Claim OwnershipBusiness Breakdown
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This is a podcast that helps entrepreneurs improve their business and entrepreneurial skills. We'll interview founders & entrepreneurs who are experts in their service domain (coaching, consulting, speaking, corporate training) to hear their experiences in managing and growing their small business.
In each episode, we'll hear stories, lessons, and actionable practices from fellow entrepreneurs about aspects of running a people/services business, including marketing, sales, business model design, client delivery, personal branding and personal development.
If you’re an entrepreneur or solo founder building your service-based business then this podcast is for you!
45 Episodes
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Dr. Cree Scott is the Founder and CEO of Serenity Psy Consulting, a boutique leadership development firm that blends psychology, executive coaching, and facilitation. In this episode of Business Breakdown, Dr. Scott shares her journey from clinical psychologist to management consultant at Deloitte—and why she left it all to build a values-driven business rooted in peace, purpose, and impact. She unpacks how she designed her business around facilitation, coaching, and custom leadership programs, and explains how diversification became her growth strategy. LinksLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/creescott/Website: https://www.serenitypsyhealth.com/
Jennifer Fink is the CEO and Career Coach of Fink Development, a coaching agency helping mid-career professionals navigate inflection points with clarity and purpose. In this episode, Jennifer shares how she transitioned from higher education to full-time entrepreneurship and built an agency model that aligns with her values, strengths, and lifestyle. She unpacks lessons learned from testing multiple business models, why solopreneurs must prioritize fit over trend, and how thinking like a business owner—not just a coach—transformed her growth. Jennifer also reflects on building a coach collective, clarifying her ideal client, and defining success on her own terms. LinksWebsite: https://www.finkdevelopment.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennfink/
Jason Frazell is the CEO of Jason Frazell Coaching, LLC, where he helps founders, executives, and high-performers unlock their potential through transformative coaching. In this episode, Jason shares his journey from tech sales leadership to entrepreneurship, and how he built a thriving facilitation and coaching business from the ground up. During this conversation, Jason ives into the mindset shifts required for solopreneurs, the importance of niching down, and the power of referrals and partners in a relationship-driven business.LinksLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonfrazell/Website: https://www.jasonfrazell.com/
Mike Kim is a Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author and Consultant. In this episode, Mike shares his journey from Chief Marketing Officer to full-time entrepreneur, and how he built a thriving business rooted in personal branding, content creation, and strategic clarity. Mike unpacks the power of mastering one skill at a time, how to avoid shiny object syndrome, and why he favors simplicity over complexity in business design. He also offers a practical model for balancing experimentation with sustainable growth—and previews his latest book, Own Your Brand, Own Your Career. LinksLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikekimtv/Website: mikekim.com
Ciela Hartanov is an Organizational Consultant and Coach at humcollective. In this episode, Ciela shares her journey from leading future of work initiatives at Google to launching her own consulting and coaching practice focused on transformation and foresight. She reflects on the challenges of redefining identity after leaving a corporate role, the slow pace of business development, and building offerings that blend organizational strategy with deep personal growth—especially for women navigating complexity and change. Ciela also introduces her “Sensitivity Paradigm,” a powerful framework designed to help individuals and organizations adapt in an AI-driven world.LinksLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cielahartanov/
Darren McKee is the Founder of Darren McKee Co., where he helps entrepreneurs and sales teams master the art of selling through LinkedIn. In this episode, Darren shares his journey from delivering mail to managing sales at top coaching companies like BetterUp and Skye, to building a successful solo business that blends personal branding, social selling, and cohort-based learning. He discusses the turning points that led him to launch his business, lessons learned from pricing and scaling, and why building trust is the foundation of modern sales. Darren also offers tactical advice for service-based founders looking to grow without relying on cold calls.LinksLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darrenmckeesales/Website: https://darrenmckee.co/
