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BRX Pro Tip: 5 Reasons to Become a Business RadioX® Studio Partner

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BRX Pro Tips
BRX Pro Tip: 5 Reasons to Become a Business RadioX® Studio Partner
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BRX Pro Tip: 5 Reasons to Become a Business RadioX® Studio Partner

Stone Payton: And we are back with Business RadioX Pro Tips. Lee Kantor and Stone Payton here with you. Lee, I’m going to put you on the spot a little bit, man. What are some practical reasons for becoming a Business RadioX studio partner?

Lee Kantor: Well, we solve a lot of problems for people in professional services, whether they have a day job that they’re doing, they want to use Business RadioX Studio Partner Program as a way to enhance that, or they just want to get into Business RadioX business to take advantage of all the revenue streams that come from it. But number one, we offer a proven system to build a perpetual prospect pipeline that is so important in today’s world to have a lever you can kind of push over and over and create an ever-flowing pipeline of prospects, the right people to come into your pipeline one after the other. And you can do this pretty easily when you’re working with us.

And number two, it increases the authority that you have in your community, it increases the credibility you have in your community, and it can generate multiple revenue streams. So, this is a proven system that has been done around the country with multiple people over many years.

Number two, we leverage the power of podcasting and content marketing within a structured framework and a very supportive network. We have been doing podcasting since the beginning of podcasting. Not many people can say that. Our shows have been running continuously for years and years, and in some cases decade over decade, which very few people can say. Our content has been shared millions of times. We have generated hundreds of thousands of interviews over the years. There’s very few people that can say the same thing.

Number three, it’s different. What we do is different than traditional podcasting because we’re focusing on serving a community, a business community. We’re not trying to position ourselves as gurus in a space and try to build this mega audience based on controversy or any type of outrage. What we’re trying to do is serve the business community, and we’re emphasizing building genuine relationships and highlighting local business stories. That’s what our people do. That’s the kind of person we’re looking to work with – people who believe in what we believe that it’s important to have a force for good in a community that is capturing authentic local business stories and building genuine relationships.

And number four, our proven business model provides a clear path to recurring revenue through sponsorships, client shows, and a multitude of content marketing services. We’ve been doing this for many, many years in many, many markets. So, our system works. It has worked for years, and it will work again.

And number five, we offer a level of support and a network, a distribution network that is second to none. Our studio partners benefit from ongoing coaching and mentoring. We have technical support for any type of issue you might have, whether it comes to audio or computer. We syndicate all of our content to every major platform there is. And all of our people have access to a collaborative community of experienced partners who are always there to help them succeed. So, I hope you join us on our journey as we grow the network and consider becoming a Business RadioX studio partner. Contact us now to learn more.

BRX Pro Tip: 4 Ways to Have a Successful Business Exit

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BRXmic99
BRX Pro Tips
BRX Pro Tip: 4 Ways to Have a Successful Business Exit
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BRX Pro Tip: 4 Ways to Have a Successful Business Exit

Stone Payton: Welcome back to Business RadioX Pro Tip. Stone Payton and Lee Kantor here with you. Lee, you and I aren’t going anywhere any time soon, but I can’t say I haven’t thought about it. What are you learning about achieving a successful business exit?

Lee Kantor: Yeah. Here’s four things you should be thinking about when you’re, kind of, getting ready for that stage of your business where it’s time to exit. The first thing is to start planning early. At least five years before you plan to exit, start thinking about things. Start, at least, gathering some experts around you, gathering some of the materials you need to exit in the most beneficial way possible. The second thing I would do is determine your business value today, see what it is, get a valuation of some kind, and then adjust accordingly. Because if you’re going to exit in 5 to 10 years, you’re going to have to keep growing that to get it to the number that you need it to be. So, determine your business value today and what you need it to be when it’s time to exit.

Number three, start enhancing your business’s value by creating assets such as standard operating procedures. That way, you can hand the business off to somebody and they’ll have kind of a handbook on how to run it. Start diversifying some revenue streams. Start adding additional revenue streams to make your business that much more valuable. Number four, assemble some sort of a team of advisors to help you get the best deal possible. Probably start talking to accountants, lawyers, some business valuation expert, your wealth management advisor. All of those folks are going to have opinions and can help guide you to giving you the chance to have the best exit possible. By following these steps and avoiding some common pitfalls, you can increase your chances of a successful and profitable business exit.

The National Black Business Pitch: Navigating the Spirits Industry and the Power of Mentorship

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Women in Motion
The National Black Business Pitch: Navigating the Spirits Industry and the Power of Mentorship
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In this episode of Women in Motion, Lee Kantor speaks with Rachel Ransom, co-founder of Krave Cocktail Seltzer, and Erika Castro, a corporate representative from Salt River Project and Rachel’s mentor. Rachel shares her journey in launching Krave, a Washington D.C.-based canned cocktail brand, discussing the challenges of entering the spirits industry and the importance of pitch competitions for funding. Erika provides insights on mentoring, the significance of business certifications for minority and women-owned businesses, and the value of networking. The episode highlights the collaborative spirit and resilience needed for entrepreneurial success.

Rachel-RansomRachel Ransom is the Co-Founder of Krave Cocktail Seltzer, a vibrant brand dedicated to redefining the ready-to-drink cocktail experience.

A proud Hampton University alumna, Rachel launched her career in technology and real estate sales, where she honed her expertise in business development and relationship-building. This experience in high-energy industries fueled her passion for entrepreneurship and equipped her with the strategic mindset to bring Krave to life.

Today, Rachel channels her sales acumen and entrepreneurial spirit into expanding Krave’s presence throughout Washington, DC, with a particular focus on Virginia, her home state. Krave-logo

She remains committed to creating a refreshing, quality cocktail brand that resonates with diverse communities and aims to make Krave a staple in the local spirits market.

Follow Krave on LinkedIn.

Erika-CastroErika Castro is the Supplier Diversity and Supplier Management Manager at SRP Salt River Project.

SRP is a community-based, not-for-profit organization providing reliable, affordable and sustainable water and energy to more than 2 million people in central Arizona.

Follow the Salt River Project on LinkedIn, Facebook, X and Instagram.

Music Provided by M PATH MUSIC

Transcript-iconThis transcript is machine transcribed by Sonix

 

TRANSCRIPT

Intro: Broadcasting live from the Business RadioX Studios, it’s time for Women In Motion. Brought to you by WBEC-West. Join forces. Succeed together. Now, here’s your host.

Lee Kantor: Lee Kantor here, another episode of Women In Motion and this is going to be a good one. But before we get started, it’s important to recognize our sponsor, WBEC-West. Without them, we couldn’t be sharing these important stories. Today on Women In Motion, we have Rachel Ransom with Krave Cocktail Seltzer, and Erika Castro who is the corporate representative from Salt River Project. Welcome.

Rachel Ransom: Thank you.

Lee Kantor: All right. Well, before we get too far into things, let’s talk to Rachel about Krave Cocktail Seltzer. Tell us about your business.

Rachel Ransom: Yeah. So, Krave Cocktail Seltzer is a Washington, D.C. based and black women-owned canned cocktail seltzer brand. We launched the brand back in July of 2024, and we focused on creating your classic cocktail recipes in seltzer form. So, the recipe we have out right now is our Lemon Drop Cocktail, and we’ll be looking to add on a tequila-based cocktail in the upcoming summer.

Lee Kantor: So, what’s your backstory? How’d you get involved in this line of work?

Rachel Ransom: So, Krave was started by me and two of my friends. One of my friends had an idea to start a canned cocktail line, and then in perfect timing a spirits investment company called Pronghorn, who solely invests in minority-owned spirit brands, hosted a pitch competition for former HBCU students. Two of the three of us went to a Historically Black College, Hampton University, and so we applied for this pitch competition with our idea of Krave.

Rachel Ransom: So, basically, we just submitted a PowerPoint to them. They liked our PowerPoint, gave us startup money of $10,000, and flew us down to Miami to pitch to investors. So, from there, we utilized that money to hire a beverage formulator, hire a manufacturer, graphic designer, get the proper licensing. And had to put in some additional money of our own, but that really helped us get kickstarted and launch Krave in D.C.

Lee Kantor: Now, was that kind of the trajectory you were on prior to Krave? Were you going to be an entrepreneur? Were you looking for a venture like this?

