The She Leads® Podcast - Wealth Building & Business Growth

You want to build the business. You also cannot afford to quit your job. For most women, that tension kills the idea before it starts. Toni Toomey refused to let it. She is a second-time founder who sold her first company in her twenties, a full-time AI professional, the primary breadwinner in her family, and the CEO of Hone - a premium postpartum apparel brand made from hormone-safe natural fibers. She bootstrapped her startup without a single dollar of venture capital because, as she puts it, the VC model funds just 2.5% of women founders, so she built her own path. In this episode, Toni shares how she identified a product gap that a male founder would likely miss, why she uses AI to compress days of operational work into hours without ever using it to write her content, and why community is replacing paid ads as the most effective growth strategy for early-stage founders. Toni also breaks down what to look for (and what to avoid) in the fabrics you wear every day and why the apparel industry's impact on women's health is a problem hiding in plain sight. Chapters:🎙️ 00:00 Meet Toni Toomey, founder of Hone and creator of Mom Built -a community for mom founders building for other moms.🌱 03:25 Building a company without quitting a full-time job🧰 04:43 What a first exit and the right mentors actually taught Toni🤖 12:45 Where AI helps a solo founder, and where human connection wins💸 18:59 Why so few women founders sell, and the case for small-check investing🧪 23:45 The problem nobody else would solve: plastic in what we wear🧵 33:18 How to read a fabric label and what to actually look for📍 42:14 Inside Mom Built and where to find ToniLinks:Website: wearhone.com and tonitoomey.com Social: @toni.toomey and @wear.honeReach out to Toni Toomey to learn more about Hone's hormone-safe postpartum apparel, to join Mom Built, or to connect about building a company around a problem you actually live.We're always seeking aligned sponsors.⭐️ If you're interested in supporting our podcast - one episode or a season, reach out to Adrienne at Adrienne@sheleadsmedia.com.⭐️Reach out to Adrienne: hello@sheleadsmedia.com Visit our website: www.sheleadsmedia.com to learn about upcoming events or to work with me directly and get the clarity you’re seeking.As a gesture of support for this podcast and sharing women's voices everywhere - I would greatly appreciate if you would take a moment and give our podcast a 5 Star rating and review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. By you taking this simple action, you are making a difference in sharing women's voices, thoughts and opinions. One last thing - if you haven’t done so already, please hit the plus sign + to follow the podcast so you never miss an episode. Thank you so much!!XOAdrienne (00:00) - 🎙️ Meet Toni Toomey, founder of Hone and creator of Mom Built (03:25) - 🌱 Building a company without quitting the full-time job (04:43) - 🧰 What a first exit and the right mentors actually taught her (12:45) - 🤖 Where AI helps a solo founder, and where human connection wins (18:59) - 💸 Why so few women founders sell, and the case for small-check investing (23:45) - 🧪 The problem nobody else would solve: plastic in what we wear (33:18) - 🧵 How to read a fabric label and what to actually look for (42:14) - 📍 Inside Mom Built and where to find Toni

Most women founders never sell the business they built. Alisha Pennington wants to change that, and she says the block is not financial literacy. It is identity.In this episode, I sit down with Alisha Pennington, founder of Exette and a consultant who scaled and sold her own multi-seven-figure staffing agency. Only about 1% of female founders ever exit, and Alisha breaks down why: a lack of women we can point to who have done it, and the emotional attachment that keeps us holding on long after the business stops serving us.We get into the idea that your business is an asset, not your baby. We talk about building for optionality from day one, what "be ready so you don't have to get ready" actually looks like, and her vision for women buying and selling businesses to each other instead of letting them quietly disappear.If you are building toward