instagram / TikTok / Threads – @legendaryrootzTarget – https://www.target.com Shopify – https://www.shopify.com PayPal – https://www.paypal.com Figma – https://www.figma.com ClickUp – https://www.clickup.com QuickBooks – https://quickbooks.intuit.com Tumblr – https://www.tumblr.com Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes – https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Year-of-Yes/Shonda-Rhimes/9781476777122 Click here to subscribe via RSS feed (non-iTunes feed): http://sidehustlepro.libsyn.com/rssAnnouncementsJoin our Facebook CommunityIf you’re looking for a community of supportive side hustlers who are all working to take our businesses to the next level, join us here: http://sidehustlepro.co/facebookGuest Social Media InfoSide Hustle Pro – @sidehustlepro#SideHustlePro

This week in the guest chair we have Rachel Rodgers—entrepreneur, coach, and bestselling author of We Should All Be Millionaires. She's back on the show with powerful insights to help side hustlers and full-time entrepreneurs alike build sustainable wealth and stop playing small.In this episode, she shares:How to make real “money moves” instead of hiding behind busy workThe mindset shifts needed to overcome imposter syndrome and take bold actionWhy outsourcing your life first can unlock growth in your businessHer step-by-step approach to building a million-dollar business with a strong team and systems to build wealth with confidenceHighlights include: 00:00 Intro04:00 Transitioning from law to passion projects11:40 Building life and business teams14:00 Balancing outsourcing and income16:45 Reframing selling as helping24:00 Importance of announcing your business30:00 Embracing growth and change37:00 Structuring a mastermind program46:00 Investing in yourself is key50:00 Helping Gen Z build wealth53:00 Tips for entrepreneursWatch episode 461 on YouTube and listen on all podcast appsLinks mentioned in this episodeRachel’s first SHP episode: https://youtu.be/a_8Kyku41GE Rachel’s website: https://rachelrodgers.com/Rachel’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachrodgersesq/ Future Millionaire book: https://futuremillionairebook.com/ The Four Hour Work Week: https://www.amazon.com/4-Hour-Workweek-Escape-Live-Anywhere/dp/0307465357 The Big Leap: https://www.harpercollins.com/products/the-big-leap-gay-hendricks We Should All Be Millionaires: https://www.harpercollinsleadership.com/9781400221684/we-should-all-be-millionaires/ Click here to subscribe via RSS feed (non-iTunes feed): http://sidehustlepro.libsyn.com/rssAnnouncementsJoin our Facebook CommunityIf you’re looking for a community of supportive side hustlers who are all working to take our businesses to the next level, join us here: http://sidehustlepro.co/facebookGuest Social Media InfoRachel’s website: https://rachelrodgers.com/Rachel’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachrodgersesq/ 

This week I’m excited to chat with someone I go way back with, Sheena McCullers. Sheena is the founder of Della’s Beauty Supply. Della’s was launched to bring a much-needed sense of belonging for BIPOC beauty lovers in Ann Arbor, MI. After moving from Brooklyn, Sheena saw a need for a place for people who look like her and took a chance on opening a storefront. In this episode she shares:How intentionally creating a community through word of mouth was the foundation to building her customer baseThe startup costs and how she’s been able to be profitable in the first yearThe importance of working a full-time job where she was supported enough to be transparent about needing space to focus on expanding Della’s Highlights Include: 00:00 Intro08:16 Exploring different side hustles14:16 Navigating a new city18:43 Filling the need for a beauty supply23:18 Startup planning and costs27:55 Creating a community 30:01 Curating events and collaborations35:02 Running a storefront as a side hustle41:20 Expanding and creating a cultural hub46:43 Setting the tone for the future of the store56:19 Tips for entrepreneursCheck out episode 460 of Side Hustle Pro podcast out now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTubeLinks Mentioned: Auntie Della’s Website: https://auntiedellas.com/Auntie Della’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/auntiedellas/ Auntie Della’s TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@auntiedellas Virtual Assistant: https://theindemandva.com/ Listen on:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/side-hustle-pro/id1126021323Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/13qDj08lBR4ymzGhXIKy8t?si=8daf52a57e054042 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/sidehustleproClick here to subscribe via RSS feed (non-iTunes feed): http://sidehustlepro.libsyn.com/rssAffiliate Disclosure: I may be an affiliate for products that I recommend or share. If you purchase those items through my links, I may earn a commission. You will not pay more when you use my links.

This week in the guest chair we have Kristen Dunning, founder and CEO of Gently Soap - a bathing brand built on her self-developed herbal infusions. An MBA grad, Kristen hails from a rare five generations of Black Alabama farmers, and she’s continuing the legacy by bringing joy back to bathing experiences for people with sensitive skin, using the medicinal properties of plants.In this episode she shares:Her vigorous passion and research that landed her on Shark TankHer secret sauce to having a rate of 78% repeat customersHow she won over 300K in investment capital and has a trajectory of $1.2M in salesHighlights Include:00:00 Intro03:24 Generations of Black farmers06:38 Struggle with eczema08:45 Studying horticulture and agriculture14:10 Staring Gently Soaps18:03 Transitioning to selling at markets21:31 Importance of formulating for sensitive skin28:56 Sales growth and Shark Tank impact32:55 High margins and sales 39:49 Marketing strategies44:03 Tips for entrepreneurs Check out episode 459 of Side Hustle Pro podcast out now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTubeLinks mentioned in this episodeGently Soap Website: https://gentlysoap.com/ Gently Soap Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gentlysoap/Kristen’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/professionalplantgirl/ Kristen’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristendunning/  Shark Tank episode: https://gentlysoap.com/pages/shark-tank Aveeno start-up pitch competition: https://www.aveeno.com/startup-collective Thirteen Lune: https://thirteenlune.com/ Tech Stars: https://www.techstars.com/ Click here to subscribe via RSS feed (non-iTunes feed): http://sidehustlepro.libsyn.com/rssAnnouncementsJoin our Facebook CommunityIf you’re looking for a community of supportive side hustlers who are all working to take our businesses to the next level, join us here: http://sidehustlepro.co/facebook

