This Is Small Business

Running a business rarely goes exactly as planned. Sometimes the idea comes from an insecurity you cannot shake. Sometimes growth means questioning the habits that got you this far. And sometimes the best advice sounds completely ridiculous until it starts to work.In this latest season of This Is Small Business, host Andrea Marquez sits down with founders to unpack the moments that shaped their businesses. This season, those conversations unfold through competitive games, crafts and one very cute four-legged guest, bringing us closer to the products, ideas and experiences behind each story.We’ll be getting honest about burnout, failure, identity and the deeply personal reasons people choose to build something of their own. Because there is no right way to be an entrepreneur.Watch the trailer on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@Thisissmallbusiness

What if the conversation you’re avoiding is the one your business needs most?A lot of founders start a business because they have an idea, a product, or a vision they believe in. But at some point, building the business also means learning how to lead people, give feedback, handle tension, and communicate when things feel uncertain.Ashli Carter, senior lecturer in management at Columbia Business School, helps leaders build the skills that matter most in those moments: trust, self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and difficult conversations.In this episode, Ashli shares practical ways to prepare before a tough conversation and how to build trust with your team even when you’re still figuring things out.If you’ve ever struggled to give feedback or felt like leadership was the part of entrepreneurship no one prepared you for, this episode is for you.Watch the full conversation on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@ThisissmallbusinessIn this episode of This Is Small Business, you’ll learn:(01:24) — What leadership really asks of small business owners(03:54) — How Self-Awareness Makes You a Better Leader(05:57) — How to Stay Grounded When Feedback Feels Overwhelming(08:13) — How to Make Difficult Conversations Productive(12:13) — Why perfection can get in the way of leadership and how to overcome it

Your first business might not work out but it can show you how to build a better one.After years in hospitality and teaching cocktail classes to thousands of people, April Wachtel saw a gap: people wanted bar-quality drinks at home, but didn’t always have the time, tools, or ingredients to make them.So she launched Swig and Swallow – a cocktail batching and delivery business that didn’t quite work and eventually evolved into Cheeky Cocktails, a nationwide brand creating bar-quality syrups and juices for home bartenders.In this episode, April breaks down how she turned a failed manufacturing run into a full brand reset, relaunched during COVID, and used Amazon programs like Vine and FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon) to build trust, increase revenue, and grow smarter.If you’ve ever had to rebuild, or start again – this episode is for you.Watch the full conversation on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@ThisissmallbusinessIn this episode of This Is Small Business, you’ll learn:(01:26) — How to turn your experience into a business idea(03:21) — Andrea tries Cheeky Cocktails (04:17) —  How a struggling business pivoted into a smarter business model(07:06) — How a product reset turned into a growth opportunity (11:12) — The hard truth about building a business (14:49) — What’s Next for Cheeky Cocktails

What would you give up to build something bigger than yourself?After the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, Rubens Amedee left his successful finance career to build a school on his grandfather’s land. But keeping that dream alive meant finding a sustainable way to fund it. That’s how Papa Rozier Farms was born – a beauty brand built from Haitian grown castor and moringa, family legacy, and a mission to create jobs back home.In this episode, Reubens shares what it really takes to leave comfort behind for impact and how Amazon helped the brand reach new customers. If you’ve ever wondered how purpose and business can grow together, this episode is for you.Watch the full conversation on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@ThisissmallbusinessIn this episode of This Is Small Business, you’ll learn:(01:12) — How a relief trip to Haiti changed Reubens’ entire career path(05:01) — How to build a business from what you already have(08:59) — How to use Amazon to reach more customers(10:27) — How to know when it’s time to leave your stable job(14:53) — How a business can create real community impact

What if your biggest competitive advantage is your story? When Akruti Babaria couldn’t find tools to help her son connect with his Indian heritage, she turned that gap into a business. What started as selling curated children’s books quickly evolved into Kulture Khazana – a brand built on storytelling, cultural connection, and community.In this episode, she breaks down how she validated demand through programming, pivoted during COVID by launching her first product, and used Amazon to scale – from leveraging influencer trust to unlocking rapid growth through the Amazon’s Choice badge.If you want to turn your story into a real competitive advantage and build a brand customers actually connect with – this episode is for you.Watch the full conversation on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@ThisissmallbusinessIn this episode of This Is Small Business, you’ll learn:(01:22) — How Akruti found her purpose after a life-changing moment. (06:06) — How to use storytelling to grow your brand and community(08:35) — How Amazon influencers can help drive product sales(09:29) — What “Amazon’s Choice” means for your business and how it impacts sales(10:50) — How to turn your culture into a competitive advantage(12:10) — How to keep going when you feel like quitting your business.