The Business Serum with Laura Lee Botsacos

Learn how to overcome low-self esteem and embrace the beauty inside you!On this episode of the podcast, Jasmine Lawrence, Founder of EDEN BodyWorks, talks about her experience with overcoming low self-esteem and FOMO to completely embrace the beauty that lies in her uniqueness. At the age of 13, Jasmine founded EDEN BodyWorks after attending an NFTE BizCamp to meet her own need for affordable natural hair and body care products. She shares her journey and inspiration behind her brand and how she wants to help her community to be seen and feel loved. Jasmine is a poet, STEM advocate, and Advisory Board Member for the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship outside of work.How did she embrace her beauty and build an inclusive beauty care business to go with it? Listen to the podcast to find out how!You can shop her body care products on her company website.Here's what you'll learn:How to embrace your unique identity Overcoming  FOMO (fear of missing out) Maintaining resilience in the face of being unmotivated  Where Jasmin got the inspiration to build her business when she was only 13 years oldThe importance of persistence when building a business. How Eden BodyWorks promotes education on healthier lives with their natural products You can follow her on Instagram.Check out her website and her business page!Check out our skincare line: Apollo & Artemis.Instagram: @lauraleebotsacosGo back to the homepage.

Claire Wasserman is an educator, author, and founder of Ladies Get Paid, an educational platform, global community, and book that champions the professional and financial advancement of women. She holds a Master's Certificate in Behavioral Finance and Financial Psychology and is the host of the John Hancock podcast Friends Who Talk About Money.A highly sought-after expert for Fortune 500 companies working to improve diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, Claire has traveled the country teaching thousands of women how to negotiate millions of dollars in raises, start businesses, and advocate for themselves in the workplace. She was named one of Marquis Who's Who 75 Most Influential Financial Leaders of 2021, as well as Entrepreneur Magazine's 100 Most Powerful Women.Claire has spoken at places such as Harvard Business School, Facebook, NASA, and the United Nations and has appeared on Good Morning America and in the New York Times.She talks about her experiences with gender inequality in the workplace, how women can identify and deal with gender prejudice in the workplace, and how she started the Ladies Get Paid movement.Her book, Ladies Get Paid, is an empowering guide to provide you with the tools to navigate the workplace strategically, achieve success, and become a true leader!Things You’ll LearnUnderstanding your value as a woman in the workplaceHow to overcome imposter syndrome in your career Techniques to demand equal opportunities in the workplaceIdentifying and handling sexism and gender prejudice in the workplace  Follow Claire Wasserman on Linkedin and Instagram.Check out her WebsiteCheck out our skincare line: Apollo & Artemis.Instagram: @lauraleebotsacosGo back to the homepage.

How many times has the fear of being “too old” kept you from pursuing and achieving your goals? Many individuals all over the world are haunted by age syndrome, and they hold back on their dreams because they feel that at 50, their life suddenly stops. On this episode, Laura Lee Botsacos, host and clean beauty expert, talks about why you should let go of that fear and pursue your goals no matter what age you are! Laura started her successful skincare line, Apollo & Artemis, after the age of 50 and is here to let you know that irrespective of what age you are, you can still find success! Laura Lee Botsacos is a former actress and movie producer who is now the founder and co-creator of Apollo & Artemis Beauty by Equality. As a beauty industry professional with a diverse business background, Laura saw a lack of any kind of inclusive skincare brand. As an innate problem solver, she set out to create a one-of-a-kind new business and enlisted the help of her Crazy Chemist Cousin (C3), whose knowledge and scientific prowess helped make Laura's dream come true.As a nod to Laura’s Greek heritage, her skincare line empowers people of all genders, races, and sexual orientations to embrace their strong, resilient, and perfectly imperfect selves through self-love and self-care.Things You’ll Learn:Navigating age and entrepreneurship Embracing the power in your age and using it as a positive thingHow to build resilience The importance of sticking to your why when building a businessNot allowing the fear of losing to prevent you from successHow life experience can help you build a strong teamInterested in learning more about this show? Go back to the homepage.Check out our skincare line: Apollo & Artemis.Instagram: @lauraleebotsacos