Rachel Ransom: So, I was always going to be an entrepreneur, but I had no thoughts of getting involved in the spirits industry. Professionally, I sell cloud computing technology, so I’ve been involved in sales for a while. Outside of that, I had started about two years ago, gotten into real estate. I got my Virginia real estate license, which is where I’m from, and was a practicing realtor when this opportunity came. Since then, I have paused real estate. I still do my technology sales, but I’m all in on Krave.

Lee Kantor: So, what was part of that learning curve to get into the spirits industry? I’m sure you were aware of spirits, but you weren’t aware of the business of spirits.

Rachel Ransom: Right. No, it was a huge learning curve from what the licensing laws look liked state to state, to what type of information you have to have on your actual can, and so many things in between. What was really helpful for us was finding some mentors in the industry, so between the relationship we developed with the spirits investment company, Pronghorn, alongside finding some other canned cocktail brand owners who had been in the business for either a few years or up to 20 years, and utilizing them as mentors to help us learn what we didn’t know. But then, there were also a lot of instances of trial and error and figuring things out as we went along.

Lee Kantor: So, what was it like at the beginning stages where you have maybe an idea, but how do you kind of iterate that and make it come to life for that prototype, you know, first test beverage, are you just hanging out together, just mixing things in a pitcher, shaking it up?

Rachel Ransom: So, actually, that is kind of how it started. We thought of what were the one to two cocktails we want to start with. We landed on lemon drop and mojito. From there, we spent an afternoon making kitchen recipes, different versions of a lemon drop, and a mojito cocktail to see what we liked the best. We were looking for something that wasn’t too sugary, wasn’t too high in alcohol content, and also had a nice fizz, but also wasn’t too diluted by the soda water.

Rachel Ransom: So, once we finally landed on something that we liked, we interviewed probably 12 beverage formulators across the U.S. and landed on a great company out of Oregon called Sonoma Beverage Consulting. We worked with them, basically we sent them our kitchen recipe, and then they utilized commercial grade ingredients to recreate that recipe. And we went back and forth over about five or six iterations until we solidified what the the perfect Lemon Drop Cocktail would taste like.

Lee Kantor: So, you went from just hanging out to sending it to a formulator. You didn’t have like a mid-step of should we just bring this to a farmers market or just the public in general to see what they think?

Rachel Ransom: No. And honestly, looking back, that’s something we would do future state for our next run. We’d make a smaller batch so that we could get the community’s feedback on it to ensure we were on the right track. So, that was a risk that we were taking. But we knew we wanted to make this a beverage that could be eligible to be in retailers, so we didn’t want it to be something that we were, you know, just batching in our kitchens and then giving it to the public.

Rachel Ransom: So, with that, we knew we wanted to work with a beverage formulator. But we know that in the future we’d want to, again, work with the beverage formulator, but make a small batch quantity to have some sort of a focus group to test out the product before bringing it directly to shelves.

Lee Kantor: Now, did you have Krave as a brand that you had kind of a look and feel for that was kind of the foundation of this and then building the beverage to it, or was the beverage first and then you built Krave around that?

Rachel Ransom: So, the name was actually first. The name came from just we were going through a couple different names and wanted to find something that felt like someone was doing something. We wanted it to be an action verb, so Krave is something that we landed on. And then, from there we built the brand concept around it of thinking how can we differentiate ourselves from all of the cocktail seltzers that are already out there? So, our focus was, let’s focus on your classic cocktails that have a higher ABV than average, less amount of fizz, not as diluted, really flavorful. And so, that’s how we we got to what the beverage would be after establishing what the name would be.

Lee Kantor: So, what was it like when you have the idea, you find these folks in Oregon, you send them the idea, and at some point they’re sending you that first can that you have to crack open. And you’re like, “Well, I hope this tastes like I picture in my head”?

Rachel Ransom: Yeah. So, with our beverage formulator, they would send us back a small sample of bottles with the lemon drop cocktail in it. From there, once we finally got it finalized, we got the final recipe, and then we had to hire a completely separate vendor. We had to hire a manufacturer. So, the manufacturer would take the recipe that we got from the beverage formulator. They’d create it on a larger scale. So, for our first run of product, we did 1,000 gallons of the Lemon Drop cocktail, and then that’s who puts it in the actual cans for us to then sell to retailers. So, it was a long process.

Lee Kantor: And isn’t it a little nerve-racking because at each stage you got to, you know, hope that it’s the way that you picture? I mean, even like if you’re printing something, they still check the printer to make sure they’re printing colors exactly, right?

Rachel Ransom: Yeah. It was extremely nerve-racking, especially going from such a small sample size to a large production run.

Lee Kantor: Right. Like how many cans is that?

Rachel Ransom: So, that was 10,000 cans. And so, if something went wrong, that was a lot of money that was gone.

Lee Kantor: Exactly. That’s times 10,000.

Rachel Ransom: Yeah. Thankfully we found a manufacturer that was local. So, we found a company called Nidra down in Chesapeake, Virginia. And so, we were able to visit the facility before they created our drink. And we were able to be there as they were mixing the drink, so that before they put the mixed ingredients into cans, we were able to taste it and make sure it still tasted like our small batch recipe before going into the cans. So, that helped a little bit to make us feel a little more comfortable.

Rachel Ransom: Now we’re running another production with them actually this week. It’s double the size, so it’s 20,000 cans. And we’re not going to be there for them to put it in the cans because we just have to trust that they’re going to, you know, follow the same recipe. But, again, it is nerve-racking especially as you start to create more and more product.

Lee Kantor: Now, why was it important for you to become a part of the National Black Business Pitch series?

Rachel Ransom: Yeah. So, with having a business like Krave, like I said, we just launched in July, and we’re not at the point exactly where investors are willing to invest in us just because we don’t have enough history of proving ourselves in terms of revenue and growing and scaling our business. But we’re not in a place as three founders to self-fund this business completely on our own.

Rachel Ransom: So, utilizing pitch competitions has been extremely helpful for us to be able to fund our business and just continue with the next production run and things like that. So, after doing some research online and finding the National Black Business Pitch, it was really important for us to apply and hope to participate in hopes to obtain the necessary funding to keep pushing our business forward.

Lee Kantor: Now, what was it like working with Erika Castro as your mentor on this adventure?

Rachel Ransom: I had an awesome experience with Erika. First, Erika has a lot of experience judging pitch competitions, which was extremely helpful in terms of reviewing my pitch with her. I got some great feedback that, obviously, was really helpful in terms of winning the pitch competition. But Erika also gave me some great information that comes from the WBEC group in terms of applying for or getting my business certified as a minority business and as a woman-owned business. Because what I learned from Erika is that there are a lot of organizations out there that have specific funding to work with these minority or women-owned businesses. And so, if we can get ourselves certified in that capacity, that’s going to help us in terms of obtaining new and larger retailers.

Lee Kantor: Now, Erika, as a seasoned business person and business leader that you are, what was it like mentoring the folks from Krave?

Erika Castro: Well, I would just say it was so easy. And, Rachel, congratulations. I haven’t gotten a chance to tell you, but I am so proud of you.

Rachel Ransom: Thank you.

Erika Castro: I was just so delighted to hear that you won, so it was kind of, you know, a validation that the the feedback worked. But honestly, Lee, I don’t know that Rachel needed too much feedback because she was just great. She, I think, already had a refined pitch. I had recently come out of judging another pitch competition. There was a few things that we talked about in terms of tweaking her pitch, but other than that, I mean, I think she was ready and she was prepared.

Erika Castro: And the other thing that I will have to say, too, is I think people’s energy really shows to the audience, to the judges. And I think when you have someone that has the energy that Rachel has, I think it’s so easy to work with them and to believe that a company as young as theirs that started earlier this year, is in the place that it’s at. And so, that’s the biggest takeaway for me is, man, if someone really wants something, it is achievable. And, obviously, it’s so much work to get there, but it just makes me really proud. So congrats, Rachel.

Rachel Ransom: Thank you.

Lee Kantor: Now, Erika, do you have any advice for other people doing pitch competitions or leaning on pitch competitions as a way to launch their venture? Are there some do’s and don’ts, you know, as being somebody who has judged these events and mentored these events? What are some do’s and don’ts for someone that’s entering their first pitch competition?

