Episodi

  • Champion Yourself: Navigating Leadership and Visibility as a Woman in Business EP 14

    Champion Yourself: Navigating Leadership and Visibility as a Woman in Business EP 14
    Jan 15 2026
    Check out resources and events here In this episode of The Business of Belonging, host Shara Hutchinson sits down with entrepreneur, author, and thought leader Catherine Lang-Cline to explore the realities of navigating “the game of business” as a woman. Catherine shares her path from marketing and creative work to co-founding Portfolio Creative, building a multimillion-dollar brand, earning numerous awards, and ultimately launching her own consultancy and book. Throughout the conversation, she delivers actionable insights on self-advocacy, confidence, credibility, and how women can position themselves strategically—without compromising authenticity. Key Points Discussed Catherine shares how Portfolio Creative began as a simple idea between two freelancers—and grew through timing, collaboration, and operating within their expertise. The early years required grit and consistency; establishing credibility within the first five years helped them gain trust, awards, and market recognition. Catherine emphasizes that women must champion themselves: apply for awards, speak to their accomplishments, and proactively build networks instead of waiting to be noticed. She explains how “the game of business” often follows rules created in male-dominated environments—and how women can navigate meetings, communication dynamics, and visibility with confidence. Authentic leadership, whole-brained thinking, and creative outlets help women remain energized, grounded, and effective in business. Catherine encourages women to start businesses boldly, tap into community, and embrace advocates, mentors, and role models. Her book, The Rules of the Game for Women in Business, shares scripts, strategies, and mindset shifts to accelerate women’s growth and influence. This episode delivers both inspiration and practical tools for women ready to lead with confidence and strategy. Catherine’s experiences demonstrate that success comes from self-advocacy, visibility, authenticity, and community—and that women have every opportunity to thrive when they understand and embrace the rules of the game. Connect with Catherine Website LinkedIn Connect with Shara Website LinkedIn
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    37 min
  • Building Smarter, Leading Stronger: Jill Frey’s Entrepreneurial Journey EP 13

    Building Smarter, Leading Stronger: Jill Frey’s Entrepreneurial Journey EP 13
    Jan 1 2026
    Check out resources and events here In this episode of Business of Belonging, Christine Kotic sits down with Jill Frey, second-generation CEO of Cummins Facility Services and founder of multiple ventures driving innovation in facility management. Jill shares her journey of unexpectedly taking over the family business, scaling it nationally, and pioneering smart building technologies. Key Points: Jill’s story of being handed the family business at age 22 and learning through resilience. How she grew Cummins Facility Services from a small-town operation into a national, 100% women-owned company. The role of technology and innovation—sensors, robotics, AI—in shaping the future of facility management. The importance of community and advocacy through NAWBO Columbus, and how collaboration with women leaders has fueled her growth. Personal insights on balance, stress management, and staying adaptable as a leader. Jill’s story is a powerful reminder that adaptability, vision, and courage to embrace innovation can transform industries. From cleaning floors with her father to leading cutting-edge tech adoption, Jill demonstrates how women leaders can reshape business while supporting employees and community. Connect with Jill Cummins Facility Services LinkedIn Connect with Christine CK ADHD Coaching and Consulting Christine Kotik LinkedIn
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    33 min
  • Building Emotionally Safe Spaces with Chelsea Elliott EP 12

    Building Emotionally Safe Spaces with Chelsea Elliott EP 12
    Dec 18 2025
    Check out resources and events here Christine Kotik, owner of CK ADHD Coaching and Consulting sits down with emotional-intelligence innovator Chelsea Elliott to explore how emotionally healthy, safe spaces can transform families, classrooms, workplaces, and communities. Chelsea shares the personal journey behind Somocom Lab, why EQ outperforms IQ in the real world, and how belonging through NAWBO Columbus accelerated her impact. Their conversation includes: Origin story & mission: After a traumatic cross-country move and later diagnoses of ADHD, depression, and anxiety, Chelsea turned curiosity about emotions into Somocom Lab, helping people create emotionally safe spaces at home, at school, and at work. ( From kids to adults: Her children’s books and EQ Kids Crew card deck revealed a bigger need, teaching adults to model emotional intelligence so kids’ skills are supported, not dismissed. Workplace EQ matters: Emotional intelligence must be modeled by leadership, normalize PTO, set/hold boundaries, and acknowledge humanity at work to improve culture and performance. Community Care Collective: A four-week cohort that builds capacity across organizations with topics like EQ fundamentals, mental health first aid, QPR suicide prevention, financial trauma awareness, and trauma-informed care, aimed at retention and better client experience. NAWBO Columbus impact: Belonging led to real partnerships including the “Eight Domains of Wellness” workshop co-facilitated with NAWBO member Faith Rivera. delivered with KeyBank programs. She also found a supportive network that encouraged Chelsea to try new things. Do the thing: Education is valuable, but action beats procrastination, apply, test, learn, iterate. Vision & grounding: Chelsea’s long-term vision is a world where emotional safety is the norm, and her work is no longer needed. She stays grounded through faith and a strong village. This conversation shows how emotional intelligence, when modeled by adults and leaders, creates safer, more productive spaces everywhere. Chelsea offers practical pathways to build that culture, from kids’ tools to companywide training, all fueled by community and action. Resources: NAWBO Columbus EQ Kids Crew books and games Connect with Chelsea Somocom Lab Chelsea Elliott LinkedIn Connect with Christine CK ADHD Coaching and Consulting Christine Kotik LinkedIn
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    34 min
  • Wellness, Clarity & Community: How Fatima Bouyer Helps Women Lead with Purpose EP 11