a million and wondering what comes after, this one is worth your time.Chapters:🎙️ 00:52 Meet Alisha Pennington, the founder helping women exit the businesses they built📊 02:16 Why only 1% of women founders exit, and the 68% who stay for emotional reasons💭 04:45 How women tie their worth to output, and why that keeps them holding on🍼 06:36 Your business is not your baby: making logical decisions about an asset🔁 12:01 The marketplace women are missing: buying and selling businesses to each other⏱️ 24:32 Be ready so you don't have to get ready: building for optionality from day one🚪 28:00 Why Alisha sold a multi-seven-figure agency when it stopped being fun💬 37:06 Inside Exette and the free community normalizing the exit conversationLinks:Website: penningtonperspective.com LinkedIn: Alisha Pennington Instagram: @itsalishamp Facebook: @itsalishampConnect with Alisha Pennington to learn more about preparing to exit, sell, or evolve beyond your business, and join her free Exette community at exette.co where women are normalizing the exit conversation every week.Thank you to our podcast sponsorGo From Expert to Thought Leader with the Genius Discovery Program.Learn more at: geniusdiscovery.org We're always seeking aligned sponsors.⭐️ If you're interested in supporting our podcast - one episode or a season, reach out to Adrienne at Adrienne@sheleadsmedia.com.⭐️Reach out to Adrienne: hello@sheleadsmedia.com Visit our website: www.sheleadsmedia.com to learn about upcoming events or to work with me directly and get the clarity you’re seeking.As a gesture of support for this podcast and sharing women's voices everywhere - I would greatly appreciate if you would take a moment and give our podcast a 5 Star rating and review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. By you taking this simple action, you are making a difference in sharing women's voices, thoughts and opinions. One last thing - if you haven’t done so already, please hit the plus sign + to follow the podcast so you never miss an episode. Thank you so much!!XOAdrienne (00:52) - 🎙️ Meet Alisha Pennington, the founder helping women exit the businesses they built (02:16) - 📊 Why only 1% of women founders exit, and the 68% who stay for emotional reasons (04:45) - 💭 How women tie their worth to output, and why that keeps them holding on (06:36) - 🍼 Your business is not your baby: making logical decisions about an asset (12:01) - 🔁 The marketplace women are missing: buying and selling businesses to each other (24:32) - ⏱️ Be ready so you don't have to get ready: building for optionality from day one (28:00) - 🚪 Why Alisha sold a multi-seven-figure agency when it stopped being fun (37:06) - 💬 Inside Exette and the free community normalizing the exit conversation

Solve a real buyer problem. Build enterprise value. Exit on your terms.In this episode of the She Leads Podcast, Kelly Parker shares how she built Send Ribbon, a bootstrapped corporate gifting company acquired by UrbanStems, by focusing on one overlooked opportunity: solving real pain points for real buyers.With just $5,000 and no outside funding, Kelly launched her business at 27 after years inside high growth companies like Indeed, WeWork, and DoorDash. Instead of chasing luxury products or hype, she spoke directly with office managers, the true gatekeepers of corporate purchasing, and realized they did not need more options. They needed reliability, speed, and zero friction.That insight became her competitive advantage and ultimately positioned the company for acquisition.In this conversation, Kelly breaks down how relationship first thinking helped her win Fortune 500 clients, why visibility matters more than perfection when positioning for acquisition, and how staying close to your buyer builds long term enterprise value.She also challenges the pressure many women founders face to be “all in” at the expense of financial stability. From healthcare realities to diversified income strategies, Kelly shares practical advice for building sustainable companies that align with your life, not just your ambition.Today, through her advisory platform launchgrowexit, Kelly supports female founders who want to launch, grow, and eventually exit their companies with clarity and