Erika Castro: Yeah. I mean, I think I would just say, before you probably come to a pitch competition, you probably want to have done a lot of homework and your research on what your business is. And I think Rachel kind of showcased that. She was a perfect example of that with her and her teammates at Krave because, as you heard, there was so much backend that had to be done before she even got to that point. And to even be able to navigate the beverage formulators and the manufacturers and all of that, I feel like there’s just so much backend and homework. So, that’s what I would recommend is, obviously, be able to do your homework.

Erika Castro: And then, I’m sure people have heard of the Business Model Canvas, but use that to your benefit. Because I think once you kind of know who you’re trying to target in terms of a customer, what do you want your company to look like in terms of a brand, what do you want people to think, see, and feel when they’re interacting with your brand, and so I think all of those things you can kind of lay out with developing a really great Business Model Canvas.

Erika Castro: And so, that’s what I would say is, before you kind of embark in any of these pitch competitions is make sure you kind of have that ready. Because I think for Rachel and her team, it was kind of a natural next step in terms of the recommendation that I provided to get certified, because it just opens up the opportunity for more markets, and for other corporations to maybe have their beverage in their supermarkets. And a lot of companies are trying to find women-owned, minority-owned businesses to feature, and so by them having the certification, it’s only going to be a benefit.

Lee Kantor: Now, Rachel, is there any advice you can give to people doing their first pitch? It sounds like you guys did a great job of preparation, but is there anything maybe from the nervousness or the actually getting on stage or getting in front of people and sharing maybe for the first time, is there anything you learned from that experience?

Rachel Ransom: Yeah, absolutely. And I think there’s a differentiator between a pitch competition that’s virtual versus in-person. Virtual being that it’s easy to have that pitch and presentation mode and read off your notes. But I think the biggest thing, one, is to make your pitch conversational. You don’t want it to feel to the judges that you’re just reciting a script. And then, if you are pitching in-person, it’s always great if you can memorize the pitch versus reading off of note cards, but it takes a lot of practice to be comfortable and confident and conversational in how you deliver your pitch.

Rachel Ransom: So, I just think that continuously practicing to different people to get their feedback, seeing what kind of questions they have from your pitch, that way, you can intertwine those answers in your pitch, and that’s one less thing that the judges have to ask you. I think that’s that’s a big thing, so practicing and specifically doing so in front of different audiences to get different perspectives.

Lee Kantor: Now, Rachel, if somebody wants to learn more about Krave, is there a website? Where are you at in your rollout?

Rachel Ransom: Yeah, absolutely. So, right now, Krave has placement across 21 to 22 retailers in Washington, D.C. In January, we will be expanding across the State of Virginia as well to be in grocery retailers. And if you want to keep up with Krave in terms of knowing what stores we’re located in and what events we’re hosting on a monthly basis, you can go to our website at drinkkrave – with a K – .com or @drinkkrave on Instagram.

Lee Kantor: Now, Erika, before we wrap, I know Rachel isn’t a WBEC member just yet, a WBEC-West member just yet. But for folks who are at this stage, do you have a recommendation, when would you become part of the WBEC-West community? Like, what’s the right time for a business to join the WBEC-West community?

Erika Castro: I think anytime you want to kind of expand to new markets – like in Rachel’s case, she’s expanding to Virginia – anytime you want to have any new retailers, I think that kind of just opens up the door. So, I would say for a business like hers, absolutely, I would say you do that right away. Not only does it provide access to potential retailers and companies that could have your brand, but I think it also expands your network. And they do say that people do business with who they trust. So, the more that you can develop those relationships, I think the more people are willing to listen to you. And I’d love to see Krave come to Arizona and everywhere else.

Rachel Ransom: Yes.

Erika Castro: So, that’s the next goal, Rachel, let’s get this across the country.

Rachel Ransom: Absolutely.

Lee Kantor: So, Rachel, what do you need more of? How can we help you?

Rachel Ransom: What do we need more of? Honestly, to take us to the next level, we definitely need more funding so that we can fulfill larger orders for all of the grocery retailers that we’re starting to inquire with. So, from our team standpoint, we’re going to continue to participate in pitch competitions and start looking for investors as we get closer to the summer.

Lee Kantor: All right. Well, Rachel and Erika, thank you so much for sharing your story today. You’re both doing such important work and we appreciate you.

Rachel Ransom: Thank you for having us.

Erika Castro: Thank you.

Lee Kantor: All right. This is Lee Kantor, we’ll be back next time on Women In Motion.

 

Lou Rosado Jr. with Houston Regional Veterans Chamber of Commerce

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BTU-Lou-Rosado-Feature
Beyond the Uniform
Lou Rosado Jr. with Houston Regional Veterans Chamber of Commerce
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Lou-RosadoLou Rosado Jr, a Southern New Jersey native with a Bachelor’s in Business Management, brings nearly two decades of leadership experience with a Fortune 50 company.

He and his wife of 25 years have led meaningful community initiatives, including delivering relief supplies to Flint, Houston, and Puerto Rico during major crises.

As Membership Director for the Houston Regional Veterans Chamber of Commerce, Luis empowers veteran entrepreneurs through strategic connections. He also serves on the board of The Phoenix Journey, a nonprofit dedicated to autoimmune disease awareness and healthy living.

A passionate advocate for service and community, Luis is dedicated to creating positive, lasting change.

Connect with Lou on LinkedIn.

Transcript-iconThis transcript is machine transcribed by Sonix.

 

TRANSCRIPT

Intro: Broadcasting live from the Business RadioX studios in Houston, Texas. It’s time for Houston Business Radio. Now, here’s your host.

Trisha Stetzel: Hello, Houston. Trisha Stetzel here bringing you another episode of Houston Business Radio Beyond the Uniform series. I’m honored to have an incredible guest whose journey exemplifies a leadership service and the power of community. Marine Corps veteran, corporate leader, and financial educator. He is the membership director for the Houston Regional Veterans Chamber of Commerce, the treasurer and board member for the Phoenix Journey, and on top of that, he volunteers with the Prison Entrepreneur Program, mentoring men as they prepare for life beyond incarceration. Lou’s dedication to mentorship, community service, and financial education is truly inspiring. He’s someone, not only that, The someone who not only believes in uplifting others, but actively takes steps to creating lasting, positive change. Lou Rosado, thank you for coming on the show today.

Lou Rosado: Thank you so much. After that intro show’s over. We’re good.

Trisha Stetzel: We’re done. No, we want.

Lou Rosado: To talk.

Trisha Stetzel: About all of these things. Lou. All of these things. So why don’t you tell us? I know I talked a lot about the accolades and the things that you’ve accomplished as such a young person, but tell us about Lou. Who is he?

Lou Rosado: Oh, always looking to grow. Trish, there’s there’s I’m. You know, if you’re not growing, you’re dying. Right. So what can I do to go to bed? 1% better than the human being I was when I woke up this morning. Right. And sometimes that’s drastic. Sometimes things just happen throughout the day, and that 1% is like five. And it’s like, man, this is great. It’s going to be hard to go to sleep. I’m so buzzed right now. Right. And other days they just feel like treadmill days. You know, you ran a million miles and you’re in the same spot. Right. Those are the days where you’ve got to be conscious about it. It’s like, all right, I got to do something somehow, in some way, you know? And, um, a lot of times, and I did it just interestingly enough, I did it just yesterday. Um, I played what I call Price Is Right on my phone, which is I’ll open up my contacts and I’ll flick it and wherever it stops. Oh, man. I haven’t talked to that person in a while. Ooh. A quick text message, you know, and ended out in a phenomenal conversation. Someone who I hadn’t spoken to, uh, three years. Four years. Wow. Yeah. And, uh, he shared something with me that I. That I’d done for him. And it made a huge impact on him to literally today. Something that I told him he was like, man, you told me about that? I did that, and it’s helping me out right now because I wanted to. And I was like, all right, I appreciate you. You know, we’re good, we’re good, you know? And that was my 1% for the day. You know.

Trisha Stetzel: I love that I love that. Let’s scroll for a name. Right. Just flip it until you find somebody that you haven’t connected with in a while.

Lou Rosado: That’s it. That’s it.