Jess Almlie is a Learning and Performance Strategist and Founder of Almlie Consulting. In this episode, Jess shares her journey from VP of Learning and Development to independent consultant and how strategic reflection and networking helped her make the leap. During this conversation, Jess unpacks the evolution of her business, including the creation of her “coach-sulting” model and upcoming book on transforming L&D teams into strategic partners. Jess also reflects on what she learned from a failed first attempt at entrepreneurship and how she now defines success beyond just business outcomes. Links• Website: https://www.jessalmlie.com/• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessalmlie/• Podcast, “L&D Must Change”: https://www.jessalmlie.com/podcast• Blog, “L&D Must Change”: https://www.jessalmlie.com/blog• Subscribe to Jess’s Newsletter, “L&D Must Change”: https://almlie-consulting.kit.com/87e0251322
Morgan Williams is an advisor and consultant to People Leaders as well as the the Founder and CEO of PeakHR, a HR consulting and training company. In this episode of Business Breakdown, Morgan shares how her unconventional path, from studying theater to becoming a Chief People Officer, informs her approach to leadership, talent, and organizational design. She dives into the importance of founder alignment, why HR is more than just compliance, and how early-stage companies can set the right foundations for culture and growth. LinksLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/morganbwilliams/Website: https://www.mwhrconsulting.com/
Jennifer McClure is the Founder and CEO of Unbridled Talent, LLC. In this episode, she shares her journey from corporate HR to building a thriving speaking business and the key lessons she’s learned along the way. Jennifer dives into how she discovered her passion for professional speaking, the importance of personal branding, and the critical role that relationships with peers and industry colleagues have played in her success. She also reflects on navigating major challenges, including COVID-19, and how moments of self-reflection have helped her stay aligned with her purpose. LinksWebsite: https://jennifermcclure.net/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifermcclure/
Sara Canaday is a Leadership Strategist, Speaker, and Founder of Sara Canaday & Associates. In this episode, she shares her journey from insurance executive to successful entrepreneur, diving into how personal reflection, burnout, and the desire for fulfillment led her to create a leadership development training business that aligns with her values.During the conversation, Sara discusses the importance of investing in yourself, building strategic partnerships, and leveraging AI to empower leaders. She also unpacks how she’s scaling her impact through digital learning platforms and B2C leadership development. LinksWebsite: https://saracanaday.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saracanaday/
In this episode of The Business Breakdown, we sit down with Sarah Ohanesian—keynote speaker and productivity expert—who shares her journey from Chief Marketing Officer to successful entrepreneur. Sarah reveals what inspired her to launch a productivity-focused business, how she transitioned from coaching to speaking, and the key lessons she’s learned along the way. We dive into the challenges of time management, the importance of focusing on high-impact work, and strategies for entrepreneurs to scale without burnout. Whether you're a solopreneur or leading a growing team, this episode is packed with insights on working smarter, not harder.LinksLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahohanesian/Website: https://www.so-productive.com/
In this episode of the Business Breakdown Podcast, Al Dea interviews Devon O'Rourke, founder and managing partner at Fluvio. They discuss Devon’s transition from a corporate career in product marketing at Amazon and Etsy to starting his own consulting business. The conversation covers the challenges of finding initial clients, the importance of service market fit, and the strategic expansion of Fluvio's offerings. Devon shares valuable insights on entrepreneurship, including the significance of maintaining focus on core services while exploring new opportunities, and reflects on what success means to him as a business owner.
