In this special solo episode of The Business Breakdown, host Al Dea opens up about his journey from corporate product marketer to full-time entrepreneur in leadership development. Al shares candid insights into what it takes to transition a side hustle into a thriving business, the lessons learned along the way, and the essential role of "people smarts" in building a successful service-based enterprise. He also discusses the importance of intentional relationship-building, refining business systems, and staying focused on what truly matters. Whether you're a solopreneur or running a small consulting or coaching business, this episode offers actionable advice and inspiration to help you scale your impact and navigate the highs and lows of entrepreneurship.

Links

• Al’s Website: https://www.al-dea.com/
• Al’s Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/itsaldea/

Lorraine Lee is a Keynote Speaker, Trainer, Instructor and soon to be author of the upcoming book Unforgettable Presence. During this conversation

Lorraine shares her journey from a decade in tech, including roles at LinkedIn and Prezi, to building a successful speaking and training business. She opens up about how a modest side hustle turned into a thriving entrepreneurial venture after being impacted by tech layoffs. Lorraine discusses her expertise in professional presence, her upcoming book Unforgettable Presence, and how leveraging LinkedIn has been pivotal for growing her business.

Links

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorraineklee/
• Website: https://lorraineklee.com/

In this episode of The Business Breakdown Podcast, Al Dea interviews Angela Howard, Founder of Call for Culture, a cultural development consultancy. During this conversation, Angela shares her journey from corporate intrapreneur to full-time entrepreneur, discussing the challenges and insights gained from building a business focused on workplace culture and social impact. She talks about the evolution of her consultancy and how she created the Culture Impact Lab to expand conversations about culture beyond the workplace. Angela also shared her insights on the importance of codifying values for founders and how staying aligned with them can guide business decisions.

Links

• Website: https://callforculture.com/

Caroline Ouwerkerk, a leadership and career coach specializing in the social impact space. After working in the higher education sector, Caroline decided to pursue her passion for coaching and helping others through her leadership and career coaching business.

During this conversation, Caroline shares how her background in higher education and leadership development led her to start her own coaching business, focusing on helping individuals make meaningful career transitions and become effective leaders.

Caroline also shared her insights on the power of collaborations, her experiences building the Impact Leaders Incubator, and how creating flexibility in her work has allowed her to balance entrepreneurship with family life.

Links

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolineouwerkerk/
• Website: https://www.carolineouwerkerk.com/

Lindsey Caplan is the Founder of The Gathering Effect, her consulting firm that helps organizations design impactful gatherings and change programs. During our conversation, reflects on her transition from an internal learning and development leader to a business owner, sharing how a spark of inspiration in 2017 led to her entrepreneurial journey. She breaks down the process of identifying her niche and offers valuable insights into business model design for consultants. Finally, Lindsey also shared her insights on the importance of clarity in communication and building a business that aligns with one’s strengths.

Links:

• Website: https://www.gatheringeffect.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindseycaplan

Jessica Wan is an Executive and Leadership Coach, and host of the Ampersand Manifesto Podcast. After starting her career in the arts and working in marketing roles at technology companies, Jessica decided to pursue her interest in coaching and building her own executive coaching practice.

During this conversation, Jessica shared how her background in marketing and leadership paved the way for her coaching practice, and how she validated her new business idea using principles from lean startup and product design. Jessica also shared her insights on building a diverse client base, the importance of aligning with your values, and her approach to patience and resilience as an entrepreneur.

Links

• Website: https://www.jessicawan.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicamwan/
• Podcast: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/the-ampersand-manifesto-multi-4820144

In this episode of The Business Breakdown, Al Dea sits down with Kassy LaBorie, corporate trainer who left the corporate world to build her own virtual training business. Now, Kassy is in the middle of another transformation as she evolves as an entrepreneur to focus on keynote speaking. During this conversation, Kassy discusses her entrepreneurial journey and navigating seasons of change.

Kassy shares her experiences of transitioning from corporate roles to building her own business and the challenges and rewards that come with it. She dives deep into her decision to step into professional speaking, candidly reflecting on imposter syndrome, the discomfort of self-promotion, and the importance of staying true to her authentic self. Finally, Kassy offers valuable insights on building a successful and meaningful career on her own terms. This thoughtful conversation explores the importance of resilience, continuous learning, and how embracing discomfort can lead to growth.

Links

• Website: https://kassyconsulting.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kassylaborie/

Kathy Oneto is a solopreneur, podcast host, and Founder of the Oneto Agency. After working in branding and marketing for large companies, Kathy decided to go off on her own, and to pursue a portfolio career that better aligned with her interests, values and aspirations.

During this conversation, Kathy reveals her thoughtful approach to business model design, emphasizing how solopreneurs can find alignment between their values and business strategy. She also discusses building a portfolio business and the importance of relationships in entrepreneurial success. Kathy also shared her insights on branding, sustainable ambition, and the lessons she’s learned as she transitioned from corporate life to running her own agency

Links

• Website: https://www.theagencyoneto.com/kathy-oneto
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathy-oneto/
• Podcast: https://sustainableambition.com/podcast