Trisha Stetzel: I like to call those people my champions. Right? The people that I actually have phone numbers for and contact information for.

Lou Rosado: Yeah, yeah.

Trisha Stetzel: Yeah. Um, I’d like to know a little bit more about your beautiful wife and your two children.

Lou Rosado: I’m going to try to do this without crying. Let’s you see my emotions right there. That’s right.

Trisha Stetzel: Right on your sleeve.

Lou Rosado: Yeah, yeah. So we are, um. Man. God’s great. We we’re we’re pushing 30 years we’ve been together.

Trisha Stetzel: Congratulations.

Lou Rosado: Um. Thank you. She was. She was 18. I was 19 when we met. And, uh. Yeah, we’ve been married for 24 years. We have a 24 year old young man back in new Jersey, um, laughing, doing his thing out there. Um, my baby girl is 20. She is. She just wrapped up her midterms. Um, so. Yeah. Yeah. Super stoked about that. Um, yeah, we’re we’re in the empty nest phase right now, and I am. I’m enjoying watching her grow right now. Yeah, in ways that I knew were possible. Um, but you can’t force something to grow, right? You can nurture, you can support, you can protect. You can do all the things that you’ve got to do. But it’s got to want to grow, you know? And now that she’s starting to just see her own potential a little bit, you know, she’s just oh, it’s it’s it’s truly a blessing. You know, I mean, naturally when you were together for so long, we’re not the same people we were when we were the kids that we were. Right. But she’s not even the same person that she was a year ago.

Trisha Stetzel: Wow.

Lou Rosado: You know, so it’s.

Trisha Stetzel: Great when she has amazing people as parents like you and Vanessa. I can only imagine how amazing she’s going to be as a grown up. Right. And she’s on her way. Yeah.

Lou Rosado: For sure, for sure.

Trisha Stetzel: Plenty 20 years old. So, Lou, uh, not that many years ago, you were actually in the Marine Corps. So my question for you is, how did your service in the Marine Corps set you up for success in where you’re at today?

Lou Rosado: Do the thing. Do do the thing right. You can you can complain, you can gripe. You can moan and groan. Do all of that while you’re doing the thing. Right. And and that has in every respect, you know, pushed me through. I got my associate’s degree and my bachelor’s degree at 41. Um, and I did it all in under two years. Mm. And I say all that not to brag or to boast, but because I could hear my drill instructor, Sergeant Barnett, in the back of my head. Get up, get dressed, get on the treadmill. When you’re done, take a shower, hit the books, get that done before you’ve got to go to work. And when you come home from work, get back on the books while eating dinner and then get some shut eye to get up and do it tomorrow morning. Yeah. Good to go. Understand that? Yes, sir. Do the do it now. Right. So. And that was it’s those times, you know, um, when I’ve done worse than this, I’ve done much more physically demanding mentally, you know, taking an emotional toll, you know, than whatever it may be. And when I was 30, I was a cable guy, um, in new Jersey. So you’re talking about being on a pole 30ft in the air when it’s 20 degrees outside in the snow. I slept in a hole in the ground behind a bush before. Right?

Trisha Stetzel: Yeah.

Lou Rosado: I’m fine. My van is running with heat. Once I’m done this, I’m going to go and sit in there. Shut up. Pull the wire. Do the thing.

Trisha Stetzel: I love it. Do the thing.

Lou Rosado: Do the thing.

Trisha Stetzel: Uh, yeah. And so you’ve had military experience. You’ve had corporate working in big business experience. You’ve had your own business experience. There’s so much experience in such a young and such a young age. I’ve said that like, twice now. You haven’t.

Lou Rosado: You said it more than twice. I’m pushing 50.

Trisha Stetzel: You haven’t even said thank you yet, Lou.

Lou Rosado: I just I love you so you’re just. Man, you’re just.

Trisha Stetzel: So, uh, you and I met through the Houston Regional Veterans Chamber of Commerce, and one of the things that you said, and neither one of us are going to, like, weep today about it. But you said it feels like home where you can connect with people who have also served. And you have what I, what I would call, um, a servant’s heart. And even in what I read about you before we started the show today, there’s so much serving there between the chamber and, um, the Phoenix journey, as well as the program that you’re helping, um, men through in the entrepreneur program, in the prisons. What drives you to want to serve in these organizations?

Lou Rosado: I understand, recognize and embrace that which I have been blessed with. The latter half of that is now what? Right. The the good Lord was kind enough to give me some some things and give it to me so I could just relax on my sofa with it. Right. So what now? What? What am I supposed to do with it? And I don’t always get it right. I never expect from myself perfection. But I do expect maximum effort, right? So what does that look like? Well, you know, when it comes to Phoenix Journey, right? Phoenix journey, that particular nonprofit, is about autoimmune awareness and how nutrition impacts that. And initially I was like, oh, that’s pretty cool. You know, God bless you. Go for it. And then the, you know, the the the founder, she talked to me about her story. And now I see the impact on her kids. Right. Like their mom is still here. She’s and not bedridden the way doctors told her that she would be. Simply by changing her nutrition and eating clean, she was able to stop all of these meds and miss, you know, come to a halt. And she just has to constantly monitor like. And your babies have you now because of that?

Trisha Stetzel: Yeah.

Lou Rosado: The more people need this, how can I help you?

Lou Rosado: She said, well, I love it, by the way.

Trisha Stetzel: It’s okay for us to say Dominique cousin’s name on.

Trisha Stetzel: She’s a friend of mine, and by the way, had no idea that the two of you knew each other until.

Lou Rosado: Yes, ma’am.

Trisha Stetzel: Vanessa’s picture on Facebook with Dominique. And I’m like, how come I wasn’t invited to the thing? Uh, yeah. Dominique cousin and the, um, organization that she’s put together through the Phoenix journey is amazing. So for anyone who’s listening today and wants to look into that, please do. And Lou Is the treasurer and board member of that organization. And you’re right, it’s huge how that has not only impacted her, but her children and maybe someone else’s children and someone’s parents. Right? It’s like the pebble on the pond. It’s that ripple effect. We do one thing, one small thing. We teach someone something. And that ripple effect is their families and their family’s families and even the people that they work with or work for or work around. Right? Yeah.

Lou Rosado: Yeah.

Lou Rosado: And the chamber is just another version of that, you know, um, I came across the chamber. Oh, man. Networking with vets. Yeah. Cool. I’m in. And I jumped on and I’m like, wait a second, this is different. And and it took me some time. But to your point, right. It’s different because it didn’t feel like a networking event. It felt like home. Yeah.

Lou Rosado: For a second I’m supposed to be here. I’m I belong here. And that’s that, you know. And that just continued to compound from there in the chamber.

Trisha Stetzel: So let’s talk a little bit about the chamber. Uh, you sit on or you are the membership director for that organization. I happen to sit on the board. We’re going to be turning four this year. Is that right? I can’t believe it. It’s gone by so fast. Um. What? So it feels like home, and you love being a part of it. What would you say about the chamber to any of the veterans who are business leaders or owned businesses that are listening to the show today? What would you tell them about the chamber?

Lou Rosado: Yeah, first and foremost, it’s not like any other networking group or it’s not like any other chamber. Right? Because not any other chamber can say some of the things that we can say and do the things that we can do, right. When I met the the VP, John Kokkalis, John didn’t know me. I didn’t know him at all. It was our first conversation. And when I was, you know, I was medically discharged from Marine Corps after after two years and and I was using words like only. Right. Like, I only did two years, you know, and and now I don’t, I don’t do anything with I don’t have a disability rating. And he chewed me out three ways from Sunday.

Trisha Stetzel: Which felt awful.

Lou Rosado: Yes, I took it. Yes, sir, I sir. You know, I don’t know this man, but I don’t have to know him. Right. I just have to know what his rank is. Right.

Lou Rosado: And and that was that was our intro to each other, you know. And then when I finally met him, you know, we had the conversation. Um, but it’s things like that when we have mixers, you know, and we get we get guests and I’m like, yeah. Did you serve? I’m like, and yeah. Army. We’ve reached our quota on soldiers. You can have a nice day somewhere else. Let me guess. Crayon eater.

Trisha Stetzel: Crayon eater.

Lou Rosado: Right. You know, and we don’t even know this man’s name yet, but we’re already going at it, right?