Jessica Lackey is a consultant who works with founders and owners of expertise-based businesses. With a background in consulting, operations, and strategy at Fortune 500 companies and McKinsey, Jessica now helps solopreneurs and small business owners build sustainable, aligned businesses. In this episode, she shares her journey from corporate life to entrepreneurship, the challenges of finding the right business model, and how expertise-based businesses can design a sales process that aligns with their goals. We discuss the common mistakes many solopreneurs make—like misunderstanding sales, relying too much on social media, and underestimating the importance of relationships. Jessica also offers insights on building a business that works for you, rather than following one-size-fits-all playbookLinksLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-lackey/ Website: https://www.jessicalackey.com/Newsletter: https://www.jessicalackey.com/newsletter
In this episode of The Business Breakdown, Al Dea sits down with Alex Seiler—fractional CPO, advisor to HR tech startups, and former Chief People Officer—to unpack what it’s really like to build a business as a fractional executive. Alex shares how he got started in the fractional advising space, what makes a strong client fit, and the lessons he’s learned the hard way about pricing, client selection, and staying focused. He also talks about building a diversified portfolio, how to navigate ambiguity as an entrepreneur, and why intentional learning and presence matter when running your own business.LinksLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/alexseiler/
Katie Baird is an Executive Coach who left a successful consulting career to build a thriving solopreneur coaching practice. In this episode of The Business Breakdown, Katie shares her journey from Deloitte to launching her own business, her philosophy on building trust-based client relationships, and why finding a clear niche has been key to her success. She opens up about lessons learned the hard way—like pricing and lead generation—and how she’s built a simple yet powerful business model that aligns with her life and values. LinksWebsite: https://www.ksbairdcoaching.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katherinesbaird/
Megan Galloway is a Facilitator, Keynote Speaker, and Founder of Everleader, a leadership consulting firm dedicated to developing confident, capable leaders. In this episode, Megan shares her insights on the evolving landscape of leadership and how organizations can create environments where leaders thrive. She discusses the importance of trust, adaptability, and self-awareness in effective leadership and offers practical strategies for fostering resilience in today’s fast-changing workplace. Megan also reflects on her journey as an entrepreneur and the lessons she’s learned in helping leaders build influence, navigate uncertainty, and cultivate high-performing teams. Website: everleader.coLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/megalloway/
Matt Wexler is a Facilitator, Coach, and Leadership Development Expert who found himself on an unexpected path to entrepreneurship. In this episode, Matt shares his journey from leading global leadership development programs at Salesforce to launching his own coaching and facilitation practice. He opens up about the challenges of imposter syndrome, the power of experimentation, and how he’s learning to let go of perfection to move forward. Matt also discusses his passion for scaling "human-first leadership" and how he works with organizations and leadership providers to create more impactful learning experiences. Whether you're an entrepreneur or a leadership development professional, this conversation is packed with valuable insights on growth, resilience, and embracing change.Links:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewjwexler/ Website: https://wexlerleadership.com/
Shelby is a former people leader at four venture-backed unicorn tech companies and now advises Series A-C startups on people, culture, and distributed work. After launching her consulting business in 2020, she’s built a thriving solopreneur practice, helping startups scale effectively while also mentoring other consultants. In this episode, Shelby shares how she found her niche, refined her offerings, and structured her business for impact and sustainability. We dive into the challenges of setting boundaries, the evolution of her advisory model, and how she balances flexibility with intentional growthLinksWebsite: https://www.shelbywolpaconsulting.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelby-wolpa-0896535/
Brittany Hodak is an entrepreneur and keynote speaker who built a thriving business by helping companies create superfans. In this episode of The Business Breakdown, Brittany shares her journey from launching a business in the entertainment industry to becoming a sought-after speaker on customer experience. She breaks down how she built her speaking career, the lessons she learned about working with speaker bureaus, and why customer experience is the key to business success.LinksWebsite: https://brittanyhodak.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brittanyhodak/
Tracie Sponenberg is the owner of an HR advisory consulting firm and a former Chief People Officer. In this episode of The Business Breakdown, she shares her journey from corporate leadership to entrepreneurship, detailing how she transitioned from a fractional HR leader to an advisor and consultant. Tracie opens up about the challenges of pivoting, the importance of autonomy, and the lessons she’s learned about building a business that aligns with her values.Links:Website: www.traciesponenberg.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/traciesponenberg/
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