    Wellness, Clarity & Community: How Fatima Bouyer Helps Women Lead with Purpose EP 11
    Dec 4 2025
    Check out resources and events here In this inspiring episode of The Business of Belonging, host Dr. Courtney welcomes multi-passionate entrepreneur and community builder Fatima Bouyer, founder of the Bouyer & Associates brands. Together they explore wellness, leadership, aligned purpose, and the power of community for women in business. Fatima shares what drives her, how she built three thriving brands, and why creating safe, empowering spaces for women is her life’s mission. Key Points Fatima’s Entrepreneurial BeginningHer journey began with a desire to create spaces where women feel seen, supported, and empowered to show up fully as themselves. Three Brands, One MissionWhole You Wellness Studio focuses on movement and mindset;Office Badass builds structure, clarity, and confidence for women entrepreneurs;Badass Mobile Bartending creates community and joy through curated beverage experiences. Visibility as ImpactBeing featured in major media outlets allows Fatima to inspire women and girls by showing them what’s possible. NAWBO Columbus & Community SupportNAWBO Columbus opened doors for collaboration, connection, and mentorship—reinforcing that community and shared wins are essential for women in business. Challenges Women Face When ScalingMany struggle with clarity, systems, structure, and delegation. Fatima helps women build foundations that support growth and balance. Wellness + Leadership Fatima believes wellness and leadership go hand-in-hand; women cannot lead effectively when running on empty. What’s AheadShe shares upcoming plans including expanded wellness programs, mentorship series, and new community partnerships. This episode highlights Fatima’s mission to empower women through community, clarity, and wellness-centered leadership. Her story offers actionable insight for entrepreneurs committed to building aligned, sustainable businesses. Resources: NAWBO Columbus Connect with Fatima Website LinkedIn Instagram Facebook
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    29 min
  • How Women Business Owners Win Corporate Contracts with Mekeda Matthews EP 10

    How Women Business Owners Win Corporate Contracts with Mekeda Matthews EP 10
    Nov 20 2025
    Check out resources and events here In this episode of Business of Belonging, host Ekima Smith, VP of DEIB for NAWBO Columbus, sits down with her longtime friend and powerhouse procurement leader Makeda Matthews, Senior Manager of Supplier Diversity at Delta Air Lines. Together, they unpack what women business owners need to know about procurement, sourcing, supplier diversity, and how to win, and keep corporate contracts. Makeda offers a behind-the-scenes look at how sourcing teams are structured, how decisions are made, and the most effective ways for diverse suppliers to build relationships that lead to opportunity. Key Points Procurement structures vary widely: centralized vs. decentralized teams, category managers, business partners, and supplier diversity all play different roles. Supplier diversity advocates influence the process but are not the final decision-makers, the business writes the check. Engagement matters before and after the RFP, suppliers who stay connected, share ideas, and demonstrate ongoing value rise to the top of the list. Research is essential, read the 10K, listen to earnings calls, understand the company’s priorities, so you can be proactive when talking with the procurement team. Cold outreach must be specific and strategic: include metrics, relevant experience, and show you understand the company’s needs. Supplier professionals are juggling a lot, emails, internal meetings, metrics, conferences, pipeline development, so make sure your communication provide value and is respectful of the supplier’s time. Choose an industry and specialize, understanding one industry deeply (e.g., transportation) is more effective than trying to target many at once and can give you an advantage when you are up against larger companies. This conversation demystifies corporate procurement and gives women entrepreneurs the clarity, strategy, and confidence to better navigate supplier diversity, build meaningful relationships, and position themselves for long-term partnership, not just a one-time contract. Connect with Ekima LinkedIn The Five Collective Connect with Makeda LinkedIn Delta Supplier Diversity Information
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    34 min
  • Building Businesses That Win Contracts with Deonna Barnett EP 9