Trisha Stetzel: Yeah.

Lou Rosado: You can’t do that in any other chamber. You know, those are the things that make it feel like home and business perspective, right? If you know what you’re looking for, we can help provide the resource, if not from within, externally, with all, with with our connections, if you don’t know what you need, which many times is the case, especially for younger businesses, right? They don’t know what they don’t know. We can help you with that too. Let’s have a conversation. Right. And if I don’t know, I know people, right? I know people and will help you figure out what you need to help you grow, whether it’s from coaching perspective, whether it’s issues with your website, building a website, HR, whatever it is, if we don’t have the resources, a very good chance that we’re connected to someone who does.

Trisha Stetzel: And by the way, for anyone who’s listening, who’s not a veteran, we love our veteran supporters as well. You may not speak our language yet. We’ll teach you. Now, that.

Lou Rosado: Was a funny transition for Vanessa. You know, we keep, like. Wait, so Dave said something about a FOB. What’s a what’s a fob?

Lou Rosado: A forward operating base. Honey. So when you have your base and you’ve got what’s going on, you got the forward operating base. It’s in between. That’s what Honor Cafe is, right? Okay. Got it. You know and.

Trisha Stetzel: We love our acronyms.

Lou Rosado: Yeah.

Lou Rosado: Do you speak in the language now?

Lou Rosado: That’s for sure. That’s for sure.

Trisha Stetzel: Vanessa is amazing. We’re just going to have to tag her like, ten times when this show, when this show comes out.

Lou Rosado: Without her, there’s no me.

Trisha Stetzel: That’s right. Absolutely. Um, let’s talk about I’m really curious about the prison entrepreneurship program, uh, that you’re working with men as they’re preparing for life beyond incarceration. So tell me more about that program.

Lou Rosado: Invited by an individual named Tony Harris Taylor, who I credit with my networking skills. She taught me how to network.

Trisha Stetzel: I know her.

Lou Rosado: Yeah, Tony. When I got here, it was I’m Lou, uh, financial planning. She said, no, baby, no, no, no, that’s not what we do. You know.

Trisha Stetzel: And let me help you through.

Lou Rosado: Yes she did. So she introduced me to pep, and I went there. I was like, okay, great. You know, I get a chance to talk to some inmates, give them some, you know, love on them a little bit and good deal. Um, which was important for me. I mean, I had a brush with the law, uh, 21, 22 years ago.

Lou Rosado: And it was because of guidance that I didn’t have to wear an orange jumpsuit, you know.

Lou Rosado: And I owned that in every respect. And I had that conversation when I’m in there speaking with the participants of the program. You know, it’s because one individual took time to love on me and care about me that I’m not wearing the same thing you are right now. So soon, when you go back out there, you’re going to get another chance. This is me giving you that. Now here’s what I want in return. And we have that conversation.

Trisha Stetzel: I love that.

Trisha Stetzel: That’s so fantastic. And I love that you pour the same love that you got into other human beings through all of these organizations that you’re giving back to. So I know that you have a huge passion for financial education. Is there anything that you’d like to say in that space? Um, to anyone who’s listening around, I’m afraid of money because a lot of people out there are right or afraid to. Not afraid of money. We like money.

Trisha Stetzel: We want money, but we’re afraid to talk about it.

Lou Rosado: Yeah.

Lou Rosado: Yes. Um, I always start interesting you ask, because I always start my consultations with. I’m going to open with. It’s okay.

Lou Rosado: What do you mean? It’s. It’s okay.

Lou Rosado: You’re going to hear me say that throughout and. Okay, fine. You know, and then they start talking, right? And we’ll have we’re having a conversation and I might ask a question about. Right. So what do we have? Um, for one k wise, anything in the investment space I had. And then they start to justify I had X amount. But then it it’s okay. It’s okay.

Lou Rosado: And then and then it starts to sink in and, and I just create that safe space of it’s okay to be 50 and not understand how your 401 K works.

Lou Rosado: Right. It’s it’s it’s okay. That’s why you’re here. People ask how do I get started. Guess what you already did because Could you ask the question?

Trisha Stetzel: Yeah, I love that, Lou. I do. You know, there are so many people out there particularly, I’ll say, our generation. So I’m calling myself young as well.

Lou Rosado: You should. Yeah.

Trisha Stetzel: That haven’t talked about money, weren’t taught how to use, save or do the right things with their money. And they don’t want to ask because it’s scary, right? So getting talking to the right people who you connect with is always the right thing, right? No matter where you’re at, whether you don’t know, you do know. You think you know you’re afraid of just having that first conversation is so important. Um, so, Lou, gosh, what can we talk about now? I’m. I want to circle back to this conversation around your bio just because I think it’s important and because we’re talking about beyond the uniform. And there are so many people out there. Not just you, me, John Cleese and everyone else who didn’t talk about being a veteran for years and years and years. I just want to circle back to the conversation we were having before we started recording, which was loo loo. Why isn’t the Marine Corps in your bio?

Trisha Stetzel: And you said, well about that. Yeah about that. So I just want to talk a little bit about that. Listen, I opened, I bought and opened my first business in 2007. I never told anyone that I was a veteran until almost four years ago, when I joined the chamber. When they asked me to join the chamber, I was like, oh yeah, I’m a veteran. I had lost that identity along the way, right? I got out of the military. I went to work for corporate, I opened a business, I did all of those things and I didn’t need any help. So I never said that I was a veteran because I thought if I did, everyone would think that I needed help, right. So coming back around to the conversation we were having about that, not being in your bio, you told me that you’re still clearing the space for that, right?

Lou Rosado: Yes.

Trisha Stetzel: So the space for that. So talk a little bit about that.

Lou Rosado: So there were it was a very quiet time in, in in the world really. My unit was on standby during Kosovo. Right. Um, 911 hadn’t happened yet. The first Gulf War was already over. So nothing nothing was going on. So no war stories on my part, right. And now in my 40s, I’m I’m. I’m okay with that, right? Not not everyone is Rambo out there. And that’s that’s a whole mindset thing, right. So there’s that part.

Trisha Stetzel: Yeah.

Lou Rosado: The biggest thing though for me was I got so much from the Marine Corps. It’s literally I see it in my kids.

Lou Rosado: With regards to their ability to, to hone in on something and the discipline to get it done. Like, I learned that as a teenager and they wanted boot camp, right? Um, serving others. You you can therefore you should for no other reason, with no expectations of anything in return. Right? These are things that I got from and on and on and on. The desire to lead others right, and the desire to grow others and enrich and empower. Okay, good. You’re ready. Now go do the thing. You’re you’re not ready yet. Come here. Let me get you ready. These are all the things I got from the Marine Corps. And what did I give? Two years. The vast majority of which was spent training.

Lou Rosado: So I just felt like it was a one sided relationship.

Lou Rosado: Very. Me. Me, me. Um, so I there was the only way I could, you know, say thanks was to just utilize that in my life until the chamber. The chamber is my opportunity to put my thumb on the scale and kind of balance that out. Now how? By helping other veterans. Right. And, and and a myriad of different ways. And those become personal relationships obviously, as you know. Right. Um, but helping so many vets in so many different ways. Now it’s like, okay, now we’re even.

Lou Rosado: Now which some would say yeah that’s that’s cute. That’s cute. But. It’s hard to be like that right. Yeah. He was always something I was, I was I was two three. So he’s talking about. Um but that was, that’s been my mindset for my ideology. This is how I grew up. And you’re not alone. And so many veterans To say I did it or I don’t really feel like I deserve or, um, you know, I don’t ever tell anyone because here’s my message to all of you out there if you’re listening to this show, is if you’re a veteran and you’re a business leader or a business owner, please come talk to us at the chamber or you belong. Here. And it’s not because we want to help you or give you something. We need your skills to help those that are coming through. If you’re a giver like you are, don’t come to us. And I mean, that was like my my most important message to everybody about our chamber is that we’re not here to help you connect to anybody and put a hand up. Toward the back end of the show or anything that you wanted to say that I asked you about. You know, it’s just I guess I have done a lot in the community service. From Michigan to here in Houston after Hurricane Harvey, which is an interesting full circle to deal with. I mean, this was five, six years ago. Hey, I just want to challenge anyone listening to this, watching this, um, that are you.