This week in the guest chair we have Julia Coney, award winning wine writer, speaker, & consultant. Julia wears many hats, including being the Wine Consultant for American Airlines and Founder of Black Wine Professionals; a resource for Black professionals in the world of wine.In this episode she shares about:Being multi-passionate: how exploring a range of interests, from starting at a law firm to writing a beauty blog, has elevated her career Paving the way for diversity: how starting honest conversations about racism, equity, and inclusion in the wine industry led to being the recipient of Wine Enthusiast's 2020 Social Visionary Award Winner The power of putting yourself out there on social media: How she has created opportunities for herself like being the first Black woman to run a wine program for American AirlinesHighlights include: 00:00 Intro04:42 Original career path and intro to wine13:00 Navigating a switch in careers21:39 Transition from beauty blogging to wine writing27:06 Addressing racism in the wine industry29:40 Sustaining financially as a freelance writer35:00 Providing a niche wine service 41:30 Unlocking networking opportunities 45:07 Running a wine program for American Airlines 54:16 Tips for entrepreneurs Watch episode 457 on YouTube and listen on all podcast appsLinks mentioned in this episodeJulia’s Substack: https://juliaconey.substack.com/ Julia’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/juliaconey/ Julia’s email: hello@juliaconey.com Click here to subscribe via RSS feed (non-iTunes feed): http://sidehustlepro.libsyn.com/rssAnnouncementsJoin our Facebook CommunityIf you’re looking for a community of supportive side hustlers who are all working to take our businesses to the next level, join us here: http://sidehustlepro.co/facebookGuest Social Media InfoJulia’s Substack: https://juliaconey.substack.com/ Julia’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/juliaconey/ Julia’s email: hello@juliaconey.com 

This week we’re taking it back to my convo with Portia Obeng, social media strategist, LinkedIn coach, and former Side Hustle Pro social media manager! With over 10 years of experience, Portia guides people through the ever-changing social media landscape to amplify their personal brands and make money.In this episode she shares about:The steps she’s taken to go from job hopping to helping people optimize their LinkedIn Her focus on the niche of creating “ LinkedIn superstars” who advocate for the company they work forHow she’s been able to maintain financially on a non-traditional path Highlights Include:00:00 Intro02:00 Early career experience08:00 Helping women level up in LinkedIn13:30 The importance of consistency on LinkedIn16:20 Building a LinkedIn profile24:00 Optimizing content on LinkedIn29:25 Using LinkedIn to build a personal brand37:00 How to connect in the best way on LinkedIn50:00 Tips for entrepreneurs Watch episode 456 on YouTube and listen on all podcast appsLinks mentioned in this episodePortia’s Website: https://www.portiaobeng.com/Portia’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/portiaobeng/ Portia’s TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@portia.o Muoyo’s Website: https://myvoterstatus.com/Verizon Small Business Program: https://digitalready.verizonwireless.com/Click here to subscribe via RSS feed (non-iTunes feed): http://sidehustlepro.libsyn.com/rssAnnouncementsJoin our Facebook CommunityIf you’re looking for a community of supportive side hustlers who are all working to take our businesses to the next level, join us here: http://sidehustlepro.co/facebookGuest Social Media InfoPortia’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/portiaobeng/ Portia’s TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@portia.o 

This week in the guest chair, we have former Podcast Moguls student Zach Nunn, Founder and CEO of Living Corporate. Zach unpacks how he turned his podcast into a thriving consulting business, landing brand partnerships with major corporations like Pfizer and more. He talks about the strategies behind creating authentic, high-quality content, leveraging interviews as a networking channel, and maximizing the value of a show’s back catalog.In this episode he shares:Why owning your IP is a game-changer for growing podcast revenueHow to repurpose past podcast episodes into new offers (and sell them)Why being transparent about your numbers, no matter how small, can still land you big corporate clientsHow he applied what he learned in Podcast Moguls to his business modelHighlights include: 00:00 Intro04:50 Centering marginalized voices in the workplace08:50 Side hustling while juggling a full-time job11:41 Developing a “bundle” approach to brand partnerships17:30 Expanding from a single podcast to a network37:00 Leveraging 900 hours of archived interviews for his AI e-learning platform51:00 Transitioning from DEI language to “experience management”1:02:00 Advice for entrepreneurs Check out episode 455 of Side Hustle Pro podcast out now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTubeThis episode is brought to you by: Skillshare: Take Nicaila’s class and explore thousands more hands-on classes taught by creative experts from around the world. Get one month free at sidehustlepro.co/skillshare.Links mentioned in this episodePodcast Moguls Coaching: https://sidehustlepro.co/podcastmoguls/ Living Corporate: https://living-corporate.com Zach’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zacharynunnphr Zach’s email:zach@living-corporate.com Opus Clip (auto-generate multiple clips): https://opus.pro RedCircle: https://redcircle.com CEO Action: https://www.ceoaction.com/ AnnouncementsJoin our Facebook CommunityIf you’re looking for a community of supportive side hustlers who are all working to take our businesses to the next level, join us here: http://sidehustlepro.co/facebook