    Building Businesses That Win Contracts with Deonna Barnett EP 9
    Nov 6 2025
    In this inspiring episode of The Business of Belonging, host Zulene Adams, CEO and co-founder of Z Promotions, sits down with Deonna Barnett, CEO and Director of Consulting at Aventi Enterprises. Deonna shares her entrepreneurial journey from college ventures to leading a successful consulting firm that helps small and micro businesses secure government and corporate contracts. Together, they discuss the importance of strategic planning, embracing technology, and how organizations like NAWBO Columbus empower women business owners to scale with confidence and clarity. Key Points Entrepreneurial Roots: Deonna’s first taste of business came from creating a student-led magazine at The Ohio State University, which ignited her passion for entrepreneurship and problem-solving. Family Influence: Growing up with entrepreneurial parents, she learned early lessons in creativity, independence, and work-life balance. Leadership and NAWBO Impact: Through her roles in NAWBO Columbus, including VP of Programming and Public Policy, Deonna gained valuable leadership experience and forged strong community connections that helped grow Aventi Enterprises. Empowering Microbusinesses: Deonna advocates for microbusinesses to explore government and corporate contracting opportunities, emphasizing that even small teams can win substantial contracts with the right strategy. Strategic Planning Essentials: Deonna explains how helpful it is to conduct market research annually and review strategic plans quarterly to stay aligned with shifting trends, another part of her business strategy and support services. Success Stories: Aventi’s strategic guidance helped clients secure funding and contracts, including one that evolved from a side hustle into a million-dollar company within five years. Looking Ahead: Aventi is developing a SaaS platform to help clients streamline their contracting processes and is embracing AI and technology as key growth drivers. Deonna’s story is a powerful example of how vision, strategy, and community can turn small beginnings into sustainable success, and how women entrepreneurs can thrive by embracing innovation and connection.
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    40 min
  • From Software to STEM: The Entrepreneurial Journey of Purba Majumder EP 8

    From Software to STEM: The Entrepreneurial Journey of Purba Majumder EP 8
    Oct 16 2025
    Check out resources and events here In this episode of The Business of Belonging, host Dr. Courtney, Vice President of Corporate Partners at NAWBO Columbus and CEO of The Higher Standard Consulting, welcomes Purba Majumder, founder and CEO of Cybervation, Trailblazer Staffing, Bistro UX, and the nonprofit Cool Tech Girls. Together, they explore Purba’s entrepreneurial journey, her passion for innovation, and how she’s empowering women and youth in technology. Key Highlights: Entrepreneurial Evolution: From software development to IT and healthcare staffing, Purba’s pivot-driven approach shows how innovation and diversification sustain long-term growth. Community and NAWBO Impact: Purba credits NAWBO Columbus for helping her transition from corporate to entrepreneurial leadership and for providing authentic peer support. Industry Insights: AI, cybersecurity, and data analytics are shaping tech staffing, while healthcare staffing remains vital amid ongoing shortages. Advice for Entrepreneurs: Start small, stay curious, and focus on solving real problems, not just creating products. Core Values for Success: Resilience, purposeful innovation, continuous learning, and empowering others through mentorship and community impact. Looking Ahead: Cybervation continues expanding its healthcare staffing division, while Cool Tech Girls is growing its STEM programs through partnerships and grants. In Short:Purba Majumder exemplifies innovation with purpose—blending technology, leadership, and community to build businesses that solve real problems and create lasting impact. Connect with Purba Majumder Website LinkedIn Connect with Dr. Courtney Website LinkedIn
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    46 min
  • Fearless Pricing: How Women Entrepreneurs Can Charge What They’re Worth with Casey Brown EP 7

    Fearless Pricing: How Women Entrepreneurs Can Charge What They’re Worth with Casey Brown EP 7
    Oct 2 2025
    Host Shara Hutchinson sits down with Casey Brown, TEDx speaker, pricing expert, and author of Fearless Pricing, to unpack how women business owners can stop undercharging and start commanding prices that match their value. They dig into the mindset shifts behind confident pricing, practical frameworks for communicating value, and when (and how) to say yes to discounts without eroding your brand. Key points Pricing power is yours: Most entrepreneurs overestimate “the market” and underestimate their own ability to set and secure higher prices based on value delivered. From fear to confidence: Move from “pricing not to lose” to pricing to win, anchored in your outcomes and differentiation. Define + Tell = Earn: Clearly define your specific value, then tell it in ways customers feel; price becomes “a bargain” when wrapped in the right context. Value > cost or time: Don’t tether price to hours or inputs. tie it to results, risk removed, speed, and impact. Perfection trap (especially for women): Over-indexing on “it must be perfect” suppresses asks; model confidence to raise the bar for others. Discounts with discipline: If you do pro bono/low-bono, set tight criteria and limits (quantity, audience, purpose) and require some skin in the game” (e.g., a short application). Test your ceiling: Treat the market like a petri dish, raise, observe, iterate. Five straight yeses? Prices may still be low. Your most profitable hour: Steal one hour weekly to review where you’re underpriced and plan a concrete increase and comms. AI as a sales ally: Use AI to role-play tough negotiations, pressure-test objections, and sharpen value messaging. Ripple effect: When women charge what they’re worth, they hire more, pay better, and invest in communities. Real dollars, real impact. This conversation reframes pricing as a confident, value-driven choice—not a reactive guess. Start small if you must, but start now: define your value, tell it boldly, and raise your prices with intention. Connect with Casey Website LinkedIn Connect with Shara Website LinkedIn
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    47 min