Lou Rosado: That’s all. That’s it. Just be a better you. Somehow. Some way. There are many facets to who you are as a human being. I’m a husband. I’m a father. I’m a friend. I’m so many. I’m a son. I’m a cousin. I’m a nephew. I’m a grandchild. I’m so many things. How can I be better at one today?

Lou Rosado: And then. And here’s the follow up. Can you help someone else do that? How can you help someone else be better at one thing?

Lou Rosado: That is, you know, I went through a lot as a kid with a lot of my teens and my 20s. Right. Every and and and it wasn’t until I realized it was a blessing. Every problem. Air quotes that I’ve ever had revolved around a dollar or lack thereof. Homeless as a kid, difficult living situation with an abusive stepfather as a teenager. Didn’t have any financial choices. Didn’t know any better in my 20s. All I knew was work hard, right?

Lou Rosado: And that I can do right if I need more. I’m just going to work harder and I want more. And I’m going to work harder. And it wasn’t until I realized that was my life of survival until I was 40, 41, 42. Doesn’t have to be right. So now that I’ve got that, got it. Understand? That’s why I went through that. So I can help others either avoid or get out of that.

Lou Rosado: Clients that are in their 50s getting ready for retirement, I’m not going to make them a millionaire. But the decisions that we make, the kids might and their grandkids definitely can be.

Lou Rosado: Have a goal that you know you’re not going to be able to see. That’s how big it is. That’s how crazy it is. That’s how out of this world it is. Mhm. Right. Mine is to change the trajectory of kids that aren’t even here yet.

Lou Rosado: I’m not going to be around to see that. Right. Your great grandkids. It’s not going to be around to see them. But if I do something with you or for Dennis, right, that that helps your kids and then your grandkids and then they pass. I served my purpose. Mission accomplished.

Trisha Stetzel: I’m like, mic drop. Lou, this is exactly why I had you on the show. All right, my friends, thank you so much for being on with me today. What a great conversation. I look forward to seeing you at the next thing, because we just got to go do the thing right.

Trisha Stetzel: I think that’s it.

Trisha Stetzel: Just go do the thing. Uh, thanks for being on today. I appreciate you.

Lou Rosado: As do I.

Trisha Stetzel: That’s all the time we have for today’s show. Join us next time for another exciting episode of Houston Business Radio. Until then, stay tuned, stay inspired, and keep thriving in the Houston business community.

Lou Rosado: Blessings.

 

BRX Pro Tip: Who’s on Your Personal Board of Directors?

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BRX Pro Tip: Who's on Your Personal Board of Directors?
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BRX Pro Tip: Who’s on Your Personal Board of Directors?

Stone Payton: And we are back with Business RadioX Pro Tip. Stone Payton and Lee Kantor here with you. Lee, you’ve come across an interesting concept, I think. This idea of a personal board of directors.

Lee Kantor: Yeah. Businesses have boards of directors. Non-profits have boards of directors. Why shouldn’t we individually have our own board of directors? And this group of people, they should be diverse. They should come from different places. I wouldn’t have more than, you know, four, five, six of them. They should come with different skills, different perspectives. And the best part of this board of directors, they don’t have to really be people you know. They could be also, you know, people that you read, or you listen to in a podcast or watch on a YouTube video. They should be mentors, they should be peers, they should be former managers, industry experts, coaches, a wide variety of people that you kind of look to guide you throughout your career.

Remember that having a personal board of directors can be a tool for career growth and development. And if you do this right, if you carefully select and nurture the relationships with these trusted advisors, you can gain, obviously, valuable insight, support and guidance as you move throughout your career. Now, again, some of them should be people you know, obviously people you trust and work with, but some of them can be people that you just want to know or lived a long time ago, and that you’re using them kind of as a guide as you progress.

BRX Pro Tip: 3 Common Mistakes When Trying to Stand Out in a Crowded Marketplace

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BRX Pro Tip: Practice Sales Calls

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BRX Pro Tip: Practice Sales Calls

Stone Payton: And we are back. Stone Payton and Lee Kantor here with you for BRX Pro Tips. Lee, let’s talk a little bit about the value of practicing sales calls.

Lee Kantor: Yeah. I think this is a great way to kind of roleplay a sales call in order to anticipate kind of objections, pain points, and possible solutions. The more you can do this, it helps you kind of empathize and see things through the eyes of your prospect, the better it is. And you can really get ahead of certain things by just kind of imagining how the sales call is going to go, I mean, right from the beginning.

Lee Kantor: Stone, this is something that, together, we do periodically. You know, we work through the language. We work through better ways to express what the value proposition is. You do a great job in this. So, you want to talk about how practicing or rehearsing a sales call can be an effective way to just be better at sales.

Stone Payton: Well, I’ll tell you, I do a great job of practicing. I don’t know how well I do on the playing field. But no, actually, this is the origin of the high velocity sales simulator because I have personally found so much value in prepping before I go into a sales call. Practicing in a safe environment with you and then having you respond as realistically as you possibly can. And in some cases, maybe, even being a little more challenging than the person is going to be. But it really does help me clarify my communication and think through what is this person going to be excited about? What are they going to be scared of?

Stone Payton: So, to practice your sales calls in a safe environment, get some expert feedback and advice, incredibly valuable. And then, you and I more recently have also – I’ve asked you to help me recreate a sales call that I was just on because I thought pieces of it didn’t quite go the way I wish that it would have. And I have personally found that invaluable. I enter into those conversations so much more confident, so much better prepared, not just to execute on the sales call effectively, but I think better prepared to genuinely serve the prospective clients. So, yeah, I can’t recommend it highly enough, man.

Nikkie Handy with Ivy Kids Systems

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Nikkie Handy with Ivy Kids Systems
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Nikkie Handy is a seasoned Franchise Business Coach with 25 years of experience in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE).

Specializing in transforming childcare centers into high-quality educational environments, Nikkie’s expertise spans child development, ECCE teaching methodologies, early childhood behavior, and brain development. Throughout her career, she has held key roles including teacher, campus director, regional program director, business consultant, quality assurance auditor, and professional development coach.

Currently, Nikkie coaches business owners on financial stewardship, operational efficiency, customer experience, and regulatory compliance, translating complex financial data into actionable insights. She is passionate about empowering others, especially women, and views her mission as paying forward the support she received growing up in extreme poverty.

With big plans ahead, Nikkie is committed to helping others rise—#TogetherWeRise.

Transcript-iconThis transcript is machine transcribed by Sonix.

 

TRANSCRIPT

Intro: Broadcasting live from the Business RadioX studios in Houston, Texas. It’s time for Houston Business Radio. Now, here’s your host.

Trisha Stetzel: Hello, Houston. Trisha Stetzel here bringing you another episode of Houston Business Radio. Today, I have an extraordinary guest on with me, a true champion of economic empowerment and a powerhouse in leadership and business coaching. With 25 years of experience in early childhood care and education, she has dedicated her career to transforming child care centers into thriving, meaningful impact for children, families and business owners alike. She has made it her mission to be the ally she once needed, helping others rise above challenges and find their true why. Her belief in the power of lifting each other up is a cornerstone of her work, and a key driver of her vision for the future. Nikkie Handy, welcome to the show.

Nikkie Handy: Thank you so much, Tricia. I’m so happy to see you again and I’m thrilled.

Trisha Stetzel: Oh my goodness. And we just like oogled over each other when we first came on the show, right. So. Exactly.

Nikkie Handy: It was like instant brain crush.

Trisha Stetzel: Exactly. Way back in October, I think, at the Franchise Business Review Summit. And somehow at that summit with the 2 or 300 people that were there, Nikkieand I ended up in the same place at the same time, doing the same thing, walking to the event afterwards, and we totally bonded. It was amazing. So, uh, Nikkie, I know I’ve given, uh, you know, the bio version of who you are, but, um, tell me more about who Nikkie is and how you got started in the in this childcare business. And I know you’re a franchise coach, so talk a little bit about that as well.