confidence.If you are building a business, thinking about long term value, or questioning the hustle culture narrative, this episode offers a grounded roadmap for turning customer insight into a high value company.Chapters: 00:56 👋 Meet Kelly Parker: Bootstrapping, Exiting, and Giving Back 03:05 🎓 Break the Rules Early: From Catholic School to Startup Risk and Grit 09:41 🚀 Learn Inside High-Growth Teams: Mentorship, Culture, and Taking the Leap 15:36 🎁 Spot the Buyer Gap: Office Manager Insights and Frictionless Gifting 26:16 🏗️ Build for Sustainability First: Creating a Lifestyle Business That Attracts Opportunity 28:08 💐 Stay Visible to Get Acquired: UrbanStems, COVID Timing, and the Letter of Intent 31:14 🤝 Make Relationships the Asset: Why Trust Drives Enterprise Value 35:51 💡 Think Exit Early: Healthcare, Hustle Culture, and Funding Your Dream Strategically 44:37 🌟 Reinvent After the Exit: Becoming a Co-Founder on Demand and Building Accessible Advisory 53:04 🎁 Book a Free Call with Kelly Parker: https://calendly.com/kellyanneparker/15min?back=1 Links:Instagram: www.instagram.com/launchgrowexitLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/kellyanneparkerBook a free call with Kelly and connect with her on LinkedIn and Instagram to start building a business designed to launch, grow, and exit on your terms. Thank you to our podcast sponsorGo From Expert to Thought Leader with the Genius Discovery Program.Book Directly with Kent: http://talktokent.com Learn more at: geniusdiscovery.org We're always seeking aligned sponsors.⭐️ If you're interested in supporting our podcast - one episode or a season, reach out to Adrienne at Adrienne@sheleadsmedia.com.⭐️Reach out to Adrienne: hello@sheleadsmedia.com Visit our website: www.sheleadsmedia.com to learn about upcoming events or to work with me directly and get the clarity you’re seeking."I love ♥️ listening to The She Leads™ Podcast!” If that thought crossed your mind at any time while listening to our special show, I’d love it if y:ou would take a moment and give our podcast some love too. To do so, simply Rate, Review & Follow Us on Apple Podcasts & Spotify. Taking this simple action helps my team and I to spread the word about all the incredible guests featured on The She Leads Podcast and contributes overall to helping women leaders and entrepreneurs everywhere! 🗺 Also, if you haven’t done so already, please +follow the podcast so you never miss an episode. Thank you so much!!— Adrienne (00:56) - 👋 Meet Kelly Parker: Bootstrapping, Exiting, and Giving Back (03:05) - 🎓 Break the Rules Early: From Catholic School to Startup Risk and Grit (09:41) - 🚀 Learn Inside High-Growth Teams: Mentorship, Culture, and Taking the Leap (15:36) - 🎁 Spot the Buyer Gap: Office Manager Insights and Frictionless Gifting (26:16) - 🏗️ Build for Sustainability First: Creating a Lifestyle Business That Attracts Opportunity (28:08) - 💐 Stay Visible to Get Acquired: UrbanStems, COVID Timing, and the Letter of Intent (31:14) - 🤝 Make Relationships the Asset: Why Trust Drives Enterprise Value (35:51) - 💡 Think Exit Early: Healthcare, Hustle Culture, and Funding Your Dream Strategically (44:37) - 🌟 Reinvent After the Exit: Becoming a Co-Founder on Demand and Building Accessible Advisory (53:04) - 🎁 Book a Free Call with Kelly Parker: https://calendly.com/kellyanneparker/15min?back=1

From Washington, D.C. to the Brooklyn waterfront, Lindsay Greene shares how a career in finance evolved into a mission to transform industrial spaces into engines of opportunity for underserved communities.Lindsay Greene is the President and CEO of the Brooklyn Navy Yard, where she leads one of New York City’s most ambitious models for inclusive economic development. With more than 550 businesses and 11,000 employees on site, the Navy Yard is not simply a real estate portfolio but a living ecosystem designed to create quality jobs and connect local residents to meaningful careers. Her work blends business strategy, workforce development, and community engagement into a powerful example of how cities can rethink the purpose of former industrial spaces.Her journey began in Washington, D.C., where daily exposure to economic disparities shaped her desire to work at the