Annie Law is the creator and founder of a multimedia platform and an eco-retailer platform. On top of all of that, she is ONLY 21 years old! Annie is a first-generation American who derived her work ethic and desire to make a difference, from her parents. As a child, she watched a video depicting the cutting down of trees and the destruction of forests. After asking her parents about making a change, they told her that she could plant all of the trees she wanted if she worked hard enough. So, she worked hard. She started her blog that later became the foundation for ANDWHY. As she shared stories and lessons that were inspired by others, she decided to invite people into her platform to do the same. From there she launched a podcast and magazine which has allowed her to build an amazing team of passionate and creative storytellers. Her most recent venture is taking on improving the planet. She started Line by Moi as a way to promote sustainably sourced products for purchase. She also uses her platform to promote individual sustainability, which allows a person to be able to contribute to helping the planet. For that reason, a portion of her proceeds goes toward charitable donations for organizations such as One Tree Planet, Mental Health America, UNICEF, and Black Lives Matter. This is just the beginning of this amazing woman’s story, and we are so happy to have her on to share it with us. Here's what you'll learn:What motivated Annie Law to start ANDWHY?How did Annie’s journey toward a sustainable business start?Annie shares a small first step everyone can take toward environmental sustainability.Why is it important to prioritize individual sustainability before environmental sustainability?Check out Annie Law’s websites for ANDWHY and Line by Moi. Follow Annie on Instagram.Check out our skincare line: Apollo & Artemis.Instagram: @lauraleebotsacos

 The Entrepreneur Coach, Bri Seeley, helps entrepreneurs create long-term, sustainable success—on their terms! Bri distills her 14 years of real-world experience into easily digestible and tangible tools to help entrepreneurs go from zero to profit. She knows that one size never fits all, so her approach is customized and tailor-made to help each client monetize their vision. Before becoming a business coach for entrepreneurs, Bri ran her own fashion label. Fresh out of grad school, she jumped into entrepreneurship with zero clue of what she was doing. Bri serves Want’repreneurs, SoloPreneurs and Entrepreneurs. Bri was awarded a Silver Stevie Award in 2020 for Coach of the Year - Business and a Bronze Stevie Award in 2020 for Woman of the Year - Business Services. She is a member of the Forbes Coaches Council and the author of the best-selling Permission to Leap. Bris's expertise has been featured in over 50 press outlets, including Good Morning America, The TODAY Show, Thrive Global, Entrepreneur, Yahoo!, Forbes, and more, and has been interviewed on hundreds of podcasts.  She talks about her journey into becoming a business coach and all the lessons she has learned so far in her entrepreneurial journey. She also gives an entrepreneurial blueprint on the importance of having a business coach and choosing a business coach.  Her book “Permission to Leap” talks about how to move past your fears and out of your comfort zone to say YES to your vision, tools and techniques to strengthen the inner foundation upon which your vision will be built, and the science and psychology behind comfort zones, leaps of faith, and manifestation. Things You’ll Learn: How to choose a business coach for your businessImportance of faith and meditation in the life of an entrepreneur Dealing with Stereotypes in business Must-read books for every entrepreneur   Follow Bri Seeley on Instagram, Facebook and Linkedin Check out  her Website!Connect with me on Instagram @lauraleebotsacos Check out my clean beauty brand Apollo and Artemis BeautyGo back to the homepage. 

 What secrets lie behind a successful business owner? Laura Lee Botsacos shows us a peek into her daily life. As the creator of the business Serum and the creator and founder of Apollo & Artemis, a luxury, vegan skincare line, she has found an immense amount of success even with the onset of the pandemic. Apollo & Artemis was launched in October 2019, a mere few months before the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Launching this skincare line was one of the biggest moments of her life. She talks about the whirlwind of emotions that came with the launch along with the feelings of relief and a new set of stressors.  “The joys are real, but the struggles are equally real.” At some point, the joy that comes with owning your own company and expressing your creativity in a fulfilling way begins to diminish, as it does with other business owners. Laura describes the experience as becoming arduous. The most important step that Laura gives is to start as soon as you notice the decrease in joy. She gives amazing tips and tricks for recapturing joy as well as taking care of your own mental, physical, and emotional health.  Highlights: Things You’ll Learn -       Why is it vital for every entrepreneur to have a mentor or a coach? -       How do you begin to reflect on “The Why”? -       What can be done to reconnect with your purpose? -       Learn how to treat your mistakes effectively and move on -       Who are the best people to talk with in order to re-engage with your creativity?   Interested in learning more about this show? Go back to the homepage. Check out our skincare line: Apollo & Artemis. Instagram: @lauraleebotsacos 