Nikkie Handy: Absolutely. So I sort of wear it as a badge of honor that I started out very young in the industry and worked my way up from the very, very bottom. So you name it from infant teacher to curriculum coordinator to center director to site area director to implementation. I have served in some sort of capacity. And and these days, in my role as a franchise business coach, I really serve as that sort of safe place, trusted resource way, a like an opportunity to externalize your thinking and strategize about your business so that each one of my franchise center owners has a way to sharpen their tools and get those resources lined up so that their their business can become that hub of opportunity, a place for community and connection and meaningful work, and just incredibly transformative work to happen for the children that attend these programs, but also the career pathways for women in the industry, because especially in early childhood care and education, there, there is it’s heavily populated by women. There’s a lot of black, Hispanic, Asian women that that enter this role naturally. You know, women sort of are caregivers by nature. And and one thing that really gets me excited is just thinking about how we can build career pathways for them, ultimately expanding those opportunities. Imagine if some of these ladies started at, you know, I’m the afternoon closer in the infant classroom all the way up to the C-suite.

Nikkie Handy: And and just how inspiring that would be to other women and really making more possible, putting more opportunity on the table. So so that’s my I like to call it my, secret mission, right? Because my main mission is really contributing to that. The the economic success that that hub of industry that that really supports these salaries. But my side mission is that that work to create opportunity for for women that that happened to me at certain pivot points in my career. Somebody looked at Nikkie Handy and said, I see something there that has value. Let me offer an opportunity to get a toehold in that next level, a little bit of of coaching or support, to try to equip you to be successful and take it and run with it. And sometimes women can be a little bit territorial or resource guard, because wherever you got to in your career, you really had to make effort to get there. And and so we’re not as good as coaching each other up. And that’s that is so fun for me to see. Like these women layer on a set of of business acumen, skills, corporate savvy onto their already big heart. And to create this dynamic working professional, I’m just like go girl, go girl, get all the way to the top.

Speaker4: I love that.

Trisha Stetzel: And you know, before we started the show, you were talking about the, um, you were talking about numbers. Like how many women enter into this field at the level that you entered into. Yet when we look at the CEOs, the presidents, the owners of these franchises, we don’t often see women as owners. So talk a little bit about that. And I know that rolls into the mission that you have.

Speaker4: Yeah it does.

Nikkie Handy: So if you if you, you know, pull up like the top four largest childhood early learning companies in in this continent, you’re going to see that those C-suite executives are heavily male populated. And they they came into that role having the business acumen, that corporate savvy, but not the experience of that boots on the ground, working their way up, deep connection with the work that happens in their organization. And to me, it seems like such a disparity that that there should be a representation of the face of the industry at that top 1% at the leadership. Right. And so I think, man, wouldn’t that be energizing and reinforcing for all of the women who choose this as a career path, to be able to look up and say, oh my gosh, I work for Tiffany Alaniz, who I work, I know that she started in the classroom and just like me. And look, there she is, you know, chief Executive officer, that that’s something that I think is truly it’s a bit of a bit of a blind spot in our industry. And oftentimes it has to do with that coaching aspect, which I, I feel like I, I sort of discovered my niche, my superpower, if you will, that that coaching has to do a lot with accumulating those nuggets of wisdom. Being committed to being a lifelong learner, you rub shoulders with brilliant people that are good at what they do, and you try to, you know, let some of that rub off on you. But then the next step is getting that into as many hands as possible so that that success reinforces itself. So so that’s what I really want to accomplish. If I could leave a legacy in my career in this industry, it is that right there is getting that that good magic as far reaching as possible to see as many women just elevate their their own careers and their their earning opportunity for being honest and building a legacy for their own family as possible.

Trisha Stetzel: Yeah, I love that. And, you know, I’m sure you and I talked about this when we first met, and it sometimes as women, we don’t see ourselves as being at the top right, as being that CEO. So we don’t visualize that very often. So normally we’re just okay with being where we’re at, right? We’re okay with being okay. So what are some of the tools or tactics that you use to help these women really understand that there’s so much more for them than where they are today?

Nikkie Handy: I love that’s such a great question. And I, I’m going to probably, um, start preaching. So stop me if I really get a steam going. But here’s what I think really, really should start happening is that women need to take the time to point out pockets of brilliance, raw talent. You know, a growth mindset when they see it and and start illustrating for other women, women what’s possible. Right. If I look you in the eye and say, wow, that what you said right there, or that that little project that you brought to fruition or or that presentation that you gave blew me away? More people need to know about this. More. More people need to do what you’re doing. Do you know how incredible you are? Because I feel that, you know, just like we were talking about the representation in that top 1% in our industry, that sometimes your eyes need to be opened to the possibilities. And right now, in early childhood care and education, there’s kind of a sensation that there’s a cap to where you can go, where your your career trajectory can take you. Right. And that that might be, you know, an area director or implementation specialist. And so I feel that a lot of women have limited themselves. And you said it yourself, the visualization part is so key because every every high performing athlete does this. You have to see yourself in your mind’s eye winning that to get there. It’s like your brain needs to see that it’s possible to start seeing the opportunities that will arise, the development and growth that that you need to get there. And until you can visualize that, then you will limit yourself. And so so sometimes it’s about really pointing out to say, I know you’re capable of way more than what you’re doing. And that is when somebody says that to you, when somebody sits down and says, like, I can see there’s so much more to you that is like. It’s like drinking super fuel. Like you’re like, okay, I might be wearing a Superman suit under this. This shirt. I’m pretty sure I am.

Trisha Stetzel: Yeah, absolutely. So you’re pushing women in your industry and specifically as a coach and the franchise that you’re a part of, how do we or what are your thoughts on how we as women who want to support other women, how do we do that? There’s so many women out there like the where when I grew up in corporate, right. Uh, there was a lot of well, I don’t know if I can do that. Well, I’m not sure if I can get there or there’s only one position open, so I’m not going to support the other women that are in my organization because there’s only three of us, right? So one of us is going to get that role and the other two aren’t. So how do we you and I know right. We’re like elbowing them to get to the top. Um, and what I’ve realized over the years is that we really need to create this sensation of supporting each other as women getting to the top. So what are your thoughts on how how do we do that? How do we foster and nurture women even beyond the ones that you have regular contact with in a bigger way?

Nikkie Handy: Yeah, yeah, I again, I love that question. And I think that, um, that that this conversation is big and it has big ramifications because it’s fascinating to me that women are really great friends and they’re great at nurturing relationships. What I think is missing that magic sauce in the recipe is that we need to be able to push each other, to build the skill, to reach just beyond your capacity, to be bold, to like, grab that seat at the table and say, no, I deserve to be there. Be here. You know, if if I’m sitting across the table and like so my my dear, dear friend Candice Gillam, I need to connect you with her Because this woman is brilliant, right? The way that she thinks is like, I’m playing checkers and she’s playing 3D chess, right? She’s brilliant, but she really needed a safe space to say, you know, I but I have imposter syndrome, like, I don’t. I’m part of the conversation. I have a seat at the table, but I feel like I shouldn’t be there. And that led to a whole conversation surrounding what are the what are the minute actions that we can take to start to combat that imposter syndrome. And I feel that that, that women oftentimes lean into the care and support that, that if I just offered a safe shoulder for her to kind of lament to like, oh, this is my experience. And and I’m like, Candace, I get it. And and, you know, I’m here. I’m cheering you on. Right? That we stopped short of what could take her to the next level. And men actually do this for each other all the time because they’re like, bro, you’re selling yourself short or like, hey, come on, man.

Nikkie Handy: Really? That’s all you’re doing? And and what I have liked, what I’ve done in, in my coaching experiences is to really start, I take some of the little nuggets out of radical candor and some of the I don’t know if you’ve ever read Professional Troublemaker by Lovey Luvvie Ajayi. If you haven’t, you need to because it’s about boldness and it’s it’s about being able to say the thing that needs to be said. And and what I found. Out is that if you marry up the care, the compassion, all the nurturing that you’ve done to cement that relationship and leverage it to start saying to that woman sitting across the table is like, I know you have more. I know you can do better. And then break it down to say, we’re going to hold each other accountable for taking the steps to get there, because it’s a it’s a disservice to you. It’s a disservice to the world to not maximize your brilliance. And that is what that’s a skill that I think a lot of female leaders really need to start thinking about how to build in themselves is that it’s great to be a really relational leader. It’s fantastic to work from that relationship to to get high functioning teams. Now we need to take it that step further to be to to build the the mutual respect that comes and that the, the good things that grow when you can be the one to tell them the thing that needs to be said, that is it’s next level. And it’s really rewarding when you get to that place with another woman.