intersection of business and community impact. After studying economics at Harvard and starting her career in investment banking at Goldman Sachs, she discovered urban development through the Urban Investment Group under Alicia Glen. Mentorship from leaders like Glen and MIT professor Phil Thompson helped her shift from traditional finance to mission driven economic development. A detour into the food industry after Yale School of Management eventually led her back to this work, culminating in her leadership at the Navy Yard in 2022.Lindsay explains how the Brooklyn Navy Yard goes beyond affordable real estate to support small, women owned, and minority owned businesses with mentorship, capital access, and technical advisory services. She highlights the Brooklyn STEAM Center, a public high school that gives 600 students hands on training with industry grade equipment, as well as new adult reskilling programs that recognize the value of both digital and analog problem solving. Through initiatives like the Micro Business Accelerator Program, she is building pathways for entrepreneurs to start small, grow, and scale within a supportive ecosystem.This conversation explores leadership, economic mobility, and the importance of early exposure to career possibilities. Lindsay’s work demonstrates that revitalizing industrial spaces can do more than preserve history. It can create futures. Tune in to hear how thoughtful economic development can reshape communities and expand opportunity for the next generation.Chapters:01:01 👩‍💼 Meet Lindsay Greene President and CEO of Brooklyn Navy Yard03:37 🗺️ Lindsay’s journey from Washington DC to New York City05:30 🏦 From Goldman Sachs to a career in economic development13:54 🏗️ Revitalizing the Brooklyn Navy Yard into a thriving hub16:24 🌱 Community programs driving opportunity and impact34:21 🚀 What is next for the Brooklyn Navy Yard41:12 ✨ Closing reflections and final thoughtsLinks:Website: www.brooklynnavyyard.org Connect with Lindsay Greene through the Brooklyn Navy Yard’s website to explore how this innovative model is creating jobs, supporting entrepreneurs, and opening new pathways for underserved communities. Thank you to our podcast sponsorGo From Expert to Thought Leader with the Genius Discovery Program.Book Directly with Kent: http://talktokent.com Learn more at: geniusdiscovery.org We're always seeking aligned sponsors.⭐️ If you're interested in supporting our podcast - one episode or a season, reach out to Adrienne at Adrienne@sheleadsmedia.com.⭐️Reach out to Adrienne: hello@sheleadsmedia.com Visit our website: www.sheleadsmedia.com to learn about upcoming events or to work with me directly and get the clarity you’re seeking."I love ♥️ listening to The She Leads™ Podcast!” If that thought crossed your mind at any time while listening to our special show, I’d love it if you would take a moment and give our podcast some love too. To do so, simply Rate, Review & Follow Us on Apple Podcasts & Spotify. Taking this simple action helps my team and I to spread the word about all the incredible guests featured on The She Leads Podcast and contributes overall to helping women leaders and entrepreneurs everywhere! 🗺 Also, if you haven’t done so already, please +follow the podcast so you never miss an episode. Thank you so much!!— Adrienne (00:00) - 🎙️ Welcome to the She Leads Podcast (01:01) - 👩‍💼 Meet Lindsay Green President and CEO of Brooklyn Navy Yard (03:37) - 🗺️ Lindsay’s journey from Washington DC to New York City (05:30) - 🏦 From Goldman Sachs to a career in economic development (13:54) - 🏗️ Revitalizing the Brooklyn Navy Yard into a thriving hub (16:24) - 🌱 Community programs driving opportunity and impact (34:21) - 🚀 What is next for the Brooklyn Navy Yard (41:12) - ✨ Closing reflections and final thoughts