Pamela Wirth is a business consultant and creator of a supplement company known as Hello Health. Pamela graduated from college with degrees in economics and mathematics. With the goal of starting with the largest business she could, her first job was with Motorola. She took each opportunity as a learning experience creating a valuable skill set that allows her to make a difference with each company she consults with. She has worked with hospitality, wellness, and technology industries. Pamela draws on her over 25 years of experience and her expert network to help companies bring their visions to fruition and implement strategies for growth. On top of all of that, she began a wellness company known as Hello Health after her son began showing signs of neuro-divergence. From there, one of the biggest pieces of advice she gleaned from the health professionals she consulted was to get her son’s gut in good condition. This involves taking in good nutrition as well as eliminating the bad. Hello Health is a platform that promotes products tailored to brain, gut, and immune health. A major emphasis for this is for those that were diagnosed as neuro-divergent. Her mission is to help people feel different from the inside out. Pamela takes some time to give us some tips and tricks for creating the work environment we want whether you are a CEO or a worker that needs to ask for more. She dives into the differences between working with a startup versus a public company. She also shares the importance of innovation and creativity within the work environment.Things You’ll learn:Learn how to use each work experience as an opportunity to learnPamela Shares the importance of embracing collaboration, transparency, and creating a healthy work culture. What makes each business a growing, breathing thing?How can you define what is important to a company?Why is customer service so important in business?Follow Pamela Wirth on LinkedIn.Check out Hello Health.Check out our skincare line: Apollo & Artemis.Instagram: @lauraleebotsacosInterested in learning more about this show? Go back to the homepage.

Today’s guest is truly a multi-hyphenate. Monica Monfre is a speaker and a business strategist and coach for service-based entrepreneurs. On top of that, she is also a high school literature teacher with 20 years of experience. A woman with that much energy is hard to keep up with, but she is just getting started. Monica takes time away from her busy schedule to talk with us about how she went from teaching in a high school classroom to teaching yoga to becoming an expert at social media to finally becoming a business coach. According to Monica, coaching is just another form of teaching. Grab a pen and your favorite notebook and strap in as Monica shares the keys to gaining followers on social media platforms. She also shares how to keep going even in the face of difficulties. Get some expert tips on how to connect with your audience and build your community. Monica also shares when she decided to make a new offering and the steps she took to launch it! We also talk about the importance of raising your prices and asking for what you want without hesitation.Things You’ll LearnMonica shares the keys to gaining followers on social media.Learn how to tap into your zone of genius.How important is credibility to your audience/community?When is a good time to create a new offering?What goes into launching a new offering?Check out Monica’s website here.Join Monica’s Facebook group, the Wealthy Women’s Collective, here.Follow Monica on Instagram.Interested in learning more about this show? Go back to the homepage.Check out our skincare line: Apollo & Artemis.Instagram: @lauraleebotsacos

We at the Business Serum are so excited to have Jenn Cassetta for this week’s episode! Jenn has proven herself to be a kick-*ss woman in all areas of her life. She is a 3rd-degree black belt in HapKiDo with a master’s degree in nutrition, and an NLP certified health coach with 20 years of experience. Today’s conversation starts with Jenn and Laura Lee sharing their survivor’s stories on dark day in American history: 9/11. From this, Jenn talks about how she used martial arts as a way to take back control over her life and rise from those ashes to the warrior she is today. Over the course of ten years, she went from working in a bar at night to becoming a personal trainer with one client to having a roster of clients from all walks of life. After a relationship ended, Jenn moved from New York to LA on a leap of faith and a year’s worth of savings. Once she arrived, she started her entire business over from scratch. She made contacts, networked, took consulting gigs, and even started her own self-defense program: Stilettos and Self-Defense. Her self-defense program gained popularity which landed her on shows like the Today Show and the Rachael Ray Show. Jenn talks about the importance of self-defense and why everyone should take at least one class. She talks about overcoming burnout and cultivating a mindfulness practice with meditation and breathwork. Jenn also gives us an inside look into some new upcoming projects.Here's what you'll learn:Jenn shares the benefits of martial arts and how it saved her life. Why is self-defense so important to talk about?What exactly is burnout, and what causes it?How can you use meditation and breathwork to build resilience?Learn how to start an active meditation practice.Check out Jenn Casseta’s website and follow her on Instagram and LinkedIn. Interested in learning more about this show? Go back to the homepage.Check out our skincare line: Apollo & Artemis.Instagram: @lauraleebotsacos