Trisha Stetzel: I love that I’m thinking about when you were talking about the brilliance that that each of us has that we need to bring forward and up. I think about it as a gift, a gift that we all have to give. And if we hold it to ourselves, then the people who are meant to receive that gift are never rewarded. So we need right? We need to step up, and we need to be better for each other, and we need to nurture each other. I’m so excited about this conversation that we’re having today, Nicky. So, uh, if people have listened this far and they want to connect with you, how might they find you and connect with you to have an even bigger conversation about this?

Nikkie Handy: Yeah, absolutely. I’m on LinkedIn, Nicky Handy and I would I for me, that networking component is really about the tapping into the wisdom that lives in the collective experience that women in industry are having. So you don’t even have to be in early childhood care and education to connect with this message that I have with this work that I’m doing because I am quite positive. If you’re working, you know, through you, you are in a spa or you’re, you know, working in a pediatric clinic, that that you’re probably hearing things that connect to your own experiences and maybe you’re feeling that same sensation. It’s like, how do I break the glass ceiling? How do I get to the next level? Maybe I’m not being ambitious enough. Like for a female, sometimes ambition sounds like a dirty word. And no, I want to encourage more women to be ambitious. Because guess what? If you succeed, we all begin to succeed. And and I think grab on to that opportunity because we’re going to be riding your coattails. Let’s go.

Speaker4: Together.

Trisha Stetzel: Yes, absolutely. And by the way, it’s Nikkie in I k k I e n d e n d. So don’t mistake that for another. Nikkie Handy. I’m just.

Speaker4: This is the Nikkie you need.

Trisha Stetzel: That’s right. Absolutely. So, um, really thinking about Nicki, like, one of your favorite stories of somebody that you’ve mentored or coached, whether they’re in the current franchise that you’re in today or a place that you’ve been before. What’s one of your favorite stories about someone that you’ve stood next to and helped them rise to the top?

Nikkie Handy: So my one of my favorite stories, I actually mentioned her name earlier because I’m manifesting for you, Tiffany Alaniz. I’m manifesting for you that when I met this woman, I. I tell you the truth, she is humble. She is incredibly hard working. And she was overlooked for opportunity. Right? So she came into the organization that I was working with at the very entry level position that you could possibly come in at instantaneously. I knew that she was a wealth of talent that was just waiting to be tapped into. And immediately I felt almost like a sense of frustration on her behalf that I’m thinking to myself, girl, why have people not been like Tiffany Alaniz is the one Tiffany Alaniz promoter get her into the office. I don’t know, we gotta do something with this talent, but I, I said, put that aside because we’re going to start today. And immediately we started having fantastic conversations, fruitful conversations about what should be possible for her and where she needs to kind of build herself to to get to that next level. I cannot take credit for her success because, number one, she’s naturally an incredible person. Number two, I think it really just took someone looking at her and saying, you can do this, I’m going to be the one to give you permission, okay? And and number three, a lot of it has to do with her looking at opportunities and saying, no, I’m going to be bold enough to take it today.

Nikkie Handy: Today is the day. And so today she is she’s in charge of a massive implementation project in the state of Arkansas, and she is coordinating hybrid remote work in person. Mind you, starting from this entry level, level position and just handling it like a boss lady. And I’m looking at her and I’m thinking, I want to see your star rise. This is amazing. But keep going because there’s more there, there’s more there. And I want to see that, and I want to follow it, and I want to celebrate it. And I want to just feel the warmth of the glow of the after effects of that, because that, to me, is the exact recipe that that can be duplicated for other women who are probably selling themselves short and just need that right cheerleader at the right time.

Trisha Stetzel: Yeah, absolutely. And so, Tiffany, we’re manifesting this for you.

Speaker4: This is how we all are.

Trisha Stetzel: So much more there, so much more there for you. And by the way, sometimes as a coach, it’s enough to be there just to help the person you’re coaching with permission to move forward. Sometimes all they need, they need someone to stand in their greatness, right? And say, it’s okay for you to go do that. You’ve been thinking about it for a long time now. Go do it right.

Speaker4: Yeah, I.

Trisha Stetzel: Just I love that so much. All right, Nikkie, uh, as we start to get to the back end of our conversation today, what’s 1 or 2 things that you would like for, uh, the listeners, especially the female listeners, the strong, bold ones who haven’t yet taken that first right. Step forward. What’s your message to them?

Nikkie Handy: Two things I would say. Number one. Today is the day, right? I think decide that you’re going to be an ambitious woman and decide to be unapologetic about that, because when you frame it in the context of this larger conversation, it’s not selfish. You are succeeding for your family, you’re succeeding for your industry, and you’re succeeding for women everywhere. So be ambitious. That’s number one. Number two, we’re sitting here today to give you permission to stop limiting yourself. You don’t have to stop at the next level up. The C-suite is an opportunity for you. So start manifesting it. Start planning to get there and call me if you need some help on exactly how to get that that far. Because we’re going. We’re going.

Trisha Stetzel: Love that so much, Nikkie. Thank you so much for being on the show today. It has been just a blast of beautiful, fresh, ambitious air to talk to you today.

Speaker4: I just thank.

Nikkie Handy: You for the opportunity. I’m so excited to be here. And I’ll be following your career also because, you know, like attracts like. So you’re part of the tribe?

Trisha Stetzel: Yeah, absolutely. And again, if you want to connect with Nikkie, she loves to network. By the way. You don’t have to be. As she said in her industry she loves to connect with people. It’s n I k k I e e h a n d. You can find her on LinkedIn. I we may have to have you back again in 2025 Nikkie so we can have another.

Speaker4: I’m ready for it.

Nikkie Handy: I’m ready for it.

Trisha Stetzel: Love it. Uh, thanks again for being here. That’s all the time we have for today’s show. Join us next time for another exciting episode of Houston Business Radio. Until then, stay tuned, stay inspired, and keep thriving in the Houston business community.

 

BRX Pro Tip: 3 Ways to Get More Value at Your Next Trade Show

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BRX Pro Tip: 3 Ways to Get More Value at Your Next Trade Show
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BRX Pro Tip: 3 Ways to Get More Value at Your Next Trade Show

Stone Payton: And we are back with Business RadioX Pro Tips. Lee Kantor and Stone Payton here with you. Lee, let’s talk a little bit about trade show strategy.

Lee Kantor: Yeah. A lot of people, when it comes to trade shows, they really don’t know how to wring the most value out of going to a trade show. And it doesn’t always mean having a booth at a trade show. There’s lots of ways to get value from a trade show, even just as an attendee.

Lee Kantor: One way, if you’re just an attendee, is to find out where the biggest crowds are in the booths as you kind of walk the floor. And then, kind of figure out is it because they’re giving away free beer or free stuff or are they really selling something unique? Because a lot of times the biggest crowds, it might appear like they’re doing the best, but they may not be because they just might have the best giveaways. So, really try to understand their strategy and then you can learn from that. And then, maybe take that with you when you do have a booth at some future point.

Lee Kantor: Another opportunity you have when you’re at a trade show is just ask a lot of people a lot of questions because this is a great opportunity to do market research. With so many industry players at one place, you can really be efficient and talk to a lot of people and really start kind of getting a feel for do you have the right kind of product market fit, is what you’re selling desirable to the people. Because you have a lot of opportunities to go and meet a lot of different people and ask them questions and probe them to see if you are doing the right things in order to grow your business.

Lee Kantor: And then, lastly, one of the best ways to get value if you are a kind of sponsor or you have a booth there is leverage the Business RadioX platform. We have helped so many people in trade show environments build relationships with the people most important to them by broadcasting from these types of events. And our clients do some work beforehand by inviting the right people into the booth to be interviewed. And then, they take those interviews and leverage that as a way to have an elegant follow up to talk to these people and try to build the relationships so they can sell them something down the road later on. So, they really use the event and have legs with the event before, during, and after the event.

Lee Kantor: So, there’s lots of great ways to leverage trade shows. And trade shows are coming back strong and more and more people want to meet in-person in real life with other people doing kind of the same thing. So, if you aren’t thinking about trade shows, you probably should be.

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