Paige Arnof-Fenn shares how to stop competing on price by sharpening brand positioning, owning a niche, and turning reputation + referrals into consistent demand.In this episode, Paige Arnof-Fenn shares her journey from investment banking to branding powerhouse and discovering her true calling in marketing, building a distributed firm long before remote work was mainstream, and detailing how to turn expertise into profitable, high-impact businesses. Paige is the founder and CEO of Mavens & Moguls, a global branding and digital marketing firm that has worked with clients like Microsoft, Virgin, The New York Times Company, and Colgate. Her path to entrepreneurship didn’t begin with a clear plan, but with a series of courageous pivots that led her from Wall Street to marketing leadership at P&G and Coca-Cola, and eventually to building her own agency. Along the way, she learned that success is less about following a script and more about honoring the parts of work that energize you.The turning points in Paige’s story are rooted in self-awareness and bold action. After realizing investment banking didn’t align with her values or passion, she shifted into marketing, first through business school, then by shaping brand strategy at major corporations and startups. She watched the internet industry emerge in the late ’90s and embraced it, later using the post-9/11 job market as a catalyst to launch her own business. What could have been a moment of fear became the start of a 24-year journey building a thriving firm with a distributed team across multiple cities and countries.Paige’s most powerful insights center on clarity, niche, and validation. She encourages women entrepreneurs to treat themselves as a brand, not a commodity, and to build businesses based on real market research, not friendly feedback. She champions differentiation through specificity, sharing how dominating one niche beats trying to please everyone, and explains how profitability is the foundation for meaningful impact.Paige’s story is a celebration of women’s leadership, resilience, and the power of building businesses that create real change. If you’re ready to rethink what entrepreneurship can look like, and how to build it with intention and confidence, this conversation is for you. Tune in and be inspired.Chapters00:56 👩‍💼 Meet Paige Arnof-Fenn From Stanford to CEO03:13 💼 Paige’s Journey in Investment Banking06:26 📈 Discovering a Passion for Marketing09:40 🚀 Building a Successful Marketing Firm23:42 🌍 Pioneering Outsourced Marketing24:04 🏆 Early Success and Harvard Recognition28:19 💡 Positioning Strategy for Women Founders: Brand vs Commodity29:45 📣 Niche + Market Research: Validation That Creates Demand35:18 🔁 The Referral Engine: Becoming the Default Choice42:28 💖 Philanthropy and Legacy LinksWebsite: www.mavensandmoguls.com LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/paigearnoffenn Check out Paige Arnof-Fenn’s website, connect with her on LinkedIn, and explore her work with Mavens & Moguls to learn how to build a brand-driven business that scales with clarity, purpose, and impact. Thank you to our podcast sponsorGo From Expert to Thought Leader with the Genius Discovery Program.Book Directly with Kent: http://talktokent.com Learn more at: geniusdiscovery.org We're always seeking aligned sponsors.⭐️ If you're interested in supporting our podcast - one episode or a season, reach out to Adrienne at Adrienne@sheleadsmedia.com.⭐️Reach out to Adrienne: hello@sheleadsmedia.com Visit our website: www.sheleadsmedia.com to learn about upcoming events or to work with me directly and get the clarity you’re seeking."I love ♥️ listening to The She Leads™ Podcast!” If that thought crossed your mind at any time while listening to our special show, I’d love it if you would take a moment and give our podcast some love too. To do so, simply Rate, Review & Follow Us on Apple Podcasts & Spotify. Taking this simple action helps my team and I to spread the word about all the incredible guests featured on The She Leads Podcast and contributes overall to helping women leaders and entrepreneurs everywhere! 🗺 Also, if you haven’t done so already, please +follow the podcast so you never miss an episode. Thank you so much!!— Adrienne (00:56) - 👩‍💼 Meet Paige Arnof-Fenn From Stanford to CEO (03:13) - 💼 Paige’s Journey in Investment Banking (06:26) - 📈 Discovering a Passion for Marketing (09:40) - 🚀 Building a Successful Marketing Firm (23:42) - 🌍 Pioneering Outsourced Marketing (24:04) - 🏆 Early Success and Harvard Recognition (28:19) - 💡 Advice for Aspiring Women Entrepreneurs (29:45) - 📣 Building a Strong Personal Brand (42:28) - 💖 Philanthropy and Legacy