Rita Boccuzzi joins The Business Serum today to talk about her journey to becoming the well-known and loved Mamma Rita Money. As a child she developed a curiosity about money that could not be quenched. At 18, she opened her first retirement savings account, and bought her first real estate property at 21. With her experiences and wisdom from surviving multiple financial hits including the crash of 2001, cancer including the financial debt on the side, and paying down all of her business debts while building her savings, she rises from the ashes with a wealth of knowledge to share about how to take care of your money.Mamma Rita has built her knowledge base throughout her entire life. Then, on top of that, she invested her time and money into learning more in order to educate others. She hosts free events such as “Wine, Women, and Wealth” for female entrepreneurs to have access to the information they need to not only make money but take care of their money. She has also started and led many money education workshops and bootcamps. Armed with her mission of educating at least 1 million families, Rita is relentless when it comes to making sure people have the information they need to make the best decisions for them and their families. We are fortunate to have Rita on The Business Serum to give tips and tricks on the importance of financial intelligence, how to conquer debt, how to enter the financial space, and most importantly the formula to money! Here's what you'll learn:Rita shares her definition of financial intelligence. How can you gain more financial intelligence?Learn the formula of money.What is a sustainable way to get rid of debt?How do women think about money differently?Follow Mamma Rita “Money” Boccuzzi on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.Email her and check out her websites for Mamma Rita Money and Financial Resetting. Set up an appointment for a consultation session here. Check out our skincare line: Apollo & Artemis.Instagram: @lauraleebotsacosInterested in learning more about this show?  Go back to the homepage.

Krissy Mashinsky is the CEO and Founder of usastrong.IO, an all-digital, e-commerce platform that highlights and promotes USA-made products and allows the growth of small businesses. She discovered this need after working within the fashion industry and working on her own products. The difficulty in creating and tracking her own supply chain, sparked the idea for her own platform. In comes, usastrong.IO, a woman-owned digital marketplace that informs the consumer of the step-by-step process each product takes before it lands on your doorstep.As a queen within the fashion industry, Krissy was skilled at making decisions that resulted in the fashion of today. With the onset of COVID-19 and the breakdown of the supply chain, Krissy saw a huge gap in consumer production that needed to be filled. As people are becoming more conscious of the products they purchase and who/what those products impact, usastrong.IO offers answers to those questions by pulling back the curtain and letting people see the process from beginning to the endpoint. Here's what you'll learn:How Krissy went from a leader in the fashion industry to becoming a mastermind of e-commerce. Laura Lee and Krissy explore the details of a product that consumers care about. Krissy shares how she grew her business organically and through social media, email, and sms. What does it mean to take on a giant like Jeff Bezos?Krissy explains the block chain code. For more information about usastrong.IO, check out the website here.Follow Krissy on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. Interested in learning more about this show? Go back to the homepage.Check out our skincare line: Apollo & Artemis.Instagram: @lauraleebotsacos

Today on The Business Serum Podcast, Laura Lee is interviewing Lara Schmoisman, CEO and Founder of The Darl, a worldwide marketing agency. Lara is an immigrant from Buenos Aires, Argentina. Armed with her signature “Sexy Accent” and an outstanding work ethic, she worked her way up starting in the field of entertainment both behind the camera and in front of the camera as an interviewer on the red carpet. From there, as she grew her family, she began her journey to becoming the marketing guru of today, set out to empower people to achieve their best at all costs. Lara goes into depth about what it takes to start a worldwide business with employees in different countries, and how to manage that with a family. She also discusses the importance of mentorship and the difference between being a “Boss” and a Leader.Things You’ll LearnAnyone can be a boss, but being a leader requires having followers that you are constantly mentoring and giving the opportunity to grow even if that means apart from you. Lara advises that a person starting out in business should first identify his/her/their audience, make a plan, and decide where he/she/they are going to compete. One of the biggest mistakes people make when starting out in business is trying to copy someone else’s strategy. Follow Lara Schmoisman on Instagram: @laraschmoismanCheck out the Coffee No. 5 Podcast, hosted by Lara Schmoisman, here. Follow Laura Lee on Instagram: @lauraleebotsacosFor more information about the podcast, check out our website here.Meet our brand Apollo & Artemis.Go back to the homepage.

Lexie Smith, Founder of THEPRBARInc., Co-Founder of Ready Set Coach, and Host of the Pitchin’ and Sippin’ Podcast, discusses the main differences between marketing and PR and how she found herself in the PR industry, For Lexie Smith, PR can be broken down into six relationships that, she explains, are how we build relationships through networking. Lexie Smith PR coaching has changed the game in the PR industry and she takes the time to break it down for all of our viewers. What You’ll Learn:How Lexie started her public relations business. Why she started coaching others in PR.Why networking is an integral part of any PR strategy.Lexie's six relationships of PR.How to distinguish bad press and how it affects your company’s goals. If you want to learn more about Lexie Smith, or THEPRBARInc., check out her social media: Instagram, LinkedIn and Facebook  or THEPRBAR’s website!Interested in learning more about this show? Meet our brand Apollo & Artemis.Instagram: @lauraleebotsacos Go back to the homepage.

Merchants of Beauty is a bespoke luxury candle company that seeks to introduce bold new offerings into the luxury candle industry. Ava Ghiotti, the founder of the business, aims to create tangible experiences through a creative line of candles that each tells its own multi-sensory story. A self-starter, Ghiotti began her career in entrepreneurship as a makeup artist with a passion for candles. Her fearless attitude in business led her to start her own company which focused on shaking up the traditional image of a candle. A native New Yorker, Ava’s Merchants of Beauty collection is inspired by her years living there. The candles capture the urban heartbeat of the city with their modern, chic, and playful designs like “Smells Like Success” and “4am NYC.”  In this podcast, Ava covers her early inspirations and entrepreneurship strategies for shaking up the traditional candle market.Highlights:Hear the story of how Ava’s start in the candle industry began with her work as a makeup artist and an obsession with scent.Learn to get started off into the world of high-end home products; from sourcing quality ingredients and testing, to gaining customer loyalty.Cover ways that Ava generated authentic branding that differentiate her company in a saturated market by focusing on the “Why?” of her products.Learn how Ava cultivates a luxury brand experience through her use of colors, scents, and character design.Hear how to create a domestic manufacturing process and how to select partners in business that are aligned with your company’s goals.To learn more about Ava Ghiotti’s candle company, visit Merchants of Beauty online or on social media! @MerchantsofbeautyInterested in learning more about this show? Meet our brand Apollo & Artemis.Instagram: @lauraleebotsacos Go back to the homepage.

Where does a combination of public speaking skills and being a fashion expert translate into a career? In Hollywood, of course! Margo Burr is a fashion and lifestyle expert, in addition to being a publicist. She has quickly become one of the most highly sought after fashion/lifestyle experts in the industry. She regularly appears as a contributor on national shows such as Access Hollywood and KTLA, as well as local stations such as WBFF Baltimore and Great Day Washington. Margo also coaches established entrepreneurs and thought leaders with on-camera training, public speaking, and confidence skills. Here's what you'll learn:Margo tells how she made her way up with conviction in the media and landed her own fashion space on television.Making people feel beautiful from the inside out is what Margo loves about her job.What are Margo’s considerations when choosing to work with a brand? She looks who works seriously and who has invested in their brand.Talking, her unique gift that helps her with storytelling.Things are evolving and coming back in fashion! The styles of the 90s, 80s and 70s are more in demand than ever.Margo's motto: "Try everything that makes sense, and stick with what doesn't seem like a job to you.”Aloe vera, the beauty tip she swears by because it has cleared up her skin.Fashion for this season: pastel colors, bold colors, and cropped tops.You can learn more about Margo on her website.Instagram: @itsmargoburrFacebook: @margoburrInterested in learning more about The Business Serum? Meet our brand Apollo & Artemis.Instagram: @lauraleebotsacos Go back to the homepage.

Everyone knows that networking is important, but how can meeting people really help your business? Emily Merrell is the founder of the Six Degree Society, a group of strong and independent women who are reinventing what it means to network. Emily has a genuine curiosity to hear stories and connect people so that they can make the most of that relationship for their own business. She worked in the fashion industry, but her dream has always been to help people connect with each other. In addition to Six Degrees Society, Emily also works with companies, founders, and solopreneurs who are looking to build a strong community of their own, plan events that inspire and develop partnerships that move the needle.Here’s what you’ll learn:Emily Merrell says why she feels like a “Jill of all trades”, and how she would do anything to help her clients feel confident in their lives.Without knowing exactly what she wanted to do, she undertook a nine-month trip to Argentina that got her into the world of fashion and networking.How her passion for meeting new people, and her great curiosity, made her a lifelong people collector.The purpose of networking and why it's so important. Why It is ok to feel uncomfortable from time to time! Since when you are feeling uncomfortable, It's when you are forced to keep moving.How Six Degree Society started, and how it turned to a group of strong and independent women who are reinventing what it means to network.Start monetizing what you like without feeling guilty about it!Instagram: @six_degrees_societyFacebook: @sixdegreessocietyInterested in learning more about The Business Serum? Meet our brand Apollo & ArtemisInstagram: @apolloandartemisbeautyGo back to the homepage.